Apple doesn’t need to introduce Auracast support because Auracast goes directly to the hearing aids and the role of the phone is just to allow the user to choose which of several streams might be available. I am using an iPhone 12 Pro and as I said above, the Resound Smart 3D app already allows me to choose to listen to an Auracast multicast if I want. Other hearing aid manufacturers can build that into their iPhone apps now if they want to.
But what we do need is for Apple to support LE Audio in iPhones as the means to connect hearing aids to the phone (ie unicast). LE Audio is considerably higher sound quality than classic Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy. And it’s lower power consuming and more robust too. It’s not supported by any iPhone yet. So we need to see what happens in September when the iPhone 17 range, which has a totally new Apple silicon Bluetooth chip, is announced.
Well if Apple is going to install LE Audio, they might as well install an assistant too. That would save device manufactures a pile of money developing their own assistant.
Totally agree — the phone doesn’t need to “handle” Auracast as long as the hearing aids do. The real issue is that most hearing aid brands aren’t moving very fast . Only GN / ReSound seem fully up to date. Starkey is halfway there — works with Samsung phones. Philips should catch up in the next month or two. Phonak, unfortunately, hasn’t shown any signs of supporting LE Audio or Auracast yet.
We’ve been testing LE Audio with our C82 LEA USB-C dongle, and it already works directly with models like ReSound Vivia and Starkey Edge AI — no phone needed.
Yes I’m eagerly awaiting the iPhone 17 coming out and the Air Pods Pro 3. I do hope Oticon enable Auracast for their Intent hearing aids. I’m holding off purchasing until I see support and sticking with my Oticon OPN S2 (Oticon Optim) hearing aids.
Did Oticon commit to enabling Auracast with a firmware update for the Intent, or is it wishful thinking?
I’m hoping LE Audio will have greater range than MFi and not drop out as much.
Discussed with engineer and we are working to improve our LE Audio connections on the microphone side. We will resume the testing with new firmware. Sorry for this.
I believe it’s reasonable to expect Oticon to enable Auracast soon, especially since Philips — part of the same parent group — is expected to roll it out shortly.
Oticon has commited to rolling out Auracast for the Intent.I’m sure they have every INTENTion!!
As @PhoebeY states, Oticon will get it, and Philips will follow suit.
Past history shows Oticon usually rolls out f/w updates b4 Philips.
We should also tell Phonak (Phon-e-ack as far as AuraCast is concerned) My Audiologist is COMPLETLY in the dark as to your plans and intentions for BT-LE Audio OR Auracast. Please drop the LIE that this is in any way my Audiologists responsibility/fault. You make the device and firmware. A great HA with NO mfg support or honest timelines for features promised is simply not that great. I would start a campaign of tell BT SIG that this game of Auracast is wonderful (and it can be) will only work if all the HA mfg are truthful about support. A non-answer is just a dumb move.
Phonak has a bot or a person that simply blames the audiologist and provides what even the most generous person would call nonsense answers. I tried the online methods, I think this really requires one of the larger representing organizations to act. I will focus there and suggest others do as well.
Just helped a customer using Phonak with our Bluetooth transmitter. Although Phonak is not fast with Auracast, they are one of the few companies support A2DP and HFP of classic Bluetooth streaming, so we have to give them credit
Ok, here’s my current theory. Firmware for Philips and Oticon tends to go in lockstep. They’re both at the same number right now I believe. Um_bongo thinks there might be a new Oticon product released in October. If he’s right, I expect Oticon to do their usual marketing blitz. One of the ‘new’ features they might be heavily promoting is Auracast. If so, it makes business sense to hold off enabling Auracast in its current products until they’ve milked it for all it’s worth at the appropriate juncture- which means when they can monetize it the best. This probably illustrates the way I feel about hearing aid manufacturers in general. I hope they prove me wrong.
. Only GN / ReSound seem fully up to date. Starkey is halfway there — works with Samsung phones. Philips should catch up in the next month or two. Phonak, unfortunately, hasn’t shown any signs of supporting LE Audio or Auracast yet.