Apple Said to Be Driving Market Growth of Ultra Wideband Applications

[MacRumors]

Apple's inclusion of Ultra Wideband chips in its devices has driven growth in research into the technology and its potential applications, according to a new report by DigiTimes.

Ultra Wideband is a short-range, low-power radio technology that is able to provide more precise indoor positioning than Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi. The distance between two UWB devices can be measured precisely by calculating the time that it takes for a radio wave to pass between them.

Apple's iPhones have included it in the last two series via its custom U1 chip, with other Apple products also supporting UWB. According to today's report, Apple's promotion of Ultra Wideband has been the driving factor behind increased take-up of the technology:

Apple has adopted the UWB technology for iPhone 11 and 12 series, Apple Watch 6 and HomePod mini, while Samsung Electronics has launched UWB-enabled smartphones including the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy Flip 2 and China-based Xiaomi has also offered a UWB-enabled smartphone model, Digitimes Research indicated.

Apple's HomePod 14.4 beta is set to introduce new HomePod mini music handoff functionality that takes advantage of the U1 chip in the device: When an ‌iPhone‌ is near a ‌HomePod mini‌, it begins a soft haptic touch rhythm that gets faster and faster as the ‌iPhone‌ gets closer, until the interface to transfer a song between the ‌HomePod mini‌ and the ‌iPhone‌ opens.

This functionality will make handoff quicker and more reliable on a ‌HomePod mini‌ and an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, thanks to the U1 chips that let the devices better understand where they are in relation to one another.

Apple's rumored "AirTags" will also feature ultra wideband tech, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, while Tile is said to be planning to introduce an upgraded series of item trackers that include a UWB chip for more precise tracking.

Apple opened up its U1 chip to developers in iOS 14 with a "Nearby Interaction" framework, which can stream distance and relative direction between U1-equipped devices, paving the way for new spatial-related user experiences.

Just last week, BMW announced future plans to roll out Digital Key Plus, an enhanced version of Apple's Car Keys feature that incorporates Ultra Wideband technology, enabling drivers to unlock and start their vehicle without needing to take their iPhone out of their pocket or bag.

But with more and more products including the technology, there have been some notable (and surprising) exceptions: Apple's 2020 iPad Pro and new AirPods Max headphones don't include a U1 chip and therefore won't be compatible with future potential Ultra Wideband applications.

Article Link: Apple Said to Be Driving Market Growth of Ultra Wideband Applications

 

[Justin Cymbal]

The HomePod mini is awesome!

I’m currently using 2 HomePod mini’s in my living room connected to my Apple TV for the TV’s sound and it works great!

The potential for Apple’s U1 chip is huge! Looking forward to future improvements!

 

[gridlocked]

It's a good thing Intel is not threatened by a 'lifestyle company' lmao

 

[Shanghaichica]

Nobody was doing it before Apple started it.

 

[bviktor]

The HomePod mini is awesome!

I’m currently using 2 HomePod mini’s in my living room connected to my Apple TV for the TV’s sound and it works great!

The potential for Apple’s U1 chip is huge! Looking forward to future improvements!

What's awesome about it over a regular BT speaker, like a JBL Charge or something? I'm trying to find a reason to replace mine with this, but couldn't come up with any just yet.

 

[The Game 161]

and isn't there an update to make the HomePod mini's even better soon? and air tags are next. no doubt I will look into getting some of these once the world gets back to normal.for certain things this will be very useful

 

[centauratlas]

Now the Home Pod just needs and update to include it.

Maybe the Apple TV to be able to show you where the remote is?

 

[velocityg4]

It's a good thing Intel is not threatened by a 'lifestyle company' lmao

I believe the CEO's comment was meant in the reverse. Shaming the company for letting a "lifestyle company" beat them on their home turf. When Intel once reigned supreme.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

It's a good thing Intel is not threatened by a 'lifestyle company' lmao

No one said that.

 

[MacAddictPM]

No one said that.

Well media reports have stated the new Intel CEO did indeed utter those words to his staff. Apparently he said, “We have to deliver better products to the PC ecosystem than any possible thing that a lifestyle company in Cupertino makes. We have to be that good, in the future.” Check out the article in TechRadar.

 

[Mr Beardsley]

I work at a company that relies on bluetooth, and it is horrible. Trying to get accurate ranging information of iBeacons or BLE beacons is very difficult. Speaking of Intel, their bluetooth hardware and drivers for Windows are so very bad. Ever wonder why all the wireless mice come with their own radio transmitter unlike Apple's Magic Mouse? At least on Apple bluetooth is mostly reliable.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Well media reports have stated the new Intel CEO did indeed utter those words to his staff. Apparently he said, “We have to deliver better products to the PC ecosystem than any possible thing that a lifestyle company in Cupertino makes. We have to be that good, in the future.” Check out the article in TechRadar.

He didn't say they were "not threatened by" Apple though. He was making the exact opposite point.

 

[JPSaltzman]

I know it's "just me," but that sure looks like a vanilla-scented candle inside some overpriced container (minus the wick) ... Something you'd see for sale on Gwyneth Paltro's Goop site -- you know... that exploding Goop Candle....

