Accessing iBeacon advertisement data when using private frameworks - ios

I need to access raw advertisement data of iBeacons (not AltBeacons). The app does not need to be deployed into the AppStore, thus using private frameworks is ok. I have tried to use BeeTee, which shows how to use BluetoothManager.framework, but it does not discover any devices (tested on iPhone 6, iOS 8.4 and iPod Touch, iOS 8.1.1).
Which other options are available?

Unfortunately, you can't do this. iOS has security blocks that prevent reading the raw advertisement bytes of iBeacons using CoreBluetooth or other means. There are no known workarounds.
I documented my attempts to find a way around this in a blog post here. For what it's worth, you can do this on OSX using CoreBluetooth and on Android devices using built-in bluetooth scanning APIs. It's just iOS that blocks decoding the raw advertising bytes of iBeacon advertisements.

Related

altbeacon-IOS, Only the ibeacon is not being scanned

enter image description here
I used swiftUI, and it was confirmed that the header bridge was also working properly.
As you can see in the image, the altbeacon is scanning fine,
but not the ibeacon.
I set the layout like this
setBeaconLayout("m:2-3=0215,i:4-19,i:20-21,i:22-23,p:24-24,d:25-25")
, is there any problem? please check.
I tried changing the layout like this, but it didn't work.
setBeaconLayout("m:2-3=0215,i:4-19,i:20-21,i:22-23,p:24-24")
The OP has set up beacon scanning on iOS using the AltBeacon iOS Beacon Tools
The above tools help iOS scan and decode Eddystone, AltBeacon and other BLE beacon formats using iOS CoreBluetooth APIs under the hood.
However, the above tools cannot detect iBeacon because iOS blocks the underlying CoreBluetooth APIs from getting scan results for iBeacon advertisements. In order to detect iBeacon you must use CoreLocation APIs alongside what you are already doing. While this is duplicative, unfortunately Apple requires this duplication by sandboxing iBeacon from other BLE advertisements.

Bluetooth vs BLE and proper usage of them

I am doing a project that uses BLE(CoreBluetooth).
In the mean time we use a mock in the form of android device.
My question is this:
Why does the CoreBluetooth doesn't recognise the android device? (i read about BLE GATT but still didn't understand it).
Also if i go in the iPhone to settings->bluetooth it recognises it and even connect to the android device ,how can i implement this in my app?
Programming with CoreBluetooth
IMHO, CoreBluetooth is quite cumbersome. I suggest using a library like RxBluetoothKit which takes away a lot of the boilerplating involved with handling the GATT profiles yourself.
Devices, mockups
Cool BLE devices are around 30$ nowadays. I use PuckJS - a JS supporting programmable BLE board.
Apple requires MFI certification for devices that connect to iOS devices via Bluetooth.
The exceptions are:
BLE devices.
Bluetooth devices which exclusively support either of these profiles.
So your Android mockup would have to advertise itself as one of these.

Test Bluetooth on iOS

I'd really like to start testing my iOS apps Bluetooth capabilities, but have run into a few problems:
I have a device made with a RN-42 module, but it's not the Apple version and I don't have the Apple authentication module at the moment (I ordered it, but shipping from China can take a while). I know what the messages will look like, but can't send them to my iPhone!
I can use the module with my Macbook, but not in the iOS simulator! Apple has taken down all of the documentation related to getting the iOS < 7.0 to use a separate bluetooth dongle, and my efforts have left my 6.1 simulator endlessly spinning on the bluetooth screen.
I'm new to using Bluetooth, so this may be a dumb question...
Is there a way of getting a bluetooth client device (I have a Mac, another iPhone, and an Android tab) to act as a server module that can send (and receive) Bluetooth data to my iPhone?
Client/Server as per developer.bluetooth.org
Thanks!
Not 100% sure your meaning of "server module". But in CoreBluetooth, you can use CBPeripheralManager to broadcast data to other iOS or Mac apps.
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/CoreBluetooth/Reference/CBPeripheralManager_Class/Reference/CBPeripheralManager.html
If you're using standard Bluetooth (i.e. not Bluetooth LE or Bluetooth Smart or whatever you want to call it), you'll need to enroll in the MFI program or work with an MFI certified device (such as a Redpark cable) and use the External Accessories library provided by Apple. If you're using Bluetooth LE, you can use the Core Bluetooth library provided by Apple. If you fall into neither of those cases, sorry, you can't use Bluetooth on iOS.

How to connect iOS with BLE and previous versions of Bluetooth

we are about to start developing an app for iOS that reads data sent via Bluetooth from a device. Which framework should we use if the Bluetooth device that sends the data is not BLE 4.0? In addition to this, if it is possible to develop to app by using a different framework, will the same app also be able to connect to BLE 4.0?
Any pointer is highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any pointer.
The framework you are looking for is the ExternalAccessory.framework (although there are limitations). You can use it and the Corebluetooth.framework inside the same app, but they will not be related on which devices they can connect to. Corebluetooth is Bluetooth low energy only. Check this answer and the related links for more information on using the ExternalAccessory.framework :
How to use bluetooth classic instead of le

Bluetooth and iOS - what protocols/ profiles are supported?

I am developing an iOS bluetooth app that needs to pair with a peripheral device.
What frame work do I need to use to interact with a device that has support for the following protocols/profiles:
A2DP
HFP
HSP
Are either of these possible with an iOS device without being a member of the the MFI program?
How do I support these profiles:
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT3647
Do I do that using corebluetooth?
These are standard profiles that are supported inherently by iOS. You don't need to add any software to make the phone work with these. At the same time apps running on the phone will have limited access to what device they can use or are using but for example the audio routing can be obtained.
All in all, as long as the device implements the profiles correctly, any application will be able to use it, not just yours.
There are two completely different methods of doing Bluetooth communications. One is with the classic Bluetooth profiles and the latest is using BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).
Classic Bluetooth can be used with the ExternalAccessory framework and GameKit framework.
BLE uses CoreBluetooth.
The classic profiles supported are listed here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3647

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