BitPak - The Bitcoin Wallet for iOS

[samablog]

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.  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

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[cbeast]

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

[grue]

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

[julz]

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.

[koin]

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?

[samablog]

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.

[julz]

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

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.

[gnar1ta$]

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.

[samablog]

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.

[gnar1ta$]

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

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.

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.

[BitPay Business Solutions]

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.

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.

[gnar1ta$]

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.

[Mike Hearn]

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.

[kangasbros]

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.

[grue]

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.

download the app, copy the binary, open in IDA

[BitPay Business Solutions]

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.

[cyberzac]

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, 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

[mc_lovin]

added this to my list of iOS apps

[samablog]

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.

[cyberzac]

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?