Bitcoin Forum

My app has been approved.  BitPak, the bitcoin wallet for iOS is now available in the app store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bitpak/id489248095?mt=8&ls=1 (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bitpak/id489248095?mt=8&ls=1).  This is the first wallet for iOS approved.  I would appreciate all the support I can get for it.  The app is priced at $3.99, or roughly 1BTC.  A video and FAQ is available at www.bitpak.com. 

I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has about it.

Thanks

Congratulations on getting accepted. I'm an Android user, but I'm sure this will be a welcome addition.

can't find it in app store (in canada) and it's not on installous D:

The video seems to imply that the receiving user won't see anything until the transaction has been included in a block.. is that so?
It would be much preferable if the receiver could see even a completely unconfirmed transaction.

this is great, but one concern.  this isn't open source.  your wallet app could be insecure.  or you could have code in there to swipe my coins.

how can you assure the user the coins are safe?

It could take up to a day before you see it in the app store.

You are correct that only verified Bitcoins show up. We may change this in future versions.

I understand your concern about stealing coins.  I will consider opening the source when I make my development dollars back. But in the meantime, you should know that apple verifies my identity, and I make no effort at hiding who I am.  If you think I'm stealing your Bitcoins, you know where I am.

I hope you do.
I think it's an important feature. For many sorts of small transactions, seeing the transaction quickly is all that's needed to feel comfortable to walk away.
From the point of view of demonstrating bitcoin to a new user - it's a pretty big turn-off to not see at least something straight away.

Not sure how you were able to get this through Apple, I hope it stays. Question on backups, if your phone is being backed up to iCloud or a computer are the private keys and blockchain being backed up in the app data?  So if you need to restore you won't lose the data.

It backs up your wallet to Dropbox in an encrypted form, but you can only restore back to the same device, not to a different device.

BitPak also features an emergency send function. If for some reason you be piece your iPhone is about to be lost or stolen, you hit the emergency send button and it will send the entire contents of your wallet to a preordained "home" address.

So if I don't want or have Dropbox, I can't use the app?


And really if I knew my iPhone was about to be lost or stolen I would probably do something to prevent that, not just send my coins somewhere else.

I am downloading the block chain now.  But this restore needs to be available to a new device.  iPhones are constantly being lost and stolen.  People will need to restore their wallet to a replacement device.  This feature is a must have.

I've lost several iPhones and as long as the phone is backed up regularly, the data in the apps will move to a new device just fine.  BitPak crashes immediately if you do not use dropbox (4s iOS 5.0), dropbox only syncs to original device, downloads entire blockchain, and only shows verified transactions - needs work. Can't reccomend it over current iOS solutions.

Could you describe more about how you implemented this? Is it an adaptation of Satoshis code? Is it a lightweight node that happens to store the full block contents? Looking forward to an eventual source release (even if it's only the core), because I'm interested in all mobile Bitcoin implementations.

I'm not the author, but it downloads the full blockchain, because it is almost one gigabyte. The Schildbach's android wallet lite block chain takes only 20MB.

Can't really recommend this, mobile client needs to be lightweight. However it is great that someone finally managed to get one app to app store.

download the app, copy the binary, open in IDA

I sent 2 Bitcoins to my bitpak wallet after the blockchain was fully updated. It's gotten 30 confirmations but still doesn't show up in my bitpak balance.

1Fj4MQd2pYub9mYdZrwJ6yoeEFwzitqW9Q was the address bitpak gave me on an email request.

Can you look into this please?  There is no help or support in the app.

I've got the same issue as #16. I sent 0.1 BTC, to an address generated by the Bitpak client, http://blockchain.info/address/723b641c803d90ba2f70eb6ff4ec8e8dee063747 (http://blockchain.info/address/723b641c803d90ba2f70eb6ff4ec8e8dee063747), but I does now show up.

Downloading the blockchain took more than 24 h, but it did complete.

Things that would be nice to have is

• Indications of unconfirmed transactions for relevant sending and receiving
• Stats about connected peers
• Export of private keys

added this to my list (http://www.bitcointrading.com/forum/index.php?topic=312) of iOS apps :)

Hi,

The first coins you send to BitPak take a while to show up.  Just leave BitPak on overnight and it will catch up,  Once BitPak sees its first coins, it's relatively speedy thereafter.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any issues with BitPak.

