Database Users

I'm thinking about making a Droid Eris video out app...Need Help

Hi all. Bear with me as I'm new to the dev community for the Android OS.
Basically the story so far is I've got a Droid Eris. I saw that there is a cable available called the Act100 Video Cable by HTC. This cable plugs into the mini usb port of the phone and outputs a composite video and left and right audio signal, yellow red white cables. I have a TV in my car that accepts composite input.
Through some research I've found that the Eris does not support this video out function. A supported phone for example is listed as the HTC Touch Pro 2 on sites where you can buy the cable. I've read in forums where people have mailed HTC about eris video out compatibility and HTC said that it isn't in the software by default but to try and search for an app that enables it. Therefore, the hardware supports it but it simply isn't an option in the software. So I want to make an app that simply enables the feature on the Droid Eris.
This is where my questions start. I've had only limited C++ programming experience so I'm prepared for any learning curve. How difficult do you think it would be to make an app like this? I know of some begginer guides but beyond that where should I begin?

How do you find out that the hardware does, in fact, support this? I would think if this were possible it would have been made by now, but I'd love to be wrong.

I'm not 100% sure the hardware supports it. I just made a guess because in the post I read HTC support tells the guy to look for an app that enables it becuase it isn't in the software by default. It sounds like it might just have to be coded in. At leat I'm really hoping it can be.

Sounds fishy to me. Every portable device I've ever used with a TV out function required a hardware decoder specifically for a TV. This can be done in software I'm sure but the other issue I find is pushing it out over the USB jack. Analog video source pushed out through a USB chipset doesn't sound like it can be done. I'm not all that knowledgeable about the Eris' hardware specifics so don't quote me.
As far as a pure software app that will do it, that raises red flags as well. As far as I know apps on a stock ROM run in a Dalvik VM I believe. They're separated from the system itself, and it's the system that controls the hardware. It might be able to be done but I doubt it.
The Touch Pro 2 might have the ability to do it maybe through hardware, but as far as I know the Eris doesn't have any of that.
I'll let somebody with more hardware knowledge come in.

Thanks for the ideas so far. Well since the touch pro 2 can output video over usb it's obviously possible to push the signal over any other USB. It would just be a matter of, as you said, the Eris having the hardware. I guess I was under the impression that the hardwares were very similar. I'm really trying to investigate this as much as possible and no one even answered me on other forums. Please keep this thread alive!

I don't know for sure if this can work, but here are my thoughts. PDANet sends data over the USB port to enable wired tethering, so an app can send data over the USB port.
So since we know we can send/receive data over the USB port, we must address the issue of video output. I don't know if this will be easy because of the way USB->Composite converters probably work (read output of the USB pins into each of the Red, White, Yellow pins). What would potentially make this difficult would be that with Dalvik I don't know if we can control what pins we are outputting our data to.
If someone wants to post more information on how the video cable works it would be easier to determine if it is possible.

Check this out. The Droid Incredible does it over microUSB. I wonder if all we need is the right cable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJyt463AoOA

I would love to see you make an app for this if its possible. Is there an option on stock incredible for this or is it an app?

Nindoja: Yea I agree pin control is probably going to be important for something like this. I would prefer not to, but would rooting allow us to get around the Dalvik restriction you mentioned if it ends up being a problem?
ihtfp69 and conap: I did see that the incredible does the tv out over usb. I'm not sure wether it is an option or an app though... I also read that the incredible's files were leaked, including one called tvout.apk. I think I read that just trying to install it on the eris doesn't work but I'm really not sure. In the least having that file to work with might be a great start.
I haven't been able to find that file yet unfortunately. How similar are the Incredible and Eris hardware? If they are similar it could be good news for a software solution.
Thanks for the replys so far! Any other thoughts?

Has there been any development on this?

nope, none public at least

Bumpity bump bump. this needs to happen!
Sent from my Eris using XDA App

Theoretically couldnt One figure out what app and supporting files the incredible uses and then Just Port those files to the eris. Just like people have done with the gallery Candy genie apps?
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

Izeltokatl said:
Theoretically couldnt One figure out what app and supporting files the incredible uses and then Just Port those files to the eris. Just like people have done with the gallery Candy genie apps?
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you read the thread at all? The problem isn't only software.... the apps the incredible (and other phones that have video out) use make extensive use of dedicated hardware to output the video stream.
We don't have that on the eris, so that would be really hard, and very slow, to emulate in software. That's assuming it could even be done over our USB port.

shouldnt be that hard, the same thing has been done for PSP...although its USB video out to PC.
its probably a step in the correct direction.
goto youtube.com and search for 'remotejoylite' one word, should be second video down, shows it in action via usb cable.

nindoja said:
That's assuming it could even be done over our USB port.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Am I missing something, but haven;t at least three comments made before this one confirmed, several phones have video out, via USB. I think the assuming iot is possible part is over. The real question that no one has answered is if the Eris has the hardware to support this option. I don't have an answer, but wanted to point out that the possibility of video over USB has been answered.

