- I wonder if there were a lot of support calls about people whose keyboards wouldn’t connect, etc.
Unlike a touch screen device, folks may not understand that disabling Bluetooth for no reason has input consequences
- Seems to be a warning for Macs without a built-in keyboard only. Getting it on my Mac mini but not my Air. Seems to be a good idea for that situation. Bet there are more casual users using bluetooth for keyboard/mouse/trackpad than usb.
- He notes in another article[1] that macOS turns on BT on every update, and apparently the behaviour is "functioning as intended" (Apple's own words). What's not answered is why Apple do this. Possibly as trivial as avoiding bug reports or support issues about BT devices or features not working? Apple already control the stack from hardware to software so it's hardly like they would need a nefarious reason to do this.
[1] https://lapcatsoftware.com/articles/bluetooth.html
Also is this the same Jeff Johnson of rpm5 "fame"?
- Odd, this is not happening here on macOS 15.0.0. Turning bluetooth off either via the system settings app or the menu bar icon shuts off bluetooth immediately with no prompt for me...
- I'm fairly certain this isn't new in macOS 15, I could have sworn I've seen this on 13 + 14
- Sure, I get the hate on HN, but seriously - what portion of users do you think don’t know that disabling Bluetooth will cut off their mouse? I bet it’s a most of them.
The main gripe here is really there is no way for power users to avoid the prompt.
- For a privacy conscious company such as Apple, turning off Bluetooth when not needed should be encouraged. Keeping it on 24/7 makes you trackable, you're broadcasting a unique identifier.
by talkingtab
2 subcomments
- It appears that the choice is to either annoy people because they really do want to turn off Bluetooth or to let some people shoot themselves in the foot. They cannot turn on Bluetooth because they turned Bluetooth off. As a person who has never, ever shot myself in the foot - yes, I am that good - in my opinion all computer installations should begin with a choice that reads something like this:
* Provide absolutely no protections because I have never made a mistake such as typing "rm -rf" while in the "/" directory. And there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I have flushed a watch down the toilet twice by failing to secure the watch band.
Or
* Make your best attempt at providing me with some reasonable protections so I do not shoot myself in the foot. I accept that even the best solution will be annoying at times and will still be annoyed.
[edit to make it clear that I did not flush two watches one time, but rather I flushed one watch two different times]
- Older macos had bluetooth->advanced settings to keep bluetooth from turning on if there is no keyboard/etc
by mirekrusin
0 subcomment
- Pretty good release it seems if internet complains about stuff like this.
- I get super annoyed by this but on iOS. And the fact that you need to press several times to actually turn it off instead of 'pause' from using it makes it even worse :@
- It's on by default because they assume you want to use your airpods and other apple peripherals.
If stuff like this bothers you, don't use apple.
by iAkashPaul
0 subcomment
- IMO hitting CMD+T thinking it'll open a new tab in my browser but it opens the font window (from Mail) is a user-crime.
- I just tried to disable bluetooth and no prompt whatsoever appeared. Macbook 16" Max.
Perhaps it only appears if you're using bluetooth keyboard and mouse, which I'm not?
- A tool like hammerspoon is handy, probably can find a way to keep it how you want.
by hagbard_c
1 subcomments
- Here's a guess: no Bluetooth means no tracking of those Airtags Apple likes to sell, hence Bluetooth Shall Be Enabled At All Times.
by throwaway314155
0 subcomment
- [flagged]
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