Review of Android applications for mobile headsets, or Big-eared softie

Perhaps the most popular and sought-after addition to a smartphone is headphones. They are used by everyone - from teenagers to retirees. Some people listen to music through them in transport, others conduct telephone conversations without using their hands. Manufacturers of mobile devices often include headsets with smartphones, recognizing the convenience and practicality of this accessory.

Using headphones is a simple matter; you just need to insert the plug into the socket on the body of your smartphone, tablet PC or other mobile device. Even preschoolers can do this. However, few people know that headphones can sometimes do more than just transmit sound. With the help of software, they can be taught various interesting tricks. Today we will talk about how you can “upgrade” a popular accessory using applications for your Android smartphone.

But before we get into the software review, it's worth mentioning some pitfalls. The mobile world is in a state of confusion due to the incompatibility of wired headsets. At first glance, almost all smartphones have the same connection - through a connector designed for a 3.5 mm TRRS mini-jack. But in reality the situation looks confusing.

This plug has four metal contacts (four-pin connector) and is used both on headsets for iOS devices and for connecting mobile headsets compatible with the Android platform. In both cases, the connector is the same, but the wiring and the principle of identifying control signals are different. Therefore, if you connect an iPhone headset to an Android smartphone, you most likely will not be able to take advantage of all its functions. In some cases, you can resort to special adapters or, armed with a circuit, try to do some magic yourself with a soldering iron and solder. In many cases, a regular gaming computer headset can be connected to a smartphone using a simple adapter. Technical details, information on connection standards and connection diagrams of the different TRRS standards can be found, for example, here.

⇡#Philips Headset: training the remote control of a mobile headset

Each headset model is individual - it has a special fit, has a certain power reserve and sounds with a characteristic timbre. And sound defects can be veiled using frequency correction of sound. Moreover, some manufacturers, such as the popular Philips brand, offer special applications for “upgrading” headsets.

Philips Headset will help make the sound of this brand's headsets more pleasant. The application is being developed by Gibson Innovations Limited, a company that for some time now owns the right to produce audio products under a well-known name. Despite the fact that the Philips Headset application is initially aimed at Philips headphones, it can be successfully used with mobile headsets from other manufacturers.

The Philips Headset displays a sort of sound palette on the screen, on which you move a slider. The position of this slider determines the sound character of the headphones. For example, in the upper left corner of the palette the sound will have rich low frequencies, in the lower right corner - high frequencies, etc. The program's small database contains a set of preset sound settings for some Philips headsets.

In the program settings, you can determine which application will automatically launch after connecting the headset - a music player or a radio.

Almost all modern wired mobile headsets are equipped with a remote control for controlling your smartphone and receiving incoming calls. Most often, they are either one-button, for accepting an incoming call and ending the conversation, or three-button, where two additional buttons control the playback volume. The presence of a remote control for controlling a smartphone significantly affects the cost of the headset, and the “multimedia” version of the remote control with three buttons, of course, costs more than the version with one button. But there is a way to get by with a remote control with one button without losing functionality - using the same Philips Headset application. In the program settings, you can select player control commands and assign them to the specified number of presses of the remote control function key - one, two, three times.

While wearing the headset, the button may be accidentally pressed against clothing. If you assign volume commands to it, such presses may cause the sound to be louder at random. Imagine that you just wore a headset around your neck for a while, then put it on and a loud sound hit your ears. To prevent this from happening, the application provides an option to limit the volume level. By choosing the most acceptable sound level for yourself, you can be calm - your ears will no longer be under stress.

Methods for setting up headphones

Headphone settings are available in the following ways:

1. Key combination on the headphones.
2. In a proprietary application.
3. In a third party application.
4. In the music player.
5. In the developer section on your smartphone/tablet.

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⇡#Headset Droid: alternative functions of the headset remote

If you feel like the Philips Headset app doesn't have enough settings, install Headset Droid. This program is paid, but it has many more options for controlling the buttons on the headset remote. Headset Droid not only allows you to assign specific commands to the function keys on the remote control, but also provides the ability to set a time delay so that the device more accurately determines the sequence of keystrokes.

