Out of curiosity i just turned on BT on my iPhone 5S and Late 2013 Retina Macbook Pro... I just got the message that 'This device is not supported' looks like Bluetooth is sucking hard as ever, now I remember why I don't particularly like it, bash WiFi all you like but I've never had problems getting it to work.
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Yosemite 'Handoff' Feature Likely Limited to Macs with Bluetooth LE
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Retina Macs just aren't worth it
Until one can replace the SSD in the new Macs, I'm going to stick with my 17" MBP. Those retina versions seem to be the epitome of Less is More. About 1/3 more money for fewer features.
Oh well, I'll just have to live without the shiny new iOS integration features. It'll be hard I know, but ho hum, I've survived this long without them...
Meh.
Until one can replace the SSD in the new Macs, I'm going to stick with my 17" MBP. Those retina versions seem to be the epitome of Less is More. About 1/3 more money for fewer features.
Oh well, I'll just have to live without the shiny new iOS integration features. It'll be hard I know, but ho hum, I've survived this long without them...
Meh.
In the change log for Beta 2, under the Phone section it mentions a known issue:
-Phone call relay uses Bluetooth when it should be using Wi-Fi. Since not all devices have the necessary Bluetooth support, this may fail on some hardware.
Perhaps this is a sign that Wi-fi maybe be an option for HandOff...
-Phone call relay uses Bluetooth when it should be using Wi-Fi. Since not all devices have the necessary Bluetooth support, this may fail on some hardware.
Perhaps this is a sign that Wi-fi maybe be an option for HandOff...
Partially because
chekz0414 said:
And because:
Part of it is arrogance, part of it is pushing users to upgrade to newer devices and growing the platform through lock-in, but a large part of it is cutting development resources required to support a huge number of chips/devices. By only allowing BT 4.0 LE and only allowing built-in chips, the number of test configurations and driver bug workarounds that have to be written is significantly reduced. Part of the reason Apple equipment often "just works" is because they can exhaustively test all supported configurations. And, by requiring BT LE, the feature can be enabled without you noticing a significant decrease in battery life. Apple takes a much larger PR hit by the "iOS 8 reduces battery life" headlines than they do the "not all features will work on iOS 8" ones.
Less is more? I know there's a few diehards still in love with those 17" mammoth displays but really? What am I missing? An optical drive? Haven't needed to use a disc yet. Firewire? Never used it in my life. Ethernet is the only thing I wouldn't mind having but I'm perfectly fine living without it. Thinner, lighter, faster, longer battery life.
I hope you are being sarcastic. A computer that cost 1500 in 2011, is not obsolete in early 2014 years.
A PowerMac G5 Quad is still useful for most tasks and that came out in 2005.
I'm typing this message and managing most of my life with an iPhone 4S which I got the same year as my 2011 MBP. Not ancient at all. Runs iOS very well and is comparably with every app. It also supports handoff in iOS 8.
Geez, most tech lasts far longer than 3 years.
I don't know why everyone is surprised? New software features not supporting old hardware. Wow didn't expect that!!! 
Then it doesn't need the newer WiFi chip. Are you sure you're not getting it confused with Powernap?
I have BT4 dongle in my MBP Mid2010 and it still says it's not available even when active (Using Bluetooth Explorer).
It disgraceful that Apple are only allowing the feature for inbuilt BT4. It clearly a ploy to get users to upgrade. It's all about the ecosystem...
It disgraceful that Apple are only allowing the feature for inbuilt BT4. It clearly a ploy to get users to upgrade. It's all about the ecosystem...
Strange that it supports 2011 iOS devices and not 2011 MacBook Pro's. Sort of inconvenient for me who bought my iPhone 4S and 13" MBP that year -_-
Sorry if this question has been answered. I bought my rMBP in December of 2012. My bluetooth version is Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.2.4f1 13674. Will handoff work with my computer?
the reason why I am asking is that the information in the picture with the red around it is not in my profile. I will be pretty bent if it's not supported seeing as iff it is less than 2 years old.
Thank you in advance.
the reason why I am asking is that the information in the picture with the red around it is not in my profile. I will be pretty bent if it's not supported seeing as iff it is less than 2 years old.
Thank you in advance.
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It's not arrogance, it's not an upgrade push, it's not because of the devices.
It's because BLE has a quicker and easier to implement connection sequence than classic bluetooth. Plus BLE uses less energy; when you're doing constant communication between your iDevice and your Mac you don't want to drain your battery excessively.
