[Q] What makes TecTiles the only valid NFC option allowed - Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot

When I go and try to scan a non TecTile NFC chip, is obviously says "unsupported" so to me, this leads me to believe that other JFC tags could be supported, wouldn't it just be a matter of flipping some code to allow the ability to have it scan other NFC tags. Or am I completely wrong in this situation? I just don't see how that there is only one allowed NFC tag that is compatible with the S4.

slixzen said:
When I go and try to scan a non TecTile NFC chip, is obviously says "unsupported" so to me, this leads me to believe that other JFC tags could be supported, wouldn't it just be a matter of flipping some code to allow the ability to have it scan other NFC tags. Or am I completely wrong in this situation? I just don't see how that there is only one allowed NFC tag that is compatible with the S4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isn't. I'm using NFC ReTag https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.widgapp.NFC_ReTAG_FREE&hl=en and Tasker https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm and the combo works great.
I have a pack of Tec Tiles that I got for 50% off with my Samsung coupon when I got my S4, but I'm also using some really nice epoxy coated key ring NFC tags that work great http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-NFC-Key-Chain-Hang-Tag-NTAG203-ANY-Android-by-AndyTags-NFC-Tags-/221262755251?pt=US_Other_Cell_Phone_Accessories&hash=item338449b5b3. Heck, it even works with any credit card that has the "blink" logo on the back.

Well, I got one of those free NFC Tags from the Movaluate give away that is programmable, and it works with my Nexus 7, but it fails with the GS 4.
Even if I open up NFC Task Launcher, to try and re-program it, I am unable to read it.

There are definitely some tags that don't work. I tried it with my NFC embedded name badge from a convention I attended last year and my S4 gave me a message that the tag was "unsupported". That's why I like the NFC ReTag app. It doesn't necessarily have to write the tasks to the tag. As long as the tag's ID number can be read, you can assign whatever action you want to the tag.

The S4 can not read or write to the first gen tags. You have to get the newer tags. The new broadcom controller in the S4 cannot read the old 1k mifare tags. Sucks because I have several left over from my Evo LTE.

cruise350 said:
The S4 can not read or write to the first gen tags. You have to get the newer tags. The new broadcom controller in the S4 cannot read the old 1k mifare tags. Sucks because I have several left over from my Evo LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, the GS4 broadcom NFC chip doesn´t support mifare classic (=proprietary nxp format) tags, so no read or write operations...and samsung blocked (unlike the nexus 4 /10 with the same chip) even the low-level ID scan in some (all?) GS4 firmware versions ....not very nice, and ridiculous with the first gen Samsung TecTile tags being mifare classic tags ...
Sometimes I wonder, who made such decisions .... and it´s not only samsung, but the whole NFC industry and also Google making bad NFC moves again and again. There are so much NFC possibilities, killer applications/features and business opportunities beside the unicorn nfc payment use case, but with the current android implementation (and don´t get me wrong, it´s by far the best implementation within all current operating systems), most of it is simply not possible ...
I hate to say it, but perhaps we all should wait until apple "invents" NFC and shows us the magic ...

Related

Question about NFC on S2!!!

