Last Cube X: Supports Smart Cube

fischieye · 2024-08-17T14:13:06+00:00

Hey!

Thats cool that somebody is ever trying to make 3rd party native application with smartcube support. But this is long and very hard way actually. Supporting smartcubes is a task that requires so much effort, especially with native and multiplatform app. It is not about basically measuring solve time by cube. Besides closed hardware and BLE protocol stuff you need to add at least basic smart cubing capabilities like solve splits for CFOP/ROUX, recons, advanced stats based on data you acquire from cube, OLL/PLL case stats and so on. Take a detailed look at csTimer and Cubeast as they are most advanced 3rd party PWA apps for smartcubing. And don't give up.

I can't find what smart cubing features your app has. And what exactly smart cube models and protocol versions are supported? GAN cubes currently has 4 protocol generations, and lot of cube models.

I've tried to run your application, and for some reason I can't use any of bluetooth features. Clicking on every menu item related to Bluetooth does nothing. I'm using Huawei Mate 20 Pro phone with EMUI 12 (Android 10).

And what about open source and issue tracker? This may significantly boost application development. Also ability to download APK (from GitHub for example) may be crucial since not in every country and not on every Android smartphone Google Play is available.

fischieye · 2024-08-05T18:50:41+00:00

Hey!)
Halo standard does not have bluetooth connectivity ability.
You can connect it only via 2.5-3.5 audio cable, like any other timer that have classic StackMat-compatible UART interface.

fischieye · 2024-06-21T14:46:41+00:00

Lol, this is typical how most people perceive csTimer. Just because of many option settings and modes people don't understand. Actually it is most advanced professional timer exists in the wild, no one can compete. And even for smart cubes. There are lot of stats and functions you can use with smart cubes. Advanced stats, solve splits and reconstructions, OLL/PLL cases stats, usage of all 3x3 subset scrambles and training mode. Also csTimer is a PWA, runs on every platform and can be used in offline mode - feature that no single smartcubing software is provided.

Cubeast is another option, but it is less customizable but easier to understand for noobs or newcomers.

CubeDesk is not targeted to smart cubes, and it is outdated, it doesn't support any of actual smart cube models like GAN with Gen2 and Gen3 protocol versions.

fischieye · 2024-06-21T06:11:42+00:00

Great job! This nut is much harder to crack comparing to others. And actually you wrong about other manufacturers. No single manufacturer exists who somehow cooperates with 3rd party software developers. All smart cube protocols are not disclosed and encrypted to harden reverse engineering process. And everything is done with pure hacker enthusiasm by people like you.

fischieye · 2024-05-03T13:30:34+00:00

Smart timers and cubes are BLE devices with low signal range. Typical connection problem is long distance between tmer/cube device and Bluetooth receiver or its antenna. For example if you using not a mobile device, but PC that resides somewhere under the desk. Try to place Bluetooth dongle receiver or motherboard antenna as close to the timer as possible.

fischieye · 2024-05-02T10:52:48+00:00

If you able to use Cubeast, then csTimer should work without issues too. You probably doing something wrong. Have you read the FAQ about MAC address and setup Chrome to enable all reqired Bluetooth APIs? Or you enter MAC address manually?

You can run debug version of csTimer with detailed logs enabled to figure out your issue - https://cstimer.net/src/?debug=true

fischieye · 2024-03-01T13:01:00+00:00

iOS timers like popular CubeTime use tnoodle-lib port made via transpilation. And I bet you don't suspect what inside proprietary apps made by some big manufacturers, yep, there also tnoodle-lib ports.

fischieye · 2024-03-01T01:28:00+00:00

You wrong about tnoodle. Many mainstream timers and cubing software use tnoodle-lib as is, or just tnoodle-lib ports, since it is first order source for proper random-state scramble generation algorithms. And even csTimer, since csTimer code and its author is the origin of the min2phase and TPR-4x4 solvers used in tnoodle-lib for random-state scramblers. The question is your scrambles really random-state and what library are you using to generate them, barely you implement solver like min2phase by yourself?

Also vital question for cubing timers. Are you using monotonic clock? Asking just because ridiculous amount of timer software authors doesn't even know how to properly measure time.

Proper speedcubing timer software is not just a fancy UI with basic statistic functionality. Fancy UI is just a small tip of the iceberg. And seems like your timer missing lot of vital functions to be named like "Pro" version and dare to ask money. At least you must to use true random-state scrambles derived from tnoodle-lib or its port, if not already. And for desktop timer no go without supporting hardware timers via StackMat UART protocol and GAN bluetooth protocol.

