I can't find any other references to this, but is anyone else having massive problems with the directional pad when playing games on the MDA Vario II? The pad is unresponsive at best during action games, and seems to be incapable of handling diagonals. For example, when holding 'up' and then pressing 'left' at the same time it still only registers that I'm pressing 'up'. This effectively makes playing such games as Anthelion II impossible, where diagonals are pretty much essential.
Is my handset faulty, or is this a known problem with the Hermes? I also have to say that the pad itself feels very poorly constructed after a few days of use. Compared to my old XDA II it's a bit of a letdown.
After giving a couple of other games a try I've discovered that it's actually worse than I thought. If you hold one direction down and slide your thumb around the d-pad to hold down a different direction, the handset thinks you're still holding down the original direction! The only way to change directions is to lift your thumb off the pad and then press a new direction.
I consider this a serious fault, but I'd like to know if other handsets are the same before I try to get a replacement.
I have the same.
Cannot do the diagonal.
Only one direction at a time.
Well I'd say the pad on the Vario II is imho pretty shabby too
I'm glad (?) to know I'm not the only one who thinks this is a problem. I wonder if there's any way to improve the fault, whether it be a new keyboard driver or a physical alteration? I'd be interested to know whether other Hermes users with different models have the same experiences.
Here:
http://www.tracyandmatt.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2006/08/30/hermes_dpad_bug_update
raymondu999 said:
Here:
http://www.tracyandmatt.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2006/08/30/hermes_dpad_bug_update
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Thanks for the heads up!
At least HTC are aware... let's hope they can fix it with a firmware update. The problem with diagonals is obviously related to only being able to hold one direction at a time too, so hopefully that should get fixed at the same time.
The problem with the device is that the D-pad is only 5 way (up, down, left, right and action) and is incapable of diagonals. This has been the case with a number of HTC devices in the past.
I did ask if making the pad into 9 way was an option when they fix the bug.
I don't think this is a bug. It's a 5-way pad, not a 9-way pad. If the hardware doesn't support it, no software upgrade can change that.
Sorry, but this is a "feature."
Besides, this is an awfully expensive device to buy for playing games, don't you think? If that's what you're looking for, get a PSP or a Nintendo...
goestoeleven said:
I don't think this is a bug. It's a 5-way pad, not a 9-way pad. If the hardware doesn't support it, no software upgrade can change that.
Sorry, but this is a "feature."
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Well, yes and no. It's a 5 way pad, live with it - that's cool. There MAY be a way to recognize two buttons at once and interpret diagonals - that would be better, but the hardware may not support recognition of two buttons pressed at the same time.
HOWEVER, when changing directions quickly or sliding around and choosing a new direction results in the original direction still being recognized, I'd agree that's a BUG.
goestoeleven said:
I don't think this is a bug. It's a 5-way pad, not a 9-way pad. If the hardware doesn't support it, no software upgrade can change that.
Sorry, but this is a "feature."
Besides, this is an awfully expensive device to buy for playing games, don't you think? If that's what you're looking for, get a PSP or a Nintendo...
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Click to collapse
I already have a PSP and a GBA thanks, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to play games on my phone. It also actually worked out cheaper than a PSP considering I got it for £80 on a tariff identical in price to the one I was on before, so that makes your argument a bit redundant.
You could equally argue that it's an expensive device for using as a calendar, MP3 player or even a phone. Just because you choose not to play games, that doesn't mean other people shouldn't.
The fact is, there are good games for the Windows Mobile platform and I think it's reasonable to expect that a brand new device should be able to play them.
The only difference between a 5-way and a 9-way pad is that the latter has dedicated switches for diagonals, whereas the former should detect diagonals as combinations of two switches. Most modern 5-way pads can handle diagonals with the right driver.
Let's just see what HTC can come up with. I'd be very surprised if the hardware is physically unable to detect two button presses simultaneously as the main keyboard has no problem with this.
D-pad bug
I have a cingular 8525 and the phone is great except for the d pad bug . The D Pad does not recognize pressing two keys at the same time as a direction and it sticks in the last direction pressed if you roll you finger around the d pad to another direction.
