iPhone expert Ralf Ackermann who had used an external bluetooth module to pair a standard keyboard to the iPhone is at it again.
He has managed to get Apple's Bluetooth keyboard (can be any Bluetooth keyboard) to pair with a hacked iPhone without any external Bluetooth module.
Ackermann's wrote on his blog:
Ackermann has used the Bluetooth stack developed by the researchers at ETH Zurich.
You can watch the demo video of the external Bluetooth keyboard paired with a jailbroken iPhone:
When we had written about Ralf Ackermann's earlier feat of using an external bluetooth approach to pair a keyboard to the iPhone, it had resulted in an interesting discussion among iPhone Hacks readers.
At that time, we had mentioned that if you are a long time iPhone user who is used to its virtual keyboard, you might find the need of a physical keyboard unnecessary which some agreed (though we surprisingly were in the minority).
TC Rhino, one of our readers had pointed out that we did not get the point of a bluetooth keyboard. He wrote:
"It amazes me that people don't get the point of the external bluetooth keyboard on the iPhone. The touch keyboard is great for on the go, quick notes, etc, but is not optimal for longer documents, blog posts, email, etc. Neither is a Blackberry/G1/Windows Mobile physical keyboard.
The point is to have a way to enter lots of information comfortably. Years ago, I had a keyboard that plugged into the dock connector on my iPaq. It folded up into a nice hard-sided package about the size of a large deck of cards and slipped into a pocket. Best form factor for writing emails and long notes on a plane that I ever found, better than a laptop, more versatile than today's netbooks."
There were a majority of users who agreed with Rhino and loved the idea of an external keyboard. Rhino made a valid point, it really depends on your requirement. The ability to connect a physical keyboard can be quite useful if you want to use your iPhone to write blog posts, long emails etc.
Unfortunately, Ackermann hasn't provided a release date on when it will be available to iPhone users. We will keep you posted if we hear of any updates, so stay tuned here at iPhone Hacks.
So what you think about an external keyboard for the iPhone? Please let us know your take in the comments.
[via Wired]
I wonder if the connection lags? Never the less great work!
i can't wait
I have waited for this since I got my iphone.
Dave
CMU
Hopefully in the not too distant future we'll see quad-core processors in iPhones and we'll be able to use our phones as desktop computers. Imagine you just put your iPhone in a dock similar to the current one, only it has a HDMI output and a couple of USB ports so you can hook up some external storage and printer. Then all you need is a wireless keyboard and mouse and you would have a great little computer for internet browsing, emails etc. and running a simplified Mac OS.
Granted something like this is still quite a few years away yet, but I think it would be pretty cool
Personally, I would like this feature. Not for standard applications, but for things like maybe blogging on the go. Would be nifty – As I don't want to type a whole blog post on the standard keyboard!
*Trixy Dixy*
Probably a better solution would be using a wifi printer. You might even have the capabilities to make that work now. I have a wifi printer/scanner/fax combo now I'm wondering if that'd work.
If its a HP printer you can already do that using your iPhone. Its a free app called HP iPrint Photo
*** Wish this site had a forum! ***
arent you exaggerating things too much? lol
forums.iphonehacks.com
Wish there was a non-jailbreak solution for this
Hey TRIXXY DIXXY,
We hope to re-launch the iPhone Hacks Forums soon.
We will keep you posted.
Hey Noogle,
We had to discontinue our forums due to too much of spam.
We should re-launch it soon.
ah finally they can launch that bluetooth keyboard made for the iphone what was it called again? Especially if that legal exemption on jailbreaking gets through.
Just nut up and jailbreak that shit. You don't know what your missing. VOIPover3G and PDAnet alone make it worth it.
i don't wan't to look like an ass but you can see he has veency runing (iphone vnc server) if it a blutooth keyboard it shouldn't use vnc "protocol"
to me it looks fake…. someone could be typing on his computer , that would explain why veency is running
and no bluetooth icone apears in the MiniDock ….
I have to agree with stan69b there…
This could be major fakery.
Wouldn't be hard at all to do.
Imagine arriving in the office with your iPhone in your pocket.
On your desk are a bluetooth keyboard and a bluetooth screen. With the iPhone still in your pocket you make the last changes to your presentation.
Later, in the conference room, you pair your iPhone with a bluetooth projector and a bluetooth pointing device.
The iPhone is still in your pocket when you deliver your memorable presentation.
This is a good start toward making this story real.
That would definitely be an exciting world to live in
This may be a stupid question but here goes… Now I understand that Apple is protecting their best interest in setting the Iphone up to only accept the Headset profile. That being said does that profile prevent someone with the skills from altering how the iphone perceives say a computer? I mean can you make a computer connect if you made a program that made the comp appear as a headset or does the settings for the headset setting by iphone prevent that from even being a thought? I'm just trying to think outside the box and find a legitimate way without jailbreaking my iphone to get around the crippled bluetooth.
Another thought… there are many bluetooth apps that are designed to keep constant contact with say another iphone… like the lightsabre app. I've not personally used any of these but maybe there is a back door that can be created using the protocols from one of those programs?