Mycelium Bitcoin Wallet

[Rassah]

I just recently discovered the benefits of using an HD wallet. Because of this I had to switch from using mycelium to another mobile wallet.

I recently discovered the benefits of barbed wire.  Because of that I had to move to another house, which is surrounded by a barbed wire fence.

I mean, did you think about what these benefits would actually give you and whether they would apply in your case?  Sure, using an HD wallet means one doesn't have to think and worry about possible loss of privacy due to address reuse, or face the inconvenience of maintaining tons of non-HD keys.   And all the hard work that wallet developers put into delivering BIP32 to their users is truly commendable.  But all too often people read flashy headlines like "address reuse considered harmful" or "USB is fundamentally broken" and rush into action.

Actually there are a few benefits that HD gives besides just privacy. There are a few features we haven't been able to add until we got this HD thing implemented. But we're getting there!

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[elebit]

Actually there are a few benefits that HD gives besides just privacy. There are a few features we haven't been able to add until we got this HD thing implemented. But we're getting there!

I'll be impressed if you get it to work! I would have thought that the architecture of Mycelium, where the central server keeps track of your "savings", made this impossible. How could the server know which addresses to track? It might be possible, just difficult, but that's a challenge for you guys..!

[mmortal03]

Actually there are a few benefits that HD gives besides just privacy. There are a few features we haven't been able to add until we got this HD thing implemented. But we're getting there!

I'll be impressed if you get it to work! I would have thought that the architecture of Mycelium, where the central server keeps track of your "savings", made this impossible. How could the server know which addresses to track? It might be possible, just difficult, but that's a challenge for you guys..!

Central server? What is this referring to?

[Newar]

Central server? What is this referring to?

Just the way Mycelium works.

- No block chain download, install and run in seconds
- Ultra fast connection to the Bitcoin network through our super nodes

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycelium.wallet

I'll be impressed if you get it to work! I would have thought that the architecture of Mycelium, where the central server keeps track of your "savings", made this impossible. How could the server know which addresses to track? It might be possible, just difficult, but that's a challenge for you guys..!

I don't see how this is difficult or even "impossible". Mycelium asks the server for the amount in XYZ address. Simple.

[trasla]

Yes, we do not keep some kind of user accounts on our servers or something like that, they just create structures for optimized search in the blockchain, allowing the clients to ask for balance, transactions, etc very efficient. While there is of course quite some work to do on the server side as well, its not a general problem for the infrastructure to support HD wallets.

[mmortal03]

Central server? What is this referring to?

Just the way Mycelium works.

- No block chain download, install and run in seconds
- Ultra fast connection to the Bitcoin network through our super nodes

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycelium.wallet

I'll be impressed if you get it to work! I would have thought that the architecture of Mycelium, where the central server keeps track of your "savings", made this impossible. How could the server know which addresses to track? It might be possible, just difficult, but that's a challenge for you guys..!

I don't see how this is difficult or even "impossible". Mycelium asks the server for the amount in XYZ address. Simple.

Right, it's how lightweight wallets tend to work. I did notice, in contrast, that Wallet32 evidently downloads some portion of the blockchain. I don't know if this process is also centralized or not, but I found it different from other lightweight wallets.

Yes, we do not keep some kind of user accounts on our servers or something like that, they just create structures for optimized search in the blockchain, allowing the clients to ask for balance, transactions, etc very efficient. While there is of course quite some work to do on the server side as well, its not a general problem for the infrastructure to support HD wallets.

This is what I was getting at. Thanks!

[Jan]

When can we expect to get the HD mycelium? I just recently discovered the benefits of using an HD wallet. Because of this I had to switch from using mycelium to another mobile wallet. I really like the mycelium UI and would like to switch back.

Very soon. It's basically functional in testnet at this point, but still has some bugs to iron out, and to be implemented in LocalTrader correctly. It will probably be out by the time Mycelium Entropy devices ship.

We hope to get  the testnet version with HD out tomorrow.

[Rassah]

v1.3.3 was released to Google Play store, github, and our site.

The list of changes from last regular release include:

* Generic scan button in the main view - Use this to quickly scan QR codes to send bitcoins. In the future, this may be used to quickly log into websites with BitID.
* Improvements to barcode scanning with flashlight toggle and autofocus setting
* Email notifications for LocalTrader - Google Push Notifications system is still kind of unreliable, and we can't fix it because it's Google servers that are having issues, so this is a fix until we figure out something better.
* Fixes and connectivity fallback for dns issues - A few days ago we had an issue where our domain name, which is pointing to our servers, was temporarily turned off by our provider while they verified that we are who we say we are. Should this happen again, wallets will switch to contacting our servers with their IP numbers directly (this is also likely temporary, until we move everything to Tor)
* Various crash fixes

We think that this will be the last feature update for the non-HD version. Stay tuned for an upcoming Mycelium HD release.