If you look on Google you can find the tvout.apk and tvout.odex from the Incredible dump. Might be able to do something with it.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

Here is TVout.apk and TVout.odex
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=319214&d=1272756479
I think with the right cable and the right software we can get this to work.
We might also need system/lib/libTVOUT.so
From what I can tell, on a stock ROM the TV out functionality is provided by system/app/TVOUT.apk and a system/lib/libTVOUT.so
here is a link to a forum about the MyTouch and the tvout.apk and cable:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=454333

mjgdroid said:
Here is TVout.apk and TVout.odex
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=319214&d=1272756479
I think with the right cable and the right software we can get this to work.
We might also need system/lib/libTVOUT.so
From what I can tell, on a stock ROM the TV out functionality is provided by system/app/TVOUT.apk and a system/lib/libTVOUT.so
here is a link to a forum about the MyTouch and the tvout.apk and cable:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=454333
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question.
Has anyone seen this work?
How do you make it work?
Do you select it from the launcher?
Is it in settings?
Because we would have to find a work around if it is.
Or just add it to the menu.
Ha.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

KHancock321 said:
the Incredible dump.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my nonsensikal froyo using XDA App

Enable USB Host Mode

Roebeet at slatedroid has a step by step for using the Xoom usb port for host mode: http://www.slatedroid.com/index.php...le-usb-host-mode-ie-thumb-drives-on-the-xoom/

and it is on days like today that I love my Xoom that much more. By the time the devs are done designing things for this tablet, it is going to be a whole new experience. I feel sorry for people that returned theirs after not even giving it real time to grow.

so this enables host mode, but can you switch back and forth between host and client?

I guess his new boot.img that enables the USB host will be a moot point with regard to the new update coming from Moto tonight. This sucks.

an update is coming?

joeski27 said:
I guess his new boot.img that enables the USB host will be a moot point with regard to the new update coming from Moto tonight. This sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regardless of the update, we will still be able to run this great mod. There has been little work done on the kernel as seen on aosp. so all the kernels floating around will still work just fine. In fact, the only kernel work committed from upstream has primarily been bcm4329 work for the wifi only models.

Will this allow me to plug in my external hard drive?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

After I update I am going to run this bad boy

mattkeane88 said:
Will this allow me to plug in my external hard drive?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, if your drive is AC powered. And u get the cable. I will release this in my next kernel release with due credits given in my OP.

how hard would it be
To have the OC and USB host lines in the boot/root img?
I would love to have this and OC at the same time!

bigrushdog said:
Yes, if your drive is AC powered. And u get the cable. I will release this in my next kernel release with due credits given in my OP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how about portable external HD's that draw power through the usb cable. theese will also be supported too, correct?

The actual change is very minor from stock - a few extra lines in the init.rc and then the /etc/vold.fstab change.
10roller said:
how about portable external HD's that draw power through the usb cable. theese will also be supported too, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going on my GTAB experience, it should work. But, there might be a size restriction -- 128GB, I believe (?) and of course FAT32. Again, going on memory here from the GTAB forums.
My external HDD's are all EXT3/4 so I usually don't test them against an OTG cable.

roebeet said:
Going on my GTAB experience, it should work. But, there might be a size restriction -- 128GB, I believe (?) and of course FAT32. Again, going on memory here from the GTAB forums.
My external HDD's are all EXT3/4 so I usually don't test them against an OTG cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FAT32!!!! who uses that anymore?!?!

Anyone got a good link for the right cables. The last one I bought to add storage to my jailbroke apple tv failed miserably.

qw3r7yju4n said:
To have the OC and USB host lines in the boot/root img?
I would love to have this and OC at the same time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I think this might be needed, since it seems that the boot.img for USB host conflicts with the boot.img for OC, rendering your tablet wifi-less. Hope we can get a workaround for this

mattkeane88 said:
FAT32!!!! who uses that anymore?!?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(gets on soapbox)
Most of the vendors, unfortunately, because they can't hammer out a long-term solution they all can agree on. FAT32 is still used on flash-based devices because of this problem. And it is a problem.
MS, in its infinite wisdom, created exFAT to replace FAT32. But of course its proprietary and has to be licensed. Why couldn't they just open source it and allow it to used for free? That would be too easy, so they can't do that. NTFS is also proprietary, so getting OS's like Android and iOS requires reverse engineering. And HFS+ is, again, proprietary.
What would be best for consumers is that all the major vendors agree on an open-source standard (like EXT4?), and create drivers for their various OS's to support that standard. Then, we could migrate all new devices to that new standard and be done with this problem. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
(gets off soapbox)

Non zoom owner here, potiential in the future. I guess this mean flash drives not camera and phone etc or is it all the same? Wont different drivers b required?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

I think in the link the person has a link to eBay
strifejester said:
Anyone got a good link for the right cables. The last one I bought to add storage to my jailbroke apple tv failed miserably.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

xlGmanlx said:
I think in the link the person has a link to eBay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sold out and all the other ones on ebay will take weeks to arrive.
Anyone find a US site that we can buy one of these cables on?

