Handtops, UMPC - Any Flipstart hacks?

03/14/08 + mhoepfin

Interested in seeing any hacks done to the Flipstart beyond the hard drive replacement...

Keith, from the software side, anything interesting we can do with the Infopane other than it's current Outlook integration?

edited: Mar 15 2008 + diJenerate

Keith,
If you're still out there, while we're on this topic, I've been trying for a few weeks to get the infopane/dinoboard to work under linux, sadly without success. I've managed to establish a serial connection with it but am unable to get it to talk back... this would be because I lack the command set the infopane/Dinoboard uses. If you have or anyone else has access to this, it would be a great help if you could share, particularly if anyone can find a way to allow me to switch on the WWAN and get access to the mouse buttons and trackstick, which happen to be under the control of the Infopane/dinoboard.

If we can get that far, then I'll be able to join mhoepfin in getting the infopane to integrate with something else, like mplayer or Thunderbird etc.

Btw, the dinoboard has responded to one command so far, 'AT' (yes as in a modem command) but all it does is shutdown. I cannot get it to restart until the system is rebooted. This is a start, not much of one but a start nonetheless. What else do we know...

1. Well we know the dinoboard has a Freescale MX-1 CPU (arm based) which potentially could be developed for if we reflashed it (the Dinoboard) with linux or if we can get the SDK from Vulcan, we could write loads of applets for it.

It helps to think of the Dinoboard as a PDA with a Wireless modem (like a mini iPaq or something) that's permanently connected to its docking station and that docking station is permanently plugged into the flipstart. This particular PDA happens to have a trackstick and left and right mouse buttons and the ability to permit the flipstart to use them. It's only obvious that this is the case when you try to run another OS and realize the buttons and trackstick don't even exist in the list of hardware!

2. We know the Dinoboard only controls the power for the WWAN radio, but doesn't command the radio itself... it sorta just powers it on and the USB bus it's on allows the Mainboard's USB controller to see it appear as a new device.

3. We suspect that similar things happen for the trackstick and the mouse buttons but those are basically always on from boot.

4. We know one of the things the DinoInstaller.exe on the Flipstart does is to initialize communications with the DinoBoard by generating a set of keys shared between the Dinoboard's O.S. and Windows. This is necessary since it seems that all communication between the two is secure over the virtual serial interface on the USB bridge they share. Additionally this security serves to ensure that only an authenticated device can talk to the Dinoboard.

diJenerate

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop

03/15/08 + kamodt

Sorry, but I'm not really a fan of the InfoPane. The original purpose was to offer a low-power method of accessing information, music, etc. from the device. The original design did preceed any of the Sideshow stuff, although no one in Redmond would admit that. Unfortunately, the final release of the software didn't have some of the features we had hoped (music, an SDK, etc.). The concept was fine but the execution was less than expected.

I don't know of anyone now who can tell you much about it. So, with that caveat, here are my responses.

1. Yes, Dino does have it's own cpu, memory, and embeeded OS. You could hack it if you knew something about these but there is no SDK.
2. Yes, Dino cannot access the WAN module and does use USB to communicate with the system.
3. There is some controller software for the touch-pad and touch-stick.
4. Dino was designed to sync ONLY with Outlook 2003/2007 but it can awaken Windows to resync when Windows is in Standby mode. Other than that, it's difficult to do anything without an SDK. Sorry.

Recent Blog: Some choices

03/16/08 + diJenerate

Thanks for your responses Keith.

Am I to understand that the touchstick and mouse buttons are NOT linked to the Dinoboard but rather have their own hardware controller which, without drivers, is the reason they don't even even show in another O.S.?

If so can you shed any light on this in the hope this will help me to figure out how to get them supported under linux.

Additionally, based on what you have told us here, I think the only options for the Dinoboard are:

1. Figure out the commands to turn on the WWAN and forget about the display.

or

2. JTag it, flash it with a custom linux and try to make it do what it was originally intended to.

or

3. Replace the DinoBoard with something (of similar size) USB powered, that has WWAN and more memory and doesn't require special drivers to access it or use its WWAN. (LONGSHOT!)

I'm guessing there is no documentation on its hardware eh Keith?

I can't see the chips on the Dinoboard without cutting the RF shield (since the shield is soldered to the board), so I would prefer documentation.

diJenerate

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop

03/16/08 + tnkgrl

If Vulcan can send me a Flipstart I'll gladly blog about possible hacks and mods, like I've done with the OQO Model 02 and the Asus Eee... I've asked them before about loaning me one but they never got back to me! Maybe @kamodt can hook me up?

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

edited: Mar 16 2008 + Picasso

Vulcan was giving them away at $700 you missed the boat. I was going to grab another but unsure about the one with out wireless WAN...Im going to guess Vulcan didnt exclude the connector for those that ship with out WAN...I hate OQO for this.

Detail pics of the flipstart naked please. if you need a site to host pics use link or link

03/16/08 + tnkgrl

@Picasso, considering I regularly get devices loaned to me for review (for free), I decided against spending money on the Flipstart (even at $700).

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

03/16/08 + kamodt

If anyone would know it would be Orgwon. I know that Linux was installed on FS devices but they did not update the drivers for everything (touchstick, InfoPane, etc.). There are no public documents available for the device. This would have to be a skunkworks project if anyone wanted to tackle it.

tnkgrl, sorry but I've only got my personal FS now and no access to spares. I'm not sure Vulcan is open to this now but you'd have to check with them.

Recent Blog: Some choices

03/16/08 + tnkgrl

@kamodt just PM me if you think you can st me up with a loaner sometime.

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

03/17/08 + rr0123

tnkgrl, I bought two, and would be happy to send you one as a loaner for you to tinker with. But you would have to deal with a stripped screw, I stripped it trying to upgrade the HD and haven't gotten around to buying a stripped screw remover at the hardware store.

I haven't yet opened the 2nd FP but I plan to try to upgrade the HD on that one too. I have a 60GB and and 80GB drive all cloned and ready to go.......

03/17/08 + tnkgrl

@rr0123 I can deal with a stripped screw

PM me if you want me to do the HD upgrade, and see what other hacks I can come up with.

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)