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is there a keyboard 4 the p800 ??? |
Mike in Switzerland
Joined: Mar 30, 2003
Posts: 94
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I am trying to get the driver to work on my P800 but after running it from filemanger I get a white screen and "using physical port 5" at the top and then the P800 reverts to normal.
Any ideas anyone?
Regards
Mike |
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americany13
Joined: Oct 26, 2003
Posts: 101
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yea, guys I requested the any driver for any foldable keyboard for the P900, but no one sent it to me? ok. but please if you guys can send it to me ?please do. and tell me which keyboard is it compatable with. where to buy the keyboard? does it work with the games? is it a headache to start and maintain writing MS word doc. or is it easy? I am in the USA. thank all you guys for the info and help!
[addsig] |
Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Mike in Switzerland
Re: Pocketop keyboard driver.
That message is correct. This means the Pxxx is ready to be used with the keyboard (no need to manually activate the IR). Place the Pxxx on the sync station or the Pocketop stand near the keyboard and start Jotter and start typing!
If I can work out how to post pictures in this thread I can try to take a photo of the arrangement I use or even a step by step explanation. Let me know.
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Mike in Switzerland
Joined: Mar 30, 2003
Posts: 94
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Jah
I checked the battery (good point!) in terms of configuration and then swapped the one that came with p/top with one I know works - still no joy.
Is there a way the keyboard must be switched on (it has "off" written on the backspace key but there is no corresponding "on")
Otherwise I`m a little perplexed.
BTW - thanks for your support on this.
Regards
Mike
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Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Mike
I will send you a photo of how to arrange the Pxxx and the keyboard. Don't know how to include photos on a thread!
The step by step process is as follows:
1. Locate the c:\system\program\pocketop_symbian file and activate it (two clicks on the icon). I assume you have QFileMan or similar.
2. When you activate the file, the screen will become white and there will be a message about port 5. Then there should be another message it should say "Starting Pocket Symbian".
3. Now open the Pocketop keyboard (this will activate the IR on the keyboard).
4. Place the Pxxx in the Sync Station (unplugged) or on the Pocketop PDA stand. I am sorry I have not been able to post a photo of the arrangement for you to see.
5. Start Jotter or QuickWord and you should be able to enter text from the keyboard.
Also there is no need to activate the IR port on the Pxxx manually.
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Mike in Switzerland
Joined: Mar 30, 2003
Posts: 94
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JAH
I am with you all the way until point 3 which is that I cannot be SURE the keyboard works (does yours give any indication via a brief led flash or something when you open it?)
What I can tell you is that having got the driver running, when I now try to use IR (phone to revo etc) the IR icon comes on on the P800 for 2 seconds and then disappears. I think the Pocketop driver is overriding i and cancelling the P800`s right to the IR port.
I then accessed handyDay and went into the running apps and had a look.
There is an app called "Main" which has no icon and is taking up 29K of memory. I assume this is the driver.
However when I try to close or "kill" it - the process remains running.
Either I have got an unlucky version of the driver or it is an issue that hasn`t been mentioned yet.
Thanks for any input you can give me. I will try and remove the driver to see what happens or reformat my phone and install an earlier (pre-driver) backup.
Regards
Mike |
Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Mike
the driver is fine if all as I described to point 3. The driver is beta and thus has a few problems. And yes you can't stop it unless you turn the P900 off (no need to reformat). Did you see the picture about the positioning of the keyboard IR with respect to the P900 IR (same side) that I sent by email?
Do you have a Plam? Do your friends have a Palm - if so why not test the keyboard with another supported device to eliminate the keybaord as the source of problems. Unfortunately there is no visual indication that tells you that the keyboard is working (no lights etc). I have a Clie Palm and I have used the keyboard with that in the past.
The only other possibility is that there is another app on you p900 that I don't have in causing problems. I use Tracker, Task Manager, Quickoffice and Opera. That is it. Why not try with most apps closed to see what happens. Remember, IR must not be activated manually before you run the driver.
Good luck
I'm sure we'll crack this! (or it may crack us!)
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Mike in Switzerland
Joined: Mar 30, 2003
Posts: 94
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JAH
SUCCESS !! It works!
After de-installing the driver it still hung my IR link. I switched the phone off and on again, re-installed the driver and now it works fine.
This is an excellent and worthwhile accessory.
Now if somebody can get Sony to upgrade the P800 to UIQ 2.1 I`ll have landscape as well ! (Family budget`s a bit stretched to afford a P900).
JAH on a personal note thank you so very very much for the time and trouble you have put-in to help me get this working.
I`d happily buy you a virtual beer if I knew what you drink.
Best wishes
Mike
JAH,
I spoke too soon.
I was merrily typing away when it stopped. I carried on but the phone didn`t match my keystrokes.
