Database Users

Connect Athena to external touch screen monitor, possibile?

Hi guys, i am currently trying to set up my Athena with my car, i wonder if it's possible to connect my Athena with a external touch screen monitor like this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-INCH-TOUCH-...9QQihZ005QQcategoryZ32826QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
throw the VGA cable.
I know it will display the screen throw VGA out, but I am not sure whether it will enable the touch screen function, any of you know this?
Thanks a lot
p.s. I will post some screen shot if I succeed in this project.

Is that a PS2 port?
Seems to me the key question is how would it get positioning info back to the ameo? That looks like a PS2 port on the non-vga cable. IF it was sending back mouse positioning info AND a simple ps2 to USB converter would work then I'd guess it MIGHT work with the mouse drivers i've seen discussed elsewhere. There is a fair few conditions to meet but mostly at a low level by the look of things. Not much info to go on and also it loks like they are using a pen of some kind there. That makes it less useful I think?

inframan said:
Seems to me the key question is how would it get positioning info back to the ameo? That looks like a PS2 port on the non-vga cable. IF it was sending back mouse positioning info AND a simple ps2 to USB converter would work then I'd guess it MIGHT work with the mouse drivers i've seen discussed elsewhere. There is a fair few conditions to meet but mostly at a low level by the look of things. Not much info to go on and also it loks like they are using a pen of some kind there. That makes it less useful I think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure you don't need a pen, there are lots of touch screen out there, for example this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....tToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget
I just don't know if we simply plug in the vga cable from our Athena to the touch screen, will that work?
Possibility not, I can kind of see a usb cable there, how about plug that in the usb host ? but then maybe we still need to install the driver.....
Basically, what I am trying to do here to use get a bigger screen to show for Athena in a car. So, I will then have much bigger TOMTOM, and also can watch movie or go on internet.
Any good suggestion guys? Thanks a lot for all your help.

I cant see any specks on that, but i did find another that said it was usb, if thats the case theres no reason why it shouldnt work.

johnwalk said:
I cant see any specks on that, but i did find another that said it was usb, if thats the case theres no reason why it shouldnt work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it seems like they all need to install driver, do you think it will work without driver?

thats the only problem, does it need specialist drivers? I havnt been able to come up with an answer yet.
But i wont be buying one for the car, somone nicked me vario yesterday from the car so not even chancing the Ameo.
I was just going to buy a little 7" tv I bought this tiny Keyboard out of Maplin on offer. thought it would look sweet in the car. but this is giving me other ideas, anybody shed light!

They ALL need specialist drivers.
Touchscreen is absolute position, mouse is relative. You NEED the custom driver. It may be possible, but I dont know how.

1. I think on the Pic is a S-Video cable not PS2.
(The specs say nothing about PS2)
2. Till now i just saw Touchscreens with USB and like Profer said they all
need secial drivers.

Basmelek said:
1. I think on the Pic is a S-Video cable not PS2.
(The specs say nothing about PS2)
2. Till now i just saw Touchscreens with USB and like Profer said they all
need secial drivers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your answer, i just ask one of the seller there on ebay, and the answer I got is I will be able to plug the VGA cable in, that will enable the screen to display, but in order to get the touch screen working, I also need to plug in a USB, so now the question is whether the USB host will work on this....and of course the driver need to work too

The 4in1 cable should allow the USB to connect, but you would have to convince 3m or somebody (make most of the drivers) to write a PPC driver.
As almost ALL ppc's are touchscreen, they probably wouldnt bother for the 1 customer that wants it
If you know a coding guru who understands USB, then get them to do it for you. Either way, I doubt its gonna happen.

IT WORKS!
Hi, everybody.
Don't know how many of u are interested in this issue, but anyway:
1. just grab the generic touch screen driver for win ce 5.0 from the usual site.
2. Copy 'n paste the UsbTouch.dll file into windows root directory of the X7500.
3. Plug the video cable (the one with usb connector).
4. Plug the xenarc TS usb cable in the abovementioned cable.
5. Wait for the dialogue box asking for the driver to be used with the unknown device.
6. Write the name of the .dll file copied into the device.
7. Press ok.
et voilà, les jeux sont fait! It woks perfectly, without even the need for calibration.
This is (even if it lacks some of the fun of setting up a carputer from scratch) the ultimate carputer, perfect integration among all application and real time (quite) OS.
Cheers.
Cyberlancer.

Pyrofer said:
The 4in1 cable should allow the USB to connect, but you would have to convince 3m or somebody (make most of the drivers) to write a PPC driver.
As almost ALL ppc's are touchscreen, they probably wouldnt bother for the 1 customer that wants it
If you know a coding guru who understands USB, then get them to do it for you. Either way, I doubt its gonna happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your on the right track with this answer,
Look for a touch screen that has a protocol that is treated as a standard HID ( Human interface device ) Ie:mouse, keyboard etc.etc.
if you can find such a device then the built in drivers for plug and play HID's will work fine.
otherwise the rest are right

Did this really work??? What car? This would simply be quite fantabulous.
cyberlancer said:
Hi, everybody.
Don't know how many of u are interested in this issue, but anyway:
1. just grab the generic touch screen driver for win ce 5.0 from the usual site.
2. Copy 'n paste the UsbTouch.dll file into windows root directory of the X7500.
3. Plug the video cable (the one with usb connector).
4. Plug the xenarc TS usb cable in the abovementioned cable.
5. Wait for the dialogue box asking for the driver to be used with the unknown device.
6. Write the name of the .dll file copied into the device.
7. Press ok.
et voilà, les jeux sont fait! It woks perfectly, without even the need for calibration.
This is (even if it lacks some of the fun of setting up a carputer from scratch) the ultimate carputer, perfect integration among all application and real time (quite) OS.
Cheers.
Cyberlancer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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.

