Will Android 2.2 allow touchscreen devices to enable the HID bluetooth profile?

Forums › Android › Will Android 2.2 allow touchscreen devices to enable the HID bluetooth profile?

pjones

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#69855 14-Oct-2010 09:06

So I was under the impression that if a specific phone did not support the HID bluetooth profile, that it would not pair with an HID bluetooth keyboard or mouse. But I found this link from NZtechfreak on an android forum who posted a video about the Samsung Galaxy S (whose specs do not list HID as one of their supported profiles) pairing with a keyboard via the HID bluetooth profile. So my question is will Android 2.2 allow all touchscreen devices (using android 2.2) to be paired with an HiD bluetooth keyboard? Please enlighten me! Much appreciated.

numfarr

329 posts

Ultimate Geek

#391690 14-Oct-2010 10:58

No, it's still up to the individual manufacturers to add it at the moment, or use CyanogenMod 6 on compatible phones, or there are third-party drivers like BlueInput.

n4

959 posts

Ultimate Geek

#391749 14-Oct-2010 12:01

NZtechfreak is active on geekzone and has posted the same thing here. He is using a beta Froyo firmware on the Samsung Galaxy S. It does not work on the stock Eclair firmware (probably the reason its not listed on the official specs for the SGS).

Samsung Note20 Ultra, on 2degrees

pjones

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#391789 14-Oct-2010 12:53

Thanks for the responses. I heard about geekzone because I googled nztechfreak and came across these forums. I'm sure I will have more questions for you but thanks for now.

pjones

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#394717 22-Oct-2010 11:48

Numfarr, what is CyanogenMod 6 exactly? I looked it up but it is still not clear to me. How do I get it and how does it work? Where is the list of devices that it will work with? What exactly does it do?

Also, N4, is the Eclair firmware typically used with Android 2.1 phones? Will the Froyo firmware be with the Android 2.2 phones? I saw that Froyo (Android OS 2.2) will release in October. If so, does that mean a lot more phones (using Android 2.2) will be compatible with HID keyboards? How can I get the beta froyo firmware and will it allow any android device to be paired with an HID keyboard and mouse? Thanks again for the help....I've had a tough time finding the answers to my questions...

NZtechfreak

4649 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#394723 22-Oct-2010 12:00

pjones: Numfarr, what is CyanogenMod 6 exactly? I looked it up but it is still not clear to me. How do I get it and how does it work? Where is the list of devices that it will work with? What exactly does it do?

Cyanogenmod is a custom ROM, if you Google it you will get a link to their wiki, which should answer your questions (and has links to their website if you still have more).

pjones: Also, N4, is the Eclair firmware typically used with Android 2.1 phones?

Eclair is not a firmware, its a version of the Android OS - the 2.1 version.

pjones: Will the Froyo firmware be with the Android 2.2 phones? I saw that Froyo (Android OS 2.2) will release in October.

Froyo is the name for the 2.2 OS version (just as Eclair is the 2.1 version). Froyo's availability depends on your handset and its manufacturer, the October release is referring to the Galaxy S version, various other handsets have it officially already (HTC Desire, Nexus 1, many others can have it unofficially too with custom ROMs).

pjones: If so, does that mean a lot more phones (using Android 2.2) will be compatible with HID keyboards?

No. This only applies to the Galaxy S Froyo update.

pjones: How can I get the beta froyo firmware and will it allow any android device to be paired with an HID keyboard and mouse?

If you you're a Galaxy S user then go to XDA-developers.com and you will find all you need to get up to Froyo. If you're not on a Galaxy S then Froyo in most cases does not include BT HID support (but all cyanogenmod ROMs do, they cover a wide range of devices and you should check their wiki to see if yours is supported).

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

pjones

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#394731 22-Oct-2010 12:14

NZtechfreak, I first saw your youtube video on the Samsung Galaxay S Froyo JPK pairing with HID keyboard, which is what started my interest in this topic. I just automatically thought that you couldn't pair a non-HID phone with an HID keyboard, but (correct me if I'm wrong) there are certain manufacturers such as Samsung that are offering solutions to pair an HID device with their phones such as Samsung Galaxy S. Is that right? So when they release Android 2.2 later this month, all Samsung Galaxy S users using Android 2.2 will be able to pair their phones with an HID keyboard or mouse?

I'm going to research Cyanogen more and a few of the other things you mentioned and probably get back to you with more questions. Thanks for getting back to me quickly and for your thorough response!

NZtechfreak

4649 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#394930 23-Oct-2010 00:06

Yep, certain manufacturers are offering HID support. Galaxy S has it on all 2.2 firmwares so far, I expect the official one will be no different. The Dell Streak also has it, future handsets of theirs are also likely too I would guess.

As far as I'm aware none of the others do, unless you install a custom firmware like cyanogenmod ROM.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

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kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#394951 23-Oct-2010 07:16

Sorry to deviate from the topic but this weekend the Samsung Galaxy S is on special at Noel Lemming for $799, thats an amazing price so just bought 2 for a couple of guys at work.

pjones

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#395001 23-Oct-2010 12:23

NZTechfreak, so to recap. If a user installs Cyanogenmod6 onto the following phones- Nexus One, Droid, Dream (T-Mobile G1), Magic, Desire, Evo, Espresso (T-Mobile MyTouch 3G slide), and Hero- these phones will for sure 100% be able to pair with an HID keyboard and mouse?! That was the list I found on Wiki.

Also, Where is the best place to find updates on which manufacturers are including HID support in their phones (i.e Samsung for the Galaxy S)?

Thanks again.

NZtechfreak

4649 posts

Uber Geek

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#395134 24-Oct-2010 00:05

Yep, all those phones will work BT HID devices once on cyanogenmod ROM. I have not done it on any of them personally, but they are widely reported to work (and notable they all work with the WiiMote app, for some sweet, sweet emulator gaming).

Not sure about where to find this information, I only know because I devote far too much time to reading about phones :) I think you'd need to check the manufacturers spec sheet for each phone, they usually state which BT profiles they support.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

Linuxluver

5828 posts

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#395280 24-Oct-2010 17:28

pjones: Numfarr, what is CyanogenMod 6 exactly? I looked it up but it is still not clear to me. How do I get it and how does it work? Where is the list of devices that it will work with? What exactly does it do?

Cyanogen and his team build their own custom version of Android from the AOSP (Android Open Source Project?) source code.

They usually add in lots of function various people have written independendtly - like allowing the phone's display to rotate though 360 degrees.....which is quite handy as the antennae are at the bottom and if you want better reception for data....just hold the phone upside down. The touch screen works just the same...and the control buttons are at the top of the screen instead of the bottom. That's just one things.....there are many, many others.

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pjones

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#423881 4-Jan-2011 08:37

NZTechfreak, I recently read that the Android 2.2 Froyo update was pulled for the Samsung Galaxy S. Is that true and what do you know about it? When will it be released again? Also, are the Samsung Galaxy S, Vibrant, Captivate, Fascinate, and Epic 4G all different phones? They are all in the Samsung Galaxy family right? But are not the exact same phones? So if the froyo update on the Samsung Galaxy S includes HID support, does that also mean that these other Samsung phones will have HID support? Thanks for the clarification!