Bluetooth A2DP SINK in Windows 8.1 - bluetooth

I know Microsoft doesn't allow the streaming of music from phones to Windows 8 PC's or the use of the PC as hands free, but has anyone found a way around this yet?
Are there any modified drivers or ways to modify the current drivers?
Any help would be appreciated.

www.bluesoleil.com offer a custom bluetooth driver that will make your pc show up as a Bluetooth headset to other devices. It will also allow you to choose which audio device the audio is repeated repeat to.
Product is not free but is the only solution is managed to find after half an afternoon looking. Works great as well.

Related

Android Things and Bluetooth

As far as I read about the dev boards, every SoC is capable to use Bluetooth.
I didn't tested it yet, but can I use Android Things with a Bluetooth connection? My question is, how can I enable Bluetooth without an input device? If I want to enable Bluetooth on my phone (with code), I had to confirm it, but this can't be possible on Android Things.
Update: Since the release of Android Things developer preview 3, Bluetooth and BLE are now available.
Old Answer
No. You can not use Bluetooth with the current version of AndroidThings (developer preview 1).
It is said in the known issues part of the release notes that Bluetooth is currently disabled (and so is USB).
It is supposed to be included at some point, but at the moment if you try to get a BluetoothAdapter it does return null.
Android Things will use the latest version of Bluetooth called Bluetooth Low Energy and the only similarity between the two is that they have Bluetooth in the name!
Can I use Android Things with a Bluetooth connection?
Yes, well a Bluetooth Low Energy connection
https://www.link-labs.com/bluetooth-vs-bluetooth-low-energy/
In summary, Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) are used for very different purposes. Bluetooth can handle a lot of data, but consumes battery life quickly and costs a lot more. BLE is used for applications that do not need to exchange large amounts of data, and can therefore run on battery power for years at a cheaper cost. It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.
Everything you need to know about BLE is written here:
https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/bluetooth-le.html
how can I enable Bluetooth without an input device?
You do not pair BLE devices like you used to with the older Bluetooth (but you can use Bonding). Check this out:
Android Bluetooth Low Energy Pairing
https://stackoverflow.com/a/20093695/413127
But as stated by #shalafi Android Things doesn't currently support Bluetooth

Tools for bluetooth monitoring

For my project I have an Android phone and an Arduino device that communicate via Bluetooth. I was wondering if anyone knows any software tools I could use to monitor a bluetooth communications between two devices. Something like a packet eavesdropping. Preferably for Linux.
Take a look at ubertooth one. In the linked webpage there are instructions on how to build the dongle, as well as links to shops selling assembled dongles may be bought. Ubertooth one should work well with Kismet, and thus in Linux, by using a BT plugin (disclaimer: I have no personal experience on this).
Sounds like you are after a Bluetooth sniffer.
Bad news: They are almost exclusively Windows OS based and cost mega-$.
http://www.fte.com/products/bluetooth.aspx
If you were using BlueZ for one side of the communication you could use the BlueZ HCIDUMP app and Wireshark.
I don't think anyone has made a Linuz/Bluez Sniffer - could be wrong.

