[Q] Reading NFC Tags - Nexus 10 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So I've read a lot of good stuff on how to do a lot of advanced things with NFC. I was sufficiently wowed to decide to get involved. I got crushed at the first step:
How do you read an NFC card!?
Android Beam works fine between my Nexus 10 and my One X. I'm using Cyanogenmod 10 nightlies on the One X, but I am unable to read any of my 3 different NFC tags using any app on the Market on either device. I used to install RFID card readers for ADT, so I'm not exactly new to the notion of how to swipe a card, but for whatever reason, I cannot read any of these door/ID cards from 3 completely different sources.

I use NFC tag writer to read and write my tags. Its on the market.

Yeah that one doesn't work with any of
my cards either. Is there some frequency compatibility issue perhaps?
Sent from my One X using xda premium

I'm sorry...I had an illiterate moment & missed that you wanted to read existing cards. I vaguely remember reading something about it in the GNexus forums a while back. Seems like there isn't much out there for reading tags. If your dream is to duplicate the tags & use your tablet to open doors, the answer was no for now. I gotta go deal with my kids, so I don't have time to hunt down the thread, but it is in the GNexus probably 2 months ago.

There are tons of apps out there for reading NFC Tags, not many for reading secure cards , like security badges.
Although some of the RFID and NFC spec does overlap, you are not able to read encrypted cards ...
But you can read and write your own tags or read public tags, like on some movie posters and promotional material ..

Related

The SD card support (Updated: Answer from Motorola support)