Some questions about the Shift

Hi all, i'm new to the shift scene and have a couple of questions:
1. I gather that the WM part of the device is an emulator running on Vista. Is there anyway to turn Vista off so its just WM that is running. (I guess not as the Shift has no WM capable hardware.)
2. Is there anyway to send SMS from the WM side? Can you send SMS from the Vista side?
3. Has anyone got TF3D running on it?
4. Comming from the Xperia X1 forum, there are loads of ROMs for the X1. Are there any WM6.1 ROMs out there for the Shift?.
5. Can you use a bluetooth headset with this device
6. How much does XP speed up the device? How much does Win7 slow down the device? Can you have XP or Win7 running WM?
7. Can you run TomTom on the WM side?
Many Thanks

vinokirk said:
1. I gather that the WM part of the device is an emulator running on Vista. Is there anyway to turn Vista off so its just WM that is running. (I guess not as the Shift has no WM capable hardware.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. You couldn't be more wrong. The WM side is actually a real smartphone built in to the shift mother board with it's own processor and all. WM is always on as long as there is power.
vinokirk said:
2. Is there anyway to send SMS from the WM side? Can you send SMS from the Vista side?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2. Yes it can even do that out of the box with no hacking.
vinokirk said:
3. Has anyone got TF3D running on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3. TF3D is to demanding on the WM hardware built in to the shift so a no can do there. You will have to be happy with point ui at best.
vinokirk said:
4. Comming from the Xperia X1 forum, there are loads of ROMs for the X1. Are there any WM6.1 ROMs out there for the Shift?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4. Yup just browse the forum.
vinokirk said:
5. Can you use a bluetooth headset with this device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5. No, since bt is attached to the computer part and not the phone there is no bt on wm. You cannot use wired head set even. Actually the only way to make calls is using speaker phone. You have to remember it's a computer with wm, not a phone with vista.
vinokirk said:
6. How much does XP speed up the device? How much does Win7 slow down the device? Can you have XP or Win7 running WM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
6. Errh, The q is how well does xp work and how much better will it work with W7 then vista, remember W7 is lighter then Visa and works better on portables then Xp.
vinokirk said:
7. Can you run TomTom on the WM side?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
7. Possible in theory impossible practically, we do not have the space avalible on the WM for maps. We cannot use SD since it's attched to the computer not the phone. It is possible to use the computer hdd but it requieres the computer part to be running and that will drain the battery.
The shift is NOT a phone, it's a special device in its own category. One should us it as a additional device not as a phone replacement.

use google maps
you can use google maps instead of tomtom.

Gmaps is another type of app. I's map app, tomtom is a navigator.
Yes you can browse maps on the shift, but no navigation.

Josasp, many thanks for your answers!
Just comming back to a couple of your answers...
Josasp said:
1. You couldn't be more wrong. The WM side is actually a real smartphone built in to the shift mother board with it's own processor and all. WM is always on as long as there is power.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sure I saw in a video a guy was saying how the WM part is an emulation on windows. So you can have the Win XP part totally off and just have the phone on?
Josasp said:
2. Is there anyway to send SMS from the WM side? Can you send SMS from the Vista side?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you make it clear that you mean you can send sms from the Vista side?
Josasp said:
7. Possible in theory impossible practically, we do not have the space avalible on the WM for maps. We cannot use SD since it's attched to the computer not the phone. It is possible to use the computer hdd but it requieres the computer part to be running and that will drain the battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much space is there on the WM side. You say we can use the WinXP hdd, so does that mean that the WM side can access the WinXP HDD? I would like to use TT navigator in my car, so there would be no probs with power. So people on here have got the GPS unit working then?
Last question, is it 3G? I will have a look myself now for this answer tho, I only just thought of it
ANSWER: Yes it does support 3G
This really is an intriguing device! If only you could make proper calls on it without it being on speakerphone!

Ofc you can SMS you have full wm fuctionality, the speakerphone issue is just that the shift is missing a earpice and access to headset, so it leaves the speakerphone the only option.
I'ts not only 3G it is also HSDPA wich is fater then regular 3G, but notice that there is a CDMA version avalible to that is NOT 3G.
Well the WM part is linked to the computer(vista) in two ways, the first is some sort of internal usb connection that we can turn on and off using "usb tool".
The other way is that the WM and Vista is linked i an internal local network (LAN) that allows vista to connect to the internet using WM as a router an modem, much like a regular home lan.
The fact that they are linked via lan allows for us to use shared folders between the devices in the device, i't works in the same way you share folders over a home network.
Using this shared folders feature we can use the Vista hdd but ONLY when the computer part is on. So there is no direct connection betweed the vista hdd and WM only the virtual share.
I't works but it drains battery and it's slightly buggy, it's not really a great solution.
What would be way better in your case is sharing the GPS module over the internal usb to vista. That is a lot less data and is way more stable.
There is some good navigation software for regular computers too, garmin has a software similar to thier WM software.
A solotion like that looks a lot more stable if you ask me.

