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Post by spacelime on Mar 22, 2006 19:34:43 GMT 1
I'm considering to make a little mod with a snes gamepad and a palm T3. What I wan't to do is to connect the buttons of the gamepad with the buttons on the Palm in parallel. I'm not sure how difficult it would be to solder it though considering the compact design of the Palm. Has anyone tried something like this?
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Post by beavis on Mar 23, 2006 5:50:47 GMT 1
I too am considering something similar to what you described.
Eager to see any responses from anyone knowledgable.
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Post by mavsman4457 on Mar 24, 2006 0:21:28 GMT 1
tell me if you do it
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Post by spacelime on Mar 24, 2006 13:46:53 GMT 1
I disassembled the Palm but I couldn't even manage to get a glimplse of the button panel. It's on a metal plate, firmly attached to the front panel. I don't know if it's glued or something but I didn't dare to use force... If somebody feel brave, please give it a try. ;D
For now I'm quite satisfied with my solution - I took the tiny rubber feet from underneath an external hd and glued them on top the standard palm buttons. At least it works a lot better.
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Post by wantan on Mar 24, 2006 17:41:46 GMT 1
Haha... one little question... what about the on-screen buttons? hehe...
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Post by _Em on Mar 24, 2006 17:44:15 GMT 1
If I recall correctly, there's a little ribbon that loops around from those buttons to the motherboard -- each contact set on the end of this ribbon lines up with those buttons. So, all you should have to do is get another similar ribbon and wedge it in the connector along with the original one, and use the header on the other end as your connection point -- good thing about the ribbons is that you should even be able to feed it out through the bottom plate without too much modification to the shell.
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Post by spacelime on Mar 24, 2006 18:41:39 GMT 1
wantan> Hmm... didn't glue those ones, though it sure would be handsome..
_em_> That's an excellent idea! Only thing is that as far as i could tell, this ribbon not only carries the button input but also the MultiConnector... might be tricky to figure out how it's wired but not impossible.
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Post by _Em on Mar 24, 2006 20:23:51 GMT 1
In that case, you might actually be in luck; you might be able to trigger the hardbuttons via the multiconnector -- only problem is, I have no idea whether that's possible with your device. I recommend getting the developer's documentation from Palm for your Palm, and seeing if this is possible. Also, a quick email off to the palm hardware dev department might help you out a bit -- they do tend to like helping people building add-on accessories.
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Post by spacelime on Mar 24, 2006 22:16:53 GMT 1
Yes, if that's the case it would really be a stroke of luck. I know there used to be a Gamepad that connected to the corresponding connector on older palm. I wonder if it requiered a driver or not... hmm.. things are starting to look bright all the sudden  |
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Post by wantan on Mar 24, 2006 23:12:05 GMT 1
and maybe... if you're sucessfull you can sell your accesories here... and make a lot of $$$ hehehe
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Post by mavsman4457 on Mar 25, 2006 14:48:09 GMT 1
i'd buy it
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Post by catware on Jun 23, 2006 22:45:57 GMT 1
Hi everyone, I just came across these Nintendo emulators for the Palm and boy am I impressed! However I'm unable to really use any emulator but the NES on my Tungsten T2 that I've had for 3 years. I want to upgrade my Palm and am using the following link as comparison (and also reading these threads to see what people think): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungsten_Handheld#Model_features_at_a_glanceIt looks like the T|T3 is probably the best replacement for my T|T2 when cost is taken into account. The T|T3 is ~$120 on eBay while the T5 is around $200. The T5 is likely better unit but I can't justify $200 for this endeavor  However, the main drawback of the T|T3 is the button layout. The T|T2 and T5 both have as nice a layout as you can expect from a Palm, short of the Zodiacs but those are only 200MHz. So why am I posting in this thread? I'm wondering about the possibility of replacing the T|T3 buttons with the button panel from my T|T2 that I already own. They are both the same form factor and it *might* be possible. Has anyone experimented with this? Otherwise I'll be sure to let the group know if it's possible when my T|T3 arrives... |
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Post by beavis on Jun 24, 2006 4:48:11 GMT 1
1. Not to discourage you from upgrading, but it is possible to run the other emulation modules on a T2 with the addition of the software udmh. This can increase the available dynamic memory that the other modules require, at the cost of leaving a chunk of the storage memory otherwise unused.
