LD and BT Keyboard?

[acraniotes]

Has anyone here tried one with the LD yet?

- Adam

[foghead]

I have tried the ThinkOutside BT keyboard with the LifeDrive. It worked fine, paired up and ran the basic tests that I performed.

Then I came home on Friday and left the keyboard at work, so I haven't spent more than about five (successful) minutes with it.

[jk6000]

Can wifi and bt run simultaneously, e.g. use the bt keyboard while connected to a wifi hotspot?

[Cyker]

Well, Clie's can't, and I doubt Palm did anything to fix this in the LD. I'll be surprised(Albeit pleasently) if it can run both at the same time...

[Sharkk717]

You'll never believe it Cyker... I just sent a prc from my T3 to my LifeDrive via BT WHILE ON THE INTERNET via WIFI! Looks like palmOne did something right lol :D

regards, sharky

[acraniotes]

Well, that's certainly a relief - even more so if you can actually use the keyboard while using WiFi. Of course, the issue of battery drain comes into play here. So, if anyone would be kind enough to test this a bit, I would be extremely grateful. If, ultimately, WiFi and BT don't play nice together, it looks like I'll have to go for an IR keyboard instead.

- Adam

PS - Does the Stowaway BT Keyboard accomodate the LifeDrive in landscape mode?

[CliePet]

> ...you can actually use the keyboard while using WiFi

The Virtual KB works great (that strange things that projects a laser keyboard on a table top) -- portrait or landscape orientation.

Major exploitation of technology: Laser projection on a table. IR distance sensors detect where your fingers are placed. The keyboard device sends information using Bluetooth. The LifeDrive receives the Bluetooth information, and interprets it as key events. Finally the web browser uses WiFi to access the Internet. All wireless and battery powered.

[tritan]

Well, that's certainly a relief - even more so if you can actually use the keyboard while using WiFi. Of course, the issue of battery drain comes into play here. So, if anyone would be kind enough to test this a bit, I would be extremely grateful. If, ultimately, WiFi and BT don't play nice together, it looks like I'll have to go for an IR keyboard instead.

- Adam

PS - Does the Stowaway BT Keyboard accomodate the LifeDrive in landscape mode?

Would a standard IR keyboard with WIFI use less power then using a bluetooth keyboard and WIFI? I have the standard IR keyboard and wonder if it will work with my New LD or if its worth upgrading to the bluetooth model?

[acraniotes]

I would imagine that the IR port would be easier on the battery than the BT transmitter. Still, for some reason I'm leaning towards the BT keyboard.

- Adam

PS - Now we're absolutely certain that BT and WiFi work simultaneously, with no conflicts, right...?

[AndyMac]

Are there any other BT keyboards besides the Stowaway? I would prefer one that had all five rows of keys (alphabet and numbers). Size is much less of an issue than usability for me.

Ideally I want to be able to whip the keyboard out and use it while my Lifedrive is still sitting in it's cradle. This way I wouldn't have to move the LD. I would use the keyboard while travelling as well but mostly it would be at my desk.

[Cyker]

You'll never believe it Cyker... I just sent a prc from my T3 to my LifeDrive via BT WHILE ON THE INTERNET via WIFI! Looks like palmOne did something right lol :D

regards, sharky

LOL, I only just read this thread!
I definitely agree - This is a very cool feature! :D

IMHO it's the coolest feature the LD has! :D

[andrebsd]

Now if it were only possible to use a bluetooth keyboard and bluetooth internet (using my cellphone as the modem)... that would be fun

Edit: I'm dumb, apperently thats possible... nature of bluetooth to run multiple devices.

[PDAJah]

The Brando Workshop Smart BT keyboard with T5 drivers works (well after a soft reset!)
:)

[AndyMac]

Is that the same as this one? They look alike except for Smart instead of Freedom. And I am assuming that there is only one soft reset after installation?

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/tips/freedom-bluetooth-keyboard.htm

[PDAJah]

@AndyMac, that looks like the same keyboard. The soft reset (one) seemed to be caused by the Smart KB BT app on the LD. This suggests its not 100% stable but I used it with Docs to Go and Agendus it the keyboard worked well.