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Hi guys. I am thinking of askingn a Chinese contact I have about making a proper style keyboard that clicks to the base of the Athena/Ameo/X7500 just like the crappy standard one. It will have proper style keys miniature but much better than the flat ones that come with it.
What do you guys think of the idea? would it sell well? How much would you be willing to pay etc? I have to look at the logistics of it. Also is there akeyboard on an existing PDA that you think would be a good template for the new one?
Also anyone know what the pinouts are on the connector on the keyboard?
You may not break even if it is only for ameo, and so simple
Actually I am thinking now a mini-usb keyboard... so less drain than bluetooth, with mini usb, and normal usb adapter -
I use the keysonic keyboard from maplin, its only about 10 inches long and very compact, usb though, I find somthing you can have some distance from the screen a lot better for typing. I personally dont have a problem with the Ameo KB. it does the job, "two finger typing" but if I was sitting writting shed loads an external would be preferable. like victoradjei said, dont think it would be profitable, to much of a nich market. Also somthing else to carry about. I now just leave my keyboard in the car, and to be fair I havnt even needed it for a while. okay, ive used it once since i got it, another £30 waisted.
I don't see the point if you can use a Bluetooth wireless keyboard
Well the thinking behind it is to REPLACE the crappy keyboard that comes with it..
Bluetoooth keyboards are fine but they drain a lot more power than a hard wired one.
I'm thinking that a keyboard that has decent keys and fits in the space and size ofthe old one woudl be cool. I had a Psion 5 and that keyboard was AMAZING compared to the Ameo and it was tiny, but still had real keys. There must be enough market for stuff for the Ameo/Athena etc otherwise why would people make cradles and other stuff for it?
johnwalk - I have the Keysonic too - great keyboard but too big to bung in a briefcase to use with the Ameo - if i want to look 'cool' with my device in a meeting or something I would need something at least half the size, and foldable to stick with the form factor of the Ameo itself.
PSION 5 keyboard rocks!
Yeah i had a PSION 5 and that keyboard was amazing i have to admit, along with the Universal Keyboard, miss that to!
Its a toughie as i dont carry my keyboard about, yet I prob would pay around £30 to have a decent keyboard that I could use with my Ameo.
I find the one that was with it very unusable and now i use HappyTappingKeyboard decent on screen keyboard app and im finding more and more reasons not to use an external keyboard.
Will keep my eye on this topic tho as Id be interested to see what happens.
Mmm, bluetooth keyboard????? Stick to direct replacement
Also i dont think the Bluetooth Keyboard would be a good idea.
Mainly because of the draining power issues, but also because most people use their bluetooth headsets with their device so pairing and using both would mean alot of messing about.
A direct replacement keyboard for the device would be great.
Just my 10cents worth!
ok I see what your trying to do now. what about trying to get something to unfold to make bigger, maybe disguised as a case or would that start to get complicated.
new keyboard feedback...
Here is what I like and don't like about the default keyboard:
Likes
- Thin.
- Easily removed/attached.
- No wires.
- Magnetic.
- Easily stored away as it doesn't take up too much space.
- Not BlueTooth.
Dislikes
- (This is a like and dislike feature)Has a powerful magnet and I'm hesitant about putting it next to my MP3 or PVR player because I don't want it wiping the hard drives. I just want to throw it in my bag but then think twice about it. I guess I need to find a compartment in my bag away from my storage devices. I don't have a problem with it next to my laptop since the HD on the laptop is shielded.
- Key feel, they seem sluggish and not firm.
- No click when pressing keys, like Universal.
- No back light.
- No option to used detached or with extension cable.
- Keys too spread apart and not easy to get to, which causes typing errors
- Easily scratched.
- No row for number keys, but I can live with this since the phone I used before the Athena was the TyTn/Hermes.
- Scratches case when in closed position.
Combining the Universal keyboard with the benefits of the Athena keyboard would be ideal, in my opinion.
I'll update my post if anything else comes to mind.
OK, I will concede the bluetooth issue, even though the 750x has a huge battery.
The best keyboard I had was the Sony KB100 for the Sony Clie series. It was a folding keyboard, with scissors action keys (like a laptop) and it connected to the unit via the charger.
It would be nice if we were to get a folding KB with magnetic attachment.
Yep yep, id have to agree
ltxda said:
Here is what I like and don't like about the default keyboard:
Likes
- Thin.
- Easily removed/attached.
- No wires.
- Magnetic.
- Easily stored away as it doesn't take up too much space.
