Messages

91

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 18, 2006, 12:16:26 pm »

[

Quick price list

CPU $30
RAM (256MB) $80
FLASH (1GB) $100
PCB up to $100

all in US and are approx prices with alot of slack, except for the flash which is between 90 to 110 (with less chips bieng more cash)
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well if you put two sd card slots on it i would recommend putting less flash built in. the flash memory should be primarily used to hold the OS and a few aplications. also for some reason SD cards are cheaper that just plain flash chips. that way you can put the more common accessed files on the internal flash and use the sd card for the bulk storage. actually if you put an internal CF slot and an external one on it plus two  SD card slots i would have just enough flash to hold the OS plus maybe 20 megs on top of the OS size to put user aps and bigger OS images. with 2 4gig CF/microdrive and 2 1 gig SD you already got 10 gigs of potential storage or more.

92

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 18, 2006, 04:02:34 am »

i love freescale products. i think it might be cool to put a footprint for a tri-axis acelerometer on the board so you could detect the orientation on the device. (games anyone  ) the footprint is small for the chips so you could add it and just not populate it unless certain users want it on since the chips cost about 6 dollars each for the tri-axis ones.

93

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 18, 2006, 03:46:48 am »

I like your ideas alot, seems we have a couple of topic watchers as i come bock 5 mins latter and reply again

have a look at this 3G chip it does Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) class 12 and wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) and high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA).
http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/p...=01J4Fsm6cyDbFf

looks like we will have to liscence a stack unless someone knows thier way aroud this stuff (but we are talking decoding and all the other stuff for several diffrent protocals)

also it looks like we found our jog-dial, nice pic i wish i had a black case and i like it how in the pic the crome looks like gold
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anyway we can get an estimated cost on those chips?

94

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 18, 2006, 03:31:38 am »

the trackball has green, blue, orange, and, red led options. so i was thinking blue for regular ok button setting and red or orange for mouse mode

95

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 18, 2006, 03:27:56 am »

also iteam #6 on that ittcannon page link would make an excellent jog switch

96

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 18, 2006, 03:24:06 am »

in the next week or so i can try working up a prospective 3d model of the keyboard design in blender so we can see how it would work and be able to modify it and view it while working on it

97

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 18, 2006, 03:21:39 am »

i was looking at the size of that trackball and it looks like it is the same size as the ok button on the c series z's. here is a image of the zaurus keyboard
[img]http://mobile-review.com/pda/review/image/sharp/c3100/pic8.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]
i was thinking of having the middle ok button replaced with the trackball and keeping the 4 dirrectional arrow pad. that way you can scroll through the icons with the dirrectional keypad and press down on the trackball for the ok button. the having a button to the lower right ( mirror image to the cancel button on the left) for a switch button to switch between mouse mode and ok button mode (need to find better words) another good part about the trackball is 2 different build in led lights that light up the ball. you can use the two different colors to signify whether it is in mouse mode or ok button mode.
this way you keep the dirrectional keypad all z's have so software will work out of the box with no modifications needed and also you get an integrated thumb mouse with only about 1/8 inch increase in thickness in the center part and a very small increase in the width of the key pad part.

ohh yea found who manufactures it
http://www.ittcannon.com/products/products...pid=10568&cf=pl

98

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 17, 2006, 10:54:25 pm »

here is a sd card holder unit
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...roducts_id=136#
trasflash holder
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=127
two different CF holders
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=571
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...roducts_id=118#
battery charging ic
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=674
power plug
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=119
audio jack
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=554
mini usb jack
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=587
regular usb a jack
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=437
bluetooth module (it may be best to use one of the 3 usb ports on the i.xm31 and connect to a off the market usb bluetooth module cheaper  )
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=149

99

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 17, 2006, 10:32:17 pm »

there is a cool electronic site called sparkfun i like to go to.

they just had a new product listed that would be interesting for a pda

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_i...products_id=755

[img]http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/images/main-TrackBall-0.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

100

For Sale / Wanted / Wtd: Sl-5500 Screen

« on: June 17, 2006, 06:09:09 pm »

Hmm,

Looking at the link on that site to the touch screen, it might be I only need the glass top, not the entire screen as I do get a proper image, just no ability to touch with the stylus.