[QuestionAuthority]

v1.3.3 was released to Google Play store, github, and our site.

The list of changes from last regular release include:

* Generic scan button in the main view - Use this to quickly scan QR codes to send bitcoins. In the future, this may be used to quickly log into websites with BitID.
* Improvements to barcode scanning with flashlight toggle and autofocus setting
* Email notifications for LocalTrader - Google Push Notifications system is still kind of unreliable, and we can't fix it because it's Google servers that are having issues, so this is a fix until we figure out something better.
* Fixes and connectivity fallback for dns issues - A few days ago we had an issue where our domain name, which is pointing to our servers, was temporarily turned off by our provider while they verified that we are who we say we are. Should this happen again, wallets will switch to contacting our servers with their IP numbers directly (this is also likely temporary, until we move everything to Tor)
* Various crash fixes

We think that this will be the last feature update for the non-HD version. Stay tuned for an upcoming Mycelium HD release.

Do you you have a guess at when HD will be released? I can't wait to try it.

[Mitchell]

Do you you have a guess at when HD will be released? I can't wait to try it.

This was answered two posts above

We hope to get  the testnet version with HD out tomorrow./quote]

[bitcats]

I don't use googl play. How can I avoid losing all my data when installing/updating the new apk?

[Jan]

I don't use googl play. How can I avoid losing all my data when installing/updating the new apk?

We always upload the latest signed builds here: https://www.mycelium.com/bitcoinwallet
When you update everything is preserved. However, this is no excuse not to make a backup

[bitcats]

I don't use googl play. How can I avoid losing all my data when installing/updating the new apk?

We always upload the latest signed builds here: https://www.mycelium.com/bitcoinwallet
When you update everything is preserved. However, this is no excuse not to make a backup

So if I install the new apk, all personal data from the old apk are preserved?

[trasla]

So if I install the new apk, all personal data from the old apk are preserved?

Yes. But make sure to have a backup nonetheless.
Edit to clarify: do not uninstall the app, install the new one on top of the old.

[bitcats]

So if I install the new apk, all personal data from the old apk are preserved?

Yes. But make sure to have a backup nonetheless.
Edit to clarify: do not uninstall the app, install the new one on top of the old.

Thanks!

[QuestionAuthority]

Do you you have a guess at when HD will be released? I can't wait to try it.

This was answered two posts above

We hope to get  the testnet version with HD out tomorrow./quote]

Oh, thanks. Sorry, when threads get this long I don't read every post. I usually look for updates in the OP or ask someone that posts like they're in charge.

[Exhibit_A]

Hi,

I am very new to bitcoin.

Is there any simple documentation available explaining Mycelium for those of us who are just starting out?

My first basic question is ...

I currently have a multibit wallet containing bitcoins. What's the easiest way to tell Mycelium about my multibit wallet? If I then get BTC sent to my bitcoin address, I assume it will be reflected in both multibit and Mycelium.

Thanks
Andy

[ZephramC]

Hi,

I am very new to bitcoin.

Is there any simple documentation available explaining Mycelium for those of us who are just starting out?

My first basic question is ...

I currently have a multibit wallet containing bitcoins. What's the easiest way to tell Mycelium about my multibit wallet? If I then get BTC sent to my bitcoin address, I assume it will be reflected in both multibit and Mycelium.

Thanks
Andy

There is good link to help (Q&A) in the Mycelium application itself.
You can add your multibit address into Mycelium as watch-only (therefore anything sent to this address will be reflected there, but you would not be able to send BTC from this address by Mycelium).
Or you can export corresponding private key from multibit and import it into Mycelium (and you can then use this address both in multibit and in Mycelium). But be careful not to leave your private key unprotected, saved unencrypted, in unsecure or compromised computer, etc.

[OnkelPaul]

But be careful not to leave your private key unprotected, saved unencrypted, in unsecure or compromised computer, etc.

As he said, it's possible but not really advisable, at least not for significant amounts.
It makes a lot of sense to have a "small change" address that's shared by Mycelium and a desktop-computer based wallet, so that whenever you want to spend a little bit you can do so regardless of the device you use. But for larger amounts, you should minimize the risk by keeping the private key away from any unsafe places. Use a cold wallet.

Onkel Paul

[runam0k]

You could consider abandoning the multibit wallet/address altogether.  Do you really need it?  Is that address likely to receive funds ever again?  If not, just send the bitcoins to your new Mycelium wallet (once you know how to use it -- and be sure to make a backup of the Mycelium wallet so that if anything ever happens to your device, you can regain control of the bitcoins and move them to a new address).

As Onkel Paul says, for large amounts consider cold storage (and only keep "spending money" in the Mycelium wallet).