- Not BlueTooth.
Dislikes
- (This is a like and dislike feature)Has a powerful magnet and I'm hesitant about putting it next to my MP3 or PVR player because I don't want it wiping the hard drives. I just want to throw it in my bag but then think twice about it. I guess I need to find a compartment in my bag away from my storage devices. I don't have a problem with it next to my laptop since the HD on the laptop is shielded.
- Key feel, they seem sluggish and not firm.
- No click when pressing keys, like Universal.
- No back light.
- No option to used detached or with extension cable.
- Keys too spread apart and not easy to get to, which causes typing errors
- Easily scratched.
- No row for number keys, but I can live with this since the phone I used before the Athena was the TyTn/Hermes.
- Scratches case when in closed position.
Combining the Universal keyboard with the benefits of the Athena keyboard would be ideal, in my opinion.
I'll update my post if anything else comes to mind.
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I have to say youve got all the points spot on, completely agree with you. I would take my keyboard about if:
1- It was a decent one
2- It didnt scratch the main unit.
Hi Guys. Sorry for the lack of replies I've been in Barcelona! I'm seeing what I can find out about that connector on the Ameo keyboard but so far running a blank.... if i want to match up an existing keyboard matrix somehow i need to know what the Ameo matrix is like (and hopefully the connector will tell me something!)
Also investigating some small USB keyboards and wether they could be adapted some way to use the proprietry connector directly. I used to have a PDa keybaord that used IR and that folded - was cool but a bit 'clacky' in feel. I'm trying to get my hands on a Psion 7 keyboard and 5 one too, plus one from the Revo to see what can be done there. If anyoe has any other ideas I'd be open to suggestions!
If its not possible to get the keyboard to use the connector under the Ameo would people be ok with one that attaches the unit via a magnet but plugs into the connector on the side?
If it could connect up using the standard connector thats already there then thats def the way to go, there must be a way.
Otherwise having a cable coming out and plugging into say the USB connector may be ok, but def not the preferred option.
Good luck!
OK Guys - a question....
Has anyone got a spare Athena keyboard? It can be scratched or bent or whatever as long as I can dissasemble it and get to the route of those connections!!
Then I can get my contacts in China to see if they can marry it up to a decent mini keyboard matrix....
No one got a keyboard they dont want? Even broken would do!! Come on guys this would maybe allow me to connect a real one up!
I would love to have a keyboard as similar to the universal as possible that clicked on just like the original.
It would need to be backlit, either by manual turning on, or even whenever activated, no need for fancy lightsensors.
Definitely would be a must to have the numbers on seperate buttons.
Wouldn't mind if it became somewhat thicker, if the above improvements were available.
I certainly would buy one if it became available.
Well I've got three lines of thinking:
a. A keyboard that fits the original space but has 'keys' like the the Psion 5/Revo
or
b. A very small usb keyboard that plugs into the '16 pin proprietry' plug on the Athena, or uses the connector on the base of it.
or
c. A USB to 16 pin adapter - a small and single one like the USb to PS/2 ones.
So I have 2 problems....
1. Need pinouts for the connector on the lower edge of the Athena
Note* The smallest USB keyboard I have found so far is 215mm * 110mm * 11mm, which is VERY small indeed but still bigger than the Athena... I'm going to get one anyway as I would carry it in my bag anyway.
and/or (i think 'and' as I'd like to offer both types of keyboard)
2. Somewhere I can get theh pinouts of the 16 pin connector on the side of the Athena and where to buy a plug!
Come on guys, let's make this brilliant PDA just a little bit better!
Willing to send keyboard, if...
Hi adamelphick,
what would be the adress where I would have to send the original ameo keyboard to? Would you give me one of your new keyboards when they are ready?
Best regards,
Hamartia
Any news from this project?
Me again, my Kaiser is for sale now on Ebay and I'm waiting for the end of the auction; I complained a lot about the fact it is a very bad device for entertainment, but the pad really sucks also for everyday usage !
The two windows buttons around the pad, on the top, are too small. I tried to use my Kaiser as a phone for the first time today, but when I wanted to access the contacts using one of these two windows buttons, most of the time I also pushed the pad at the same time, I was about to throw my Kaiser away !!! Of course same problems when using the other apps of the Kaiser (calendar, etc ...).
Why the hell HTC designed this ****ing pad like that ??? It is too large, and the buttons around it are too small.
If only they would have reduce the pad to make it square (like on the old TYTN) then the buttons around it would be bigger and easier to use !!!!!!!!