My original question:
Anyone know how is this SD card support on Xoom?
I meant, is it micro SD card, mini or full size?
Is there any hardware slot?
Or is it via USB port?
I don't recall there is hardware slot there to insert SD card when I saw all those "hands on".
Answer from Motorola support can be seen from my update here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11546402&postcount=19
gogol said:
Anyone know how is this SD card support on Xoom?
I meant, is it micro SD card, mini or full size?
Is there any hardware slot?
Or is it via USB port?
I don't recall there is hardware slot there to insert SD card when I saw all those "hands on".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All legit androids use microSD, as does the XOOM.
I don't know what you mean by hardware slot.
USB Port? Are you asking how the microSD slot interfaces with the device? Your question is good, because I too have been wondering where the SD Card goes.
http://www.androidcentral.com/motor...ardware-upgrade-4g-software-patch-microsd-use
I am not seeing any mention of SD card slot in the specs or in the user manual. Am I missing it somewhere?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Motorol...rice/1946179.p?id=1218305636450&skuId=1946179
There is a microsd slot at the top of the device. I think i remember seeing it in a hands on video
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
jvs60 said:
There is a microsd slot at the top of the device. I think i remember seeing it in a hands on video
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw it in a video but it was not the same model. It had a different color for the back. But it is odd that on Best Buy site the specs show NO for sd slot and no mention of it on Motorola site or user manual. Not sure why this is a big secret since it is a big deal and in fact, deal breaker for me if it is not there.
keitht said:
I saw it in a video but it was not the same model. It had a different color for the back. But it is odd that on Best Buy site the specs show NO for sd slot and no mention of it on Motorola site or user manual. Not sure why this is a big secret since it is a big deal and in fact, deal breaker for me if it is not there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I remember hearing somewhere around CES that the SD card slot didn't work and was going to be activated by a later patch. What's up with the Xoom being shipped with all kinds of missing functionality?
The BGR hands-on with the Xoom this week mentions the microSD slot is on the top of the device, along with the headphone jack and SIM slot (if applicable). There is a microSD slot on the device. It's been mentioned several times that it will require a software update from Moto to activate it - it's not clear whether that's a Google issue or a Motorola issue. There has been some speculation that it was because Android 3.0 didn't yet support SD cards at the time the Xoom was being demo'd.
dwboston said:
The BGR hands-on with the Xoom this week mentions the microSD slot is on the top of the device, along with the headphone jack and SIM slot (if applicable). There is a microSD slot on the device. It's been mentioned several times that it will require a software update from Moto to activate it - it's not clear whether that's a Google issue or a Motorola issue. There has been some speculation that it was because Android 3.0 didn't yet support SD cards at the time the Xoom was being demo'd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps that is why it is not mentioned in any of the official specs. Pretty lame for a $800 device. So I wonder if the slot is there, when it will actually work? Very sloppy.
on page 10 of the manual theres a reference to microsd card. as for where it is i remember seeing it on the top of the xoom during hands on videos.
socomdark said:
on page 10 of the manual theres a reference to microsd card. as for where it is i remember seeing it on the top of the xoom during hands on videos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I missed that:
"Tips & tricks
• Photos and videos are stored on your micro SD
memory card."
I just hope it actually works without waiting for an update. It is odd that Best Buy specs for the device do not mention an SD slot even exists.
Yes. Support WILL come. I would love to know how they are having trouble with something so basic. Based on the Viewsonic G-Tablet labeling internal memory as SD 1 and the SD card as SD 2.. perhaps they are working on a more fluid integration of it. As long as they let me put the 50,000 apps I plan to install on the internal memory similar to App2SD I'm happy for now.
keitht said:
Perhaps that is why it is not mentioned in any of the official specs. Pretty lame for a $800 device. So I wonder if the slot is there, when it will actually work? Very sloppy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not bashing the iPad, but do the expensive iPad WiFi+3G versions support microSD? No, they don't. MicroSD support will come, likely shortly after launch, and 32GB of storage will be enough to tide people over until it does. I'm not worried about it.
dwboston said:
I'm not bashing the iPad, but do the expensive iPad WiFi+3G versions support microSD? No, they don't. MicroSD support will come, likely shortly after launch, and 32GB of storage will be enough to tide people over until it does. I'm not worried about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand this comparison. If Apple had a MicroSD card on the device, it would most definitely work out of the box.
dwboston said:
I'm not bashing the iPad, but do the expensive iPad WiFi+3G versions support microSD? No, they don't. MicroSD support will come, likely shortly after launch, and 32GB of storage will be enough to tide people over until it does. I'm not worried about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An interesting point. iPad doesn't have the functionality at all and never will based on current devices. You have to decide how much space you want at release, which I find annoying as I always bought the cheapest device.
keitht said:
I don't understand this comparison. If Apple had a MicroSD card on the device, it would most definitely work out of the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On one hand, I agree, Apple never releases a device unfinished. On the other hand, they accomplish this by taking a long time for a device to come to market, and they are always behind in both specs and features.
Apple has proven the merit of a wholly controlled ecosystem that lends to a more solid device. Many people don't care about specs and advanced features.
setite said:
An interesting point. iPad doesn't have the functionality at all and never will based on current devices. You have to decide how much space you want at release, which I find annoying as I always bought the cheapest device.
On one hand, I agree, Apple never releases a device unfinished. On the other hand, they accomplish this by taking a long time for a device to come to market, and they are always behind in both specs and features.
Apple has proven the merit of a wholly controlled ecosystem that lends to a more solid device. Many people don't care about specs and advanced features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple does take their time and won't rush to just release a product.
I am sure motorola will have a patch ready to go soon if not already. they may have already gotten it done and put on the device.
Being an early adopter of gadgets I understand that sometimes the first release can be a little buggy.
However it bugs me that Motorola did not clarify these issues. No flash and no SD support out of the gate is something that should have been clarified to everyone. I have followed pretty closely the last month and did not realize either of these issues until today.
Having the promise of working features after day 1 is not always a lock as my Galaxy S phone was promised to have an update for flash support and an update to fix the GPS issue yet that has never happened.
i am still buying one on Thursday but will be deciding on the 29th day if I feel I can trust Motorola.
MOTO just wanted to wear the hat of "first to market a honeycomb tablet". Its a race for that hat, with solid patches coming down the pipe pretty quickly.
setite said:
An interesting point. iPad doesn't have the functionality at all and never will based on current devices. You have to decide how much space you want at release, which I find annoying as I always bought the cheapest device.
On one hand, I agree, Apple never releases a device unfinished. On the other hand, they accomplish this by taking a long time for a device to come to market, and they are always behind in both specs and features.
Apple has proven the merit of a wholly controlled ecosystem that lends to a more solid device. Many people don't care about specs and advanced features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why we are talking about the Ianything.. But Cut and Paste wasn't initially supported ... enough said.
This has been answered by the Motorola supports:
https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/45325?tstart=0
DansDroid wrote:
Yes Sir, received it today. Here are my readings with all of my apps and settings automatically transferred over. Total internal storage is 28.78gb., 698 mb. media, 518 mb. applications and 27.60 gb. available. There is an external sliding door for the external microSD card and SIM tray that will allow for the Verizon 4G LTE card when both are available in a future software upgrade. The external microSD card, when enabled, will support up to 32 gb., as I had thought. --- Dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, apparently, this could be something NEW to Android.
There is only 1 single partition for all apps, media, files, etc.
That's good!
I think I talked about this in a different thread, but the reason for the delay in sd card support is because the sd card will not be mounted/unmounted whenever you plug it into the pc. Which I would prefer. Having my sd card mount and unmount every time I plug it into the pc is annoying.
This is the reason for the delay. Rebuilding the wheel takes some time.

