Showing posts with label iOS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iOS. Show all posts

Thursday, July 7, 2016

iBeacon VS. Eddystone

Raytac Corporation
A BT4.1 & BT4.2 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 & nRF52 solution 
(nRF51822 & nRF51422 & nRF52832 & nRF51802)
Tel: +886.2.3234.0208
email: service@raytac.com  
 https://raytacblog.wordpress.com/

What is Eddystone
Eddystone is the standard for the beacon using the BLE that Google announced in July 2015.
It is available includes a number of broadcast frame types on all platforms that use the BLE, such as iOS as well as Android open standards, designed to give developers and venue owners flexibility in their beacon developments and applications. Eddystone helps beacons using the Proximity Beacon API, including adding attachments in the cloud and monitoring their health.

https://developers.google.com/beacons/



Feature
Eddystone's biggest feature is not intended to become a black box such like iBeacon service, works only for iOS. Eddystone program code is designed to be an open standard and has been published in GitHub.

The difference between iBeacon and Eddystone is the "broadcast frame type"
iBeacon transmits ID only (1 Type)
Eddystone transmits not only ID, but also URL and TLM. (3 Types)

Unlike iBeacon, Eddystone provides target users to receive the message through URL without app installing as long as the Bluetooth is turned on. 

Packet
Eddystone is allowed to transmit 17 bytes every packet.
Thus, in case of URL broadcast frame type, the data must be downsize to fit in this 17 bytes limitation

User Scence Example
  • Real time Bus location and operation status
  • Approaching or nearby the poster, the URL link will pup up feeding immediately
  • Nearby Restaurant information feeding.
  • Nearby Shops information feeding
Eddystone is designed to compensate the demerit of iBeacon's, which is standardization.
However, iBeacon so far is still the most well-known and widely applied service right now as well as iPhone is the most well selling single mobile phone all over the word. 
Thus, the trend of which one will prevail the competition between Eddystone Vs. iBeacon is still a interesting topic and lead the delimma for developers and user to observe closely.


Monday, November 2, 2015

Nordic nRF For HomeKit

Raytac Corporation
A BT4.1 & BT4.2 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 solution 
(nRF51822 & nRF51422 & nRF52832 & nRF51802)
www.raytac.com
Tel: +886.2.3234.0208
email: service@raytac.com



Nordic recently have released several tools to create a quick breakthrough to Apple iOS HomeKit application.

These nRF51 Homekit SDK provide developers with a unique solution for HomeKit products that meets all requirements on size, power consumption and performance.
It enables the implementations, running HomeKit accessory Protocol (HAP) and application firmware. Nordic designed ultra-low power SoCs is the ideal solution for battery powered HomeKit products.

For reader's refer, Raytac summarized all detail in below link

HomeKit SDK Link
https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Bluetooth-Smart-Bluetooth-low-energy/nRF51-HomeKit-SDK


nRF HomeKit App now is available to be downloaded in App Store












Monday, January 12, 2015

BLE Lock Module Solution Released

Raytac Corporation
A BT4.1 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 solution (nRF51822 & nRF51422)
www.raytac.com
Tel: +886.2.3234.0208
email: sales@raytac.com






  • Mobile phone acts as the ID without Card or Key
  • Can detect the sensor distance 1~5M,Handsfree 
  • Upto 50M distance to remote the lock
  • Memory 250 ID (Whitelist)
  • Memory 42 sets Pin Code Only 
  • 3 Modes:iPhone Only or  iPhone +Pin-Code or  Pin-Code Only
  • Unique iOS  ID function,every phone has individual UUID
  • Keypad luminited
  • 2 sets output : Door Control 及  Alarm Control
  • 2 sets input : Door Sensor 及  Exit  Button
  • Standalone Working 
  • Anti-Tailgate Protection
  • Configureable

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

BLE (BT4.0) Market Trend

Raytac Corporation
A BT4.1 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 solution (nRF51822 & nRF51422)
www.raytac.com
Tel: +886.2.3234.0208
email: sales@raytac.com



Here, we would like to provide the market survey data for all our reader's reference.


                                                   BLE Device Market Size






BLE VS WiFi VS 802.15.4


BLE Device Increase Rate





Thursday, July 17, 2014

Beacon Application by Airfy

 Raytac Corporation
A BT4.1 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 solution (nRF51822 & nRF51422)
www.raytac.com
Tel: +886.2.3234.0208
email: service@raytac.com


Congradulatinos!

Here, we would like to introduce the best beacon implement by our parter, Airfy, has successfully developed the Beacon implement.
http://www.airfy.com/en/beacon/

We would like to suggest all customers those who is interesed in such products may approach tthem through Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/261147844/airfy-beacon-imagination-meets-smart-home-automati?ref=nav_search



Following contents are quoted from Kickstarter made by Airfy

 Make your home interactive and let your imagination take over. The airfy Beacon brings you affordable smart home automation!



The product - we will send you our airfy Beacon to make your home smart. 

