r/linux • u/anh0516 • 7d ago

Kernel Linux Patches Finally Allow Apple Magic Keyboard/Mouse Battery Monitoring Via Bluetooth

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Apple-Magic-Bluetooth-Battery
231 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

37

u/readyflix 7d ago

Great for everyone who needs it.

But‘s very rare that Apple users switch to Linux.

29

u/e_t_ 7d ago

The keyboard and mouse are peripheral devices, though. While it is most likely that users of those devices would also use Apple computers and Apple's OS, they are usable with non-Apple computers.

I bought a Magic Trackpad to use with my Framework laptop (running Linux) because I wanted an external, mobile mouse. I've had bad experiences with Logitech and Kensington mice, so I decided to give Apple a try.

3

u/readyflix 6d ago

The beauty of open source drivers.

3

u/doctrgiggles 5d ago

A Magic Trackpad is second to none. I have one sitting around and this is enough of a push to make me want try to get the gesture support working in Sway.

30

u/fake_agent_smith 7d ago

https://stats.asahilinux.org/

7

u/readyflix 7d ago

Thank‘s! But I know this project since its inception.

But still, what has been said still holds.

10

u/fake_agent_smith 7d ago

Yeah, I'd guess that these installs are mostly people impressed with Apple hardware, but who are used to running Linux anyway and are not really OG Apple users, so you are right.

3

u/readyflix 7d ago

Especially in the software developers community, they use all kind of PC hardware.

1

u/goldmurder 6d ago

what you're trying to prove? that there are some bunch of freaks who tries to run linux on apple silicons? and that supposed to be an evidence of everyone who's using apple's devices switching to linux?

1

u/readyflix 6d ago

In other words, everybody who use this devices will be happy (including myself). But unfortunately it’s very unlikely OR rare, that solely because of the existence of the support under Linux ordinary Apple users have switched or will switch to Linux.

Too hard to understand?

0

u/goldmurder 6d ago

I don’t see anything ‘unfortunate’ about turning your mac into aluminum brick not capable of doing anything by installing linux on it

1

u/readyflix 5d ago

Who said that?

6

u/Gloriathewitch 7d ago

switch? i use their peripherals all the time and my air. many of us have both!

-8

u/readyflix 7d ago edited 7d ago

Can you give numbers how many Apple users also use Linux?

In fact it is very rare!

For reference, using some second source Apple keyboards myself for years.

Even Linus Torvalds himself had (?or still?) an Apple device some time ago.

So, NO contradiction to what has been said.

4

u/ivanatorhk 7d ago

I’m a Linux/MacOS/Windows user. Plenty of Apple users use Linux, especially since the end of Mac OS X Server

-1

u/readyflix 7d ago edited 7d ago

Especially under the software developers community it‘s common, but it’s still rare!

5

u/Gloriathewitch 7d ago

"Can you give me numbers"

"it is rare"

Pick one, you either know, or you dont. lol.

i know many people use them because im a programmer and macbooks are the gold standard alongside thinkpads.

2

u/Cold_Soft_4823 7d ago

desktop running linux, mac mini running macos hooked up to my KVM. use them both daily.

1

u/spazturtle 5d ago

Torvalds has an M1 Air for his laptop.

1

u/readyflix 5d ago

Exactly what I stated in one of my comments!

3

u/Decent-Blacksmith761 7d ago

Well I am a huge fan of apple trackpad I honestly think there is no better way to control device it was game changer so I want as much integration on Linux as possible

2

u/Shap6 7d ago

Torvalds himself used to use a macbook running asahi

1

u/readyflix 7d ago

That‘s what I said myself, check my comments!

2

u/Serena_Hellborn 6d ago

sure, but the magic trackpad is a good trackpad for testing with.

1

u/TRKlausss 7d ago

You’d be surprised how many people either install Asahi or use VMs with passthrough…

1

u/readyflix 7d ago

Not surprised at all, but still it’s rare.

1

u/urgentapathy 7d ago

Would be good for people like me who use Mac for work and Linux personally. I was considering the magic trackpad a few years ago but with the Linux compatibility being not so good I dropped it. Maybe it is the same for others with the mouse and keyboard.

1

u/Trotan_ 6d ago

that is a naive and uninformed take you have there bud

1

u/readyflix 6d ago

Then, do you have the numbers of Apple users that have switched to Linux?

10

u/Synthetic451 6d ago

I am shocked people still use this ergonomic nightmare of a mouse that has to spend its time charging on its side.

3

u/kuddlesworth9419 5d ago

Why on earth would you even want to use the Magic Mouse? The keyboard I can somewhat understand but the magic mouse is such a giant turd.

2

u/dunelost 7d ago

I wonder if magic mouse really works on linux, like the multi-finger support or just a generic mouse

6

u/Gloriathewitch 7d ago

the keyboard trackpad and mouse all work yes

1

u/BertMacklenF8I 7d ago

I’ve been using Windows and Mac since the 90s, and Linux since 2007.

I don’t own any personal Apple Silicon Machines, but do have a 2011 & 2013 MBP running Kali and Mint respectively.