AirBuddy Extends iOS-Like AirPods Integration to Mac

[MacRumors]

Well-known developer and 9to5Mac contributor Guilherme Rambo has released a new macOS utility named AirBuddy that extends iOS-like AirPods integration to the Mac. We were provided a copy of the utility to try out in advance.

AirBuddy comes with a helper tool that allows you to enable the utility for AirPods. The helper tool also lets you choose where the floating AirPods status window appears on the desktop: left, center, or right.

Then, when you open the AirPods case near your Mac, the status window automatically appears with the battery life of the AirPods and case, just like on an iPhone. The window also has a one-click shortcut to connect the AirPods.

In our brief testing, AirBuddy worked quite seamlessly, although the status window did not always open. Rambo says the app relies on several factors to determine whether to show the status window, including the distance of the AirPods to your Mac, whether the AirPods are currently in use by another device, and so forth.

It is also possible to add AirBuddy as a Notification Center widget on Mac that displays the battery life of not only the AirPods and case, but the Mac itself, other headphones equipped with the Apple W1 chip like the BeatsX, Beats Solo3, and Powerbeats3, and other trusted, Wi-Fi-connected devices.

AirBuddy requires a Mac with Bluetooth LE and macOS Mojave. The app is available via Gumroad for any payment of $5 or more.

Update: Beats headphones clarification.

Article Link: AirBuddy Extends iOS-Like AirPods Integration to Mac

 

[Joe Rossignol]

(Yes, the weather here sucks )

 

[benshive]

In our brief testing, AirBuddy worked quite seamlessly, although the status window did not always open.

I've found that it doesn't always open on iOS either.

 

[nutmac]

Pretty nice stuff and looks very native. So much that Apple should "Sherlock it" on macOS 10.15.

Since macOS is largely neglected, I doubt it would actually happen. So AirPods users should support the developer.

 

[Gorms]

Ahhh nice, I’ve seen him showing screens of this on Twitter and was hoping it’d get released. I have no idea why Apple hasn’t natively integrated this behaviour in macOS already.

 

[joshwenke]

I feel like this should be a native macOS feature...

 

[Sweetfeld28]

I agree, Apple should incorporate some more of the iOS software to be able to connect some of the 'accessories' like airpods in the macOS... but i'm sure they are sitting on that to announce it as a feature to the next macOS release. ha

Awesome idea though.

 

[Imdougurnot]

I've found that it doesn't always open on iOS either.

This doesn’t happen on any of my devices at all.

 

[imola.zhp]

Does this work with Beats X?

 

[cmaier]

Looking forward to trying this with my Beats 3’s.

 

[MichaPh]

Does this work with Beats X?

Bought it for my BeatsX and I cannot get it to work. If you read the developers web page it seams like you can only get battery status with other w1 headphones than AirPods. MacRumors text is ambiguous. The should update the text.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Biggest takeaway - learned about Gumroad. Looks quite neat. Really wish that Apple would knock it off with the $100+/year/developer nonsense of the iOS App Store.

 

[Mac 128]

I've found that it doesn't always open on iOS either.

This doesn’t happen on any of my devices at all.

Happens on mine too sometimes.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Purchased. Works on my 2017 MBP. Nice! Correctly shows charging too. Took a few seconds the first time, now it opens instantly. I use my AirPods a lot with my MBP so this is very useful. Thanks!

 

[imola.zhp]

Bought it for my BeatsX and I cannot get it to work. If you read the developers web page it seams like you can only get battery status with other w1 headphones than AirPods. MacRumors text is ambiguous. The should update the text.

Thanks for sharing, maybe it will come later.

 

[normalgeek]

Notable issue: Music doesn't pause when you pull an AirPod out of your ear.

Instead it switches to computer speakers. Could be disruptive in a library setting. Unintuitive for folks that have gotten used to auto-pause.


Edit: Now seems to be pausing fine -must've been a glitch before

 

[Mikey44]

I like this tool, but I don't know, a minimum of $5? Seems like a lot for a simple utility that I can see somewhat within MacOS already, under the sound menu.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Very Cool but not sure if it’s worth $5. It’s not that cumbersome to just view Battery Life from menu bar > sound.

 

[viss]

Works like a charm, like it a lot.

 

[trusso]

Pretty nice stuff and looks very native. So much that Apple should "Sherlock it" on macOS 10.15.

You've been around a while.

Believe it or not, Karelia's Watson page is still up (albeit, unsupported): http://www.karelia.com/watson/

 

[maxfromdenmark]

I got the feeling that Apple should hire that guy

 

[aaronhead14]

I'm gonna be honest... having never owned AirPods (yet), I genuinely thought this was already a native feature in macOS. It's pretty lame that it's not.

 

[ealeks]

I prefer ToothFairy app - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toothfairy/id1191449274?mt=12
No need for beautiful UI covering half of a screen or complex algorithms to determine when to show it. Just discreet icon for one-click connect at any time.

 

[dzhukov]

Works well so far. One note though - it shows some random battery percentage (like 60 or 81) for.. my iMac

 

[69Mustang]

I like this tool, but I don't know, a minimum of $5? Seems like a lot for a simple utility that I can see somewhat within MacOS already, under the sound menu.

C'mon guys...

Very Cool but not sure if it’s worth $5. It’s not that cumbersome to just view Battery Life from menu bar > sound.

It's only a single cup of coffee

But seriously, it ain't a subscription or IAP.