Hi All,
With all the amazing progress with Bluetooth in CM7, I'm left with one question: is increasing the Bluetooth range on the Nook Color a possibility using nothing but software?
I've got a Motorola S305 and A2DP stereo media is spotty at best. It has occurred to me, given my limited knowledge, that this is likely to be a hardware issue (there's been some previous discussion over the length of the antenna available on the chip) rather than something which can be solved in software.
Does anyone with more knowledge than me have a feel for whether or not a software solution to increasing Bluetooth range might be likely? If so, I'll be waiting patiently, but if not, I'm going to head out and pick up a set of headphones.
Finally, just want to say thanks to all the devs for their amazing work. The Nook Color is the best tablet on the market, but that's only because of you all.
Thank you.
Tying the antenna into the headphone jack would have made sense -- that's how many portable FM radio "walkmen" were designed.
Has the idea been floated that the reason Barnes & Noble left off the Bluetooth feature was exactly because the hardware in the end proved incapable?
The Range issue is most likely a Software issue, the Bluetooth Radio is using the same Antenna as the Wifi, so there is not a problem there. Give the devs time and they will figure it out.
Also i don't see how the Hardware would be incapable. this device is based of a referance design from TI themselves the only reason there is even Bluetooth in the device is because its so tightly integrated you would have to replaced the whole WIFI chip itself. everything in the Nook was designed to go together by TI.
The hardware is not the issue on this its software.
xdabr said:
Tying the antenna into the headphone jack would have made sense -- that's how many portable FM radio "walkmen" were designed.
Has the idea been floated that the reason Barnes & Noble left off the Bluetooth feature was exactly because the hardware in the end proved incapable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why exactly Barnes & Noble did not include Bluetooth is a real mystery to me. I can only assume they didn't want to deal with the headache of helping customers troubleshoot BT connectivity issues with a million different headsets keyboards and gaming controllers. Limit the ability of users to add third party hardware and you reduce your support calls. (btw howthe f%$£€k do you type a comma with the thumb keyboard!?)
dsf3g said:
(btw howthe f%$£€k do you type a comma with the thumb keyboard!?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hold period.
dsf3g said:
why exactly Barnes & Noble did not include Bluetooth is a real mystery to me. I can only assume they didn't want to deal with the headache of helping customers troubleshoot BT connectivity issues with a million different headsets keyboards and gaming controllers. Limit the ability of users to add third party hardware and you reduce your support calls. (btw howthe f%$£€k do you type a comma with the thumb keyboard!?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember that B&N was designing and marketing a color E-Reader - not a tablet. The fact that the NC can perform as a pretty good tablet is a result of folks like us messing with them -- and B&N may be taking notice of the fact.
I suspect it's more likely that B&N simply spec'd wifi, and the actual Nook designers used a readily available wifi chip that just happened to also have BT (as a lot do)...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App
I read somewhere during the early days of NC hacking that bluetooth is probably there because the common chip WITH bluetooth was cheaper than the special one without it.
As for boosting through software- I have no idea.
Antenna "boosting" ideas I have seen include internal soldering (not worth it to me at this point) and software changes.
I have no clue what might be possible.
But I think it should be easy to toss a headphone cable in and see if it does anything to the range.
Mine seems to have about 2 to 3 foot range.
therealguppy said:
The Range issue is most likely a Software issue, the Bluetooth Radio is using the same Antenna as the Wifi, so there is not a problem there. Give the devs time and they will figure it out.
Also i don't see how the Hardware would be incapable. this device is based of a referance design from TI themselves the only reason there is even Bluetooth in the device is because its so tightly integrated you would have to replaced the whole WIFI chip itself. everything in the Nook was designed to go together by TI.
The hardware is not the issue on this its software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that sounds good to me! I prefer to choose to believe therealguppy.
bluetooth range
I can get about 2 foot with the keyboard but my motorola S9-HD have to be on top of the unit for them to work. I know the developers are the best at what they do and i am fairly confident they will find a solution.
tj!2k7 said:
hold period.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMFG, only a friggin' acne riddled hacker* who spends all day typing IP addresses into his device would set the period as default and the comma as the "hold and wait" character.
(*Just kidding, Mr. acne riddled hacker, and thanks for putting the time into developing cool stuff for Android!)
dsf3g said:
OMFG, only a friggin' acne riddled hacker* who spends all day typing IP addresses into his device would set the period as default and the comma as the "hold and wait" character.
(*Just kidding, Mr. acne riddled hacker, and thanks for putting the time into developing cool stuff for Android!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you type more commas than periods then you need to work on shortening your typical sentence structure.
