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On September 16th, 2020, Apple released iOS 14 for the apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Watch. This release introduces ‘private Wi-Fi address,’ a feature that assigns the iOS device a randomized MAC address for each Wi-Fi network. To learn more, check out Apple’s Support Article.
Apple has introduced ‘private Wi-Fi address’ to further protect users’ privacy. MAC randomization increases user privacy by preventing outsiders from using MAC addresses to build a history of device activity. Initially, Apple announced plans to generate random MAC addresses every 24 hours, which would have caused greater disruption to network services. Apple’s final iOS 14 release delivers a softer approach while delivering user privacy.
This article serves to inform you of Apple’s new ‘private Wi-Fi address’ feature and how it may impact you and your customers.
‘Private Wi-Fi address’ is already supported on Android devices version 10 and newer. The feature is implemented the same way as Apple devices; however, with one key difference:
When your Apple device updates to iOS 14, a new 'private Wi-Fi address' is generated for each network and causes the Apple device to be treated as a new device. This may cause some OvrC and MAC address-based network services to be interrupted for these Apple iOS devices, including:
Below covers the new expected behavior caused by 'private Wi-Fi address.' There are several workarounds available if you and your customers are impacted by this change.
Important Note: If you are using Wireless Profiles in any of your projects, we encourage you to review the potential impact this may have on your customers and determine a suitable solution.
1. Apple iOS devices appear twice in the OvrC device list
When an Apple iOS device is updated to iOS 14, the initial instance of the device will show offline, and a second instance of the device will appear. Since the new MAC address assigned is random, OvrC has no way to identify the type of device this is. As a result, the device will appear as "Unspecified" with the device type as "Unknown."
Identifying the new MAC address on the Apple device
Identifying the second device in the OvrC device list
2. OvrC Home parental controls assigned to Apple devices
Manually going through each customer project and identifying the matching Apple devices in the device list may become time consuming and largely not necessary. However, projects where Apple devices are assigned to OvrC Home ‘Wireless Device Profiles’ for parental controls will require special attention.
Assigning Wireless Device Profiles
Apple and Android devices are assigned to OvrC Home Wireless Device Profiles in order to set up client services. The MAC address of an iOS or Android device is used to identify the device through OvrC. If the ‘private Wi-Fi address’ feature is enabled, the MAC address will change and the device will no longer be recognized in OvrC Home client services.
Workaround
Users can choose to disable 'Private Wi-Fi Address' on their phone for their Private Networks. This feature is designed to increase user privacy. We encourage users to understand the impact prior to disabling. Enabling this feature is encouraged at all times when connecting to Public Networks.
To learn more, check out Apple’s Support Article.
This year, CEDIA iscoming directly to you with a live and interactive virtual experience! FromSeptember 15th-17th, you can visit our booth to check outour latest products, watch on-demand product training sessions, view presentationsin our Meeting Lounge, or set up a time to chat one-on-one with a member of ourteam. With new products from Episode, ClareOne, Pakedge, and more, we can�twait to show you what we�ve been up to this year! Click hereto register and get access to our virtual booth.
Mark your calendars for Snap Pro Live, a groundbreaking event that will change the way you think about virtual conferences. With a three-day live event from October 13th-15th and on-demand product and technical training content offered through October 30th, Snap Pro Live is bringing you everything you love about gathering together at trade shows directly to the comfort of your home or office. Interact with industry pros from around the world, get energized with roundtable discussions and networking opportunities, and tune into a keynote address from SnapAV leadership for the first look at yet-to-be-released products. Register Now
https://player.vimeo.com/video/451240099
Watch this short video for important details on recentproduct launches, or click the links below to see the featured productsdirectly.
