WiiM Ultra

[kyuu]

What rubbish, if something isn't needed then it shouldn't be scanned should it?

What are you talking about? It does need to do a wifi/bluetooth scan for the initial connection to the Wiim device. After you've configured it to live on your network, it's no longer needed. Hence why you can revoke the permission after the initial setup. Again, it has nothing to do with collecting or sending your GPS coordinates.

Look, if you want to be excessively paranoid that's fine. Don't buy or use any product that asks for location permissions, regardless of the reason. That's your prerogative. There's nothing unusual or "sus" about what Wiim is doing, however, if you actually understand what's going on.

 

[Deleted member 79915]

Interesting

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1g9yjt7/psa_wiim_devices_require_giving_it_your_precise

 

[antcollinet]

It's not network access. It's actively scanning. Like I said, the sort of thing that can be used for inferring position. Check the Check the Android Developer documentation here, for example. Doing a wifi scan requires getting fine location permission. I'm sure it's similar on iOS. It does not mean your exact GPS coordinates are being collected or sent anywhere. There's no sense blaming Wiim for how permissions work in operating systems nowadays.

I was just about to state I have loads of apps that scan for network/bluetooth, and non of them ask for location permissions.

Then I went to check - and I have about 70 apps with some degree of location permission. Why does IMDB need location permissions FFS.


Bloody hell, gonna take me ages to turn all those off.
And wiim are forgiven - clearly the problem is mine.

 

[Deleted member 79915]

I was just about to state I have loads of apps that scan for network/bluetooth, and non of them ask for location permissions.

Then I went to check - and I have about 70 apps with some degree of location permission. Why does IMDB need location permissions FFS.


Bloody hell, gonna take me ages to turn all those off.
And wiim are forgiven - clearly the problem is mine.

The worst thing about Stockholm syndrome is you don't realise you've got it

 

[somebodyelse]

https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Location_Services_White_Paper_Nov_2019.pdf

To protect against Wi-Fi location scanning, iOS 13 and iPadOS limit the type
of apps that can see the names of Wi-Fi networks the user connects to. Only
apps that have already been granted user permission to access precise location
data, that have been given permission to set up a virtual private network profile,
or that have been given permission to configure a network on the system on
the user’s behalf will be able to see the names of Wi-Fi networks the user is
connected to. In the case of apps that have permission to configure a network
on the system on the user’s behalf, the app will only be able to see the names
and MAC addresses of Wi-Fi networks configured by the app itself

 

[Deleted member 79915]

https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Location_Services_White_Paper_Nov_2019.pdf

Yes, in other words GPS network location isn't necessary for what these apps want to do. You don't need to give location permissions or ask for them in order to set up a network, which is what wiim is claiming to want to do. And spouting at people that they should know what they're talking about. It's just gibberish. You're gonna cut and pay stuff from Apple's own website. You should try reading what you're posting first. You might actually learn something.

 

[Krusty09]

Doesn't sonos do the same?

 

[JustJones]

Doesn't sonos do the same?

I believe so.

Roon does as well. They are required to by law.

• Your geographic location. We are contractually obligated by some of our data providers and service partners to filter the content You see based on where You’re located. Yes, this feels very “21stcentury” to Us, too, but draconian laws are draconian laws.

It might be the same with WiiM, not really sure.

 

[kyuu]

Yes, in other words GPS network location isn't necessary for what these apps want to do. You don't need to give location permissions or ask for them in order to set up a network, which is what wiim is claiming to want to do. And spouting at people that they should know what they're talking about. It's just gibberish. You're gonna cut and pay stuff from Apple's own website. You should try reading what you're posting first. You might actually learn something.

You seem to be having trouble understanding this. They need to do wifi scanning for the initial device setup. WIFI SCANNING. Not setting up a network. They need to scan for wifi networks. This functionality is protected under the fine location permissions in both Android and iOS. Therefore, in order to do this, they do in fact need to ask for location permissions. That's how it works.

Now, if we want to get a little more in the details, this is most likely simply a convenience feature. This allows the Wiim app to find an ad-hoc wifi network being broadcast by the Wiim device when it first boots up so they can talk and the initial setup can proceed. After the setup is done and the device is now on your home network, that's no longer relevant which is why it doesn't care if you then revoke the location permissions. Could this be done by having the user disconnect the phone from their home's wireless, find the wifi network themselves out of a list (something like "Wiim_Ultra_xxxx), connect to it, do the setup, and then disconnect and reconnect to their home network? Yes, almost certainly. However, Wiim has decided to make the setup process easy by using wifi scanning.

Again, if you really hate the idea of giving location permissions for this process, that's fine. But, also yet again, there's nothing nefarious about it. It's not Wiim's fault that this functionality is locked under the location services banner, that's just how operating systems classify it.

 

[Brian Hall]

Then I went to check - and I have about 70 apps with some degree of location permission. Why does IMDB need location permissions FFS.

IMDB uses it to show ticket prices and shows for movie theaters close to you.

 

[antcollinet]

IMDB uses it to show ticket prices and shows for movie theaters close to you.

Yes, of course it does. In other words an attempt to sell me stuff.

I certainly don't need it to have permissions for that.

 

[Romario]

Teardown and component explanation
youtube video with all the specs of all IC chips used in the Ultra. 22 minutes, poster yesterday

 

[threni]

I was just about to state I have loads of apps that scan for network/bluetooth, and non of them ask for location permissions.

Then I went to check - and I have about 70 apps with some degree of location permission. Why does IMDB need location permissions FFS.


Bloody hell, gonna take me ages to turn all those off.
And wiim are forgiven - clearly the problem is mine.

I suspect that network (for wifi) and location are associated because if they were separate you could allow an app to scan the wifi networks at which point they are able to know exactly where you are and you might not be aware of this. Combining them in this way allows you to consider whether you want to grant them this info - it's not that they need it or will use it but you're trusting them, in this case explicitly.

This site is a total mess but you get the idea: https://wigle.net/

 

[rgruber]

Curious what you all think about re-clocking the WiiM Ultras USB output with the SMSL PO100, in order to improve the sound:

It kinda sounds like audiophile BS to me and I use the USB as an input for my music files, but I'm curious if there's any merit to the idea.

 

[Brian Hall]

Curious what you all think about re-clocking the WiiM Ultras USB output with the SMSL PO100, in order to improve the sound:

It kinda sounds like audiophile BS to me and I use the USB as an input for my music files, but I'm curious if there's any merit to the idea.

Pointless. Audiophool BS.

 

[gad]

Currently dac->amp utilizing dac preamp volume control. If I connect the ultra to my current dac would each maintain volume control creating the same safety function of a separate preamp? The nightmare scenario of a dac preamp malfunction leaving me with blown tweeters and dead ears is not pleasant.

 

[staticV3]

If I connect the ultra to my current dac would each maintain volume control

Yes, as long as you keep volume control function enabled on both.

creating the same safety function of a separate preamp?

Both the DAC and Ultra rely on software for volume control.
Chaining two of them will give you some redundancy, but that fact remains.

 

[Abdo]

Good morning, has anyone seen this video:

In my case, I had to buy two pieces, the SMSL PO100 and the other one he recommended, the SMSL SU-1...

Do you think it makes sense and would there really be a difference in hearing?

Thanks

 

[Rednaxela]

@Abdo, @rgruber has seen it.

 

[Abdo]

@Abdo, @rgruber has seen it.