Database Users

Can I control my HTPC using my Wizard?

I have a HTPC (without a mouse or kb) plugged into my TV, and while I have a remote (IMON 2.4G DT) the mouse control isn't too great. What I would like to do is use my Wizard as an input device, primarily for the mouse but probably also for keyboard
I thought Total Input sounded promising, but I have two issues with that:
1. 'Server is unreachable' - which presumably is just a matter of configuration of the network, and hopefully I should be able to sort that, and
2. (and this is the bit I really need help with) TI requires the NET Framework 1.1, a consequence of which is the PC can no longer boot straight into the default desktop, but now stops at the 'Select a user' screen.... where you click WITH A MOUSE which user you want to log on as
So, my question is, does anyone have any novel solutions or can suggest a piece of software that will alow me to do what I want?
I really don't want another mouse and keyboard cluttering up the living room, and to be able to use the Wizard as the input device would be really handy.

You can fix that login issue by Clicking 'Start' > 'Run'
Then type "Control userpasswords2" (without quots)
Then set the default user

Great stuff ! Thanks for that hiazle, I'll give it a try
Is there anyone out there who has got this app working and how did you find it? Does it work well?

Mellon said:
Great stuff ! Thanks for that hiazle, I'll give it a try
Is there anyone out there who has got this app working and how did you find it? Does it work well?
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Have you got a link to it? I've not seen it before, and it sound like it might be handy...

http://www.xronox.com/XronoxSite/TotalInputInfo.aspx
which is free, but they also do an all-singing all dancing version which isn't, but you can get a trial.

Mouseover for Phones coming soon?

http://www.gizmag.com/cypress-hover-truetouch-touchscreen/14910/
Cypress Semiconductor has enhanced its TrueTouch touchscreen solution so that hovering a finger over a capacitive display mimics mouseover functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very interesting to say the least.
This would solve Adobe's issue with mouse-overs and enable quite a few innovations on the web to work properly.
What do you think?

I don't particularly like that approach. I suppose I could learn to live with it, but the idea of having to figure out how close to get my finger without accidentally brushing the screen doesn't appeal to me.
For mouseover, I like the approach taken by Skyfire in the Windows Mobile version (I haven't found it in the Android version yet, but I hope it's coming): a toggle button that lets you choose whether a swipe is intended to drag the window contents, as normal, or move the mouse cursor. Very handy, and neatly addresses Steve Jobs's criticism of Flash being designed for mice instead of touch screens.

I think Nokias implemenation of a cursor is pretty slick.(N900)

muncheese said:
I think Nokias implemenation of a cursor is pretty slick.(N900)
Click to expand...
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Explain, I don't own or have used a N900.

aDosBox v0.2beta (with virtual keyboard) just released

Please help us test it out and report bugs/issues. Thanks
Just search "adosbox" in Google, I am not allowed to post external URL here.
Any kinds of help are welcome

Hi, i downloaded this last night for one reason and one reason only (for now anyway) - to play championship manager and i managed to get it start a new game it took over an hour to do it and then simple things like changing pages takes over a min so it esentially unplayable.
Other that great work and i wish i could be of more help but im afraid ive never done any software programming in my life

Wow, this is perfect so far. I just tried cyberdogs on it and it ran amazing. The program is really easy to get running. Is there a way to mount hard keyboards to the controls?

Just tried it. works like a charm.

Yep, works awesome.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App

I am really enjoying adosbox right now on my Transformer, but lack of 3.1 mouse support has saddened me to the point where I compiled from source myself. I have it working sort of (on the java end), but because the build screen size doesn't match with the actual screen size, I am having issues with the mouse not following perfectly. I would like to get mouse support working better for 3.1 devices (and probably better emulation going for pre 3.1 devices), but I need to edit some of the C files for that. Unfortunately I have not done much native code on Android, so I am running into problems compiling. The ndk-build script seems to fail on me with an error of "missing separator" in the SDL-1.2 make file. Sadly I have never used make so I don't know how to correct it.
Today I saw the build_instructions.txt in jni/application/dosbox/. Are you building through this instead of the ndk (do I need to get gcc ARM cross compiling installed on my linux box)? In either case where does the dosbox-0.74-cfg-pelyaSDL.tar.gz come from?
Any help you could give me in getting the native part to build would be appreciated. Then I can focus on getting some usability stuff working and throw patches your way.
P.S. The feedback page is broken.

