Database Develop

'Proper Keyboard' for Athena

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?

FINALLY!!!! Found: Cradle WITH Audio Jack!!!

I stream XM all day at work and I have to flip my phone upside down in the cradle so that I can use the Y-cable to play the stream through my speakers. I've always hated this because, 1. it defeats the purpose of the cradle and 2. the phone is upside down.
So I tried to get smart this weekend and adopt my OEM audio Y-cable to my cheap $10 ebay cradle I bought a while ago so that I could listen to audio while the phone was docked.
That was a big mistake.
I snapped the PCB board in half and now I've got no cradle and no Y-cable for audio. So after hours of searching, I FINALLY found a cradle that has the correct USB connector, thus allowing an audio out.
http://search.stores.ebay.com/Premi...sooZ1QQfsopZ3QQsaselZ840472QQsbrsrtZdQQsofpZ0
I just ordered it and so I haven't tested it, but the connector is the right shape, so I have confidence that it will work. I only wanted to get this link up there for those who have been searching for this.

I think maybe you got too technical. When I bought my touch it came with 2 types of Y-cable one for power/3.5mm? audio connections and the other for power/usb headphones that came with my touch. I would have just plugged that into the usb port in the back of the cradle and powered it by my computer.
But since you showed a link to ebay - here is another store called the Naked Cell Phone in ebay stores. My link goes right to the HTC Touch accessories he has. and his cradles can accommodate a second spare battery. Worth a look.
Naked Cellphone HTC Touch accessories
On the left side are other options to other phones and accessories.
Have a great day
Maine Notary Net

mainenotarynet said:
I think maybe you got too technical. When I bought my touch it came with 2 types of Y-cable one for power/3.5mm? audio connections and the other for power/usb headphones that came with my touch. I would have just plugged that into the usb port in the back of the cradle and powered it by my computer.
But since you showed a link to ebay - here is another store called the Naked Cell Phone in ebay stores. My link goes right to the HTC Touch accessories he has. and his cradles can accommodate a second spare battery. Worth a look.
Naked Cellphone HTC Touch accessories
On the left side are other options to other phones and accessories.
Have a great day
Maine Notary Net
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're talking about this, right?
http://cgi.ebay.com/BATTERY-CHARGER...sidZp1742.m153.l1262?_trksid=p1742.m153.l1262
It doesn't allow you to play audio through external speakers and/or listen to the headphones while docked. While at work, I like for my phone to be upright so that I can see the screen.
I don't know what is so technical about wanting to have your phone in a docking station, where it is upright, and elevated from a surface and still have the ability to play audio through external speakers.

That looks like the one but it does not show the back -- didn't know if it had a miniUSB on the back.
Just trying to help

mainenotarynet said:
That looks like the one but it does not show the back -- didn't know if it had a miniUSB on the back.
Just trying to help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's not the back connection that is the problem. it's the cradle connection. the part where the phone connects to the cradle has to be the d-sub pin layout. htc has pins on both sides, whereas miniUSB only has one side. the pins on the opposite side are for audio. regardless of how the back is wired, without the proper connection, you won't get audio out while docked.
I tried to rig something but ended up futzing everything up.

640k - did this docking station work for your intended purpose?
I'd like to pick up a dock, and was wondering about your experience.
Thank you.

harley! said:
640k - did this docking station work for your intended purpose?
I'd like to pick up a dock, and was wondering about your experience.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
works perfectly well. definitely allows me to play all audio with teh phone upright. it includes ports for power and usb too, so it seems like you get the full function of the mini usb port with it.
my only gripe is the dock itself. it's a little clumsy to get the phone in and out and i find myself hitting the camera button when i remove the phone.
the dock also prevents use of the d-pad. which seems minor with a touch screen, but some apps respond better from the d-pad (or sometimes it's just easier). you can go up, left and right, but you cannot press down, even though it is visible.
the dock is also 2-3x the size of the phone which may be a turnoff for some people but the build seems to be quality.
however, it's definitely worth the $15. it comes with a charger and a usb cable. the audio out is a standard 3.5mm jack, so even if you don't want to play music through your computer speakers, you could always hook up headphones.

Got one!
I quite like this dock. I run "My Mobiler" on my desktop, so I can access the phone using my monitor/mouse/keyboard.
Now I can use the phone as my media player, transfer files, install apps, and (in theory) answer my phone calls hands-free using the on-board mic and my speakers. Haven't tried the last yet...

