[Noisebridge-discuss] [dorkbotsf-blabber] BlueGiga Experience

Alison Lewis a at iheartswitch.com
Mon Jan 13 23:17:17 UTC 2014


Hope this discussion helped some others. Thanks everyone!


On Mon, Jan 13, 2014 at 3:14 PM, Alison Lewis <a at iheartswitch.com> wrote:

> We're doing some heavy image loading and the BLE didn't have the
> throughput we needed. But this may be solved later with some improved
> engineering on the app side; I think a lot can be solved with clever
> compression.
>
> Here is an update on the MFI stuff. We got our license. Took a little bit,
> but it was not as hard as you think. Yea! It was free so far and took about
> 3 weeks! - Alison
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 2, 2014 at 9:58 PM, Tyler Freeman <tyler at odbol.com> wrote:
>
>>  Coming in to this rather late, but depending on your needs, you should
>> definitely consider going with Bluetooth LE. It doesn't have as much
>> throughput, but is actually faster at connecting and sending small packets
>> of data (the whole connect/send/disconnect process takes about 3ms,
>> compared to 200-500ms on classic Bluetooth).
>>
>> I'd recommend the BlueGiga BLE112: it offers a very robust connection to
>> iOS and is really easy to set up. You can probably get it and have it
>> working in iOS within a day (compared to MFI certification process which
>> can take months and $$$$$).
>>
>> Of course, if you're trying to stream lots of data like a video or audio
>> stream, BLE is not for you.
>>
>> -Tyelr
>>
>>
>>
>> On 12/20/13 2:40 PM, Anders Nelson wrote:
>>
>> Derp, I forgot to mention everything MFI requires a considerable
>> investment (time or money) in firmware. Microchip Technology offers a stack
>> here:
>>
>>
>> http://www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en-us/technology/smartphoneaccessory/tools/home.html
>>
>>  It provides an excellent API and is the lowest cost option you'll
>> likely find.
>>
>> --
>> Anders Nelson
>>
>> +1 (517) 775-6129
>>
>> www.erogear.com
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 2:37 PM, Anders Nelson <anders.k.nelson at gmail.com
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Alison,
>>>
>>>  I handled the MFI program at my previous job, so here's how it works:
>>>
>>>  -Some MFI-enabled radio manufacturers embed the Apple-specific
>>> authentication chip into their module and I believe you can buy said module
>>> without having to go through Apple's MFI certification.
>>>
>>>  -In order to use any IAP commands outside of simple remote controls
>>> (play/pause/prev/next/etc.) your hardware accessory must have an MFI
>>> authentication chip onboard.
>>>
>>>  -Bluetooth classic and dock connector communication (via IAP or the
>>> accessory framework) both require an MFI chip. BTLE does *not* require
>>> an MFI chip.
>>>
>>>  -Bluetooth classic communication is relatively fast so I've heard. The
>>> dock connector can only push 5-7kB per second.
>>>
>>>  I suggest using BTLE to get around the fruity bits.
>>>
>>>  =]
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Anders Nelson
>>>
>>> +1 (517) 775-6129
>>>
>>> www.erogear.com
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Alison Lewis <a at iheartswitch.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Eden. Thanks thats only on LE. We've got an old chip. Good info
>>>> for the future!!! - A
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  On Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 12:12 PM, Eden Sherry <e at eden2.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> There are no Apple restrictions on the type of BLE devices apps can
>>>>> connect to, and no Apple certification to go through.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you are having issues seeing or connecting to your device, it is a
>>>>> problem with the device itself or your iOS code.
>>>>>
>>>>> LightBlue is a useful app to sanity-check on the phone side. If your
>>>>> device is advertising correctly, it should appear in that app.
>>>>>
>>>>> Eden
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> > On Dec 20, 2013, at 12:00 PM, Alison Lewis <a at iheartswitch.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> >
>>>>>   > Hi guys/gals,
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Anyone with BlueGiga experience and connecting through iOS devices?
>>>>> We have a BlueGiga and no Apple activation chip. Have some questions,
>>>>> here's the first two:
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Does the company who put on a BlueGiga chip need some sort of apple
>>>>> chip too?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Does the company who put on the BlueGiga chip need to go through the
>>>>> MFI program? How fast can you get through it?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Is there any work around this issue that people have dealt with
>>>>> before?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Love to talk to someone that's been through this.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Gracias!   - Alison
>>>>> >
>>>>>   > ----------
>>>>> >
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