Hi. That's great news.
I love dosbox an I appreciate your work.
If you don't mind I will post some issues here.
I've installed adosbox 0.2.5 on my Desire Z.
I've tried to run some apps and games.
Dos Navigaror: Usable.
1. Mouse trackpad emulation works quite well, however it only moves in x,y axis separately. No intermediate directions (I suppose the hardware does not allow it). Any possibilities to solve this?
2. Touch screen mouse movement works quite well - however with delay.
2a. Well, sometimes there is no mouse. I swing on the screen with no effect.
3. It does not respond to screen tap as a left mouse click. Well it works sometimes. I have no control on that.
3a It does not respond to double tap (double click) at all.
4. No possibility to bind/emulate arrow keys. I can't find such function in dosbox menus. ---edit --- I could bind some keys but... see the edit part down there.
5. On PC I've been using config to autostart Dos Navigator with dosbox start. How to do it on Android? I couldn't find .conf file on my device.
System shock: starts but unplayable.
1. I've got a slide show. I've increased the CPU cycle to 1000 even to 2500 with no satisfactory effect.
2. On screen mouse movement works but the cursor jumps into different position when tapping.
3. With no option for binding keys this game is 100% unplayable.
Hocus Pocus: works but no arrow keys.
1. It starts nicely.
2. It reacts on "FN" key - the hero is shooting.
3. However no hardware arrow keys makes the game unplayable. Moving with trackpad sucks so much that the game is unplayable.
Oxyd Magnum: Playable but not exciting.
1. It react on taping the screen.
2. On screen mouse works well but with some ugly delay. This takes out most of the fun.
So the main issues I see are the cpu speed, mouse delay and the hw keys binding.
You are making a great job.
However making dos games being fun on the phone needs good controls workaround. Without that - no fun.
Thank you.
Don't forget we appreciate your work.
-------------edit-----------
Keys binding:
The .dosbox\mapper-0.74.map file (the file for binding keys) can not be found from the phone level. It must be done from a PC level. It's not a big issue but what to hide the file for?
After rebinding left FN, left shift and tab keys Hocus Pocus is quite playable.
It would be nice if you provide us the list of numbers for HW keys on some devices.
I can't bind "menu" as right arrow. And I can't bind search, sym, and the two shortcut keys. They are left useles.
And binding some keys as arrows disables trackpad!
Sound:
No mater what number I set for cycles I can't make the sound to play smoothly.
Any suggestions?

Someone knowns the makefile system for adosbox "libapplication.so"?
Ive been trying for a long time to recompile adosbox for mips, and i still unable to compile that file, not even for arm.

Hello,
I am using aDOSBox to run QBASIC (yes I know there are "better" and "faster" interpreters/compliers, but some have bad issues, see one comment about writting files on X-11 BASIC, others have a max file size) with an external keyboard (so I can see the screen while typing - can you make the virtual keyboard transparent?).
I have found that some keys do not work nor processed correctly in this version (freshly gotten from Google Play), namely the "." when shifted (I get ":" every time, all other punction keys appear to be fine). At first I though this was a KCM problem (had problems with mismapped keys on a Droid X), but while I was briefly able to rooted my tablet (someone please read/question my post/question about the Azpen A701 rooting) I was able to view the generic.kcm and other kcm files (lost root right after this) and those files define the shift period combination correctly. Also I get a ">" when I hit that combination in the 920 Text Editor.
Function keys seem to send to Android key processes (opening/launching other apps) instead of work in the program. Insert, Delete, Home, and End do not seem to be working at all.

Can an A500 replace my netbook?

Hi guys.
Some time ago my laptop broke down. I haven't bought a new one since I'm low on cash so currently I'm borrowing my mates netbook.
I've been about a lot about a Tablet + keyboard solution. My primary objective is to take notes in my school, not writing big assignments (I have a desktop).
Is there any proper office alternatives for Android?
What do you guys think?

I replaced my netbook with this tablet. So I would normally say yes. However, I have yet to find a virtual keyboard that would be fast enough for keeping notes in a class environment. That said, there are plenty of bluetooth and USB keyboards that can work with the tablt and have a small form factor to make carrying it around between classes not a big deal.
Other than the need for fast typing, I would say yes, it definitely can replace a netbook. As for office replacements, it of course can use Google Docs, but there is Quick Office and similar paid-for apps to replace MS Office.

Thanks, that was really helpful!
I'm going to buy the USB folio case that's on ebay.
I'm from Denmark, and we have three extra letters, Æ Ø and Å, obviously these are not in the keyboard, but I recall on the Desire Z keyboard, if the long-press O, a box with Ø will pop.
Can you test also applies in honeycomb + usb keyboard?

If no one else chimes in, I'll test this when I get home. I know there are a LOT of extra/special characters available via long-press of certain virtual keyboard buttons, but I am not familiar with your moon-speak

not if you want to use iTunes....etc to load your iPod.

Amdathlonuk said:
not if you want to use iTunes....etc to load your iPod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't used iTunes for years!

Amdathlonuk said:
not if you want to use iTunes....etc to load your iPod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Though I suppose that one might get it to work with some hacking and libimobiledevice...
Other than that, I am using an A501 (i. e. the 3g version of the A500) and a FreedomPro BT keyboard for university work every day, even doing presentations with it. To prepare slides and documents I use LaTeX running in a debian chroot (try Linux Installer) , though there are some apps that claim to be MS Office - compatible (never tried, I get a lot better results considerably faster with LaTeX).

Can you by any chance change the keyboard layout in honeycomb? Maybe remap the buttons?