A child could imagine that !!!
How much was paid the ergonomic designer of the Kaiser ???????!!!!
And to that I add the fact that the looseness of this pad is really annoying for me, it makes me think I'm using a cheap device.
I really want now my Kaiser to be sold quickly because as long as I will still have it, I will always want to give it another try, and each time I'm getting so nervous that I want to break it !
This is the first pocketpc, out of the seven I had, wich makes me so angry each time I'm using it. And it will also be the one I will have owned for a so short time ! (less than a month)
Too bad because its size is very good when you think about everything it has inside, on the paper it should be a close to perfect device, but the realisation and some conception defaults makes it really a "not worth it" device for me.
The only thing I really appreciated is the integrated GPS, and that's it !!!
Actaully, I like the Kaiser pad for the most part.
The flat keypad on the original Tytn is a pain in the ass to use, as you can't really navigate by feel (useful if you are trying to hit the answer key while reaching into your pocket). Using a completely flat d-pad means you hit the center button almost every time you try to navigate, and it makes diagonals almost impossible.
(Note: I never tried the sculpted keypad of the AT&T flavor of the Tytn - thought it was ugly and liked the flat look of the HTC branded Tytn better. Never will I choose esthetics over functionality again)
There's a Kaiser variant from T-mobile that uses a similar flat keypad design, though the d-pad is a little more sculpted. I don't understand why HTC doesn't stick with one D-pad design for all of it's models. It's pretty sad when the phone that has everything you need at the moment is ruined by a lousy physical UI.
Now, I do agree with you that the elongated d-pad takes some getting used to -- and I can definitely see that being either a love it/hate it thing.
My previous PPC/phones were a Tytn I, a Toshiba e800, and an HP 4150 (HTC design). If you think the Kaiser pad is bad try the e800! HTC got it right on with the 4150 design though, possibly the best Pocket PC I've ever used.
rob.ocelot said:
Actaully, I like the Kaiser pad for the most part.
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Click to collapse
But there are still people who complain and cry for there own stupid mistakes.
A little tip: go to a shop next time and try a device before you buy.
marco899 said:
But there are still people who complain and cry for there own stupid mistakes.
A little tip: go to a shop next time and try a device before you buy.
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Click to collapse
in a shop, using the device for 5 minutes, does not tell you if you will get use to it (if the seller does allow you to play with it for 5 minutes !).
I also would be glad to know the interest of such a large pad.
Just sell it and buy an other pda and go on with your live.
Don't make such a difficulty of it.
It's not good for your stress level.
I've never had problems with my D-Pad. I'm able to use it just fine without feeling that it's that small. It cold have been a little prettier but it's okay. About the loussiness, maybe it's made that way to protect it from heavy usage. Maybe it' the same principle of ventilators that are never fixed that well on the ceiling. You can notice that it's shaking and that makes it look like it's properly placed, but that happens to protect the device from tearing the ceiling apart over the years.
Weird that the two buttons he is talking about correspond to 1) the soft menu buttons on the screen and he could thus just tap the screen as a workaround or 2) when you use the keyboard, the buttons are replaced with the hardware buttons at the top of the keyboard.
I found it weird for a while moving from a Hermes to a Kaiser - different buttons, screen sliding open the other way but YOU GET USED TO THE CHANGES!
unwired4 said:
Weird that the two buttons he is talking about correspond to 1) the soft menu buttons on the screen and he could thus just tap the screen as a workaround or 2) when you use the keyboard, the buttons are replaced with the hardware buttons at the top of the keyboard.
I found it weird for a while moving from a Hermes to a Kaiser - different buttons, screen sliding open the other way but YOU GET USED TO THE CHANGES!
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Click to collapse
I was talking about the "soft menu" buttons, but not only, also about the buttons wich are below it. All buttons around the pad in fact.
You say I can use the on screen buttons, yes ,for sure !
But then you can also say that the soft menu buttons are useless ...
I don't think they are useless, they are very usefull, they allow us to use the device with only one hand, and also I hate pressing the screen with my fingers.
If HTC would not put these soft menu buttons around the pad, I would just not buy the Kaiser. But if they put it there, they should make them easy to access (and it was very easy to do !).
I just want to say that I have quite large hands/fingers and I have no problems with those buttons at all. If I go to push one, I dont wind up pushing the ones next to it. If you have such trouble you must really have some sausage fingers. If that's the case, I dont quite see how you can blame HTC for it.