The program allows you to use successive presses of a function key (up to four), and can also activate functions by pressing a key for a long time. To make it more convenient to control your smartphone, each press or execution of certain functions (increase the volume, launch an application, etc.) can be accompanied by a sound signal.

Headset Droid will also allow you to use the remote control to check the time and announce the caller's name. When the voice engine is running, the application mutes the player and ringtone. It can also perform certain actions when connecting and disconnecting the headset: start playing a track, rewind to a new track, open applications, tell the time, set a certain volume level, etc.

Headset Droid can use a combination of presses to mute the microphone and control the commands “accept”, “reject”, “end call”. Buttons for controlling the volume on headsets for iPod/iPhone cannot be configured in the program due to hardware incompatibility (Apple, as usual, has patented this little detail).

Method 4: Setup in Music Player

Most music players contain specialized settings for control and automation. For example, the PowerAMP player allows you to activate automatic play and pause when connecting/disconnecting wireless headphones.

PowerAMP also has OpenSL ES plugin settings, which allows you to configure various parameters, including the audio buffer size in case of playback problems.

To configure plugins, follow the instructions:

Open your player.

Click the three-bar button to display additional options.

In the pop-up window, select Settings.

In the new menu, select the “Sound” section.

Next at the bottom is the “Audio Output” item.

Then select OpenSL ES output.

In the next window, activate Bluetooth mode, and also click on the gear-shaped button.

Then activate the parameters based on your personal preferences and requirements.

⇡#Tunity: turning the headset into wireless headphones

The absence of wires when using headphones is a definite plus; many would like to have a pair of wireless headphones. With these headphones, you can sit comfortably on the sofa and watch TV without getting tangled in a long cable.

Of course, a mobile headset with a smartphone will not replace real wireless headphones, but if you install the right software, you can watch TV with the same comfort without thinking about wires. In this case, the headset is used, of course, to output sound, and the smartphone serves as a receiver. Of course, this will not be as convenient as with real wireless headphones, where the built-in receiver is completely invisible (which cannot be said about a smartphone). But on the other hand, you don’t overpay for comfort, and the “receiver” itself won’t take up much space in your pocket. “Where will the smartphone receive the TV signal from?” - you ask. From the Internet! The Tunity service will come to the rescue.

Having installed the application of the same name on your device, point the gadget’s camera at the TV screen, after which the program will take a photo and send it to the server.

Next, the service will identify the television channel and connect you to the online broadcast of audio. The time delay can play an unpleasant joke - because of it, the sound may not match the image. Especially for this, the program provides an option to manually adjust the sound to the image.

The idea is interesting, you will agree. You come to a bar or fitness center where the TV is on with the sound turned off, take out your smartphone and tune in to the desired channel. However, there is one big fly in the ointment - the list of supported channels is very limited, only English-language programs are available. However, the creators of this project promise to certainly expand the geography and number of identifiable broadcasts.

The Tunity app can be installed on both Android devices and iOS smartphones.

Connecting Redmi Airdots (Xiaomi Earbuds)

To begin with, we will analyze the whole process using the example of the most budget model Redmi Airdots (Xiaomi Earbuds), which I have already reviewed in detail. This headset was not available to work with the application, so connecting to a smartphone is done in the simplest way, from the Bluetooth menu on Android or iOS.

First start

For initial synchronization, the headphones and case must be fully charged. Therefore, if you have just unpacked them, then first of all connect them to power.

When you take the Xiaomi/Redmi headphones out of the case, you have to turn them on manually for the first time.

Subsequently, they turn on automatically after removal from the case. Setting up does not require any mobile application, as some people think. This happens using the built-in means of the Android or iOS operating system.

Deactivation also occurs by pressing the buttons, or by placing the headphones in the case. Moreover, if you remove only the left one, it will turn off, and the right one will continue to work. If you put the right one in place, both will turn off at once.

Connecting to a smartphone via Bluetooth

To connect to an Android phone you need to do the following:

1. We take the headphones out of the case and wait for them to synchronize with each other. It is easy to understand that they have mated by the behavior of the light indicators. Both modules will first blink white, after which one of them will go out and the light will remain on only on the master one.
2. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone
3. We find a device called “Redmi_Airdots_R”
4. Click on it and confirm the connection

Headphones are connected to a TV or Smart TV Box in the same way. A separate publication is devoted to this topic on our website.