2. You're quite right that the T3 is one of the best palms for running this emulator. It is one of the fastest, and is one of the palms with the most dynamic memory natively.
The T5 and others with NVFS memory often have troubles due to this memory management that other palms do not.
3. Yes the T3 button layout is quite an unfortunate one for us gamers. I've never tried one myself (mine is a TE), but it might not be so bad. With the closeness of the controls, it seems that rolling the thumb backwards could easily access two buttons.
4. I've toyed around with the idea of doing a hardware button mod also. But with metaview's bluetooth gamepad support in some of the "z" ports (zdoomz etc.) , there is the possibility that Tinnus may incorporate this feature into LJR. Keep watching the LJP to-do list for any updates.
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Post by metaview on Jun 24, 2006 13:26:00 GMT 1
Not to forget, the PC gameport adapter will come soon. A friend of mine is currently doing one and I will add support into ZDoomZ when he send the first prototype to me. I don't know yet how much it will be and if he will publish the specs and layout. We will see...
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Post by catware on Jun 24, 2006 17:58:09 GMT 1
Thanks for the replies guys! I've just bought a T|T3 on eBay and when it arrives I'll post on my results of trying to change the buttons. I bought the T|T when it first came out, and then the T|T2 as soon as *it* first came out. However I never upgraded to the T|T3 precisely because of the terrible button layout for gaming (any game on the PalmOS, not just LJP). I often fire up a quick game in restaurants when I'm waiting for food, etc. Now that I came across LJP, I'm in heaven! (I already have full ROM sets for every emulator & mame). I bought a Nintendo DS for gaming while flying, but now am going to return it and just use LJP and an external battery pack Yes, I've had lightspeed for several years and I have UDMH. I can *run* the other emulators on LJP, but they are all too slow except for the NES. So that's why I want to upgrade from my 144MHz T|T2 to something faster metaview: I've just skimmed the headers for the ZDoomZ forum and this forum, and done a search, but can't find anything on the PC gameport adapter. Would that connect a gamepad to the UC connector on the bottom of the Palm? Thanks! |
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Post by metaview on Jun 24, 2006 19:11:36 GMT 1
Yes, it will connect a gamepad with a PC gameport plug to any serial port, like the UC connector.
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Post by beavis on Jun 24, 2006 22:21:18 GMT 1
catware - some of the other modules are slow for my palm too, even overclocked to 180 MHz, especially gens & snes. But I've found tweaking some settings can make an improvement. Using ASM core when compatible, upping the frameskip number, smoothing off, display size x1, fast sprites, fast renderer, and 11Khz audio (or off) have all helped.
metaview - I have a gameport to usb adapter, but I'm assuming any gameport support will not include connecting to the Universal Serial Bus port, as that would require the palm to be a host?
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Post by metaview on Jun 24, 2006 22:25:31 GMT 1
beavis: correct, this prevents us from just connecting a USB gamepad. All one could do is add something on the serial port. The old PC gameport connector was quite easy and a small µC can do the conversion between the gameport and the serial.
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Post by beavis on Jun 24, 2006 22:45:18 GMT 1
Thanks. I guess it's upgrade time for me, as my TE has no serial port and no BT... and the buttons are getting quite worn from LJP and zdoomz and zduke.  |
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Post by catware on Jul 12, 2006 19:08:27 GMT 1
Just as an update: I got my T|T3 and the form factor for the button part of the slide is slightly different. It still *might* work, but the pinouts of the connectors from the slide to the main unit also appear to be different, and I didn't want to mess with that because the serial port also forms part of the connector. I'll just get used to the T|T3. Actually, it's not that hard to get used to -- but a gamepad mod sure would be nice beavis: I'll never go back to my T|T2. I paid $100 for the T|T3 on eBay, and using Lightspeed can stably overclock it to 590MHz. There is no comparison. Plus, the huge screen of the T|T3 makes it a pleasure to watch downloaded movies or tv episodes at full speed using TCMP. The program even uses .avi format with no modifications, resizing, or reencoding necessary. It is the same as what I stream to my media server for my tv, and at same resolution! Just download the standard 350mb tv episode, and either watch on my tv or copy to my SD card for the T|T3 and watch on the go. Although the battery life isn't great, a 4 AA battery charger cost $5 on eBay (works with the T|T2 too) and extends the life from 900mAh to 11,200mAh, for long airplane rides. |
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Post by equlizer on Feb 17, 2007 10:34:50 GMT 1
anything more on this pc gamepad for the palms? specifically treo 650? |
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Post by namelessplayer on Feb 17, 2007 21:19:01 GMT 1
If this keypad thing works on UC Palms and can bypass the T|C's slowdown, count me interested. (Right now, though, I think I'll just have to mod an IR keyboard; think it'll work? Even better with this route is that it'll work on non-UC Palms like the T|E, T|X, and the Treos.)