Hi,
I wanted to know how this NFC chip works? I heard office access cards use NFC, so say if that is true, how do i replicate the access authorizations on the S2? Do I calibrate the access card with the S2 NFC chip??
Most office access cards do not use NFC, they'll use a different type of RFID. Depending on the company, hardware, and NFC chip, you may be able to use it for access, but I doubt it in most cases.
Regardless, the SGS2 in your hand does not have NFC capabilities unless you're in S. Korea.
slice77 said:
Most office access cards do not use NFC, they'll use a different type of RFID. Depending on the company, hardware, and NFC chip, you may be able to use it for access, but I doubt it in most cases.
Regardless, the SGS2 in your hand does not have NFC capabilities unless you're in S. Korea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or in India !
Lucky you!
If you do have an NFC equipped SGS2, then try tapping it on your door access reader and see if the reader reacts. If it does, then it probably recorded the UID of the tag in your system. You'll just need your system admin to add that UID to your user account and voila, you're in.
If it doesn't react (I have little experience with the NXP chip in the phone), then you might be able to download an app from the market that will allow you to emulate a tag's UID. Note: After a quick look on the market, I haven't found such an app. One might come about later though, as the functionality to emulate tags was not added until 2.3.3 and most of the NFC apps on the market were created for reading only which came in 2.3. You might have luck contacting an existing NFC developer to add that functionality to their app.
If neither of those work, then your door access system uses a different frequency or protocol all together (the majority do) which means you won't be able to use your phone for access
Hope that helps
the indian version has also nfc onboard?
is this confirmed on the indian s2 site?
slice77 said:
Lucky you!
If you do have an NFC equipped SGS2, then try tapping it on your door access reader and see if the reader reacts. If it does, then it probably recorded the UID of the tag in your system. You'll just need your system admin to add that UID to your user account and voila, you're in.
If it doesn't react (I have little experience with the NXP chip in the phone), then you might be able to download an app from the market that will allow you to emulate a tag's UID. Note: After a quick look on the market, I haven't found such an app. One might come about later though, as the functionality to emulate tags was not added until 2.3.3 and most of the NFC apps on the market were created for reading only which came in 2.3. You might have luck contacting an existing NFC developer to add that functionality to their app.
If neither of those work, then your door access system uses a different frequency or protocol all together (the majority do) which means you won't be able to use your phone for access
Hope that helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah thanks for all the info !! I think I was expecting too much...I thought we would be able to calibrate the access card and the phone (so that it uses the same id that is already recorded by the admin department for access) and it would replace the card!! Anyways....will first have to check whether the card reader reacts to the chip or not first !!
ash969 said:
the indian version has also nfc onboard?
is this confirmed on the indian s2 site?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung confirmed it on their twitter account!! We shall only know tomorrow for sure though !
But if I'm not mistaken, India is getting the Tegra2 proc and SuperLCD screen.
BarryH_GEG said:
But if I'm not mistaken, India is getting the Tegra2 proc and SuperLCD screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are mistaken...
SAMOLED+ & Exynos.
NFC = Maybe, although sites claim it, I will believe it when I see it launched.
dhruvmalik said:
You are mistaken...
SAMOLED+ & Exynos.
NFC = Maybe, although sites claim it, I will believe it when I see it launched.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah....agree with u totally!!! We will believe when we see it (or maybe when the specs are officially released in the event today).
dudes, slcd+tegra is not i9100....its totaly different model i9103
And more so, there is no evidence of the i9103 to go anywhere. Its not in anyones inventory list that can prove that it will be made available to anyone YET... I say YET because its most likely that it will happen IF and when the stock gets low or shortage of parts.

Galaxy S4 / Active - which NFC tags work with this phone?