PakedgeMS Series Layer 3 Switches
Wirepath RG6 Dual- and Quad-ShieldDirect Burial Coaxial Cable
The legendary sound of Parasound, including the exclusive Halo line, is now at SnapAV! For over 40 years, Parasound has built the finest high-end audio components to meet every dealer need � delivering elite 2-channel and distributed audio, along with superior home theater systems. With an impressive line of speaker and sub amps, preamps, DACs, and crossovers, Parasound provides best-in-class sound that competes with the foremost brands on the market. Get all your audio components under one roof at SnapAV, Where Pros Buy Audio! Learn more.
We�re excited to introduce the new Impression Series speakers and subwoofer from Episode. These in-ceiling speakers feature a small footprint so dealers can work with interior designers to provide excellent total-home sound while adhering to aesthetic needs. The Impression Series offers custom configurations using our 6 1/2" bandpass subwoofer to provide full-frequency sound and can be run from only two channels of a standard amp or AV receiver. The Impression Series is also available in 2.1 and 4.1 kits for easy shopping. Learn more.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/442107942
Watch this short video for important details on recentproduct launches, or click the links below to see the featured productsdirectly.
Strong RazorFixed and Tilt Mounts
We�re excited to add RG6 Dual- and Quad-Shield Direct Burial Coaxial Cable to the Wirepath portfolio. Available in 500ft and 1000ft spools in a box, respectively, this cable utilizes a Polyethylene jacket and a water-blocking gel to inhibit water penetration, making this perfect for long runs between buildings or running from an outdoor satellite dish to an indoor receiver. Simply dig your trench, lay our direct burial coax, and cover and connect for a waterproof outdoor solution.
We�re proud to introduce the new lineup of Pakedge MS Series Switches, now available for sale on SnapAV.com! Pakedge MS Series Layer 3 Managed Switches with built-in OvrC remote management are designed to handle your most performance-demanding and complex luxury residential, commercial, and pro-AV projects. With five 12-, 24-, and 44-port models in a variety of PoE+ configurations and a range of 1Gbps Ethernet and optional 10Gbps SFP+ uplinks, there�s an MS Series Switch to meet the needs of every install. Learn more.
OvrC Pro product integrations have been added to provide enhanced diagnostics data and troubleshooting for Sony Bravia TVs, Denon, and Marantz products giving customers greater intelligence and capability remotely.
Other enhancements include: OvrC Hubs now support HTTPS, updated interface for Samsung TV for consistency with other TVs, and updated Control4 UI to remove repetitive and unimportant information. Lastly, as of this release, you are now able to view the OvrC Pro application version for devices running OvrC Pro.
Important Note: In order to take advantage of these updates, the OvrC Pro device (OvrC Hub or Araknis X10 router) will have to be rebooted in order to retrieve the updates.
We have separated the OvrC Pro application from the host device's firmware. This separation allows faster releases of OvrC Pro, giving customers the benefit of new features and bug fixes more frequently. In fact, this update is our fourth update this year. In this release, 6.1.0, the OvrC Pro application version is now visible in the device details page.
We are proud to add Sony Bravia TVs to the list of products that provide deep integration when used with OvrC Pro. The integration is available on Bravia models that are Android TV based and have a model number ending in "D" or higher. Remote troubleshooting features include: view MAC address, ping test, model number, software version, serial number, mute on/off, power saving mode, power status, source, volume level, outputs, and selected inputs.
OvrC Pro now supports 2020 models from Denon and Marantz. This includes the following models: Denon AVR-S960H, AVR-X3700H, AVC-4700H, AVR-X4700H, AVC-X6700H, and Marantz SR7015. With the release, these models will now report HDMI 2.3 in addition to HDCP 1.4.
(Note: At the time of this release, OvrC Pro 6.1.0 features will only be available when using the OVRC-HUB-100 or 300 devices and AN-310 routers running firmware version 1.1.64 or higher. The AN-110 router will continue to run 5.0.3 and will receive an update separately at a later date.)
As always, we continue to evolve our product based on your feedback. Please continue to provide your thoughts and ideas to [email protected]. Thanks!