BStack Keyboard [History]

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"BTstack Keyboard"

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The BTstack Keyboard application allows you to use a Bluetooth keyboard with the iPhone and iPod Touch. Foldable, travel-friendly keyboards have been supported for at least a half of a decade by all smartphones, except by the iPhone. That is a shame, as the iPhone is a compact computer you already carry around. Combined with a portable keyboard, it can replace your laptop for taking notes or writing emails at meetings or at your favorite coffee shop.

The application fills this gap. It is based on the open-source BTstack project, a Bluetooth stack designed for embedded devices where resources are scarce.

BTstack Keyboard runs on jailbroken iPhones, all iPod touch devices with Bluetooth support, and the iPad. It is available via the Cydia Store.

It works with all Bluetooth HID keyboards and the Celluon laser projection keyboards. So far, we have positive feedback for:

1. ★Apple Bluetooth Keyboard

2. ★Bluetooth Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Keyboard 7000

3. *Celluon Laser Projection Keyboard CL800BT, CL850

4. ★Cingular Portable Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard

5. ★Dell Axim Executive Keyboard

6. ★Dell full sized Bluetooth Media Keyboard, model y-raq-del2

7. ★Freedom mini keyboard

8. ★Freedom Universal2 (make sure you are in HID mode)

9. ★Frogpad

10. ★iTech Virtual Bluetooth Keyboard

11. ★KeySonic 340/540 BT

12. ★Logitech Cordless Mediaboard Pro

13. ★Logitech diNovo Edge

14. ★Logitech diNovo Media Desktop

15. ★Logitech MX5000

16. ★Matias Folding Bluetooth Keyboard

17. ★Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000

18. ★Nokia SU-8W

19. ★Palm Wireless keyboard 3245WW

20. ★Rocketfish

21. ★Think Outside Stowaway Universal

However, we received reports that it does not work with:

1. *Cygnet Bluetooth Keyboard

2. *Freedom Universal

3. *G-Tech Smart Fabric Wireless Keyboard

4. *HP iPAQ Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard

5. *Level One BLK-2000 Foldable Keyboard

6. *OMIZ

7. *Palm Universal Wireless Keyboard 3169WW (uses IR - no Bluetooth)

We intend to support the Freedom Universal. Stay tuned.

-"BTstack Keyboard"

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"iPhone gets Bluetooth keyboard driver"

'Dec 22, 2009 at 10:14'

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Apple’s refusal to add a netbook to its range has left many attempting to use the iPhone or iPod touch as a rough equivalent, but ease of text entry continues to frustrate. Happily, where Apple fall short the developer community delivers, with the simply-named iPhone Bluetooth Keyboard Driver. Soon to appear in the Cydia Store, v.1 of the driver allows you to wirelessly connect a Bluetooth keyboard to the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS or iPod touch.

It’s not a perfect solution: it requires that the device be jailbroken first, and iPhone 2G support is unclear at present. You’ll also need an iPod touch with Bluetooth, too, so that counts out the first-gen model. The software implementation isn’t quite perfect either; v.10 lacks support for cut/copy/paste, you can’t highlight text by holding down shift and using the cursor keys, the CapsLock button won’t work and Apple’s own wireless keyboard won’t quick auto-connect.

Nonetheless, this is a huge step forward for turning the iPhone or iPod touch into a mobile workstation, and those who enter large amounts of text may find the combination of the App Store and this new driver irresistible. No word on when exactly it will enter the Cydia Store.

[via The Ebook Test]

-"iPhone gets Bluetooth keyboard driver"

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"Using a Wireless Keyboard with an iPhone using BTstack Keyboard | Engadget"

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A few days ago, the BTStack keyboard package was released to Cydia. This package, which we posted about recently, allows owners of jailbroken iPhones to use a Bluetooth keyboard with their iPhone 3G or 3GS, or 2nd generation or later iPod touch. The package is available for US$5.00 from Cydia.

Since the iPhone was first introduced, there have been efforts to bring support for external accessories. The iPhone 3.0 external accessory framework allowing accessories that connect to the universal dock connector or use Bluetooth has been closed, and only a few companies have developed accessories using the framework. The BTStack project by Matthias Ringwald offers a more complete and open Bluetooth stack for jailbroken iPhones. The stack has even been used with an iPhone and a Wii Remote over Bluetooth. To use a Bluetooth keyboard for quick and easy data entry into your iPhone, you'll need to jailbreak your iPhone, which can be done with an application like blackra1n.

Read on to find how I set up my iPhone to use the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and how it works with the iPhone.
Once you've jailbroken your iPhone and installed Cydia, you'll need to look for the BTstack Keyboard package, which is available for US$5. There's a free demo version also available for Cydia that allows limited use of a Bluetooth keyboard. The BTstack Keyboard package enables many of the normal features of a keyboard, including the arrow keys. This package should work with most of the apps already on your iPhone, and allows you to type in editable text views and text fields. You'll also be able to use a Bluetooth keyboard for entering text in web views.

After installing the BTstack Keyboard package, it's very easy to set up and pair your keyboard. First, you'll want to make sure the keyboard you're going to use isn't currently paired with anything else. To unpair your keyboard in Mac OS X, go to the Bluetooth preference pane in System Preferences, select the keyboard, and then click the minus (-) button below the list of devices.

To pair the keyboard with your iPhone, launch the "Keyboard" app that was installed as part of the BTstack Keyboard package, and it will search for a keyboard. Make sure your keyboard is in pairing mode, which can be done on an Apple Wireless Keyboard by pressing the Power button on the right side of the keyboard. You'll be able to select your keyboard from a list of Bluetooth devices. After selecting the keyboard, enter the 4 digit passcode displayed on the iPhone, and then press Enter on your keyboard. You should be able to start using your Bluetooth keyboard with your iPhone immediately. When it's enabled, you'll see a "On" badge on the icon of the Keyboard app.

When using the keyboard to type on the iPhone, there's no sluggishness at all. There are still a few things that sometimes feel incomplete; for example, you can use the keyboard arrow keys to move the cursor in a text field or text view, but you can't in a web view. In addition, there's no support for the Caps Lock key or any of the function (F) keys. The Escape key allows you to exit a editable view or field.

Using BTStack Keyboard and an external Bluetooth keyboard did not seem to have a negative impact on the iPhone's battery life. Overall, this setup can be useful for anyone who wants to do any extensive typing on the go without having to carry around a notebook. However, it's not for those who wish to remain "legal" (have a non-jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch), or who are unable or unwilling to jailbreak their devices.

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-"Using a Wireless Keyboard with an iPhone using BTstack Keyboard | Engadget"