Setting up track switching and answering calls

As you know, Bluetooth TWS technology allows you not only to listen to music, but also to control its playback. And with their help, you can accept or reject incoming calls on your smartphone directly from the headphones thanks to the microphone built into the headset.

The audio or video switching capabilities of Redmi Airdots and Xiaomi Earbuds are very limited. In particular, scrolling through tracks is impossible here. Typically in other models it is done by double clicking or tapping. Here, a call to the voice assistant is assigned to this gesture.

• Single press – pause, play or answer an incoming call.
• Double – launch the voice assistant. All assistants are supported - Siri, OK Google, Yandex Alice
• Hold for one second or more - cancel the call
• Double tap during a call - mute the microphone

The same applies to volume - it cannot be adjusted using gestures from the headphones. However, there is a life hack - call the voice assistant and ask him to turn up the volume or change the track.

How to turn off headphones?

There are two ways to turn off Redmi Airdots/Xiaomi Earbuds. First of all, just put them in the case and close the lid. The connection with the smartphone is disconnected automatically. This is evidenced by the same LED operating mode indicator. The light will change from white to red, which will indicate that the headphones have started charging.

Another option to turn off wireless headphones is to long press the function button on each of them.

Video instruction

⇡#WiFi-earphone for PC: listen to your computer via your smartphone

This application is another attempt to make headphones “wireless” using a Wi-Fi network and a smartphone. This time the developer offers a way to communicate between a computer and a mobile headset. To use the WiFi-earphone for PC application, you need to download and install two parts of the program: a client for a smartphone and a desktop application on a PC, which will broadcast audio over the network. The application works stably and requires virtually no configuration. All the user needs to do is specify the computer’s IP address and click the Connect button.

The connection is protected by a password, which can be generated automatically by the program or assigned manually by the user. In addition, WiFi-earphone for PC can automatically scan the network and show addresses available for connection.

In networks where the channel is heavily loaded, as well as in cases where the data transfer speed is low, you can switch to low bitrate mode. In this case, the audio quality will deteriorate slightly.

The desktop application runs in the background. It places its icon in the system tray and, if necessary, can display the type of connected device - smartphone model. Unfortunately, the application is paid, but the trial version gives a good idea of ​​its capabilities. The limitation of the trial version (besides the presence of advertising) is that each new session of connecting to a computer can last no more than five minutes.

Frequent problems and solutions

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to connect JBL wireless headphones to a PC/laptop on the first try. When performing this work, failures may occur that can be resolved on your own. Let's consider different options:

1. The computer does not recognize the JBL headset. In this case, make sure to turn on the device (the indicator should blink), restart the device or bring it closer. Also make sure the Bluetooth module is recognized and working properly.
2. The PC does not connect. Try restarting the system, check that the Bluetooth module is enabled in the BIOS, and then save the settings.
3. Problems connecting via Skype. Try updating the application to the latest version, restart your PC and headset, or set the gadget as the default device.
4. Stopped connecting to the computer. Try removing JBL headphones from the list of paired devices, and then connect according to the above scheme.

Knowing how to connect JBL headphones to a computer/laptop, you can quickly pair and resolve errors if they occur. In the comments, tell us whether these recommendations were useful to you, and what other secrets you need to know.

⇡#Stereo Test: checking the headphone cable

No matter how good the headphones are, their service life does not last forever. There will come a time when the cable frays, and you will have to pick up a soldering iron or buy a new headset. When the wire begins to deform at the bend, there is a possibility that the right and left channels will become short-circuited, causing the stereo effect to disappear. To test the left and right channels separately, you can use the simple Stereo Test application. The same program can be used on balanced headphones to accurately determine where the right channel is and where the left is. If you use a headset that is not compatible with your smartphone, the channels may change places. Stereo Test will easily help you understand if this is so.