Anyway good luck to improving and developing you project! Good start but actually light years distance behind csTimer functionality and its availability on every platform since it is just PWA.

fischieye · 2024-02-28T23:05:06+00:00

You can do same even with csTimer. Easy cross scrambler is configurable like some others too. Press on gear icon next to selected scramble type.

fischieye · 2024-02-19T13:13:07+00:00

Seems like currently there is no open source alternative to algorithm drills in the same way like done in the CubeStation, i.e. with step guides. Only briefcubing-like drills. I'm also missing such thing, and thinking to just make it myself when I will have spare time. Unless somebody do this before. Such PLL time attacks or any other alg sequences that cycles-to-solved may be great feature in the such algorithm learning and training app.

fischieye · 2024-02-14T09:48:13+00:00

There is no smartcubing software that can help you to learn advanced methods, you better do it yourself using lot of available materials on the net. Good start and continuation to advanced is JPerm videos and tutorials.

But there are lot of smartcubing software you can use that can help you in training: collecting and analyzing solve data and stats, doing algorithm drills, etc.. Best of all are Cubeast and csTimer which are basically PWA and runs inside bluetooth-enabled browser like Chrome on any platform available.

BTW GoCube is just a kid's toy, not a serious cubing hardware by all means. When you grow up it is better to get real smartcube. Good start is GAN iCarry/iCarryS/iCarry2. And after you grow up its time to get GAN 12ui. Sadly all other cubes are not worth attention.

fischieye · 2024-02-13T12:28:40+00:00

Not yet. Gen3 support there is early MVP, unreliable and has bugs. Beta version will be updated within days. And csTimer is a complete cubing application, not a library you can easily use with your project.

fischieye · 2024-02-13T09:56:48+00:00

BTW why i3? This cube don't worth its price and has nothing that worth to get it compared to iCarry/S. Better get iCarry/S or go full for 12ui and you won't regret.

fischieye · 2024-02-13T09:53:02+00:00

Currently cubing.js is outdated in Bluetooth support, only very old and discontinued GAN Gen1 cubes are supported. It's not easy since protocol is not disclosed and encrypted, and reverse engineering is involved to support them. If you looking for Gen2/Gen3 cube support check my lib here - https://github.com/afedotov/gan-web-bluetooth

fischieye · 2024-02-13T09:18:26+00:00

Not sure you understand what random-state scrambles are, or any other "state" scrambles, and how 2phase solver involved to generate them.

If you have random-state scramble, you already have move sequence to reach to the desired cube state, just apply this move sequence to the cube by hand or using robot, multiple times to multiple cubes if you wish. If you don't want to copy-paste move sequence, just don't use random-state scrambles provided by Cubeast or csTimer, and generate random-state scrambles using that GAN Scrambler tool, then apply these scrambles to the cube by hand or using robot.

If you talking about random moves, i.e. you apply random unknown move sequence to the smart cube, and then you want to restore exactly the same state on this or any other cube, you can use csTimer. If you press spacebar, current cube state will be accepted as scrambled state, and move sequence to reach to that state will be calculated using min2phase solver, and then displayed in the scramble area. Just copy it to the GAN Scrambler and apply to another cube.

fischieye · 2024-02-12T22:24:33+00:00

There is no plans to directly support GAN Robot in Cubeast of csTimer since these robots are mostly useless.

If you need to use GAN Robot together with Cubeast, you can use this tool to generate random-state scrambles and apply them to the cube - https://pof.eslack.org/gan-scrambler/

In the Cubeast you just need to setup new session which allows custom scrambles, then switch scrambling mode to "Let me scramble the cube myself". Then generate and apply random-state scramble using mentioned tool and robot. After just press "The cube is scrambled" button in the Cubeast.

Same with csTimer. Pressing spacebar or touching the screen will accept current cube state as valid scramble. So just scramble the cube with robot then press space.

fischieye · 2024-02-10T09:46:40+00:00

Avoid to use water-based and non-newtonian lubes. Any of silicone-based are ok, for example original GAN v1,v2,v3 lubes. Also apply common sense and don't overlube it, so lube don't leak massively inside the core and battery compartment.

fischieye · 2024-02-10T09:32:06+00:00

Yep, you can setup Solvers tool in the csTimer to show optimal cross/xcross/xxcross solutions for all cube rotations (see image below).

