[Q] Bluetooth Keyboard and Galaxy mini - can this work? - Samsung Galaxy Mini

Dear all,
First of all, great forum! Reading other people's posts helped me a lot to fix multiple problems.
Although I am not a big fan of starting threads myself, I am really stuck with this one. Long story short, I bought a generic no-name bluetooth keyboard for light gaming purposes while traveling.
The keyboard worked perfectly well straight from the box with my work MacBook Pro, with colleague's iPhone and with my Ubuntu netbook. Unfortunately, my Samsung Galaxy Mini didn't even "see" the device. My phone was running Gingerbread at that time (frankly, I was fine with it). Since I really wanted the keyboard to work, I decided to try out some roms. I have tried:
Cyanogenmod 7
CM 9
CM 10.1
CM 10.2
On each one of them, the phone would "see" the keyboard and pair with it, showing "connected to hid device" message, but it wouldn't actually allow me to type anything (suggesting that either the connection was immediately lost or these two devices are incompatible). I tried googling this problem and didn't find anything involving Samsung Galaxy Mini working with a bluetooth hid device. I've only found posts like this:
I recently bought a mini bluetooth keyboard that I have paired with my phone (Samsung Galaxy Mini) with no problems but I have no idea how to get the two to connect so I can use the keyboard. The keyboard works fine with my iPad, PS3, and macbook pro, just not my phone.
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Such posts would typically not get any good replies. So, essentially, my question is whether there is any hope of making these two devices work. Or should I just stop trying?
Hope that somebody could help me.
Thanks for reading

Related

Bluetooth controllers?

