Why is something as essential as a firmware update happening through bluetooth instead of simply a cable? An usbC-to-usbC cable is not that rare and even a usb2 cable should easily handle it. It would be faster and would elimenate any uncertainties such as interference, bad data transmission via wireless or even the fairbudsXL running out of batteries
A cable would make the update seamless, faster and reliable. As it is with every device out there.
There have been threads how the firmware update for the Fairbuds freqvently gets stuck or frozen with no way to restart the process other than to shut down the app. I thought I had finished it but then when I open the app again, it says that I still need a firmware update.
I have just discovered that if the headphone is connected to two devices at once and you try to use both devices while the process is happening, the process will freeze.
Is the over-the-air (OTA) interface really a weak point when doing updates nowadays? I mean, yes, it can fail during the transmission, but we’ve read about erroneous cables and USB ports often enough when it comes to our phones. In the end, after the update file was transferred, the device to be updated needs to do the same: Calculate the checksum of the update file, check if that is correct. If it was correct, then run the update routine, otherwise report an error. No difference between wired and wireless update. For the battery: Often enough the device to be upated won’t charge during the actual update process anyway which is why before doing the actual update the device needs to ensure that enough energy is left on the battery. So there is no difference between wired and wireless updates, either. And if you wanted to do the update from your phone via the cable to the headphones then (with a typical USB cable) none of the two devices could be charged during the update while for the wireless case both could.
The main goal when doing firmware upgrades should always be to ensure that the device doesn’t get bricked. If the updater fails to transfer the update file but the device notices that before installing the fragment, it’s not a big issue compared to having a dead device. And there, although the initial feeling might confirm your thoughts, I don’t see any huge advantages in the cabled approach.
Yes, at least with the Fairbuds case. I alone had to try at it over 6 times for it to seemingly take. Except I am updating it for the THIRD TIME, when before it said that the update is complete one day and saying it isn’t the next.
I am not alone. I found another thread where users complained about the firmware update being problematic. The fact that an update takes 5-6 minutes according to the software, when it could be 1-2 minutes with a cable, is also a problem.
So clearly, transmission is a problem (or at least with the fairbudsxl it seems) and could be fixed by doing it over cable. It is standard and basic to rely on a cable to update firmware on lots of devices. OTA is fine as an option but I am baffled why there isn’t a basic cable alternative to do the same thing.
I mean, yes, it can fail during the transmission, but we’ve read about erroneous cables and USB ports often enough when it comes to our phones.
If the cable or port is bad, the update won’t even start. There is no risk of faulty or incomplete update.
If the port is broken on your phone, you have a bigger problem than being stuck on old firmware on your headset.
A bad cable won’t even connect or disconnect.
A bad port or cable is immensely less likely than faulty wireless transmission.
Often enough the device to be upated won’t charge during the actual update process anyway which is why before doing the actual update the device needs to ensure that enough energy is left on the battery.
I actually tried to use an usbC-to-usbC cable and the phone charged the headset (I saw the red light show up). So the phone does charge the headset and thus again, a possible failure point is eliminated.
And if you wanted to do the update from your phone via the cable to the headphones then (with a typical USB cable) none of the two devices could be charged during the update while for the wireless case both could.
It is safe to assume that the phone has enough battery. The phone’s battery does not need to recharge the headset entirely, just supply charge until the update process is complete. If necessary, the software would refuse an update if the phone is in a low-battery mode.