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Despite closely following Android docs and published examples we could never get consistent connectivity across most BLE Android handsets under 4.3 and earlier.

Despite closely following Android docs and published examples we could never get consistent connectivity across most BLE Android handsets under 4.3 and earlier. We tested the Androids against simulated iOS peripherals in order to rule out Lockitron oddities (of which there were plenty). We pinged the Android BLE folks and only ever received crickets on how to resolve these issues. We're more hopefully based on what we're seeing with 4.4 and 5 but without a full library of handsets the onus of testing which OS/device mix "works" has fallen on our users up until now.

wpietri 12y ago
For bystanders wondering, the Android bluetooth stack is apparently deeply problematic. I was trying to debug some issue between my android devices and a music receiver connected to my stereo. In reading up on this, I came across so many people with stories like this.
- ericd 12y ago
  Yeah, my Nexus 5 has given me nothing but trouble with various bluetooth connections, and it's impossible to troubleshoot.
- sgarman 12y ago
  This isn't unknown or secret information. Lokitron should have been able to identify this before building and either choose another solution or at least set expectations at the start for android users.
  - wpietri 12y ago
    The theory that people should know everything before doing anything is a) impossible, and b) is what leads to massive, wasteful waterfall development cycles. The best we can do is to try to identify and mitigate risks as quickly as possible, and to handle responsibly the problems that happen regardless.
- desdiv 12y ago
  Here are some bug reports for anyone interested: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=59440 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=59440 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=60284 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=60284 https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/issues/detail?id=1570 https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/issues/d... https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=58381 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=58381

wpietri 12y ago

For bystanders wondering, the Android bluetooth stack is apparently deeply problematic. I was trying to debug some issue between my android devices and a music receiver connected to my stereo. In reading up on this, I came across so many people with stories like this.

ericd 12y ago
Yeah, my Nexus 5 has given me nothing but trouble with various bluetooth connections, and it's impossible to troubleshoot.
sgarman 12y ago
This isn't unknown or secret information. Lokitron should have been able to identify this before building and either choose another solution or at least set expectations at the start for android users.
- wpietri 12y ago
  The theory that people should know everything before doing anything is a) impossible, and b) is what leads to massive, wasteful waterfall development cycles. The best we can do is to try to identify and mitigate risks as quickly as possible, and to handle responsibly the problems that happen regardless.
desdiv 12y ago
Here are some bug reports for anyone interested: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=59440 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=59440 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=60284 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=60284 https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/issues/detail?id=1570 https://code.google.com/p/android-developer-preview/issues/d... https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=58381 https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=58381