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I just bought a new Logitech mouse with tons of customizable buttons on it, and it got me thinking...what if you could use your PPC as a mouse for your PC? That would be the ultimate in customizability!! Think of it...not only would you have a bunch of hard buttons to play with, but you could also have a customized screen for whichever app has the focus on your PC!
I am nowhere near advanced enough to do this, nor do I know if it's even possible...just throwing it out there as an idea for whoever wants to take up the challenge. I figure it could work on most devices because the camera and flash LED are on the opposite side from the screen and buttons, and BT could be the wireless link. Heck, for that amount of customizability in a mouse I'd even settle for a wired USB version :wink:.
Well enough fantasizing for today...
you're talking about using the camera as the optical sensor?
you'd need it on a special mouse mat that emits light of some kind, and I doubt the feedback would be quick enough.
and i wouldn't fancy pushing my expensive xda around on the desk like a mouse.
Right, I was thinking of the camera as the optical sensor, and the flash LED as the light source. I have a XV6700/Apache, and when I turn on the camera and the flash and set it down on my desk, the screen isn't completely dark because the camera isn't flush against the surface...there's still enough space for light from the LED to reach the lens. Obviously this would vary from device to device...but even in cases where it's completely dark, you could put the "mouse" on top of a few mm of clear plastic or plexiglas to give the LED enough room to bounce the light over. Actually, this option might be desirable as it would address your concern about pushing your device around and getting scratches on it.
In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, using plastic/plexiglas might be better for battery life too. Instead of having the flash stay on all the time, the "mouse" could use the ambient room light to detect initial movement, which in turn would trigger a "wake event" for the flash, and then obviously the flash could be timed to turn off after so many seconds of being idle.
I know speed would likely be an issue as far as feedback goes. Sure, it wouldn't be as quick as my new Logitech laser mouse, but in video mode the camera (at least on the Apache) can go up to 19 fps...so perhaps it would be doable. Obviously you're not going to use Photoshop or play Quake with the thing . I was just thinking added convenience for everyday usage.
well all optical mice i've used have gon crazy on shiny surfaces
their cams are even made directly for this purpos
so i would think using the pda as a mouse would mean it would go even more crazy on a shiny surface
try search i recall posts about this in the past
Issues
light souce: prolong usage of you flash is bad. The life span of the flash may be different for different devices, but I'm pretty sure HTC doesn't give you a nice LED flash to be used for more than 30 seconds per usage. There are reports of 'dying' flash after using it as flashlight.
camera (major issue): phone camera is a fix lense camera (there are a few new Nokia/Sony model that arent). Such camera is not able to take clear picture of close distance object. Try taking a picture of something at a range of 3 inches , at best possible light condition. You won't get a decent picture. Even high tech digital camera is not able to take any picture of any object that is in range of less than 3 inches (even with Macro e.g. the flower, mode on). You can't do much 'mous-ing' with blur images.
It is a good idea though.
just an idea, but what about just using it as a touch pad??
dahquim
Very expensive mouse :lol:
Just get an optical RF mouse.. so much cheaper..
Come to think of it, better get a bluetooth mouse that you can use with both your PC and PPC!
Hmm, I don't know. I just imagined a Universal used as a mouse. Not a pretty picture.
Any way, as for the touch pad idea, it's fairly easy to implement, but it doesn't have the resolution to handle even blow average PC screen which is 800x600 pixels.
hanmin said:
Even high tech digital camera is not able to take any picture of any object that is in range of less than 3 inches (even with Macro e.g. the flower, mode on). You can't do much 'mous-ing' with blur images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, so let's say you have a clear glass desk and you attach a board underneath it at a distance of 3 inches so it can focus... j/k
levenum said:
as for the touch pad idea, it's fairly easy to implement, but it doesn't have the resolution to handle even blow average PC screen which is 800x600 pixels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think dahquim meant "touch pad" to mean "tablet PC" or a remote touch-screen clone of your PC monitor (you can do that with LogMeIn). I think he meant simply losing the "mouse" functionality and keeping the ability to have the device's screen display "soft buttons" that could execute commands and that would change depending on whichever app has the focus on your PC. That would somewhat relieve one of having to remember different keyboard shortcuts for each different PC app you use. Same idea as the Optimus Keyboard but on a smaller scale.
touchpad.. ?
