K7a

I'm gonna throw this idea out there to get some feedback to make sure I don't start myself on an impossible endeavor, please let me know what you think:

I am starting a small business designing consumer electronics- mostly computer cases for right now- and while I was working on some different stuff I had an idea for a controller for the axim. My plan was to build a sort of controller built in the shape of a holster which the axim would slide into; I already made one prototype so I know I can do that much. Now here's the meat- I was going to buy an inexpensive bluetooth keyboard for like $15, smash it, remove the bios and bluetooth transceiver, and reconnect the buttons in the controller to act as bindable keyboard keys. I've wired a controller this same way for a PS2 port and it worked great, so I'd like to know if anyone out there thinks doing it with bluetooth would be possible. If it's doable, I might be able to make a universal controller this way, and cheaply. Only thing is I don't know beans about PDA hardware.

Swim100flyy

Thats a great idea, provided the controller is small enough in the end...

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Swim100flyy

Yeah, about it being bluetooth compatable, the prob is that I believe motorola (correct me if im wrong) owns the pattents on bluetooth, you might infringe upon their pattent. Personally, I would love an almost flat conroller that could have an extendable cable to attach to the X50's ports on the bottom....Go For It, and keep us updated...

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mphayvanh

I'm also working on a design that uses the magnesium holster from Innopocket and either infrared or bluetooth connection. It gonna look similar to the PSP with shoulder buttons, but I'm having difficulty in limiting the size to something respectable. If it's a holster, it's gonna be big. I'm also gutting a BT keyboard, magnesium case, Madcatz Xbox controller and the Madcatz Retro Controller.

I also signed up for Dan East's infrared adapter so that you can use a PSX controller with your Axim. I'll let you all know what I come up with. This project is turning out to be more out of curiousity now than for gaming.

KLappDOgg

That would be awesome. The only thing missing from the X50v is a decent way to control games.

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Swim100flyy

yea, keep us informed...

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awdark

Read http://www.pocketmatrix.com/forums/v...ic.php?t=16364

Edit
Okay that was too blunt.
That guy there produced a PSX gamepad to IR thing to the Pocket PC. Perhaps with enough interest, we could help push his project along and finally get a gamepad.

Also my other post in this forum I had asked about the Xbox Bluetooth gamepad. If you could get or program a proper driver for the Bluetooth gampad its already built and ready to go with bluetooth. $15 bluetooth keyboard does not sound feasible (if it is, hook me up :approve: ) in my view, the only economical and universal way is his idea of using IR.

mphayvanh

I wanted to stay away from using an existing gamepad like an actual Xbox controller or the PSX controller. I'm using just their button mechanism for my design. The big problem with gamepads or the Zeta controller is trying to play it like a gaming device i.e. the PSP. With an attachment controller, you almost have to find a resting stand for the PDA while your hands operate the controller. Hopefully, my design will overcome that obstacle and play games like it should be played.

The other problem, there's not enough games out there that requires a gamepad. Most developers are making more games where you use the stylus or a combo of the built-in joystick and on-screen buttons (Stunt Car for example). I personally will be using it with Morphgear and hoping someone finds a way to emulate the PSP or DS.

YodaEXE

Yeah I'd want to use it mostly for Morphgear. I think it might also work with Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, and Quake also. I know that I can use my foldable keyboard with them, so a gamepad should work well.

Swim100flyy

Good Luck...

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jledesma

You may want to look at the clié's gamepad. I used it when I was a P1 user and always worked like a charm. Perhaps you're limiting yourself on size and form just to make it universal. One of the big pros that the controller had was that it connected directly to the clié's port and fastened itself to the pda's body. That way you could use the pda-controller combo as a gameboy. No need to place the PDA on a stand or worry about letting it drop.

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mphayvanh

Originally Posted by jledesma

You may want to look at the clié's gamepad. I used it when I was a P1 user and always worked like a charm. Perhaps you're limiting yourself on size and form just to make it universal. One of the big pros that the controller had was that it connected directly to the clié's port and fastened itself to the pda's body. That way you could use the pda-controller combo as a gameboy. No need to place the PDA on a stand or worry about letting it drop.

Yeah, I considered that route too. It would be a lot easier that's for sure. The major draw back to that design is the ability to play games in landscape mode. From a technical stand point, it makes sense. I'll play around with that option as well. :approve:

jledesma

Originally Posted by mphayvanh

... The major draw back to that design is the ability to play games in landscape mode...

But it can be done. The Clié's controller simply switched the orientation with the screen so the D-pad was always "pointing" at the right place. The rest of the buttons were kept as if no rotation had occurred. All that was left was simply to getting used to the new location of those buttons.

A good alternative could be that the controller connects to the port using a small cable and the gripping mechanism had some sort of swivel so the controller could be rotated against the PDA rotation. That way it would always be facing down.

__________________
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Sony Clié NX/70V
PalmOne Tungsten T|3
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Dell Axim X50v (arrived! 03/15/2005)

mphayvanh

Originally Posted by jledesma

But it can be done. The Clié's controller simply switched the orientation with the screen so the D-pad was always "pointing" at the right place. The rest of the buttons were kept as if no rotation had occurred. All that was left was simply to getting used to the new location of those buttons.

I always thought it was similar to the Zeta Controller. What I was trying to say is that when playing in portait mode, you have two hands resting on the nav pad and the buttons (Clie controller). In landscape mode, you have only one hand on both the pad & buttons and the other holding the top of the pda in place (even though the nav is always pointing north). Unless it swivels--which is something I wanted to avoid. With a small gamepad, ergonomically it would be a nightmare if you play as much as I do.

The ideal hand position is that the left hand be on the joystick and the right be on the buttons(Portrait or Landscape). I'll shoot a picture of the prototype as soon as we can get it done.

mphayvanh

K7a,

My apologies for semi-hijacking your thread. Everyone, I'll post a new thread soon with the photo of the prototype. I'll check in once in a while to see responses to this thread. Thanks for the feedback.

Sorry again K7a.