Bluetooth LE Adapters Don't Enable OS X Yosemite's 'Handoff' on Older Macs

[gunightess]

I'd be willing to bet that you'll be able to replace the Bluetooth module with one from 2012. They look visually the same to me, and you can pick them up on eBay for like $20. Just make sure you get the the right chipset.

I did find a reference to BCM94331PCIEBT4AX being the right one, but, I have late 2013 retina's, so, I have no need to buy/test a new BT module.

I bought the BT4.0 chips and replaced them in my MacbookPro 13inch early 2011 and Macbook Pro 15inch late2011.

It seems support airdrop and continuity.


iOS8 beta 2 was installed in my iPhone 5s.

I can got the available note about Handoff, but I do not know how to active it.

 

[gunightess]

Where did you buy yours? I'd like to get one before they sell out ...

In China taobao.com http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.54.THDs7n&id=16531683566

It only cost $8.

 

[gunightess]

But I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ACTIVE IT

 

[MacVidCards]

How about MacBooks and Macbook air? Is there a solution of us?

I have a 2013 rMBP module in my 2012 rMBP, haven't tried yet but I imagine it's fine.

All depends on form factor. Forums at iFixit sometimes have useful info.

The issue with some of the retrofits can be if slot is comparable but the other nasty shock is the antennae connector. A guy I was in touch with was working on a retrofit kit and discovered that even when he got a slot adapter the antennae connector on MBP cards was smaller than old style.

They could make these things compatible, but they would rather sell you a $1K machine then a $100 card.

View attachment 477425
But I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ACTIVE IT

FYI, majority of people posting here have no way to read your system profiler report, especially as it is an image and can't be typed into a translator.

Tr switching into English before taking screen shots?

 

[Abazigal]

So for those Apple defenders who say - "Don't fault Apple for using the latest technology. They skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it is now. Your machine is old!", they require BT 4.0 LE for the "best user experience".

Fine, that's fair.

So what's the excuse that adapters won't work? You've now got BT LE 4.0, right?

Apple defenders, reply?

I think it's more that it's simply easier (from Apple's perspective) to hard-code the OS to recognise their Macs based on device model (since they only make so few of them), rather than get it to scan for a bluetooth 4.0 module.

I see it as the same reason why iOS doesn't have cursor support. They didn't see the need for it, so they just didn't bother with it.

 

[gunightess]

I have a 2013 rMBP module in my 2012 rMBP, haven't tried yet but I imagine it's fine.

All depends on form factor. Forums at iFixit sometimes have useful info.

The issue with some of the retrofits can be if slot is comparable but the other nasty shock is the antennae connector. A guy I was in touch with was working on a retrofit kit and discovered that even when he got a slot adapter the antennae connector on MBP cards was smaller than old style.

They could make these things compatible, but they would rather sell you a $1K machine then a $100 card.



FYI, majority of people posting here have no way to read your system profiler report, especially as it is an image and can't be typed into a translator.

Tr switching into English before taking screen shots?

I think the useful information was displayed in English excepted BTLE support which means 低功耗蓝牙 in Chinese.

As u can c, the module of 2011 and 2012 mbp were the same size (not retina). so I do not know what iFixit mean. And the mean point is all the things seems support Handoff, but I can not use it.

 

[imaginex20]

I think the useful information was displayed in English excepted BTLE support which means 低功耗蓝牙 in Chinese.

As u can c, the module of 2011 and 2012 mbp were the same size (not retina). so I do not know what iFixit mean. And the mean point is all the things seems support Handoff, but I can not use it.

In system preferences you need to enable handoff

 

[gunightess]

In system preferences you need to enable handoff

I can not find the handoff icon in my system preferences. can u upload a image?

 

[gunightess]

In system preferences you need to enable handoff

I have enabled it, but can not use~

 

[mko-io]

I think the useful information was displayed in English excepted BTLE support which means 低功耗蓝牙 in Chinese.

As u can c, the module of 2011 and 2012 mbp were the same size (not retina). so I do not know what iFixit mean. And the mean point is all the things seems support Handoff, but I can not use it.

