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New AirPods Pro Firmware Introduces Spatial Audio Support and Automatic Switching

I did a search of this thread for the word “announce” and I didn’t see anything so hopefully this is not a silly question.

No more “announce with Siri”?
 
I finally got the update and have been trying the automatic switching. Seems kinda hit or miss so far and I am not sure exactly what triggers a switch. One YouTuber showed it switching with both devices on and active and it switched when you pressed play on whatever device wasn‘t playing.

Some here say it triggers based on devices being asleep/wake. It seems to be somewhere in between those 2 methods so far for me.

I have an iPad Pro 2020 and iPhone 11 Pro. I also have an Apple Watch. It doesn‘t seem to want to switch to the watch at all. Has anyone tried the new automatic switching with a watch factored in?
 
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The sad part is iPad wont download AirPods firmware update. What is Apple thinking?
 
Shirasaki said:
The sad part is iPad wont download AirPods firmware update. What is Apple thinking?
Click to expand...
“There's no standard way to upgrade the firmware of the ‌‌AirPods‌, with the new firmware installed over-the-air while the ‌AirPods‌ are connected to an iOS device. Putting the ‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting the ‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌ to a power source, and then pairing the ‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.”
 
Mine finally worked with my ipad pro.

Steps;

  1. watch something using the Airpod Pro's on the iPad (run down the battery a bit)
  2. Forget airpods from iPad (Bluetooth settings) leave Bluetooth settings open
  3. Reset Airpod Pro's https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209463
  4. Pair to iPad (keep case open and plugged in)
  5. white light flashed on case and they "disconnected" from Bluetooth for a moment then reconnected
  6. Tap the (I) logo next to airpods to check the firmware version.
 
reptarwilleatu said:
“There's no standard way to upgrade the firmware of the ‌‌AirPods‌, with the new firmware installed over-the-air while the ‌AirPods‌ are connected to an iOS device. Putting the ‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting the ‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌ to a power source, and then pairing the ‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.”
Click to expand...
Still nothing after forced reboot + re-pair. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
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Chrysaor said:
Why would it work on iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad (6th generation) and later, or iPad mini (5th generation), but not iPad Pro (2nd gen)? Is there any hardware missing or just Apple withholding features so people would buy latest devices?
Click to expand...

Possible, the cut off is any iPad devices on sale after March 2018. However iPhone devices after September 2016 is okay.
 
CoriG said:
How to do get Airpods pro to auto switch? I just tried going back and forth between my ipad and iphone (both running 14)?

Am I totally mistaken, but I thought that as soon as I stop playing something on one device and then try to play something on another device, the airpods will automatically pair with the second device ands start playing.
Click to expand...

It wasn’t working for me either. Then I turned it off and on, on iphone and it started working. Will switch to whatever you’re using, just need to pause audio on one before the other will take over.
 
iAdamator said:
I finally got the update and have been trying the automatic switching. Seems kinda hit or miss so far and I am not sure exactly what triggers a switch. One YouTuber showed it switching with both devices on and active and it switched when you pressed play on whatever device wasn‘t playing.

Some here say it triggers based on devices being asleep/wake. It seems to be somewhere in between those 2 methods so far for me.

I have an iPad Pro 2020 and iPhone 11 Pro. I also have an Apple Watch. It doesn‘t seem to want to switch to the watch at all. Has anyone tried the new automatic switching with a watch factored in?
Click to expand...
It’s been working quite well between my iPad and iPhone. If I’m watching a movie on iPad with AirPods, they switch to iPhone as soon as I pick up the phone. The audio won’t fade from the iPad until the iPhone is playing sound. So we’ll executed IMO.
 
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reptarwilleatu said:
it’s still gotta know where to anchor the audio so it doesn’t move when you do
Click to expand...

It will use what every home theater setups using I guess, by assuming you will sit in a “sweet spot”. That means a certain angle from your screen.
 
Last edited:
My APP's updated but I'm on an iPhone 6s and it won't give me any options for spatial audio.

Updating my tvOS to hope it's there. THat's my main use case for it anyway.

I've been playing around with things like the Smyth Realizer and custom impulse responses to simulate speakers over headphones for a while now - so if I can use it I'll report back.
 
This really is a remarkable feat, good one Apple.

Does it work on ATV? I had no intention to update to public beta until Youtube 4K was available, but this spatial audio is something remarkable enough to enter the TvOS Public Beta :)
 
Beats headphones are getting the update now!
1600149055116.png
 
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