Touchpad idea is nice - it could work just like touchpads on laptop; ie. moving finger on mobile device screen causes mouse cursor to move on PC screen, tapping mobile device screen causes mouse click.... who'll implement this ? ;-)
hanmin said:
Issues
light souce: prolong usage of you flash is bad. The life span of the flash may be different for different devices, but I'm pretty sure HTC doesn't give you a nice LED flash to be used for more than 30 seconds per usage. There are reports of 'dying' flash after using it as flashlight.
camera (major issue): phone camera is a fix lense camera (there are a few new Nokia/Sony model that arent). Such camera is not able to take clear picture of close distance object. Try taking a picture of something at a range of 3 inches , at best possible light condition. You won't get a decent picture. Even high tech digital camera is not able to take any picture of any object that is in range of less than 3 inches (even with Macro e.g. the flower, mode on). You can't do much 'mous-ing' with blur images.
It is a good idea though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hanmin was right pointing these issues. i'll add some more, from a developer's point of view:
-so you want to have this as a wireless device: think of the power consumption: on one hand you need the camera to be on, with the led, and also a wireless connection for transmitting the data like BT or WiFi.. The baterry wont last long
-even if we cant get the camera to focus at nearly 1-2mm, we could still detect movement of some kind (so the idea would work..in a way or another :roll: ). but please note: there are tens of types of devices, you cant get to make the trick for all.
-it wouldnt be very precise: did you even tried to create an icon? you need to tap over the right pixel, do you think it will work with this?
-ok so you're a fanatic gamer : poor device and poor you, on one hand you'll ruing the device, on the other you'll go nuts because... : slow reaction times, low accuracy...
I see that you've thought about the idea of creating a touchpad out of the pocketpcs. I worked on such a project once. It was indeed interesting. The only problem was that: (issues again)
-the screen is not so sensitive to finger pressure as a touchpad is
-you'll mostly have to use the stilus
But at least this approach is functional.
Regards,
Radu
Yes was thinking more the "set of buttons on [email protected] that let you do quick and easy thinkgs to whatever program your using.
For example, how about being able to switch virtual desktops or having a list of programs on the ppc screen that you switch between... a la Alt-Tab??
just ideas, but of course would be completely customisable (macro buttons)
dahquim
Looks like this guy got the concept up and running on his Nokia...
http://www.pyrofersprojects.com/nokiamouse.php
Basically, the phone screen is unresponsive when your not holding it or any time it's not grounded. If I put it in the car holder and then touch the screen, its very sporadic. I have compared it with the droid eris and the Moto Droid under the same conditions at the same time, and it performs flawlessly. I have tried the incredible with the screen protector and without. If I take it out of the dock and hold the phone in my hand, it works great again. It's not just the car dock either. If I set it on certain surfaces and just touch it with one finger it does the same thing.
The car dock itself has nothing to do with it. I've narrowed it down to a grounding issue. I've also tested 3 Incredibles and ALL of them do it. I am going to post another video showing it on top of a piece of styrofoam which also creates the problem. It's definitely more widespread then just a few phones. Basically, If the phone has very little ground it is unresponsive. If you ground it, either by holding it or placing it on a surface that is grounded then it solves the problem. If you plug anything into it that is grounded it solves the problem.
Here is a new video on different surfaces. It's not a car dock issue. If it is some static issue as some are saying, it works great on a eris, or a moto droid so it's not capacitive screen in general.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL6sLW7Ll0E
The Car Dock one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsKc1_wG0zg
My goal for this thread, (now that I see it is happening to a lot of phones) is too get enough info out there so that other people can effectively recreate this problem on their phones. With enough people, I am hoping HTC or Verizon can offer a fix not just a work around.
