Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Am I missing something or is there really no vibrate alert on the N800? Really stinks when I'm in a meeting or somesuch...or am I too dumb to figure out how to make it work? Could be....if you check my previous post...

Holly

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

...

Vibrate requires a motor or similar actuator. You can't enable on the N800 what doesn't exist.

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

I miss that feature too.. not only for meetings, it's impossible to hear the start-chat sound from google or skype when the N800 is in the jacket pocket.

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

I think most phones use a motor which spins an unbalanced weight in a circle to produce the vibration effect. I don't believe the N800 even has one of these. It would be nice to have in a future device, but I wouldn't want it to push out almost any other functionality as a result or be forced to make the device bigger.

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Those motors throw out tremendous EMF, especially small ones since they require very powerful magnets to be effective. That requires shielding. Not saying it *couldn't* be done at all, but if it was a decision based on space, and including it meant something else had to go, then like Rocket I'm ok with it missing.

The LED could conceivably fit the bill for a silent alert, although it would require the device being in line-of-sight (not a showstopper, is it?).

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Isn't there a led already under the dpad. Perhaps it could be used for notifications.

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Yes, that's the one I was referring to, sorry.

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Well, the EMF must not be so bad, as they have been in cell phones forever and those tend to have even more extreme space & weight restrictions.

I found a video of a motor in action. They really are quite small. You can see the video here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykpa5r1bWeE

I also found a good page on tiny electric motors (including cell phone vibrating motors) care of David Cook, whom I have bumped into at a couple robotics related events in the Seattle area.

http://robotroom.com/TinyMotor.html

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Oh, come on boys, be creative: A USB host mode, a USB spark plug, a little semtex...

It's not that difficult. ;)

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Well, yeah, I know they're in phones but perhaps the potential interference wasn't an issue for whatever reason. And I wasn't focusing on that as much as I was the space issue... which I took that you shared.

But I'm wondering now... would a piezo membrane do the job?

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

I've used homemade "remote door operners" before in the Balkans that were less complicated than that.
But you're close...

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Because its not a DILDO!!!

Regards...
Omega

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

...and thus degradeth the thread.

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Tex! come on Buddy!

someone had to!

Regards...
Omega

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Oh, don't think I didn't lol. :p

Re: Why Can't There Be a Vibrate Alert?
 

Tex... the sly rat...;)

btw Tex... you haven't approved my request to add you to my Skype "Pals" list... whats up with that??? :D

Regards...
Omega :rolleyes:

ps... not that we really know each other