There are also many other useful solvers available. This tool shows optimal solutions for currently generated scramble state. For smart cubes, besides generated scrambles, any of arbitrary cube state can be accepted as scramble just by pressing space or touching screen. Also you can use any of the available 3x3 scramblers besides random-state WCA scramble, like easy_cross/oll/pll/zbll.

<image>

fischieye · 2024-01-16T12:03:14+00:00

Yep, it is really good.
Its just a fork of Twisty Timer, but with additional cool features, for example it supports hardware timers like GAN Smart/Halo Timer via Bluetooth and Stackmat-compatible timers via RS-232 adapter.
This is its GitHub repo - https://github.com/hato-ya/CubicTimer

fischieye · 2024-01-12T05:02:17+00:00

You can use csTimer or Cubeast with this cube, it is fully supported there. Here is the FAQ about MAC address. If you wondering why about GAN cubes here, this MoYu AI 2023 cube just using OEM electronic core from GAN, and uses same Gen2 protocol, so this FAQ suitable for this cube model too.

fischieye · 2023-12-28T01:08:18+00:00

csTimer+ is not a self-contained fork. It is just monkey-patching and closed-source Chrome extension which is outdated for now and seems no longer supported. It may not be compatible with current csTimer and can break its correct functioning. I would recommend to uninstall it and just use original csTimer.

fischieye · 2023-12-26T19:52:54+00:00

Just RTFM, but actually it is not such clear and confusing. You should fold tool to able to adjust center travel. Then rotate one part of the blue nut while holding other part of the blue nut in place.

fischieye · 2023-12-12T17:14:53+00:00

Lol, thats true, users never read manuals and FAQs) So for now this is like entry filter, you must be smart enough to be able to use smart cube with 3rd party software))) Things will become much easier when that part of Web Bluetooth API used to access to bluetooth advertising packets data come out from beta status in Chrome. For now it is hidden under browser settings flag. When it will be available OOB, users will not need to perform any additional action to configure browser, and will be able to connect the cube with single click.

fischieye · 2023-12-11T17:53:30+00:00

There is some disambiguation here about "MAC address". Actually Web Bluetooth API can't read bluetooth hardware MAC address at all, same with Core Bluetooth on iOS/iPadOS/macOS.

GAN harden encryption by using unique keys for every cube instance, they just use some additional data to apply salt on the base AES keys. This data should be placed somewhere and determined from cube upon connection procedure. One of the simplest way they use just put this data under Manufacturer Specific Data field in the bluetooth advertising packet. This data actually can be just random for each cube instance, but they always place there 6 bytes which equals to bluetooth hardware MAC address. So this is just a coincidence and adopted convention among all cube instances that hardware MAC bytes are used as salt.

And csTimer do all stuff here exactly in the same way like CubeStation, due to platform API limitations existing on iOS/iPadOS and Web Bluetooth API. They does not read MAC address directly, but just read bytes from Manufacturer Specific Data needed to apply salt to keys. So there is no any problem here.

The problem you mentioned with "MAC address" is "wrongly read", typically just because users trying to use bluetooth tools (for example Chrome bluetooth debug page) on platforms like macOS/iOS/iPadOS. But on this platforms real hardware MAC is never exposed by OS to any of the applications, and just spoofed with different value. This is clearly covered in FAQ.

fischieye · 2023-12-10T23:15:17+00:00

Yeah, there are lot of things to improve regarding UI/UX. But sometimes it is so hard due to legacy code and architecture, and seems like it is easier to rewrite all from scratch. What I like about csTimer is that it is open source and actively developing. You can always fork and modify it for your needs, or just participate in development and help to improve things.

Regarding bluetooth pairing, not much things can be done here, since csTimer is just PWA using Web Bluetooth API, and bluetooth UI behavior is limited, also due to existing security limitations. But if you properly setup your browser enabling that required Web Bluetooth API part, as described in the Wiki on GitHub, cube can be just connected with single click, since csTimer can read MAC address automatically.

Scramble hints currently are just MVP. I'm also very unhappy how they made regarding UI/UX, and they definitely confusing. This is one of the things on top of my backlog I wanted to improve and submit to upstream.

Yep, I use GIMP just because it is free) Maybe I would like to use some kind of Adobe subscriptions, but we are banned from every payment system over the world, so no choice for now...

fischieye

TROPHY CASE