UPDATE 5-17-10
I received 2 replacement Incredibles from Verizon. Both phones respond in the same way as the original. I called verizon, and they said "they are compiling a list of problems to send to HTC and they will add this one to the list". Hopefully the rep that I spoke with wasn't just trying to shut me up. I don't know... Anyway, Here is the last video I am going to do on the topic. In this I wanted to clearly show the following:
- It is not a "Capacitive" screen issue in general (MOTO Droid, and Eris are fine)
- It is a MASS DEFECT of this phone. (I am not saying ALL phones)
I am going to forward this message and the video to HTC. I will post the response. Here is the link to the new video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQRgT3gtmsI
not the same as yours but i have a similar issue. i ordered a few usb wall plugs from monoprice. whenever i use one of the usb wall plugs to charge, the touch screen is unresponsive. The volume rocker and power buttons, but the screen and bottom row of buttons dont work. Using the factory usb wall plugs everything works fine.
igl007 said:
I have searched for someone having this problem and haven't found anything yet. So I apologize if I missed it somewhere. It's one of those problems that is difficult to recreate ALL the time so that's not making it any easier.
Basically, the phone screen is unresponsive when your not holding it. If I put it in the car holder and then touch the screen, its very sporadic. I have compared it with the droid eris under the same conditions at the same time, and it performs flawlessly. I have tried the incredible with the screen protector and without. If I take it out of the dock and hold the phone in my hand, it works great again. It's not just the car dock either. If I set it on the table and just touch it with one finger it does the same thing, However when it's on the table it's much less consistent to create the problem. Has anyone heard of this? My wife has the incredible also, and it's doing the same thing in her car. Did we just get a bad batch of phones? Is this screen just crappy under those conditions? It would make this a totally useless phone if i can't use it in the car.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had a capacitive touchscreen phone, so I don't know for sure; but maybe it has something to do with the relative capacitance. When you have one hand on the back and then touch the screen, maybe it senses a greater variance in the capacitance. If it's on the table or in your car cradle, maybe the variance in capacitance isn't great enough to register a touch. I'm not familiar with Android either, but maybe you can adjust the sensitivity? Just like those touch lamps, capacitive sensors are triggered by a relative change in capacitance and if it's not greater than the preset threshold, it doesn't register that you touched it.
Just an idea... again, I'm not really sure. I'm only lurking around in these forums because I have an Incredible on order. I'm just throwing some odd ideas out there. Good luck!
It is the type of charger/how you are using it! I had this issue. I could plug in via the provided charger and it would work. But I went on a trip and hadn't purchased a car charger yet so I grabbed my laptop ac/dc converter and plugged in the provided charger through it and my phone became unresponsive. If I plug it in the wall presto it works. The new car charger works as well!
I am sure it has something to do with the voltage being released through the charger.
Here are a couple of video's I did on the topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsKc1_wG0zg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXB1MjYM5Ks
Me too
I'm also having the same issue and I am using the Verizon OEM Holster Mount Combo (Perfect fit for Incredible, no power).
I'll post over at PPCGeeks, and AndroidForums to see if we can find a fix.
jakewill
You have to use original charger ... it has voltage regulator and earth pin on the other end ... static should not travel on the screen otherwise it will do the same ..
Workarounds
I did find out that it is pretty easy to do the following:
1. Plug in either the charger or headphone jack. Either of those seems to ground it out enough... I also tried just clipping the headphone jack (metal part) into the clip part of the belt clip, and that worked, so there just needs to be SOMETHING else attached to the phone or mount that gives it more of a ground.
2. Just hold the sides (or just one side) with your thumb and ring finger while navigating with your index finger. That seems to do the trick.
Hope it helps.
jakewill
I'm not seeing this issue, but this can't be the real dock for the incr... which one are you using?
Capacitive screens become less responsive in the cold.... if it's in front of an A/C vent with it blaring, that could be the root cause.
syntrix said:
I'm not seeing this issue, but this can't be the real dock for the incr... which one are you using?