Historically, if an external device had the same chipset as an apple device the system would support it. Hopefully that'll be the case here as well.
It's a great ecosystem when it does work. I can set up an FTP sever with literally the click of a button. That is crazy!
But it's because I'm using a MacBook Pro, running OSX, with Server.app, on an AirPort network with 3 Airport Expresses and a master AirPort Extreme. 101% Apple.
But I hate when they seemingly needlessly exclude older devices from easily implemented software updates.
The iPhone 4 can use Siri and everybody knows it. It's entirely cloud based for crying out loud!
This seems like a similarly uncool lack of support for very capable Macintoshs.
What I don't understand is why desktop Macs are limited. I can understand why battery-based Macs/iOS devices need BT LE for power issues, but why is it a problem with Macs that are plugged in at all times? I'm sure the different BTs can still talk to each other.
If Yosemite is able to work on a Mac Pro/iMac/Mac Mini with BT/WiFi, then it SHOULD be able to do Hand Off.
Just my 2¢
If Yosemite is able to work on a Mac Pro/iMac/Mac Mini with BT/WiFi, then it SHOULD be able to do Hand Off.
Just my 2¢
When viewed within the context of all of Apple's historical software development and feature access decisions, yes, it is all of those things. If I had to rank them, I'd say device support is #1 priority, then upgrades. Upgrades are driven by obsolescence due to a combination of cutting edge features that demand new hardware & a quick culling of old devices from the supported list to, again, reduce the number of supported configurations. And arrogance, like new features to iOS, like MMS or turn by turn directions.
usarioclave said:
This is strong evidence that the number of supported configs is a significant factor. They only support a limited device set via a limited driver set. If upgrading was the most important factor, they'd simply add extra layers beyond driver support preventing it from working.
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Sorry to say this, but being able to see the writing on the screen is important; size matters y'know.
Performance is about the same as a "modern" machine; but whatever, at least I can max out my CPU by ripping a DVD using HandBrake.
Having the ability to change the disk, now SSD, whenever I need is also a bonus. With the same RAM as is available now, I can still run 4 VMWare VMs and still use the machine for something else.
Now stop drinking the kool aid and check out the lack of new features in the "latest" machines -- as pushed by the appropriately named Mr Shiller. They're smaller than necessary; don't have replaceable parts; have shiny shiny displays (no choice of the matt screen for you); don't have an ethernet chuff for secure networks. My machine's battery life's long enough for me (4+ hours, more if I turn off JavaScript). Oh, and have a look at the benchmarks -- three years has moved performance on from 11,051 to 14,418 woo hoo.
Oh well, back on my head...
It does...AirDrop introduced with OS X 10.7 require WiFi card with WiFi Direct support... Bunch of Mac were not supported, for example MacBook before late 2008 model. There was a terminal hack enabling AirDrop and it worked beautifully. I even enabled on my Hackintosh....
Exactly.
But this could have an additional unintended effect for me: It is one less reason to stick with Apple's ecosystem full on.
My (older) Macs are more capable than the newer ones, particularly my 17in MBP. I can do things with it that I cannot with the new stuff. I will NEVER give that up just so I can have this feature.
So, as always, Apple gives, and Apple takes away.
This is actually good news for consumers because it will encourage many of them to buy into new Macs that will greatly enhance their OS X experience with all the latest cutting-edge technologies. The latest generation MacBook Pros offer incredible performance gains over the models from even a couple years ago. Celebrate this news and enjoy the excuse of getting yourself a new Mac - because you'll be glad you did!
And with its Expresscard slot, you have expansion options. All in something I can take with me anywhere (I'm not a 90-pound wuss that can't carry 6.6 lbs).
The last 17 is, and will remain for the foreseeable future, the best computer Apple ever made.
What you have now from them are (increasingly) disposable appliances.
If anyone is happy with those, more power to you.
Close one there. I had already publicly stated that I am done with the mindless yearly Mac OS Fashion Show unless there is a substantial function improvement without loss of features important to me. As an example in retrospect I would have rather kept Mountain Lion than upgrade to Mavericks. I really used the file color labeling in ML, Mav goofed it all up without offering me anything in return.
Hand Off seems like a great feature that in the absence of some other loss would compel me to upgrade. Fortunately now I can stick to my guns because according to the latest info my MP 5,1 cannot do Hand Off.
A little sad, but Yeah.
Hand Off seems like a great feature that in the absence of some other loss would compel me to upgrade. Fortunately now I can stick to my guns because according to the latest info my MP 5,1 cannot do Hand Off.
A little sad, but Yeah.