Kindle 3 wifi: mini-PCIe as USB host?

[mark03]

I have a Kindle 3 wifi coming in the mail. While I wait I've been reading threads here

From the disassembly pictures I've seen, the wifi-only version doesn't have the mini-PCIe connector mounted. For the 3G version, I believe the card connects via USB on that connector. Has anyone hacked a USB host port through this route? Is there any reason in principle why you couldn't hook up a keyboard, mouse, or whatever?

For those with the wifi-only Kindle 3 (no connector), I found a Molex mini-PCIe connector at Digikey and Mouser which looks like the one in the pictures. It's currently on backorder, though.

[yifanlu]

Originally Posted by mark03

I have a Kindle 3 wifi coming in the mail. While I wait I've been reading threads here

From the disassembly pictures I've seen, the wifi-only version doesn't have the mini-PCIe connector mounted. For the 3G version, I believe the card connects via USB on that connector. Has anyone hacked a USB host port through this route? Is there any reason in principle why you couldn't hook up a keyboard, mouse, or whatever?

For those with the wifi-only Kindle 3 (no connector), I found a Molex mini-PCIe connector at Digikey and Mouser which looks like the one in the pictures. It's currently on backorder, though.

It is most likely possible, bur why would you want to? Mouse/keyboards doesn't seem useful for an ereader.

[mark03]

Originally Posted by yifanlu

It is most likely possible, bur why would you want to? Mouse/keyboards doesn't seem useful for an ereader.

Well, there are other things a USB host port might be handy for, like GPS, or [theoretically] being able to u-boot from a separate mass-storage device. But I can also imagine someone using their Kindle with a folding keyboard for blogging or email while traveling.

I actually found some mini-PCIe GPS cards on ebay---maybe cheap enough to try out, if I can find a mini-PCIe connector to solder on.

All this speculating and I'm still waiting for my Kindle to arrive!

[h1uke]

Originally Posted by yifanlu

Mouse/keyboards doesn't seem useful for an ereader.

a decent pointing device desperately needed on Kindle.
I'm thinking about a small trackpad stuck to kindle's back...

[yifanlu]

Originally Posted by h1uke

a decent pointing device desperately needed on Kindle.
I'm thinking about a small trackpad stuck to kindle's back...

But modifying the software to support it would be a pain. Thanks to Amazon's wonderful java obfuscation.