Capacitive screens become less responsive in the cold.... if it's in front of an A/C vent with it blaring, that could be the root cause.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The car dock has nothing to do with it actually. I've narrowed it down to a grounding issue. I've also tested 3 Incredibles and ALL of them do it. I am going to post another video showing it on top of a piece of styrofoam which also creates the problem. It's definitely more widespread then just a few phones. Basically, If the phone has very little ground it is unresponsive. If you ground it, either by holding it or placing it on a surface that is grounded then it solves the problem. If you plug anything into it that is grounded it solves the problem.
Updated the 1st post with a new video.
Same issues plus some new ones
I seem to have the same issues that were reported in the youtube videos because I have a similar car dock. I am also having the same issues as hoop762 as I also purchased the wall charger from monoprice. When I have it plugged in the touch screen does not work, the OEM charger works perfect. I also purchased the car charger from monoprice but that does not cause the same issues.
I have had another similar issue when I have it plugged into my car stereo via the audio jack and a male to male 3.5 cable. When it is plugged in and I try to listen to music withe the stock audio player it starts fast forwarding and skipping songs. If I pause the music then start it again it sometimes plays for a while but will then act a fool again. I had the same issue using pandora when it skipped songs until it I ran out of skips but i have not seen the issue in other programs. I have had this issue in and out of the car dock. I will add a video later if I can.
I replied to one of your videos (as tjowatonna)
"I have never noticed this issue on my Incredible and I just tested on a variety of surfaces using the Etherial Dialpad app (it's neat, check it out if you're a music nerd) to test and had no issues regardless of if it was placed on glass, plastic, cardboard, pillows. I didn't have any styrofoam to test."
Have you had anyone else try these tests on your phone? I'm just wondering if it's not something about your body that it doesn't like as much or that it likes more for people like me that can't reproduce this.
Again, there is no car dock specifically for the DI yet.
It looks like the edges of that generic dock have a big foamy area that might be very close to the screen.
It also looks like the phone/dock is touching the dash in the video.
I put mine on an anti-static bag on my workstation and tried to only use a finger. Everything worked just fine. I know you said you tried other areas with the same result. Do you have a screen protector on?
I'm just scratching my head here.
I can confirm this issue on my Incredible as well. For what it's worth, I have a Zagg shield on the screen, and I did *not* peel it off for testing.
In *any* situation where the phone is completely isolated from ground it seems to happen. I can reproduce the symptoms by setting the phone on a huge variety of surfaces or by placing it in my (plastic) car mount, and then trying to use it with just a single finger.
As has already been posted, touching the phone body even lightly with an additional finger while it is in this state (even one from same hand) will allow full responsiveness, as will any other sort of ground such as many cable connections. Also, the silicone case from Verizon can be installed or removed, and there is no difference either way.
I also just booted my old Hero (also has Zagg shield) to check its behavior and was unable to reproduce this, even with it sitting on a double folded rubber mat on top of a big pillow. It is 100% reproducible on my Incredible though.
So be it.
EDIT: In addition to the role that grounding clearly plays, static might be a factor too (as others have mentioned).
I tried my hardest to reproduce this affect and i was unable to. I have a new zagg screen protector i have not yet put on. I will add it and re-test again and post my results
** Update
I added on the Zagg Screen Protector and tested it again. I lost some responsiveness in general nothing still like has been demonstrated.
askwhy said:
I can confirm this issue on my Incredible as well. For what it's worth, I have a Zagg shield on the screen, and I did *not* peel it off for testing.
In *any* situation where the phone is completely isolated from ground it seems to happen. I can reproduce the symptoms by setting the phone on a huge variety of surfaces or by placing it in my (plastic) car mount, and then trying to use it with just a single finger.
As has already been posted, touching the phone body even lightly with an additional finger while it is in this state (even one from same hand) will allow full responsiveness, as will any other sort of ground such as many cable connections. Also, the silicone case from Verizon can be installed or removed, and there is no difference either way.