RoboRay said:
If you type more commas than periods then you need to work on shortening your typical sentence structure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Classic!!!
dsf3g said:
OMFG, only a friggin' acne riddled hacker* who spends all day typing IP addresses into his device would set the period as default and the comma as the "hold and wait" character.
(*Just kidding, Mr. acne riddled hacker, and thanks for putting the time into developing cool stuff for Android!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If one was to be on the stock B&N rom and is to use it as primarily a book reader, the comma is rarely used.
You can always download a different keyboard, there are tons available (SwiftKey, KeyPurr, Swype, Stock 2.3 Gingerbread, etc).
Anyways, the bluetooth chip is the same as the Droid 2/Droid X, right? The bluetooth range on the X is great, so eventually this software-limitation should be gone.
See also the intriguing longer range Bluetooth PAN tweaking at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1013934
Related
Has anyone used one of these and do you think it would work with the NC? Not having bluetooth (at least for the moment, maybe it can be enabled) is a downer for a tablet but a google search showed that they are on the market. Im wondering if that could be used as an input solution.
bump, or support for usb mouse/keyb
busyychild said:
bump, or support for usb mouse/keyb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think lots of folks are waiting for CM6 which might unlock the NC bluetooth stack offering mouse, wiimote, and keyboard goodness with it.
norkoastal said:
I think lots of folks are waiting for CM6 which might unlock the NC bluetooth stack offering mouse, wiimote, and keyboard goodness with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm hoping. CM6 enabled Bluetooth keyboard and wiimote on my phone, which didn't work on the stock system.
norkoastal said:
I think lots of folks are waiting for CM6 which might unlock the NC bluetooth stack offering mouse, wiimote, and keyboard goodness with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this hope ever get realized? From what I can tell cm6 came out Dec.6.
I'm trying to get either a bt or usb keyboard working on Nook color
good idea: do a teardown
Sorry, didn't do enough reading. Part of the cm6 references are requests to tear down the device to see its bt and usb otg capabilities:
From the donation thread:
rboatright said:
I STRONGLY SUPPORT ka6sox's need to tear a nook color down for analysis to the remove chips from the board level (this is called "salting" a board... I have no idea why, perhaps because like putting salt on a slug, it's dead when you're done.)
Here are some things we need hardware teardown to identify....
Bluetooth is enabled or disabled by putting +V on a pin on the UNDERSIDE of the wl1230 chip. No way to tell if BT is enabled without a teardown.
USB chip on the board is capable of USB master and USB otg mode, however the correct strapping of the voltage regulators supporting that chip can not be identified from above.
The extra pins on the USB connector the NC uses dissappear into the inside of the board, there is no way to ensure that they are MERELY power connectors.
FM Radio is enabled with +v on a pin just as the BT is. Again requiring a teardown.
There may be jtag pads available near the CPU, this would allow devs to have serial access to the CPU during boot to develop custom kernels, at the present time, there is NO CONSOLE during boot. This would help. Again, no way to identify them without teardown.
it is possible that an fm antenna can be easily attached to a test pad. But we won't know until we know if the fm output is DIRECTED to a test pad.
there's more, but that alone justifies ripping a nook color to bits.
Eugenekay has agreed to buy a board for this purpose if the community agrees it's a good use of funds, and ka6sox is uniquly qualified to do it, since he's done it before...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the consensus seams to be that it isn't feasible for now, but might be in the future?
It would certainly be nice if it were, I'm planning on starting some college courses this spring and would love to be able to do quick note taking without having to lug around(not to mention the extra cost) another netbook or something similar. I'm just not fast enough with the software keyboard to keep up with a lecture.
PS- for those of us who are new here, what is CM6?
It is custom ROM that could be flashed on your nook in the future.
http://www.cyanogenmod.com/
Back to the heart of the matter
cabbieBot said:
Has anyone used one of these and do you think it would work with the NC? Not having bluetooth (at least for the moment, maybe it can be enabled) is a downer for a tablet but a google search showed that they are on the market. Im wondering if that could be used as an input solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
busyychild said:
bump, or support for usb mouse/keyb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?Has anyone achieved any of the two work arounds? A wifi/USB keyboard solution?
norkoastal said:
I think lots of folks are waiting for CM6 which might unlock the NC bluetooth stack offering mouse, wiimote, and keyboard goodness with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please don't mention the Bluetooth possibilities. Until they salt that board, I just can't handle the stress of thinking about it. Just typing this part of the post makes my fingers tremble. I know, I probably need help.
vizographic said:
?Has anyone achieved any of the two work arounds? A wifi/USB keyboard solution?