Goanna said:
I just want to say that I have quite large hands/fingers and I have no problems with those buttons at all. If I go to push one, I dont wind up pushing the ones next to it. If you have such trouble you must really have some sausage fingers. If that's the case, I dont quite see how you can blame HTC for it.
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Click to collapse
lol. i feel the same way. i have big hands and fingers, and i have no troubles with the keyboard. Must be some brought wurst fingers.
No problem for me either. Other than the Dpad should be a bit tighter, I like it better than the rest of the HTC devices.
Hi,
I am getting a Tilt next week, shipped from the USA to Singapore, and found the keyboard's numerics rather - peculiar. I decided that swapping it with a normal TYTN II keyboard would be more aesthetically pleasing.
After searching, I found the replacement HERE.
After searching the forums, I could not find any detailed how-to guides for the keyboard and only some for the LCD screen.
Can anyone provide me with detailed instructions and if possible, pictures, on how to replace my keyboard?
And by doing so will I have to peel off any warranty sticker and void the warranty?
This is a very complex procedure IMO since I am not very technically inclined.
It would be very much appreciated if someone could help me with this.
Thanks!
is that just the keypad or the entire keyboard?
i noticed that the keys are in different locations for the tytn and the tilt. wouldnt that cause conflict? for example, the wifi is in different location, and a bunch of the symbols are in different locations.
I'm not too sure what the difference is but I wanted to change the rubberish keypad, the one that has the silver keys?
The conflict part should not be a problem since I plan to flash other ROMs onto it.
http://xdafiles.100webspace.net/970787
This procedure actually modifies the screen to sit more upright... but goes through the removal of the keyboard.
Good luck. Looks like open heart surgery to me...
My gosh this is totally not what I expexted.
To put it crudely, I don't have the balls to do it. I am not going to risk spoiling my $450 device just to make it more "aesthetically pleasing".
Is this the only way to change the keyboard?!
soooo, not to start a new thread... but is it easy replacing the tilt's keyboard? my S key flew off, and i want to replace the keypad, but before i buy one, i wanted to know how easy/hard it is... any advise?
I have been using my Xperia X1 for couple of months and since I'm a heavy user of the slide-out keyboard (for Internet, SMS, e-mails etc), I noticed that some of the keys especially on the lower side, such as the Fn (blue) C, V, N, spacebar and dot (.) keys are not as responsive as other keys. I need some extra "push" on the affected keys compared to other keys. This is irritating since the letters would be "skipped" if I type fast and I always need to backspace and correct it.
I suspect it might be due to some mechanical issues on the keys and not related to the phone's software, is there a way I can fix this? Shall I bring it to the service centre since it's still under warranty?
Thanks in advance.
im starting to experience this thing too. For some reason the spacebar button needed to be press harder. ITs quite irritating because i dont like to prees button that hard when im typing
I am also experiencing a similar issue, mainly the 'v' key that irritates me, it will either not respond or be like 'vvv' when I press it.. I presume this is a hardware issue?
im thinking about getting it back to shop for a repair. But that'll take a while or so to fix the keyboard etc.
And yes, i think it is a hardware issue.
Looks like the same problem
I can't realise that I have to press harder, but the issue with the lost or double letter seems the same it's the 'n' and 'm' in my case... very annnoyinnng
below is my post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=495897
So, if it's hardware, means they fix it and after two month it starts again on heavy users???
i have the same problem too. my friend(use to work at SE service center ) suggest i go down and change the keyboard. as long and it's under warranty it's free.
my space button on the 'right' side needs extra effort. while on the 'left' side it's fine, but i'm use to using my right thumb to press space. and my fullstop button too.
my space is kapo!
Yes, my left space bar is less responsive as well and it can be quite irritating sometimes...
random multiple letters
Meh, I seem to be getting keyboard issues with mine too. Example:
o, p, l, a, i, f all seem to repeat 3 times, n gives an n and a space at the same time, m gives m and :, e repeats twice... Much annoyance, as I am usually meticulous with my spelling on emails and sms - none of this text speak crap. I have to re-read my messages before sending them now!
Anyone had any experience sending them off to K&N in the UK?
I'm proper miffed that Sony's "Next day replacement" thing only works if you are out of the country from which your device was purchased.
/rant!
Some of us picked this phone OVER the HD because of the keyboard. At the time I bought this phone, the THD is cheaper than the X1.
And guess what happens? The main defining feature of this phone messes up. We did not buy a cheap phone, or at least back then. It is stupid.
