Bluetooth Low Energy Archives

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Hide from Meta’s spyglasses with this new Android app

An innovative Android application called Nearby Glasses, developed by Yves Jeanrenaud from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, alerts users about nearby smart glasses using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. The app detects manufacturer identifiers associated with smart eyewear, including Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses, and notifies users when such glasses are in proximity. However, it may produce false positives due to other Bluetooth devices from the same manufacturer. The app's launch coincides with growing concerns about non-consensual recording, highlighted by incidents like a viral altercation on a New York subway involving smart glasses. Meta has stated that their glasses have an LED light that indicates when recording is occurring, but this indicator can be disabled. Legal experts warn that while video recording in public is generally allowed, collecting biometric data raises privacy concerns, and various state laws may require consent for audio recordings. Recent courtroom incidents have also underscored the contentious nature of wearable technology.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Wary of strangers recording you? This app warns you when smart glasses are nearby

A new Android application called Nearby Glasses, developed by Yves Jeanrenaud, alerts users when smart glasses are nearby by scanning for specific Bluetooth signatures. It is available on the Google Play Store and GitHub, functioning by identifying Bluetooth advertising frames from brands like Meta and Luxottica Group S.p.A. The app aims to address privacy concerns associated with smart glasses, particularly in light of reports about facial recognition technology being integrated into these devices. Jeanrenaud created the app to provide a countermeasure to surveillance technology, though he warns it may generate false positives with other devices that emit similar signals. The market for smart glasses is expanding, with companies like Google, Samsung, and Apple expected to enter the market.

AppWizard

February 10, 2026

Verum Messenger Launches Offline Architecture for True Digital Sovereignty

The “People as the Network” architecture is the technical backbone of Verum Messenger’s Offline Mode, which launched on February 2, 2026. It shifts from a Centralized Cloud model to a Decentralized Mesh Network. The system utilizes local hardware, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Wi-Fi Direct, allowing devices to connect within a 100-meter range. Messages can "hop" from one device to another to reach recipients beyond direct range, forming an ad-hoc network without a master controller. Local Encryption ensures privacy, as encryption keys are stored on user devices, keeping messages secure during transmission. This architecture is particularly useful in network blackouts, censorship zones, and dense crowds. However, its effectiveness is limited in remote areas with sparse users, where communication relies on the signal strength of individual devices.

Winsage

December 15, 2025

Download SnapBridge for PC – Windows 7/8/10 & MAC

SnapBridge is an application developed by Nikon that connects compatible cameras to smart devices using Bluetooth Low Energy technology, allowing for automatic image transfers, remote camera control, GPS location tagging, cloud storage integration, and social media sharing. It automatically sends photos to a device as they are taken, resizing them to 2MP for quick sharing. Users can control camera settings remotely and embed GPS coordinates into images. SnapBridge offers 20GB of free cloud storage for images and allows for direct sharing on social media platforms. To use SnapBridge on a PC, users can employ Android emulators like BlueStacks or NoxPlayer, or use Nikon's Wireless Transfer Utility for wireless image transfers. Minimum system requirements for installation include Windows 7 or newer with at least 4GB of RAM and 5GB of free storage, or macOS 10.12 or later with similar specifications. Common issues include connection problems, slow performance, and image transfer failures, which can often be resolved by checking network settings or adjusting emulator resources. SnapBridge is free to download and use, compatible with many modern Nikon cameras, and transfers JPEG versions of images while retaining RAW files on the camera. The app requires about 100MB of storage, with additional space needed for transferred images.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

VESC Tool For Android

The VESC Tool is a mobile application developed by Benjamin Vedder for configuring VESC-based hardware via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or WiFi. It has a rating of 4.2 stars from over 10,000 users. The app allows users to stream live data, update firmware, log data, and perform other tasks to enhance electric skateboard performance. The app's package ID is vedder.vesctool, its file size varies with the device, and it requires a compatible Android version. The price is USD 3.99, and it is rated for everyone. Additional resources are available on the official VESC Project website, and compatible modules for BLE or WiFi connectivity can be found through VESC Labs.

