nRF Beacon APK
App information
Version 1.4.3 (#16)
Updated 2016-06-20
APK Size 3.1 MB
Requires Android Android 4.3+ (Jelly Bean)
Offered by Nordic Semiconductor ASA
Category Free Tools App
App id no.nordicsemi.android.nrfbeacon
Developer's notes Scan and configure beacons with nRF Beacon app.
Screenshot
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Table of contents
Latest updates
What's new in nRF Beacon 1.4.3
- Triggering alarm event fixed
- DFU library version 0.6.2
25.08.2015 - version 1.4.2
- Migration to Android API 23 Marshmallow
- Requesting location permission on Marshmallow: required to scan for BLE devices
- Small changes in layouts: FAB and TabLayout from support design lib
22.07.2015 - version 1.4.1
- Migration to new DfuServiceInitiator and DfuProgressListener (see GitHub for details)
Editor's review
Download the latest nRF Beacon application, version 1.4.3, compatible with Windows 10/11 (using emulators such as Bluestacks), Android devices. This free Tools app is developed by Nordic Semiconductor ASA and is easy to download and install.
Previous versions, including 1.4.3, are also available. If you need help or have any problems, please let us know.
Description
The application allows you register actions that will be triggered when specified event occur. Currently a beacon may silent the phone, open an application, open a website in a browser, show predefined information about an object (Mona Lisa painting) or play an alarm on one of the 4 events: beacon region has been entered or exited, a beacon is near or very close.
On Android 4.3 and 4.4.x the application requires nRF Beacon Service application to be installed on the device. It may be downloaded from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.nordicsemi.android.beacon.service.
Since Android 5 (Lollipop) the service is build into the application and is using native API. The nRF Beacon Service application may be removed from the phone.
Note:
- Supported on Android version 4.3 or later.
- Tested on Samsung S3 with Android 4.3 and on Samsung S4, Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 with Android 4.4.2, 4.4.4 and 5.
- Compatible with nRF51822 Bluetooth® Smart Beacon Kit
- You may find more information about nRF51822 Bluetooth® Smart Beacon Kit on our website: http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Bluetooth-R-low-energy/nRF51822-Bluetooth-Smart-Beacon-Kit
- The source code of nRF Beacon is available on GitHub: https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/Android-nRF-Beacon
- Various phones has different antennas thou may get other signal strength readings from the beacons.
App permissions
nRF Beacon 1.4.3 APK requires following permissions:
Allows an application to write to external storage.
Allows applications to connect to paired bluetooth devices.
Allows applications to discover and pair bluetooth devices.
Allows an app to access approximate location.
Allows an application to read from external storage.
Ratings and Reviews
Rating: 3.6/5 based on Less than 100 reviews
(*) is required
3 ★ When running, it detects the beacons just fine, but the app will not stay running, so detection will not work in the background, making this pretty useless. :( S4 on 5.0.1
2 ★ On Samsung S4 (GT-I9505), The app can't detect any beacons
5 ★ all functionality needed for testing is in this, brilliant
5 ★ Thank you for providing free android application example.
3 ★ Couldn't easily locate my Raspberry Pi and couldn't easily find the uuid online. Other apps are more open.
2 ★ Did not detect my iPhone 5 in broadcasting mode whereas other similar apps were easily able to.
1 ★ This seems like a good way to demonstrate beacon functionality. However, even with the update I cannot get alarms to generate consistently and sometimes even at all for 'near' and 'away' events, even when the signal strength indicator shows proximity. I am using an S3 which is supposed to be supported. This would not be the customer experience we are looking for, although the concept is extremely compelling.
2 ★ You say iBeacons, you need to pick up Apple iBeacons. Unless you, Nordic, are coming up with nBeacon put in some major $$$ for traction so the tool is useful for serious work, support Apple discovery
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