Database Users

Using multiple Universals as desktop replacements

This may may be a little premature as the Universal has only been available for such a short while, however I would really appreciate the input of the expert knowledge that makes this one of the greatest forums in the world.
I am starting a small business within the next few months and will initially have a workforce of around 6 people. The majority of the work will involve taking calls, using word+excel+powerpoint, viewing and reviewing small online videos and data input to an online database. The staff will also be dispatched to the field and will need to work remotely.
So my theoretical question is whether the universal could be used as a desktop replacement for use within the office where a central server/computer provides wifi connection and as a remote terminal whilst in the field.
The questions I have therefore are:
Do you think I will be able to bring the VGA out onto a 15” monitor? either natively via USB or via an adapter such as the ‘IGO pitch duo’ or ‘Margi’ etc. My knowledge here is limited, but if activesync can show this on the desktop. Could the internal display on the universal be routed to an external monitor instead of the main screen, I believe Nydot has some software to help achieve this. Will this be an appropriate UI, I can not expect staff to use a 3.6" screen all day long.
Will I encounter problems with multiple devices in one room? I.E. Sharing a wifi connection, multiple Bluetooth headsets and keyboards used in a confined space.
Will I be able to use VOIP on each of the six phones running with different numbers at the same time through one broadband connected computer?
Also if anyone can foresee other problems that may arise from the use of pocketpcs instead of desktops/laptops please let me know. Does anyone know of any other small companies that already have tried or succeeded at this before now?
Thanks in advance, your views on this will help greatly, as I would hate to buy six universals and then have to buy six laptop/desktops as well.
Jamie Honey

From experience
Hi and good luck with your startup,
I used to run a business in the UK on behalf of a friend from UAE, back in 1992. I got a Psion organiser and a printer, but boy, it is painful to work on a small device all day long. We already have problems with well designed macro systems with eye strain and rsi.
So i will recommend you get a few PCS and a couple laptops for field work and a couple pda's and people can share and swap, it will also create variety which is good for business morale, and since you will be using the windows platform, no problem with syncing and sharing...
Just an advice...
Regards
Nabil H

Hi Jayman,
As far as I'm aware, the JasJar doesn't have an external VGA output that would allow you to view internal screen contents on an external monitor.
The only way this could be achieved would be by using some type of SDIO card that facilitated a VGA output function.
The HTC Himalaya Device (XDA2 and XDA2i) have an interface underneath the battery that supports a little backpack that has a VGA output and a CF card slot. However the Himalaya doesn't have all the features of the JasJar.
As long as you configure your Wifi devices correctly (DHCP/Static IP - no duplicates, you will have no problems. The same goes for your bluetooth connections. For bluetooth you will need to implement a strict naming scheme for the devices in order to avoid confusion.
I'm not too sure about the VOIP query - i'll research that and get back to you later as i'm curious about that as well.
Pocket PCs are not ergonimcally condusive with an intense longterm working environment. As Nabil2000 stated, your employess will eventually feel the ill health effects associated with working in a "cramped" position on such a small device.
Hope this helps
Good luck with you business idea
Qaz

So Jayman, what did you do in the end?
xerxes

[Q] Satellite Phone (Thuraya XT) as external modem for android smartphone?

Hi,
I need Internet Connection in remote areas. My gadgets are a Thuraya XT Satfon and a Android Smartphone Galaxy S I9000.
The Thuraya Phone can give Internet Connection to any Laptop via GmPRS and USB Datacable with ISDN Speed. Because of weight (i have to carry all my stuff on the backpack), I want to get this internet connection to my smartphone.
Does anybody know any tricks, how to do this? All service providers say, it is not possible. I don't belive that. If it's possible with a XP/Vista/W7 Laptop, it can be done with a android smartphone. The only thing that is needed is a android driver and the cable connection via USB.
I'm willing to pay for a solution, if there is a programming task needed. Thanks very much for any help!!

You'd need an Android device with USB Host capabilities. I think some tablets and the Nexus S have that capability, but I'm pretty sure you'd have to do some coding and hackery to get it to work.

synaesthetic said:
You'd need an Android device with USB Host capabilities. I think some tablets and the Nexus S have that capability, but I'm pretty sure you'd have to do some coding and hackery to get it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for your tip. I'll check the host capabilities of my smartphone. I agree, that there is some hackery and coding needed. Do you know a serious partner willing and capable to do this work. Anybody here in this forum maybe?
I'm pretty sure, that i'm not the only one with this wish.....

External modem communciation
Hello, I have similar problem. I need a developper or partner to connet to a Android embedded device based on Freescale IMX53 with USB Host and RS232 serial port with a particular modem (not GSM) but which use custom AT commands (some of this is the same as GSM and GPRS), can anyone help me to find some way to send AT command to this device? or maybe a developper who can do this?
Thank you in advance

Hi,
I and couple of friends worked up to 2008 on Thuraya based projects - some of them reached marked. Our first projects were based on Thuraya phones - Ascom and Hughes - we removed all interface parts and included in special boards, producing powerful modems. You can find more if you search google with "selsat Thuraya" or "globeconnect Thuraya". We were part of team which developed those projects.
Our last Thuraya based project was using Thuraya Module SM-2500 and Cirrus Logic processor. It included embedded Linux and embedded Asterisk, which allowed using VoIP phones to make more or less wireless calls, but that project did not saw market.
Last few years we worked mostly with Asterisk and Linux. But we got some experience with Android - applications and Android boards (Odroid T).
One small example of our experience with Android applications is StribogECG - you can find it in Market.
Please feel free to contact me here or on my mail:
stoyanmihaylov at yahoo.com

what are the benefits of satellite phones?