I also just booted my old Hero (also has Zagg shield) to check its behavior and was unable to reproduce this, even with it sitting on a double folded rubber mat on top of a big pillow. It is 100% reproducible on my Incredible though.
So be it.
EDIT: In addition to the role that grounding clearly plays, static might be a factor too (as others have mentioned).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for testing your phone and also trying it against another capacitive screen phone.
I talked to Verizon and they are sending 2 new Incredibles as both my phone and my wife's phone have the problem. I will report my results on tuesday...
aol8mydog said:
I've never had a capacitive touchscreen phone, so I don't know for sure; but maybe it has something to do with the relative capacitance. When you have one hand on the back and then touch the screen, maybe it senses a greater variance in the capacitance. If it's on the table or in your car cradle, maybe the variance in capacitance isn't great enough to register a touch. I'm not familiar with Android either, but maybe you can adjust the sensitivity? Just like those touch lamps, capacitive sensors are triggered by a relative change in capacitance and if it's not greater than the preset threshold, it doesn't register that you touched it.
Just an idea... again, I'm not really sure. I'm only lurking around in these forums because I have an Incredible on order. I'm just throwing some odd ideas out there. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that I have my Incredible, I have the same issues. Fortunately, I don't use it in a car-dock very often but I do plan on occasionally using it that way. If Verizon or HTC doesn't come out with a fix, I may just see if I could find a soft rubber-like material that also conducts electricity to make a grounding pad with a wire connected to the vehicle's ground on the cradle/dock so the phone's back can make contact when docked.
Update in first post...
I ordered my device on launch day, and this thing has had none of the issues you have shown, I even put it on styrofoam just to try it all out, works flawlessly.
sorry for your bad luck.
I have a little clock/speaker thingy, and when I put my G2 on it, a certain way, I get this watch, and it stays on the screen for about 5 seconds. It ONLY happens when I put it on the speaker, and it has to be at an exact location on the speaker. The watch is pretty cool and I'd like to use it for daydream Has anyone else seen this?
Oh it has happened with all firmware versions, including kk.
That's for the window flip case, the magnetism from the speaker is affecting the sensor on the phone and it thinks you have the case on your phone so it shows the clock
LG Electonics VZW LG G2 QuickWindow Convenient Folio Case by LG Electronics http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FGUSJ7A/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_TM5ftb10PNVBZ
There is a magnet in the screen on the left about a 1/4 way down. It turns the screen on and off, and enables the clock. You can place a magnet here to get it to work.
You can flick the clock to change its theme.
Hey.
So for past couple of weeks Im playing with VR goggles, for now I have two of them, and they work perfectly with my xperia. Thx to few cool apps for streaming SBS video I can actually use my XZ as a real VR googles/mouse for my PC(controlling movement using phone attached to goggles.) And its REALLY cool.
But I have really small and annoying problem with gyro on my xperia. Its work good, its accurate and its not twitchy... but its very often lost levels, and reset starting point. So very often when Im, eg playing PC games and there is lots going on, and I need move my head often my Xperia lost levels and trying to calibrate it self, and its taking sooooo long, I need to remove it from goggles, put it in table and wait for calibration to stop rotating whole screen.
Also when I move from left to right, and up-down its work good, but when Im doing this with head a bit in angle, Its starting to move it self really slowly to one direction(left or right).
For example when I watch 360 videos in youtube, very often I move my head to right, and then I move my head lo left to starting position, Its not in the same place. Its moved whole movie to right.
So my question is is there a way to quicker way to calibrate gyro, and if there is way to fix this annoying "reseting starting position"?
Most of apps have calibrate options but it just center image to front not fix rotating bug.
I tested my gyro in service settings menu, and color box move good if ts slow movement, but its often lost starting point. SO when I star test, and I have Green box in front, after moving phone a bit, and go back to starting position, box is rotated and I see red or yellow part of box...
I know its just a phone, and its dont have oculus hardware to be that accurate, but its look more like software calibration problem :/
{tested in 4.3 and 5.0.1}
Gyro is also available in so many smartphones its usually work for motion, camera and vibration modes.
