Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

The USB transceiver is probably either the TWL4030 or a close relative.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Joking aside, it turns out that BT HID is not officially supported so some hacking will be required to make it work - apart from the bare bluetooth connection there's also all the stuff the bluetooth keyboard control panel applet does in Diablo and previous versions.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

The transceiver part number is in the kernel somewhere. I don't have it handy at the moment, but its sheets definitely mentioned OTG support.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

man, this pisses me off...coz in czech we got the qwertz keyboard..and i would kill nokia for that...they switched the two navigation keys for those special symbols...i dont want that..have they asked me? no? haven't asked anyone...i want the phone, but i want to have Maemo in Czech...with an english layout...and the fact i cant connect any keyboard is just horrible... is there any way to contact Nokia HQ and rant about the qwertz layout real loud? i seriously don't want it, nor does anyone else in Europe...nokia fked this up..i want keys, not symbols

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

maybe you should try reading thread then,
i was just correcting something stated on previous pages go back and quote all them too and accuse them of same stuff .
btw dont say no offence then acuse me of hijacking when thats obviously offensive.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Everyone arguing on this thread is a bunch of idiots.......


no offense :D

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

@Jack6428 Assuming you aren't joking, too, I can't let you go on being upset. Qole was joking, in his Canadian way, that you can't plug in a Bluetooth keyboard. You can, however, wirelessly connect a keyboard to the N900 via Bluetooth.

(I'll do what I can to avert yet another Finnish/Czech war.)

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

and I add that it shouldn't be too difficult to buy a N900 with the english layout (maybe online)... then you can always set the OS language to czech I guess... /OT

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

I hope that you can connect any BT keyboard and mouse - that would be at least necessary to use the N900 as a desktop computer replacement - that would be a "mobiel computer" - though only in the sense of sth. like a network client because of the lack of the usb host.
The N810 doesn't allow you to connect to all bt mice and keyboards (the system manager bt tool was limited).
And the command line doesn't help furteher.

Qole. The N800 isn't the solution for the lack of the usb host in the N900!

You could also take a N800 and use a 3G phone instead in some cases.

No - I want one device! Not again a second one for usb host.

And according Wifi-Adhoc. That covers only some usb usecases. And not all.
Not to talk about the time it takes to build up a adhoc network in comparison to plugging in a usb cable...

Sorry guys.

Hope that the production version tells us if the necessary id line of the usb port is wired internally but usb host not supported officially to follow the usb consortium specs.

In this way there would be place for a hack in software and a modified cable - so everyone could find a not supported but working solution on his own.

Hope for this.

asys3

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

nope, im not joking..and i won't let it be...i want Nokia Czech to fix this and sell the phone with 4 keys... so if you can do anything to help, i will be glad...

about the BT keyboard...will nokia bother to make and sell a special one for the N900?

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

You will need to perform a small hack to get BlueTooth HID profile working. Nokia sells Nokia Wireless Keyboard SU-8W for quite a while, and it works fine just like any other BlueTooth HID keyboard. You could buy your Nokia N900 elsewhere, for example in UK (GBP is low). Consider to contact Nokia Czech.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

i could buy it in the UK, but then the OS wouldn't be localized in Czech and the keyboard wouldn't be czech aswell...i hope people understand what i am trying to accomplish..the fact in Czech the keyboard is QWERTZ and localised is ok, but they could have done it without sacrifcing two arrow keys aswell...i contacted Nokia Czech, but they told me (actually just an operator girl on the infoline) they can start to deal with this when the device starts selling here (October 20th). I don't want to wait a month without doing anything. I even started to complain on Nokia's facebook forum...

about the BT keyboard..will the hack be hard? that keyboard i know, its old, but good enough for me...

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Hack will be easy. See here. The support is right there, its just not officially supported by Nokia, and you need to enable it yourself by editting a config file.