Please don't mention the Bluetooth possibilities. Until they salt that board, I just can't handle the stress of thinking about it. Just typing this part of the post makes my fingers tremble. I know, I probably need help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bluetooth? I hope you don't pass out from the excitement after reading the link below,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=897934
Now that Bluetooth is working (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=989637), does anyone have any suggestions for good Bluetooth keyboards?
Nooter said:
Now that Bluetooth is working (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=989637), does anyone have any suggestions for good Bluetooth keyboards?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dealextreme.com has a foldable bluetooth keybard that folds into a package about the size of two iPhones 4s stacked. They're asking a little less than$ 70.
I'm just venting, but I've spent more than my fair share of time screwing with this thing, and in spite of having to play with cooked software, it's great - with two exceptions! This thing would be perfect it had: gps, mic, and bluetooth!
Okay forget the gps but the Mic and Bluetooth would have rocked! Okay, just the mic....man this thing is driving me so crazy! I can't use Skype! I just wish the executives at Barnes and Noble would have been a little more considerate of my needs when they built this thing!!!
I know what you do you want for $250....simple a mic!!! I would have paid $260!!
Merry Christmas!
Heh I agree that the lack of a microphone is troublesome.
I got the nook for the sole purpose to root and tinker with.
I knew what I bought, but still the lack of a mic is the one thing that is nagging me. But to use the nook as an XBMC remote is awesome, so I take comfort in that
Sent from my NOOK Color using XDA App
Instead of venting, why don't you donate to the NC teardown fund? Once a NC has been taken apart piece by piece, we may reveal the ability to activate bluetooth.
Wonder if there's some way to write drivers to share my Android phone's mic/camera with the NC over wifi. I know there's a GPS over Bluetooth driver. Conceptually it should be possible to access devices over Wifi, just a matter of someone writing the software.
i am falling in love with nook color and would buy it right know if it had 3g (gsm) module.
Do you guys think it is possible to have 3g in next version of nook color? i found on net that the chip the nook is running on is capable of 3g module (i think its the same chip the ipad is using), so i am wondering...or if the chip is capable of 3g, i read the donation and teardown forum, will it be possible to have it on this device?
sorry if off topic.. i am new to this forums thanks
vendul said:
i am falling in love with nook color and would buy it right know if it had 3g (gsm) module.
Do you guys think it is possible to have 3g in next version of nook color? i found on net that the chip the nook is running on is capable of 3g module (i think its the same chip the ipad is using), so i am wondering...or if the chip is capable of 3g, i read the donation and teardown forum, will it be possible to have it on this device?
sorry if off topic.. i am new to this forums thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a pretty thin line between unlocking functionality and stealing. Even if 3G could be unlocked, you'd need credentials from a carrier to use it. None of the carriers are going to allow you to register a hacked device on their network so the only way to get actual 3g would be to steal it...
Even if you happen to have a data plan from the correct company (Verizon, Id guess) you could use to login, carriers charge per device with access. Tethering is sort of a moral grey area, but I don't think this would be... it'd be stealing 3g from Verizon (or whoever).
Sent from my NookColor using XDA app
i see...i was more towards the option of BN making version of nook color with 3g, cause i can see what u ment with just allowing 3g.
thanks for reply, i will wait a bit maybe to see how things evolve...
Jason Foss said:
There is a pretty thin line between unlocking functionality and stealing. Even if 3G could be unlocked, you'd need credentials from a carrier to use it. None of the carriers are going to allow you to register a hacked device on their network so the only way to get actual 3g would be to steal it...
Even if you happen to have a data plan from the correct company (Verizon, Id guess) you could use to login, carriers charge per device with access. Tethering is sort of a moral grey area, but I don't think this would be... it'd be stealing 3g from Verizon (or whoever).
Sent from my NookColor using XDA app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wifi tether from phone ftw
Priceless feature!
focusfre4k said:
wifi tether from phone ftw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw a post that Bluetooth is coming with the Android 2.2 update in January - which will allow for audio books.
Occip got BT reenabled. Check the Development section for instructions if you're running Froyo.
beerjs said:
I saw a post that Bluetooth is coming with the Android 2.2 update in January - which will allow for audio books.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you provide a link to that post? So far what I've heard is that B&N have an update for 2.2 planned but denied that it was being released in January. Also, I don't recall them saying squat about BT.
beerjs said:
I saw a post that Bluetooth is coming with the Android 2.2 update in January - which will allow for audio books.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, where did you hear this? Sounds like an echo of a rumour of a wish to me.
ColdH33t said:
Occip got BT reenabled. Check the Development section for instructions if you're running Froyo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Careful with the wording... since at this point even Occip would not claim full success... he has verified that it is connected to power and the CPU.