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

I know it's "just me," but that sure looks like a vanilla-scented candle inside some overpriced container (minus the wick) ... Something you'd see for sale on Gwyneth Paltro's Goop site -- you know... that exploding Goop Candle....

It looks better in the flesh.

 

[coachgq]

The HomePod mini is awesome!

I’m currently using 2 HomePod mini’s in my living room connected to my Apple TV for the TV’s sound and it works great!

The potential for Apple’s U1 chip is huge! Looking forward to future improvements!

I'm blown away by the difference in 1 mini vs 2 minis. The 2 minis stereo-paired really make a great sound.

 

[citysnaps]

What's awesome about it over a regular BT speaker, like a JBL Charge or something? I'm trying to find a reason to replace mine with this, but couldn't come up with any just yet.

HomePods (including the Mini) are unique in that they're always on, waiting for a user command. And require no other device being nearby, powered on, booted up, and connected. Such as a computer, phone, tablet, etc.

From 20 feet away I can say a command like, "Siri, play blues," and within a couple seconds be treated to a nice collection of all I can eat blues music via Apple Music. That's just a simple example. I could also say, "Siri, play Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson." And it just happens, with no other devices being powered up and connected (except, obviously, a WiFi and internet connection).

A regular bluetooth speaker cannot give me the above experience. That's why I own five HomePods (and two Minis) in different rooms.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Speaking of Intel, their bluetooth hardware and drivers for Windows are so very bad. Ever wonder why all the wireless mice come with their own radio transmitter unlike Apple's Magic Mouse? At least on Apple bluetooth is mostly reliable.

You know, I always wondered about that. I figured that they must include those dongles and folks use them because they’re there, not because they HAD to. Didn’t even think about the fact that it’s another case of Intel being unable to do excel at anything other than CPU’s (and hit a pause on the “excel” part awhile ago).

 

[incoherent_1]

I work at a company that relies on bluetooth, and it is horrible. Trying to get accurate ranging information of iBeacons or BLE beacons is very difficult. Speaking of Intel, their bluetooth hardware and drivers for Windows are so very bad. Ever wonder why all the wireless mice come with their own radio transmitter unlike Apple's Magic Mouse? At least on Apple bluetooth is mostly reliable.

Totally agree, although I find it so bizarre that some Bluetooth devices (keyboards, mice, my Sonos Move) work FLAWLESSLY on BT, while many many many other devices are just trash and almost always require a frustrating 5-15 minute re-pairing process every time you touch them. Maybe someone smarter than I can explain why some work and others don’t.

 

[_Spinn_]

I look forward to seeing even more use for Ultra Wideband in the future.

 

[macfacts]

So the killer app for this tech? Marco Polo game?

 

[MacBH928]

I don't understand wireless radio technology but Bluetooth is a relic, it was used to send data from one nokia phone to the other like in early 2000. Its unreliable and things continously drop, have limited speed, and latency. There should be some better technology now for this kind of thing. I know it got improved of the years, but can't we find something better by now?

 

[bviktor]

HomePods (including the Mini) are unique in that they're always on, waiting for a user command. And require no other device being nearby, powered on, booted up, and connected. Such as a computer, phone, tablet, etc.

From 20 feet away I can say a command like, "Siri, play blues," and within a couple seconds be treated to a nice collection of all I can eat blues music via Apple Music. That's just a simple example. I could also say, "Siri, play Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson." And it just happens, with no other devices being powered up and connected (except, obviously, a WiFi and internet connection).

A regular bluetooth speaker cannot give me the above experience. That's why I own five HomePods (and two Minis) in different rooms.

Ah. Well I don't use Siri, nor do I plan to start using it, so that's not really a use case for me. Thanks though.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So the killer app for this tech? Marco Polo game?

The accuracy is such that attaching some to the body could do motion capture as well. I’d imagine the killer app hasn’t been invented yet because the tech isn’t in the right person’s hands right now. Or, maybe it is, but the developer’s a quiet, NDA covered beta tester

 

[falainber]

HomePods (including the Mini) are unique in that they're always on, waiting for a user command. And require no other device being nearby, powered on, booted up, and connected. Such as a computer, phone, tablet, etc.

From 20 feet away I can say a command like, "Siri, play blues," and within a couple seconds be treated to a nice collection of all I can eat blues music via Apple Music. That's just a simple example. I could also say, "Siri, play Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson." And it just happens, with no other devices being powered up and connected (except, obviously, a WiFi and internet connection).

A regular bluetooth speaker cannot give me the above experience. That's why I own five HomePods (and two Minis) in different rooms.

They are not unique by any means. All AI assisted speakers work like that. They are just different from BT only speakers.

 

[Ivanovitchk]

I work at a company that relies on bluetooth, and it is horrible. Trying to get accurate ranging information of iBeacons or BLE beacons is very difficult. Speaking of Intel, their bluetooth hardware and drivers for Windows are so very bad. Ever wonder why all the wireless mice come with their own radio transmitter unlike Apple's Magic Mouse? At least on Apple bluetooth is mostly reliable.

future rev of bluetooth will include HADM (high accuracy distance measurement) which uses a similar technique as UWB but will be probably cheaper & lower power, tradeof being that it'll be less accurate than UWB (like half a meter instead of centimeters).