I think you will be able to change the device language to Czech either right out of the box or by downloading Czech language support. I surely hope I can change the device language from Dutch to English even though I buy the device in Netherlands. And in the past, that was possible. It is possible with my Nokia E71 too. Just need to download the software for it. So for that I wouldn't worry.

As for the Czech hardware keyboard, judging from the reply you got Nokia will value user feedback after the device is released. So you cannot influence the manufacturing of the Czech hardware keyboard for N900 right now.

I have SU-8W, it worked on N8x0 too. I quite like it because its foldable and portable.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

thanks for replying...atleast someone cares lol... about the keybaord, yup, that's the same reason i like it too. It's not big, but good enough and portable. If it worked with N8xx, then it should work with this aswell. I know there is a stand for the phone with the keyboard. I don't have to put the phone into that, right? Since it wouldn't fit in anyway in landscape...I'll have to check wheter Nokia in Czech still sell this thing..

about the other thing... well, i probably could change the language to Czech if i bought it from the UK (although i know that the localization of Maemo 5 to Czech is a last moment decision by Nokia Czech, so who knows? Maybe it will be Czech Republic exclusive?), but then i wouldn't have the czech keys, although i would have all 4 arrow keys...man, this is complicated and dumb...i wanted to get the phone day1, now i will be happy if i get it on Christamas (IF nokia changes the keys)

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

You do not have to use the SU-8W's stand. It is optional. Nokia N900 has its own stand too.

PS: See this thread about hardware keyboards and localisation.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

anyway, not to be annoying, but this is all OFF topic... ;)

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

great, then im buying that bt keyboard..
now just to solve the hw keyboard and its fine..ive checked that thread, but sadly no czech layout picture..anyway, if i make a new rant thread, will nokia read it, just to let them know?

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Well, it certainly is a solution for storage (HDD, DVD, USB key) use cases. And you only have to set up your ad-hoc network once, and you just switch to that network on both devices when you want to copy files.

I only want to carry one device too. And, most of the time, with the N900, you will.

For those occasions when you think you might need to copy information from a colleague's USB key, you buy a Nintendo DS case and in it, you put your N800, SD-to-microSD adapter, USB OTG adapter, usb hub and cables, N900 video-out cable, and 4xAA battery pack.

(EDIT: might as well throw in a BT keyboard and mouse!)

You put this in your "manly bag" and use this equipment to get files off of the external storage device and onto your N900. And since you have it along, you can also use the big N800 screen to watch videos or read a book on the train to work.


But I'm a hardcore geek. There are some of you out there, I know, who are only poser geeks, who still take their big, heavy laptops everywhere, and who want someone else to make everything easy for them, rather than figuring out a way to make things work on their own. I understand that my solution is probably too complicated and technical for you. I'm sorry that my solution doesn't involve Windows Vista or the iPhone.

But seriously, you need to stop pretending that you need USB host mode on a handheld device, ok? USB host mode on a handheld device is a hardcore geek thing, not something posers should be messing around with. You might get hurt.

hee hee hee! ;) :p

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

qole, don't take it as offensive please, but i don't really see the sense in your last post.. :p

the "take a N8*0 with you" is a solution (for some), but not the one most people in this thread is searching for I think. And I think it's not hard to guess why. ;P

and I don't find it a great idea to go around stereotyping people and "posers" :p

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

The discussion is offtopic in this thread please use the thread I linked to. I think instead of rant be constructive :) various Nokians read the boards here. Maybe Brainstorm or filing a bug report on Bugzilla will catch their attention, especially if you're constructive.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Seems people have gone awol on all the options to move data around. Lets see, why not just get rid of you usb thumb drive and send the data directly to where you got your thumb drive data from. Bluetooth, wifi, 3G, usb client .............or JWTYGH just wait till you get home.:rolleyes:

Mike C

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

No, I can't guess why. Tell me why.