PodsControl

PodsControl is perhaps the best looking app in this roundup. The interface looks extremely neat and is designed only for the essentials. The main menu is divided into four parts. One of the front parts displays the device name and connection information. This is followed by a section displaying the battery level of the AirPods and their case.

There you can also find a button to turn on the monitoring system. It can also be turned off to save battery power. In it we can set click destinations with custom options for double clicking. However, it does not allow you to configure touches for each of the headphones.

What we like most about PodsControl is how easy it is to use. When you first launch, you will be taken to a page where you must select AirPods from the list of Bluetooth devices available for connection. After the connection is made, it will immediately open to the main screen of the application.

Luckily, PodsControl doesn't have a paid version. All functions are already available in the basic version.

⇡#Headphones Equalizer: calibrate headphones

No self-respecting connoisseur of good sound will take various kinds of frequency filters and equalizers too seriously, believing that they more or less spoil the original sound by adding distortion. There is some truth in this, but some benefits can also be found from applications that correct the sound of a smartphone.

For example, if you like to listen to audiobooks, then you have probably encountered the problem of low quality digitization of the audio material you have read, especially in amateur performance. Audiobooks created by teams of enthusiasts and posted on torrents often have a sharply cut spectrum, replete with noise. And if the source of digitization was a chewed magnetic film “from the time of the Ochakovskys and the conquest of the Crimea,” it can be very difficult to make out the words of the speaker on the recording. This is where an equalizer comes in handy. They can, for example, cut off high-frequency interference, raise mid frequencies or remove excessive low frequencies, and emphasize the voice. The sound quality after processing will not become radically better, but the speaker's speech will be more intelligible. But what equalizer should you choose?

You will find a lot of tools for sound correction in the application store, and many players also have their own tools for processing sound in real time. But all these options work, so to speak, in “blind mode”, without taking into account the acoustic characteristics of the headphones.

But in Headphones Equalizer everything is different. The application has an exceptional feature: it tries to calibrate the audio signal by analyzing the sound of headphones through the smartphone's microphone. This is done with the help of a wizard in several stages. First, the program checks for the presence of background noise, and then tries to determine the frequency characteristics of the headphones by recording a control tone that varies in frequency. If the control test fails, you need to increase the volume.

The application detects blockages and humps in the frequency response of the headset and adjusts the equalizer in such a way as to compensate for the shortcomings of the model used.

The application allows you to store several profiles at once with settings for different headphone models; the number of these profiles is not limited. The program can also be used as a regular equalizer, adjusting audio by eye.

And Headphones Equalizer has a nice addition for those who firmly believe in the benefits of warming up headphones (by the way, we recommend looking at the material “In search of a warm sound: do you need to warm up your headphones?” on this topic). Using a noise generator, you can warm up your headphones directly in this program. And not just like that, but one of two types of noise - white or pink (white is probably for boys, pink for girls). During the warm-up process, Headphones Equalizer will count the time spent “baking”. A couple of weeks of warming up, automatic correction using the microphone built into the smartphone and... it’s scary to think how the headset will play after that.

Bluetooth Pair

An excellent application for automating the process of connecting two Android devices via a wireless Bluetooth connection. This is very convenient for users who have a large number of third-party gadgets at their disposal. For example, these could be audio speakers, headsets, car speakers or smart watches.

Instead of wasting time connecting each device to your Android phone, you can automate them with Bluetooth Pair and save your time. Among the features of this application are flawless work with Android operating systems starting from the sixth version, extensive settings, several header theme designs and simple navigation.

⇡#“Testing your hearing”: how well do you hear?

It's no secret that wearing headphones for a long time has a negative impact on human health. Constant load on the organ of hearing leads to the fact that a person’s sensitivity to sound perception decreases. If you care about your health, remember that loud noise is a direct path to deafness. In order to pay attention to the emerging disease in time, you should regularly check your hearing with a doctor. Or, as a last resort, use your smartphone. In the Google Play app store you can find a special application called “Testing Your Hearing”.

The program is based on the principle of pure-tone audiometry - a technology for determining threshold frequency values ​​audible by the human ear. Simply put, the program generates a tone, and the user marks the audible sounds by pressing a button. As a result of a series of such measurements, a graph is drawn up, a simplified frequency response of the hearing aid.

