rryk

Q: iTunes starts up whenever I connect my bluetooth headset

I am using bluetooth headset to communicate on Skype. Whenever somebody's calling me, I turn my headset on and it will automatically connect to my MacBook. Every time, however, it will also automatically start iTunes and begins to play. I don't want this behavior, since instead of listening to music I would actually want to talk on Skype. How can I change this?

Possible explanation to this could be that headphones may send "Play" button message to the computer once connected, since this is same button that is used to turn them on/off. I am not sure however, if they actually do send this button. But in case they do, how can I disable iTunes startup on Play button? Is there are an official way to do it or should I really go with something like this: http://superuser.com/questions/31925/stop-play-pause-button-opening-itunes-in-sn ow-leopard/39390#39390.

MacBook Pro 6.2, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 6, 2010 2:04 AM

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Q: iTunes starts up whenever I connect my bluetooth headset

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  • by coreytodds,

    coreytodds coreytodds Dec 16, 2011 6:17 PM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2011 6:17 PM in response to rryk

    Just another example of Apple trying to take over the way your computer behaves... basically it is designed this way, so until they fix it, ENJOY!

     

     

     

    I have the same problem, in Snow Leopard.

  • by Damocles Conexus,

    Damocles Conexus Damocles Conexus Dec 28, 2011 3:56 PM in response to coreytodds
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2011 3:56 PM in response to coreytodds

    Mine does the same thing. I am thinking about trying to uninstall iTunes. I HATE programs that start up by themselves unless you specifically have them setup to auto start.

  • by kburden000,

    kburden000 kburden000 Jan 13, 2012 11:48 PM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 13, 2012 11:48 PM in response to rryk

    Here's a workaround that I use.

    Basically it's substituing a Do Nothing App(DNA.app) for the iTunes App.

    So when your Bluetooth Audio device connects, the system starts what it thinks is iTunes but instead starts a Do Nothing app that runs and exits without any actions so you don't notice it.

     

    Sorry I can't provide you with the DNA.app you'll have to find/make your own.

    If someone out there finds a good one from a trusted source, please post it in this thread!

     

    1) Get some kind of DNA.app.

          I made my own by making a Java application that does nothing and then bundling it as per these instructions:

                 http://www.bartbusschots.ie/blog/?p=296

         So I end up with DNA.app

    2) Rename iTunes using this command in a Terminal Windows

         sudo mv /Applications/iTunes.app /Applications/iTunesBACK.app

    3) Copy over your DNA.app from wherever you have it to /Applications.iTunes.app

          sudo cp -R ~/DNA.app /Applications/iTunes.app

    4) Fix your dock so that it points to iTunesBACK.app and reassociate any files types

          like mp3 to point to iTunesBACK

     

    Good luck!

  • by kburden000,

    kburden000 kburden000 Jan 13, 2012 11:56 PM in response to kburden000
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 13, 2012 11:56 PM in response to kburden000

    Also this workaround does leave iTunes installed just renamed and I have used this

    workaround on Snow and Lion.

     

    Alternatively you can substitute other behaviors ( like starting Skype ) using the same basic method above just use your app or choice, or a link to your app, instead of the DNA.app.

     

    Maybe Apple will one day realize the following statement:

         Bluetooth != iTunes

    ;-)

  • by shane3547,

    shane3547 shane3547 Jan 14, 2012 2:30 AM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jan 14, 2012 2:30 AM in response to rryk

    Well, since it's blaintantly obvious that Apple is either A) refusing to fix this, or B) doesn't give a ****.

     

    I'm leaving the thread and seriously thinking about where my next upgrade will come from.

  • by acetrip,

    acetrip acetrip Jan 15, 2012 9:31 AM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 15, 2012 9:31 AM in response to rryk

    Same problem here with Arctic P311 bluetooth headset

     

    I want to use them for SKYPE

     

    whenever I start them up and chose "use as audio device"

     

    ITUNES pops up, it is VERY annoying

     

     

    APPLE PLEASE FIX THIS ASAP!

  • by johnny81,

    johnny81 johnny81 Jan 21, 2013 3:26 PM in response to acetrip
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2013 3:26 PM in response to acetrip

    Go to sytem preferences

    Go to bluetooth

    Highlight the RF-MBA2

    Click Advanced

    Check reject incoming audio request.  This should do it.

  • by steveburchett,

    steveburchett steveburchett Feb 9, 2013 1:03 PM in response to johnny81
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 9, 2013 1:03 PM in response to johnny81

    System preferences/Advanced/etc. did not work.