Kinda Suprized Xoom doesn't have NFC

Since the nexus s has it, why doesn't the xoom? I know its kind of early, but this is a google experience device.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
It's kinda big to be hauling out at the checkout stand to swipe across the reader, don'tcha think?
Souviets said:
Since the nexus s has it, why doesn't the xoom? I know its kind of early, but this is a google experience device.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's actually a google experience tablet and that would be retarded.
Sent from my Google Phone
I fail to see why you think it would be in the Xoom.
Would you pull your Xoom out before your wallet?
"Oh hey an NFC card I can swipe! Let me open up my backpack and take out my Xoom"
.... NFC is really made for phones. Seems horribly inconvenient to pull out a 10" tablet to swipe an NFC tag.
You all are missing the point...
Every post here criticizing "Souviets" post are missing the point. You all are automatically thinking that NFC is only for payment systems. The NFC option can be used for several things. I'm currently working on a project that uses NFC as a means to recognize spaces in a building. Open your view... it's not a dumb question.
The Xoom is already expensive enough having problem competing with entry level ipad2. Surely it does not need more near unnecessary gedget to drive the price up.
you want NFC on your plasma tv too? weird...
the whole point of NFC is to implement it on stuff you already use on the go (phones)
Not mobile enough + unwieldy to hold in awkward positions = bad for NFC tagging (in my opinion).
Obviously some may disagree with quite specific NFC uses, but I think it's about right for all but the most esoteric. One specialized use, which I would have appreciated would have been to use NFC to make a pseudo-smart cover for the XOOM. Until NFC is added to HC tablets, though, we still have Killswitch! (Yes, I just self-linked my own XDA Homepage article...)
I agree thats its weird its not there. Its about more than just "checking out" with.
Still more surprised there's no haptic feedback than NFC
Although I haven't missed it much when typing
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App
I think the smaller tablets will have it first.
Sent from my Motorola Olympus
punchy915 said:
Every post here criticizing "Souviets" post are missing the point. You all are automatically thinking that NFC is only for payment systems. The NFC option can be used for several things. I'm currently working on a project that uses NFC as a means to recognize spaces in a building. Open your view... it's not a dumb question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nfc is not just for making payments - it is a low power way to exchange any information. The xoom is of course portable - i carry it with me everywhere
Perhaps it could be used to swipe over a point and get a train timetable - would be much better than a phone for this i think