There are no benefits in areas with GSM coverage. Satellite phones are essential for areas where are no other communications, like part of deserts, sea / ocean, some mountains.
Thuraya particularly, has very attractive (for satellite) prices. Please be aware - Thuraya has limited coverage - most of Europe, most of Africa, most of Asia but no America or Australia.

USB Host Controller - Looking into android controlled robotic projects

Hello everyone. I have been searching for threads all day and have not found much information about being able to hook up devices into some kinda of USB interface or serial interface on Android devices. The closest thing I can find is this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1202082
There has to be a host controller on these phones right? I would think that if there is a micro SD read reader on the phone, there would be one. Am I the only one thinking this? What is the best way to find out?
My inspiration comes from the ArduPilot project . I think this is pretty sweet but I think it could be way more powerful with a full operating system versus a limited micro controller. An additional fun link of, what most can imagine, my final goal: http://www.wimp.com/helmetcam/
I am posting this on the Evo 4G general thread due to owning it and it would be easy to disassemble, if there is something I need to look into.
I want to look finding (or creating) a robotics application for the android OS to map *connected* servo controllers (not bluetooth connected, Arduino powered, etc..) that will also allow remote users to control the phone multiple threads to control the UV or UAV. Examples: 1: Flying the RC Plane while viewing the video stream on the phone's multiple cameras (integrated or attached). 2: Executing autopilot application and monitoring it's progress through two-way communication from a controlling "base" station (PC, Server, Tablet, etc..). Maybe executing multiple RC vehicles at once.
I have a feeling that this would help many others with other types of monitoring projects (What comes to mind: Home security, Car Security, garden monitoring, etc..) This could also help the creation of other commercial products.
Any input and direction you can give would be appreciated.

[Q] Direct communication with other Android device?

I'm working to develop an application to use a rooted Nook STR as a handheld data input platform, which then sends the data to another Android device (tablet or phone; TBD) acting as a hub. From what I've been able to determine, the options for communications between the devices are:
Bluetooth
-Possibly available using a dongle, USB OTG cable, and enabling USB host mode as described here. This doesn't seem practical within the time/budget/scale of our application.
Wi-Fi
-Wi-Fi Direct would be ideal, but requires either Android 4.x or a patch/hack to enable it, which I haven't seen anyone working on (correct me if I'm wrong about this)
-Separate Wi-Fi hub to manage communications between the devices
Is there an alternative, implementable within reasonable time and cost, to facilitate device-to-device communications wirelessly and without additional separate hardware? My research hasn't turned up any solutions that aren't extremely awkward, but I'm relatively new to this, so hopefully someone has a better idea or knows of an obvious possibility that I'm missing.

[NEW HW] Planning on developing an open source Android based Pesonal Storage Device

Hi..
I am planning on starting a project to develop my idea of a PSD.
Essentially the primary goal is to bring many benefits of cloud storage, offline but always available in your pocket.
It will be a light weight, battery and USB powered portable SSD. It will run Linux, or rather, Android.
Some planned features:
- Bluetooth master and slave connectivity
- Custom apps will allow use of PSD as part of your normal Bluetooth PAN.
- This allows you to control and copy files from your smartphone and tablet with our app.
- Music can be played through bluetooth headphones.
- USB powered, charging, device and host (USB OTG) modes
- can act as media device or mass storage (or debug)
- can act as a host to sync files from memory cards, cameras, USB hard drives without a PC
- WiFi AP, WiFi Direct and WiFi connectivity
- can host a WiFi network, connect with WiFi direct or become part of an existing network.
- share files with multiple devices
- seamlessly expand a phone or tablet or pc or digital cameras storage
- HDMI output
- can be hooked up to HDMI capable display to show content, stream and play movies, pictures, etc.
- coupled with bluetooth or usb mouse and keyboard and it can be controlled directly.
- poss. model with optional ethernet+
- would poss. use two SSDs for RAID0 for data integrity.
- OpenSource! use it as a pocket webserver, a netflix box, whatever you want.
- device partitioning would allow all devices to have their own storage or share space as you wish.
I am hoping 256gb can be done for under $200, ideally $100.
My question is, would you want one??
I am going to put a plan together to try and crowdfund maybe $5000-$10000 to enable me to assemble a tiny team, get development tools and start building the prototypes and software in order to make it a truly functional and refined product before if or when it goes into production. I have all the expertise I need myself to design it, build it and write the software, but while I may be capable, two heads ARE better than one.. (hence opensource).. I will need some people to build the team to spearhead this....
Comments, feedback, coffee, peanuts, mayhem and doom appreciated.

After reading about the BoxeeBox scandal, I hope I can seriously generate some interest for developing this device, clearly it could have a lot of uses. I would love to make my project as open as possible, and keep it that way too.
I need to generate feedback and interest before I continue, while I want to involve the community as much as possible, someone (ie. me) has to get the ball rolling, I don't want to do that unless the interest is there.
Considering there is potential for the described device to do a lot of different things, and it will be open, feel free to suggest features, functions and use applications.
Even.if you have nothing to say, but are interested, please reply.