Bluetooth connections are still problematic
How can a ubiquitous tech feature still feel like it's in beta sometimes?
Wi-Fi and bluetooth may be the most popular technology systems that we use everyday.
Pretty much everyone understands roughly how they work and what they're for. Even my three year old daughter regularly asks me to check the bluetooth if something goes awry in her toddler tech world.
So why does bluetooth technology still feel like it's a half-baked beta feature when it's been mainstream for over a decade?
This rant comes from one particular instance but I have a whole laundry list of times in the past few months when bluetooth has let me down.
Wireless Keyboards and Trackpads
Let's talk specifically about wireless computer peripherals for a second. I've written before about how I am a proponent of the trackpad. I do think the computer mouse is dying a slow death whether it's connected via bluetooth or a tangible wire.
Anyway, I've been having some bluetooth struggles with my wireless trackpad and keyboard. They are both standard issue Apple products but I won't blame the folks in Cupertino. I like having multiple work setups in my home. That typically means one desk indoors and one desk outdoors. I've come a long way from my original outdoor office setup, but I still like having a dedicated space to work in the yard without having to move all of my indoor gear.
Therefore, I have an outdoor trackpad and keyboard that are meant to be used with my outdoor workstation. Alas, this doesn't always work as planned. Sometimes my computer will try to reconnect to my other peripherals that are inside rather than connect to the ones that are right next to them. I'll sometimes experience phantom keystrokes or sounds and realize that my computer is actually connected to multiple keyboards at the same time. Maybe someone can inform me of a situation where being connected to multiple bluetooth keyboards is a good idea, but it seems problematic to me.
This is just related to my work on a MacBook Pro, we're talking about Apple to Apple connections here. Don't even get me started about trying to connect a Mac trackpad to my Pixelbook. It is an incredibly frustrating experience. Apple and Google have learned to co-exist in many areas, but sharing these peripherals is not one of them.
Wireless Headphones
Bluetooth headphones have become almost an essential tool for the modern knowledge worker. Whether you opt for svelte in-ear buds or over the ear noise-cancelling cans, these helpful accessories are almost certainly connecting to your devices via Bluetooth.
And when they work, it feels like magic! Just take those earbuds out of their case, and voila, you’re connected to your phone and listening to a podcast in seconds! A seamless bluetooth connection is one of the most satisfying feelings in tech. Conversely, when things don’t connect as quickly as expected, it can be a great source of frustration and just consternation. Why won’t these stupid things connect?!?!?!
My specific predicament has been with my Jabra earbuds. I still think the Elite Active 75t earbuds are fantastic. Even after using them for a few years, I see little need to upgrade. Except for this one little issue.
Sometimes, if I’ve connected the earbuds to a new device (let’s say a different computer than its used to, or sometimes my VR headset) the bluetooth connection seems to get confused. I often find myself needing to forget the previous bluetooth connection and adding it as a fresh device in order to re-establish a connection. I may need to turn the bluetooth connection on my phone off and back on to solve things. I find myself putting the earbuds back into the case and pulling them back out to try again. It’s just finicky to say the least.
The Future of Bluetooth
I find it amazing that new tech releases still need to celebrate advancements in their Bluetooth capabilities. New earbuds make claims about having faster or more reliable Bluetooth connections. There was a recent software update on my Pixelbook that highlighted the fact that there would be new seamless Bluetooth connections similar to new Pixel phones. I haven’t seen the improvements yet.
It’s almost become a low-hanging fruit for every new tech release. I suppose it’s clear that Bluetooth isn’t great if every product announcement seems to make a big fuss over how its Bluetooth connection is now slightly faster, more reliable, or more “seamless”.
Did you know that we’re technically up to Bluetooth version 5.4 this year? Yeah, I don’t think too many people are keeping track of the version numbers. I do recall being nerdy about Bluetooth 3.0 back in the day. I was aware of that upgrade, but I thought we’d be good for a while. I didn’t think I’d still be clamoring for improvements nearly 15 years later.
If you’re really curious about the versions, I recommend checking out the video below to help clear things up:
Conclusion
Ok, I can’t be the only one out there who is still frustrated with this technology that is seemingly included in every piece of modern technology that we own right?
Could Bluetooth 5.4 be the final version that we all love and embrace forever? Will there just be a new standard to come along and kick Bluetooth off of its lofty perch as the overlord of wireless communications? Can we re-examine NFC communications? I was pretty excited about sending data back in the day by just tapping my phone to things. Can we reboot that in our modern phones?
Anyway, I appreciate you following along with my rant. Sure, I’m grateful that we even have any kind of wireless protocol here. I certainly don’t want to go back to the days of having everything hardwired even if it is more reliable. Excessive cords are no good for anyone, let’s just hope that we can soon enter into a golden era of Bluetooth tech.
Or maybe a new challenger will emerge that doesn’t have such a silly name.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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