If you are rooted, I think you could. I completely forgot to check out the long press and see if your special characters were there. If I go home for lunch, I will check, otherwise, I will check when I get home from my office, in about 7 hours

If you want to run MS office, forget it. If you want to re-calculate a 500mb spreadsheet, it's probably not going to do it.
The Office apps, like Polaris, QuickOffice, Docs to Go, can do simple things, like make changes and stuff. But they lack in understanding the formulas that are sometimes embedded in these documents. This is understandable.
It also does not have the raw processing power for graphics editing, audio and video encoding and conversion.
As an on the go replacement for mail, doc reviewing, and other general things, yes. It's great, and I never leave home without it. I send sms, skype, chat.
Is it a replacement, 75% yes.
---------- Post added at 08:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 PM ----------
Prozel said:
Can you by any chance change the keyboard layout in honeycomb? Maybe remap the buttons?
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Click to collapse
Lots of keyboards in the android market, with lots of functions. Most of them for free.

Moscow Desire said:
If you want to run MS office, forget it. If you want to re-calculate a 500mb spreadsheet, it's probably not going to do it.
It also does not have the raw processing power for graphics editing, audio and video encoding and conversion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A Netbook can't do any of this stuff either haha. Ok I guess it can run MS Office, but these netbooks aren't really much more powerful than the current tablets.
In terms of the long press on a hardware keyboard. It's likely not going to do it as long press will just repeat the letter you are holding down (I think? I actually haven't tested that on my keybo!)
I'm using the Acer A500 hardware keyboard. It's a BT keyboard and has lots of function keys on it. I'm sure there is a way to get those letters you need to pop up.

Moscow Desire said:
Lots of keyboards in the android market, with lots of functions. Most of them for free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant remap a physical keyboard.
@All thanks for your answers, still heavily considering it!

As Android maps the physical keys to their corresponding software keys by key code and not by 'letter' (whatever that may be in terms of a keyboard) remapping keys is trivial: just change your software keyboard layout to the one you want, the same way as you would do it with any other computer...

If you are going to be using it to simply take notes and such, I would say yes, it would be a good replacement for a netbook. My tablet is way faster and better than my netbook for most things. As far as the keyboard goes with the special characters, I'm not sure about physical keyboard mapping. THere are a lot of software KBs on the market that allow you to assign special characters/functions to certain buttons. I use Thumb Keyboard and it has that feature, I'm sure there are many others too. All the keyboards I've installed have multi-language support so you're probably safe. I'm assuming that they make USB/BT keyboards for your country so they should work as well.

If you use go launcher, there are a bunch of go keyboards in different languages and I am pretty sure it says danish. I use OfficeSuite Pro 5 which was a free app of the day on amazon a while ago. Definitely if you are getting the keyboard /case combo, you should be able to do a lot.

[Q] alternative Keyboard for Kindle Fire and what kind of Pen to use

Hi Guys,
anyone got an idea which Keyboard would be the best as an alternative to Kindle Key board and also in addition what of of pen could one
use with it for just writing notes? (free hand) etc.! Any suggestions?
Thx
regards
mjay

I have no recommendations or comments on using a pen, but in terms of alternate keyboards I am a big fan of Thumb Keyboard. It has different layouts you can use depending on how you like to type including a neat split portrait layout and multiple split landscape layouts perfect for holding the sides and using your thumb. My favorite feature is that there are two spacebars; one will use autocorrect and one does not. Takes moving a couple files around to get it to work on stock, just like any other keyboard.

skourg3 said:
I have no recommendations or comments on using a pen, but in terms of alternate keyboards I am a big fan of Thumb Keyboard. It has different layouts you can use depending on how you like to type including a neat split portrait layout and multiple split landscape layouts perfect for holding the sides and using your thumb. My favorite feature is that there are two spacebars; one will use autocorrect and one does not. Takes moving a couple files around to get it to work on stock, just like any other keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks gonna try that one ASAP
Does it also support freehand-writing or Do you know such an app which can transform your free-handwriting into to text?
cheers

I've got some inside news that Thumb keyboard is going to get specially modified theme for kindle fire, due to lack of hardware buttons. So yeah I recommend it too.

For a pen, I just grabbed a random one from the iPad aisle in target.

+1 for Thumb Keyboard though I tend to share between it and Swype. I especially like the Preset keys you can set for sentences for things I need to type over and over but are harder to type (Like an SMS commands to a gateway server which needs a specific format).
As for a pen, I wouldn't hope too much there. The best you can do is one of the capacitance pens (same as what the iPad uses). They have large rounded tips and don't do well for real handwriting.
Even on something like the ASUS Transformer Prime, the stylus there does not work very well.
However, there is new stuff coming for some devices like the ASUS Transformer Prime. There is a company which is unlocking the hardware that is already in those devices which then allows you to use a real active stylus with a small tip that in the demo's I've seen had lots of control and worked very smoothly.
I don't think you will see anything like that on the Fire though.

krelvinaz said:
+1 for Thumb Keyboard though I tend to share between it and Swype.
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Agreeing here. Swype is for my portrait-mode quick-typing of random messages when I'm not doing a whole lot of typing that requires commands, like on the forums or when I'm writing emails. Thumb is perfect for my ssh stuff and irssi use, however, so I stick with that in landscape.
Holding out hope for a nice BT keyboard if BT support gets thrown into a rom anytime soon