Did anyone have the problem with WiFi breaking after flashing the boot.img? The only way I could get WiFi back was to boot a previous image.
Andy

[Q] USB Host

Just saw this on Engadget...
[engadget]/2011/04/29/xoom-camera-connection-kit-makes-us-lust-for-photoshop-on-honeyc/
Any chance this functionality could be backported to the nook?

We lack true USB support on the Nook currently.

The hardware is there in nook but it might take a bit of time to get it to work, and right now its proving to be more and more difficult to do it. Till now no one has been able to get power across usb port and still have a working nook

hmm...maybe with a powered USB hub? anyway, I'd rather someone find a way to get SDXC cards working on the nook, I kinda wish I could walk around with 64 or 128GB of storage [drool]

rigy73 said:
The hardware is there in nook but it might take a bit of time to get it to work, and right now its proving to be more and more difficult to do it. Till now no one has been able to get power across usb port and still have a working nook
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1105497&highlight=USB

BobK46 said:
Take a look at this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1105497&highlight=USB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This topic is from back in april, lol. Not to mention USB host has been integrated in the OC kernel, and I believe the stable build now.
If they don't know by now they're just not in with the [email protected]@

Gin1212 said:
This topic is from back in april, lol. Not to mention USB host has been integrated in the OC kernel, and I believe the stable build now.
If they don't know by now they're just not in with the [email protected]@
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While it is true that the USB Host primary function has been incorporated into dalingrins 06/18/2011 Kernel, there is much more to implementing full functionality than that. The reference verygreen thread is a continuing update for the processes needed to implement USB functions.

N1 USB Host Driver!!!

http://sven.killig.de/android/N1/2.2/usb_host/
As the title says, a driver for the N1 was developed that allows USB host. This means that most USB devices can be hooked up and work with the N1 (when the driver is used). In the video, a keyboard, mouse, and flash drive are shown being used on an N1. It also shows how what is displayed on the N1 can be displayed on a monitor.... I don't have my laptop with me atm or the necessary hardware but could someone try this out? I don't know if its been posted here yet or long ago and sorry if its the wrong section but I'd like the devs to see this (If you haven't already)!!
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

Stuart.upton666 said:
http://sven.killig.de/android/N1/2.2/usb_host/
As the title says, a driver for the N1 was developed that allows USB host. This means that most USB devices can be hooked up and work with the N1 (when the driver is used). In the video, a keyboard, mouse, and flash drive are shown being used on an N1. It also shows how what is displayed on the N1 can be displayed on a monitor.... I don't have my laptop with me atm or the necessary hardware but could someone try this out? I don't know if its been posted here yet or long ago and sorry if its the wrong section but I'd like the devs to see this (If you haven't already)!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link to the dev topic on this very forum from almost exactly 1 year ago:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=694427

Long time ago... like 8+ months or so old...

No update untill now?
Sent from my Nexus One

"Build number: FRG83G (2.3.4/2.6.35.7-59463-g52630a3/GRJ22 work in progress; preliminary patch for 2.6.35.4)"
It looks like he is updating it to work for 2.3.4....
Has anybody spoken to the developer that's done tgis
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

knightnz said:
Link to the dev topic on this very forum from almost exactly 1 year ago:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=694427
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm what the heck tried to check the kink ans get refused notice
......wth
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

BLUETOOTH connectivity

Hey guys just wondering if anyone is working on activating the Bluetooth on the nook?
For example. Connecting it to some headsets for music.
No excepting much but please comment
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App

Sorry buddy, definately no Bluetooth built in. The chip was at first mistaken as the same from the color but actually it's a chip derrived from the same as the Nook but it's had FM and Bluetooth removed to save money :/ Bummer.
The only way would be to develop a USB host mode like the Samsun galaxy and with that you have to be careful not to fry chips. mmm... chippies

thanks for the quick reply
to bad what a bumper would have been nice to have it

I have the same feeling. I was hoping that I could get audio out from BT.

Himalayas said:
I have the same feeling. I was hoping that I could get audio out from BT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hint: USB Host mode
The NST is in fact able to do this, it even loads the USB in OTG mode, but our kernel doesn't have all the bells and whistles required for it to work.
There are patches for 2.6.29 afaik (CM), so you go recruit some kernel hackers and you'll have BT adapter support in no time

I've been reading something about this here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960633
edit
Maybe we could even port it when the time comes.

eded333 said:
Maybe we could even port it when the time comes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be ported tonight if we had the right people around
Sadly, but understandably, the NST community is not as big as the phone community, and thus we lack the serious kernel hackers.

True

eded333 said:
True
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any progress?? I want to Bluetooth tether to cell via USB Bluetooth.

i think it is not possible yet ^_^