同胞你好，wechat: linark Path: Lin Zhu

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I bought the BT4.0 chips and replaced them in my MacbookPro 13inch early 2011 and Macbook Pro 15inch late2011.

It seems support airdrop and continuity.


iOS8 beta 2 was installed in my iPhone 5s.


Image
Image
Image
Image


I can got the available note about Handoff, but I do not know how to active it.

我的2010 air 能用么？ 我着急买了 iogear 的 蓝牙模块

 

[fmalloy]

I think it's more that it's simply easier (from Apple's perspective) to hard-code the OS to recognise their Macs based on device model (since they only make so few of them), rather than get it to scan for a bluetooth 4.0 module.

I see it as the same reason why iOS doesn't have cursor support. They didn't see the need for it, so they just didn't bother with it.

Sure, it's simpler. But does Apple do everything because it's "simpler"?

Come on, it's just another push to get you to buy new hardware.

What is "cursor support"?

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I'm not good at these things, but there might be some reasonable explanation. As with Airplay Mirroring, many have asked why it didn't work with machines that had more than capable GPU and CPU. It turned out that Apple's way of mirroring used some technology that indeed needed a certain kind of chipset.

The other is Power Nap. Many have asked, why wouldn't it work with older machines if you replaced the HDD with SSD. I think the answer is simple. Apple wants to be sure that everything just works, out of the box. Apple doesn't want its technologies to depend on external third party peripheries. Who knows what could be wrong. Users might be confused and angry, they'd even call Apple and ask: "Hey, Handoff doesn't work on my MBP, why is that? Yeah, I've bough some Bluetooth LE dongle from eBay... no, I don't know what brand is it... why doesn't it work? S***y Apple..."

Surely Apple wouldn't want this. I don't think they could be blamed because of it.

I understand your logic, but Apple cannot be *this* closed. They could also say, "we don't support third-party external drives" Or memory sticks. Or printers. What's the difference here?

When you make computers you have to support the standards. A BT dongle meets the USB and BT standards, it should be supported. I hear the dongle works for other BT applications, why not this?

Because Apple wants you to buy a new computer. In some cases where it's only 1 or 2 years old. Look at the BT 4.0 chart that came out - a LOT of recent hardware doesn't support it.

Apple looks at your computer like your phone - replace every two years. It's not right.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

The mere fact that ANYONE thought that might work amazes me. Have we learned nothing from Apple's past (e.g .TRIM)? They push new features only to work on newer hardware so you can BUY BUY BUY more hardware from them. They don't want you to upgrade your machine so you can put off buying all new hardware for a few more years. I'm sure some enterprising hacker will find a way to make it work at some point, though (like the 3rd party TRIM support for solid state drives made by someone else but Apple).

 

[abcdefg12345]

[url=http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc176/Ian2TG/ScreenShot2014-06-18at233703_zps1c514905.png]Image[/URL]

My 2011 MacBook Pro 15 has a 2012 bluetooth/Airport card in it, as that was all I could get when I repaired it. I get this in System Profiler on 10.10 DP2, so it looks like some Macs will be somewhat upgradable hardware wise.

Interestingly I remember hacking Airdrop back on Lion on an upgraded 2006 iMac with a 2008 Airport card in (so I could have wireless n) it and that worked flawlessly!

so we might still have hope if the bluetooth/Airport card is user replaceable and we get the feature then ill do the same with my mac

 

[0000757]

I could care less about Handoff Mac <--> iOS. It's a great feature and I know it's going to be great for many people but usually I'm either on my Mac or on my iPad and the other device is usually somewhere else. However I do look forwards to iOS <---> iOS handoff, and as long as continuity works between My 2010 MBP and my iPhone/iPad then i'm content.

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Sure, it's simpler. But does Apple do everything because it's "simpler"?

Come on, it's just another push to get you to buy new hardware.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I understand your logic, but Apple cannot be *this* closed. They could also say, "we don't support third-party external drives" Or memory sticks. Or printers. What's the difference here?

When you make computers you have to support the standards. A BT dongle meets the USB and BT standards, it should be supported. I hear the dongle works for other BT applications, why not this?

