Accessories USB light

Out of curiosity, has anyone tried their USB light with the new update(s)? Any changes in the flickering?

And, does the PE experience the same issue?

My EE (Dingo-1.11) still flickers (my EE is fully charged, flickers with or without AC). My PE (also Dingo-1.11) is at 71% charge and also flickers on or off AC.

I'll update my Tech Support Help Request and see if there are any updates from them on this issue.

EDIT: Interestingly, on my desktop, it flickers about the same way until Windows has analyzed and recognized it.

Originally Posted by borisb

EDIT: Interestingly, on my desktop, it flickers about the same way until Windows has analyzed and recognized it.

Android doesn't really "recognize" an input such as a light, though, correct? And, since other users (and TS) have suggested that the flicker stops when the EE is <85%, any "recognition" is unlikely to be the problem.

It is interesting that it flickers with the PE even below the magical 85% threshold. Hmm...

By "recognize" I'm mean it deciding that it's a non-device. The pulsing suggests the eDGe is pinging it for device info and rather than giving up just keeps asking "what are you?", "what are you?" My desktop seems to ask once or twice and then gives up when it realizes it's not getting any response.

Just tried my logix light after 1.11 udate. It still functions without flicker.

Thought I'd add that my previous statement is false. I just had to try some different positioning.

The only downside for me, is that it works best with the EE in the default mode (reader on the left) because of the position of the usb slots.

It's not a 100% of the time type of thing from my experience. None of the scenarios people have mentioned in the past always cause the flicker...

Originally Posted by borisb

By "recognize" I'm mean it deciding that it's a non-device. The pulsing suggests the eDGe is pinging it for device info and rather than giving up just keeps asking "what are you?", "what are you?" My desktop seems to ask once or twice and then gives up when it realizes it's not getting any response.

Do you know if this is typical of how android works, or is it an eDGe-specific problem? And, if this is the case, why would it not be reproducible? I know you're not Tech Support, so I apologize for inundating you with questions... I guess I'm just wondering out loud

Originally Posted by borisb

It's not a 100% of the time type of thing from my experience. None of the scenarios people have mentioned in the past always cause the flicker...

Interesting. Tech Support suggested it was based solely on power level. Thank you for updating the ticket.

This is based on my understanding of how Windows works. When you plug a usb device in Windows the sequence of events is "New hardware detected", "installing drivers", "device is ready". When I plugged the light into my desktop, it blinked twice until Windows acknowledged that something had been plugged in.

This sequence is sometimes described as a "handshake" where the two devices "introduce" themselves to each other, in this case the USB device having to identify itself to the PC as to what device it is so that the PC knows which driver to load.

I only have the EE and PE, and no other Android device. Android can't be much different, though - if you plug in a usb device, Android has to figure out what you plugged in. My guesswork is that the brief light flicker I observed on my PC and the continuous light flicker on my eDGe are caused by the same thing. Could be the flicker on the eDGe is electrical and has nothing to do with the USB handshake. Or, it could be Android not getting the expected response from the USB light and (foolishly) continuing to ask for it.

Certainly battery level and on-AC/off-AC aren't definitive factors, as mine flickers when fully charged, nearly fully charged, and when partially discharged, and it happens if I'm plugged into AC or not. At other times it doesn't flicker in all the same situations.

Furthermore, I just woke up my PE and plugged in the USB light immediately, and it flickered a few times, then stopped (which again makes me deeply suspicious that it's the USB handshake). The PE is on Battery, with a battery level of about 40-45%.

Until Tech Support gives a clear answer, I can only offer educated guesses

I appreciate your very educated guesses!

Just tried my PE again now that it's 100% charged. No light flicker. In Post #17 I noted this morning that my EE at 100% charge did flicker.

I then rebooted my PE, and once it was back up, plugged in the light - and it flickered

So, there's no consistency

Originally Posted by borisb

Just tried my PE again now that it's 100% charged. No light flicker. In Post #17 I noted this morning that my EE at 100% charge did flicker.

I then rebooted my PE, and once it was back up, plugged in the light - and it flickered

So, there's no consistency

Just dandy.

Tech support has their work cut out for them with this one. I guess the simplest explanation is that multiple things can cause the flickering.

Later last night I discovered that if my PE can't "sleep" (i.e., something prevents it from entering sleep mode when I close it up) then the light doesn't flicker. If I reboot the PE, it's able to enter sleep mode again, but then it also starts flickering again, too. That should get Tech Support scratching their heads

I think these USB lights are cheaply made, and may be the cause of this flickering. Several years ago I ordered five of 'em online, two flickered, the other three were just fine. As for reading at night on my PE (or in a gloomy coffeehouse in order to enhance my reading of gothic novels), I wear a 5-LED head lamp that comfortably wraps around my head with cloth stretch bands (Walgreens, $5.59). I don't care what anyone thinks; it lights my way through the tombs, er, "tomes".

Dddid aaannyoonne eevvvveerrr gget aan aannsswer fffrom tttech sssupppporrrt aabbboutt tthheee fffllliicckkeeer wwhhennn yyoou ppplluggg inn USBB LLEEDDDs????

I just got one and sometimes it flickers and sometimes it doesn't and there's no pattern I can figure out


eexxcccept tttthat ttthhe fflllicckkerrriingg'''ss ooonnnllly oonnn ttthhhe eeeDDDDGGGeee,,, nnottt onnn aannythiiing elllsse III ppplluugggg tttthe llliiggghhttt iiintooooo.

Originally Posted by cheyennedonna

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

I use this one, so far so good, no flicker. Plus I like the battery box option, lets it sit like a mini desk lamp.

I saw some good reviews for this one on the tabletPCreview forums for the Asus Eee Note and came here to check to see whether it had been mentioned yet. Of course, it had!