I like hacking around a Linux workstation as much as the next nerd, but when I put BT headphones in my ears to listen to a podcast, I want it to just work.
That said, every so often I need to toggle my iPhone's bluetooth switch in Settings. Even Apple's software isn't 100%.
Older folks do not like feeling left behind. if Apple is causing them to feel liberated from their state of techno exile, that’s going to create insane goodwill.
Being Bluetooth, technically the Airpods will connect to say, a Dell laptop, but in practice they will have erratic behavior, which you can solve by buying a mac... and teaching said old folks how to use MacOS instead of Windows.
Bam. Work perfectly after that.
I recently went through this with a new Windows laptop. It was quite a shock after being in the Mac world for years how bad an experience Windows and headphones is.
Same issue on Macs for what it's worth. If you are listening to music and a meeting starts and the mic turns on, the protocol will switch and everything will sound like crap.
Apple just gives me that.
BTW for that specific use case AFAIK iPhone uses H.265 and H.264 (and ProRes but I don't think you're mentioning that when saying "raw", rather meaning straight out of device) videos inside a MOV container, which are both widely available (with H.265 having some license fees but available virtually on every device).
Like all apple products they do sacrifice some discoverability in favor of a sexier minimalist look
A photorealistic visual will appear on screen explaining what to do next. At this point, guided by the visual, you need to push the button on the back.
If you can think of a simpler way, I’d give Apple a call.
In which case, fair enough perhaps, but it feels a tad unfair to put the burden of universal discovery for all host devices on Apple.
And is it really that un-discoverable? What would you do on any other Bluetooth device? You'd look for a button. What is there on the AirPods case? A button.
I still say: if you have a simpler idea, let's hear it.
Edit: and, I'm sure the AirPods come with a folded slip of paper in the box, as all Apple products do, explaining the very basics of how to get the thing working.
I guess, but I've always felt apple deliberately thwarts such efforts for product lock in
>And is it really that un-discoverable? What would you do on any other Bluetooth device? You'd look for a button. What is there on the AirPods case? A button.
Lol but like I said you also have to arbitrarily open the lid and place both airpods inside
Deliberately thwarting efforts would be not having a button.
There's a button. Like every other Bluetooth headphone case. Push the button.
> Lol but like I said you also have to arbitrarily open the lid and place both airpods inside
Oh come now. In what scenario do you get handed an AirPods case and two loose AirPods and are expected to pair them? Is that what happened to your sister-in-law?
> Like all apple products they do sacrifice some discoverability in favor of a sexier minimalist look
And which Bluetooth headphones have a more ‘discoverable’ pairing mode?
Then your Apple account is used to make all your idevices recognize your AirPods.
For 90% of people, that solves 100% of their problems.