WhIch version of OS X are you running? I believe you need at least OS X 10.8 to automatically support add-on BT 4.0 adapters.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Yosemite 'Handoff' Feature Likely Limited to Macs with Bluetooth LE
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
WhIch version of OS X are you running? I believe you need at least OS X 10.8 to automatically support add-on BT 4.0 adapters.
I'm totally with you, given my setup is similar.
That said though, change has to start somewhere.
I guess for me, that means upgrading everything come 2017, provided (at least most of) the below:
1) Apple has released another 17in MBP
2) SSD costs have dropped enough to make it possible to (relatively) inexpensively have 2TB or more on a Retina MBP
3) Apple has updated iOS to be a bit less garish in it's color scheme, and/or allows multiple user accounts in those devices (particularly, the iPad).
4) Apple builds the fabled xMac (screen-less iMac)
5) The competition falls on its face
The real reason is that, the iPhone switches off WiFi when it sleeps, but bluetooth is always on!
I believe a Mac with Bluetooth 2.1 would be unable to seamlessly detect an iPhone using BT 4.0. For this to work, the iPhone would probably have to broadcast its presence using wifi or BT 2.1, which would result in battery drain. The main use case for Handoff is mobile to desktop, not desktop to desktop.
Every product that Apple makes is fantastic (well, almost).
The problem is that they go for a very specific target, while completely ignoring others, even ones they did target before.
For example, there are clearly folks that prefer the original iPhone form factor. However, Apple stopped making it, in favor of a new form factor. The fact that it is more popular than ever is good for Apple, but not for those that prefer the previous form factor, for whatever (and valid) reasons they may have.
Imagine now if the iPhone 6 is the 5.5 in and only the 5.5 in.
So it is with the 17 MBP (in reverse). A smaller form factor is not, and NEVER will be, a replacement for those who prefer the larger one, regardless of what Phil Schiller tries to tell us. The fact that we lost a lot of functionality for (pointless) weight saving isn't even the issue. It's the discontinuation of a product customers relied on that is the problem. Apple is not in recovery anymore, but they still act like they are. Good for them, bad for us.
Imagine if Apple, suddenly and without warning, made 11 in MBAir/Pro the ONLY laptop they make. Many would be pissed. Imagine if they suddenly, drastically change your favorite product.
As such, people need to stop trying to justify and defend Apple's position on the screen-size issue, unless they work for Apple. Why? Because Apple's position only benefits them, not (necessarily all of) us.
Not everyone is vision impaired, plus optometry and accessibility features offer some great solutions.
Yes, upgradeability is always nice, but it comes at a price. A 1974 Buick was cheaper and easier to service than a 2014 Honda Accord, but most people agree that the latter's performance, fuel economy, reliability and emissions control outweigh the ability to easily work on your own engine.
Incidentally, the SSD is easily replaceable on retina MacBook pros. OWC sells kits for this.
- I have an early 2013 Retina MBP 15" and I don't consider it even remotely "smaller than necessary." It's a laptop and portability is a prime consideration. If I could get the same screen size and performance in an even smaller and lighter Macbook Air-like form factor I'd jump at the chance.
. - It's nice to have user-replaceable parts but that comes at the cost of size, rigidity, design. I'm much happier with my svelte aluminum and glass iPhone than with a clunky, plastic Android phone even if the latter lets me replace the battery.
. - I happen to prefer the shiny display because it provides better contrast, saturation and deeper blacks. I accept the tradeoff in terms of increased glare.
. - On the rare ocassion when I need to connect to ethernet, I have a handy little adapter in my bag just for that purpose. For the 99.9% of the time I don't need it, I appreciate my Macbook's smaller form factor that was made possible in part by leaving out a bulky ethernet port.
. - I'll take 7 hour battery life any day over 4. It often makes the difference between whether or not to have to carry a power adapter.
.
Last edited:
Inefficient? When we talk Bluetooth here, we don't talk about that pre Bluetooth 4.0 crap that required pairing and never worked. Bluetooth 4.0 includes the Bluetooth Low Energy standard which is pretty decent technology.
A quick comparison: Wi-Fi consumes ~0.2W while Bluetooth LE consumes only around 0.147 mW. Which means Bluetooth LE uses 13000 times less battery than Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is suitable for high throughput data transfer, but unfortunately battery drain is not reduced when the throughput is reduced.
