bluetooth music issues after iOS6 update

CrzyP wrote:

When iOS 5 was released, there was a Bluetooth bug with the volume. Apple released an update for the volume problem about six weeks later if my memory serves me correctly.

Showing they will fix it if it's their bug; we just don't know yet.

If you have a device with the issue, report it to AppleCare; if it's not Apple's bug Apple will forward the reports on to the vendors.

Quite frankly, I suspect Apple and/or the vendors already have it root caused unless it's something not common to all iOS 6 devices (e.g. if upgraded iOS devices fail, but new ones do not.)

Note that many had similar issues with Mazda head ends and iOS 5:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3381837?start=90&tstart=0

and that issue turned out to be:

10-Jul-2012 02:19 PM Apple Developer Bug Reporting Team :

Engineering has provided the following feedback regarding this issue:

We discussed this issue with the manufacturer. They acknowledged there is a critical bug on their platform, as they require the phone to support no more than AVRCP 1.3. Because iOS supports AVRCP 1.4 since 5.0, they do not enable & use any AVRCP 1.3 feature. The bug has been fixed on their newer platforms.

One can imagine their firmware might have been written with a statement such as "if AVRCP_VERSION == 1.3" rather than ">= 1.3."

Since the version of AVRCP supported has, to the best of my knowledge, remained 1.4, it's unclear what features/differences may be confusing units talking to iOS 6.

I ran into this problem with my 4S and my 2011 Subaru's stereo w/ BT audio streaming, but it didn't happen right away. It happened to me about a week after upgrading to iOS 6, and I'm not sure exactly what caused it. One day, the display on the stereo just said 'STOP' instead of the track, artist, etc. Music would still play, and the iPhone would respond to the track skip buttons, but it woudn't automatically resume playing when the car was started, nor would it automatically play the next track; it would just stop until I hit the 'next track' button on the iPhone itself. Rebooting the phone didn't help, and neither did re-pairing it with the car stereo.

I did find a workaround, though, and it's pretty simple: I rebooted my iPhone, and when it came back up, I force-closed the music app. I then turned on the car & allowed the stereo to connect to the iPhone. At that point, the stereo still showed 'STOP', but when I manually launched the music app and started playing songs, everything started working normally again. Track listings displayed on the stereo properly, and the iPhone would avance songs automatically again. So far, I've only had to do this once.

This stinks to me more of a bug in the music app than the Bluetooth stack, as other apps that play through BT audio don't seem to be affected.

So good news to anyone else who has a Pioneer head unit. Pioneer has completed their compatibility testing of most of all of their newer head units using iOS 6 running on iPhone 4/4S and 5. So it looks like there is a clear AVRCP issue with a number of their head units (including mine unfortunately) for all iPhone models and it looks like Pioneer is planning to release a firmware update to address the issue, although an ETA has not yet been announced. Maybe this actually is an issue with the software on the other devices and not iOS 6. Either way Apple needs to be working more closely with device manufacturers to ensure compatibiliy with features prior to public release.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Apple+Compatibility

mkrochmalnek wrote:

So good news to anyone else who has a Pioneer head unit. Pioneer has completed their compatibility testing of most of all of their newer head units using iOS 6 running on iPhone 4/4S and 5. So it looks like there is a clear AVRCP issue with a number of their head units (including mine unfortunately) for all iPhone models and it looks like Pioneer is planning to release a firmware update to address the issue, although an ETA has not yet been announced. Maybe this actually is an issue with the software on the other devices and not iOS 6. Either way Apple needs to be working more closely with device manufacturers to ensure compatibiliy with features prior to public release.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Apple+Compatibility

Good news indeed, only question is, that seems to be for US models only, wonder when the rest of Pioneer will get their act together...

And also who is releasing the FW update, Pioneer or Apple? For now it seems to be a Pioneer issue.

My old iphone 4s with IOS 6 bluetooth music worked in my car. Today Got new 4s phone with new IOS 6 and did not work in car, phone calls would come in through Bluetooth but music didn't. Weird...called apple couldn't fix it, went to apple store and they reset the phone and music worked via bluetooth in store when paired with a music device. came back to the car paired it off again, music did not work. So, I reset the whole navigation system and deleted all personal data. Once that done I paired again my iPhone 4S and low and behold my music worked by Bluetooth!!!! Hope this info please.

Im too having the same problems with the pioneer DEH-6400BT

I mailed pioneer and had this response

We are aware of the changes Apple have put in place on the iOS6 but they
only came to light when the update was released. Everyone else is using
v1.3 for Bluetooth Audio control so Apple decided to change to 1.4! We are
currently in the process of running both iOS6 and iPhone 5 through all our
products to confirm compatibility and look at working out what can be do to
get these working with our existing product range. As and when updates
become available they will be released on our website so if you register
yourself and your product on our site you should receive and email to let
you know.

And interestingly, their is a difference with the terminology on the EU site.

