Bluetooth Support in Android

Feature Requests
#66

I dont care what you think is needed or not. The fact is that there are more and more devices that use BT for something else than what we used them in 1995. And even if you throw your tantrums at the whole world this is not going to change.

Not for you and another 1000 individuals that cant cope with the fact that there are billions of other people that make you irrelevant.

And if there are 2000 users of Sailfish getting a chance to use hardware that other people are using this is not going to change anything. You will still be irrelevant as you are now but people that are less single minded will be able to use Sailfish.

1 Like
#67

My old XA2 is running /e/ os now because GPS did not work. In it’s new task location is irrelevant (fixed, really).

I can live with using an Android phone to access my 14 BT devices but I would prefer using Sailfish and it’s Android compatibility layer. Just to give new life to my third phone.

2 Likes
#68

I wonder if the WH-1000XM4 also has some advanced features besides audio. Not that I could imagine myself needing any of these features ever as the headset seems to be doing what it’s intended to do already (means it can play audio) but I’m curious if they’re maybe using the same protocol.

#69

In case it’s of interest to others, this topic was discussed in the community meeting today. The minutes are available:

https://irclogs.sailfishos.org/meetings/sailfishos-meeting/2022/sailfishos-meeting.2022-04-14-07.00.html

3 Likes
#70

Had a meeting, couldnt come.

The point is not to use my headset but to use anything bluetooth related, the headset was just an example.

#71

It has some newage features but I dont care about them. Where the problem with BT comes in is the equalizer, they are a tad bass heavy for my taste.

Anyway, they work great with Sailfish, it can be added to List of working Bluetooth devices

#72

Why so orthodox?

Many Bluetooth-controlled devices are indeed just gimmicks, and having bespoke apps with proprietary interfaces is a nuisance and bad form (Bluetooth or otherwise).
There is no excuse not to openly document this stuff. These products are basically eWaste waiting to happen; no way all apps will be available and work as long as the devices.

For example; one of my test printers for SeaPrint has an app to set WiFi configuration - it is already broken and can’t connect to APs and since it is proprietary there is nothing to be done about it whatsoever.
We most definitely should be voting with our feet and wallets against this BS.

Using Sailfish only as a means of running Android apps kind of defeats the purpose.

However(!), the Android App Support enables enables regular people to live regular lives as part of modern society.
If it can grow Bluetooth, NFC and WiFi control support - great! If it can’t, or comes at basically the cost of half an OS and is not feasible, so be it.

Where this midpoint lies will be different for everyone.
Just consider that none at all will be too hard for most, and all is the same as giving up.

For example; i am emailing politicians left right and center about the abysmal state of eID here in Sweden. They actually seem to mostly agree, but everything is super slow. In the meantime, i’m quite happy that the current crap works on SFOS.

6 Likes
#73

I’d like to see the mileage on my ebike from time to time. In order to do this, I have to flash back to Android and I am not going to buy a second device just for that. What a real shit show SOFS is turning out to be.

3 Likes
#74

Wrong. The real shitshow is all those companies spewing out wifi and bt-connected devices with proprietary protocols and APIs. Even if you’re on Android, you’re still bound to their app and more often than not terrible EULAs and ““privacy”” policies.

So, ask your bike’s manufacturer if you can get the protocol specifications. That’ll more useful in the long run.

Example? Example. I’m still using my Pebble smartwatch, because they did publish the protocol, and the SFOS compagnion Rockpool app, based on this protocol, still works great for this 7 year old watch, even though the company folded into fitbit (and then google) long time ago.

8 Likes
#76

Is not the real shit show the fact hardware manufacturers are trying to lock everyone in into their apps and cloud services with the goal to squeeze every bit of information out of their customers?

1 Like
#77

Apparently so, according to industry experts that frequent this forum, it is of no fault of Jolla at all, apparently.

#78

I’m wondering if it might be feasible to utilize a bluetooth-(micro)usb-dongle for Bluetooth functionality in android aliendalvik. I’m not sure if something like this could be achieved by the community or if the the related part in AD is closed source.

4 Likes
#79

Check this tech out - you can see your bike mileage no matter what phone OS you use. Only catch is it must be solar or something, I couldn’t download the mileage from mine at night for some reason.

2 Likes
#80

Great!, not.

20 chars

#81

You summarize it perfectly - I have to ask a manufacturer for help because Jolla is not capable, hence my comments about a shit show being quite correct one way and another, so you’ve proved me right, and shown everyone else that your apparent logic is flawed and very, very fuzzy indeed. I should not have to contact ANY manufacturer just to run an app on my phone.

For all the shit that Android is said to be, I’m thinking I may as well use Android, at least I can have things working I’d like to use and I really do not ask for much regarding mobile devices.

2 Likes
#82

One may call me a bit old fashioned but I’m not entirely sure why a missing feature that a minority of users may care about would warrant using such language.

5 Likes
#83

You are old fashioned.

1 Like
#84

Yeah, just use Android, it may suit you better, nobody coerces you to us SF and ranting won’t solve anything.

2 Likes
#85

The problem is that you picked a device that require application which in turn require specific operating system to be able to run. Now you’re using different operating system and you complain that because you’re not fulfilling manufacturer requirements you can’t use device. And instead of asking the device manufacturer to add support to third party operating system by at least providing some communication specification you ask a third party os owners to implement something they don’t even have a spec sheet for.

4 Likes
#86

Good luck with those apps!

I’m certainly not against having BT in AlienDalvik. On the contrary. Of course it’s a way to get things working. But it doesn’t fix the underlying problem of closed protocols, vendor lock-in, poor performing apps (ask my mom about her BT-connected smartwatch - hint, it’s not a Pebble), and privacy disrespecting companies.

But, should Jolla try to get it done? IMO, yes! The chance you’ll see an open / reverse engineered protocol supported by a third party Android app is, of course, much greater than you’ll find a SFOS app.

1 Like