Like the AirPods: iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 connect accessories more conveniently
The AirPods are also popular with users because they are so easy to set up. Eight years after their introduction, Apple is opening up the method to developers.
Example of an app that uses AccessorySetupKit
(Image: Apple, Montage: heise online)
In future, accessory manufacturers will be given the opportunity by Apple to connect their devices to the iPhone and iPad as easily as is possible with Apple's devices such as the AirPods. However, the new option presented at the WWDC developer conference requires the accessory manufacturer's own app for iOS and iPadOS, which must be open during the connection process.
When Apple introduced the AirPods in 2016, one of the selling points was the much simpler method of connecting the in-ear headphones to Apple devices. Instead of setting up a new connection in the Bluetooth settings on both sides, all you have to do is hold the AirPods case up to the device. The setup is then confirmed in a pop-up window. Future use of the headphones is then even possible without the user having to do anything. This method still makes it much easier to use Apple accessories on iPhones and other devices than those from other manufacturers.
Similar convenience to the AirPods
The possibilities of the new interface called AccessorySetupKit apparently do not go quite as far as Apple's – while Apple's own accessory devices are recognized at system level, AccessorySetupKit requires its own app, which apparently also needs to be open according to the developer documentation.
However, the setup process is then similar to that of the AirPods: the manufacturer can enter an image and a name to be displayed in the pop-up window. Apple claims that the new method is not only more convenient, but also more privacy-friendly, as the apps will not be able to see which other devices are connected.
From iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
AccessorySetupKit can connect to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices. To achieve this, developers must store the corresponding identification numbers and names of their accessory devices in their app so that it can find the devices. The app can also be used to remove the connection to the accessory or rename the name.
To use AccessorySetupKit, iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 are required, which are currently only available as developer beta versions. According to Apple's schedule, the release for all users will take place in the fall.
(mki)