Bluetooth

AutoBlue: enable or disable Bluetooth connectivity based on Wi-Fi connection

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 30, 2014

AutoBlue is a smart idea wrapped into a somewhat unassuming package. It disables Bluetooth when connected to your home Wi-Fi network, and reenables Bluetooth when disconnected from the Wi-Fi network.

The goal of AutoBlue is to save battery life by keeping Bluetooth disabled when it's not needed. Of course, this is only useful if you don't use Bluetooth at home, and there's really no telling how much battery life you actually save by disabling a Bluetooth connection when it's not in use in the first place.

But it's still a good idea if you happen to meet the criteria necessary to not make this tweak a hinderance. Check out our video walkthrough of AutoBlue in action after the fold.

Apple posts iOS 7.1.1 with additional Touch ID fixes

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 22, 2014

Apple has just released iOS 7.1.1 for public consumption. A maintenance update, iOS 7.1.1 contains "improvements, bug fixes and security updates." Specifically, it makes Touch ID even more reliable than the previous iOS 7.1 update, while fixing a pair of bugs related to keyboard responsiveness and Bluetooth keyboards with VoiceOver enabled.

It's arrived just five days after iOS 7.1.1 devices located in and around Apple's Cupertino campus started exposing themselves in web logs.

Needless to say, those of you who rock a jailbroken iPhone, iPod touch or iPad are advised to hold off on upgrading to the new software until we're able to confirm it won't break your jailbreak...

Texas Instruments pledges support for iBeacon tech in several Bluetooth products

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

It's been almost a year now since Apple unveiled its iBeacon geolocation technology, and I really don't think it could have hoped for better results. The tech has been implemented in a number of settings including retail and grocery stores, MLB ballparks, and more, and it seems to get more popular every day.

As evidence of that, Texas Instruments pledged its faith in iBeacon today, announcing support for the tech across its Bluetooth low energy portfolio including chips for embedded and automotive applications. The company also launched a new iBeacon-location app that works with its SensorTag development kit...

BeHere app uses iBeacons to identify which students are attending classroom sessions

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

iBeacons, Apple's cool indoor positioning technology in iOS 7 based on power-sipping Bluetooth 4.0 networking, is seeing some strong adoption across a variety of industries.

Grocery stores are embracing the technology and retailers like Macy's and Apple's own retail stores have deployed tiny iBeacon transmitters to put useful information on users' Lock screens as they move around the store.

Theme parks, music festivals and sports venues are increasingly using iBeacons and one use case even involves giving bar patrons free access to Newsstand magazines.

The latest iBeacon implementation has to do with the classroom: a new BeHere app by a Brazilian company called Beelieve (free download) automatically takes attendance as students enter the classroom, using iBeacon transmitters...

Hidden AirPlay feature discovered in Apple TV 6.1

Cody Lee ∙ March 12, 2014

Apple released version 6.1 of its Apple TV software alongside iOS 7.1 on Monday. The update seemingly included little in the way of changes, outside of a new option that allows you to hide channel icons from the main menu.

But apparently there's a hidden feature in the new firmware that hasn't been talked about much, and it's actually a fairly big deal. According to a new report, ATV 6.1 enables you to discover AirPlay connections via Bluetooth...

New in iOS 7.1: Maps navigation prompts through your car’s stereo over Bluetooth

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 11, 2014

Apple has delivered iOS 7.1 yesterday, its first major iOS update since the software's launch nearly six months ago. We've already detailed some of the noteworthy enhancements like Touch ID reliability improvements, new Siri features, CarPlay support, a bunch of bug fixes - some of which have been credited to prominent iOS hackers like the evad3rs team - and more.

According to developer Mike Piontek, Maps in iOS 7.1 includes a poorly labeled new feature called HFP Prompts which allows the app to play navigation prompts over your car’s speakers, via Bluetooth, even when the iPhone is not selected as the audio source. It's a great addition to Apple's in-car initiative because no longer do you have to fiddle with audio settings as HFP Prompts automatically does the right thing for you.

Jump past the fold for the full breakdown...

Moga teases new MFi Bluetooth controller for iOS 7 devices

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Moga didn't make a very good first impression in the iOS 7 controller space. Plagued by the typical new-category teething issues, the Ace Power launched to mostly negative reviews last fall despite its large built-in battery and dual analog joysticks.

But the mobile accessory-maker isn't going to let a little bad press get it down. This week, Moga began sending out a teaser image (seen above) for a new MFi controller. It looks a lot like the Ace Power, but with one big difference: a Bluetooth button...

Apple releases iBeacon specification

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple's iBeacons, an indoor positioning system that can detect nearby devices to optionally push promotional marketing messages, has been picking up considerable steam lately. For instance, such brands as Major League Baseball and Apple itself have implemented the system, as did various retailers, theme parks, grocery stores and even car accessory makers.

According to BEEKn.net, Apple has now released detailed specification for the iBeacon platform. Released through Apple's 'Made for iPhone' (MFi) initiative, the documents are apparently separate from Apple's main Bluetooth MFi specification..

‘Controllers for All’ updated with improved game detection and fixes for disconnect issues

Jeff Benjamin ∙ February 1, 2014

Good news for those of you who wish to use PS3 or PS4 controllers with games that include iOS 7 controller support: the Controllers for All tweak has been updated with lots of improvements and fixes.

As we told you via our two walkthroughs, Controllers for All is a jailbreak tweak that lets you use Sony's popular controllers with any game that features iOS 7 support. It's a great tweak, because most iOS 7 controllers are both too expensive and poorly designed. Most of the iOS 7 controllers that we've seen have received mediocre to bad reviews, so it's a breath of fresh air when using Sony's much-heralded hardware.

Just released today, Controllers for All version 1.1.2 features quite a few new fixes and improvements. Have a look inside for the full change-log.

UnlockID is a jailbreak tweak that can unlock your Mac with Touch ID

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 17, 2023

UnlockID is a super-cool new jailbreak tweak that does exactly what the headline says—it allows you to unlock your Mac using the Touch ID sensor found on the iPhone 5s. Using Bluetooth Low Energy, the tweak features a Mac component that allows your iPhone 5s to communicate with your OS X installation.

Although the tweak's practicality may be up for debate, there's no debating the fact that this is one of the most innovate and coolest looking Touch ID tweaks we've seen thus far. We've taken UnlockID for a thorough walkthrough. Check out our hands-on video after the break.

Good deal: 37% off this Bluetooth-enabled tracking device

Cody Lee ∙ January 21, 2014

Have you ever left your wallet at home or say, at the table of a restaurant or the counter of a store? I know I have, and it's not really a big deal unless it's not there when you go back. Then you have to cancel credit cards and replace IDs and other cards—it's a mess.

Luckily, thanks to modern technology, there are a number of devices available that can prevent this from happening using Bluetooth and a mobile app. And perhaps even more luckily, Stack Social is running a deal on one right now called the Find'Em Tracking Card...

Jawbone soups up Era headset with HD Voice, Siri and Google Now integration and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

If you thought Bluetooth headsets were dead, think again. Jawbone makes some of the finest portable audio devices and wireless headsets and was among the first to release a Bluetooth headset for Apple's iPhone. On Thursday, the San Francisco-based company has streamlined its headset offering by announcing a second-generation Era.

It's 42 percent smaller, comes with its own charging case and looks good enough to be worn in public while offering interesting new voice features aimed at Apple's Siri and Google's Google Now voice assistants. Read on for more info and some nice press shots...