So Bluetooth LE is the only suitable technology that makes all these awesome new features in iOS 8 / OS X 10.10 possible without draining the battery immensely.
So would I
And I've ordered a Broadcom Bluetooth LE USB dongle, so here's hoping "Bluetooth Explorer" will allow me to override the internal bluetooth chip, and see the new one at a system level.
May be a stupid question but doesn't apple always use a Broadcom miniPCIe card? Now IDK if the drivers will be there but couldn't you just buy and swap one from a newer air/pro and put it in a MacPro, iMac, MacMini....
I know sometimes those cards are finicky but maybe it works, just a suggestion.
I know sometimes those cards are finicky but maybe it works, just a suggestion.
So Handoff is just the email composing, maps and such? It doesn't include the phone calls that you can take on your mac? That's the feature I really want...
Short answer: No
Long answer: It seems to need built in 4.0 to work, In the future(maybe by release) Maybe 3rd party or even over wifi. This is just a DP so little by little they may be expanding the criteria(so far it went from not working to 4.0 only) so there is still hope. Remember the final version is a long way away so who knows. Even after final release people still figure out how to make things work (ie Airdrop on older devices, Trim for NonApple SSDs...) so its just too early to tell at this point, remember the DP1 just released 2 weeks ago.
Basically like many have said though Apple sells hardware and basically gives away software. Now if your hardware doesn't work with said software what do you do? You buy a new computer... Thats business.
off topic: Once a thread has more than 4 pages of replies there should be a "previously on" because I really don' think people read threw every page
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
For those that are concerned their Macs are no longer as shiny, there is a huge market for used Macs where people don't care about that stuff. They just want a computer that works.
He got an older Mac to use the BT 4.0 dongle. The question is whether Yosemite will allow Continuity features that require BT 4.0 to work, on computers that have BT 4.0 added on, or whether the OS will restrict the feature to computer models that came with BT 4.0 natively.
Guess I'm out - got my 'late 2011' MacBook Pro in early 2012, only two years old
Same bro. Bought late 2011 MBP in January 2012
So very pissed
I'm running iOS 8 Beta 2 on iPhone5S
I'm on Yosemite DP2 on iMac Late 2012 which supports BT4.0 LE
Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Continuity Supported: Yes
AirDrop Supported: Yes
I can AirDrop between iOS and OS X
But I can't get Handoff or VoiceCalls/CallerID too work.
My iPhone and Mac are on the same iCloud and WiFi, Phone in plugged into Mains Power. I can't connect the phone to iMac via BT... just keep getting 'Network is unavailable'
Handoff is ticked in Settings, General.
I'm I unlucky or missing something?
I'm on Yosemite DP2 on iMac Late 2012 which supports BT4.0 LE
Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
Continuity Supported: Yes
AirDrop Supported: Yes
I can AirDrop between iOS and OS X
But I can't get Handoff or VoiceCalls/CallerID too work.
My iPhone and Mac are on the same iCloud and WiFi, Phone in plugged into Mains Power. I can't connect the phone to iMac via BT... just keep getting 'Network is unavailable'
Handoff is ticked in Settings, General.
I'm I unlucky or missing something?
Attachments
Let me guess... you're one of those who complain the loudest every time Apple abandons or eschews aging technologies like the 5.25" floppy drive; parallel, serial PS/2, SCSI, PCMCIA ports; dial-up modems; Adobe Flash; micro-USB, NFC, etc.?
If you haven't figured out by now, Apple always "skates to where the puck’s going to be, not to where it has been." Until you "get" this you will continue to be baffled and frustrated by Apple while failing to see the true value they offer their customers
Having wifi turned on is not the same as continuously broadcasting your presence via wifi.
Last edited:
This is a biggie. Many folks only plug in overnight. It's usually in the pocket, purse, or on a table somewhere.
Big limitation.
Oh, that tired old Steve Jobs quote borrowed from some hockey player...
Let me guess, later this year "the puck will be at" Bluetooth 5.0, USB 4.0, or some hot new replacement for Thunderbolt that is just so much faster.
New technology is great, but if you look at the rate of new high-speed interfaces that have been coming down the pike, I don't know why they bother to standardize them at all since they get replaced so soon. Look how fast FireWire bit the dust, and all these ridiculous DVI interface variations, and DisplayPort...just goes on and on. How many people spent how much money on computers and expensive cables and peripherals to support all that?