Filed under: Peripherals, Features, Bluetooth, iPhone, iPod touch, Jailbreak/pwnage
Using a Wireless Keyboard with an iPhone using BTstack Keyboard
Since the iPhone was first introduced, there have been efforts to bring support for external accessories. The iPhone 3.0 external accessory framework allowing accessories that connect to the universal dock connector or use Bluetooth has been closed, and only a few companies have developed accessories using the framework. The BTStack project by Matthias Ringwald offers a more complete and open Bluetooth stack for jailbroken iPhones. The stack has even been used with an iPhone and a Wii Remote over Bluetooth. To use a Bluetooth keyboard for quick and easy data entry into your iPhone, you'll need to jailbreak your iPhone, which can be done with an application like blackra1n.
Read on to find how I set up my iPhone to use the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and how it works with the iPhone.
Once you've jailbroken your iPhone and installed Cydia, you'll need to look for the BTstack Keyboard package, which is available for US$5. There's a free demo version also available for Cydia that allows limited use of a Bluetooth keyboard. The BTstack Keyboard package enables many of the normal features of a keyboard, including the arrow keys. This package should work with most of the apps already on your iPhone, and allows you to type in editable text views and text fields. You'll also be able to use a Bluetooth keyboard for entering text in web views.
After installing the BTstack Keyboard package, it's very easy to set up and pair your keyboard. First, you'll want to make sure the keyboard you're going to use isn't currently paired with anything else. To unpair your keyboard in Mac OS X, go to the Bluetooth preference pane in System Preferences, select the keyboard, and then click the minus (-) button below the list of devices.
To pair the keyboard with your iPhone, launch the "Keyboard" app that was installed as part of the BTstack Keyboard package, and it will search for a keyboard. Make sure your keyboard is in pairing mode, which can be done on an Apple Wireless Keyboard by pressing the Power button on the right side of the keyboard. You'll be able to select your keyboard from a list of Bluetooth devices. After selecting the keyboard, enter the 4 digit passcode displayed on the iPhone, and then press Enter on your keyboard. You should be able to start using your Bluetooth keyboard with your iPhone immediately. When it's enabled, you'll see a "On" badge on the icon of the Keyboard app.
When using the keyboard to type on the iPhone, there's no sluggishness at all. There are still a few things that sometimes feel incomplete; for example, you can use the keyboard arrow keys to move the cursor in a text field or text view, but you can't in a web view. In addition, there's no support for the Caps Lock key or any of the function (F) keys. The Escape key allows you to exit a editable view or field.
Using BTStack Keyboard and an external Bluetooth keyboard did not seem to have a negative impact on the iPhone's battery life. Overall, this setup can be useful for anyone who wants to do any extensive typing on the go without having to carry around a notebook. However, it's not for those who wish to remain "legal" (have a non-jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch), or who are unable or unwilling to jailbreak their devices.
Gallery: BTstack Keyboard pairing
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dan Woods said 5:26PM on 12-26-2009
Dear TUAW,
Can you please advise your Bloggers to add a disclaimer that the Statutory Factory Warranty will be voided as soon as you Jailbreak your iPhone.
I really hope that Apple do introduce BT keyboard drivers to the iPhone soon, although the 3" screen and 10" keyboard do look a bit mismatched.
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Jaap said 5:55PM on 12-26-2009
@Dan Woods; Do you want the disclaimer added so you don't jailbreak your phone by mistake? Or are you so concerned about other peoples' warranties that you feel you need to come to their rescue?
Anyone with sufficient skill to jailbreak their phone will know that they can restore the same phone to its original state in a couple of minutes, so really, please stop the worrying and enjoy your festive season.
iphone said 9:32AM on 1-04-2010
Dan -
There is no such thing as a "Statutory Factory Warranty". It sounds mighty impressive, however.
robogobo said 10:22AM on 12-27-2009
Dan, Jailbreaking does not void your warranty. Getting caught Jailbreaking might, for that day, with that particular Apple employee. There, problem solved.
oli said 8:50AM on 12-28-2009
More importantly.... why do we always have to wait for apple to catch up with the jailbreakers?
Jailbreak had apps on the phone first.... jailbreak phones get LOTS of cool features and now something like this.
It's really frustrating.
Odineye said 5:30PM on 12-26-2009
I'm confused - this article says:
"The iPhone 3.0 external accessory framework allowing accessories that connect to the universal dock connector or use Bluetooth has been closed".