The original Samsung NFC tag no longer works with the S4 / Active. There are even Amazon sellers that specifically stated that the MiFare 1k does not work with this phone.
The only one that SEEMS to be compatible is the one with only 144kb space.
Does anyone have any recommendation on which NFC tag works with this phone?
Tagsfordroid.com I think is where I order mine from. Small limited space but good for quick tasks. Not well for storing contact info.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Since I use NFC every single day, I'd advise you to make sure to get NTAG (or whatever it's called), not the old MiFare tags....
Sent from my I337~SGS 4 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
Yea the only tags that work are the NTAG203 tags. All of the newer phones seem to be switching to this NFC tech.
lanwarrior said:
The original Samsung NFC tag no longer works with the S4 / Active. There are even Amazon sellers that specifically stated that the MiFare 1k does not work with this phone.
The only one that SEEMS to be compatible is the one with only 144kb space.
Does anyone have any recommendation on which NFC tag works with this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The old Samsung Tectiles are MiFare Classic tags. The kind of tags the new S4 / Active won't work with are MiFare Classic.
Samsung Tectiles & Galaxy S4, the unhappy couple
Technically your phone should be compatible with all other types of NFC Tags. You will find NTag203 being recommended because it is the most common, and is the cheapest, although you have already mentioned that they don't carry that much storage space.
You can check out our store for a variety of NTAG203 tags at some of the most competitive prices online from my sig.
lanwarrior said:
The original Samsung NFC tag no longer works with the S4 / Active. There are even Amazon sellers that specifically stated that the MiFare 1k does not work with this phone.
The only one that SEEMS to be compatible is the one with only 144kb space.
Does anyone have any recommendation on which NFC tag works with this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At AndyTags.com we have NTAG203 Tags and Topaz 512 Tags, both of which are compatible with the Galaxy S4. NTAG203 tags are most popular because they are cheaper, but have only about 137 bytes of usable data. (Plenty for most task launching apps.) If you need more memory for a Vcard (electronic business card) or any other reason, then Topaz 512 Tags are great because they have about 450 bytes of usable memory.
Both NTAG203 & Topaz 512 tags are "universally compatible" with any NFC phone. There are other types of tags that are also compatible but these are the two most readily available and affordable at the moment.
Besides controlling the device features, such as ringer on/off, wifi, etc., can you use NFC to CONTROL an application?
I.e. Tap my phone to an NFC tag to run application A and when it's run, application A will do XYZ.
Or NFC tag is strictly for ON/OFF feature only?
lanwarrior said:
Besides controlling the device features, such as ringer on/off, wifi, etc., can you use NFC to CONTROL an application? I.e. Tap my phone to an NFC tag to run application A and when it's run, application A will do XYZ.
Or NFC tag is strictly for ON/OFF feature only?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need to use something like TASKER app or LLama.
I could not find a way to get an NFC program to get inside the apps and adjust -for example, I do use an NFC tag to prep my phone for a run - hit the tag near the door and it starts GPS Status, and starts Endomondo and finally starts my music player. . . .But I still have to hit "start" for Endomondo and "play" for my music playlist ;-(
I use the two hotel keycards I forgot to return to the Marriott I was staying at... They have re-writable areas on them, but I haven't been able to write anything to them yet (haven't tried hard). They work as-is for some of these NFC apps I see around the Play Store.
markbc01 said:
I think you need to use something like TASKER app or LLama.
I could not find a way to get an NFC program to get inside the apps and adjust -for example, I do use an NFC tag to prep my phone for a run - hit the tag near the door and it starts GPS Status, and starts Endomondo and finally starts my music player. . . .But I still have to hit "start" for Endomondo and "play" for my music playlist ;-(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So Tasker can control other app? If yes, I'll buy the app.
Yes, Tasker can do pretty much every thing related to apps. (I think)...
I simply have not used it enough to figure out how to make it do "app-internal" actions, but it does have some rather full-featured capabilites.
There is even a three part series on XDA TV about how to use Tasker. ..
It does now than I need. .. but was worth the money!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium HD app
---------- Post added at 06:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 PM ----------
Never thought of trying that! It's a better use for old hotel cards than just sitting at the bottom of some desk drawer. ..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium HD app
Forgot to ask:what apps do you guys use to read and write the tags?
I use NFC Task Launcher, but there are tons of NFC writer apps... NTL is simple and works well. .
You don't need any specific SOFTWARE to read the tags (I think!) since the phone will do that as long as you have nfc enabled. ..
There are links in the app for purchasing cheap tags from within the app... However, I don't think that they explain clearly what works and what does not for the S4... my old tags still work on this S4 and I purchased Samsung compatible tags last year when I was still using my S2...do they do still work. .
Good luck!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium HD app