(of course logic leads us to the conclusion that bluetooth will work since the hardware hurdles have been leapt)
rhoadkill said:
Heh I agree that the lack of a microphone is troublesome.
I got the nook for the sole purpose to root and tinker with.
I knew what I bought, but still the lack of a mic is the one thing that is nagging me. But to use the nook as an XBMC remote is awesome, so I take comfort in that
Sent from my NOOK Color using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Leo Carpi said:
I'm just venting, but I've spent more than my fair share of time screwing with this thing, and in spite of having to play with cooked software, it's great - with two exceptions! This thing would be perfect it had: gps, mic, and bluetooth!
Okay forget the gps but the Mic and Bluetooth would have rocked! Okay, just the mic....man this thing is driving me so crazy! I can't use Skype! I just wish the executives at Barnes and Noble would have been a little more considerate of my needs when they built this thing!!!
I know what you do you want for $250....simple a mic!!! I would have paid $260!!
Merry Christmas!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you realise that the nook color was made primarily as an Ebook reader right. there is no need for a mic on an ebook reader. also the nook was made for the public not for root happy techies. if it was built for us it would come with a stock rom ffc and all other android goodness
beerjs said:
I saw a post that Bluetooth is coming with the Android 2.2 update in January - which will allow for audio books.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you back that up with something better than "My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris enabling Bluetooth at B&N last night"?
Where did you hear that? Is it credible?
mrschwarz said:
Where did you hear that? Is it credible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 2.2 in January came from a retracted story at various sites - it was confirmed to be wrong several times on the forum here. B&N said 2.2 next year sometime...they're still pretty vague about it.
For what it is worth (should be as good as a my brother's girlfriend's mother's cousin's friend) - it was posted on the facebook/NookInColor group from BN. It should be somewhat reliable....
greenmky said:
The 2.2 in January came from a retracted story at various sites - it was confirmed to be wrong several times on the forum here. B&N said 2.2 next year sometime...they're still pretty vague about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't count on anything for the NC. I wish, I rooted mine, but returned...
Calvin,
A couple of thoughts here:
1) The developer program where you've landed here is precisely to support the folks who are building such apps to enhance the user experience on the device
2) There are no plans to just throw open the doors on the device. Don't hold your breath for open access to the Android Market on the device...
Thanks for your interest.
Ron
Ronan Mandel
Developer Technical Services
Barnes & Noble Inc.
________________________________________
From: Calvin Jung [[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2010 11:10 AM
To: Nook Developer - Tech
Subject: word program
Will the NC ever be able to utilize a "word" type program to write, cut, and paste. This is such a great device and for BN to not forward this device to it's potential capability would be economically stupid. You open this device up it'll blow the ipad to the back shelf.
I have a NC and have till the end of Jan. to return...for me, if there seems to be no forward movement to 2.2 or other apps. I will return mine.
Hopefully you have the same thoughts from NC lovers, BTW it is a GREAT reading device...time to take it to another level!
CJ
I'm looking for an answer to this question and can't seem to find it anywhere. As we know, stock rooted is limited to two touch points. I'm told the iPad supports 10. I would love to have just 3-4 TBH. Everywhere I look, I get differing answers. Some say the limitation is hardware. Some say it's a minor software thing. Some say it's at the kernel level. If I run CM7 or HC or Nookie Froyo do I get more than two touch points? Would I need to flash a new kernel? I'm running some gaming emulators and can't press A, B, Start and Select at the same time and it's killing me. Just 3-4 touchpoints would vastly improve my quality of life at this point.
A. Nonymous said:
I'm looking for an answer to this question and can't seem to find it anywhere. As we know, stock rooted is limited to two touch points. I'm told the iPad supports 10. I would love to have just 3-4 TBH. Everywhere I look, I get differing answers. Some say the limitation is hardware. Some say it's a minor software thing. Some say it's at the kernel level. If I run CM7 or HC or Nookie Froyo do I get more than two touch points? Would I need to flash a new kernel? I'm running some gaming emulators and can't press A, B, Start and Select at the same time and it's killing me. Just 3-4 touchpoints would vastly improve my quality of life at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure other, more knowledgeable devs will have some input, but I will drop what i have here from personal work.
From reading the specs, we have a chip that SHOULD support up to 4 unique touch points. What we have at the software level however, is a very confusing driver that was modded by B&N, and does not seem to support more than 2. For a while, i worked on modding the driver, but could never get more than 2 points. I also used other drivers, that in theory should have worked, but would not seem to register any touches (its rather hard using a nook with no touchscreen).