Thanks for the tip on this one, just ordered one for my car dock. Gotta love last.fm and podcasts for the commute streaming from Android on my touch!

just an fyi, the usb connection on this dock doesn't seem to be working for me anymore. i need to crack it open to see if i can find what's wrong. but i get intermediate connections and the phone goes in and out of being connected. not sure what the problem is, but i haven't used teh dock in a few weeks.

Cool i might get this. Been looking for a dock for a LONGGGGG time

Yikes, $18.00 shipping to Canada.

Cradle...
I got a deal where the usb/pc cradle, car cradle, 2 car power adapters, 2 wall chargers, 2 usb sync cables, and a soft case, and 3 pen/styluses all shipped for like $29, from Premiertek.net thru their ebay store, it also came with a belt holster that is kinda wonky but I really only wanted the 2 cradles anyway and I use my BlackBerry Perl's holster, cuz with my case it fits perfect. so I'm stoked, it allows for speakers on the usb pc cradle, and hands free built in on the car cradle... sweet. now I need to find a better mini audio plug to 3/8 sound adapter to use with the car cradle, mine only picks up the left channel.... but I have already confirmed it is my mini/3/8 adapter and not the cradles..

Anyone tried this on a vogue with android flashed?, want to know if audio out is all good.

640k said:
just an fyi, the usb connection on this dock doesn't seem to be working for me anymore. i need to crack it open to see if i can find what's wrong. but i get intermediate connections and the phone goes in and out of being connected. not sure what the problem is, but i haven't used teh dock in a few weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel bad for anyone still using a Vogue. That phone was a nightmare compared to my D1. This cradle is/was junk. I don't know/remember what the failure was, but I'm glad to have moved on. Hopefully you guys can upgrade soon. Get an Android phone, any of them. you'll be pleasantly surprised.

640k said:
I feel bad for anyone still using a Vogue. That phone was a nightmare compared to my D1. This cradle is/was junk. I don't know/remember what the failure was, but I'm glad to have moved on. Hopefully you guys can upgrade soon. Get an Android phone, any of them. you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have one

*M* said:
We have one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol - it's true!

[Q] G-Sensor not working and other questions

I've just bought an used Diamond for $82. It looks great, there are only a couple very minor scratches on the display (fixable with a little Displex methinks), came with all the standard accessories plus a genuine HTC leather pouch.
Story is as follows: The owner bought it last week for $140, but noticed later that the G-sensor only works up and down. He took to "the only authorized HTC service center in Romania" and they said something about a broken foil and asked for over $150 to fix it, so he decides to sell it. He'd just picked it up from service today (the diagnosis itself cost him $5 so they didn't even give it back for free). He could've sold it for more, but lucky me.
So, i check it out, and accidentally drop it. It falls flat on its back. Okay, it isn't hurt, everything works, i pay the guy and leave with the phone. On the subway back home everything fine, but at home when i try to connect to wifi it won't start. I reboot the thing and i get the dreaded MicropError. Then the backlight decides only to work when it wants to.
I take the thing apart only to find the wireless cable had come out of its connector, and when i lift the mobo out the display cable also detaches easily. I plug the wireless back in, and notice that the display cable doesn't "click" when the board is mounted back in its place. Aha, so this must've been it. Great service center they have, they can't even click a connector in place.
I use a flat screwdriver to make sure the cable locks firmly in place, put a piece of paper under it to keep it from moving around again, and put the phone back together. Success. I haz working HTC.
It's true that a broken G-Sensor can't be fixed, right? Not that i care too much about it, i just want to know a yes/no type answer.
So, now the main question. I already noticed that the built-in speaker is crap, something typical of WinMo devices as far as i've seen. Now, the supplied headphones are also crap and it doesn't have a jack adapter either. Before i slice the handsfree and patch my Samsung in-ears onto it, i want to know if it sounds good on quality headphones. I don't need it loud as the Samsungs are plenty sensitive, but i need good bass. I have a Sony Ericsson w595 and it's got really powerful bass. I used to have a HP iPAQ rx4240, and it was loud, but it was miles behind the SE phone in sound quality and bass.
The main idea is that the HTC will replace one of my two phones - either the Nokia N93i or the SE w595. The N93i is held in one piece by superglue only and sometimes i need to restart it before it will accept a charge (and it's a PAIN opening Symbian menus for the first time after you restart it). The w595 i got as a gift this summer and is in pristine shape complete with protective foil applied to display. So i could easily sell it for what i paid for the HTC.

