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Apple is obviously driving the spec, but they have nothing to gain by putting a wall up to Android. Best support and quality of apps will be the battleground; as always there will be those that want to participate at the lowest common denominator, and those that prefer Apple and its developers approach.

This is Apple's entry to the wallet, and NFC uptake is dead in the U.S. if it takes off. NFC was barely breathing anyway.

lol :rolleyes: junk phones don't have android 4.3 or higher anyway
 
what kind of bandwidth does it take up? i know its bluetooth but it sounds like they plan on serving content. wifi and cellular already suck at game day sites because they can't handle the volume well

I went to a sold out game at Dodger Stadium in September and my T-Mobile data connection and signal were rock solid. My sister was having issues on her Verizon line though.
 
Maybe not the only one, but I think it's a great idea. I've been to a couple of stadiums, the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Comiskey Park (I really don't like the new name) and Wrigley Field in Chicago. Yes it can be tricky to find your way around, especially with a few tens of thousands of other people also trying to find their way with herds of kids in tow, and even more so if it's not a park you go to regularly. It's not just your seat either. Where's the bathrooms, which one is out of order, where's the concession stand, the one where they sell pizza, I saw a souvenir bat, which souvenir stand sells those. There's a lot of things these could be used for. That's not to mention stats on players and other info about the game. I think they are a great idea and over time they will find all sorts of uses for them.

That's all good info but I'd really rather they just improved some signage. Maybe I should have read more but do I have to request the info from this beacon or will I just be blasted with spam when I'm near one?
 
If ok..... but will they ?

probably not, since Apple wants the gain in this. Apple obviously wants a huge stake in how well this works as promotions...... Why would developers wanna go with Android ?
This is entirely up to the MLB. These beacons CAN work on Android, but the developer is going to have to create their own API. With Apple, it's built into iOS.
e.g. StickNFind's SDK for Android: http://beekn.net/2013/11/android-bluetooth-beacon-sticknfind/

50% of the USA is on android
And according to Google, a mere 10.7% of them... can support Bluetooth 4.0 Beacon API.
http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

Developing an API for bluetooth beacons for 10% of 50% of the marketplace is a lot of man hours and hardly worth it from a technology trial perspective. Compared to 4 iPhone models dating back to 2011 (easily covering the 2yr contract gap) that are updated to support it.

you would think developers/vendors would want to sell to everyone, not just those with iOS devices :)

apple may very well be offering incentive for restrictions though
A minisule number of people are patched up and running the current release of Android. 1.8%.

Incentives aren't even necessary. Looking at the numbers, there would be no business justification to spend man hours for such a minimally deployed OS. Might as well argue for WinMo and BB10 adoption as well.
 
Exactly what is an iBeacon?

Your article has not answered these basic questions for me:

Exactly what is an iBeacon? What does one look like? How large is it? How is it powered? How much does one cost? Are their different brands, or are they only made by Apple? Are they for sale to the public?

I'm baffled by your article's lack of references or links to some actual useful information. After reading your article I still have no clear idea of what this thing called an iBeacon is.
 
Now I just need an iPhone and a ticket to the ballgame :) Love Petco park.
 
Can't wait until the Royals get this. It will make the experience of seeing them lose to teams with buckets of cash so much better.

[Insert rant about the need for a salary cap here]

…and I'm done.
 
A minisule number of people are patched up and running the current release of Android. 1.8%.

Incentives aren't even necessary. Looking at the numbers, there would be no business justification to spend man hours for such a minimally deployed OS. Might as well argue for WinMo and BB10 adoption as well.

Yes, but you dont need the current release, you need 4.3. which most legitimate phones have.

The top 10% of 50% isn't all that bad. Apple, afterall, only goes after the premium markets and uses similar logic.

also read available open source api is already developed, just needs to be implemented in respective app

https://github.com/RadiusNetworks/android-ibeacon-service
 
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Your article has not answered these basic questions for me:

Exactly what is an iBeacon? What does one look like? How large is it? How is it powered? How much does one cost? Are their different brands, or are they only made by Apple? Are they for sale to the public?

I'm baffled by your article's lack of references or links to some actual useful information. After reading your article I still have no clear idea of what this thing called an iBeacon is.

I had the exact same questions.

From my understanding (if i'm wrong looking for clarification)

iBeacon is really just a fancy way of using low power bluetooth 4.0 to determine your position within buildings, where otherwise GPS and Tower based positioning is either unfeasible, or unusable.

What it gives them the power to do, is using multiple ibeacon transmitters, is to triangulate your exact position inside, thus being able to feed you location aware content for that location.

I don't know what it takes to setup ibeacon. But an example of it in use could be in Apple's stores. if your phone was ibeacon enabled, it would know exactly where in the store you were located. So if you're standing in front of the accessories rack for 10 minutes, it'll know that, and they could use that data for... well. anything, from sending you targetted adds for Accessories, to sending a "genius" over to help you shop accessories. I think Apple is even hoping that it'll work in tandem with their in-store purchasing apps

for baseball stadiums. iBeacon can be used to tell you your exact location where you are, and then direct you to your seat. Or Perhaps let you order food from your seat, they would then know your exact location to send it too.
 
Nope. The regular season starts this year on March 22, with two games between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks, to be played in Sydney, Australia.

Correction: The first game in Australia is an exhibition game vs. Team Australia. The Dodgers and Dbacks open the regular season on March 22 in Sydney.

I believe both the Dodgers and the Dbacks are playing against Team Australia in two games before the two official MLB games.

Will Trent Oeltjen be there? I can't wait to find out.
 
Yes, but you dont need the current release, you need 4.3. which most legitimate phones have.