What you need to use airfy Beacon:

  • airfy Beacon (buy here)
  • Light automation - Philips HUE™ (buy here at $366 perk)
  • NEST™ for smart heating
  • Smartphone
  • airfy Beacon App
  • Internet connection
  • Don't have a HUE? Get our Smart Home Starter Kit for $366

Please kindly visit following link for more detail!
 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/261147844/airfy-beacon-imagination-meets-smart-home-automati?ref=nav_search

Thursday, May 29, 2014

BT4.0 Products For MFi Program

Raytac Corporation 勁達國際電子有限公司
A BT5 & BT 4.2 & BTv4.1 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 & nRF52 solution 
(nRF51822 & nRF51422 & nRF52832 & nRF52810 & nRF52840)
www.raytac.com          email: cs@raytac.com          Tel: +886.2.3234.0208

As the leading BLE(BT4.0) module maker, we often recieved the customer's request to have the module join MFi Program.

Per  Apple's explanation, a device using only Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) / BTLE / Bluetooth 4.0 or standard Bluetooth profiles is no need to join the MFi Program.

Customers' products, which aimed to connect to an Apple device (iPad & iPhone), based on Raytac's BT4.0 modules does not need to join MFi Program


 Reference data from:
 https://mfi.apple.com/MFiWeb/getFAQ.action#1-1

I want to develop an accessory that communicates with an Apple device using only Bluetooth Low Energy. Do I need to join the MFi Program?

No. Accessories which connect to an Apple device using only Bluetooth Low Energy/BTLE/Bluetooth 4.0 or standard Bluetooth profiles supported by iOS are not part of the MFi Program.




What types of accessories and technologies are not part of the MFi Program?

Accessories that do not use any of the MFi licensed technology listed above are not part of the MFi Program. For example:

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Raytac Developed BT4.0 Solution Based on Nordic nRF51 Series

Raytac Corporation
A BT4.0 module maker based on Nordic nRF51822 &nRF51422 solution
www.raytac.com
Tel: +886.2.3234.0208

BT4.0 Application has been widely spread dramatically.
Raytac Corporation has exerted our firmware and hardware effort to build up the solution in order to have quickly and completely response of customer's requirement.

A simple list as below refer to the achievement we have made.
(The list is updating from time to time)

1. BT4.0 Presenter Solution
2. iOS Presenter Solution
3. BT4.0 Mouse Solution
4. BT4.0 Keyboard Solution
5. BT4.0 Keyboard & Mouse Integration Solution
6. FindMe (Lost Finder) Solution
7. Heart Rate Monitor Solution
8. Blood Pressure Solution
9. Phone Alert Solution
10. Running Cadence Solution
11. Wearing Device Solution (based on MDBT40nano)


                                                                    MDBT40nano


                                                                         MDBT40



Thursday, January 9, 2014

What the benefit for the Presenter uses BT4.0 Module?

So far, we have never seen a presenter which can work for all operation system.
With the merit of more and more devices equipped BT4.0 become popular, there are a new solution for people 

BT4.0 may bring the distinctive performance to help people solve this problem.
No matter you are using Windows, Mac or iOS, a BT4.0 presenter can let your presentation much easier.
Just bring a simple iPad or iPhone with a presenter with laser, a perfect performance can be in real


Example for the presenter in BT mode communicate with iOS system by BT4.0 solution 



Example for the presenter in RF mode communicate with Mac system by RF solution




Example for the presenter in BT mode communicate with Windows 8 by BT4.0 solution

Raytac Corporation
BT4.0 Module supplier based on Nordic nRF51822 solution
http://www.raytac.com/products.php?subid=16

Thursday, November 28, 2013

iOS Presentation App (iPad & iPhone) By Nordic nRF51822 BLE (BT4.0) Solution

More and more users now are carrying with iPad or iPhone for business or education purpose.
Not only easy carry to travel around but also cloud storage convenience and mobility, both devices now have been widely applied for presentation, conference and meeting.
Especially, with Apple's accessory of VGA or HDMI connector, people are getting much easier to perform the presentation by iPad or iPhone



        
                Apple VGA Connector                   Apple HDMI Connector


Unless people who must have both iPhone and iPad, then can remotely control the scrolling during the presentation.
For users who owned only either iPhone or iPad only, it is really a hard situation since have to stand out of audience and next to the projector of TV in order to control the scrolling on their iPad and iPhone directly.

Presentation is a kind of performance.

The most important key will be the interaction between Speaker and Audience.

To solve this problem and help all speakers to enhance the presentation effect, Raytac Corporation has developed an App which may work with our BLE (BT4.0) presenter.

By the new designed App, people can easily export PPT /Keynote/PDF file by email.or iTunes.
With simple click the App, you then can stand out of the TV or projector, sitting with audience and enjoy a successful presentation with brilliant interaction between.

iOS Presentation App For BLE(BT4.0) Presenter



Raytac Corporation
http://www.raytac.com/products.php?subid=16







Thursday, November 14, 2013

Apple iBeacon VS. Android NFC

Quote http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/info/2013-09/15/c_132721362.htm

什麼是iBeacon技術?

