librepods

There is a PR for that https://github.com/librepods-org/librepods/pull/655 I tried it out, it seems to work well. Hopefully it's not blocked by patents

From Librepods github: > You must have a rooted device with Xposed to use LibrePods on Android. This is due to a bug in the Android Bluetooth stack. https://github.com/kavishdevar/librepods#root-requirement This bug is referenced here https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/371713238 and a comment from a Google employee on 23/6 says the following: > Thanks for reporting this issue. The change is available as part of Android open source Bluetooth stack starting March 2026. Mobile phone manufacturers will determine when this will be updated on their respective devices. This means then that Android devices that receives this update to the Bluetooth stack no longer need to root their Android devices for Librepods!

> This means there is great opportunity for Linux users to control their Bluetooth headsets, which for example is quite nice in an office setting to toggle "hearthrough" when toggling volume "mute" on your machine. Fun fact: There are at least two applications that reverse engineered AirPods' communication protocol for custom controls - AndroPods from 2020 [1] and LibrePods from 2024 [2]. But... mainstream Android has a bug open in their Bluetooth stack for well over a year now that prevents issuing the commands, meaning to actually use the app you need root rights [3]. [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pro.vitalii.an... [2] https://github.com/kavishdevar/librepods/tree/main [3] https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/371713238

Big disagree that integrated always works better than modular writ large, but in any case maybe they could just hire this guy to do it? https://github.com/kavishdevar/librepods

LibrePods link: https://github.com/kavishdevar/librepods

Have a look at librepods [1], which was lately on HN. ___ 1. https://github.com/kavishdevar/librepods

>* USB-C DP mode and the fingerprint sensor doesn't work. This is an Asahi Linux limitation, but I've seen various parts of the hardware not working when using other Linux distributions on laptops as well. I feel this is a common occurrence. This really is a special case, they've had to write new drivers for everything in the Apple Silicon Macs and they haven't gotten that working yet. I have in fact been waiting on this feature for a few years now as I want to use a MBP with the lid closed and two monitors plugged in, but currently only the HDMI works and not most USB-C functionality. This is not at all the norm in x86_64 land where more normal hardware is used. I'm still using a ThinkPad T440p and thinking about getting a T14 gen 5 due to the MBP I got a few years ago not being satisfying/fun to use, comparatively. As for Discord and Ai

Also if the README is to be believed the following are also hidden behind an Apple DID (not driver): - Multi-device Connectivity - Accessibility Settings and Hearing Aid While the following are exclusive to Apple devices for market reasons: - Receive Battery Information - Set/Receive ANC Modes - Set Adaptive Audio Noise settings - Receive In-Ear detection Status - Personalized Volume (use at your own risk - might randomly boost volume to some high level) - Conversational Awareness - Ear Detection - Siri (Voice assistant on long stem press) - Hold and Press configuration - Head Tracking (for Spatial Audio and Head Gestures) - Rename AirPods https://github.com/kavishdevar/librepods/issues/20 I imagine limiting such features to Apple devices is more about incentivizing the Apple Ecosystem than quality or software concerns