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?
I luv my sex1. the phone is easily my fav phone. I just can't stand this keyboard. I bought this phone used so keyboard was not good already.
I want to buy a new x1. are any of u users that bought ur phone have keyboards that still work good?
my keyboard works to a degree and is somewhat tolerable but I was thinking a new phone in which I use my touchscreen keyboard mostly but use the tactile on long texts to help the longevity of the phone.
imho the x1 looks the best, original, uses panels, and relatively easily to tweak.
Whats wrong with the keyboard? does it input letters twice and so on?
You should have a look at the dissasembly guide and clean it with alcohol. It's something you'll have to do eventually, new phone or not, since its a design flaw with the X1.
Thats what i do. I ONLY use the physical keyboard, i really cant stand touch ones. Hope that helps.
Hi guys I have just bought another Samsung Galaxy Tab S this time the Tab S2 T719Y. It has the same problem as my other Tab S. That is the screen just goes blank if it is moved from the vertical, while reading or sometimes just because it can, sometimes it just wakes up if you move it a fraction of an inch and then goes black again. It is frustrating the hell out of me. I have not rooted it yet I was hoping there is an easier fix, even opening up and resoldering was done on the Tab S but it made no real difference. Is this a common pain for Samsung tablets if so is there an easy fix. rooting if necessary if that will fix it. I dont need the latest and greatest ROM just a stable tablet on 7.0 is fine. Thanks for any advice.
It looks like the cover, ebay purchase, may be a factor.
Dear XDA community, I'm writing to please ask some help on a problem I'm facing with my official samsung book keyboard cover. I attach it to the tablet, the tablet disables the soft keyboard to allow me to type with the hardware keyboard...... and it doesn't work.
My tablet is: Tab S8 SM-X700, One UI 4.1.1, Android 12, Update 1st October 2022, Build number SP2A.220305.013.X700XXS2AVJ4.
It does't seem to be an hardware problem as I returned the keyboard under warranty and asked for a raplacement. It lasted just a few hours before randomly showing the same behaviour. My best guess is that there is a buggy firmware option/feature that disables the keyboard when the keyboard is folded and the tablet is using it as a stand. This way even if you accidentally press the keys the input will not be registered. Problem is that If i don't need the keyboard I just detatch it so I have no use for this feature, and when I attach the keyboard I definetly want the damn keyboard to type. Sometimes I'm typing normally and the keyboard randomly disables making the soft keyboard flash a bunch of times and of course not writing anything useful.
This are the things I do to restore the keyboard functionality when it doesn't work (it makes me loose whatever I'm doing since it disrupts my workflow and if a person is talking I just miss taking notes of several minutes of the speech).
Detatching and reattaching the keyboard to the tablet (usually doesn't help. When i detatch the keyboard the soft one is restored, when I reattach the keyboard the soft one is disabled but the hard one still cannot type).
Cicling the keyboard from closed to type position to stand position a couple of times. (It worked well enough for a couple of days that i was willing to consider it an acceptable workaround that consumed just a few seconds every time it was needed. What happens more and more often is that the soft keyboard flashes on and off a few times. If i type something, the first letter or so will get randomly imputted a bunch of times with no subsequent imput registered by the application that I am using). Besides, folding the keyboard always disables it and no keys are registered when pressed.
Factory reset does absolutely nothing as well as cleaning the data of the samsung keyboard.
Tapping on the palmrest area near the trackpad. Often when I do that It looks like it is feeling something as the soft keyboard start flashing on and off. If i write something on the hardware keyboard a letter or two may get typed. Maybe the keyboard has an accelerometer that gets bumped/reset when i do this.
Raising the keyboard on the tablet side. This provides to me a more confortable typing experience and surprisingly enough it seems to make the typing behaviour more stable once i manage to make it register something but it doesn't help in that initial "no writing phase". Again maybe the keyboard accelerometer is "feeling" me bunping on the keyboard while I write.