Now, i don't want to say its impossible, unless it can be shown that the hardware itself is in some way lacking. The touchscreen support seems to be only limited at the kernel level, and a well written driver SHOULD support it. When we will see it though, is a mystery.
Easier would be just to buy a cheap used wiimote and a "classic controller" (get a nyko one for $10 at gamestop.)
$20 and you got yourself a portable gaming machine. It really is worth the cash to have a controller for all of those emulators. Hell, you could probably get away with just the Wiimote if you're just playing Nes/Gameboy.
Edit: Looking at amazon there are a lot of choice combinations for under $30 with shipping included. Including a Nyko Wireless Wii Classic Controller for $26 open box.
I realize I'm not addressing the touch point question but wouldn't it really make life easier to just get a Wiimote? I mean, if emulators are your thing, its hard to beat using an actual controller.
Gin1212 said:
Easier would be just to buy a cheap used wiimote and a "classic controller" (get a nyko one for $10 at gamestop.)
$20 and you got yourself a portable gaming machine. It really is worth the cash to have a controller for all of those emulators. Hell, you could probably get away with just the Wiimote if you're just playing Nintendo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that would definitely work, but then it's just one more thing I have to carry around. Then I have to worry about propping the screen up and the screen falling over when I'm using it, etc, etc... I just wanna kick back on the couch and play NBA Jam. But I have to hold a direction button, turbo and shoot all at the same time to pull off the classic dunks which obviously isn't possible with only two touches. I was just curious a) where the limitation is (hardware, Eclair, kernel, etc...) and b) is there another ROM out there that fixes it.
If it's an Eclair issue, then I'm more than happy to burn Nookie Froyo to an SD card and boot it when I wanna get my game on. If it's a hardware issue, then I'm SOL of course and if it's a kernel issue, there may be a potential fix somewhere. I had just looked and hadn't found any definitive answer. I'm not a dev so I have no clue where to even start. It would just be nice to have more than two touches.
Oh I see, sorry =(. Truth be told you'll probably just have to live without that game when on the go... I think all of the roms are going to have the same issues though, as it's my understanding they all started with the base B&N kernel and built it up.
And I know what you mean, it can be a pain to carry that stuff around if your job or life don't support it. I work in the school system so I can easily throw the stuff in my backpack for breaks. =\
Edit: I don't know what your uses of the Nook Color are, but for around a $100 you can get a used PSP that can support emulators and is very pocket friendly.
A. Nonymous said:
Yeah, that would definitely work, but then it's just one more thing I have to carry around. Then I have to worry about propping the screen up and the screen falling over when I'm using it, etc, etc... I just wanna kick back on the couch and play NBA Jam. But I have to hold a direction button, turbo and shoot all at the same time to pull off the classic dunks which obviously isn't possible with only two touches. I was just curious a) where the limitation is (hardware, Eclair, kernel, etc...) and b) is there another ROM out there that fixes it.
If it's an Eclair issue, then I'm more than happy to burn Nookie Froyo to an SD card and boot it when I wanna get my game on. If it's a hardware issue, then I'm SOL of course and if it's a kernel issue, there may be a potential fix somewhere. I had just looked and hadn't found any definitive answer. I'm not a dev so I have no clue where to even start. It would just be nice to have more than two touches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As i had just mentioned, it is Kernel based, and not limited to any one rom. Assuming a driver can be made, it SHOULD bring multi touch to EVERY rom...
Divine_Madcat said:
As i had just mentioned, it is Kernel based, and not limited to any one rom. Assuming a driver can be made, it SHOULD bring multi touch to EVERY rom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That answers my question. Just not the answer I wanted. Writing an app is stretching my skills. Screwing with the kernel is something I do not have the abilities to do.
I have seen this:
http://www.sensefly.com/products/swinglet-cam/
and I want one. Trouble is they are $10k!
Got me thinking, I have a number of old GPS enabled smartphones (WM, but I also have my current Android HTC Desire).
It occurred to me that the smartphone has enough power and intelligence to know where it is, and how far off a pre-programmed track it is, and could communicate it's current location via GSM so you could track it on a laptop.
Does anyone out there think that an interface could be built to allow the smartphone to use the error from track to operate the control surfaces of a model aircraft to bring it back on track and to trigger a camera (not the awful in-built ones) to take a pre determined shot?
I have no idea how to programme such a thing, but would be willing to learn if you folk thought this had legs.
I'm sure you could have a program click some shots when its in a predetermined location... just like apps will turn on and off wifi or anything else depending on location.
Having the phone at the same time know exactly what to do with camera would be a lot more code. You'd really have to do some testing to see what would work up that high but I'm sure it could be done.
