Bluetooth compatibility issues

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Level 1

9 points

Bluetooth compatibility issues

I totally "get" that Bluetooth functionality with non-Apple devices (other than certain categories like cars) is intentionally limited, but the current situation with regards to compatibility is beyond ridiculous. I went out and bought a "modern" Bluetooth dongle for my Windows 7 PC to see if it would at least pair with my iPhone, the brand I bought happened to be Kensington which uses the Qualcomm/CSR Bluetooth protocol stack (which apparently installs over whatever default stack Windows provides, which would be the operable default if say you purchased OEM hardware with an attached USB Bluetooth dongle, I haven't personally seen that but I suppose it's possible). If I had purchased a different brand it might have come with the Broadcom/Widcomm stack, it's also fairly common to encounter the Toshiba stack in a Windows environment, that makes 4 different possibilities for the PC itself. Now I understand the iPhone itself uses the Blue Magic 3.0 stack, the Android phone I also have apparently runs on Google's own stack that they call BlueDroid. Now forget for a moment whether what I have is "intended to be an authorized mode or transfer" within Apple's or Android's operating or marketing perspectives, NONE OF THESE THREE DEVICES WILL EVEN "PAIR" OR CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER. And why would you think they would? NO PAIR OF THEM HAS THE SAME BLUETOOTH STACK VENDOR! No matter who you're trying to get help from the BEST support you're going to get is "well we're correct, IT'S THE OTHER STACK VENDOR WHO'S WRONG"! And have you tried getting support from an outfit like CSR now that they've been purchased by Qualcomm? You can't even get them to issue a support ticket #, let alone honor it! I can't exclusively blame Apple for this situation but they're acting every bit as irrationally about this as everyone else, so all I have to say is COME ON PEOPLE, AREN'T THERE ANY ADULTS IN THIS ROOM?

Posted on Dec 26, 2016 8:04 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 19, 2017 6:51 AM in response to jeffcamar

I have the same problem using a Bluetooth vizio sound bar. As far as Apple goes, forget about them. I don't think Mac users with Bluetooth problems are a priority. The long term solution for me is to replace my Apple products with high end products running Windows, android etc. The most important thing for a user is that things work seamlessly.

The Apple mystique is forever lost on me. Apple needs me and people like you to buy their products. Jobs understood this, Tim Cook doesn't. The first time Jobs left Apple, Apple went down the tubes until he came back. He is never coming back this time. The great man is gone forever.

Apple will rue the day they choose to ignore OS X issues. Mark my words. They are no longer the only game in town. These annoyances, like willful incompatibility with Bluetooth devices will sink their ship in the long run.

I now use an old all-in-one HP to play music. Even being years old, with a lessor sound card, the result is what I want, music without distortions.

Good luck on getting an answer from Apple, but you and I are in a black hole, no one from Apple will read your message or my message. They simply have more important things to do, like being big shots.

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