Cheap development board for Windows CE

I'm looking for a development board for WinCE, preferably with the following connectors:
VGA/DVI for screen
USB for kb/mouse
Ethernet (10Mbit is OK, 100 would be even better ;-) )
Storage (eg: SD/MMC/CF cards)
I'm looking for this, because I want to attend the Imagine Cup , Embedded Systems design. And I'm looking for a challenge, ofcourse ;-).
I found a board called HawkBoard (http://www.hawkboard.org), but I want to know if there are alternatives for about the same price (max $200 incl. shipping/customs/taxes). I need the BSP, ofcourse ;-).
Thanks!
Yvan
The eBox 2300/3300 is a low cost device that has been used for past Imagine Cup challenges. It's x86, comes with a BSP, is in an enclosure, is low cost ($195 or $255) and meets most of your needs.
Of course CE has forever shipped with a reference BSP for x86, so you can usually get just about any x86 device working, though most other devices tend to be pretty big physically.
There are also open source CE BSPs available for the BeagleBoard and GumStix.
The BeagleBoard is a good ARM system that costs $150. It has all the features you want, from the product page:
DVI-D for connecting digital computer monitors
Compatibility with a huge collection of USB peripherals including hubs, keyboards, mice, WiFi, Bluetooth, web cameras, and much more
MMC+/SD/SDIO interface for memory or wireless connectivity
S-Video out for connecting your NTSC or PAL television or wearable visor
Stereo audio in and out for a microphone and headphones or speakers
Power via typical USB chargers for cell phones from your laptop, from an automobile adapter, from batteries, or even from a solar backpack
I never tried Windows CE myself, but a google search suggests it's possible, and there's even a video on YouTube.
Another option is Gumstix, and there's a project on codeplex to help you get Windows CE on it.
I guess it also depends if you want to start something for fun or rather serious.
Check some of the big manufacturers homepages too, so you can see what specifications could
help the realisation of your ideas or set limits to them.
What helps for shure is if you choose a platform, that can be configured easily and its much more fun if you start with something that can work out of the box too.
Here an example, like you can find it on a lot of manufactureres homepages on the web.
http://www.toradex.com/En/Products/Colibri
Colibri modules feature state of the art technology, and aimed at low power systems that require high CPU performance. They are equipped withall the interfaces needed in a modern embedded device.
Colibri T20 features include:
· Dual Core ARM Cortex A9 Processor
· 2 x 1.0GHz Processor Speed
· Full HD 1080p Video (Encode / Decode)
· Powerful 3D Rendering Performance
· True Dual Display
· Up to 12 Megapixel Camera Sensor Support
And if this is to much there are Colibri modules in the family which are in a lower price range with adapted specifications that might fit you needs better.
What I personally think is important, that you know that you can get good support and talk to the right people in person as well.
Give it a shot and good luck.
Regards
Any old PC that has a video adapter that is VESA compliant and a network adapter based on NE2000, realtek RTL8139 or 3COm 3Cx5 can be used as Windows CE target device using the CEPC BSP.
If you have an old 486 or more powerful PC lying unused somewhere in your garage, it's time to resurrect it! :)

Are there any programmable barcode scanners that can call a webservice?

I am looking at integrating a C# application with a barcode scanner.
The last time I did this was with Delphi 1 (win 3.11) using a scanner that plugged in-line into the keyboard cable.
Looking around it appears most scanners are USB based these days and assume they emulate keyboard entry.
Anybody know of more sophisticated/programmable scanner that can call a webservice or even just do a basic POST/GET this would eliminate the C# application and the computer to support it?
There are a number of Ethernet and Wifi code readers on the market, though they tend to be targeted at industrial applications and usually cost more than the USB models. The company I work for makes such readers, and our fixed-mount DM200 reader is just such a device.
You could use a small computer (or even a microcontroller) with RO media, USB, and networking capabilities plus a psu to turn any suitable scanner to a network one. Raspberry Pi, for example, could do it and seems to be hip these days.
Alternatively some portable devices (like Android tablets) could probably use a camera or even a USB scanner for scanning codes and come with capable networking features.

how to turn Bluetooth on/off with J2ME?

I want to write a program in J2ME to turn the Bluetooth on/off automaticly in a certain time without the user permission.
I'v been looking for a while but I couldn't find an answer.
Some phones will automatically switch bluetooth ON when a MIDlet starts using the Java ME Bluetooth API.
Other phones will not.
AFAIK, there is no Java ME API to switch bluetooth ON/OFF.
I have yet to find a mobile phone that automatically switches bluetooth OFF after some time of inactivity.
Any way you find to do this (I'm sure it's doable in Symbian OS C++, for example) will be platform-dependant.
There is definitely no way to programmatically switch your Bluetooth on and off in Java ME. However what may be useful is to switch between discoverable modes:
LocalDevice.getLocalDevice().setDiscoverable(DiscoveryAgent.GIAC);
to be discoverable, and
LocalDevice.getLocalDevice().setDiscoverable(DiscoveryAgent.NOT_DISCOVERABLE);
to hide from other devices. It doesn't save battery, but it does make things that little bit more secure I guess.
No way. We cannot be able to automatically turn on/off bluetooth in java & j2me. Better you refer to the documentation of JSR 82

Resources