  通過使用低功耗藍牙技術(Bluetooth Low Energy,也就是通常所說的Bluetooth 4.0或者Bluetooth Smart),iBeacon基站可以創建一個信號區域,當設備進入該區域時,相應的應用程序便會提示用戶是否需要接入這個信號網路。通過能夠放置在任何物體中的小型無線傳感器和低功耗藍牙技術,用戶便能使用iPhone來傳輸數據
舉個例子,假如你帶著一部iPhone 5s(運行iOS 7並支持iBeacon)走入一家大型商場的店鋪,同時這也意味著你已經進入了這家店鋪的iBeacon信號區域。然後iBeacon基站便可以向你的iPhone傳輸各種訊息,比如優惠券或者是店內導航信息,甚至當你走到某些櫃臺前面時,iBeacon還會提供個性化的商品推薦信息。也就是說在iBeacon基站的信息區域內,用戶通過手中的智慧手機便能夠獲取個性化的微型位置信息以及通知。
  結合上面的例子不難看出iBeacon能夠為用戶提供他們所需要的信息,甚至和NFC技術一樣,用戶也能通過iBeacon來完成支付。除此之外,每個iBeacon基站內置有加速度計、閃存、ARM架構處理器以及藍牙模塊,而一小塊紐扣電池便能為一個iBeacon基站提供長達兩年的續航時間。

為什麼iBeacon會成為NFC殺手?

  從技術角度講,更廣的信息傳輸范圍是iBeacon相比于NFC最大的優勢。對于如今的NFC技術,雖然NFC標簽的價格要比NFC芯片便宜得多,但是NFC標簽的理論有效距離只有20cm,而最理想的使用距離只有4cm,範圍可謂非常之小。同時,手機等移動設備必須搭載NFC芯片才能支持NFC通訊。此外,雖然iBeacon基站要比NFC芯片的價格稍微昂貴一些,但是iBeacon的信息傳輸距離可達50m左右,而且如今幾乎每部手機都支持藍牙技術,但卻不一定配備有NFC芯片。

為什麼使用iBeacon的成本並不昂貴?

  讓我們回到前面的那個例子中去,假設一家店鋪的面積為16000平方米左右,而如果每個iBeacon基站的最遠傳輸距離為50m的話,那麼可以覆蓋的面積大約在2500平方米左右,因此這家店鋪只需要購買7個iBeacon基站便能夠滿足要求。

Android :專注于NFC技術

  相比于蘋果來說,安卓似乎更專注于NFC技術。而在使用藍牙技術方面,由于在Android 4.3以前Android係統並不支持低功耗藍牙技術,因此很多需要使用該技術的應用程序無法推出Android版本。而在一些OEM廠商的建議下,安卓終于意識到了這個問題,並最終在Android 4.3中加入了對低功耗藍牙技術的支持。相比之下早在Android 4.0就已經支持NFC技術了。

Apple 的做法:專注于藍牙技術

 在每次新款iPhone發布之前,外界都有人預測新款iPhone將會搭載NFC技術,不過事實證明這都只是外界一廂情願的想法罷了。在iOS 7中,蘋果增加了AirDrop無線分享功能,而Craig Federighi認為“沒有必要為了分享文件而走到某個人的面前,然後僅僅是為了觸碰一下手機”,而這也是蘋果對于NFC技術的看法。

將有一係列新應用誕生?

  從iBeacon的特點來說,該技術很可能會促進一係列室內地圖應用的誕生。由于在室內時,有各種障礙物的阻擋,因此GPS信號非常微弱,因此無法實現導航。這也是為什麼雖然谷歌現在已經建立了部分地區的室內地圖,但是還無法實現室內導航的原因。而這也正是iBeacon技術的優勢所在。
  借助智能手機,用戶可以連接到最近的iBeacon基站,從而獲得該基站的GPS位置信息,從而知道目前所處的地點。當用戶進入或離開某個iBeacon基站的通信范圍時都會收到相應的通知信息,從而實現導航的目的。

低功耗藍牙技術才是將網絡帶進現實的最好方法

  為了讓網絡與現實世界結合到一起,各種傳感器的起到了非常重要的作用。對于一個傳感器來說,尺寸、價格、網絡連接性都是很關鍵的指標。如果能夠遠程遙控各種傳感器的話,那麼傳感器的用途可以說是無窮無盡的。比如在回家的路上開啟家中的電源,根據天氣控制冰箱的溫度,通過手機控制房間的燈光等等。Estimote表示他們正在努力改進iBeacon基站以進一步縮減價格和體積,從而使iBeacon更加實用。
  既然蘋果能夠通過使用低功耗藍牙技術的iBeacon來解決數據的短距離傳輸問題,那麼又有什麼理由讓人們互相觸碰手機呢?而且相比于NFC技術來說,藍牙能夠提供NFC無法實現的功能。