Not that it's THAT cheap, but much cheaper at $1500. It is a DIY kit so you'll have to be somewhat tech savvy, but this is just as fun if not more fun. Click the link below the vid to get to their site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyYujjP5J-k
makr8100 said:
Not that it's THAT cheap, but much cheaper at $1500. It is a DIY kit so you'll have to be somewhat tech savvy, but this is just as fun if not more fun. Click the link below the vid to get to their site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyYujjP5J-k
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice, I think it would be possible to make one of these for a lot less than $1500. The thing is, I've kinda got my head into the pilotless device - something that you can set a course and off it goes, does its thing and then comes back. When you think about it, the opportunities for that sort of device (most of them illegal) would be endless.
Thanks for your input folks.
The link I posted does have GPS, although it doesn't seem to have a GPS triggered camera. The creator uses a video camera, and with a high enough quality video camera you should be able to take still image captures. The downside is you'll be stuck with 1920x1080 resolution, which may not be high quality enough for your purposes. I'm sure it would be possible to rig a camera's button to an electrical relay triggered by the GPS unit signaling the correct coordinates.
topic.
I, for one, am paying close attention to any functionality like this to surface, then it'll truly meet my needs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
littleemp said:
topic.
I, for one, am paying close attention to any functionality like this to surface, then it'll truly meet my needs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would love xbmc on it. i have an old dell as my htpc and my pi as my tv computer. id love it!
I want this too.
Some people say to just get a pi but what they don't understand is with a pi which is 35$ alone you still don't get an SD card, wireless adapter, HDMI cord or even a case. Not to mention iirc Chrome cast is clocked 300Mhz higher than the raspberry with even lower power consumption.
thatbigmoose said:
I want this too.
Some people say to just get a pi but what they don't understand is with a pi which is 35$ alone you still don't get an SD card, wireless adapter, HDMI cord or even a case. Not to mention iirc Chrome cast is clocked 300Mhz higher than the raspberry with even lower power consumption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
damn. We need someone on this stat!
Lookin forward to replacing my original xbox with this, for my new xbmc media player...
littleemp said:
topic.
I, for one, am paying close attention to any functionality like this to surface, then it'll truly meet my needs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing here. This is really why I bought one.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4
I cant wait for this. As soon as this happens I will buy a chromecast for all the tvs in the house
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 4
Cast Xmbc over Chromecast using Avia Player
Hi,
You can now cast XMBC over Chromecast using Avia Player($2.99 Addon Charge). A video tutorial is up on You Tube.
Using Smartphone - XMBC can be watched over Chromecast through Avia Player which costs $2.99. YouTube Video shows how.
http://youtu.be/vS-7hwYe4nw
Using Computer - XMBC can be watched over Chromecast through Avia Player which costs $2.99. YouTube Video shows how.
http://youtu.be/NCgP0r5Dvp8
Good Luck
It will never be a XBMC stick...
What you might get though is have XBMC stream to it and support other DIAL devices, once the XBMC devs stop being stubborn and listen to what their Users have been asking for.
They seem to think DIAL isn't worth supporting since they already support UPnP.
Asphyx said:
It will never be a XBMC stick...
What you might get though is have XBMC stream to it and support other DIAL devices, once the XBMC devs stop being stubborn and listen to what their Users have been asking for.
They seem to think DIAL isn't worth supporting since they already support UPnP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Rockchip MK808 stick runs XBMC and Cheapcast..indeed most Android phones you might have lying around collecting dust will do. I don't use it much, but the wife loves her Android games on the big xcreen.
wideasleep1 said:
My Rockchip MK808 stick runs XBMC and Cheapcast..indeed most Android phones you might have lying around collecting dust will do. I don't use it much, but the wife loves her Android games on the big xcreen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your Rockchip Stick has everything needed to navigate/control it via BT Same with Phones...CCast has none of this.
Whats more is the fact that Source compatibility is going to be a real problem there, You can't store content on the CCast and while reading from a network source is possible that source had better be CCast compatible or it won't play well.
But even if you manage to get past all those hurdles you have one bigger issue to contend with that you can't really solve....
Google will never Whitelist it as it does not conform to their UI Guidelines at all.
I would much rather see XBMC add the ability to send content to DIAL devices because the PC/MAC/LINUX versions of XBMC could easily add Transcoding to their system if they wanted to and remove the source compatibility issue and it would allow two people in the house to watch the same content on different TVs.
Asphyx said:
Your Rockchip Stick has everything needed to navigate/control it via BT Same with Phones...CCast has none of this.
Whats more is the fact that Source compatibility is going to be a real problem there, You can't store content on the CCast and while reading from a network source is possible that source had better be CCast compatible or it won't play well.
