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Apple still finalizing support for Continuity features on older Macs, Bluetooth LE adapters a possibility

Handoff

Some Mac users, specifically those with Macs that don’t support Bluetooth LE, weren’t too happy to find out that meant they would likely not get to use Apple’s new Handoff feature to seamlessly switch between apps across Macs and iOS devices.  To be clear, Apple has not yet confirmed details of device compatibility for most Yosemite features, but some users have reported that only Mid 2011 MacBook Airs, Mid 2012 MacBook Pros, late 2012 iMacs, and 2013 Mac Pro or newer models– the Macs that include Bluetooth LE– appear to support the feature. We’ve learned from people with knowledge of the matter that Apple is still testing the feature and yet to finalize which Macs will be capable of supporting it.

If Apple does indeed decide that the feature will require Macs with Bluetooth LE, it is possible some older models would be able to use third-party Bluetooth LE adapters to get access to the feature. While that might not include all Macs and all adapters, the good news is it’s possible. Netkas.org, for example, was able to get Continuity features working by using an adapter installed into a previous gen Mac Pro:

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:

The Handoff feature allow users to easily switch between devices and pick up where they left across any of their Apple devices. Earlier this month we reported that Apple TV would also likely be gaining access to the Handoff feature as part of Apple’s “Continuity” suite of features it previewed ahead of the upcoming release of iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite.

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Comments

  1. Brandon Scott Bauer - 10 years ago

    my 2013 mac mini is listed as support

  2. Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

    This is comforting news. I hope my 2011 MacBook Pro ends up being capable even if it needs an add on. I wouldn’t mind the excuse to get a new retina MacBook though.

  3. Dil Ribeiro - 10 years ago

    Good news!

  4. patstar5 - 10 years ago

    So my mid 2010 macbook pro with intel core 2 duo 13 inch will be supported by yosemite? Thinking of upgrading to ssd and maybe using an optibay and replace the cd drive with hdd. Anyone know where to take it? I tried upgrading ram myself and fried something with the screen, cost me $300 for apple store to fix it.

    • Tim Jr. - 10 years ago

      I think handoff will likely depend on what Bluetooth LE adaptor you choose.. they might well end up with a 3rd party list of adaptors that can add the support.

      Others tried an adaptor and it didn’t work.. but that just might be that not all Bluetooth 4.0 adaptors are created equal in OS X and only certain ones will work..

      I’d like to know what adaptor he used in his Mac Pro to get it to work..

    • jkytle3 - 10 years ago

      I heard Other World Computing is a really good spot for upgrading Mac hardware.

  5. Jeff Artiss (@jeffartiss) - 10 years ago

    I know my MBA 2012 is supported, would be cool if my 2009 iMac is… Furthermore, hoping my 4s is.

  6. anthonyjrwtf - 10 years ago

    I’m mainly confused when considering the original description of Handsoff included the concept of your phone being in the other room and “as long as the computers are on the same network.” I’m hoping that the feature set their testing first is getting the service to work with Bluetooth for non-network proximity, and the Wifi-type will be implemented later.

    Does Bluetooth 4.0 really have the range to be in another room like originally talked about? Does it need to talk to the Wifi network? Just hoping to hear some thoughts to see if my hypothesis is correct.

    • anthonyjrwtf - 10 years ago

      EDIT: They’re*

      Can I blame autocorrect?

    • squuiid - 10 years ago

      As promised, here are the results using the above GMYLE BT 4.0 dongle on a Macbook Pro 2010.
      On Yosemite Dev preview 2 continuity is a NO GO:

      Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.3.0d54 14222
      Hardware, Features, and Settings:
      Name: MBP
      Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
      Continuity Supported: No
      AirDrop Supported: No
      Manufacturer: Broadcom
      Transport: USB
      Chipset: 20702A3
      Firmware Version: v14 c4096
      Bluetooth Power: On
      Discoverable: Off
      Connectable: No
      Auto Seek Pointing: On
      Remote wake: On
      Vendor ID: 0x0A5C
      Product ID: 0x21E8
      HCI Version: 0x6
      HCI Revision: 0x1000
      LMP Version: 0x6
      LMP Subversion: 0x220E
      Device Type (Major): Computer
      Device Type (Complete): Mac Portable

      • Nick David (@N1ck2D) - 10 years ago

        Thanks for the info. Really appreciate it!. If anything changes please follow up. I was thinking of getting the same bluetooth dongle for my hackintosh but will cost me triple adding the shipping.

