Adding WiFi to the Gizmondo... - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

hi all,
i'd be interested in adding WiFi capabilities to the Gizmondo game console.
while adding the hardware (using an SD Wifi Card) would be trivial, i assume that there is not WiFi support in the ROM at all. so just installing the drivers will not be enough, won't it?
can anybody of the ROM hacking gurus around here give me an educated guess how difficult it would be to add the missing WiFi capabilities?
the Gizmondo uses Window CE 4.2, so i assume most of the missing stuff should be available in the Window CE Platform Builder, right?
thanks a lot,
Daniel

drgoldie: you might want to check out dedicated gizmondo forums for this kind of hacking.
Platform Builder is good for reference, but not very useful for implementing things on a real device, without a full BSP for the device in question.
In this instance, what you're lacking presumably is the wifi card drivers (by the wifi card's manufacturer), irrespective of whether the device can support the external expansion (which it probably can).
V

hi V,
i am in contact with the Giz hacker guys, but is seems nobody is working on this yet.
the wifi card drivers would probably come with the wifi card, wouldn't they?
my question is more about if there is something missing the OS besides the card drivers. shouldn't there be a WiFi stack in order to do WiFi...?
Daniel

If they're using a standard CE build, you might just be lucky and wifi is built in - subject to the driver. However, given how modular CE is, you might be unlucky!
The driver - well, presuming it's a mainstream wifi card, you've probably got WinMobile drivers, but I'm not sure about cross-compatibility with CE. So, obviously you're in luck if your OEM provides CE drivers, but if they don't - writing your own wifi drivers for the card might be ugly.
However, my advice would be - just stick the card in and see what happens! The OS could lack wifi support, a compatible driver, or both! But before re-implementing wifi in the OS, consider availability of your card's drivers first.
V

well, i don't have any sd wifi card yet.
i was planning to buy this one
http://www.socketcom.com/product/WL6207-600.asp
because it comes with a lot of software...
any recommendations for specific WiFi cards?
Daniel

Related

Sandisk Connectplus card w/ WM5 possible?

Anybody know a way to get a Sandisk Connectplus +128 wifi CF card to work with WM5 ? Drivers for WM2003 are available from Sandisk but that's all. Some of the Linux users have gotten theirs to work with Prism 3 drivers, but it didn't work for me. I've got an ipaq hx4700 with onboard wifi. I have the card leftover from an older ipaq and would like to try to make an external antenna for it rather than messing with the onboard wifi. Thanks for any help.
jwy2k2 said:
Anybody know a way to get a Sandisk Connectplus +128 wifi CF card to work with WM5 ? Drivers for WM2003 are available from Sandisk but that's all. Some of the Linux users have gotten theirs to work with Prism 3 drivers, but it didn't work for me. I've got an ipaq hx4700 with onboard wifi. I have the card leftover from an older ipaq and would like to try to make an external antenna for it rather than messing with the onboard wifi. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This forum is for HTC manufactured devices but have you tried the 2003 drivers maybe they will work
Sorry, I thought this device was made by HTC because there's alot of posts about it on another thread. Anyway, I wasn't able to get it to work with the 2003 Sandisk drivers or with some HTC customized Prism drivers from another site. The card doesn't show up at all, not even a message like "unrecognized card" (the 128MB of built in flash on the card are available however)
I may be doing something wrong, my knowledge of these things is very limited. I removed the ipaq wireless manager shortcut .lnk file from the startup folder and made sure the onboard wifi was not active but, maybe other registry changes need to be made as well.?
BTW, out of curiosity I thought I would take a peek at the onboard wifi internals. Fairly simple removing the 4 screws and popping off the plastic corner antenna cover. I noticed what looks like a connector of some kind in the wifi area: not on the wifi daughterboard but just next to it. I don't know what it is, testing connector? JTAG? or maybe antenna? I'm not about to mess with my internal wifi hardware without knowing what the hell I'm doing but maybe others would be interested. Googleing about external wifi connector hacks on PDAs I only find one guy that did it with his Axim.
jwy2k2 said:
BTW, out of curiosity I thought I would take a peek at the onboard wifi internals. Fairly simple removing the 4 screws and popping off the plastic corner antenna cover. I noticed what looks like a connector of some kind in the wifi area: not on the wifi daughterboard but just next to it. I don't know what it is, testing connector? JTAG? or maybe antenna? I'm not about to mess with my internal wifi hardware without knowing what the hell I'm doing but maybe others would be interested. Googleing about external wifi connector hacks on PDAs I only find one guy that did it with his Axim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you post a pic maybe i can help you with this more then the drivers
I'll try to post a pic later.
Meanwhile I haven't totally given up on this old card. I tried installing the official Sandisk 2003 drivers again and managed to get the ipaq to "see it"' but it won't connect: the LED on the card blinks but there are no networks being detected where there should be.
BTW, for any HTC owners, here's the link to the custom Sandisk drivers I tried earlier. Probably ancient for most but might help someone.
http://www.damnsoft.org/cgi-bin/ghostgui.cgi?nographics=;app=projects;section=sandisk
jwy2k2 said:
I'll try to post a pic later.
Meanwhile I haven't totally given up on this old card. I tried installing the official Sandisk 2003 drivers again and managed to get the ipaq to "see it"' but it won't connect: the LED on the card blinks but there are no networks being detected where there should be.
BTW, for any HTC owners, here's the link to the custom Sandisk drivers I tried earlier. Probably ancient for most but might help someone.
http://www.damnsoft.org/cgi-bin/ghostgui.cgi?nographics=;app=projects;section=sandisk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe its a typo but its not HPC its HTC (High Tech Computer Corp. and is the name of the manufacture) but maybe he meant Handheld PC (came before pocket pc look at link). So the drivers are i think even before WM2002.(thats cool that they are still around maybe all these forums will still be around in ten years or more)
and he edited the drivers so that the would work on a old device, dont see that, that much
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmtop

