External Keyboard

wildcolor · 06-03-2013, 10:29 AM

hi. I have a K4nt. I am just wondering if it is possible to control the kindle with an external keyboard, e.g. a PC keyboard?

My goal is to develop a kindlet (say a snake program) and then using the external keyboard to control it.

hawhill · 06-03-2013, 12:29 PM

There were some initial tries to get USB host mode working. But I don't know of any that was followed to provide a workable way. I may be wrong, since for some Kindle device there was real progress in that matter.

It boils down to have a proper interface. USB host mode might be the low-hanging fruit. Other options that come to my mind are some mediating computers, like e.g. a microcontroller (or for a start, a full fledged PC, like, say, the raspberry pi).

wildcolor · 06-03-2013, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the reply. It doesn't seem to have an easy way to do this on kindle?

My original purpose was to develop a program with an input from a PC keyboard and display the program on an Eink display. I actually wanted to buy an E-ink display, but they do not seem to sell a single unit. Moreoever, it seems to be very difficult to use a single Eink display.

Then I thought I might be able to use a Kindle. Currently I developped my program on a PC and use your Kindlevncviewer to display the same thing on the kindle. Therefore, I am able to control the input using my keyboard. But the program with the VNCviewer is that it takes various time to refresh each frame and the FPS rate is low.

I think the native kindlet must be able to run at much higher speed (FPS), but then it doesnt support a keyboard input......

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawhill

There were some initial tries to get USB host mode working. But I don't know of any that was followed to provide a workable way. I may be wrong, since for some Kindle device there was real progress in that matter.

It boils down to have a proper interface. USB host mode might be the low-hanging fruit. Other options that come to my mind are some mediating computers, like e.g. a microcontroller (or for a start, a full fledged PC, like, say, the raspberry pi).

thomass · 06-03-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcolor

My original purpose was to develop a program with an input from a PC keyboard and display the program on an Eink display.

may help: http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...the-diy-market

wildcolor · 06-03-2013, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomass

may help: http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...the-diy-market

Thanks for the reply Thomas. I am really excited to see these new devices. However, all of them seem to be very small of sizes (2" to 2.5"). I want something to have at least the size of kindle.

knc1 · 06-03-2013, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcolor

Thanks for the reply Thomas. I am really excited to see these new devices. However, all of them seem to be very small of sizes (2" to 2.5"). I want something to have at least the size of kindle.

The ones from Freescale are the size of a Kindle (scroll to bottom of that page).
Where else do you think lab126 gets theirs?

hawhill · 06-04-2013, 02:56 AM

Well, FWIW, I thought this thread was about connecting a keyboard to the Kindle, not using the Kindle as a display. As for the latter, I think there really is no gain by using a Kindlet vs. using the Kindle as a VNC viewer (given we talk about my kindlevncviewer native app). It will be about the same speed. I wasn't talking about Kindlets yet, which is another matter. Depending on what you want to do them, you might run into roadblocks there, too.

If you want speed (in terms of FPS), use strictly b/w images. That's much more important than Kindlet vs. VNC viewer vs. some other solution.

Oh, and BTW: Have a look at KindlePDFviewer and derivates (Librerator).

thomass · 06-04-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcolor

Thanks for the reply Thomas. I am really excited to see these new devices. However, all of them seem to be very small of sizes (2" to 2.5"). I want something to have at least the size of kindle.

if you want a one-piece device, you may consider to have a Nook or an Eink tablet. The problem with Kindles is that you can't use them with an external keyboard unless you use a third device to have a connection between an external keyboard and a Kindle.

hawhill · 06-04-2013, 02:33 PM

Or invest some time to explore the USB host mode further than was done before. It's a bit of a mess, and it's unclear to me whether the kernel drivers are prepared for this at all. It certainly needs some kernel hacking and maybe even additional interfacing with the PMIC (which manages the ID pin of the micro USB jack). Not for the faint at heart, though.

wildcolor · 06-05-2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawhill

Well, FWIW, I thought this thread was about connecting a keyboard to the Kindle, not using the Kindle as a display. As for the latter, I think there really is no gain by using a Kindlet vs. using the Kindle as a VNC viewer (given we talk about my kindlevncviewer native app). It will be about the same speed. I wasn't talking about Kindlets yet, which is another matter. Depending on what you want to do them, you might run into roadblocks there, too.