That was a joke. Seriously. :)

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

- because a part of those going to buy a N900 don't own a previous maemo device, and don't want to spend 200-300€ more on top of 600€
- because there's a difference between carrying a N900 and carry a N900 plus something even bigger and heavier
- especially because you often don't know when you'll need that feature and don't want to carry the N8*0 around always just in case...
- because for that price people have the right to expect that feature included (maybe not officially, but with a hardware that makes it available in some way, as a software hack or/and modified cable)
- because there wouldn't be a thread "N900 will not allow USB OTG!" with 30 pages of people searching for a solution if everybody could so simply get a N8*0 to carry around and solve the problem

didn't think it was hard to guess any of these reasons that just came up in my mind, looked like common sense; sorry
and sorry for not understanding the joke :o

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Sooo, anyone without a USB dock is a poser now ? :D

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Ok, so there are some of you out there who want USB host mode but don't have tablets at the moment.

That's puzzling to me!

If you don't currently have a tablet, what mobile device are you currently using that does have USB host mode? And what do you use it for?

I completely disagree with that statement.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

If I am already taking a tablet with it, then I will take with it a small cheap phone, not an iphone wannabe.


Probably those confused by Nokia decision to call their new phone a "computer",

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

I guarantee you a N800 won't cost 200 EUR in december 2009. Especially not a second hand.

You better know, because else you're having the external HDD or external CD/DVD writer with you just because you may have to use it.

As qole already said USB OTG support is not something customers commonly request.

Lots of noise, and many discussion, people trying to be helpful. Quantity of pages discussion says nothing about need for feature, nor about the possible solutions for the problem. Because your post I quote does not take the root of the problem into account, nor does it take into account the harsh reality. No amount of stamping on your feet is going to change this harsh reality.

Maybe he sold his tablet like I did (well, OK, traded for SCSI controller) :o

I think if he had one (which is portable) he wouldn't need it on N900.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

I have a laptop and a Nokia 6630. To have a N900 with that feature could make me leave these both home. I'm a student at university, and allready posted in the past pages what I would use it for.
If I didn't have such a great unified device so far doesn't mean I cannot look forward to own finally one.. ;)

i did not say "pretend"; i said "have the right to expect", meaning that I can have the right to look for a device with that possibility, if I think the money I would pay is enough for that.

as if those were the only use cases we discussed about so far...

there are only 30 pages about it in this thread.. and maybe people didn't request it because it was believed to be there... (unofficial, but as long as it works, people don't have a reason to complain)

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Sure, if you wish to compare the soft- and hardware capabilities of N8x0 versus N900...

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Sure, you have the right to pray for a Cray falling down from heaven too...

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Personally I don't care much if the N900 does not have the USB OTG. In the past I did experiment with it when using N800. (You may remember the scripts and application entries I created to switch between the host and OTG modes?) Basically, it was just a one time interest and I rarely used it since then. (And the use was just experimenting... not that it was anything really useful.) When I changed to N810 I didn't even bother purchasing an adapter to make this work. I have had the N810 now about year and a half and I do not remember a single case where I was thinking "dang... I wish I had that adapter now..."

Not to say that for some this is a very important feature. But for 99% (?) of the folks it is not.

Also, you should not forget that the USB-OTG is not the same as full blown USB port that you see on PC's. OTG officially support 100mA current for the VBUS, where normal USB supports 500mA. Lots of devices need more than 100mA. In other words, many devices will not work with OTG port. (Like many memory card readers do not...) In that case you'd need external powered USB hub.

In my opinion the USB-OTG is more or less a niche. If it was supported and advertised feature on N900 box, guess how many unsatisfied customers there would be who say "my device doesn't work!", while they do not understand the difference between regular USB and USB-OTG?

