Reason to Jailbreak #86 – Bluetooth Keyboard Support

Posted on 22 December 2009 by


Screen shot 2009-12-22 at 7.36.30 AM

Personally I never understood the need/want for an external keyboard for my iPhone.  If I’m going to carry my iPhone and an extra external keyboard I’d just assume carry a netbook.   However, I do recognize there are plenty of people who do.

Well it seems those who need it can now have it.  The only catch, as with many of the awesome OS add-ons for the iPhone your device must be jailbroken.

The Bluetooth Keyboard Driver, just released in Cydia, fills this void for jailbroken iPhone users. The App is based on the open-source BTstack project, which also brought us the Wii Mote to work with apps like emulators. This driver runs on all iDevices with Bluetooth support. It is unclear yet if it works properly on the iPhone 2G. The current version available in Cydia is titled as a “Demo”, as it only works inside the app itself, but don’t fret for the developer says a version that works outside of the app (in the background/with other apps) and in Cydia “soon”.

After installation, start Keyboard demo, then make your Bluetooth Keyboard discoverable (see Keyboard manual). Select keyboard in the device list. A pin code alert tells what PIN to enter on the keyboard. When connected, you can use the keyboard to type into the provided text field. An initial set of Keyboard layouts is provided.

If you want to learn more about it head to the developer’s official page here.

Via Modmyi

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- who has written 824 posts on Gear Diary.

I have always had a passion for gear and gadgets. It all started for me with the release of the very first Palm Pilot. I've always had an interest in handheld electronics. From handheld PDAs, to cell phones, Mp3 players, watches and other products, I'm the first person my friends, family and colleagues call when they need advice on tech. I have roots in the online tech. forum community. I served as the Administrator to Howard Forums.com and as a Moderator at both Treo Central.com and Blackberry Forums.net. Under the screen name “lgreenberg” I've amassed 50,000+ postings. I also manage my own YouTube channel under the user name larrygreenberg. I'm always eager to help.

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  • Dan Cohen

    It actually makes perfect sense to me and is something I have been hoping for for a long time. Thee are times when I am in the office and don’t have my MacBook with me but end up needing to writing something that is longer than just a few seconds. To be able to leave a Bluetooth keyboard at the office and then, as you note, actually use my iPhone like a netbook is awesome.
    You are right, it makes no sense to CARRY the keyboard with you but to have one left in a place where you spend a lot of time is ideal.

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  • http://www.geardiary.com Michael Anderson

    But what about the classic folding keyboards like the ‘Think Outside’ (Stowaway) BT keyboard? I still use that on my Axim, and it is a great thing – and not much to drop inside my bag!

  • Larry Greenberg

    @Michael – man, I remember having one of those back in the Palm V days. :)

  • victore

    @michael-i installed the demo and it works with my thinkoutside “shasta” keyboard. i’m waiting for the full app to appear in the cydia store.

  • http://www.geardiary.com Douglas Moran

    I’m with Dan, but for a slightly different reason; there are lots of times when I don’t want to go through the hassle of powering up and finding a decent location to deal with my PC (please, please, please Santa, bring me a MacBook Pro, or a MacBook Air, or *something*!)–it’s a lot heavier, more awkward, and much more unwieldy than my iPhone. It would be nice if, while on my iPhone, I had an idea or wanted to answer an email or type in a quick response to someone to be able to whip out the BT keyboard and do it. Or if I’m using meebo to IM somebody. Or whatever.

    Second, there have been plenty of times when at a place with no wifi, or when my laptop is down for some reason, and I would like to be able to use my iPhone to pinch-hit at those times. So again, a BT keyboard would be great.

    So now I just need to have GD find us the perfect BT keyboard . . .

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