     

    I am using Logitech H800 bluetooth headset. I also am tired of iTunes autorunning when I hook up my headset. I am not opposed to iTunes itself, but I will endeavor to uninstall it from my work computer if I do not find a solution to this problem.

     

    Even though I have 8GB of RAM, I have to carefully manage my memory. I often have running several Adobe Creative Suite applications, a web browser, plus Parallels Desktop with 4GB of memory assigned to it. Having to often reboot anyway, I hate the fact that an additional program has to be factored into the equation-- with no benefit to me at that time.

     

    I am a die-hard Apple fan from longer than many of you have been alive. When stuff like this happens, it makes me doubt my loyalty. I bleed in six colors!

     

    Steve

  • by FUZZY DUNL0P,

    FUZZY DUNL0P FUZZY DUNL0P Feb 12, 2013 11:12 AM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 12, 2013 11:12 AM in response to rryk

    Same here with the Logitech UE 9000 Bluetooth Headphones. This is driving me nuts.... payed 400 bucks for these headphones. funny as logitech says they were 'built for apple'.

    how could this even happen? who does the programming for apple, steve ballmer or what?! even connecting the headphones is a tough job if they were connected to another device before.

     

    i wonder why apples product and service quality decreases more and more but their prizes don't. other companies use to decrease in both ways.

  • by Periphrast,

    Periphrast Periphrast Feb 25, 2013 3:08 PM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 25, 2013 3:08 PM in response to rryk

    You can use an app called Bluetooth Proximity to run an apple script whenever your headset goes out of range.  Then, at least, restarts won't trigger iTunes and shred whatever's left of your RAM on older machines.

     

    One catch: you need to find or write the script that stops iTunes from launching.

  • by Dr. 9Lives,

    Dr. 9Lives Dr. 9Lives Mar 3, 2013 1:32 PM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2013 1:32 PM in response to rryk

    I'm using a SoundFreaq bluetooth speaker and have the same issue and it drives me crazy.  I must say that since upgrading to Mountain Lion it has been as if Apple was trying to give me a Windows experience.  Takes much longer to boot up the computer, I have had lots of compatibility issues, cannot get my Sonos music library to update, had to buy the new MS Office for Mac as my previous version became obsolete and on and on.  I upgraded mainly to get Apple TV with mirroring capability but have been really disappointed with that as well.  I cannot mirror DVDs unless I buy a program that coverts and stores the movie on my hard drive, when I do mirror the streaming is jerky. 

    Past upgrades have been seamless and impressive.  This has been pathetic.

  • by Wolf Harper,

    Wolf Harper Wolf Harper Apr 26, 2013 4:01 PM in response to rryk
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 4:01 PM in response to rryk

    Copy this into a plain text file called "killitunes".

    Right before you connect headphones, go to terminal.  Go "perl killitunes".

    If anything launches iTunes (including you), this program force-quits it.

    This program auto-quits, or you can quit it with ctrl-C.

     

    #!/usr/bin/perl

     

    my $endtime = time + 300;        # will quit in 300 seconds. Change at will.

     

    while (time < $endtime)  {

      foreach (`ps -aef`)  {          # read each line into special variable $_

        next if (not m=/iTunes.app/=);    # skip if not part of iTunes app

        next if (not m=/iTunes =);        # skip if not the main iTunes program

        my $pid = substr ($_, 6, 5);      # parse out 5-digit process ID

        system "kill $pid";               # force quit that process ID

        print "Killed $pid $_\n";         # tell user.     \n is return

      }  # end foreach

      sleep (2);                          # wait 2 seconds to avoid overload

    }  # end while time

     

  • by steveburchett,

    steveburchett steveburchett Apr 26, 2013 10:18 PM in response to Wolf Harper
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2013 10:18 PM in response to Wolf Harper

    If it runs at all, that is unacceptable.

     

    Easier would be to just manually quit iTunes.

     

    Or am I missing something here?

     

    Steve

  • by Imp68,

    Imp68 Imp68 Apr 27, 2013 5:33 AM in response to steveburchett
    Level 4 (2,633 points)
    Apr 27, 2013 5:33 AM in response to steveburchett

    I don't have any way to test this, but you could try removing ituneshelper from system preferences >> users and groups >> login items, then rebooting.  I'm guessing that may be what's listening in the background, since that's used to recognize ios devices being plugged in.

  • by steveburchett,

    steveburchett steveburchett Apr 28, 2013 2:58 PM in response to Imp68
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 28, 2013 2:58 PM in response to Imp68

    I do believe that you have solved my problem! I am having trouble believing it was something that simple, but I applaud your Mac OS knowledge, sir!

     

    I will report back if the problem returns, but I consider this solved. Kudos!

     

    Steve

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