Speaking of the T|T3, I heavily considered it. However, while the small battery was slightly annoying, the very reason why I opted for the T|C instead was the ATROCIOUS button layout. Seriously, whoever came up with the T3's buttons should be SHOT. If there was a mod to restore the T/T2 button layout, though, I might just consider swapping my T|C. (I'd really miss the keyboard, integrated Wi-Fi, and excellent battery life, though.)
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Post by metaview on Feb 17, 2007 21:29:22 GMT 1
Well, I will ask the guy, how far he is :-) I guess the project falled asleep.
BTW: Can anyone give me a working complete source copy of the latest LJP? The one I have doesn't compile correctly and doesn't run (the module wich compiles).
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Post by Tinnus on Feb 19, 2007 23:00:36 GMT 1
metaview: get the RC2 code, I think it works. It doesn't make much difference to modify old code anyway since I'm re-writing the framework, but you could use the RC2 code to test the BT/IR/keyboard implementation so I borrow it later ;D
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Post by _Em on Feb 20, 2007 1:07:21 GMT 1
...plus, if you get it working with RC2, I'm sure there would be a number of people willing to test the modification |
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Post by needhelp on Feb 20, 2007 1:32:34 GMT 1
One thing guys, I have an IR keyboard, yet, it doesn't work on LJP, is it supposed to work? It's the wireless keyboard.
Thanks
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Post by _Em on Feb 20, 2007 1:56:41 GMT 1
No, it isn't Nothing involving external communications currently works in LJP AFAIK. |
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Post by metaview on Feb 20, 2007 9:36:47 GMT 1
Tinnus: do you have a link? And, maybe, you know a time where I can reach you on IRC or stuff? I fear, I will get compile problems and it would be cool to have you by hand then :-)
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Post by Tinnus on Feb 20, 2007 17:20:53 GMT 1
Get MSN (or Yahoo) and PM me your MSN/Yahho contact I have a bad experience with IRC, half of the time my IP is blocked (I get a random one so it's possible back then it was used for some SPAM or something). |
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Post by namelessplayer on Mar 1, 2007 22:14:42 GMT 1
I bring great news!
It turns out that another Palm-wielding friend of mine had a Universal Wireless Keyboard to use with his LifeDrive, and when using the UWK with my T|C to play ZDoomZ, it does NOT have the slowdown issue! MetaView, you are a god among men! (There were still a few issues with the implementation in ZDoomZ and Duke3D, but that's for another thread.)
Now, how to actually make the IR gamepad...just hacking a programmable remote with UWK signal data or a UWK itself to have a gaming-style button layout is tough enough, but the really difficult part is to give it a new shell that holds various PDAs securely. I don't like the Bluetooth gamepad because of its non-symmetric design, so I'm ruling that out...
This also makes me eager for the eventual Palm OS LJX release, since LJP obviously doesn't support IR devices...
(And if you're wondering "why IR?", it's not just because it's the only current way to circumvent the T|C's slowdown, it's also because the T|T3 and non-PEGA-GC10-supporting CLIÉ users would also benefit from such a device due to their horrible, non-gaming-oriented button layouts. That, and IR won't need nearly as much power as Bluetooth.)
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PalmOne T|T5 + 1Gb SD + UDMH