hardware limitations of Snapvue

just to confirm my belief, the following hardware components are not wired to the Qualcomm 7200 CPU, therefore no amount of hacking/cooking of rom's will ever make them accessible from within Snapvue:
Wifi
SD Card Reader
webcam
hard drive
Is this correct? Am I missing any other components?
yes but can be re enabled. it just needs time.
OK- don't bite my head of - I greatly value your input and given the other responses in the forum know that you have / had access to the actual unit.
The question was literally about hard-wired... a physical connection between the WM part of the unit and the SD / WiFi etc. components... given your answer, you say that they ARE in fact hardwired but the software/drivers to access those components isn't there yet?
I'm on the verge of getting a device like this but if it cannot be enabled (SD card mostly) because of the physical limitation of the device I will not proceed with the 'getting the device'...
Thanks again for the clarification - your input is very much appreciated.
Isn't wifi built in the Qualcomm chip?
citivolus said:
just to confirm my belief, the following hardware components are not wired to the Qualcomm 7200 CPU, therefore no amount of hacking/cooking of rom's will ever make them accessible from within Snapvue:
Wifi
SD Card Reader
webcam
hard drive
Is this correct? Am I missing any other components?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi citivolus... have you ever had a HPC?
anyway, SD *is* wired to the MSM7200, the SPL can access it
i think GPS is possibly fine too
as for the wifi and hdd, i've yet to check those.
Hi cmonex, yes it's me from HPC:Factor, hence my intense interest in the WM6 side of the Shift! Sounds like you've already confirmed that we can access the SD card from within WM6. Would love to hear if you can access Wifi!
The WiFi card shows up as an SDIO interface Marvell sd8688 wireless LAN SDIO adapter under Vista. That should mean it's possible to access it under WinMo.
citivolus said:
Hi cmonex, yes it's me from HPC:Factor, hence my intense interest in the WM6 side of the Shift! Sounds like you've already confirmed that we can access the SD card from within WM6. Would love to hear if you can access Wifi!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, hey there
well just to be clear, all i can say is the SPL can access it, so hopefully only the driver needs to be found... as far as i know beta roms had it. i'm sure we can see that soon.
as for the wifi, yes it is an SDIO wifi adapter built in, that's all we know so far but that sounds promising.
does the webcam work in WM6? you can test this with Microsoft Portrait.
thanks!
citivolus said:
does the webcam work in WM6? you can test this with Microsoft Portrait.
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It gives errors such as 'get camera information failed' and 'can't retrieve camera info'.