Having to press the space bar harder than other keys is lame. You can't type with confidence, having to correct the errors again and again. You can also choose to press extra hard on either the keyboard, which use alot of concentration, or press equally hard on all keys, which tires your hands out.
I can't even compose a email without my hands and mind hurting, or having missing keypresses. Miss those days, only 2 months back when I can type like a champ. Kudos to Vodaphone for discontinuing phone. Potential buyers should wait for TP2
Many face the same problem...
I think it's worth to complain officially and refer to this thread... I saw someone else opend another one... Anyway, with both threads there are a lot of users already. BTW, mine is getting worse, it's like a virus and infecting the other keys, slowly but steady. I go to a SE shop tomorrow...
AND YES, I ALSO PURCHASED IT MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE KEYBOARD...
is "au:" button workable??cos i press mine,it dint show anything..i remember it used to show something on the screen..and "n" annoy me the most,usually come out nnn when i press it..sad i only having it for 3 months..
okay i also got this problem... kinda funny 2 explain.. so looks i'm not the only 1.. but since obviously only we few have this problem (an here http://indrapr.blogspot.com/2009/03/annoying-sony-ericsson-xperia-x1s.html) it might really b hardware related...? anybody sent it in ?
pls XDA experts... could this b somehow software related?
dont think so coz i'm hard resetin and flashin the whole time and always have the same issue...
this problem really makes a huge part of the X1... useless..
plssss help...
superweijie said:
Potential buyers should wait for TP2
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Click to collapse
Yeah, sure, buying another 500 € device which is produced by HTC. HTC is not capable of producing quality. All my HTC phones (Magician, Hermes and X1 - which is produced by HTC) had heavy quality issues. It's damn chinese (no) quality control, sorry for being politically incorrect, but that's the impression I get with many products these days.
My hope was that Sony Ericsson would check the quality of HTC better than themselves but I guess I was wrong. Even though the housing is quite solid, the coat peels off by nothing more than putting it into the pocket. And now, half a year after I have bought it for 500 €, the keyboard, which has been lousy since day one, starts to get even worse, making the X1 a ripoff. I think I will send the device in, also because of the coat peeling. I can, here in germany, exchange the device three times until they have to give me my money back - I really hope this will happen.
this has just started happening to me down one side of my keyboard (the right-hand side).
does this only seem to be happening to the right-hand side of the keyboard ?
is this happening to anyone with the standard rom ?
mine is exactly the opposite. The space bar from the right hand side is too sensitive lately, when i press it is adding three or even four spaces at a time!
Sony Ericson service know this problem as well.Like they also know crack in case problem.As i explain in 'do you regret' thread they know all this problem but they dont do anything to fix.Shame on them.You have to book your phone 3 times.Afterwards they ll give you new unit.That is it.Cheers
just read your blog post, (mr creator of the thread) and it describes exactly my situation, even they sucession in which keys started having issues.
anyways, your lucky you could fix it. I couldnt even if i wanted cuz i bought it in USA from a store that sold vodafone unlocked X1s and brought it to Latin America, so im basically screwed :S
im thinkin of opene it myself and clean it or something, but if guysand SE service had to replace it, i guess that wont help much :S
I have the same problem, with button 'a'. I just need to press it harder than the other buttons. That is very very annoying, to have BK issue with device, bought because of it. And ofcourse I have the "crack" issue, and I used a glue to stop the crack from spreading out.
Such quality issues are very annoying when you buy a 500 Euro smartphone.
So I either remove the glue (I hope SE won't make a problem of that) and return it to SE for KB replacement, or clean the keyboard by myself (there is a tutorial for that, but it doesn't look very easy). But ofcourse I have to wait until the 'a' button stops working completely and than wait for SE to do something about it.
I have a question about the SE service: do you think that they will refuse to take care of the phone because I used a glue for the crack on my X1? Could that be an excuse for them to refuse my warranty?
lol...this is just ridiculous...i got the same problem, but i thought to be too stupid to hit the keys correctly. on my device the "broken" keys are m,n,dot, right space bar...
going to send it in for repair...
first had this cracked case problem and now this one...
I would like to know if there was a qwerty keyboard part replacement part for the Xperia X1. Because most of my buttons aren't even working anymore.. Help?
No need to replace the keyboard. Simply clean the contacts and your keyboard will work again. I did it too and it was a complete success.
Uhh... Lol, Im pretty sure its the keyboard part. because My I M and T will not work no matter how many times i press them.
It's very possible that it is dirt, there are quite a few threads here about keyboard "malfunction".
The cleaning is quite intricate, but it's probably the place to start.