Mac OS X Bluetooth Bug Waiting for Fix

The people at M.H.A LCC have developed an application called Airlock, which allows you to control your computer's behavior using your iPhone. We’re currently reviewing the app and it’s impressive, but its functionality is affected by a recently discovered bug in the Bluetooth chip employed by Apple Macintosh computers.

Airlock allows a user’s Mac to lock itself based on their proximity in relation to the computer. The software determines whether the person is around by using the Bluetooth signal from their iPhone or iPod touch. When the person goes out of range, their Mac locks its screen automatically. When the user is back in range, the computer greets them by unlocking its screen. One can also customize Airlock to perform specific actions, like logging in or out of iChat, opening a web browser, etc., as it locks and unlocks the computer’s screen.

Talking to Rich Kubota at Apple about Airlock's incompatibilities with Bluetooth keyboards and mice, the developers updated their website with good news for fans of their innovative app. According to the post, the Apple staffer allegedly told M.H.A LCC that, “The wireless keyboard and mouse connection-loss issue is due to a bug in the Bluetooth firmware made by Broadcom, Apple's current Bluetooth chipset manufacturer. He said that Broadcom is currently the holdup because Apple must wait for them to fix the firmware before publishing it as a software update.”

“Unfortunately, when we inquired about an estimated time until the firmware update would be available, Mr. Kubota could only tell us that, ‘Apple makes no comments as to future plans,’” Airlock’s developers say. However, “Broadcom is already working on the problem,” according to M.H.A LCC citing the Apple insider. “We appreciate your patience in this matter, and will continue updating this page as information becomes available,” the company adds.