iAnnotate

Coming from iPad, I have realized that there isn't a single PDF app that does 3 things:
1) designed natively for tablets
2) annotates
3) performs index search
Has anybody worked with iAnnotate in here? And if so do you have any suggestions for alternative that I have missed. And no I don't want to hear repligo or ezpdf...
[email protected] said:
Coming from iPad, I have realized that there isn't a single PDF app that does 3 things:
1) designed natively for tablets
2) annotates
3) performs index search
Has anybody worked with iAnnotate in here? And if so do you have any suggestions for alternative that I have missed. And no I don't want to hear repligo or ezpdf...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never use any of the features you mention anyway I think repligo does this. Its paid.
repligo doesn't do 1 and 2.
Have you tried it? Dev says it does...I tested it myself and latest version works great on tablets as well as adding notes, bookmarks, searching for keywords etc.
By the way ezPDF also supports annotation. Sorry, "you don't wanna here about these two". Don't have an exact idea what a "natively developed for tablets" app should be but I could hardly think of additional features with these...and they both work perfect on Iconia.
drkalo said:
Have you tried it? Dev says it does...I tested it myself and latest version works great on tablets as well as adding notes, bookmarks, searching for keywords etc.
By the way ezPDF also supports annotation. Sorry, "you don't wanna here about these two". Don't have an exact idea what a "natively developed for tablets" app should be but I could hardly think of additional features with these...and they both work perfect on Iconia.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then the developer lied to yu because I did try bth ezPDF and repligo. A natively developed app should be one that uses standard 10 inch display to interact with the end user. For example
file manager HD, file station but not documents to go.
Both repligo and ezPDF have phone interferace and none of them do index searching. Compared to iAnnotate the above 2 apps are pathetic to say the least. I am willing to pay big bucks for a professional app. I guess I'm gonna have to use my girlfriends iPAD to do my school work.
why not stick with the iPad if that's a feature so important to you? I'm not being sarcastic or anything, but I'd choose the device that suits my usability above anything else.
or go buy something like the flyer lol
I use adobe reader, ezpdf, repligo, and I find them working very well for many of the functions you talk about.
I think you might want to contact the devs for more information.
[email protected] said:
Then the developer lied to yu because I did try bth ezPDF and repligo. A natively developed app should be one that uses standard 10 inch display to interact with the end user. For example
file manager HD, file station but not documents to go.
Both repligo and ezPDF have phone interferace and none of them do index searching. Compared to iAnnotate the above 2 apps are pathetic to say the least. I am willing to pay big bucks for a professional app. I guess I'm gonna have to use my girlfriends iPAD to do my school work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no...please don't threaten to use the iPad! We will all be so ashamed because we care so much! But seriously, repligo does appear to do what you ask. It is, in fact, phone-optimized. I'm sure they will be releasing a tablet-optimized version soon since the app is pretty popular. All it takes is a little patience.
drewden123 said:
Oh no...please don't threaten to use the iPad! We will all be so ashamed because we care so much! But seriously, repligo does appear to do what you ask. It is, in fact, phone-optimized. I'm sure they will be releasing a tablet-optimized version soon since the app is pretty popular. All it takes is a little patience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it doesn't. It does not support indexed searching. Without that it takes 10 minutes to search within PDF.
As I pointed out several times, none of those apps are designed for tablet.
And I am not threatening to buy iPad2, instead one of your members suggested that I do. I think he was very sincere in his suggestion and there is nothing wrong with that. While I understand that many people in here are hardcore droid fans and obviously there a bunch of apple fanboys out there too but Im neither of them. I am looking for a device that is most capable. I thought droid was one of them but at this stage obviously I am mistaken. One of two things will happen. 1) droid will get more professional apps out there. 2) im gonna go back to apple. Nothing personal.
[email protected] said:
No it doesn't. It does not support indexed searching. Without that it takes 10 minutes to search within PDF.
As I pointed out several times, none of those apps are designed for tablet.
And I am not threatening to buy iPad2, instead one of your members suggested that I do. I think he was very sincere in his suggestion and there is nothing wrong with that. While I understand that many people in here are hardcore droid fans and obviously there a bunch of apple fanboys out there too but Im neither of them. I am looking for a device that is most capable. I thought droid was one of them but at this stage obviously I am mistaken. One of two things will happen. 1) droid will get more professional apps out there. 2) im gonna go back to apple. Nothing personal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear matt, if you bought the Iconia why don't you write to the developers of one or both of these apps - it takes less that a minute. Until now I have always got a productive feedback every time I contacted a dev. I don't believe the feature you are asking for is so hard to implement. Good luck!

looking for a Tablet with a RFID-Reader on the Front (Display)

I'm looking for a Tablet with a RFID-Reader in the front (like the Nexus 10 Tablet from Samsung). It must have the RFID-Reader in the Front because i'd like to code an App for it which reads RFID-Cards. I hope you guys can help me.
Sincere regards Marcus
:fingers-crossed:
first of all, are you talking about actual RFID or NFC ?
secondly, I dont think youre going to be able to find one.
thirdly, theres no reason you cant use one with the reader on the back of the tablet.
And lastly, in my personal opinion Unless the app you wish to develop is specifically for tablets, it would be much cheaper to go out and get an old, maybe second hand phone or even a nexus 4 because of how cheap they are in comparison to a tablet
CountParadox said:
first of all, are you talking about actual RFID or NFC ?
secondly, I dont think youre going to be able to find one.
thirdly, theres no reason you cant use one with the reader on the back of the tablet.
And lastly, in my personal opinion Unless the app you wish to develop is specifically for tablets, it would be much cheaper to go out and get an old, maybe second hand phone or even a nexus 4 because of how cheap they are in comparison to a tablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Tablet have to read Mifare Cards and the RFID reader must be on the front because the tablet will be mounted on the wall so a reader at the back won't work anymore.

