Blynk?

[exeng]

I realize that Erik indicated that Blynk would be supported after firmware was out of beta and I don't want to step on any planned changes for BlynkSimpleOak.h but I've managed to get Blynk to work with this simple change (a temprorary addition to my local copy) to BlynkSimpleOak.h

Code: [Select]

// ADDED for Oak (by exeng) - similar to above but without args to connectWiFi()
  void connectWiFi()
    {
        BLYNK_LOG("Oak in connect WiFi");
        WiFi.begin(); // Oak is already has a configured SSID to connect to
       
        while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
            ::delay(10000);  // delay 10 seconds
        }
        BLYNK_LOG("Connected to WiFi");

        IPAddress myip = WiFi.localIP();
        BLYNK_LOG("My IP: %d.%d.%d.%d", myip[0], myip[1], myip[2], myip[3]);
    }
// END of ADDED for Oak (by exeng)

In addition, I downloaded and included SimpleTimer.h from here: https://github.com/jfturcot/SimpleTimer

[exeng]

FYI... According to the Blynk FAQs at some point they will charge for widgets. However, if you were a Kickstarter backer of Blynk (I was not) you will get widgets for free according to your pledge level. So if you plan to invest time and effort in creating a Blynk based app just know that you my have to pay for the widgets you use in the future.

Here is the link to the Blynk FAQ: http://docs.blynk.cc/#faq

[werner]

   Cool.   Blynk was one of the main reason I initially got interested in the Oak.

[defragster]

Blynk looked interesting and seems to be growing well - SparkFun announced a $30 Blynk specific product.  Good to see your sample exeng.

[exeng]

Just a reminder the changes posted and made to BlynkSimpleOak.h to get Blynk to work (i.e. get rid of compile errors) are local to my system and not officially in the repo. So the changes will need to be made locally to get it to compile. Also (as I got bit by it), if you are upgrading repos (say from 0.9.5 to 1.0.0 for example) you will need to replace the BlynkSimpleOak.h again. So keep a local copy safely backed up. I didn't want to mess with the official version and I thought that at some point Erik would review the changes posted and make it part of the Oak repo.

[defragster]

Thanks, I was going to ask about that - but hoped by now whatever needed Blynk changes were needed might be in place.

Funny - have to BUY Blynk ENERGY to run Blynk Widgets?  I saw a hint of that when I noted SparkFun above - each $30 unit comes with 15,000 Energy units - so that must be how they will keep the overuse down as well - since then I have two emails from Blynk telling me about that.  When you update Arduino Blynk app - it now has in App Purchases.  Ios version not ready yet.

[digistump]

Were still waiting for official Oak examples from the Blynk team - they just got their samples (stuck in customs for awhile) to develop with. In the mean time the next release will have changes similar to exeng's

[defragster]

Logged on to my updated Android Phone app - we get 2,000 Energy units - it takes 500 to Create New Project. Prices start $1/1000 up to $20/28,000 units with in app purchases.

It says you get Energy back by recycling "•When you delete a widget, it gets ♻︎ recycled and you get some energy back. Stay green!" - I had one created I dumped - and I got nothing back and lost my 500 unit project placeholder?
[now reading fine print on the web - it says only for ones you bought - had I known . . . ]

That seems really cheesy - instead of a free razor we buy the blades for - I paid $21 for the razor and now have to buy the blades too? It looks like we got 2000 'free units' but others with free accounts woke up to NONE.

I sent them email on this and also:: I just clicked top line '+' icon and that was 'Create New Project' - I didn't want that so I backed out - I got no project and just lost 500 Energy units?

The APP does link to their server code: http://docs.blynk.cc/#blynk-server and https://github.com/blynkkk/blynk-server It is a JAVA JAR program. But it looks like you have to pay per project there too?

Reading their community area I find this  - do we qualify for the FULL BOX plan that we thought we bought: http://community.blynk.cc/t/blynk-will-introduce-paid-subscription-in-q1-2016/3177

Full Box will include:

•All Widgets + Lifetime updates
Every time we add a new widget or new feature – it’s unlocked for you

•Unlimited projects
You'll be able to create as many projects as you want -

•5 Users to share your apps
Share every Project with 5 people. You can add more if needed.

Full Box monthly subscription cost will start from ~$2.50 / Month

[mikekgr]

Dear defragster,
I totally agree with you. They started to cheat their users. I think this is quite common in "almost open source" cases...

Best Regards,
Mike Kranidis

P.S. Because I liked the idea and the functionality of Blynk, are there alternatives ways to achieve the same or near the same?

[chad]

Reading their community area I find this  - do we qualify for the FULL BOX plan that we thought we bought: http://community.blynk.cc/t/blynk-will-introduce-paid-subscription-in-q1-2016/3177

Well, I expect we should qualify for the 'FULL BOX' given that's exactly what my Backer Status page says I bought as an add-on:

Your Current Add-ons:
In addition to your reward listed above

1x Blynk and a Box full of Widgets

I'll be well disappointed if this isn't the case. I'm not interested in "managing energy" when making experimental interfaces...

[defragster]

I had TWO emails from BLYNK yesterday - assumed both the same I have checked::

PLEASE CHECK emails from BLYNK - both start the same and have info on SPARKFUN - the one has a QR CODE. I just scanned the QR and for OAK KICKSTARTER backing we are awarded 100,000 Energy Units.  { That is about $75 worth ! }

and - next line ...

If you ever run out of juice - please send us an email and we will refill it for free.
 In case you have any issues - please email us describing your issue

I got this reply today to my email to Blynk:

From: Blynk Team Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2016 6:18 AM
Subject: Re: Blynk - Arduino, ESP8266, RPi

Hi,

You should have got an email with  instructions on how to redeem your reward.

Please check your inbox.

--
Pavel

@exeng - if you wanted to copy some of this to the OP you made it might save lots of confusion.
My email with the QR code had these send details:

From: Blynk Team     Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 2:00 PM
Subject: Introducing 🔋Blynk Energy and new SparkFun Blynk Board

[emardee]

Yes, if you paid for Blynk as part of your Oak rewards, then you get a massive stash of energy, and they say to get in touch if you ever run out of it, and they'll give you more! It is intended to be as close as practically possible to being "unlimited for life" (assuming I understood their email correctly).

[defragster]

Cool - I didn't read this next line after I scanned the QR and got 100,000 units:

If you ever run out of juice - please send us an email and we will refill it for free.
 In case you have any issues - please email us describing your issue

Good service to those that backed them up front!

[exeng]

Wished that I was a backer of Blynk... OK so for those of us that were not bakers of Blynk it seems any existing apps created still work but you are not going to be able to add to or change it and expect it to be persistent. I'm also getting messages that my app needs to be updated.

[exeng]

For those that have already experienced the Blynk pay for energy to use a widget, what are we in for? Do we have to pay for every instantiation of a widget in an app or just pay for having the widget in the Widget Toolbox?