GPS activation

Hello !
I will get my shift this week.
I have read, that there is a GPS integrated.
Does anybody know how I can activate it within WM so that I will be able to run TOMTOM ?
Here are the specs : ( german )
in the 3rd line you can read GPS
Betriebssystem: Windows Vista® Business, Deutsch
Prozessor: Intel® Stealey 800MHz + 945GMS + ICH7U; Qualcomm® MSM 7200, 400MHz
GPS
Fingerabdrucksensor
Speicher: ROM: 128 MB for SnapVUE RAM: 1GB DDR2 microDIMM RAM for Vista + 64 MB for SnapVUE?
Hard Disk: 1.8-inch 40 GB or 60 GB hard disk (manufacturer`s option)
SD Speicherkarte (SD 2.0 kompatibel)
Größe: 207 mm (L) x 129 mm (W) x 25 mm (T)
Gewicht: 800g mit Akku
QWERTZ Tastatur
Fortschrittliche Touchscreen Technologie:
7" TFT-LCD mit Hintergrundbeleuchtung und TouchFLO Bedienung
800 x 480 Bildpunkte
Kommunikation:
HSDPA/UMTS: Tri-band 850, 1900, 2100 MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Quad-band 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
SIM Kard Slot
Kamera: VGA Kamera für WEB / Videotelefonie
Audio:
Microfone / Receiver
Lautsprecher für die Handsfree-Unterstützung
Verbindungen und Anschlüsse:
Bluetooth® 2.0
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 b/g
HTC ExtUSB (11-Pin mini-USB und Audiokarte in einem)
Stromversorgung:
Wiederaufladbares und auswechselbares Lithium-Ion Polymer Akku
Kapazität: 2700 mAh
AC Adapter
AC Eingangsspannung: 90 ~ 265V AC, 47/63Hz
DC Ausgangsspannung: 12Vdc, 3A
I think you may be a little disappointed with the GPS side of things? I don't think people have had much headway with restrictions the shift currently offers. First the integrated GPS is somewhat of an urban myth? It could be accessible, but I've not seen a 100% success story yet. Second if integrated GPS was present, you need to open up SnapVu to full WM6, then I understand that it does not currently have much space to put software? Thirdly If you managed to fit it on and can not access GPS then you also can not access either the bluetooth or USB through the SnapVu side. It does sound a little grim and I may be wrong? But that being said I love my Shift!!! and I'm sure before long the XDA Developer GOD's will sort out all of these downsides.
shift FAQ
Q: Does the Shift have a GPS module ?
A: Yes the shift have a build in GPS chip, but since we don't have any drivers for it yet, we are not sure if antenna etc. are there. (on the prototype units it was working so there is a good chance it will work on production models to)
NOTE: After i opened up my shift i can confirm the GPS antenna is there !!
here is the test of SHIFT with QSTARZ GPS
http://www.umpcfever.com/news/?postid=705
I think we can use the external GPS instead till the enabling of the internal one!
In the video, he is using Vista side - not SnapVu side! I don't think you are able to access either the USB or bluetooth on the Snapvu side.
kitkat_dave said:
In the video, he is using Vista side - not SnapVu side! I don't think you are able to access either the USB or bluetooth on the Snapvu side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that should all be changing very soon. gps should be pretty easy to enable since it was in the test versions.
There is no special GPS chipset in the Shift - GPS functionality is just one of the many functions provided by the Qualcom MSM7200 - yeah, basically the chip that powers the WM part of the shift, including GSM/3G Radio. By the way: SnapVUE with the WindowsMobile-Like stuff is just a cheap side product of using the MSM7200: The processor is already there... even graphics and sound is embedded in the MSM7200 - in fact, HTC just needed to add some cheap ram, some cheap flash, and some glue logic (imagine a simble console switch that switches the screen, keyboard and touchscreen between Vista and SnapVue).
Regarding GPS, the "problem" is: The technology (drivers) for GPS are there - in the WindowsMobile/SnapVUE-Part (propably not implemented in the final ROM version, but at least, HTC has it available). BUT: SnapVue is not sold as WindowsMobile, but as SnapVue, without any support for 3rd party applications - it would not make sense to provide GPS within WindowsMobile/SnapVue (especially as there is no connection to the SD slot... yeah, stop dreaming, there is really no way to access SD or the HardDisk from SnapVue).
So, why is the GPS antenna there?? Well, there IS an potential option to use the GPS: HTC might (!) develop a software that provides a (virtual) GPS within VISTA - using a connector software in SnapVue. So, easy way to add another sales argument later (to prevent price dropping to fast) - and hey, they obviously just had not the necessary resources to get that software developed. Look at ShagControl.... instable, not really SP1 capable... they have more important stuff to get fixed than enabling the embedded GPS.
skin57 said:
There is no special GPS chipset in the Shift - GPS functionality is just one of the many functions provided by the Qualcom MSM7200 - yeah, basically the chip that powers the WM part of the shift, including GSM/3G Radio. By the way: SnapVUE with the WindowsMobile-Like stuff is just a cheap side product of using the MSM7200: The processor is already there... even graphics and sound is embedded in the MSM7200 - in fact, HTC just needed to add some cheap ram, some cheap flash, and some glue logic (imagine a simble console switch that switches the screen, keyboard and touchscreen between Vista and SnapVue).
Regarding GPS, the "problem" is: The technology (drivers) for GPS are there - in the WindowsMobile/SnapVUE-Part (propably not implemented in the final ROM version, but at least, HTC has it available). BUT: SnapVue is not sold as WindowsMobile, but as SnapVue, without any support for 3rd party applications - it would not make sense to provide GPS within WindowsMobile/SnapVue (especially as there is no connection to the SD slot... yeah, stop dreaming, there is really no way to access SD or the HardDisk from SnapVue).
So, why is the GPS antenna there?? Well, there IS an potential option to use the GPS: HTC might (!) develop a software that provides a (virtual) GPS within VISTA - using a connector software in SnapVue. So, easy way to add another sales argument later (to prevent price dropping to fast) - and hey, they obviously just had not the necessary resources to get that software developed. Look at ShagControl.... instable, not really SP1 capable... they have more important stuff to get fixed than enabling the embedded GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
snapvue is windows mobile. everything just has been made hidden. everything can be done with the proper time. gps anyway when enabled will be in the wm side. thats because there are better apps there and it will use less power then.
Pawel062 said:
snapvue is windows mobile. everything just has been made hidden. everything can be done with the proper time. gps anyway when enabled will be in the wm side. thats because there are better apps there and it will use less power then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way (really!) to access SD or HDD from SnapVue (without running VISTA at the same time). So, GPS is mostly useless in SnapVue/WM. The only usefull way to use the GPS would be an GPS driver that pipes the GPS from WM side (SnapVue) to VISTA.
Remember: HTC doesn't sold you a WindowsMobile implementation, but SnapeVue. Period.
Pawel062 said:
snapvue is windows mobile. everything just has been made hidden. everything can be done with the proper time. gps anyway when enabled will be in the wm side. thats because there are better apps there and it will use less power then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 and we could get it soon .. with the Shift Project
skin57 said:
There is no way (really!) to access SD or HDD from SnapVue (without running VISTA at the same time). So, GPS is mostly useless in SnapVue/WM. The only usefull way to use the GPS would be an GPS driver that pipes the GPS from WM side (SnapVue) to VISTA.
Remember: HTC doesn't sold you a WindowsMobile implementation, but SnapeVue. Period.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow u people know lots about the shift *rollseyes* snapvue is wm!!! i'm not going to keep explaining myself to people who don't have a clue.
Pawel062 said:
wow u people know lots about the shift *rollseyes* snapvue is wm!!! i'm not going to keep explaining myself to people who don't have a clue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course SnapVUE is WM, no question - but HTC sells it as SnapVUE. By doing so, they don't support ANY third party application...
The main limitation of WM on the Shift is storage space: There is no way to add more space (e.g. by using an SD card...), as WM don't has an physical connection to the SD port, the Harddisk, the USB port... but without additional storage space, the use of WM is really limited. I've installed Opera to be able to surf without VISTA, that's enough for me. All i'd be happy about is a connection app/driver that makes the GPS (part of the MSM7200, thus, the WM part) available in Vista.
I bought a VISTA machine, not a WM device.
skin57 said:
...
The main limitation of WM on the Shift is storage space: There is no way to add more space (e.g. by using an SD card...), as WM don't has an physical connection to the SD port, the Harddisk, the USB port...
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everyone keeps talking about no physical connection.
Guys, I talked to some technical ppl and they say it's possible to use the SD card under WM.
Please wait for the Shift project team finds a solution and stop telling people that there is no connection.
michael85 said:
Everyone keeps talking about no physical connection.
Guys, I talked to some technical ppl and they say it's possible to use the SD card under WM.
Please wait for the Shift project team finds a solution and stop telling people that there is no connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which technical people? What do they know that the rest of us don't and how?