But even if you manage to get past all those hurdles you have one bigger issue to contend with that you can't really solve....
Google will never Whitelist it as it does not conform to their UI Guidelines at all.
I would much rather see XBMC add the ability to send content to DIAL devices because the PC/MAC/LINUX versions of XBMC could easily add Transcoding to their system if they wanted to and remove the source compatibility issue and it would allow two people in the house to watch the same content on different TVs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's no surprise really. I'm still somewhat surprised folks want so much from what amounts to a hdmi-alternative wireless dongle. Sure it's handy and works great for the services it currently supports (tab casting aside..simply atrocious for me) and it's dirt cheap to be a no brainer. But to get real server services requires an entirely different approach: a front end/back end and expandable, stable database. CC ain't gonna take us there.
wideasleep1 said:
Well that's no surprise really. I'm still somewhat surprised folks want so much from what amounts to a hdmi-alternative wireless dongle. Sure it's handy and works great for the services it currently supports (tab casting aside..simply atrocious for me) and it's dirt cheap to be a no brainer. But to get real server services requires an entirely different approach: a front end/back end and expandable, stable database. CC ain't gonna take us there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the age-old conundrum - specialized device, or general-purpose device?
It's like getting a dishwasher versus a housekeeper.
Dishwasher is predictable and doesn't ask for a raise or days off but it won't wash or fold your clothes.
Housekeeper can wash dishes and wash and fold clothes, but might ask for a raise or days off.
The best solution really depends on the individual situation.
wideasleep1 said:
Well that's no surprise really. I'm still somewhat surprised folks want so much from what amounts to a hdmi-alternative wireless dongle. Sure it's handy and works great for the services it currently supports (tab casting aside..simply atrocious for me) and it's dirt cheap to be a no brainer. But to get real server services requires an entirely different approach: a front end/back end and expandable, stable database. CC ain't gonna take us there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I guess some folks don't realize the limitations of this device and how in some cases Less is actually more!
The simplicity of how CCast works makes it much more versatile than Miracast or DLNA Dongles,
But something like XBMC or Plex frontends which requires saving files and a Database will never be one of those things it does well.
And that doesn't even address the Navigation issues. The whole point of CCast is to make a device you can display to (Like Miracast) while off loading Power, and Navigation to another device that is much easier to write code for but doesn't require tying up the device to display (Like Miracast) a very targeted solution to a very specific problem.
bhiga said:
It's the age-old conundrum - specialized device, or general-purpose device?
It's like getting a dishwasher versus a housekeeper.
Dishwasher is predictable and doesn't ask for a raise or days off but it won't wash or fold your clothes.
Housekeeper can wash dishes and wash and fold clothes, but might ask for a raise or days off.
The best solution really depends on the individual situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just like you can run Plex off a RasPi or NAS but neither is actually a very good option to run a media server from due to the Transcoding power requirements that usually require far more power than a Pi or NAS can give you.
There are two schools of thought here....
One side wants something they can navigate and control their TV with (Lets call them the Navigators). They just want a device that will give them a better interface than their Smart TV has (Roku, GoogleTV, XBMC Etc...) or want something to make a dumb TV smart. CCast doesn't take that approach at all
The other side I'll call the ROUTERS or maybe the Remote Controllers (and I guess I am in this Group) are looking for LESS Navigation and more Mobile Device integration in the same way we have Smart Houses being controlled by our Mobile devices. I don't want to go through navigation of Menus just to see something on a particular display I would prefer to use the same controls for ALL devices and merely rout signals where I want them without having to SET UP the device I wish to display on.
Just like in a Smart House I can set the temp of one room while sitting in another I should be able to display things on a TV in another room from the same screen I am using to control the display in the room I'm in.
Essentially routing Media throughout my house the same way I do to Monitors in my production truck or TV Studio.
Imagine if I had to go to every monitor in my studio, Hit Menu, Select the app before I could get the signal I wanted on the Monitor. That seems to be what the Navigators want.
Me I don't ever want to have to change a thing on the Monitor just rout my signal to it and have it display it.
This is essentially what DIAL and the CCast is all about.
Asphyx said:
Yeah I guess some folks don't realize the limitations of this device and how in some cases Less is actually more!
The simplicity of how CCast works makes it much more versatile than Miracast or DLNA Dongles,
But something like XBMC or Plex frontends which requires saving files and a Database will never be one of those things it does well.
And that doesn't even address the Navigation issues. The whole point of CCast is to make a device you can display to (Like Miracast) while off loading Power, and Navigation to another device that is much easier to write code for but doesn't require tying up the device to display (Like Miracast) a very targeted solution to a very specific problem.
