I’m in and better believe I’m getting a coin cell shield to go with it. 
60% funded already. 
3 Likes
Congrats guys, having been watching you for a long time! 
1 Like
So it seems only Android and iOS will be supported (again 
). Any word on Windows Phone? Is it even theoretically possible to make a Windows Phone Gateway app? I know those phones aren’t that popular in the US but here in Finland it’s one of the most popular phones so it would be a great addition. Stretch goal maybe?
1 Like
I would imagine a WP8 is possible. As long as they have BLE support, which they probably do, it shouldn’t be an issue. It would certainly be possible to write one, the iOS and Android ones will be open source so you can just port it over. If there is enough demand, and it is possible, we can certainly try to add this as a stretch goal.
Do you already have a prototype for the app and if yes are you willing to release it before the KS ends so I can have a look at it? I’m no expert by any means but I could give it a look.
Yes, we have the Android app working today. The iOS one is still in progress. I need to reorganize the git repo’s at some point because I currently have everything on one, but yes, I can certainly share it with you before the KS ends. If you can check back in a week or two I can probably give you access.
Great, it crossed the mark in 4.5 hrs.
2 Likes
Awesome, 100%! Thank you all so much! Can’t wait to build all these boards and get them out.
I guess I need to figure out stretch goals now…
4 Likes
A stretch goal which would interest me would be a Spark Photon and Bluz integrated on one device the size of an Electron.
Totally backing can’t wait!!
1 Like
Backed it. Tweeted it. Loving it.
1 Like
Could you add a reward only with Bluz DK and Battery Shields?
@eely22, this is really a cool addition to the 
(step-)family
I 'd like to back have backed you too - but as a possible proposal, if it wasn’t already proposed by anybody else:
Is it thinkable to add some protoboard rows either side of the Core/Photon headers on the Gateway Shield?
And maybe also add a way to access at least some of the Photon pins on the Bluz Gateway stick
If your gatway firmware is open source, there might be interest to use the Core/Photon for other things in parallel.
Sure, that is certainly possible. The shield is the place to add headers or pins since it isn’t size constrained by anything. The gateway will be fully enclosed so there may not be a way to get to anything on there. Did you want pins on both?
What did you have in mind to use them for? Anything in particular? Could maybe help to figure out how to change it.
You can actually just add $15 to your pledge to get the battery shield. Sorry about this, seems to cause a little confusion amongst people.
In the end, we tried to reduce the number of pledge levels, and I did have a “Bluz+Battery” one, but then there was an Early Bird version and a Regular version, so we kind of scratched it. We wanted people to be able to get the early bird at $15 and then add whatever else they wanted, so we did it this way. Sorry for the confusion.
I haven’t actually thought of any particular use, but since the gateway (shield) will by default be the “home based” unit, this would be the logical primary place to add relays or other home control circuitry before needing additional Bluez.
And as for the size constraint of the Gateway, if there only was a FEP flat ribbon zero force connector along the side, the size woudn’t need to be altered too much
1 Like
Noted. I think the gateway shield can definitely have some breakout pins. The gateway may be a bit harder, but we will keep that one in mind. Thanks for the feedback!
1 Like
We are going to be announcing stretch goals this week, so if you have any feedback, would love to hear it! You can add to the comments section on the Kickstarter Page or let us know through Twitter.
Also going to announce some fun updates, so stay tuned.
Thanks again to this great community!
4 Likes
This is great…!!! I so much wanted a bluetooth platform.
I am looking for creating a network of bluetooth devices, where the phone will the server and the bluetooth devices will be clients. I am looking for making something like a phone communicates to 8 bluetooth connected vibration motors. Is Bluz good for doing this?
I don’t want any wifi/ internet connectivity for now, I am just looking for a network of bluetooth devices.
Will the gateway be needed for a system like this?
1 Like
In your setup, the phone will be the gateway. So you can connect multiple bluz boards to the one phone. The gateway is best if you want the devices to be online when the phone isn’t around, so it doesn’t sound like you would need one.
Now, you can chose to use the cloud or you don’t have to, it is up to you. So in that topology, each bluz board can talk directly to the phone only, or to the cloud if you want, or both. You can change it easily in the future as well.
But yes, it sounds like bluz would do what you want quite well.
2 Likes