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The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

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Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#41
post #12
post #2

Bluetooth 4.0 LE - Non-paired communication in the 10s of meters range. Very low power. 250kbps or so max speed. It could be useful for easily interacting with devices, e.g. thermostats, exercise monitors, televisions, cars… There don't appear to be (m)any devices using it now. But it is in the phone, waiting.

Indeed. CSR has a nice-sounding SoC for this, but their dev program sucks for hackers. $10k for a seat? Blegh. TI is a bit more friendly in this regard, see video in below link. I'm interested to see if anyone could potentially implement a lightweight data format for send/receive to create an open system for communicating from app-to-mote. Right now, any iPhone receiver app on the store wouldn't be allowed to downloa…

There's already a set of standard protocols for LE (such as heart rate) that are managed by the Bluetooth standards group. Their intention is to grow that list based on feedback from developers.

Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#43
Talking about iPhone and Bluetooth: is there any app that would make it easier to switch BT on and off? BT and WiFi are major power drains, so I always switch them off as soon as I can, but it's a major pain.

By default you have to go to Settings -> General -> Bluetooth -> on/off -- 4 taps, which is ridiculous. It's slightly better for WiFi, "only" 3 taps.

Ideally I'd be able to get buttons on my home screen that will quickly switch these on or off with 1 tap.

Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#44
post #43

Talking about iPhone and Bluetooth: is there any app that would make it easier to switch BT on and off? BT and WiFi are major power drains, so I always switch them off as soon as I can, but it's a major pain. By default you have to go to Settings -> General -> Bluetooth -> on/off -- 4 taps, which is ridiculous. It's slightly better for WiFi, "only" 3 taps. Ideally I'd be able to get buttons on my home screen that wil…

This guy made some shortcuts usingthe new urls to individual settings. It's not 1 tap (it's 2!), but it's a bit better if you need to use any of the settings a lot.

http://brdrck.me/settings/

Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#45
post #33

I highly doubt that Bluetooth 4.0 is going to remove the biggest obstacle to these sorts of applications on the iPhone, which is Apple's review process. Right now if your Bluetooth device corresponds to one of the handful of profiles with blanket approval from Apple (headsets, keyboards, certain accessibility hardware) you're fine, but if you're trying to do anything as exotic as serial communication with a third-par…

It does allow for all sorts of fun back doors for surveillance though. Just because Apple removed CarrierIQ from their devices software doesn't mean they didn't just implement it in hardware. Apple already has a history of recording personal data, so this is not a crazy theory.

CarrierIQ makes money from US Gov, and I imagine carriers/manufactures make money from CarrierIQ, I have a feeling Apple just cut out the middle man.

Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#46
post #43

Talking about iPhone and Bluetooth: is there any app that would make it easier to switch BT on and off? BT and WiFi are major power drains, so I always switch them off as soon as I can, but it's a major pain. By default you have to go to Settings -> General -> Bluetooth -> on/off -- 4 taps, which is ridiculous. It's slightly better for WiFi, "only" 3 taps. Ideally I'd be able to get buttons on my home screen that wil…

I use a jailbroken and unlocked iphone 3gs. I installed SBSettings on it, and I have a slide screen that shows many hardware options. I can toggle airplane mode, 3g, wifi, bluetooth, ssh, brightness, data and a user agent faker (and more).

So.. it takes a slide and a tap.

Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#47
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has just revamped their hardware partner program, supposedly providing easier access to BL4 chipsets. Other hardware makers will certainly follow. I bet (and hope) this will be bigger than RFID.

What are you attempting to say here? While Apple has made recent changes to MFi (can't discuss, NDA), these are expressly NOT about access to Bluetooth LE or 4.0 "chipsets". What IS true is that you don't have to go through MFi to have a device that talks LE to an iOS device. Is this what you were trying to say?

Yeah, I misused "chipsets". AFAIK you need an Apple-certified chip to interface to an iOS device via BT/AirPlay, isn't that right?

I'm just relaying news I've hear somewhere else, feel free to correct me.

Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#48
post #43

Talking about iPhone and Bluetooth: is there any app that would make it easier to switch BT on and off? BT and WiFi are major power drains, so I always switch them off as soon as I can, but it's a major pain. By default you have to go to Settings -> General -> Bluetooth -> on/off -- 4 taps, which is ridiculous. It's slightly better for WiFi, "only" 3 taps. Ideally I'd be able to get buttons on my home screen that wil…

This guy made some shortcuts usingthe new urls to individual settings. It's not 1 tap (it's 2!), but it's a bit better if you need to use any of the settings a lot. http://brdrck.me/settings/

That's sweet. Incredibly useful AND a nice showcase of what's possible with special web clips on iOS.

Installed and donated $10, well worth it.

Re: The amazing iOS 5 API and iPhone 4S hardware nobody talks about

#50
post #16
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. CSR has a nice-sounding SoC for this, but their dev program sucks for hackers. $10k for a seat? Blegh. TI is a bit more friendly in this regard, see video in below link. I'm interested to see if anyone could potentially implement a lightweight data format for send/receive to create an open system for communicating from app-to-mote. Right now, any iPhone receiver app on the store wouldn't be allowed to downloa…

I've pondered a similar concept whenever I design an embedded system that needs a user interface. Provide a common formatted set of data (JSON say), a fallback interface (HTML,CSS,javascript), and an identifier for a better interface if the user's device can get to a network and snag an app or updated UI (URL). Look at all the things around you in daily life with awful user interface devices, and yet you almost certa…

UPnP already does this. It can even include a presentation URL.
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