How to interact with an MFi certified USB stick?

Question

Created Jul ’17

Replies 4

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I am utterly confused about what is needed to write an app that can read/write to a USB stick.

We want to develop an app that reads/writes to a USB stick that plugs into the lightning connector on iPhones. We are not a manufacturer as we just source our usb drives from a supplier that has MFi compliant USB drives.

I have gone round and round on this and I still don't know what exacty is needed to achieve our app being able to read/write from a USB stick plugged into the lightning port. When trying to apply for MFi certiification, Apple said you have to be part of the hardware development process to qualify and if you are not, to simple use the External framework API. But, this does not appear to be the case, as we still can't write to a MFi certified usb device with the external framework.

From what I gather, we would need to get some kind of SDK or protocol name from the USB supplier who makes the USB sticks for us. Is that a correct assumption? Apparently, our USB supplier does not have a SDK (maybe I am not asking the correct question to them).

So, if this is the case, does anyone know of a USB stick supplier that offers SDKs to use their USB sticks with an iOS app?

Sorry for rambling here but the ramble is indicative of how confused I am about a seemingly simple task of reading and writing to a USB stick from an app. Any guidence on how to proceed would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

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Answer 1

montyp OP

Jul ’17

Thanks KMT for the response.

The supplier told us that they need to submit a unique USB design that would only be for our company to Apple for approval. I assume that is for what you are talking about in terms of the chip ID. Since we would have a usb stick designed for us, we would have a unique chip ID and then just use the External Accessory Framework to access it.

Seems excessive to go through all that process, but I did not understand enough about all this to ask for a chip ID for the USB drive they supply to us currently. I will definitely use that terminology with them as I didn't know enough to even ask that, :\ It's certainly worth a try asking for it.

Thanks again for the info! It was very helpful.

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Answer 2

KMT OP

Jul ’17

>Seems excessive to go through all that process,

Considering it is a non-trivial process and not small monies, it can seem that way to the uninitiated...do your happy dance if they help w/it - good luck in any case.

Ken

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Answer 3

panneerpst OP

Oct ’18

Hello Team,

I have a additional query regarding this, as per the External Accessory Framework we need to get the manufacturer (USB drive) protocol to connect USB drive through External accessory framework. Is this manuf.status is same as protocol? Or is this something we need to work with manufacturer? Please clarify me on this?

Thanks,

Pannerpst

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Answer 4

KMT OP

Oct ’18

>we need to get the manufacturer (USB drive) protocol

See Getting the Manufacturer-Supplied Attributes here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/externalaccessory/eaaccessory

var protocolStrings: [String]

The communication protocols supported by the accessory.

If you have further questions, it may be best to start your own thread - this one has been closed, thanks.

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