The top 10% of 50% isn't all that bad. Apple, afterall, only goes after the premium markets and uses similar logic.

also read available open source api is already developed, just needs to be implemented in respective app

https://github.com/RadiusNetworks/android-ibeacon-service
It's a huge difference.

You are a developer with finite resources, and want to target the US Smartphone market, you can choose only one.

Choice 1: Android. 5% of US Smartphone market is android handsets that support bluetooth 4.0 beacons.

Choice 2: iOS. 36% of US Smartphone market (I'm gonna pull 90% out of my ass as iOS's 42% US marketshare is on the 3 yr old 4S or newer). Plus with it's 75% enterprise adoption rate, all your corporate and invester buddies are likely using iPhones.

Which do you choose? It's simple logic.
7 million potential customers vs 50 million and including your investors.
 
It's a huge difference.

You are a developer with finite resources, and want to target the US Smartphone market, you can choose only one.

Choice 1: Android. 5% of US Smartphone market is android handsets that support bluetooth 4.0 beacons.

Choice 2: iOS. 36% of US Smartphone market (I'm gonna pull 90% out of my ass as iOS's 42% US marketshare is on the 3 yr old 4S or newer). Plus with it's 75% enterprise adoption rate, all your corporate and invester buddies are likely using iPhones.

Which do you choose? It's simple logic.
7 million potential customers vs 50 million and including your investors.

Vendors that would utilize ibeacons dont really have finite resources. Like I posted most of the work is already done. It's not like MLB doesnt have android apps. If MLB went iOS only, that would be a bad business decision. This isn't mom and pop stuff
 
Your article has not answered these basic questions for me:

Exactly what is an iBeacon? What does one look like? How large is it? How is it powered? How much does one cost? Are their different brands, or are they only made by Apple? Are they for sale to the public?

I'm baffled by your article's lack of references or links to some actual useful information. After reading your article I still have no clear idea of what this thing called an iBeacon is.
1. Google...first link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBeacon
2. It is small, there are many examples on Google Image search.
3. AC Mains, PC USB port, or battery.
4. It varies maker to maker
5. Yes, different brands.
6. Yes. I have one attached to my Car ODB port for relaying data to iPhone, automatic.com. Also look up StickNFind, or Zuli smartplugs.

You would know what an iBeacon is if you had been following tech news for the last 6 months. That's not MacRumors responsibility. Use Google to catch up. Every article can't be expected to spoonfeed 6mo old information.

a02.jpg


SHOT_03_FINALB.jpg


Beacon-05-580-90.JPG
 
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traded my iphone 5 for galaxy note 3 because i like the bigger screen to read

but these ibeacons aren't a reason to make me go back to iphone. i always turn my bluetooth off, or as much as possible. and won't turn it on just to have my phone polled every time to feed me coupons or show me directions i can figure out myself.

So when the screeen is bigger with the iPhone 6 will you switch back or just stay where you are?
 
still don't see any value in it
how hard is it to find your seats with all the directions and maps?

Your kidding right? Arrows pointing in a particular direction does not give you your current location. It certainly speeds up finding things. Paper maps have not diminished GPS sales.
 
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Your article has not answered these basic questions for me:

Exactly what is an iBeacon? What does one look like? How large is it? How is it powered? How much does one cost? Are their different brands, or are they only made by Apple? Are they for sale to the public?

I'm baffled by your article's lack of references or links to some actual useful information. After reading your article I still have no clear idea of what this thing called an iBeacon is.
I don't know how you missed it. It's right here.

----------

An obvious application for this is concessions delivered to your seat. How many times do people just not buy popcorn or a beer because they don't want the hassle of standing in the lines or are too lazy to get out of their seats. Yes I know they've got guys running around selling stuff but they generally have just beer or just cotton candy. You could order a Coke, popcorn and hotdog and have it delivered to your seat and even paid for.
 
[/COLOR]An obvious application for this is concessions delivered to your seat. How many times do people just not buy popcorn or a beer because they don't want the hassle of standing in the lines or are too lazy to get out of their seats. Yes I know they've got guys running around selling stuff but they generally have just beer or just cotton candy. You could order a Coke, popcorn and hotdog and have it delivered to your seat and even paid for.

that would be sweet
 
you would think developers/vendors would want to sell to everyone, not just those with iOS devices :)

Developers love iOS devices... even if iOS devices aren't the majority.

Look at the number of apps and games that are exclusive to the iPhone... even though the iPhone is only 15% of the smartphone market. Weird, huh?

If anything... it proves that all that Android market share isn't worth as much as you think. Sometimes selling to "everyone" isn't the best option.

Vendors that would utilize ibeacons dont really have finite resources. Like I posted most of the work is already done. It's not like MLB doesnt have android apps. If MLB went iOS only, that would be a bad business decision. This isn't mom and pop stuff

As I said before... iOS-only isn't as bad as you think.

In this case... only a handful of Android phones would even be capable of this.

Or... any iPhone made in the last 3 years. Which is more valuable?

Look... people smarter than you and I have looked into the matter. And iOS is preferred... once again.

It doesn't matter how much money they have... it just wasn't worth it to support Android at this time.
 
Sounds very American to me: A mixture of technical overkill and de-responsibilization of the individual consumer ;)

Been to a couple of mass venues in my life, but never felt the need for electronic assistance to find a seat, the loo or something to eat and drink.
 
As I said before... iOS-only isn't as bad as you think.

In this case... only a handful of Android phones would even be capable of this.

Or... any iPhone made in the last 3 years. Which is more valuable?

Look... people smarter than you and I have looked into the matter. And iOS is preferred... once again.

It doesn't matter how much money they have... it just wasn't worth it to support Android at this time.

by the time this is able to do anything really worthwhile, android will be supported.
 
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