Because Apple wants you to buy a new computer. In some cases where it's only 1 or 2 years old. Look at the BT 4.0 chart that came out - a LOT of recent hardware doesn't support it.

Apple looks at your computer like your phone - replace every two years. It's not right.

I don't think this is a push just to get you to buy new hardware, the Bluetooth LE issue.

Apple did really do the planned obsolesce in the earlier iOS days and Mac days but more recently they're doing a good job with supporting older hardware.

I mean, handoff may not work with my 2011 MBP, but every other new feature Yosemite feature does , and my 2011 MBP is still running just as smooth and fast as it did day 1 (though my battery did take a hit, especially after installing Yosemite, but that's to be expected with older hardware).

Look at Apple's efforts - the iPad 2 runs iOS 8! Before Apple followed a pattern of full support for 2 versions and heavily crippled support for one, before dropping the product entirely (as far as iOS devices are concerned). Now they're supporting their devices for longer and longer - even Macs from 2007 are supporting Yosemite!

Not only that, it won't be long before a simple Terminal command bypasses the chipset check for Handoff, anyways. There's almost always a work-around, but Apple definitely doesn't treat their computers as a 2 year cycle system. They aren't even really doing it with their iOS devices anymore either. (Look at the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S)

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I understand the limitations with Bluetooth 4.0 being low energy, etc. but what I don't understand is the AirDrop limitation as well. My 2011 MBP can currently AirDrop to another Mac, and my iPhone 5 can AirDrop to another iPhone, so why does Bluetooth LE have to be in place to AirDrop between my Mac and iPhone?

It's called artificial obsolescence and Apple is a master of it.

 

[mko-io]

I could care less about Handoff Mac <--> iOS. It's a great feature and I know it's going to be great for many people but usually I'm either on my Mac or on my iPad and the other device is usually somewhere else. However I do look forwards to iOS <---> iOS handoff, and as long as continuity works between My 2010 MBP and my iPhone/iPad then i'm content.

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I don't think this is a push just to get you to buy new hardware, the Bluetooth LE issue.

Apple did really do the planned obsolesce in the earlier iOS days and Mac days but more recently they're doing a good job with supporting older hardware.

I mean, handoff may not work with my 2011 MBP, but every other new feature Yosemite feature does , and my 2011 MBP is still running just as smooth and fast as it did day 1 (though my battery did take a hit, especially after installing Yosemite, but that's to be expected with older hardware).

Look at Apple's efforts - the iPad 2 runs iOS 8! Before Apple followed a pattern of full support for 2 versions and heavily crippled support for one, before dropping the product entirely (as far as iOS devices are concerned). Now they're supporting their devices for longer and longer - even Macs from 2007 are supporting Yosemite!

Not only that, it won't be long before a simple Terminal command bypasses the chipset check for Handoff, anyways. There's almost always a work-around, but Apple definitely doesn't treat their computers as a 2 year cycle system. They aren't even really doing it with their iOS devices anymore either. (Look at the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S)

Great point, totally agree with you, Apple does things for a real reason

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Wifi card from some new imacs/mbp > 802.11ac AND bluetooth 4.0

There are ways, using original Apple boards works Super easy in a 2008 MP, may be more trouble in 2009-12
Discovered first by Netkas

Perhaps a nice additional read, don't know if the sources are the same?

Sometimes macrumors aren’t completely right… My 2008 MacPro (so old) has a wifi card from some new imacs/mbp installed with adapter to mini-pcie slot. It gives me 802.11ac AND bluetooth 4.0, no need to remove old bt card, as new one is preferred over old one… Continuity is supported:

Read more here: http://9to5mac.com/2014/06/20/apple...der-macs-bluetooth-le-adapters-a-possibility/

~ Cheers

 

[MacVidCards]

Perhaps a nice additional read, don't know if the sources are the same?



Read more here: http://9to5mac.com/2014/06/20/apple...der-macs-bluetooth-le-adapters-a-possibility/

~ Cheers

Compare the screenshots carefully.

The 9 to 5 Mac story is a repost.

I sent Netkas the card, everything came from there.