Couple more questions:
1)So the GPS module is 'natively' attached to the WM side but you can access it from the WinXP side?
2)Can you confirm if you can send texts from the WinXP side, what program do you use to do it?
3)Can you confirm if you can have the WinXP side totally off and just run the WM side?
4)There are some people on ebay sellling wired headsets for the shift, but you say they dont work...i dont understand! are these seller lying???
5)When the screen is flipped up and your on the WM side, does it go into landspace view?
6)Can you use the hardware keyboard on the WM side?
7)Can you use the trackpad on the WM side?

1. Yes with custom rom like almost everything.
2. Text is sent from WM side perfectly no need for sending from visa/xp/whatever.
3. Well WM is always on as long as the battery is in, vista/xp you turn on/off with a switch.
4. They work only on the pc/vista/xp side for msn/skype/other not in the WM side.
5. The WM side is always in landcape, it is possible to rotate manually in the WM side if you want portrait but no auto switching.
6. Yes, it works very well.
7. Nope it's connected to the PC.
You have to think of the shift as two devices regardless of the fact that they do not appear so. Think of the shift as a laptop connected to phone with usb and lan. When you press the snapvue button the keyboard and the screen will switch between these devices, so it appears that they are the same device.
What does this mean?
Well it means that some things we will never get since they are only connected to pc, like true hdd access or touchpad access.
Some thing we however manage to get working in one of two ways, the first is by using some secret way that htc built in the device but decided not no use like the phone, the other way is by using some sort of software for wm or the pc to send stuff over the lan or usb between the wm and the pc, like sharing GPS or the hdd.
But using some software share requieres both sides to be on and that will drain battery, and attery is the main reason we want to use the wm side instead of the pc. If the pc would last as long as the wm we would not use the wm at all. So having the pc on in order to do some stuff in the wm sort of defeats the purpose of using the wm.

The mouse pad is for the PC side, but if you have the PC side running and connected to the WM side via the program USBTool, then it is possible to control WM with the mouse pad/mouse with a program that has been mentioned in these forums before. I have forgotten its name

Ahh nice one Flanimal
What about the reception on the Shift. Comming from the x1 which has notoriously bad reception!

Ahh nice one Flanimal
What about the reception on the Shift. Comming from the x1 which has notoriously bad reception!

Flanimal said:
The mouse pad is for the PC side, but if you have the PC side running and connected to the WM side via the program USBTool, then it is possible to control WM with the mouse pad/mouse with a program that has been mentioned in these forums before. I have forgotten its name
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I have remembered the name of this application that allows you to use the mouse and mouse pad in WM whilstVista/XP side is on. It's called trueconnect. It works very well.

[Q] Buillding a budget drone with an old windows mobile phone

Hi,
I'm currently planing a litte project where i want to build a budget drone. Basically i wanna buy a bigger ready to fly helicopter and and connect to the build in microcontroller to control it (so i don't have to care about stabilisation) and add a little camera. So i digged through the various microcontrollers and wifi or 3g modules and cams and it got expensive. So i though hmmm... i've not really experience with microcontroller programming and an old wm device would have all that build in and is cheaper and i can go with .net. But before i've a few questions which i hope to be answered here.
So first is a windows mobile phone booting without a screen connected? (no screen less weight and much more battery time)
Can someone suggest a phone which has 3g gps and a serial output, rs232 or something? Not usb, because afaik usb on windows mobile is not good supported, please correct if i'm wrong.
Thanks & Regards
Benjamin

Head unit using X86 brain

Hi guys,
I'm working on a replacement for my Peugeot 508 multimedia&navigation unit because I need to implement new sensors & behavior, and I want also to use my phone Android Auto connected.
First of all, it consist on a 7 inches (or maybe more, if I find a way to rework the original housing with 3d printing) touchscreen (HDMI+USB) plus a brain and various proximity sensor (connected with various Arduino), 360 cameras & a CAN BUS bridge.
My first Idea was to use Raspberry Pi 3 with OpenAuto: it works with Android Auto (even with WiFi, that's mandatory for my project), but I know that maybe Raspi will got saturated.
My other Idea it's to use my old Laptop pc brain that's surely more powerful than Raspi.
But my doubts are:
1. is there an app that run on Windows (or Linux) that can be used to run Android Auto (client) supposing that my Phone will act as 'a server'?
2. Are there another low-cost brain solution that can help me reach my objective? PS: Android Auto radio can't be used here, because my 508 has different housing for touchscreen & 'brain'.
Thanks in advance at anyone that will reply.
PS: I don't know if this is the correct place for my post, but imho this seems the best place.