NFC unlock

Hi.
Just saw this http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/15/moto-x-skip-nfc-accessory/
Basically it's a little NFC tag that you clip to the top of your pocket or belt, and tap your phone with it to unlock.
One of my minor gripes with the HTC one is that if the phone is upside down, the charging port is where the power button is, so I'm always inadvertently trying to unlock my phone with the charging port.
Any chance someone could throw together something like this for the HTC One? Would be particularly useful for those who are forced to lock phones due to Exchange security (and don't want to take the hacked e-mail APK route)
An XDA implementation would also mean we'd only have to by an NFC tag for a couple of $, rather than splash out $20 for an NFC tag coated in shiny white plastic.
Any takers?
MrGuy said:
Hi.
Just saw this http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/15/moto-x-skip-nfc-accessory/
Basically it's a little NFC tag that you clip to the top of your pocket or belt, and tap your phone with it to unlock.
One of my minor gripes with the HTC one is that if the phone is upside down, the charging port is where the power button is, so I'm always inadvertently trying to unlock my phone with the charging port.
Any chance someone could throw together something like this for the HTC One? Would be particularly useful for those who are forced to lock phones due to Exchange security (and don't want to take the hacked e-mail APK route)
An XDA implementation would also mean we'd only have to by an NFC tag for a couple of $, rather than splash out $20 for an NFC tag coated in shiny white plastic.
Any takers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try to do few steps below and you can save at least 13 bucks for the NFC tag so called Motorola Skip :silly::
1. Buy ur self a few NFC tags, 18mm waterproof 3M NFC tag is highly recommended
2. Go to playstore buy Tasker app (if you have one already, sweet)
3. Visit Peurocs4's thread about how to setup Tasker's profile, setup ur NFC tag
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2391759
4. Attached ur NFC tag under your watch, bracelet,.. (I put it under my Shine)
5. Enjoy your HTC One with high security.
P/s: You may want to apply mod NFC screen off/ lockscreen thanks to StephanSch, refer below link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2325410
winbytrick said:
try to do few steps below and you can save at least 13 bucks for the NFC tag so called Motorola Skip :silly::
1. Buy ur self a few NFC tags, 18mm waterproof 3M NFC tag is highly recommended
2. Go to playstore buy Tasker app (if you have one already, sweet)
3. Visit Peurocs4's thread about how to setup Tasker's profile, setup ur NFC tag
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2391759
4. Attached ur NFC tag under your watch, bracelet,.. (I put it under my Shine)
5. Enjoy your HTC One with high security.
P/s: You may want to apply mod NFC screen off/ lockscreen thanks to StephanSch, refer below link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2325410
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I suspected it would be possible using something like Tasker - didn't realise it supported NFC.
Could definitely be streamlined though into a single flashable zip or apk that prompts you to scan a tag to pair it and then you're done.
MrGuy said:
Thanks, I suspected it would be possible using something like Tasker - didn't realise it supported NFC.
Could definitely be streamlined though into a single flashable zip or apk that prompts you to scan a tag to pair it and then you're done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tasker doesn't support NFC; but NFC task launcher does support Tasker profile
Try to apply profile NFC key from Peurocs4's thread. Add some more tasks like: turn on keyboard & screen for 10 secs; disable keyguard; then go to homescreen. With this; you not only can bypass the lockscreen; but turn on phone's screen and go straight to your homescreen also.
Everything will be locked (keyguard enable) once screen is off. Very nice feature, isnt it?
Hmm isn't the NFC module deactivated when the screen is off or locked???
Get a NFC ring on kickstarter. It'll be even cooler.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
mkouk said:
Hmm isn't the NFC module deactivated when the screen is off or locked???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the PS in the second post by winbytrick.
I am interrested in this, too!
Could anyone recommend a nfc tag and share the link, please?
Get this clip and stick a NFC tag to it
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008C...729&ref_=sr_1_27&sr=8-27&tag=androidpolice-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006T...1_4&s=electronics&sr=1-4&tag=androidpolice-20
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
good price for 18mm NFC waterproof
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NFC-Tag-PVC...=LH_DefaultDomain_15&var=&hash=item5659f65035

[WORKAROUND] Fix NFC freeze after scanning Mifare Classic tags

Due to close-source drivers, NFC is partially broken on custom ROMs: it will stop responding to any tag after tapping a Mifare Classic tag, even if the next tag is supported. Unfortunately, there are too many Mifare Classic tags in our life, which may render NFC totally unusable on custom ROMs.
Now there's one thing to change to disable reading of Mifare Classic tags, so that we can safely scan these tags (as a result, however, only UID will be read. You can still use apps like NFC ReTag to assign actions for it)
In /system/etc/libnfc-nxp.conf
change
Code:
MIFARE_READER_ENABLE=[COLOR="Blue"]0x01[/COLOR]
to
Code:
MIFARE_READER_ENABLE=[COLOR="Blue"]0x00[/COLOR]
Then toggle NFC off and on.
That's it. NFC will operate normally after scanning Mifare Classic tags. If you don't care about accessing the content of every sector of Mifare Classic tags, this is a good approach to fix the freezing bug.

nfc tag not supported

Hello,
I'm trying to read and write on mifare classic tags, but i always get "tag type not supported"
I know you need a nxp controler to use these tags but according to some websites (ifixit ,etc...) the s8 has a nxp nfc controller (PN553 and PN80T. Am i missing something ?
I have the exynos variant (g950f)
Right now i'm using an external nfc reader (rc552) via uart but it would be more convenient if i could use the integrated one !
Bump
Since the new oreo beta update i can now read and write on mifare nfc tags

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