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

I understand and agree about the facts that many won't need it, and that if officially supported it would bring who knows how many complaints; thx also for the numbers. (I didn't know it was you who created the host mode script, nice work! ^^)

Personally I can't say it's something vital which I'll surely use everyday; it's a feature more that I knew previous models have, which I find cool and/because I imagine it can be very useful in many situations. Not to have that possibility lowers a bit the value for money I was earlier giving to the device, which made me post in search for a solution in this thread.
That doesn't mean I don't find it an exceptional device anymore; I could still find it interesting enough to get it.
But if it only had... ;)

Lets discuss back in search for a possible solution please... or wait for the device/some news... :p

Unless somebody has a prototype of the N900 and wants to share info or try dangerous (?) testmode scripts, both of which I don't really see happen, we can only wait for the N900 to be on the market.
Meanwhile, somebody can always have alternative ideas..

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Sorry, where are these testmode scripts?

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

I guess they still have to be coded by somebody capable of doing it.. (not pushing anybody! but maybe there's somebody capable and interested in doing it)

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Anybody have experience puting together a bounty for this sort of thing? I'd chip in $20 to anyone who would develop a patch that gave the N900 full host mode or at least OTG capabilities without a hardware mod (aside from a special cable, perhaps).

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

So use an emulated VBUS to tell the chip to go into TESTMODE-Force_host?

I have only short bursts of time to work on things like this. Can someone read page 167-169 and figure out what this is saying and how to send a message on an emulated VBUS?

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Nobody interested in helping BruceL? The document is http://focus.ti.com/lit/ug/sprufd4b/sprufd4b.pdf

With USB OTG on microUSB the microUSB-B is always the EH, and the microUSB-A the OTG. The Nokia N900 has a microUSB-B connector; not microUSB-AB connector. Because of this it can only function as EH; not OTG. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_On-...TG_Micro_Plugs and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...-AB_Socket_OTG (the PDF linked to earlier mentions this as well). So you would either need to hack USB on both devices, or get a microUSB-AB plug on the Nokia N900. Or do you think grounding that one pin would work? Even so, you'd then have a microUSB-B to microUSB-B link.

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

I read a bit of those pages, and I don't really know how to "translate" it to simple commands. It seems the USB operation status is set by setting bits in a certain register, and it should do the trick. That register is also readable which should help on debugging/troubleshooting.

Also, the presence of Vbus normally tells if the device should be Host or Peripheral. But, this signal is not a direct input to USB controller. Tranceiver chip is the one to detect it which should output its status to the OMAP. After that it is purely a SW that does the rest. This is actually good news since it tells that there is no "hard wired" control to keep the USB controller in Peripheral mode. Just writing the correct bits to this USB register should make it into Host mode. :)

Sorry, I don't think I can figure out how to do this exactly, but for qwerty12 this should be a piece of cake... ;)

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

Just assuming that I can pose for a moment that I don't have a Nokia Tablet (gave it to my wife :D), I have a Sharp Zaurus - which has USB Host mode.

And I want USB Host mode on the new device that I crave for - the N900.

And I use USB host mode for when I go on trips and take a lot of pictures and videos (large videos). WhenI get backt o the hotel room, I phug in my Camera and the portable HDD to the Zaurus - and copy all the media to the HDD as a backup and clean up the Camera media for the next day. In fact I do this for the whole group I go with - I am the chief Backup man.

Seriously now how do I do this with the N900 ?

Re: N900 will not allow USB OTG!
 

I've been trying to follow this thread, but I often scratch my head at some of the use-cases that I'm hearing. In your case, removable media (SD, MMC, whatever) is so cheap now, why not take several with you and use the media itself as backup (i.e., for a 7-day trip, take 7 cards...)? And, if your camera uses microSD, why not just take the card from the camera and put it into the N900 to do the same thing? (If your camera uses regular SD, just slip a microSD card into an adapter.)

Yes, I know that there are valid reasons for USB Host mode, but in most cases, it just sounds like people want a way to (a) backup files, or (b) transfer/sync files. This can all be done via wifi, bluetooth, or USB (connected to a computer).

So... Maybe I'm missing something huge, but I just don't get the importance (for most normal users).

Tim