I thought this was *opened up* with 3.0 - that this made some of the GPS kits possible, etc. Has something changed and, if so, is this why we haven't seen other keyboard and similar applications using the dock connector and/or BT?
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emil said 8:08PM on 12-26-2009
I'm confused too, I don't understand what happened. I remember Schiller specifically saying that he didn't think a BT keyboard app was possible off the top of his head given the APIs available in 3.0, but there were many developers who seemed optimistic that someone would figure out a way to get it working. Maybe they weren't talking about non-jailbroken phones.
Matthias Ringwald said 3:41AM on 12-27-2009
Apple's 3.0 Acessory API allows hardware developers to make new hardware that is a) iPhone only and b) require a lengthy process. It does not allow to connect to use standard (existing) hardware. The TomTom GPS is the only BT accessory I have seen today. More at my wiki: http://code.google.com/p/btstack/wiki/iPhoneBluetooth
sebastien said 5:45PM on 12-26-2009
just tried it but it wont get passed the connecting screen
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BOK said 6:09PM on 12-26-2009
Or you could just get a laptop.
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Odineye said 8:22PM on 12-26-2009
I have a laptop. But with the ability to use a keyboard with my iPhone I wouldn't need it about 90% of the time. And frankly, when you carry a laptop everywhere the opportunity to ditch it for something lighter and smalller is extremely attractive.
I want this, and an iPhone version of iWork.
homeygtyler12345 said 1:24PM on 1-18-2010
u can buy keyboard that r maid out of rubber now i have one in my bag for school take 2 sec. to take out my iphone and my keyboard and send a email.............much easy then using the onscreen keyboard...........all thow if i take a train/bus it a pain but its a pain to have a laptop in that case too.............all so if i would to take out my keyboard and start typing with out a laptop id look like a freak............lolz
Calexifan said 6:52PM on 12-26-2009
As you type on the BT keyboard, do the on-screen keys look as though they are being pressed, or do they remain static? Just wondering...
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Ned Scott said 7:41AM on 12-27-2009
while the on-screen-keyboard is always shown when using the keyboard, they do not look like they are being pressed. In addition, if you have the on screen keyboard in numbers/symbols mode, you can type letters without changing the on screen keyboard. In other words, it's not emulating screen "clicks", but actually inputting text to the applications.
Calexifan said 6:34PM on 12-27-2009
Thanks for answering my question -- plus the additional info!
jancolors said 7:07PM on 12-26-2009
As a former Palm Pilot user, I remember having keyboards with my last two models, one a dock, the one for the T1 used IR. Laptops were a lot more dear back then, that _almost_ made up for the frightful awkward geekiness of the outfit in public.
I think the awkward factor would be no less diminished these days.
Perhaps when the Apple iSlate (or whatever the tablet will be called) it will be closer to the size of the BT keyboard and the display will more readable than what is show in this picture, relative to the keyboard. I would hope that Apple will approve a set up like that soon after or when the new tablet comes out.
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Ned Scott said 7:55AM on 12-27-2009
considering how mainstream iphones are, and how texting keeps pushing phones to have better text entry (qwerty keyboards now seem to be the norm, even for "non smart" phones), I think most people would consider it most awesome.
jancolors said 8:44PM on 12-27-2009
Yes, Ned, awesome & useful.
I look forward to having an easily portable outfit with a comfortable input devide (keyboard).
I remember taking minutes at a board meeting a few times, there was always a lot of questions about my setup with that Palm + keyboard, others found very distracting! LOL Bleeding edge, indeed! Never got that with the MBPro.
Reg Muffet said 7:31PM on 12-26-2009
On the subject of connecting external keyboards to iPhones, has any work been done on connecting a standard USB keyboard?
There are quite a few silicon roll-up keyboards around that roll up very neatly (like a small burrito). Carrying one of these to use would be more practical than the wireless aluminum keyboard pictured.
These roll-up keyboards are invariably USB. I've seen a wireless one, but it was a RF transmitter to USB dongle.
As cool as wireless Bluetooth connecting is, I'd be more interested in the ability to connect a standard USB keyboard.
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Ned Scott said 7:43AM on 12-27-2009
they actually make those rubber rollup keyboards in bluetooth "flavor" http://www.thegreenhead.com/2007/05/g-tech-smart-fabric-roll-up-bluetooth-keyboard.php