Airpods Firmware

[Lennyvalentin]

(E.g. to add Find My AirPods support).

I don't think you would need any such direct support. Rather, I would expect the iOS device to simply attempt to connect to the airpods repeatedly until they are found, or the user aborts.

Likewise, it might not be necessary to update firmware to support new tap gestures (or whatever you'd want to call them), depending on how the tapping system is implemented. If taps are sent as individual events to the connected iOS device (which then interprets them), then you could create an arbitrary number of individual tap functions without having to update the airpods at all.

*shrug*

 

[Brookzy]

I don't think you would need any such direct support. Rather, I would expect the iOS device to simply attempt to connect to the airpods repeatedly until they are found, or the user aborts.

The chirp is louder than the standard maximum volume which is what made me think it might have needed a firmware update to enable. Of course that could be already included in 3.3.1. Anyway, if anyone updates, let us know!

 

[KennethS]

My 7+ is on the 10.3 beta and my AirPods still show 3.3.1 as the firmware (hardware v 1.0.0)

 

[Neo1975]

Still 3.3.1 I'm afraid.

 

[tivoboy]

The chirp is louder than the standard maximum volume which is what made me think it might have needed a firmware update to enable. Of course that could be already included in 3.3.1. Anyway, if anyone updates, let us know!

and it's at a specific khz, like 1khz or something so for humans it sounds like a tiny dog whistle.

 

[chriscrowlee]

I don't think there is a way that Apple could push a firmware update to the AirPods without releasing a firmware update app, or add an additional option within iOS. I can't think of any bluetooth device that's capable of updating firmware without adding a helper app. Much like the Apple watch, helper app.

 

[thadoggfather]

I don't think there is a way that Apple could push a firmware update to the AirPods without releasing a firmware update app, or add an additional option within iOS. I can't think of any bluetooth device that's capable of updating firmware without adding a helper app. Much like the Apple watch, helper app.

If Timmy wants to make his way into your ears, he will. IOS is his game, his court, his ball.

But couldn't something get pushed like a carrier update, in theory?

 

[Brookzy]

I don't think there is a way that Apple could push a firmware update to the AirPods without releasing a firmware update app, or add an additional option within iOS. I can't think of any bluetooth device that's capable of updating firmware without adding a helper app. Much like the Apple watch, helper app.

Apple Pencil is one example. It updated its firmware covertly over Bluetooth with an iOS update sometime last year. I think some recent Beats devices do it too.

 

[chriscrowlee]

Apple Pencil is one example. It updated its firmware covertly over Bluetooth with an iOS update sometime last year. I think some recent Beats devices do it too.

Yeah it delivered the update via the smart connector for smart keyboard, and lightning for the pencil. Neither updated wirelessly. So unless the case has a mechanism to update via lightning, don't think it's possible wirelessly via bluetooth. I haven't seen any devices that do this without a helper conduit app.

 

[Brookzy]

Yeah it delivered the update via the smart connector for smart keyboard, and lightning for the pencil. Neither updated wirelessly. So unless the case has a mechanism to update via lightning, don't think it's possible wirelessly via bluetooth. I haven't seen any devices that do this without a helper conduit app.

Keyboard was Smart Connector, but Pencil was Bluetooth with no user awareness at all.

 

[chriscrowlee]

Keyboard was Smart Connector, but Pencil was Bluetooth with no user awareness at all.

Oh interesting, my mistake. I'd think it would be possible with the AirPods too then.

 

[jhearty99]

Wouldnt there need to be some way to update them without ios though since you technically dont need an apple device to use them? Like through iTunes or something if you have an Android device?

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Wouldnt there need to be some way to update them without ios though since you technically dont need an apple device to use them?

You don't really need to update them though... They work fine as they are.

Unless there's some difficult to find but serious bugs that need squashing, the currently sold pods might potentially not see any updates at all.

There was the battery case draining issue for some users, but that one seems to have been fixed without involving any user-initiated firmware updates... There's another microcontroller in the battery case with its own firmware which could potentially be updated via the lightning connector, who knows.

 

[Bromeo]

Watch is updated via Bluetooth. I expect AirPods will receive any update over Bluetooth.

As far as reconfiguring tap gestures, I wouldn't be surprised to see only one alternative added: double-tap to skip track. Pause happens when you take AirPod out. Not everyone likes/uses/trusts Siri, so not making Siri mandatory already made sense as it is.

Would love to see some improvement to adjust volume via watch: press and turn crown or something.

 

[tomaustin44]

You don't really need to update them though... They work fine as they are.

Unless there's some difficult to find but serious bugs that need squashing, the currently sold pods might potentially not see any updates at all.

There was the battery case draining issue for some users, but that one seems to have been fixed without involving any user-initiated firmware updates... There's another microcontroller in the battery case with its own firmware which could potentially be updated via the lightning connector, who knows.

Case draining issue is certainly still persisting for many, including myself. Apple Care's official advice is to wait for an upcoming software update.

 

[rstark18]

I sure hope they push an update to fix the volume issue I have...
If ringer & alerts for speaker is set to max volume (I set it this way to make sure I hear my alerts on speaker) then those alerts are full volume on the AirPods if nothing is playing. This is seriously bad for your hearing.

 

[Brookzy]

It happened! (Picture courtesy 9to5Mac).

 

[rstark18]

Full volume bug not fixed in 3.5.1

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Full volume bug not fixed in 3.5.1

Seems more an iOS bug though, as it's the playing device which controls the audio volume...

Maybe a good idea to pop the pods out of one's ears when not listening to anything. I for one tend to rarely wear mine unless they're playing something (or I'm making a phone call).

 

[rstark18]

Seems more an iOS bug though, as it's the playing device which controls the audio volume...

Maybe a good idea to pop the pods out of one's ears when not listening to anything. I for one tend to rarely wear mine unless they're playing something (or I'm making a phone call).

Might be an iOS issue. I just wish they functioned like the wired earbuds in regards to this.

A lot of the time when I'm listening to them I'll need to pause them for a few minutes to do something which for me is easier than taking one out. It seems it's always during these times I get lots of notifications.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

It seems it's always during these times I get lots of notifications.

Isn't life grand so say.

 

[tivoboy]

I'm having an issue that when I am on a call, and a TEXT message comes in, the call audio drops totally and the text message alert comes in - and then the call DOES resume but not without having been a total drop out.