If you look at the SD card under Vista you will see that it is on the PCI bus. As far as I can see, the only real connection between the Vista and WM sides is via the USB bus and the SD card isn't on that. Now, I wouldn't stick my neck out and say that it definitely isn't connected to the WM side, but it certainly seems very likely to me.
It is always better to err on the side of caution - telling people that the Shift project team *will* find a solution is worse than telling people that they won't, since if you buy the device believing that SD card access will become available you may end up being sorely disappointed! In this case, it is better to buy with a pessimistic attitude, and then be pleasantly surprised if SD card access is made available.
Regards,
Dave
skin57 said:
Of course SnapVUE is WM, no question - but HTC sells it as SnapVUE. By doing so, they don't support ANY third party application...
The main limitation of WM on the Shift is storage space: There is no way to add more space (e.g. by using an SD card...), as WM don't has an physical connection to the SD port, the Harddisk, the USB port... but without additional storage space, the use of WM is really limited. I've installed Opera to be able to surf without VISTA, that's enough for me. All i'd be happy about is a connection app/driver that makes the GPS (part of the MSM7200, thus, the WM part) available in Vista.
I bought a VISTA machine, not a WM device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct but with time most of those things can be brought back to the shift. one of things we will try to do is to get the hd or sd back so u can all install more stuff.
foxmeister said:
Which technical people? What do they know that the rest of us don't and how?
If you look at the SD card under Vista you will see that it is on the PCI bus. As far as I can see, the only real connection between the Vista and WM sides is via the USB bus and the SD card isn't on that. Now, I wouldn't stick my neck out and say that it definitely isn't connected to the WM side, but it certainly seems very likely to me.
It is always better to err on the side of caution - telling people that the Shift project team *will* find a solution is worse than telling people that they won't, since if you buy the device believing that SD card access will become available you may end up being sorely disappointed! In this case, it is better to buy with a pessimistic attitude, and then be pleasantly surprised if SD card access is made available.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no one is saying u should buy it bc it will be coming soon. we are saying it isnt impossible to bring it back. if i remember correctly the sd is tied into wm actually but on the very low level.
Pawel062 said:
correct but with time most of those things can be brought back to the shift. one of things we will try to do is to get the hd or sd back so u can all install more stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course i correct you: SD and HDD are connected to the PC-Side only. Hey, how would you implement a device-sharing on storage devices between two systems?? Imagine accessing the SD-Card from VISTA and WM at the same time... That's stuff that is implemented in Cluster-Solutions with SANs - but not in an UMPC, especially not by HTC.
Stop dreaming.
skin57 said:
Of course i correct you: SD and HDD are connected to the PC-Side only. Hey, how would you implement a device-sharing on storage devices between two systems?? Imagine accessing the SD-Card from VISTA and WM at the same time... That's stuff that is implemented in Cluster-Solutions with SANs - but not in an UMPC, especially not by HTC.
Stop dreaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the only way is to open shift, and solder inside an SD-CARD..
I'd be up for a little soldering, and I'd happily lose the SD card from Vista to gain it on the WinMo side. But I won't be doing any hardware mods until the warranty has expired, by then I'll have newer, better toys and won't mind risking the Shift so much.
skin57 said:
Of course i correct you: SD and HDD are connected to the PC-Side only. Hey, how would you implement a device-sharing on storage devices between two systems?? Imagine accessing the SD-Card from VISTA and WM at the same time... That's stuff that is implemented in Cluster-Solutions with SANs - but not in an UMPC, especially not by HTC.
Stop dreaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah right. You seems like a big boy knowing big thinks about clusters and SANs, but nobody is talking about simultaneous access. SD drivers can be disables on one side or one other depending on the needs.
And just to clear up thinks, debug tools are able to log to the sd card on WM side. It means lower level access does indeed exist.
There is no signal or proof that it is possible for the HDD, but I'm sure nobody was really hopping for this to happen.

