Dispplaying image consistently...

[Rafter]

Hi Mike,

Today I recieved my new Bluetooth antenna and downloaded the latest version of TextBlue (TB), without much delay I got the antenna and TB working on my XP SP3 based system. 

During my initial test, I encountered some inconsistencies,mainly, when I file transfer an image or a text file from my PC to my palm pilot, after the BT device discover the client device (the palm pilot) and I accept the transfer, the transferred file content is displayed whether it is an image or text (this is the my desired behavior).  However, when I perform the same exercise, but using my Samsung BlackJack (Smartphone), the file is transfered but it is not displayed, rather, after the transfer is completed, the files (image & text) are stored to a folder in the device, imo this is not desirable since it requires users (not very technical ones) to navigate their cellphone file structure to locate the transferred file and open it, while this process sounds simple, for a non-tech user it is a cumbersome exercise.

To make things worst when I enable the bluetooth on my Apple iTouch or Iphone, the antenna does not discover the iTouch or Iphone at all, but I understand that is not an issue or bug on TextBlue...  The questions I have are:

   1. How can I discovered all Bluetooth enabled devices (iPhones, smartphones, et al)? and
   2. When I transfer a file to a device, how can I force the contents to display? to maintain a consistent behavior of displaying the contents of the file.


Regards,
Rafter

[Mike Petrichenko]

Hi,

1. What do you mean? There are lot of wayt to do it with WCL, without WCL (out of my control - use google).
2. No way to do so. It is impossible

[TextBlue]

Hi Rafter

Good to hear you managed to get the software and hardware installed with no problem.

Looking at your concern, this inconsistency that you refer to has absolutely nothing to do with TextBlue but actually lies with the mobile handsets. Every different mobile phone model handles the incoming Bluetooth transfer differently.

Starting at the way that the handset receives the message notification, some handsets will show that the Bluetooth name of your PC and some will show the name of your file that you are sending and some will show both.

Secondly is how the mobile accepts the message, On some Nokia's, after the message has been accepted, the message is received like a text message with a loud audible tone and you can go into the in box and there it is, other Nokia's will show the file immediately after it has downloaded and you can view it immediately while some Samsung's and Windows Mobile devices , after accepting just seem to disappear and go into your documents or image folder.

So in summary the inconsistency has nothing to do with TextBlue, we will have to wait for the handset manufactures to be consistent which is unlikely. The good thing Nokia have the largest market share and these have the best experience for users receiving Bluetooth massages.

Now looking at your questions, firstly let me explain the reason why TextBlue chooses to ignore iPhones and iTouch's is that there is no point trying to connect to them as currently Apple have chosen not to implement the OBEX profile which is what is required to send your message.

1.) With TextBlue you cant discover all Bluetooth devices as there is no point tying up connections to devices such as iPhones, Bluetooth headsets and other devices that cannot receive the message.
2.) As above you cannot force a mobile to immediately display your message.

Hope this answers your query.

Thanks
Quinton

[Rafter]

Thank you for the clarifications with regards to the expected behavior between units, I think I might have a work around that might solve the inconsistent image display issue I raised earlier.  The work around I am thinking will require TextBlue to send calendar based events (vCalendar files), that said, I noticed that TB does not have the ability to create/send vCalendar files - Is vCalendar support being considered for a nearby TextBlue release?

Regards,
Rafter

[Mike Petrichenko]

Hi,

TextBlue can send anything. However, it does not include vCal creation so you have to use any external application to create vCal files.

May be in one of future release we will add this feature but I have no exactly date when it might be.

[Rafter]

I'll keep an eye out for future release with vcal creation support, in the mean time, I just learned that I can create vcal files from outlook, so I will give that a try.

thanks,
Rafter