Castle Link/iPhone

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by E-Revonut

it's a phone, calculator, calendar, has it's own internet connection, can play games, music, movies, serve as a gps, a map, give me weather and stock updates, get my e-mail, etc, etc, etc.....

A netbook can do all of the same and more.

Phone via Skype
GPS with a small add on and software

The others are kind of obvious.

I have done all that you are talking about with my XPS many times. Yeah it's bigger but I really want my phone to be a phone. Plus apple still doesn't have it when it comes to email. Blackberry has them beat hands down. I have several people I do business with that tried using the iphone and went back to the BBerry because the email works so much better and more seamless.

Not too mention that I hate typing on touch screen anything.

[johnrobholmes]

I have skype phone on my iphone too, great program.


It would just be software on the iphone. It has usb host capabilities, so the normal castle link dongle would work just fine. I got a developer kit for the iphone but cant do much since I don't have a mac.

[Thomas Porfert]

The big question that hasn't been answered yet is will the iphone transmit and receive via the USB port? I don't claim to be an expert on high end phones, (heck all I have is a freebie Verizon phone) but if they can't send and receive on the USB port it's not possible to connect a Castle product.

Because the Castle link has to read the controllers settings when you first connect it, the USB port has to be capable of receiving. To update the settings to the controller the USB port has to be capable of transmitting. So if it can't do both, unfortunately it's an impossible feat. If it can, then there is a chance and I'd love to see someone try!

Thomas Porfert
Castle Tech Support

[E-Revonut]

I can send information to my computer and receive it so I would say it can

i wish they would come out with mac support first...so i dont have to boot virtual windows for my castle link.

THEN id like to see a program card with basic setups.
selecting preprogrammed settings
maybe a way to increase and decrease each setting (punch etc.)
Little digital screen to show your current value (0-100)


just a few thoughts.

i think technically it needs to be a host capable usb device, if you can attach usb perpherals which tend to be slave devices like keyboards, mice, usb flash drives etc etc to the iphone then it would probably be possible to make software the iphone to program the speed controllers like castlelink.

I know my Nokia n800 internet tablet can turn its usb port into master mode so you can use external usb slave devices like usb wifi adapters etc.

[suicideneil]

This question has been asked numerous times guys.

Wont work, end of- the iphone or any other palm top type device isnt capable of hosting a usb device like the castle link, and a magic wireless version would still need a transmitter connected to the phone in order to transmit settigns to the esc; again cant happen.

Castle ARE working on a programming card like the HobbyWing escs have, it just isnt high on the priority list right now, but it is coming...

[OZ-RUSTLER]

Originally Posted by Andrew32

i wish they would come out with mac support first...so i dont have to boot virtual windows for my castle link.

Amen to that

A bluetooth connection on the end of castle link could send info back and forth from the IPhone.

[suicideneil]

The MMM isnt bluetooth enabled though is it- it would require reworking that would push up the price, as would an infra red wireless programmer. Then theres the new software to go on the iphone- cant use the same stuff as is used on PCs, so that would need re-doing too. End result = $$$ onto the price.

Je repet, Patrick has stated before that they are working on a handheld programmer that plugs into the esc, very much like the hobbywing escs.

Patience is a virtue.

[feistyacorn]

What about the new 3.0 software for the iPhone? http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/sdk/

This is exactly what you are looking to do: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/pr...cessories.html

or a version of this: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/pr...eertopeer.html

I love my iPhone and it would be so awesome to have a Castle Link app. I really dont think that it would be that hard to do. Just comeup with a usb accessory and make the software free. I would have to bet the accessory could sell for $20.

By the way. We use exchange on our server and looked into blackberrys, windows moblie, and iPhone. iPhone works the best. Blackberry wants thousands of $$$ to work correctly with exchange. iPhone works right out of the box.

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by feistyacorn

By the way. We use exchange on our server and looked into blackberrys, windows moblie, and iPhone. iPhone works the best. Blackberry wants thousands of $$$ to work correctly with exchange. iPhone works right out of the box.

That's because the Apple software doesn't truly integrate with the server, it works outside of it. Blackberry exchange costs money for a reason, it works. The Blackberry Exchange Server works in sync with MS Exchange to make everything seamless and coordinate.

I have several friends that specialize in specifically the email/exchange server section of IT. Two of them die hard apple/mac fans. None of them use or support the iphone, they all have BBerry. One even waited in line over night for his iphone which he promptly exchanged back for a BBerry after two weeks.

iphone has lots of cute gadgets, but a true business class email machine it is not.

[feistyacorn]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

That's because the Apple software doesn't truly integrate with the server, it works outside of it. Blackberry exchange costs money for a reason, it works. The Blackberry Exchange Server works in sync with MS Exchange to make everything seamless and coordinate.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise/integration.html

Which version of the iPhone did they have mine works great. I have access to everything that I would in outlook, and its quick. Even better than my windows mobile phone. Why does blackberry want money for something that exchange already does. The inbetween server crap is lame.

The iphone does have alot of bells and whistles, but that is what we want. iPhone Castle Link.

[Unsullied_Spy]

How many people are there that are actually going to get an iPhone to program their RCs? Sounds like a serious waste of time to me, frankly. I'd much rather have a $20 handheld programming card than a $500 phone that doesn't work on my network and would still need parts to make it work with my ESC. Either that or I just bring along my laptop and a USB cord, that's easy enough.

[TexasSP]

iphone 3g latest.

The iphone software does not work the same as BBerry enterprise. For business use BB Enterprise is superior, and for individual use when you purchase a BBerry you get a one user version of enterprise server for free. It only charges when you add multiple users to the same server. There is more to email and the enteprise servers than connecting with outlook. Outlook is only one part of the equation. Not too mention that a BBerry can be had for less than 1/4 the price of the iphone. When you add up the costs for 20 or more employees, the BBerry Exchange server price is cheap in comparison to buying iphones at 400+ per unit. Apple offers no discount on iphones period.

Originally Posted by Unsullied_Spy

How many people are there that are actually going to get an iPhone to program their RCs? Sounds like a serious waste of time to me, frankly. I'd much rather have a $20 handheld programming card than a $500 phone that doesn't work on my network and would still need parts to make it work with my ESC. Either that or I just bring along my laptop and a USB cord, that's easy enough.

That's an excellent point as well. It would be cheaper and more advantageous to go the netbook route.

I am all for the programming card.