Public API or setting to disable lid close sensor

Originator:ricciadams
Number:rdar://35954315 Date Originated:2017-12-09
Status: Resolved:
Product: Product Version:
Classification: Reproducible:
 
Musicians and DJs often use their laptops for live performances. If the computer goes to sleep during a gig, it can create an embarrassing situation and possible financial repercussions for the user. One of our local venues charges a fee if a performer glitches while on stage.

Unfortunately, headphones can trigger the "lid close" sensor on laptops. It's *very* common to have a set of headphones next to one's laptop during a performance.

This leads to a situation where the performer can nudge their headphones (or other magnetic equipment) while performing, and experience an immediate drop out of audio due to the system sleeping.

In these rare cases, a live-performance-oriented app should be able to disable lid close. The public NSActivityUserInitiated / NSActivityIdleDisplaySleepDisabled / kIOPMAssertPreventUserIdleSystemSleep / kIOPMAssertPreventUserIdleDisplaySleep do not prevent lid close sleep (nor should they).

The current known workaround (being advised by the community) is to turn off System Integrity Protection and install a kernel extension such as InsomniaX. This puts users at risk :(

Comments


Please note: Reports posted here will not necessarily be seen by Apple. All problems should be submitted at bugreport.apple.com before they are posted here. Please only post information for Radars that you have filed yourself, and please do not include Apple confidential information in your posts. Thank you!