It was actually quite easy in Windows 8+ using Windows Runtime for BLE support.
I can provide .NET sources if you're interested, I'm not sure there's a need for a wrapper library or intermediate API as the BLE stuff is quite straight-forward: http://www.flowersfx.com/blog/oskar/sbrick-lego-control-using-xbox360-gamepads - but maybe I should release one?
I think there will be an API for Windows but not for now, they focus is in Android/iOS/Windows Mobile App. Perhaps Windows Mobiule could be ported to Windows and Microsoft is also making big promo of Windows 10 and IoT, Raspberry Pi 2.0 release last week announced support for W10 "embedded" so next Visual Studio will support BLE for sure.
If you're really interested in Mindstorms, I use my EV3 with SBrick. Linux, of course :) Just look for ev3dev.
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I'm not a Linux guy, I am however a fully paid up .Net programmer. As for Low Energy Blue Tooth, I have no idea if there is any support, I would have to dig to find the information and to be honest I doubt it.
You have a good point about the dongle, it's not that old but I will have to check the version.
Do you know if there are any plans to release an API for developers? I've been looking recently at a lot of the NXT competitions, while I would never want to see an end to on board problem solving, I can see a different logic path to having an 'intelligent' wifi connection to a moc.
Hi.
If you're familiar with linux, please take a look at these two wiki pages:
https://social.sbrick.com/wiki/view/pageId/11/slug/the-sbrick-ble-protocol
https://social.sbrick.com/wiki/view/pageId/20/slug/linux-client-scripts
For Windows I'm not familiar with recent versions of Microsoft Visual Studio (the Express Edition used to be free), if there is support for Bluetooth Low Energy you might try it.
Just a note: your Bluetooth dongle needs to be 4.0. You said you used yours to program the NXT bricks but since both NXT and EV3 talk only BT 2.x you may have a BT 2.x or 3.x dongle, in that case you need to buy a more recent one (~$20).
Hi folks, apologies if this has already been asked...
I need to get as much range as possible with an sBrick, I was wondering about connecting with a laptop. I already have a good blue tooth dongle that I've used to program the NXT bricks. Is there any software with an API I could use to develop a desktop control application?
Thanks.