iOS 18 API to allow 3rd party accessories to pair quickly like AirPods | Hacker News Reader

iOS 18 API to allow 3rd party accessories to pair quickly like AirPods

9to5mac.com

9 pointsjkmcf8 comments

Only for MFI-licensed accessories, or for everyone?

I think there's been fast pairing for MFI devices for a while now. I very vaguely remember an Airplay-enabled stereo once invoking some popup on my iPhone to please share my Wi-Fi password with it (presumably over Bluetooth, or maybe Wi-Fi direct?), which I found really neat. This was over 5 years ago.

Other than that one stereo, I've never seen that flow anywhere else, and I've probably spent hours of my life entering my Wi-Fi passphrase using a d-pad text interface.

This was my first thought as well. I took a quick look through the API docs and didn’t see any mention of MFi.

I don't know what the codec situation is like on iPhones these days but macOS removed support for AptX and usually SBC is as good or better than AAC which is like going backwards in time for Bluetooth. At least macbooks still have headphone jacks.

The wind of the DMA blowing all across the ecosystem. You have to admit, it's pretty cool. It only took Apple, what, 8 years since AirPods were introduced?

As a developer, I'm eager to discover all new APIs we're magically (finally) getting access to.

This is their killer app right now. I would have a very difficult time giving up the seamless experience of AirPods moving from device to device.

Apple just announced that Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring etc will be delayed for EU users.

And it’s very likely they won’t appear at all as the DMA would force them to make APIs that allow apps full access to all data as well as take recordings of your screen. Privacy nightmare in the hands of Meta, Google, TikTok etc.

So the winds of DMA are blowing alright. Back in the face of the EU.

Conspiracy theory much? The DMA wants Apple to allow 3rd party developers to offer alternative services, the ones it provides. Like choosing your own browser, music app, assistant and others.

DMA is vague which is the problem.

But the spirit of is that Apple is not allowed to favour their features over competitors. Which would mean providing APIs to third parties for accessing their models.

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