NFC Tags

I just recently found out about NFC tags and I'm wondering what brand I should buy, and what chip I should get for the Note 4. Any information is appreciated.
Info
TheInvisibleBoy said:
I just recently found out about NFC tags and I'm wondering what brand I should buy, and what chip I should get for the Note 4. Any information is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All NFC tag will work with NFC enabled smartphones (like Note4)
For example you can buy Sony Smart-Tags & Manage its tag with Smart Connect App
the thing is you need nfc tag & an app that manage tasks
:good:
Geeks Empire said:
All NFC tag will work with NFC enabled smartphones (like Note4)
For example you can buy Sony Smart-Tags & Manage its tag with Smart Connect App
the thing is you need nfc tag & an app that manage tasks
:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite. I can't say for other brands, but the original Samsung NFC tags worked with the Note 2 but the Note 3 required NFC 2 tags. Hopefully they will still work with the Note 4.
TheInvisibleBoy said:
I just recently found out about NFC tags and I'm wondering what brand I should buy, and what chip I should get for the Note 4. Any information is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same question about NFC tags when I had my S4. The biggest factor I found out was whether the tag is compatible with NFC Forum protocols. The older Mifare Classics tags are super cheap but aren't always compatible (they weren't with my S4.) You'll want to buy tags that are compatible with NFC Forum protocols, such as the NTAG203 or the Topaz 512.
We'll know for sure what tags are compatible once the phone is out. I've got a pile of NTAG203's laying around so I'll be ready to test those.
Geeks Empire said:
All NFC tag will work with NFC enabled smartphones (like Note4)
For example you can buy Sony Smart-Tags & Manage its tag with Smart Connect App
the thing is you need nfc tag & an app that manage tasks
:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JimSmith94 said:
Not quite. I can't say for other brands, but the original Samsung NFC tags worked with the Note 2 but the Note 3 required NFC 2 tags. Hopefully they will still work with the Note 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thebrain2u said:
I had the same question about NFC tags when I had my S4. The biggest factor I found out was whether the tag is compatible with NFC Forum protocols. The older Mifare Classics tags are super cheap but aren't always compatible (they weren't with my S4.) You'll want to buy tags that are compatible with NFC Forum protocols, such as the NTAG203 or the Topaz 512.
We'll know for sure what tags are compatible once the phone is out. I've got a pile of NTAG203's laying around so I'll be ready to test those.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the information, I did not know I needed to download an app and I hope the NTAG203s work with the Note 4.
Now that the phone has been out a few weeks, has anyone expirimented to see which tags work? I want to pick some up and play with some NFC commands, but not sure which type to get.
I have used tags for a while.
I have just tried my note 4 on the tags I have programmed and worked on 3 different devices, S3, M8 and nexus 7, however with the note4 I get a compatibility error 'unknown tag type'
I even tried some fresh tags I have never programmed and got the same error.
The problem is I cannot remember what type of tags they were as I have had them for a while. I think they were milfaire......
I am also just starting to research and play around with the NFC technology. I am hoping it is a little more reliable that Llama was with geofencing or Wifi detection to change phone states/settings.
I purchased these and they should arrive this week http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0NRESE/
I am also thinking about getting the Topaz 512 variants for the additional storage space like these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FS4AF0S/
These are both "type 2" NFC chips. Depending on what you want to do, any Type 2 chip should easily store settings changes. If you want to store a lot of data or use fields, like with a business card, then you'll probably need to go to a type 4 chip.
I recommend staying away from the 1K chips as they are not as compatible. An example would be these that you would not want to get - http://www.amazon.com/Tags-Chip-Pack-Keychain-Bonus/dp/B00CE6QGLU/
Topaz 512's work
I ordered some Topaz512 chips to experiment with and received them yesterday. I can confirm that the Topaz512 do work with Note 4.
http://www.amazon.com/NFC-tags-NFC-..._1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1415281055&sr=1-2
note 4 nfc tags
soooooo nope they don't work,I had a Note 3 and the tags I used do not work on the note 4, confirmed by Samsung Canada..you need the Samsung tactile 2..can't find them anywhere..soooo I only use NFC to communicate between my old note 3 (given to the misses) and my note 4...and I thought only Apple did the scam to change everything a bit so you'd have to buy everything again...
Galaxy Note Edge sucks at reading tags
ChickenWingSoup said:
I ordered some Topaz512 chips to experiment with and received them yesterday. I can confirm that the Topaz512 do work with Note 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I bought the Topaz 512 chips and I am having issues with them being read by my Galaxy Note 4 Edge. There wouldn't be a difference with the Note 4 and Note 4 edge would there? My phone does end up reading them but it takes multiple taps- like 6 or seven before it reads it. Does not really save any time, I usually just give up and do the NFC task manually. I do not know if I am doing something wrong or what. Anyone else experiencing this? My first thought is that I have Tasker, NFC Tools and an app called MyLog that all can write to tags, could it be that the phone doesnt know what to use? I never have any issue with Tap and Pay. Any suggestions?
Necropost here. Is there an answer?the old tags I used with the s3 don't work, who knows what tags work for sure
Edit: the last post was on my birthday last year. weird.

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