By periodically taking this test, you can see (or better yet, not see) deviations from the norm. The first test is a calibration test. It is advisable for a person with perfect hearing to take it. The program keeps visual statistics of checks, which can be used to assess the current condition of the “patient”.

Honestly, we think that this application cannot guarantee an accurate hearing test, because the results are greatly influenced by the hardware - what audio path the smartphone has, what headphones are connected, etc. Therefore, you don’t have to look at the numbers at all, the error is too large. On the other hand, the developers claim that you can do the test even with headphones, which usually come with your smartphone. Before the hearing test, you need to indicate whether you are using “native” headphones and if so, the program will use correction factors specifically for the model of the smartphone you are using (if, of course, this data is found in the database. For the Lenovo A680 smartphone, for example, they were not found) . In this case, calibration is not required.

Believe it or not - it's up to you. In any case, if the program is calibrated and the test results show that your hearing is worse than that of a person whose hearing you consider ideal, there is a reason to go to an otolaryngologist.

Conclusion

Smartphones keep many secrets, and we don't even know half of all the capabilities hidden in our pocket assistants. They are modified, new areas of application are invented for them, turning them either into a measuring device or into a key for opening a lock. But such a familiar accessory as headphones can also be made a little better. You just need to learn to think outside the box, and you can come up with a variety of applications, from a hearing tester to a wireless audio receiver.

How to connect Xiaomi Mi AirDots 2 Pro headphones

Now let's see how to connect a more advanced TWS model of the brand to the phone - Xiaomi (Redmi) Mi Airdots Pro 2, which we also had in our review. Unlike previous Bluetooth headphones, here there is a separate key on the case that activates the pairing mode with the phone.

How to connect to the phone?

1. So, turn on Bluetooth on your phone
2. Next, click on the button located on the side of the case
3. The light indicator on it should blink white - this means that Xioami AirDots 2 Pro are ready to connect
4. Open the Bluetooth settings on your smartphone and connect to the device named “Mi True Wireless Earphones 2”

Now you can take them out of the case and use them. It turns off automatically when you put it back in the case and close the lid.

Reconnection is also activated immediately after opening the cover of the case, and not when removing the headphones from the case, as is done in most other models.

Manage music and incoming calls

The touch sensor of Xiaomi Airdots 2 Pro is located at the top of the headphone stem. By default, the following functions are assigned to the control button:

• When there is an incoming call, double tap on any earphone will answer the call
• Double-tap the left earphone to call the voice assistant
• Double tap on the right - pause/play

Few? Well, what did you want for this money? In fact, there are headphones for a thousand with much more advanced music control capabilities. But Xiaomi didn’t bother here either, as in the case of Redmi Airdots. Fortunately, it is possible to change them from the mobile application.

As you can see, all actions are triggered by double taps rather than single taps to avoid accidental triggering. This is exactly why I didn’t like TWS headphones with sensors, since they called up functions I didn’t need while adjusting them in my ear.

Installing the Xiaomi (Redmi) mobile application for your phone

Let's move on to the mobile application that works with more advanced models of Xiaomi or Redmi headphones. To configure a wireless headset, there are two versions of programs - the official Mi AI and the custom Mi Buds M8. You can download the official Mi AI application for your mobile phone without any search, simply by scanning the QR code on the box.

It will open the application page on Google Play Market for Android, from which you can download the utility to your smartphone.

What is your opinion: is WiFi harmful?

Yes

22.91%

No

77.09%

Voted: 36469

1. Allow the application to access the Bluetooth module on the phone
2. And yes, from now on the entire menu will be in Chinese. I hope that in the future, with the supply of headphones to the international market, the program will be Russified or at least translated into English. But in fact, when setting up, it’s easy to navigate - you need to constantly press the right button, where the inscription is highlighted in blue.
3. As it turned out later, the program is universal and is intended for setting up several different Xiaomi gadgets. Select our wireless headphones from the picture
4. And we confirm the creation of the pair
5. Next, touch the sensor and press the blue button again
6. We give headphones access to the smartphone microphone
7. And finally, once again we agree with something - not the point. After which the main page of the Xiaomi Mi AirDots 2 Pro headphone application opens.
8. But we can’t immediately get to the button settings, because immediately after connecting to the phone, the application asks for permission to wirelessly flash the Xiaomi Mi AirDots 2 Pro headphones. Why not?
9. We confirm the flashing and wait for the end of this process

It is important to note that during the firmware update, the headphones must be in the case with the lid up.

