You're not alone.

不是只有你

Apple, Google and other companies

蘋果、Google 和許多公司

have gotten rid of the headphone jack from their phones.

早已不在手機上設置耳機孔

This is pushing people towards wireless headphones,

這使得消費者轉向使用無線耳機

which means they'll have to rely

這意味著消費者必須仰賴

on that Bluetooth connection.

藍芽連線技術

The Bluetooth is still so unreliable.

但是至今藍芽仍然很不可靠

Its got a short range, devices disconnect randomly

它的有效範圍很短，裝置很容易忽然斷線

and it uses up battery life.

並且十分耗電

Even thought it's been around for 20 years, why does Bluetooth still suck?

儘管藍芽技術已有約 20 年的歷史，但到底為什麼還是這麼爛？

Bluetooth is a wireless standard used all around the world.

藍芽技術是一種世界通用的無線標準

Wireless printers, keyboards, game controllers,

無線的印表機、鍵盤、電玩搖桿、

speakers and headphones all use it.

麥克風和耳機...等，皆是運用此技術

It was created by a group of engineers in the mid '90's

藍芽技術是在 90 年代由一群工程師所發明

as a secure way to exchange data between devices,

是裝置間傳輸資料的一種安全方式

the Bluetooth name and logo come from

藍芽的名稱和商標源自於

10th century viking king Harald Gormsson who,

十世紀維京國王哈拉爾德高姆森

similar to Bluetooth's purpose,

該國王的事蹟和藍芽的概念很相似

unified two separate entities, Denmark and Norway.

他統一了丹麥和挪威兩個分離的政體

King Harald's nickname was Blatand,

而這位國王的綽號就叫布萊登

which translates from Danish to Bluetooth.

而該詞從丹麥文翻譯成英文即為藍芽

The logo comes from the initials of King Harald Blatand.

藍芽的標誌來自於國王哈拉爾德布萊登名字的兩個首字母

It is a combination of the runic letters H and B.

是古北歐文字 H 和 B 字母的結合

Bluetooth uses the 2.4 gigahertz frequency

藍芽使用的是 2.4 百萬赫茲的頻段

to communicate with other devices.

和其他裝置進行通訊

This frequency and a few others are referred to

此頻段和其他少數幾個頻段統稱為

as the ISM band, for Industrial、

ISM 頻段，用於工業

Scientific and Medical devices.

科學研究和醫學裝置

This is the spectrum that baby monitors

嬰兒監控器和無線電話

and cordless phones all use.

都是使用這個頻段

It's also the same frequency,

日光燈和微波所釋放出的

fluorescent lights and microwaves omit.

電波頻率也和這個頻段相同

These frequencies don't require devices

這類頻段不需要經過美國聯邦通訊委員會

to have an FCC license to operate on them.

授權即可使用

This makes the band attractive to manufacturers

這對許多製造商而言是一大利多

because they don't have to deal with the FCC.

如此便不需要花功夫和美國聯邦通訊委員會打交道

Because of this, the ISM is brimming with devices.

也鑒於此因素，許多裝置都支援 ISM 頻段

And they all interfere with your Bluetooth devices.

而這些裝置會和你的藍芽裝置互相干擾

Any device running on Bluetooth,

任何配備藍芽的裝置

falls into one of three classes.

都屬於這三種功率等級之一

Class one, for long range, these need a power supply,

等級 1: 用於較長傳輸距離，需要電力供應

and are mainly used for industrial purposes.

主要用於工業用途

They have a range of nearly 330 feet.

有效傳輸距離約 330 英尺

Class two, they have a range of about 30 feet.

等級 2: 有效傳輸距離約 30 英尺

This is what most cellphones and speakers use.

此等級是大多數手機和藍芽喇叭所使用

Class three devices have a range of less than 30 feet.

等級 3: 有效傳輸距離小於 30 英尺

Class two and three devices

等級 2 和 3 的裝置

generally use low power Bluetooth.

一般而言都是使用低功耗藍牙

But even low power can use

不過即便是低功耗藍牙

a precious battery life on your phone.

仍舊會用到手機的電力

And if you have a class two speaker,

如果你的藍芽喇叭屬於等級 2

20 feet away from your phone,

若它距離你的手機 20 英尺以外

it still may not work great.

效果會不好

Especially if there's any interference

若同時，附近又有來自其他裝置的電波干擾

coming from other devices.

效果就會更差

Bluetooth also transfers data much slower than WiFi does.

藍芽的資料傳輸速度也比 WIFI 慢很多

While devices connected via the new WiFi Direct standard

透過新 WIFI 標準連線的裝置

will be able to transfer data at 250 megabits per second,

可以每秒 250 MB 的速度傳輸資料

Bluetooth 4.0 can only get up

而藍芽 4.0 最多只能達到

to 25 megabits per second max.

每秒 25 MB 的速度

There's no superfix for these issues coming anytime soon.

這個問題短期看來仍無解

But if you want to improve the connection

如果你想要改善兩個裝置間的連線狀況

between two devices, there are a few things you can do.

你可以這麼做：

Keep the devices as close together as possible.

盡可能使裝置靠近一些

Keep your devices updated.

讓裝置時時更新

Reset your connections daily.

每天重設連線

Or even use a device that can amplify a Bluetooth signal.

或甚至你可以使用可以放大藍芽訊號的裝置

While there's no sure fix yet,

總而言之，目前仍沒有確定有效的方式

some companies are taking matters into their own hands,

有些公司已開始自行尋找解決之道

developing technology that works a lot like Bluetooth.

開發出原理和藍芽相似的技術

Apple's W1 chip enables its AirPods

例如蘋果 的 W1 晶片可使所在的 AirPod

to switch to whatever device you're using,

切換至任何您在使用的裝置

rather than having to unpair and re-pair

而非每次都得要停止配對

the devices each time.

然後再重新配對

Will we start seeing other companies

我們未來是否會看到其他公司

take wireless communication into their hands?

也開始自行開發無線通訊技術呢？

We'll just have to wait and see.

只能拭目以待囉！