      • Joshua B Buchanan - 10 years ago

        http://www.iogear.com/product/GBU521/

        just tried this one… no luck LE is supported but not continuity or airdrop. Heres to hoping they do some driver / software changes prior to the final release.

  7. I have a MacBook Pro Early 2008 which doesn’t support AirDrop so I’m not the least bit surprised that it wouldn’t support the HandOff feature. Any Mac that’s 6+ years old shouldn’t expect every new feature under the sun. Even the iPhone 4S, that’s only 3 years old, won’t support every iOS 8 feature.

  8. Frank Sim - 10 years ago

    my macbook pro of early 2011 is not supported. apple should make more macbook supported.

  9. Can anyone explain this? I have a Mid 2012 MacBook Pro, apparently with Bluetooth 4.3. However BLE isn’t supported, but continuity is…

    http://upload.magicdonkey.co.uk/new//Screen%20Shot%202014-06-22%20at%2001.23.41.png

    • Andrew W (@arspoon) - 9 years ago

      You are looking for the line that has this:

      LMP Version: 0x6

      However the latest public beta now tells you:

      Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.3.0f10 14890
      Hardware, Features, and Settings:
      Name: Mac mini
      Address: 28-CF-DA-00-5A-B6

      Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
      Handoff Supported: No
      Instant Hotspot Supported: No
      Manufacturer: Broadcom

      Transport: USB
      Chipset: 20702A3
      Firmware Version: v147 c5802
      Bluetooth Power: On
      Discoverable: On
      Connectable: Yes
      Auto Seek Pointing: On
      Remote wake: On
      Vendor ID: 0x05AC
      Product ID: 0x8281
      HCI Version: 0x6
      HCI Revision: 0x16AA
      LMP Version: 0x6
      LMP Subversion: 0x2293
      Device Type (Major): Computer
      Device Type (Complete): Mac Desktop
      Composite Class Of Device: 0x380104
      Device Class (Major): 0x01
      Device Class (Minor): 0x01
      Service Class: 0x1C0
      Auto Seek Keyboard: On

  10. Andrea Steve Malinverni - 10 years ago

    I have an iMac 27-inch, Mid 2011 and the Apple Bluetooth Software Version 4.3.0d54 14222 (the same as the one in the article) but it says.
    Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: No
    Continuity Supported: No
    AirDrop Supported: No

    What is the problem?

    • squuiid - 10 years ago

      That’s the driver version OS X is using, not the actual version of Bluetooth.
      It just happens to start with a 4.x.

  11. Mike Palomba - 10 years ago

    Im not on Yosemite but I have a hackintosh running 10.9.4. I have use a bluetooth 4.0 dongle with a brodacom 20702A3 chipset. My magic trackpad and magic mouse have to problem staying continually connected to it, so shouldn’t it be supported in Yosemite? Has anyone tired with this bluetooth dongle and had any luck?

  12. Mo (@msbahari) - 9 years ago

    I have a Mac mini mid 2011, with the following:
    Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.3.0f9 14854
    Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: Yes
    Handoff Supported: No
    Instant Hotspot Supported: No
    LMP Version: 0x6
    LMP Subversion: 0x2293

    I am using public beta 4
    for some reason I do not have the Handoff option in the general setting.
    Is this a public beta thing? because my computer seems to have all what it need for it work?

    help me

  13. Felix Villegas - 9 years ago

    I have a MacBook Pro Mid 2011 with the same issue, are there any workarounds this issue or is Apple going to address this issue?

    Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 4.3.0f10 14890
    Hardware, Features, and Settings:
    Name: Felix’s MacBook Pro
    Address: 68-A8-6D-27-81-93
    Bluetooth Low Energy Supported: No
    Handoff Supported: No
    Instant Hotspot Supported: No
    Manufacturer: Broadcom
    Transport: USB
    Chipset: 2070B0
    Firmware Version: v42 c847
    Bluetooth Power: On
    Discoverable: Off
    Connectable: No
    Auto Seek Pointing: On
    Remote wake: On
    Vendor ID: 0x05AC
    Product ID: 0x821A
    HCI Version: 0x4
    HCI Revision: 0x34F
    LMP Version: 0x4
    LMP Subversion: 0x422A
    Device Type (Major): Computer
    Device Type (Complete): Mac Portable
    Composite Class Of Device: 0x38010C
    Device Class (Major): 0x01
    Device Class (Minor): 0x03
    Service Class: 0x1C0
    Auto Seek Keyboard: On

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.