Kelly
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yep same with mine the touch screen is an outer separate glas screen. mine cracked while i had it in my pocket. all you have to do is remove the touch digitizer and replace it.

101

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 17, 2006, 11:42:03 am »

on that blacksmith point actually yes.  i got a 95% completed forge construction project i am working on in my backyard.

102

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 17, 2006, 11:37:52 am »

try adding the docking connector like i was saying so you can have a docking port or slieve with a pcmcia, camera, and other stuff you could not stuff into the base design availible for those who would want it.

103

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 17, 2006, 05:04:14 am »

i would like to add that i like the idea of the freescale i.mx processors. they make really nice stuff at freescale and are quite liberal with samples for working with (can you say free cpu's to build prototypes with ) the i.MX31 processor has a nice 3d graphics accelerator built right in with OPENGL ES support including drivers and libraries.

104

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 17, 2006, 04:50:43 am »

well LOL i see someone was also typing a long reply the same time i was

105

PocketPenguin / Build Your Own Linux Powered Pda

« on: June 17, 2006, 04:46:03 am »

if i was designing a pda here would be my basic design plan

-the case design would be a real hard decision since there are fans of both clamshell and regular pda design. if it was my decision i would most likely go for the zaurus CXXXX clamshell with tablet folding capability because it seems to be more versitile and easier to integrate a built in keyboard

-ARM processor at least 400 mhz preferably 500-600 range or at least capable or overclocking to that range

-lcd display of at least 320x240 but strongly suggest 640x480 size (try to avoid odd sizes such as 800x480 since that would most likely cost more since there would be less of a demand in the market for that size of display.) touch screen of could would be needed. the size i would look for would be in the 3.5" to slightly over 4" range

-external memory slot in the form of at least 1 CF possibly 2 CF if the chosen processor already has 2 ide channels built in. add a sd in at least mmc 1 bit mode or better yet 4 bit mode since it gives cheap memory expansion in a small size for very little I/O cost

-when it comes to the modern connectivity way of life i would strongly urge to add wireless capabilty with preferably bluetooth and wifi. the wifi capabilty may be best to keep with a CF card if two CF slots are availible. the cost is quite low for the user to add and it gives the option to add a cf wifi card with wardriving features such as external antenna. the bluetooth is an option that should be added to the board even if it is not populated so the user has the option to add it latter or have more than one hardware model so those who do not use bluetooth dont have to pay the extra cost.

-when it comes to ram 64MB is the bare minimun and 128MB is what i would suggest. better yet some memory ic chips have 64MB and 128MB versions in the same footprint so you can have one design with a possibility of two different memory options. better yet if you could find an affordable memory ic with 64, 128, 192, or even 256MB options in the same footprint that would be the best choice.

-when you look at most rom distrobutions 96mb is the lowest i would put in a newer pda since that can easily be filled up. better yet is to use a 128, 192, or 256MB footprint compatable ic in the design like the ram to give more flexibility.

-an integrated keyboard is a must especially in a clamshell design

-built in headset jack and built in microphone/speaker is a must

-USB on the go is a must and since alot of usb devices need a good amount of power i would recomment an optionable external battery pack be designed to be able to clip onto the bottom the the pda to allow longer battery life.

-i can see IR ports being taken over by bluetooth, but i would still include it. as a hardware hacking freindly feature i would design the ir module to be disconnectable and allow a plug to be exposed that could have something else plugged in.

-follow the "if you dont use it dont cover it up" idea. basically if you dont use a pin or line pull it out to a contact pad and document it.

-all most forgot this one. you need a serial port for linux use.  

-jtag port pulled out in an easy to use way (dont nessesarly add a header pin to plug it in, but at least have the possibility to add one

-ohh and a gift for the hardware hackers.    a cpld/fpga on board with all or most unused or even some used lines run through it for customization.




the hardest things to deal with for this in my opinion would be the display at a reasonable cost.  

my case design would most likely be a clamshell with a CF slot on either side and the  SD, IR, and usb connectors in the front. and the audio and docking connectors in the back. on the bottom i would have clips for holding an extra battery pack and also expansion plug on the bottom like some laptops have for extra accessories such as a docking station like stuff


    ok it is 1:45 here so i should get to sleep i think i got all my idea out, but i might have missed a few.