What is taking so long time. About 48 h to download the blockchain, now more than 72 h after a transaction have been seen by the network and still nothing in bitpak.

Is the code available for reading?

Rob,

it has now been 4 days since the blockchain download was completed and I sent bitcoins to the wallet, and they still have not shown up.  what's the deal?

More questions at twitter #bitpak.

I looked at the Dropbox account I created for bitpak to use. Nothing were stored there. I was expecting some encrypted data.

cyberzac,

It won't write anything to the Dropbox account until it receives Bitcoins.  Once your first bitcoins arrive, you'll see an entry.

It takes a while for the first bitcoins to show up.  Leave it running in the foreground overnight, and they should be there by morning. 

I'm happy to let someone audit the code.  Contact me directly if interested.

Could you explain why it takes so long time to get the transactions belonging to the addresses after the blockchain is loaded?

I finally received both transactions, now lets see if the next transaction is faster.

I finally received mine as well.  This needs to be much faster. 

look at BitcoinSpinner on Android for the best wallet in terms of speed to send/receive.  pending deposits are shown instantly as pending, and credited after 1 block.  sending is super fast.  This was definitely the preferred wallet to use during the restaurant payment last night.  It was 3-5x faster than Mt Gox mobile on the send function (meaning once you confirm the send, how long does it take to actually send the coins).

Ditto. Why?

Also, why can't we take the encrypted wallt.dat file off of Dropbox and load it into out computer bitcoinclient?

Anyhow, congrats on a solid iOS client. You've done the heavy lifting! It's all polish from here on out! (necessary polish, but, polish none the less).

Where can i see that it's actually downloading the blockchain ? It says connecting to peers then i have no further indication. Where do i find the blocklist. blkindex.dat ? blk0001.dat ? I also see the wallet.dat  :D

Edit: sorry to tell that but the download of the blockchain is a bad joke. Way to slow. I'm a bit disappointed. 3.99 is not cheap for what you get.

ok man, you did it, this is the first itunes purchase I ever made and it will likely be the last.

But I just HAVE to use this ipod I got (need it for another project) to hook my apple friends to bitcoin ;)

I see that going horribly wrong.  I've hooked my apple friends with a free QR scanner app, and free Instawallet account.  This needs an update, as it is it will do the opposite of hooking.

You can also use the mtgox app for iphone, but you will have to jailbreak your ihpone first :)
http://blog.iphone-dev.org/

The mtgox app did not work for me.

Charging for a bitcoin wallet is going to be a difficult sell. You need to offer something more than what a user could do from a ssh into a box with bitcoind. For example, instant transactions, "bump" type payments, etc. Your software could be a way to use a service.

Best of luck!

Solution: buy an android phone :)

overnight? dude, this clearly needs clarification. My app has been sitting in the foreground since my last post (at least 12 hours) and the "downloading blocks" progress-bar hasn't moved a fraction at all.

This clearly does not meet the standards of the apple fanboys I know.

That's what everyone here has been saying.  Use a web based wallet. Or wait for an update or the other app to launch.

Nice first step got put the foot in the door.

I would like to use this as my main wallet however without the private key I can backup and restore elsewhere it's not useful for that.
What I would like to see next is pending transactions, then feature like importing and exporting private keys via QR or screen for printing to a printer.  If you can read the private key QR code from bitaddress.org that would be HUGE.

Thanks I have been waiting for this.

It took 24 hours but the block chain has been downloaded 20 hours ago and I do not see the bitcoins I have sent it.  I still have the application up and sent it some more coins nothing is showing up.

I'm kind of disappointed.

this clearly isn't working on my ipod. it's been 11 days now downloading blocks.

what can I do?

Use a different wallet, like one that is actually usable.

OP might want to check this out.....
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=61249.0

It's nice to see when your App is appreciated and used within the bounds of it's Licensing model......LOL

Just a heads up for anyone using this app, the wallet.dat file in NOT encrypted in dropbox. It can be copied into another client to access your coins. This can be good, or bad. If you lose your phone, you can still access your coins. If someone else has access to your dropbox folder, they can copy your wallet.dat file into there own client and steal you coins.

That's really too bad.  Especially since dropbox has messed up before...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20072755-281/dropbox-confirms-security-glitch-no-password-required/

The download of the chain took almost a week (ok i only have 4k internet here....) i transfered 3 bitcoin to it and they are not showing up, since a week....