This post started in August and it says htc has realizied the bug and now its december. Has anyone talked or heard from HTC? Are they ever going to come out with software to fix this problem?
You're talking about a problem or a bug. Actually, I don't think this issue is new to HTC because it was the same with the good selling Magician and they never released an update which solved this issue. I'm not even sure whether it's a hardware issue. If it is a software issue, it can be solved, if it's a hardware issue it can't be solved.
Many PPCs have this issue and it's bad for many action games. You could argue at the same time that the games should adapt to this situation on the hardware market and not vice versa, the hardware (resp. the firmware) should adopt to the software. It is a known issue, for quite a long time and both, the game designers and HTC should once and for all DO SOMETHING! It annoys me too.
Regarding the pad despite this issue, I think it's quite good. Not too soft, good klicking. I think it's quite precise. Maybe not as good as the Magician's but there are pads out there on the market you would never want to have as replacement (soft and unprecise).
I have two HTC 8525's with Windows Mobile 6.1. They both are having the same funky keyboard problems... sometimes they work perfect - sometimes they don't. Sometimes when I push any key on the slide-out keyboard it will only activate the start menu. My only option out of this is to use the screen keyboard. The screen keyboards malfunction often as well... the delete button will stop working and my only way around this I've found is to change screen keyboards (from keyboard to letter recognizer or vice versa). Honestly, I know just enough about HardSPL's and upgrading ROMs to be dangerous. Maybe I fried it... but, any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
HERM100
IPL-1.01
HERM100
SPL-1.40.Olipro
I've had about 4 Hermes and never had a problem with the keyboard. I presume yours is a hardware problem but out of interest exactly which ROM are you using?
Hi,
I've got a problem with my HTC Touch Pro... Last column of keys on HW keyboard (except enter) doesn't work... Do you think it is possible to be caused by some software trouble?? In the other case is it possible to repair it without help of service? I'm using EnergyROM WM 6.5.
thanks for reply
Hi,
most probable it's a hardware problem. Normally, after a couple of years, frequently used keys tend to become unresponsive or at least need a heavy push to work.
You can find a brand new keyboard + tools on ebay.
Sounds like it is a break in one of the lines in the ribbon cable connecting the keyboard to the mainboard. The reason the 'Enter' key still works is because it uses two contacts the other being in the adjacent line. On a Touch Pro it is twice the width of the other keys. Either contact will be decoded by the keyboard controller as 'Enter'.
You might be able to source just the cable on its own, if it has a connector at both ends, otherwise it will be a replacement keyboard.
I've got a UK TF101 with the UK keyboard dock. I've noticed that when I use a soft keyboard other than the Asus one my " and @ keys are swapped on the hardware keyboard (looks like it's setting US localization) no matter what localization I have the keyboard set to. With the Asus soft keyboard enabled, the hardware keyboard works correctly.
This is kinda annoying. It's annoying enough to have the TF complain that I should use the Asus soft keyboard whenever I dock the device but this is just plain irritating.
Anyone else with this problem?
If you're a UK owner with the dock, do me a favor and select the stock Honeycomb soft keyboard, then try and type " or @ with the dock keyboard.
exactly the same problem as me. Damn annoying! Can anyone help?
I solve mine by changing from UK localization to US localization...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1118164
So im looking for a keyboard that physically attaches to this phone, (im looking to upgrade my Tmob My Touch Slide 4G, yes there is swype, but try writing code in swype.. anyhow so im looking for some options for attaching a Bluetooth keyboard, something i can keep with the phone.
I was envisioning a large version of the MyTouchSlide4G or the Motorolla Droid 4, perhaps something like this
I have seen these things however - looks like you would need to use 2 hands or have it on a flat surface while typing as nothing holds up the screen while you are typing... if you were to hold the keyboard with one hand the phone would flop over.....
Something like this would be ideal but nobody seems to make something like it for the galaxy note 3
suggestions anyone?