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A wireless technology specifically geared towards exchanging data over short distances, Bluetooth is a staple hardware feature for many Apple products, such as those in the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac lineups. Bluetooth is also incorporated in many Apple peripherals, such as the Magic Keyboard, and Magic Mouse.

Bluetooth security flaws allow connections to be hijacked; AirDrop unlikely to be affected [U]

Bluetooth security flaws BLUFFS | iPhones showing Bluetooth on and Airdrop request

Update: Whether AirDrop is vulnerable to this exploit is unclear, but the odds are against it. See the update at the end.

Two newly-discovered Bluetooth security flaws allow attackers to hijack the connections of all devices using Bluetooth 4.2 to 5.4 inclusive – that is, all devices between late 2014 and now.

Six separate exploits have been demonstrated, allowing both device impersonations and man-in-the-middle attacks …

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Flipper Zero can still crash iPhones running the latest version of iOS 17

flipper zero iphone ios 17 bluetooth exploit attack

In September, 9to5Mac reported that Flipper Zero, a popular and cheap hacking tool, was being used to wreak havoc on nearby iPhones and iPads, spamming them with fake Bluetooth pop-ups until they eventually crashed.

Despite many iOS 17 updates since, including last week’s release of new iOS 17.2 betas, Apple has yet to implement safeguards to prevent the attack. So, what gives?

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Hacker uses Flipper Zero to spam iPhone users with fake Bluetooth pop-ups [U]

Apple AirTag | Bluetooth accessories

Apple has implemented a lot of useful technologies in its devices to make it easier to pair them with certain Bluetooth accessories, such as AirPods and AirTags. However, some hackers are now using these same technologies to annoy iPhone users. With a relatively inexpensive tool called Flipper Zero, they can spam iPhones with fake Bluetooth pop-ups, making the device “unusable.”

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H2O Audio waterproof headphones multi-sport

H2O Audio waterproof headphones work with Apple Watch and iPhone (or without)

Following up after launching its TRI Headphones last fall, H20 Audio is out with its new lineup of pro waterproof headphones that are aimed at multi-sport athletes. While they work great with Apple Watch and iPhone, you can also use the new PLAYLIST+ feature to wirelessly load content directly to the three new models of PRO headphones.

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Qualcomm has found a way to support lossless audio over Bluetooth headphones — could Apple be next?

AirPods Max

Since Apple introduced lossless audio to Apple Music, the limitations of Bluetooth technology when it comes to bandwidth have become very clear. However, as the world moves toward a future with wireless headphones, companies have been working to deliver lossless audio over a wireless connection – which is exactly what Qualcomm has just announced.

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Review: Satechi Slim X1 – better than the Magic Keyboard in several ways [Video]

I’ve been using the Satechi Slim X1 Bluetooth keyboard full-time for the last three weeks, and it’s proven to be a solid companion for both my Macs and iPads. Should you consider purchasing it? Watch our hands-on Satechi Slim X1 review for the details, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more video reviews.

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Feature Request: Allow our Apple Watch to unlock our iPhone and iPad

Apple Watch to unlock an iPhone or iPad

Update: Apple implemented this request in iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4.

Face ID is normally a completely seamless way to unlock an iPhone and iPad: just swipe up and it unlocks automatically. At a time when we’re frequently wearing masks, however, it’s rather less seamless.

So we’d like to see Apple allow an unlocked Apple Watch to automatically unlock an iPhone and iPad …

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Some iPhones, iPads, Macs, vulnerable to short-range attacks via Bluetooth

Attacks via Bluetooth possible on some Apple devices

Some iPhones, iPads, and Macs are vulnerable to short-range attacks via Bluetooth which could fool them into thinking they are connected to a trusted device. That would then enable an attacker to both send and request data via Bluetooth.

The same security vulnerability is found in a wide range of chips from Intel, Qualcomm, and Samsung, meaning that a large number of non-Apple devices are also affected …


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Leaked marketing images and name of the upcoming Sonos Bluetooth speaker

Sonos Bluetooth speaker images and name leaked

We learned earlier this month that we’d soon be seeing the first-ever Sonos Bluetooth speaker. Existing Sonos speakers are Wi-Fi-only, but the upcoming model is said to support both wireless communication standards, as well as offering AirPlay 2 functionality.

We’ve already seen one photo of the speaker, which looks like a more cylindrical version of the $200 Sonos One, but we’re today seeing more…


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New battery-free Bluetooth sticker chip recharges via ambient radio waves

battery-free Bluetooth sticker chip

A new breakthrough in Bluetooth chip technology has shed the battery that typically comes with the small hardware component. Wiliot is seeing success with its paper-thin Bluetooth sticker chip that could land in devices later this year. The chip is able to be battery-free by harnessing the ambient radio waves to power it and has a lot of potential use cases.


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Bluetooth audio codecs explained: Comparing ‘lossless’ vs. ‘lossy’ compression

Apple did its part in moving the world to wireless headphones. With the removal of the headphone jack with iPhone 7, the company made it clear that the future of audio is wireless. However, the company had already noted its vision well before the iPhone 7 with the original Apple Watch. Years later, the company continues removing the jack in more devices such as iPad Pro.

Today, we’re looking at wireless audio. Specifically, the different Bluetooth audio codecs and why they play an important role in the future of audio. Earlier this year we broke down Bluetooth 5.0 and its role in pushing the wireless revolution forward. Learn more about that here.


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Review: Chipolo, the first Bluetooth tracker that actually fits into a slimline wallet

Bluetooth trackers have been a handy way to keep tabs on our valuables for some time now. Attach one to a bag, or slip one into your wallet, and you can then use your iPhone to help you track them down if you mislay them.

The ‘wallet’ part of that idea has, though, worked rather better in theory than practice. Even supposed slimline trackers have so far been too bulky to slip unnoticed into a wallet, which is the problem Chipolo set out to solve with its new Card tracker, which goes on sale today …


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W1 Bluetooth wireless headphones compared: Apple AirPods, Beats Solo3, Powerbeats3 & BeatsX

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w1-headphones

All four products in the announced Apple W1 lineup of wireless headphones and earbuds are now available: the Beats Solo3 headphones, the Powerbeats3, the BeatsX and the truly wireless Apple AirPods.

Wireless headphones are becoming the defacto choice for Apple users, with the iPhone 7 dropping the analog headphone jack. Apple Watch can also only pair with wireless music devices.

We don’t know what the future holds for the W1 chip, perhaps more manufacturers will be allowed to use it, but the product range is already diversified with what’s available today, spanning different form factors, audio quality, convenience, innovation and price points.


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Top BeatsX features: A hands-on look at the highly anticipated W1-powered earphones [Video]

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The highly anticipated BeatsX are the latest pair of wireless earphones to feature Apple’s W1 wireless chip, which makes it easy to pair and switch between eligible iOS devices.

First revealed at Apple’s fall iPhone event, the BeatsX have experienced a few delays on their way to last Friday’s release. The white and black versions are currently available for in store pickup and shipping, while the newly-revealed grey and blue versions are scheduled to ship in 2-3 weeks.

How do the BeatsX stack up to the similarly-priced AirPods? Are they a good option for users looking for a pair of Bluetooth earbuds? In this hands-on video walkthrough, we’ll take a look at some of the top BeatsX features in our quest to answer those questions.
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