iOS 8 and Bluetooth

14 Replies

There is a known Bluetooth issue on Apple’s newest iOS 8. Many of you have noticed this issue is affecting your heart rate monitor Bluetooth connection (along with car connections, headphones and speakers). Note: If you have not updated to iOS 8, we do not advise doing so.

Already updated to iOS 8?

According to Apple developers, they have resolved the Bluetooth issues in the new iOS 8.1. This version is rumored to release on October 20th. It is our highest priority to assist Apple in fixing this issue. We want our users to get their daily HRV readings!

The good news!

We have submitted a new version of SweetBeatLife and Bulletproof Stress Detective to the app store, which includes a working firmware update for iOS 8 and the HealthPatch. As soon as it is processed by Apple, it will be available for download. SweetBeatLife and Bulletproof Stress Detective users with the HealthPatch will be ready to run sessions on iOS 8.

Note: Once the apps are processed by Apple, we will send out an email to let users know to update their HealthPatch firmware.*

Update Your App!*

SweetBeatLife and Bulletproof Stress Detective users can update their applications. This update includes SweetBeatLife 1.2.2 or Bulletproof Stress Detective 1.0.2 with a pre-installed firmware update for the VitalConnect HealthPatch. The HealthPatch is now compatible with iOS 8!

How come the HealthPatch works but other Bluetooth Low-Energy (BTLE) monitors may not work?

For security reasons, the VitalConnect HealthPatch uses a more complex “handshake” to connect via Bluetooth. BTLE chest straps use “open” Bluetooth. Apple hopes to resolve the open Bluetooth issues in the new iOS 8.1.

How do you update?

Some of you have your app store set to update automatically. If you want to see which version of software you are running, select the General tab > About. If it matches with the mentioned versions you are good to go! If it doesn’t – go to your device’s App Store. You will see the Updates tab (bottom right corner) > Update SweetBeatLife or Bulletproof Stress Detective. If it says, “Open”, you already have the most recent version.

14 thoughts on “iOS 8 and Bluetooth”

  1. Ken

    I have certainly been effected. I do think there are ways to avoid this problem though as other software I use on my IOS8 device still work whereas SweetBeat used to work in IOS7 but has stopped.

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    1. sweetwaterhrv Post author

      Hi Ken, I’m sorry to hear that! We found that the problems were intermittent. Some people with the iPhone 6 report it won’t work at all, while others report that it is working on and off. We continue to work on a solution, knowing that October 20th isn’t very close. Some of our partners’ apps are suffering from this problem, as well. Solutions: Have you tried clearing your iPhone’s saved Bluetooth connections, then connecting your heart rate monitor again? You will have to connect in your iPhone’s settings and the app, itself. Let me know if you have any luck and we’ll keep you posted. Thanks for your patience. – Rado

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      1. Ken

        Rado,

        I was just thinking earlier today that clearing bluetooth devices might help. I’ll let you know if it gets me over the hump. Actually glancing at my phone (iPhone 5s) I’m not sure if I know how do this. It used to be easy with old fashioned blue tooth but now with BT4.0 I think this is all decentralised. If you know the exact steps I’m happy to try.

        Ken

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          1. Ken

            Thanks for the suggestions Rado. Unfortunately the suggestion to remove troublesome items in the bluetooth list doesn’t apply to Bluetooth 4.0 devices as they don’t show up there (well at least the devices I own don’t) but instead seem to interact at the app level (that might be a false assumption on my part).

            I do think there’s at least a reasonable chance the problem is at least partially in your code. I say this because I downloaded ithlete today and it works fine, so does HRV Logger … so 2 out of 3 apps work fine on IOS 8, it’s only SweetBeatLife that’s unable to detect my Polar band (and it did used to prior to upgrade).

            In my experience this is kind of problem happens when subtle variations in an API change and prior assumptions that were being made break. I’d guess in this case there was just an assumption made by your development team which maybe some of the other vendors didn’t make. Well anyway, just an idea. Still very much hoping to get “back online” soon.

          2. Ken

            Slight update … I am now noticing that ithlete is also disconnecting with irregularity. Looks like they too are suffering from this IOS bug.

          3. sweetwaterhrv Post author

            Interesting! Thanks for the update. Which device and app are you using? I will let our support team know what’s going on with you. I use an iPhone 5C and with the new SweetBeatLife update we just put out, I am able to use all of my Bluetooth heart rate monitors (Viiiva BTLE chest strap, 60 Beat BTLE chest strap, HealthPatch). Thanks – Rado

  3. Steve

    Hi I’m having trouble with my app! It worked fine for the first ten days and now I cant get it to pick up the chest strap, no matter what I do or however long I wear the strap. The phone, apple 5s with ios 8.1 says that its connected to the strap. Can you help?
    Thanks Steve

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    1. sweetwaterhrv Post author

      Hi Steve, I’m sorry you are having problems with your chest strap. It is possible that it’s the battery in the chest strap. Please email support@sweetwaterhrv.com so they can do some troubleshooting with you to resolve this issue. If it’s not the battery, they will definitely help you figure it out! Thank you for your patience. – Rado

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  4. John Poisson

    Used your app with iphone5, upgraded to iphone6, have been unable to use with bluetooth. I have your upgrades. My iphone6 works with other bluetooth-enabled fitness apps. Seems to be only Sweetbeat issue.

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    1. sweetwaterhrv Post author

      Hi John,

      I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been able to use SweetBeat. We have noticed that our app has an issue “competing” with other apps that use the chest strap’s connection. Are you connecting your Bluetooth strap to other apps, too? I recommend making sure all of the other apps are closed down and then connecting to SweetBeat. If this does not work, please email support@sweetwaterhrv.com and Gavin our support guy will be able to help you figure out what’s going on. Thanks for your patience. Hopefully we will have you up and running soon!

      Rado

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  5. Thomas

    Are there any fixes or updates for the original Sweetbeat App version 1.41 I paid $4.99 for that now doesn’t work w/ my polar H7 HR monitor? It worked fine until I updated my iPhone 5 to iPhone 6s???? What are my options?

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    1. sweetwaterhrv Post author

      Hi Thomas,

      Thanks for reaching out. We actually sent an email to all of our users to prepare them for this change. We discontinued our original SweetBeat application when Apple changed their code with iOS 9. If you have purchased the application in the last 6 months, then we can help you get started with the new application. If you purchased the application before that, then we hope our users will continue to support us with our newest application, SweetBeat HRV. We spent many months and engineering hours to develop this new technology.

      Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. Thank you for being a valued customer!

      Cheers,
      Rado

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