Implementing Smartwatch support (Android Wear <-> WP8.1)

[hutchinsane_]

Hey guys,
today I found this topic http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...ndroid-wear-ios-devhelpneededappbeta-t3051156 where they basically got an Android Wear Device to connect with iOS.. now my thinking was, shouldn't this be possible for Windows Phone aswell? BLE is present, there are even Smartwatch Apis. So, shouldn't we just be able to get Android wear to accept a Windows Phone connection aswell in rerouting the correct apis etc.?

Here's a sample sourcecode to get an idea on what they did https://github.com/zhangfh/ANCSSample

Now, since this involves both Windows Phone AND Android, I am not sure on where to post this, so I'll just post it here. If you guys want it moved, that's fine with me.

Now to the Windows Phone part. Even if the Apps itself won't push to wear, it should always be possible to just write a notification app (like Boxcar for iOS) where you log into your social networking stuff and let THAT push to wear. Now, I'm not sure if there are enough apis or if they are even available for public use or OEM/MS restricted, but I thought it was worth a post, since we've been missing out a lot with those shiny new gadgets.

Also, I think an unencrypted MS Band/Health appx should help in determining the correct apis, calls etc (I'm still learning, not there just yet.) needed.

I hope this post is not completely worthless and if someone has already done some stuff, I'd be willing to test it out since my G Watch R (using a secondary phone just for that...) will be arriving next week!

cheers, hutchinsane_

 

[GoodDayToDie]

WP8.1 does indeed have BTLE APIs, so it should be pretty easy to use them for this. As you say, you'd have to write the apps yourself because the current WP ones probably don't interface with Android Wear, but it would probably be fairly popular if you did...

 

[sensboston]

WP8.1 does indeed have BTLE APIs, so it should be pretty easy to use them for this. As you say, you'd have to write the apps yourself because the current WP ones probably don't interface with Android Wear, but it would probably be fairly popular if you did...

Unfortunately, Microsoft ignored some important BT4/BLE specs in their BT stack implementation. For some (let me say - STUPID!) reasons, BLE device must be paired before it become available for the MS BLE API I have no idea why they did it; probably, they are trying to be more "secure" even they ruin whole BLE idea...

So, if BLE device not supported pairing, you can't support it on WP8.1 or Win 8.1... One more "thanks" to MS...

P.S. What's why I can't control my PowerUp 3.0 paper plane gadget from my Lumia 920 (but it works perfect on iOS or Android)

 

[hutchinsane_]

Unfortunately, Microsoft ignored some important BT4/BLE specs in their BT stack implementation. For some (let me say - STUPID!) reasons, BLE device must be paired before it become available for the MS BLE API I have no idea why they did it; probably, they are trying to be more "secure" even they ruin whole BLE idea...

So, if BLE device not supported pairing, you can't support it on WP8.1 or Win 8.1... One more "thanks" to MS...

P.S. What's why I can't control my PowerUp 3.0 paper plane gadget from my Lumia 920 (but it works perfect on iOS or Android)

My G Watch R arrived today and it does pair and connect with my phone. The phone says "connected", the watch says "connecting" but none of the functions work, as expected. So connection shouldn't be a problem!

 

[sensboston]

@hutchinsane_, it means you still have a hope You may try some BLE-enabled apps from the store like a "BLE Scanner" but for the full support of your LG "G Watch К" you should wait until someone will write an app for this gadget (actually - I just re-read topic - not just for your gadget but for Android Wear OS. This is kinda complicated job so there's not much hope...)

 

[hutchinsane_]

@hutchinsane_, it means you still have a hope You may try some BLE-enabled apps from the store like a "BLE Scanner" but for the full support of your LG "G Watch К" you should wait until someone will write an app for this gadget (actually - I just re-read topic - not just for your gadget but for Android Wear OS. This is kinda complicated job so there's not much hope...)

well someone already did it for iOS, so I guess it can't be that hard. But I'm way to inexperienced and lazy. hope someone will be inspired by this post. I'll try the BLE Scanner!

Edit: I just noticed that Android Wear Devices show up in Device Hub... they are recognised as watches. Veeery interesting.

Edit 2: @sensboston I just noticed that the watch wont pair with my 920 either, maybe it's the phones fault that your PowerUp doesn't work