Use extrenal touchscreen to control Touch Pro - Is it possible?

[MadlyAlive]

Originally Posted by kidmet

One thing that isn't being mention is those looking to make a carpc out of their TP using a touchscreen DVD or CD deck is that the deck must also be able to recognize and send signals to control the TP. I don't think this is possible. I have the video cable and a touchscreen in my car, but I haven't tried yet. Is there enough interest in this? I could try.

A couple people earlier in the thread are confident that they can accomplish it based on a few sites they posted.

[kidmet]

Originally Posted by MadlyAlive

A couple people earlier in the thread are confident that they can accomplish it based on a few sites they posted.

My problem with the sites posted is there are no pictures confirming them working, just thoughts and connecting a few different ideas. A lot of assumptions for my taste, yet no proof. Anyone know where I can find the CE drivers that are being talked about? I will try this for everyone.

[xxxjdoggxxx]

Originally Posted by MadlyAlive

A couple people earlier in the thread are confident that they can accomplish it based on a few sites they posted.

If you are referring to me I'm not "confident" that it can be done. I was just simply posting some links I found in the hope it would get people to look into this more. I think the possibilities of this phone would be greatly expanded if usb host functionality were made to work.

I don't know enough about smartphones to figure this out on my own (my touch pro is the first ppc I have ever owned). If someone can give me detailed instructions on how to make the usb cable described at xda forums I would like to try experimenting with a mouse. As for the CE touchscreen drivers I have no idea where to get them. Maybe try getting in contact with the guy on mp3car forums who got it to work on his HTC Advantage.

My original intention for creating this thread is that people smarter than me would look in to this and experiment with the idea of usb host capibilities.

[kidmet]

Anyone know where to find the drivers? I will throw them on my phone now and then try this tonight. I have a new TP being sent to me, so I might as well try fun stuff now with this one that isn't working totally correctly.

[xxxjdoggxxx]

I have spent some time over the past few days researching this more and have not been able to locate the drivers needed. Hopefully someone out there who is smarter than me will figure out how to have usb host on the pro (if it is possible). If someone finds the files necessary to do this I would be glad to use my phone as the guinea pig. I don't have a touchscreen right now but I have other usb devices to try out. Also if anyone actually knows how the custom usb cable is made please post detailed instructions. If someone could figure this out it would save me a lot of time and money but if not I still think the pro is a great phone (finally I found the "perfect phone").

[Baffles]

The custom usb cable used is quite simple. Hook up a female USB-A port to a mini-usb male plug. You have to provide your own external 5v power to the port, however.

[JaxChris]

The multi-function cables from HTC that already work on the TP use a USB hub driver in order to support multiple devices off of the same port on the bottom.

The HTC Advantage cables are 16-pin while the ExtUSB on the TP is 6-pin/11-pin.

Another thing to remember is that if you are going to build a solution that the screen will need to be the same resolution (VGA) as the TP so that the touchscreen maps correctly to the display. If you goto EarthLCD, or other part recycler, you can probably build a 1280x800 (WXGA) screen and then get a capacitive touch panel at VGA resolution to go over the LCD panel. This would be trick though as touch input would be less accurate.

You'd have to see if the TP can output at resolutions higher than VGA over the TV-out cable.

But this is a very interesting project that I think would be worthwhile. I'm going to bookmark this one.

EDIT: Of course the first link I find when looking for ideas on this gives me a concept phone that makes me absolutely drool. Too bad it'll likely never be made:
http://www.intomobile.com/2008/06/21...-keyboard.html

[Baffles]

What multifunction cables use USB hubs? All the ones I've ever seen are straight through connections, considering sound, video, etc go over extUSB, not USB. All you have to do is split off your video and audio signals from the usb line.

[xxxjdoggxxx]

Does anyone know where to get drivers to make this work? I have spent hours looking and can't find anything.

[aggiematt1]

Any progress?