Winsage

November 3, 2025

Windows 11 insiders can now share Bluetooth LE audio over two pairs of headphones, so now you and your bestie can both sob over K-Pop Demon Hunters on the plane

Windows 11 Insiders are testing build 26220.7051, which includes a Shared Audio feature that allows two users to listen to the same audio through separate Bluetooth devices. This feature is part of an initiative to expand Bluetooth Low Energy Audio support on Windows 11, currently available on select "Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs," including various Surface laptops, Surface Pro tablets, and Samsung Galaxy Book 4 and 5 models. Users need Bluetooth LE Audio-compatible devices, such as Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds3, Buds3 Pro, Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and recent LE Audio-capable hearing aids from ReSound and Beltone. Additionally, the build introduces a full-screen experience for handheld Windows 11 devices, enhancing performance and gameplay, particularly for devices like the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and MSI Claw, the latter being the first non-Xbox device to receive this feature.

Winsage

October 31, 2025

Windows 11 tests Bluetooth audio sharing that connects two headsets at once

Microsoft is enhancing the audio experience for Windows 11 users with a new feature that enables shared audio streaming across multiple wireless devices using the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio codec. This feature is currently in preview mode for Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels. Users can connect Bluetooth LE-supported devices to their Windows 11 PC and select the “Shared audio (preview)” option from the quick settings menu. The shared audio feature is available on select Copilot Plus PCs, including the 13.8 and 15-inch Surface Laptops and the 13-inch Surface Pro, with plans for additional devices like the Samsung Galaxy Book5 360 and Galaxy Book5 Pro to support it soon. Compatible devices include Bluetooth LE models such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, Buds 3, Buds 3 Pro, and Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

Nordic Semiconductor unveils first open-source Android app for Bluetooth Channel Sounding

Nordic Semiconductor has integrated Bluetooth Channel Sounding into an open-source Android application, specifically the nRF Toolbox app, which is now available on the Google Play Store. This app is compatible with the nRF54L Series system-on-chips (SoCs) and allows developers to experiment with Bluetooth Channel Sounding on devices like Google's Pixel 10 smartphone. In a demonstration, Nordic achieved distance accuracy of approximately ±1 metre over ranges up to 20 metres using an nRF54L15 Development Kit. This new feature is expected to enable applications in asset tracking, medical equipment management, and location-based customer experiences. Nordic Semiconductor has played a key role in developing the Channel Sounding standard within the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).

AppWizard

October 28, 2025

Bluetooth Channel Sounding available on Android app

Nordic Semiconductor has enhanced its Bluetooth capabilities with the nRF Toolbox app, which supports Bluetooth Channel Sounding technology. This feature is demonstrated using the nRF54L Series paired with a Google Pixel 10 smartphone, showcasing interoperability between Android's Bluetooth Channel Sounding API and Nordic's hardware. The system provides a distance estimation accuracy of ±1 meter over a range of up to 20 meters, enabling applications in distance ranging, indoor positioning, and presence detection. Developers can utilize Nordic's Bluetooth Channel Sounding solution for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) tags, which can be used for item tracking, monitoring medical equipment, and improving visitor experiences in various settings. The Channel Sounding reflector is compatible with all nRF54L Series ultra-low power wireless SoCs, and development is facilitated through the nRF Connect SDK.

AppWizard

September 30, 2025

Madagascar Protesters Turn to Offline Messaging App as Crisis Deepens

Protests erupted in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on September 25, 2025, due to daily power cuts exceeding 12 hours, escalating into violence and resulting in five fatalities. Law enforcement responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, and a curfew was imposed. The protests, led by three municipal officials, were named “Leo Délestage.” Amid the unrest, interest in the offline messaging app Bitchat surged, with downloads reaching over 71,000 in the week of the protests. Bitchat operates via Bluetooth without requiring internet access, catering to the digital inequality in Madagascar, where only 6.6 million of 32 million residents have internet access. Similar patterns of increased Bitchat downloads were observed in Nepal and Indonesia during political unrest. Bitchat, launched in July 2025 by Jack Dorsey, is designed for decentralized and private communication, making it a vital resource for protesters in Madagascar.