If you ask me to pick the most useless features of the iPhone, I'll definitely tell you it's the Bluetooth. The iPhone comes with Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (short for Enhanced Data Rate) built-in. But it only supports the Bluetooth Headset Profile and Bluetooth Hands-free Profile 1.5.
A group of iPhone developers have been working on a project called iBlueTooth whose goal is to ultimately get all the missing Bluetooth profiles working on the iPhone. They have recently released an iPhone app called SweetTooth that demonstrates the work they have done on unlocking the full capability of iPhone's Bluetooth.
The iPhone comes with Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (short for Enhanced Data Rate) built-in. But it only supports the Bluetooth Headset Profile and Bluetooth Hands-free Profile 1.5.
That means, iPhone's Bluetooth can just let you pair with compatible headsets (e.g. Apple's iPhone Bluetooth Headset) to pick calls. Compared with any Bluetooth-powered mobile phones in the market, it's not uncommon you can make use of Bluetooth to:
- Transfer file between bluetooth devices (laptop, desktop, mobile phones, etc)
- Stream stereo music wirelessly(A2DP).
We do not see any light Apple to release an update on Bluetooth in the next firmware version. But a group of iPhone developers has already put endless hours on a iBlueTooth Project that tries to bring the full power of Bluetooth to iPhone.
The goal of iBlueTooth Project is to ultimately get all the missing Bluetooth profiles working on the iPhone. Recently, the project team released an application called SweetTooth that demonstrates the work they have done on unlocking the full capability of iPhone's Bluetooth. SweethTooth is the GUI based version of their app called bluesn0w app which you had to run using Terminal. In case you hadn't noticed, the name was inspired by Dev team's yellowsn0w application to unlock iPhone 3G.
SweetTooth is the first Bluetooth scanner that lets you discover all Bluetooth devices within range. The application is still in development mode and mainly for demonstration purpose. At this moment, you can view the available Bluetooth device around you but that's it. SweetTooth can't make any connection to the Bluetooth devices.
SweetTooth is now available for download via Cydia which means you can install it only on a jailbroken iPhone. To use it, simply tap "Rescan" button and SweetTooth will show you all available Bluetooth devices that are discovered. However, please proceed with caution.
The development team of SweetTooth has not disclosed the date of the official release. However, they claim that eventually SweetTooth will support all Bluetooth profiles that the chip can support. That's pretty impressive and as an iPhone user, I will be looking forward to the app with high expectations.
What do you think about SweetTooth? Always, please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
Thanks Bill for the tip and also to Egypt who had tipped us about the project quite sometime back.
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wooo, finally i can share my pics, about feckiing time
Soon I will be able to use my Bluetooth Stereo Headphones to listen to music wirelessly.
Sounds like fun. I would totally use it with that retro styled bluetooth cassette tape.
Finally transfer ringtones and mp3's maybe? This is something I figured hackers/developers would have started working on in the very beggingin. Now if we could only make the damn iphone louder!!!!
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Joyce
http://www.webtraffictrigger.com
Yay i got credit =]. I cant wait until the release a2dp support xD
Umm you spelled my name wrong =(
It seems that the team is stealing from the work of medevil (www.medevil.net), put up a GUI for it and set up a website to accept donations. What a scam.
I will be thrilled if this fixes a2dp! I want to use my bluetooth headphones without that stupid adapter! : (
I'm fairly certain that it's MeDevil that's stealing the work and not the other way around. Seems he was part of the team working on this project and then left, along with a significant portion of their code base. If you check out http://www.medevil.net you can judge for yourselves.
http://planet-iphones.com/2009/01/04/bluesn0w-a-major-achievement-in-iphone-bluetooth-history/
http://www.spaziocellulare.com/ispazio/en/2009/01/01/bluesn0w-the-real-iphone-bluetooth-hack/
Same thing different site
http://www.ipodtouchfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126918
Hey Egypt,
Thanks for highlighting the error, I have corrected it.
Thanks again for the tip!
Hey Joyce,
We glad you enjoying reading iPhone Hacks as much as we enjoy bringing cool things about the iPhone.
about time i also think this should have been done when the iphone 1st gen came out but hay ho.ANYWAY cant wait for it to come out (please be soon)
finally, its about time…the iphone is like the complete phone but missing a couple of features such as the Bluetooth….i jst hope this works out, am really looking forward for this app
Let's wait, it might end up with a disapointment: one reason I suspect to limit the number of Bluetooth profiles and especially not implement A2DP that seems one of the most important for the iPhone, is power consumption.
On other mobile phones, Bluetooth consumes quite a lot, streaming A2DP to a stereo headphones or a car head unit might be too much for the poor battery of the iPhone.
its not working in the 2.1 software version. On the contrary, it closes the bluetooth as well i.e. after I swithc on thebluetooth from settings and then open the Sweettooth application, th bluetooth icon on the top bar is gone and again in settings it hows as bluetooth "off"
Hello,
I'm looking forward to use bluesnOw on my jailbreaked 1st generation iPhone, but im curious about if it features already the rSAP (remote sim access protocol) so I can use it with my VW Golf bluetooth that only accepts this protocol.
Can anyone help me in this matter?
thanks and keep doing this amasing project
hello,
i've try the sweettooth. just like it said "sweet" but wait for release version. still cannot discovery the a2dp device (i use HB970). Nice Working.
its not working on iphone 2.1 2G
My main concern is being able to listen to the iPod through a bluetooth headset (without being connected to a call… I'm really surprised this isn't available already, but definitely waiting for this.
this is something that should have been in the original iphone as we all know but i see now that 3rd party hackers a getting close to doing it apple are implementing it so kudos to you guys if only for getting it officially implemented and i'll be interested to see what limits are on both this and the official update
That's the most polite bit of traffic-poaching comment spam I've seen so far. A++++, would be poached again.
SweetTooth wont load up on my ipod 2gen 3.0 any help
I must say that my expectations are high. I'll be waiting for the sweetooth to come out and I can share my pcs and videos with people and not have to se text. THANK GOD! Please send me an email when the software comes out
I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but it really compensated for my time.Thank you so much
The worst bluetooth app