Just like you can run Plex off a RasPi or NAS but neither is actually a very good option to run a media server from due to the Transcoding power requirements that usually require far more power than a Pi or NAS can give you.
There are two schools of thought here....
One side wants something they can navigate and control their TV with (Lets call them the Navigators). They just want a device that will give them a better interface than their Smart TV has (Roku, GoogleTV, XBMC Etc...) or want something to make a dumb TV smart. CCast doesn't take that approach at all
The other side I'll call the ROUTERS or maybe the Remote Controllers (and I guess I am in this Group) are looking for LESS Navigation and more Mobile Device integration in the same way we have Smart Houses being controlled by our Mobile devices. I don't want to go through navigation of Menus just to see something on a particular display I would prefer to use the same controls for ALL devices and merely rout signals where I want them without having to SET UP the device I wish to display on.
Just like in a Smart House I can set the temp of one room while sitting in another I should be able to display things on a TV in another room from the same screen I am using to control the display in the room I'm in.
Essentially routing Media throughout my house the same way I do to Monitors in my production truck or TV Studio.
Imagine if I had to go to every monitor in my studio, Hit Menu, Select the app before I could get the signal I wanted on the Monitor. That seems to be what the Navigators want.
Me I don't ever want to have to change a thing on the Monitor just rout my signal to it and have it display it.
This is essentially what DIAL and the CCast is all about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep...I only see the CC as and 'end" device. To introduce feature creep would complicate and obscure its real value. API release and further app development will be all the enhancement it needs. Clear purpose market wise, solid community support=widespread success. Let the specialists do their thing.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
wideasleep1 said:
Yep...I only see the CC as and 'end" device. To introduce feature creep would complicate and obscure its real value. API release and further app development will be all the enhancement it needs. Clear purpose market wise, solid community support=widespread success. Let the specialists do their thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup!
For my usage, I don't need YAR (Yet Another Remote) - I already have a HTPC, but Chromecast's interface as an extension of apps I already use is much more convenient.
wideasleep1 said:
Yep...I only see the CC as and 'end" device. To introduce feature creep would complicate and obscure its real value. API release and further app development will be all the enhancement it needs. Clear purpose market wise, solid community support=widespread success. Let the specialists do their thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For years in broadcast we have used a sort of networked transmission called "The Switch" it was little more than a network router that you could send video to any TV network on "The Switch Network".
TVs are in my mind a destination for content and it doesn't really matter what kind of content it is (Music, Web, Video, Pics). CCast can turn a TV into a destination. Until TV Manfs get on board and see this is the best way to send digital signals all over the place (by Pushing instead of Pulling) the CCast will at least get the concept rolling until those Manufacturers catch up. I know for a fact Sony would LOVE to get rid of their Smart Interface department because it generates little to no revenue and is constantly having to keep up and upgrading TVs that were already bought and sold. In time whatever money they made off the TV will be spent supporting it's Smart interface to keep up with User Demand for apps when if they merely supported DIAL they wouldn't need any SMART interface at all!
Thats kind of where I hope CCast (and DIAL standard) is taking us!
bhiga said:
Yup!
For my usage, I don't need YAR (Yet Another Remote) - I already have a HTPC, but Chromecast's interface as an extension of apps I already use is much more convenient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's funny how the first wireless remotes used light to control but were then abandoned for Radio devices which were then Abandoned for IR (Light again) only to be usurped again by Radio in the form of WiFi! LOL
As they say what goes around comes around! LOL
There isn't a universal remote that can be bought that would be as versatile as my Tablet or Phone is....
Turning my Chromecast into my XBMC machine is literally why I logged into XDA today. GOGOGO!!!!
I can't wait for that. I currently play everything off an HTPC but if I don't ever need to turn it on again, good.
Asphyx said:
It's funny how the first wireless remotes used light to control but were then abandoned for Radio devices which were then Abandoned for IR (Light again) only to be usurped again by Radio in the form of WiFi! LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed... I actually had a TV that used a sonic remote, I think it might've been Zenith.
When I printed graphics using my dot-matrix* printer, certain graphics would change the channel. It was freaky at first, and pretty funny afterward.
* Kids, look that one up or go to an automotive dealership that still uses carbon-copy forms.
Asphyx said:
There isn't a universal remote that can be bought that would be as versatile as my Tablet or Phone is....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good: Indeed! Harmony is close but not as slick as native control. Hard to get more native than building it into Google Play Services!
bhiga said:
Indeed... I actually had a TV that used a sonic remote, I think it might've been Zenith.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL Yes It was a Zenith....I remember My Uncle could change the channel by Whistling! Would drive my great Grandmother Nuts!