Are there any bluetooth controllers currently compatible with the SGS?
I know I can use the Wii controller, but I don't have a Wii, so that idea probably isn't best.
Thanks in advance.
not really an answer to your post, but...presumably either way you'd also have to buy a Bluetooth controller so it's probably just as easy to pick up a Wii one?
I would prefer something a little more portable and cheaper if at all possible
From what i've seen, the Wiimote is not working on the i9000 yet.
Correct me if i'm wrong please. (And seriously, this time i want to be wrong)
If you can get a Wii controller working, shout me - I've been trying since I got my Galaxy with every different firmware/update combination - it's a no go at the moment.
Ryan Frawley replied to an email I sent saying it's down to samsung's bluetooth drivers being modified as compared to the standard Android drivers.
As I was writing this post, I checked my mail to look up Ryan's reply, and found a reply from Samsung to a mail I sent a few days ago (last friday I think). I will post the conversation in it's entirety here, I hope the employees at Samsung do not mind, as I do quote this without permission:
Hello, and thank you for your time.
I have a question regarding connection of HID devices and, in particular, the WiiMote (Nintendo) to the phone, through applications available through Google Market.
Applications (such as 'Wii Controller IME' from Ryan Frawley) using bluetooth to cennect to certain HID devices appear to be unable to connect to the bluetooth drivers (the application fails to connect, and does not appear to be able to get as far as searching for the device).
Are there any plans to update/fix the bluetooth drivers to address this issue in upcoming firmware updates?
Does the upcoming Android 2.2 (FroYo) update address the issue, and should we so wait until the release of the 2.2 update?
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Reply:
With regard to youremail, these are questions that need to be
redirected to Android, as we do not make the applications that connect
to the Wii-mote, and also have no information on the Froyo upgrade.
I hope this has been of someassistance to you. If you do have any
further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us quoting your 210-
reference number.
Kind Regards
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My reply:
hank you for your reply to ref# XXXXXXXXXX.
I will try and contact Android customer service to expand on the query, but I have some more questions I would like to ask to clarify the situation:
- you state that Android is responsible for the applications which connect to the Wii remote. However, the Android version which is installed on the Galaxy will have been researched and developed by Samsung's own technicians.
The applications on the market are capable of connecting to the Wii remotes (and other bluetooth devices) on other Android devices - yet all applications have issues connecting through the bluetooth drivers on the Galaxy. Indeed, I have yet to find even a standard HID device which connects to the Galaxy successfully.
By it's very nature, Android is open sourced - anyone with technical know how should be able to view the internal workings of the operating system and (often in an attempt to fix problems like this) edit the underlying files.
It appears that the bluetooth drivers (along with all hardware drivers on the Galaxy), as supplied by Samsung are not open sourced. Nor do they adhere to the standards which applications on the Android market are able to connect to bluetooth.
This in turn points at problems with the Galaxy, and/or it's bluetooth drivers, which are, of course, designed and supplied by Samsung.
Please, if possible, can this issue be escalated to a technical team - I understand the issues of getting a problem raised within a multinational company; I work for one myself and deal with such issues on a daily basis.
I would greatly appreciate your help in dealiing with this issue, and getting help in raising it to the correct team/department to have the issue resolved, if it is at all possible.
Again, thank you for your time,
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As usual, I don't expect much to come from this to be honest - my previous experience with this kind of query tells me that it'll get shoved under the carpet relatively quickly.
We'll probably be waiting until a proper Cyanogen ROM turns up, or someone gets either Ryan Frawley to patch up the application side (though I'd much rather the bluetooth drivers were standardised to begin with).
PS: Anyone tried a zeemote, mini bluetooth keyboard yet? I'm tempted to throw £30 or so on a keyboard/zeemote combo but I would like to know if it's something that will work out of the box or not.
I feel the need to bump this thread, since I'm so in need of this functionality.
Well, I got an update from Samsung. This sounds very promising, I hope they follow through with what they've told me:
Thank you for contacting Samsung Electronics regarding your mobile phone.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in responding to your enquiry.
With regard to your email, this issue has been passed to our development team and has been raised with Head
Office as well. There is a solution in development and will be forthcoming shortly.
Please keep checking the website for updates on this issue.
I hope this has been of some assistance to you.
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Raised with Head Office? Hmmm...
What about connecting a PS3 official keypad (the one you attach to the PS3 controller) to the SGS? It would be useful to use in games like Quake 2 and 3, that need a physical keyboard to play. Has anyone done this? I have tried and have been unable to get it working.
The SGS can see the keypad, can pair, asks for the password but fails to connect.
AlexandreT said:
What about connecting a PS3 official keypad (the one you attach to the PS3 controller) to the SGS? It would be useful to use in games like Quake 2 and 3, that need a physical keyboard to play. Has anyone done this? I have tried and have been unable to get it working.
The SGS can see the keypad, can pair, asks for the password but fails to connect.
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Did you try this? www.appbrain.com/app/com.mymobilegear
AlexandreT said:
What about connecting a PS3 official keypad (the one you attach to the PS3 controller) to the SGS? It would be useful to use in games like Quake 2 and 3, that need a physical keyboard to play. Has anyone done this? I have tried and have been unable to get it working.
The SGS can see the keypad, can pair, asks for the password but fails to connect.
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That's the problem with most devices - the SGS will see the device and it's MAC address when scanning, but won't connect. Usually "0000" gives a very quick refusal, where anything else (the only way I've found to enter a blank PIN is to enter a digit then delete it) gives a rather long wait with "Connecting" then a message telling you it failed to connect.
Most 3rd party apps don't work either, though I've had success with the GamePro app NZTechFreak used - it's the only app I've found on the SGS up to now that does work with bluetooth. I'm pretty confident KeyPro from the same company would work, but I don't have a compatible keyboard to test.
Up to now, i've tried:
Wii remote/classic controller (original) - SGS sees controller, will not pair
Bluetooth "I-Tom" keyboard (ebay) - Despite coming with android drivers, does not work. Same symptoms as other controllers, third party app does not detect nor connect to controller.
Datel Wii Classic Controller - same as Wii controller
Zeemote - Works with GamePro drivers. Zeemote does not pair directly with SGS, it's all handled through the GamePro IME drivers/settings
I'd like to see if a PS3 controller pairs successfully, but from what you've said I doubt it very much
e: The app in the post above only has support for some very specific keyboards. By all means try it, I tried each one on my itom keyboard but nothing worked.
SquidgyB said:
Well, I got an update from Samsung. This sounds very promising, I hope they follow through with what they've told me:
Raised with Head Office? Hmmm...
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Have you got any update on this?
I am also wondering. I have been trying to pair a bluetooth mouse with no luck.
ei0haro said:
Have you got any update on this?
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Heh - nope. 'Fraid not.
[BUMP!]
Samsung has released 2.2 but still does not work.
Samsung has also released the source for many of their phones.
http ://opensource.samsung.com
It would be great to get this fixed.
Jim
jim0watters said:
[BUMP!]
Samsung has released 2.2 but still does not work.
Samsung has also released the source for many of their phones.
http ://opensource.samsung.com
It would be great to get this fixed.
Jim
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Bumpity bump bump bump
apparantly latest cyanogenmod7 for SGS works with wiimote
I might start using it after the cameras are fully working and a few other bugs fixed.
oswade said:
apparantly latest cyanogenmod7 for SGS works with wiimote
I might start using it after the cameras are fully working and a few other bugs fixed.
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Yahh it does work ;D I wonder if there's a way we can build a samsung kernel with the bluetooth modules from cyanogenmod? Hopefully the cameras are fixed soon this is a showstopper bug for me atm

[Q] Freedom Keyboard BK600

Hi There!
I have a problem and the problem is that i have a mini keyboard which I think is called freedom bk-600 and I have a Samsung Galaxy tab as my mobile phone.
My big problem is that I want to get connected my Samsung Galaxy tab with this keyboard but it is totally impossible to connect them.
Have searched everywhere on the internet but there are many questions and little answers out there so it seems that there are many who have the same problem.
So now I'm just wondering if there is any possibility that you guys could help me me with my big problem.
It seems like I'm missing a driver because I have paired these two devices but I can not write with the keyboard.
if there is no possibility to help me, I gone threw the keyboard because I have no use for it any more when it can not be used with android
best regards
Genaro
You've paired it, have you selected to use that keyboard in the settings?
yes and that's what I do not understand because I know I'm doing everything right but it's like the keyboard does not speak with galaxy tab.
Now I found a page online that says that this keyboard spoke a language called ssp and not hid.
I tried out 2 driver software for my cell phone with no luck, one called Blue Keyboard JP and the other called keypro speaking (HID language).
I just do not know what to do with this problem anymore ...
did u tried to connect the keyboard with another phone ?