If you want speed (in terms of FPS), use strictly b/w images. That's much more important than Kindlet vs. VNC viewer vs. some other solution.

Oh, and BTW: Have a look at KindlePDFviewer and derivates (Librerator).

Well, when using the VNC viewer, a faster (and perhaps more stable) is what I am after. Because with the VNC viewer, one can certainly use a keyboard. But what do you mean by 'using strickly b/w images'. Say, if the displayed area in the kindle from my PC screen is controlled by my own program, then the b/w images can be generated when the 3 guns have equal numbers, (e.g. R = 255, G = 255, B = 255 give us white)? Is that what you mean?

wildcolor · 06-05-2013, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomass

if you want a one-piece device, you may consider to have a Nook or an Eink tablet. The problem with Kindles is that you can't use them with an external keyboard unless you use a third device to have a connection between an external keyboard and a Kindle.

Wow.... that nook certainly supports an external keyboard. I am going to investigate if it fits my project.

hawhill · 06-05-2013, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcolor

Well, when using the VNC viewer, a faster (and perhaps more stable) is what I am after.

Except for the b/w thing, it won't get faster. Well, at least if we're talking about my kindlevncviewer (as there are also Kindlet-based VNC viewers, which are indeed quite slow).

Quote:

Because with the VNC viewer, one can certainly use a keyboard.

But it is still a solution that needs a PC to mediate.

Quote:

But what do you mean by 'using strickly b/w images'. Say, if the displayed area in the kindle from my PC screen is controlled by my own program, then the b/w images can be generated when the 3 guns have equal numbers, (e.g. R = 255, G = 255, B = 255 give us white)? Is that what you mean?

Yep. Either rgb(0,0,0) or rgb(255,255,255) (for 24bit rgb/32bit argb visuals of course). Whatever you mean with "guns".

ApK · 06-05-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawhill

Whatever you mean with "guns".

Throwback reference to the three electron guns for the three primary colors in CRT displays and projectors.

hawhill · 06-05-2013, 04:24 PM

Thanks! That explains it. (Were there really devices with three distinct "guns"/tubes? but better let's stay on topic)

ApK · 06-05-2013, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawhill

Were there really devices with three distinct "guns"/tubes?

Yes.

06-03-2013, 10:29 AM	#1
wildcolor Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 15586 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: kindle 4nt	External Keyboard hi. I have a K4nt. I am just wondering if it is possible to control the kindle with an external keyboard, e.g. a PC keyboard? My goal is to develop a kindlet (say a snake program) and then using the external keyboard to control it.

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06-03-2013, 12:29 PM	#2
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	There were some initial tries to get USB host mode working. But I don't know of any that was followed to provide a workable way. I may be wrong, since for some Kindle device there was real progress in that matter. It boils down to have a proper interface. USB host mode might be the low-hanging fruit. Other options that come to my mind are some mediating computers, like e.g. a microcontroller (or for a start, a full fledged PC, like, say, the raspberry pi).

06-04-2013, 02:56 AM	#7
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	Well, FWIW, I thought this thread was about connecting a keyboard to the Kindle, not using the Kindle as a display. As for the latter, I think there really is no gain by using a Kindlet vs. using the Kindle as a VNC viewer (given we talk about my kindlevncviewer native app). It will be about the same speed. I wasn't talking about Kindlets yet, which is another matter. Depending on what you want to do them, you might run into roadblocks there, too. If you want speed (in terms of FPS), use strictly b/w images. That's much more important than Kindlet vs. VNC viewer vs. some other solution. Oh, and BTW: Have a look at KindlePDFviewer and derivates (Librerator).

06-04-2013, 02:33 PM	#9
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	Or invest some time to explore the USB host mode further than was done before. It's a bit of a mess, and it's unclear to me whether the kernel drivers are prepared for this at all. It certainly needs some kernel hacking and maybe even additional interfacing with the PMIC (which manages the ID pin of the micro USB jack). Not for the faint at heart, though.

06-05-2013, 04:24 PM	#14
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	Thanks! That explains it. (Were there really devices with three distinct "guns"/tubes? but better let's stay on topic)