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Apple Releases New '3E756' AirPods Max Firmware

ApfelKuchen said:
Seems easy enough to understand: They have software improvements that they want to push out to all users, not just those who notice an update is available and then take the time to install it. If it can be handled on a fully-automated basis, then why add the human element to the equation? I find this nearly seductive - a product that automatically improves over time.

Why shouldn’t firmware auto-update? It’s relatively simple device-specific software. Updates will be either bug fixes, power-efficiency tweaks, more-efficient/higher-quality codec algorithms, improved wireless communication profiles, or add compatibility with features delivered by new versions of the serving device’s OS. Is there something on this list a person wouldn’t want?

Unlike a desktop computing environment there’s no need to stay on an older OS in order to support apps that are incompatible with the new OS, there’s nearly never a change to operating control functions (adapt to new/modified UI elements)…

Change logs… this isn’t an open system OS where users are actively engaged in debugging. If you mean the typical Apple-style update notice, “Fixed an issue that could impact connectivity to devices using certain Bluetooth chip sets” Just how many users would find that at all helpful?

Altogether, on what basis would any individual choose to not upgrade? Would it be a properly informed decision, or just an emotional response to change of any sort? Bottom line for me is, if you distrust the company’s ability to improve the product through software, or distrust the company’s motives for issuing new software, then why buy the product in the first place?
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This is all a lot, but my response is shorter.

1. I don’t mind auto-update but it wouldn’t hurt to have the ability to force the update to happen.

2. I would definitely like notes that tell me what changed, and I’d imagine many people would. When any of my devices update, I would like to know what has changed.
 
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I will be curious to see if this solves the issue presented here about Precision Finding in iOS 15. If anyone has any success in getting it installed on an iOS 15 device to confirm, that would be great:

forums.macrumors.com

Has anyone gotten “Precision Finding” for AirPods Pro to work on iOS 15?

Currently the AirPods Max I have do not support it either. I would suspect that a firmware update may be required (just a guess)
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
 
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cmChimera said:
This is all a lot, but my response is shorter.

1. I don’t mind auto-update but it wouldn’t hurt to have the ability to force the update to happen.

2. I would definitely like notes that tell me what changed, and I’d imagine many people would. When any of my devices update, I would like to know what has changed.
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I totally agree. I would like to know what changed. I understand that most people do not care about these things but for us nurds, this is important information that we never get..
 
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freedomlinux said:
Like that time when an AirPods Pro firmware update (2B588) had issues with noise cancelling?
Apple Provides Advice to AirPods Pro Users Experiencing Noise Cancellation or Crackling Sound Issues
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Because the exception doesn’t change the rule. Will there occassionally be an update that induces a new bug? Of course. As the linked article notes, the issue addressed in one update was fixed in the next. For most people it was a matter of automatically broken then automatically fixed.

I’d rather have this than a situation where a product, once shipped, could never be improved. Today’s products are many orders of magnitude more complex than the mechanical devices of the Industrial Age, and are expected to interact with a wide range of other products. Without the flexibility/adaptability enabled by updatable software/firmware it’s likely our products would become obsolescent on a much shorter time frame.
 
odHbo said:
Btw, Spacial Audio sounds amazing on APM. I particularly love The Weeknd - “Blinding Lights”.
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It definitely sounds great on that song. Now Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You” has it too,but sounds regular to me. Doesn’t have that Spacial “Oomph”, if you will.
 
MrMacintoshIII said:
What this update needs to do is absolutely fix the weird connectivity and audio clicking interruptions that don’t ****ing go away until you go back to main iPhone audio and then back to Max. Sometimes takes a few tries.
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defunder said:
And what do you want fixed? The only 2 problems I’ve heard about on here: condensation and 1 side temporarily losing transparency mode (or something like that) seem rare. I’ve not experienced either.
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I'm so glad I came to the comments after a long hiatus. Over on the APM subreddit every time I post about these issues i get downvoted. Even the apple employees look at me like I have tow heads.

These issues should not be present for $600 headphones! I dealt with the audio clicking, and condensation, but the transparency mode not working in one ear was it. I tried everything to get it to fix and nothing would work.

I love the audio quality but just too many issues.
 
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Duke24 said:
It definitely sounds great on that song. Now Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You” has it too,but sounds regular to me. Doesn’t have that Spacial “Oomph”, if you will.
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At least on all of my devices, "So Tonight That I Might See" is available in Lossless and Digital Master, but not Atmos. Unless you're seeing something different, I'm not sure why you'd expect it to sound different if there's no positional audio mix?

Edit: I stand corrected - the album and most of the tracks aren't Atmos, but "Fade..." is. Apologies.
 
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Automated updates and the ability to force an update aren’t mutually exclusive. On my Sony OLED TV, firmware updates are pushed out automatically. But if I want to, I can manually update via the software. Or, if I’m in a big hurry, I can toss the file on usb storage and update that way if it’s an update I want right away (such as a bug fix or new feature update). And i can at least get some idea of what’s been updated via release notes. I know if the updates are fixing an annoyance or improving the user experience.

My Sony headphones and earbuds work the same way.

There’s nothing wrong with automatic updates, and I get that many users would rather it just happen behind the scenes so they never have to think about it.

My point is you can and should have both options if you’re paying for a higher end product.


ApfelKuchen said:
Seems easy enough to understand: They have software improvements that they want to push out to all users, not just those who notice an update is available and then take the time to install it. If it can be handled on a fully-automated basis, then why add the human element to the equation? I find this nearly seductive - a product that automatically improves over time.

Why shouldn’t firmware auto-update? It’s relatively simple device-specific software. Updates will be either bug fixes, power-efficiency tweaks, more-efficient/higher-quality codec algorithms, improved wireless communication profiles, or add compatibility with features delivered by new versions of the serving device’s OS. Is there something on this list a person wouldn’t want?

Unlike a desktop computing environment there’s no need to stay on an older OS in order to support apps that are incompatible with the new OS, there’s nearly never a change to operating control functions (adapt to new/modified UI elements)…
Click to expand...
 
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Managed to get them to update too, however, using an iPad with iOS 14.7.

Update: Anyways, it failed...
 

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defunder said:
And what do you want fixed? The only 2 problems I’ve heard about on here: condensation and 1 side temporarily losing transparency mode (or something like that) seem rare. I’ve not experienced either.

And if you’re waiting for an on/off button, I think you should reconsider. I’m not saying I would be upset if they added one, but it’s really a non-issue, and I’m not sure they’ll ever “give in” on that.

The only real problem is cost, which will get better with time.
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Hoping for a lighter 2nd iteration in a year or two - eben the comparatively light Sony gives me a stiff neck
 
Seems like the low volume issue with the Dolby Atmos masters is fixed! (Nor not 🤷‍♂️)
 
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odHbo said:
Btw, Spacial Audio sounds amazing on APM. I particularly love The Weeknd - “Blinding Lights”.
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Glad you’re enjoying it, but I really do not like how it sounds. Listening to many tracks on APM, disappointed in general but tracks by The Weeknd were a real letdown. IMHO the stereo tracks sound awesome and far better.
 
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cmChimera said:
It does or not?
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Well I think it does, not 100% sure tho. Maybe if someone else can confirm.

For whoever wants to try - Selena’s songs like “Boyfriend”, “Rare”, “She” and “Let me get me” seem to be very well mastered for Atmos. I enjoy them quite a lot. And then there’s some examples such as “Youngblood” which sound like demos…
 
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