Dell Multimedia Dock - Hacked Car Mount

I originally intended to post my testing in DJ_Steve's honeystreak thread but as a lurker I have not yet earned the privilege. Instead I will document my hack job working toward the 10 post minimum.
Last weekend I mounted the multimedia dock in my Subaru Legacy GT. The 2005 model doesn't have nav but had a spot for it used as a storage cubby.
I used two 6" threaded rods, four nuts and washers, and two wingnuts for the front. I drilled small reliefs/recesses in the front of the dock for the "wings" to anchor in, and tightened the nuts/washers behind the mount. This put the dock on solid rails. I then drilled two .25" holes near the top of the small cubby along the back wall and put the rods through the holes deep enough to make the top of the streak nearly flush with the cubby.
I then vampire tapped the back of the cigarette lighter in the dash adding a lighter socket behind it, and installed a two usb port adaptor. Ran the multimedia dock power cable up the back and into the cubby, as well as an audio line in to the back of the stereo. For a little added security, I put two 3M loop portion circles on the back of the streak on either side of the Dell logo (this is where the back of the device hits the cubby door bottom edge). I put the hook portion (aka "the fuzzy side") along the bottom edge of the cubby door to both anchor the streak and soften the blow when the door closes on the connector.
Pics to follow.
Technical info:
Volume is good, but not as high as the carpc's USB soundcard on the old system I removed in this process.
The dock app doesn't seem to work in Steve's 3.1 mod, because I suspect it's not present. I do get the prompt to disable the speakers when docking in 3.1.
Flashed back to stock, rooted and removed TMobile nonsense (I have the wifi version) and the dock is working great.
Anyone know if there is a simple .APK backup I can perform and install in 3.1 to get this back?
Other devices:
Entourage PocketEdge 7" 2.2 Ermine
Epic 4G Syndicate Frozen Rom 1.1.1

You posted in the correct spot; no sense derailing the HoneyStreak thread.
This sounds like an awesome mod. Can't wait to see those pics!

I just wonder if Steve may not be aware that this feature doesn't function. I wouldn't spam the thread with the install information.
I am willing to donate a dock if it would help (or more accurately, funds to aqcuire one locally).
Either way I will snap some pics tomorrow and hopefully inspire someone else to make their homebrew mount out of the OEM dock.

External Touchscreen / Nook Home Dock

Hey everybody!
I just went through my electronics-box and found an old 15.4" LCD screen that I ripped from a broken Laptop a couple of years ago. Also a couple of days ago, there was a post on engadget about some chinese company, that sells the electronics for the type of LCD screen that I have. That made me thinking what to do with it:
Since I think the Nook is a perfect device for traveling around, I don't like it just to lie around at home. So my thought was, if it would be possible, or even has already been done, to fit the screen with some touch capability and build some kind of docking station for the Nook:
I come home, put it in the dock and the bigger screen takes all the functionality of the Nook screen (for displaying some media for example). Also of course it should charge the battery.
When I leave the House, I just take the Nook out of the Dock and have the normal Nook behaviour.
This is just a brief idea and I have not put any thoughts about the feasibility of such a project into it. What do you think about it?

That is a pretty cool idea! I would love to see you go through with it. I have a feeling that the cable might be an issue.... Is it even possible to transfer images through a microUSB plug? That would be the only thing that I see that might end up as an issue. My question would be, would it require additional software to make the image work appropriately with the monitor?

External display
I am searching for this functionality for a very long time.This is the first time I have seen a post related to that.
I would be happy atleast connecting nook to a dell monitor.

It may be possible using the display link drivers from the link attached . This is some thing I have been trying to make happen since i bought a car with out gps , I would love to mount a touch screen in the car then connect my android devices to it so i have all the same functions on a larger more driver friendly screen . http://libdlo.freedesktop.org/wiki/

Looks like it's been done, just about.
http://hackaday.com/2011/10/10/how-to-build-a-23-android-tablet/
You just need to expose the connections and add a switch of sorts...

very intriguing I might have to try this.

thank you for posting this
I think...I MAY try this at some point.
its just too cool not to. Im not sure what I would use it for though