Spectec 820/822 WiFi 802.11b

hi everyone, i was wondering if anyone uses this WiFi add-in Card. i use an E-TEN G500 (WinMo 5.0), so i use this WiFi card. i am having a problem, and their support team doesn't really help.
i bought it about 7 months ago, and i worked great until about 2 months ago. the blinking green light blinks and flashes (on the card), but it doesn't seem to wanna find a hotspot, even if i am standing next to my wifi router at home. Now i remember using the driver provided on the website for best stability and reliability, but i am curious as to whether the driver on the website is different than the version on the CD that was packed with the card. Also, i was trying different drivers provided from website (the WM 2003 with WLAN utility that supposedly is compatable with WM 5, the WM 5 exclusive driver, & WM 5.0 exclusive driver). 1) Which driver am i supposed to use; & 2) Does anyone have any problems with This card like i do? Like i said, the card worksa as far as mechanics (blinking green light) but my device/WiFi card doesn't seem to read any hotspots available. it would be greatly appreciated if anyone can shed some light on this and if anyone has any recommendations to any other Mini SD WiFi Card as i can't seem to find another card like this. Thanks all
its the Mini SD card (SDW-822, even though the driver doesnt descriminate between the 820 and 822), not the regular sized one. i was also reading about a "modified E300 WiFi card driver" Where can i find one and how can i download it if its gonna solve my problems?

[Q] How Android Works - OS and Versions

I know this is an incredibly newbish question, but I'd flipped through forums and articles and googled it and still don't quite seem to understand it.
My question is why is android dependent upon manufacturer's release?
Take for example, a desktop computer.
OS
This is the core of the device and the UI between the user and the hardware.
Applications talk to the OS to instruct the hardware to do stuff.
Microsoft and Apple makes the OS.
ex. Windows 7, Mac OS, Linux.
Hardware
Asus, Nvidia, Realtek, marvell make the hardware.
ex. video, LAN, sound etc.
Hardware Bundler
Dell, Alienware, Gateway, Acer
They take commercial hardware and some OEM hardware and assemble it in a way that many consumers will buy their bundle.
For 99.9% of us, not counting Synapse, this is the only way the hardware is packaged together.
Device Standards
Collectively, the manufactures work together to determine certain industry standards ex. ATX, PCI-E, SATA 3, USB 3.0 etc...
Drivers
The manufacturers also make drivers so the OS can make use of their hardware.
Compatibility Is Determined by Driver Support
If the driver exists to talk to a given OS, then the hardware will work.
Not all hardware manufacturers will code for every OS out there.
ex. USB works on all OS because it's more established, but not every sound card will work on a Linux system.
Bringing it home...
So if Microsoft releases Windows 8, and as long as Nvidia releases a driver that works with that OS, then the video card will work.
Can you help me understand how the android phone architecture is so different that it's no longer
OS <-> Driver <-> Hardware?
Sorry for not getting it.
oops, sorry.
My bad, I must have clicked the wrong section.
Can somebody move this thread?
Reposted in android section.
Please delete.

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