EU: BT software update needed (To Be Announced)

US: FW Update Required - ETA TBA

So it looks like it is Pioneer's fault and they will be releasing updates for the head units... and iOS 6.0.1 is not what we are looking for...

I fixed my issue. My head unit can sync via Bluetooth with a audio device, a phone, or a device that is both an audio device AND a phone (iPhone). When I upgraded my iPhone to 6.01 it changed it to an audio device only. I deleted my iPhone from the head unit's memory and re-synced it as a phone with audio capabilities. Works as before.

Interesting - just received this email as a reply from Mazda Australia:

Thank you for contacting us in regards to your HandsFree system.

We have very rigorous testing procedures and unfortunately, iPhone 5 did not pass our testing for compatibility with the Mazda HandsFree system. There were too many issues with the phone.

We are only able to provide support for the compatible phones listed on www.mazdahandsfree.com.au. The phone has to have Bluetooth and a "handsfree" profile and to have passed our testing in order to be compatible. A "headset" profile is not compatible with the Mazda HandsFree system. We do not have any other knowledge regarding this phone or have any troubleshooting tips.

And I just found this:

http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/motor-news/iphone-strikes-car-trouble-20121128 -2adj0.html

--

Make Apple aware of this discussion via Twitter:

http://twitter.com/saphod/status/273710233698856960

Message was edited by: Saphod

It looks like Apple just released a doc that might explain why this is happening, here -> Some car stereos require a firmware update for AVRCP 1.4 Bluetooth compatibility

What receiver do you have? Is it on the list in the article above?

My mom was having the same problem with her 2012 Honda CRV. I fixed it the same way I fixed the issue for my 2010 Toyota Tundra (not one connection issue after I did this for my Tundra). I deleted the existing bluetooth profile for my moms iPhone (from before she upgraded to 6.0) and then established a new connection with the phone through the car head unit and now it works. We will see if it lasts, but I turned the car on and off a few times to see, and it connected right away. I was able to make phone calls, play music, and use voice controls all through her car bluetooth system.

It seems that the key in both cases was deleting any existing profiles in the car head unit that were established before upgrading to 6.0 and then restablishing a new connection.

I just did mine (AVH-P2400BT North America Unit) and it says successful and displays the current firmware. I can stream audio to it just fine and the controls all work like they used to. Metadata does not look to be working though but I can live with that.

EDIT-After a couple power cycles metadata is back and auto play. It works just like it did before IOS6....Thumbs up to Pioneer for dropping this firmware.

I wasnt worried about bricking it as the half *** BT functionality was virtually useless to me anyhow.

I have just update my AVH-8400BT with my Mac Book (Lion).

The procedure is simple.

First, I have clear bluetooth memory, than "pair" Mac Book with Pioneer and browse in your head unit. Activate the "software upgrade mode" in your head unit and drag and drop the file .plf in folder "update". It should automatically start updating and in one minute displaying "Completed".

Upgrading works, now I can view the metedata (artist, title, ecc) on my unit display, and the controls for change song.

But very sh****t, I can't ever browse the songs in my iPhone library and now I can't see the playlists. Before with iOS 5 was possible.

Also the time bar doesn't works fine.

Consideration about Pioneer: I think this update is bad made, it's not completely and doesn't work fine. It's not possible, my AVH-8400BT is the last model "top de gamme" and I find many problems. I think also that we have waiting so many time for this half-update. Not good for Pioneer, the next time I think to purchase an other brand.

(Sorry my english)

I just updated my AVH-P3400BH with the euro update. I had to use my iMac, since I no longer have a laptop. I tried 6 or 7 times with various errors. Bluetooth disconnects, unit hung on update screen, etc. Finally success. All seems to work, including metadata and auto start. Two things I missed with iO6.

fjr_birddog wrote:

The "Updating" took a little over a minute, and the display went to "Completed". After verifying the correct software version, I powered up the iPhone and tested it. Thank you, Pioneer for taking care of your customers for an issue you didn't cause.

I am still very disappointed in Apple for "breaking" Bluetooth compatibility. Pioneer has made it right, but I know from reading all these forums that hundreds of other devices no longer function as desired or expected, and many will have no chance for a firmware update.

You have it completely wrong. Apple implemented to the BT 4.0 standard which is compatible with BT 2.1 (if the BT 2.1 drivers are written correctly). One of the big advantages of BT 4 is lower power consumption. The iPhone 5 or 4S with iOS 6 works great with BT 2.1 drivers that were written correctly. Obviously, users who have good BT 2 implementations aren't posting here since they don't have any problems. Pioneer's drivers had errors making them incompatible with BT 4 (anybody's BT 4 not just Apple's).

Since Pioneer had bad drivers they were obligated to correct them and they did so with a firmware update.

Apple didn't break BT compatibility. Pioneer's implementation didn't conform properly to the BT 2.1 standard resulting in a problem.

You were inconvenienced but blame Pioneer not Apple. Give Pioneer credit though for fixing their problem.