Installing and setting as default keyboard a third party keyboard like Swift Key. It unfortuately does not change the hardware keyboard behaviour whatsoever.
Is anyone having the same problem? Does anyone know of a possible solution? Does anyone have a different keyboard case that is working reliably and allows a comfortable typing experience? Maybe one with the hinge on the keyboard and not on the tablet, that still allows to charge and not loose the spen, and to detatch the keyboard part from the tablet?
One thing that I havent tried yet is to flash a build from a different region. I think mine has the German version, if nobody from UK, Spain, Italy had this problem I might try one of those firmwares. The keyboard is also German as I could't source any querty one, or even any ISO one for that matter (it has an ANSI like layout with the small enter button and an Apple like combined Del+Backspace combined with additional useless buttons that occupy space like a dedicated dex/screenshot button that I keep accidentally pressing, an Esc key where the default behaviour is not Esc, a Lang Key in place of AltGr that i keep accidentally pressing, an AltGr key in place of an Fn or Ctrl key, A random Fn key in between the Ctrl and Win/Cmd key that is there just be randomly accidentally pressed).... but it doesn't matter as I have a different more important problem with it.
Thank you in advance so much to anyone in this community that might read this post. Sorry for my ranty rescription of the problem but it gets frustrating when you pay laptop like money for an untested gimmiky toy.
I have the ultra that had a similar issue, but not as bad as your describing. There were 2 keyboard updates since I got the tablet and it improved my issue to the point that once in a blue moon I would get the keyboard not working issue, than I would restart the tablet and it would work for a while without issues. There is a specific way to trigger the keyboard to update, check on youtube/search google, can't remember how to trigger it the 1st time as there is a specific way, after that it would automatically update or show there is an update. Hope it helps you with your issue
Thank you very much for your reply. Unfortunately there is no firmware update available for the tab S7/S8 book keyboard. I've now contacted samsung that told me to create an error report. I'll write here the reply to help the community if and how i manage to fix the problem.
Jonearthur thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I did all of the "standard" stuff many times with no results.
Since my last message the tablet got a major Android Update to android 13. And while travelling the keyboard received an update as well. Needless to say that I still have the same problem as before.
Samsung replied to my request in the least useful way possible to tell me that the team is working on a fix. I onestly just think that the Tab S8 connection to the keyboard has an electrically flawed design.
Since for me this is also the first device with a "floppy detatchable keyboard" I'm also wondering wether I should trust at all the concept of a keyboard that attaches to the device in this way.
Hello I wanted to give an update on this topic. Since more than one month passed from my report to Samsung I decided to contact them again.
The support was awful, I received no help watsoever except from "sorry we didn't care about your error report, write it again and maybe we will read it and reply". So I did the report again. Still waiting a reply on that one after more than a week so.... I'm not holding my breath.
During the unhappy chat I told them that I was tired of not having help and that I wanted to be refunded. Guess what.... since the problem concerns the keyboard they can refund the keyboard but cannot refund the tablet. Then this person further specified that the tablet can be sent for repairs but never refunded. Just to make a comparison suppose that you bought a car. Now suppose that for whatever reason the weels keep detatching from the car. Suppose that you are not ok with it and ask for a refund. Suppose that the support of the company tells you "sorry bro you can give us the weels and we will refund the cost for them but the car is fine so you have to keep it". This is the level of absurdity that Samsung reached.
Even taking into consideration the possible keyboard refund I still did not find an alternative cover that includes a keyboard and that has a way to keep the pen charged without loosing it in a backpack. Even the other keyboard from Samsung does not support that. You can keep the pen but don't you dare to charge it.
Today after a bit of hesitation I installed yet another update for the tablet. That made no diffrence for the keyboard behaviour. After that I made yet another desperate factory reset. Surprisingly this time it looks like for whatever reason the keyboard seems to be working.
I'll keep an eye on it just in case it decides to misbehave again. The description of the update does not contain any clue to as to why doing a factory reset before did not fix the keyboard but it does now.