[Q] bluetooth keyboard help

hey guys I've been searching for a solution all day and I'm out of ideas.
my bluetooth keyboard came in the mail today and for some reason it refuses to work on cm9. the keyboard works perfectly with my netbook, my friends iphone, his ipad, and even booted into webOS but when I'm booted into cm9 nothing happens. I can successfully pair it and it says its connected in the settings but none of the buttons respond. Does anyone know what the problem might be?
edit: forgot to mention I also tried wiping and flashing a new rom. tried both cm9 alpha 2 and aokp m4. same problem on both.
I don't know if this will help, but I've got a Motorola BT keyboard that is designed for android that doesn't work directly with WebOS (or Windows for that matter). To get it to work with WebOS I have to press and hold the 'V', 'A' and 'R' keys when I turn it on.
Perhaps your keyboard has some similar way of selecting alternate platforms?
ByteWrencher
nope that doesn't work :[.
so I tried my friends bluetooth keyboard and it works great. It seems android 4.0.3 on touchpad seems to be partial to certain keyboards..
kimchiman52 nope that doesn't work :[.
so I tried my friends bluetooth keyboard and it works great. It seems android 4.0.3 on touchpad seems to be partial to certain keyboards..
So what keyboards are compatible with HP touchpad? I'm thinking of ordering one next week but don't want to waste the money on one that doesn't work.

Mini bluetooth keyboard recommendations

I'm using CM 7.2 stable and am interested in a mini bluetooth keyboard that would work with my Ace and with a PS3. Definitely don't want a full size keyboard, I guess the smaller the better.
Am wondering if anyone has experience and recommendations?
CM7 is capable of connecting with Wii Mote. Wii Mote can be used as a gaming controller for your SGA
Ask Google
Yeah thanks for that input, Einstein
To update my own post, I purchased a 49 Key Mini Bluetooth keyboard from DealExtreme (DX 55401) for US$14.40. You can find what looks like the same keyboard all overy ebay for a little less.
This worked well with my Ace running CM 7.2 Stable. No additional software required, just turn on bluetooth, pair with the code provided by Android, and voila! As mentioned in reviews there, the buttons are a bit high and require a bit of travel to actually press. For someone with big fingers, this makes it a bit tricky because you could end up also pressing the buttons each side as well. But humans are pretty adaptable, and so with a little time I've managed to master this keyboard pretty well. Thumbs up for this keyboard from me
Size wise, it's almost exactly the same size as the Ace (without case). I can fit both of them (with my Ace in a TPU case) in a soft pouch I got off ebay for cheap.
Lol continued in part 2 below. Ridiculous spam protection stops me from adding more to this message...
Part 2:
And now I have to wait 5 minutes to post because I am prevented from adding anythiing more than a limited number of characters in my post above. I don't know if it's worth the trouble to post here at all....
This encourages useless one line tweets as posts......
The mini keyboard also worked fine with my Linux machine running Ubuntu 12.04. It does NOT work with my PS3. However, I found a great little app called BluePutDroid that allows you to use your Ace as a HID device. Which turns your Ace into a keyboard/mouse input device for pretty much any Bluetooth enabled device.
This means I can use my Ace as a keyboard for my PS3! I could probably also use the mini keyboard to type into the Ace which then types into the PS3. But I haven't bothered trying that yet.
i wonder why some1 would want to hook up a keyboard to ace... u lose the portability
I mean u can use ur comp and air droid for basic stuff...
If it was blutooth AND those rollable flexible keyboard.. then thats different story

iCade cabinet on Tab S2 9.7"

Hi,
Does anyone know how to get the icade cabinet controller working on said tablet, or if it's even possible?
I have successfully paired the device with my tab s2 and shows as a recognised device. When paired, the touch screen keyboard doesn't appear on text input as expected, but apps such as mame don't appear to respond to it.
I have successfully paired and used other Bluetooth input devices on this tab, and the icade works on my old iPad.
Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance.
Using stock roms
Forgot to add, I'm using stock roms and unrooted, but if the answer is another ROM, I'm up for that
feralCheese said:
Hi,
Does anyone know how to get the icade cabinet controller working on said tablet, or if it's even possible?
I have successfully paired the device with my tab s2 and shows as a recognised device. When paired, the touch screen keyboard doesn't appear on text input as expected, but apps such as mame don't appear to respond to it.
I have successfully paired and used other Bluetooth input devices on this tab, and the icade works on my old iPad.
Any ideas anyone? Thanks in advance.
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