Setting up gestures

Upon completion of the firmware, we finally get to the menu page. To enter the settings of the control buttons, we are interested in the very first point.

And then we select the action from the proposed options that needs to be assigned to a double tap on the right or left module.

Again, unfortunately the number of actions is very limited

Video

Podroid (closed)

Podroid is an application developed by Kyungwoo Lee. It has a unique feature - the ability to customize the interface to suit you. Podroid will provide you with a feature to pause playback when you take your AirPods out of your ears. However, at the same time, the developer warns that this will entail high battery consumption. Setting a higher delay can increase the life of the headphones.

Podroid shows your Airpod's battery level through notifications and status bar. Please note that Podroid requires permission to access notifications in order to function properly. This will allow the app to read all notifications coming to your phone. Podroid claims that it only requests permissions to improve its experience and does not share them with third parties. But for users who are concerned about their privacy, this can be a big disadvantage.

Like Assistant Trigger, Podroid allows you to customize touches to suit the user. By double-clicking on the gear icon, you will go to settings, where you can customize everything for yourself.

Assistant Trigger

Assistant Trigger by DotArrow Inc is an Android utility that supports second-generation AirPods. It shows the percentage of charge of the headphones and the case itself, including in the form of a notification on the start screen. Assistant Trigger can also detect when the headphones are in your ears and start playing media.

Double-tapping the notification opens the Assistant Trigger app; single-clicking the notification stops or plays the music. The notification shows the battery charge with small icons that look very cute. The battery charge level is not always accurate and is shown with an error of 10%. This is not the fault of the application itself, because AirPods only report charge in this way.

It is worth noting that the charge display and headphone location functions are only available in the pro version, which will cost you $2.

AirBattery

After connecting your Airpods headphones to your native Apple devices, you will see a special window that displays information about the charge level and location of the headphones. This is not the case on Android by default. But you can access a similar menu if you use the AirBattery app. It can be downloaded from the Play Store. By the way, it is suitable not only for Airpods, but also for other popular wireless headphones.

The program will automatically detect whether the Airpods are in your ears, in a case, or just lying around somewhere. If you're wearing headphones, the app will automatically prompt you to play music or video. True, the choice of services for such synchronization is limited, but the most popular are Google Music, YouTube and Netflix.

The application also has a paid version that enhances the user experience. By purchasing a subscription, you can see more information about your headphones and charging case.

Reviews

Droidpods

Droidpods is a notification-centric app and relies on all the major features. Apple AirPods are controlled in the notification area and don't need anything else to display all the basic information. In addition, Droidpods send you an alert if the battery level of one of the headphones suddenly drops below 10%.

However, it looks like the developer is not particularly interested in developing his product. The app was last updated on February 1, 2022. If you don't care if someone is still working on the app, then we recommend giving Droidpods a try. In principle, such simple utilities do not need any further development, since everything has already been done. Except perhaps for small bugs that are long overdue for fixing.

Droidpods don't have a free version, so you'll have to pay $2.50 for it.

Advantages and disadvantages of bluetooth headsets

Advantages and disadvantages of bluetooth headsets

Download JBL Portable Connect on PC

Now you have all the necessary information to download and install the necessary software on your PC.

Installation instructions

AirPopup

This application is considered the leader among similar programs. It has a great set of features that allows you to organize your airpods efficiently:

• battery level indicator;
• headphone listening control system;
• information provided in notifications;
• audio and video playback settings;
• option to turn off monitoring if you want to extend battery life.

A nice bonus is that the user will be able to customize the interface and color of the menu according to their preferences.

Like Droidpods, AirPopup will also need to be purchased - the developers do not offer free access. But they do care about troubleshooting and regular updates. Downloading the app from the Play Store costs two dollars and requires no additional purchases.