The the phone filled up with random garbage like
kdljfhgbknlooiriqwoKLÖÖLÄÄÄÄLÄÖLSKVVMNVMN NM,
Hmmm.
I then tried to switch off the keyboard using function and backspace with no success.
I tried to kill the app on the P800 but it has reverted to it`s "hung" state and cannot be killed or closed.
I then checked and the app has reacquired the P800`s IR port preventing it from working with any other app (the icon comes on for 2 seconds and then disapperas as the Pocketop driver surpresses the P800`s IR access).
I will have another go at re-installing since the 2 minutes that it did work were great.
Fingers crossed!
Regards
Mike
[ This Message was edited by: Mike in Switzerland on 2003-11-16 17:09 ] |
Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Mike
So good news and bad news!
Try re-starting the phone, having all non-UIQ apps off, initiate the pocketop_symbian app and see what happens.
Have my "fingers crossed"!
On another subject, have you ever used the Psion 5 / Ericsson MC218 keyboard PDA? These were wonderful. I have a Ericsson MC218 and an original 4mb Psion 5. When I play with it makes me think we have gone backwards in PDA design. I wish SE would buy the keyboard design from Psion and release their own compact / portable keyboard. It would really make the Pxxx a killer device.
Respect to Psion - the founders of Symbian!
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Mike in Switzerland
Joined: Mar 30, 2003
Posts: 94
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JAH
my point entirely. The Series 5 was the pinnacle for me and untile I dropped mine three weeks ago I was going to put PIBEAM on it!
In the meantime my Revo+ is doing a great job but having bought a Pocketop I am determied to ge tit working.
I will try what you suggest and report back.
Best regards
Mike |
BigFeat
Joined: Mar 14, 2003
Posts: > 500
PM, WWW
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BT keyboards expected to be released 1st quater of next year... All this from pressures due to growing BT enabled devices. 4 companies including Belkin will be one of the big companies leading the pack... It's about time..
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Mike in Switzerland
Joined: Mar 30, 2003
Posts: 94
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BIGFEAT
I posted the comment below to another thread. Has the security "issue" been overcome?
Regards
Mike
"...
Grimreaper
I have been in-touch with flexis since April when they first were about to release it so I would be interested in the finished product.
However I don`t believe bluetooth is the way forward for keyboards because of 3 key points and 1 question:
(i) The keyboard needs power (obviously) but also needs the P8/900 to also have BT on which eats the battery.
(ii) Unlike a headset which can only have 1 purpose (freeing up your hands to drive eat etc,) , to use a keyboard infers you will be looking at what you are typing (some people don`t!) and also the device itself. This negates the NEED for anything "wireless" about the connection.
(iii) You cannot use a bluetooth solution on a plane which is where most of my "inspirational" thoughts come from (I do about 100+ flights per year so this is an essential necessity)
The question is security. Unless the manufacturer allows you some PIN facility on the keyboard wouldn`t it be possible for somebody to "pair" with your keyboard via their device, and therefore view everything you are typing? - Scary thought!
My current solution is a Psion Revo which allows me to compile my document in my own manner & time and then IR it to the P800 to be mailed. This clearly is the most battery efficient for the P800 and allows me to type at great speed. Downside is carrying a second (albeit small) device and having to bring the Revo`s charger on anything longer than a 5-day trip.
JAH is kindly helping me to configure my recently-bought Pocketop IR keyboard so that it works. Until it does I cannot comment on that solution other than to say it would obviously eat more power from the P800 since I would be using the machine constantly and the IR would also need to remain on for the duration I am typing. However the Pocketop is well designed (a factor I always prize in the things I use regularly).
My final conclusion would be that if somebody came out with a foldable WIRED keyboard (i know - heresy in this day and age!) it would negate the IR issue altogether and ensure that the only power I need to ensure is alway available is the one for the PXX.
Should they also offer screen-orientation on the product they would have a clear winner in my book.
Best regards
Mike..."
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Jah
Joined: Jun 22, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Stowaway keyboard to support P800!
I have been told by thinkoutside support that a beta driver for the P800 for their keyboard (see here ) will be available in two weeks.
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Xarthan
Joined: Nov 23, 2003
Posts: 4
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anyone try using microsoft's bluetooth keyboard? |
KSE
Joined: Nov 18, 2003
Posts: 369
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I also noticed a little keyboard thing on Belkin the other day, although it does not officially support the P8/900 yet, i don't see why they don't add it in the future... since they are marketing the afore mentioned keyboard as being "universal"... it already works with lots of Palms and PPC's (including Phone Edition 2003)... will have to send an email to see where they stand on this... and the best bit is, it appears to be reasonably priced... somewhere around the £30-£40 price mark if I am not mistaken (don't quote me on this though!)
There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.
- Gore Vidal (Although I didn't write it, from my perspective, I couldn't agree with it more!) |
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Posted: 2003-11-16 02:40