Im curious why this is so damn slow ......

Left the phone open all night for almost three weeks now, with the app in foreground. I'll try it at home with my 16k internet today.

Waste of money and time imo (voll der Dreck) :( There is just no usefull BTC wallet app for iOS. But if you want a nice Bitcoin app with active support, get BTCmon !

There is some called Blockchain in the cydia appstore. I'll try this if my BTC "Appear" in BITPAK.....

All u needs is a Jailbroken iPhone; wich i have.... This leaves the concern of "Security" open?

Would you consider sending some of us release coupons for this App? Im afraid my last iTunes bill is made my bank account shriek in pain.

voll der dreck, indeed.

there's a acceptable solution, the blockchain.info client: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=75673.0
it's still buggy on my iPod, but seems to work for most people. Good design and acceptable security.

you need jailbreak or korean iTunes account (one is provided in thread or on page, dont remember which)

You can also use the website directly on your phone.  I have the jailbroken app installed on my old phone and just browse to blockchain.info on my current phone.  It doesn't have as good of a theme, but seems to actually be a little faster and more stable (although the iphone app seems to be getting better and better every patch)

question is: can you scan a qr-code to send someone money on the go this way?

No, but there are plenty of free qr reader apps available that allow you to easily copy/paste scanned text.

It isn't quiet convenient, but you don't have to have a jail broken phone or add a Korean app store account to your phone.

well, personally, I'll just use my android. But for recommending bitcoin to noobs with an iDevice copy/paste is too much to explain.

Yeah.. not having a decent iPhone app is a showstopper for that platform I think.
I've managed to convince my mother to go Android when it comes time to replace her iPhone.
Attempting to teach her to copy and paste addresses would be a waste of time, because even though she may follow my initial tutorial..  anything that tedious would never get used again.
When it comes to the point that I can transfer some bitcoins to my mother's phone - and then she can successfully transact with her friends without me being present to explain things.. then bitcoin might have a chance to grow via mobile. 
Apple's reluctance to allow virtual currency apps is the major impediment to this.  Screw em. I used to be pretty ambivalent when people asked my advice about iPhone vs Android.

I've given up on recommending free/open alternatives to people.

I just wait for the point in time when I can finally say: "Well, you should've gotten a free phone, then".

Sending BTC with that app is a pain too.... they don't show up on the account i send them to.....
U do use Blockchain for now. Seems the only working solution for iPhone :(.


BTW where is the developer ?

Technically it is possible, and I have demonstrated this with my easywallet.org web-based bitcoin wallet. QR code scanning works easily with iPhone and Android. You just need to install specific QR code scanners (free zxing ones). Hopefully more web wallets will implement this in the future.

It's also easily possible to to x with device y, just install kernel u with options v and w enable (be sure to disable z).

I have some iFriends, telling them to install more than one thing per time we meet is prohibitive.

Well, as I have guided some people to use easywallet.org, the "installation process" usually takes just 1-2 minutes.

- open safari and go to easywallet.org
- add bookmark to home screen
- open safari again, click the app download link
- install the app
- click the easywallet.org app icon, and you are ready to go

I will add more detailed instructions & make this easier in the future.

Blockchain.info's app is native and works amazingly and is now on the app store.  I've been using it on my 4S and been really liking it, plus it is free!

According to this it is only available for jailbroken devices: https://blockchain.info/wallet/iphone-app (in the real app store there is only limited app without the send/receive functionality)

I will try it out when I have time to jailbreak my iPhone...

Instead of downloading the whole blockchain could you just query https://blockexplorer.com/q/mytransactions/{address_here} and get the transactions?

yes, many clients (light clients) do this. downside is a central point of failure (in your example blockexplorer.com) and privacy issues. Most of the android clients do it this way. Running a full blockchain-verifying client on a phone is overkill already and it will probably get worse in the future.

The important thing is that your light wallet should allow you to be in control of your private keys. This way you can always eject and go for another solution if the server that backs it is unresponsive. Blockchain.info and BitcoinSpinner (possibly also Electrum?) allows you to do so.

ATM i can't recommend a this mobile Program to anyone. My BTC finally showed up, and i transferred them back .... Still waiting for them to who up in my Wallet.

The Programm runs in Background and i have WIFI the hole day. On night i put it in foreground and leave it there till morning.
Waiting almost a week now for them to show up.