The effect you are talking about that is starts to move itself slowly to a side is a common gyroscope problem known as drift.
Hi. I recently acquired some cardboard like glasses (blitzwolf) and wanted to give them a try. I really liked the experience, considering they're much cheaper than Oculus, and there's a nice offer of videos and apps already.
But after a few minutes I realized about a problem. You can move the video to the left or right just rotating your head. Mine moves slightly to the right or the left, depending on my phone's position (horizontal with the speakers on the left and home button on the right, or vice versa.) I guess the solution is to configure my phone's sensors, but I don't know how.
I recorded a of it, to make things clearer. I'm not moving my phone, so the entrance to the cave should always be up front, but you can see it rotates to the right.
I know this is my phone's problem, and not the device, but I consider this section to be the most appropriate to post it.
Appreciate it
<3
Inus said:
Hi. I recently acquired some cardboard like glasses (blitzwolf) and wanted to give them a try. I really liked the experience, considering they're much cheaper than Oculus, and there's a nice offer of videos and apps already.
But after a few minutes I realized about a problem. You can move the video to the left or right just rotating your head. Mine moves slightly to the right or the left, depending on my phone's position (horizontal with the speakers on the left and home button on the right, or vice versa.) I guess the solution is to configure my phone's sensors, but I don't know how.
I recorded a of it, to make things clearer. I'm not moving my phone, so the entrance to the cave should always be up front, but you can see it rotates to the right.
I know this is my phone's problem, and not the device, but I consider this section to be the most appropriate to post it.
Appreciate it
<3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also having this problem in all VR apps, you can try GPS Status & Toolbox from PlayStore to calibrate your sensors, it works for many people.
For me it seems, nothing works. All my sensors are working properly, i tested them and have no erratic readings whatsoever, compass works well too, but in Cardboard... major sensor drift. The only thing i can do for now is watching 3D movies in VR Theater with the screen locked in center.
That's a classic VR problem for mobile devices. You could try an xposed module named, 'Gyroscope Noise Filter'. On my device there wasn't much drift, so couldn't notice any large differences, but you can give it a shot.
When it occurs, I try to stabilize my phone on a table for 10 secs and it stops, also it happened when I mess with dpi... My sensors should be good though, it have better range that a friend's phone. I guees it's a more serious issue for you.
Hey, Folks!
I had the same problem with every vr app on my G2 and I solved it!
The problem is the damn button "bulge" (0,2mm) on the backside. The phone never ever laid flat so theres was no way to calibrate the gyro correctly.
So I placed it on a 0,5 mm creditcard so the button doesn't touch the ground and calibrated the damn thing. BINGO! No movment.
I think this is adaptable to every phone. Think of the "flatness" of your phones backside. If theres a button or camera bulging out, the picture will move (probably) to the right.
Please excuse my bad english.
On an s5, dial *#0*#, then tap sensors, then gyroscope self test. Cured it for me.
The same
Inus said:
Hi. I recently acquired some cardboard like glasses (blitzwolf) and wanted to give them a try. I really liked the experience, considering they're much cheaper than Oculus, and there's a nice offer of videos and apps already.
But after a few minutes I realized about a problem. You can move the video to the left or right just rotating your head. Mine moves slightly to the right or the left, depending on my phone's position (horizontal with the speakers on the left and home button on the right, or vice versa.) I guess the solution is to configure my phone's sensors, but I don't know how.
I recorded a of it, to make things clearer. I'm not moving my phone, so the entrance to the cave should always be up front, but you can see it rotates to the right.
I know this is my phone's problem, and not the device, but I consider this section to be the most appropriate to post it.
Appreciate it
<3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ve solved the problem. You're using an VR application like a video, for example, what you're running and hitting the phone in the other hand or something soft on all corners. As you rotate it constantly.
dwilson48625 said:
On an s5, dial *#0*#, then tap sensors, then gyroscope self test. Cured it for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This also worked for my Samsung S7 stock. Looks like the "test" is actually a calibration/reset, not just a test.