I should have a USB BT 4.0 for Macs in next few weeks.

 

[mko-io]

Compare the screenshots carefully.

The 9 to 5 Mac story is a repost.

I sent Netkas the card, everything came from there.

I should have a USB BT 4.0 for Macs in next few weeks.

Hi MacVidCards, I noticed Netkas mentioned you in his blog. Do you have a solution for 2010 Mid Macbook Air? I ordered a iogear BLE adapter a few days ago, but also looking forward a internal card solution

 

[MacVidCards]

Hi MacVidCards, I noticed Netkas mentioned you in his blog. Do you have a solution for 2010 Mid Macbook Air? I ordered a iogear BLE adapter a few days ago, but also looking forward a internal card solution

Brutal honesty holds the answer.

Is yours a "Late 2010 MBA"? or is it technically a 2009 that you bought in 2010?

Looks like the 2010 will have a potential internal choice while 2009 will likely remain external.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Again great work being done here!

Compare the screenshots carefully.
The 9 to 5 Mac story is a repost.
I sent Netkas the card, everything came from there.
I should have a USB BT 4.0 for Macs in next few weeks.

Was not sure about that, so I posted it. Thanks for clarifications! I hope this issue will be sorted out soon and a workaround/card tweak will come available for those with Macs with no BTLE 4.0 and want to use this feature. Again great work being done here by those mentioned!!!

~ Cheers

 

[numlock]

I could care less about Handoff Mac <--> iOS. It's a great feature and I know it's going to be great for many people but usually I'm either on my Mac or on my iPad and the other device is usually somewhere else. However I do look forwards to iOS <---> iOS handoff, and as long as continuity works between My 2010 MBP and my iPhone/iPad then i'm content.

----------



I don't think this is a push just to get you to buy new hardware, the Bluetooth LE issue.

Apple did really do the planned obsolesce in the earlier iOS days and Mac days but more recently they're doing a good job with supporting older hardware.

I mean, handoff may not work with my 2011 MBP, but every other new feature Yosemite feature does , and my 2011 MBP is still running just as smooth and fast as it did day 1 (though my battery did take a hit, especially after installing Yosemite, but that's to be expected with older hardware).

Look at Apple's efforts - the iPad 2 runs iOS 8! Before Apple followed a pattern of full support for 2 versions and heavily crippled support for one, before dropping the product entirely (as far as iOS devices are concerned). Now they're supporting their devices for longer and longer - even Macs from 2007 are supporting Yosemite!

Not only that, it won't be long before a simple Terminal command bypasses the chipset check for Handoff, anyways. There's almost always a work-around, but Apple definitely doesn't treat their computers as a 2 year cycle system. They aren't even really doing it with their iOS devices anymore either. (Look at the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S)

the ipad2 is your only example?

support but as mentioned here if features arent working how is that support? what does that word support even mean these days?

and for the two examples you cling to what gloomy year or era are you comparing this everlasting support to?

iphone 4 users were treated horribly last year.

 

[mko-io]

Brutal honesty holds the answer.

Is yours a "Late 2010 MBA"? or is it technically a 2009 that you bought in 2010?

Looks like the 2010 will have a potential internal choice while 2009 will likely remain external.

Sorry for the the confusion. It's "Late 2010 MBA", so I'm waiting for the internal choice, But also hoping for IOgear which I ordered earlier works

 

[0000757]

the ipad2 is your only example?

support but as mentioned here if features arent working how is that support? what does that word support even mean these days?

and for the two examples you cling to what gloomy year or era are you comparing this everlasting support to?

iphone 4 users were treated horribly last year.

Certain features do require more advanced hardware, that's a given.

But most of what iOS 7 offers the iPad 2 can do. Sure you're missing AirDrop and transparency but that's hardware limitations.

Look at iOS 6 on the 3GS - It didn't even have VIP Inbox! That's ridiculous there's absolutely no reason the 3GS couldn't have it.

iOS 8 is doing pretty ok on the 4S, and almost everything introduced in iOS 8 still works.

 

[6836838]

So can anyone confirm if there is an internal solution for the Late-2010 MBP?