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Tin Can - new iPhone app

Sun, 04/19/2009 - 02:54

We just released our latest iPhone app - Tin Can! Tin Can allows you to send notes from one iPhone to another using sound. Here's how it works:

1. You write a note in Tin Can on one iPhone.
2. You start up Tin Can on the other iPhone.
3. You tap Send on the iPhone where you typed the note.
4. Tin Can emits sounds and voila! The note appears on the other iPhone.

For those of you who are technically inclined, Tin Can uses frequency shift keying (FSK) to send data from one iPhone to the other. This is the same technique used by early modems to transmit data.

FSK uses alternating frequencies to represent binary data. For instance, to transmit a '1' using FSK you might use a 4 kHz signal, whereas to transmit a '0' you might use a 3 kHz signal. You would then alternate the two frequencies to send sequences of ones and zeroes.

What we have done, in essence, is turn the iPhone into a simple modem using its speaker and microphone. Pretty cool.

You can find out more about Tin Can at http://www.perceptdev.com/tincan.

  • Posted by: Anonymous (not verified)
    on Mon, 01/11/2010 - 10:26

    what is my pr on http://www.unlock-iphone.org ?

  • Posted by: James Taylor (not verified)
    on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 01:55
  • Posted by: et (not verified)
    on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 12:26

    Hi there, I can get the app to send but not receive. I have a "good" signal in the settings screen. Iphone 2G, OS 3.0.

  • Posted by: et (not verified)
    on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 12:32

    Oh, never mind, it needs an "excellent" signal to start :)

    Cool app!

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