Develop Bugs

Question- Anyone using a BT keyboard?

Hi,
I´m thinking about a BT mini keyboard. Someone is already using a BT keyboard? Is it working properly?
Thanks in advance.

I'm using the Apple Bluetooth keyboard ($69 most places) and when it pairs it works well. I had some issues with pairing where it wouldn't do it a second time until I changed some setting on the tablet. When it works, it works well except for the directional keys. I wish there was a way to remap those so they make more sense. LOL
I should add, I bought several other keyboards, and this one was the best in both size and quality. I bought a Zippy and those chicklet sized keys were horrible (but it was cool to be able to pair it with other devices and soft-switch between BT devices). I also tried two of those folding ones and found out real quick how much those suck when you are trying to type on a keyboard on your lap. One didn't have a "lock" mechanism, so it just folded and made a V shape when in use. The other one had some flimsy plastic mechanism to lock it which lasted about 20 minutes...and I'm a soft-touch typer. If you tend to beat on your keys, that would last about 20 seconds. LOL
On a side note, I do find it somewhat funny that I buy an Apple keyboard to work on an Android device...kind of like forcing a Hatfield and a McCoy to get married.

Update:
I am noticing some problems with the Archos 101 and a bluetooth keyboard. It seems I can either have bluetooth on and paired, or wireless on and connected, but when both are active it seems to really have problems. Dropping the keyboard, not able to connect to the router, etc. Turning either off resolves the issue for the other.
On a side note, it also trashed a whole slew of files I had on my MicroSD card...

Keyboard Question

Wondering what people do for a case for the keyboard. When you go places do you just carry the keybaord open like that?
I just got it and love it. Just wondering what you all do.

Thinking about having my grandma knit something for it...
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

Are you folks useing the Wireless Keyboard for ATRIX™ / XOOM™*? If so how about a review on this keyboard? does it work well with the xoom? and if so why is it a better keyboard for useing with the xoom? THANKS!

Apparently I like warming up old, cold threads
I am also thinking about the "official" Motorola BT keyboard. I played with it for a few minutes in the Verizon store and I liked it (minus the price tag). I was wondering if it has any option to be charged or connected to a power source in any way or if it runs on batteries exclusively. My ultimate goal is to design my own portfolio that I can use with the keyboard.

I have the Motorola ARTIX / XOOM bluetooth keyboard. I really like it. It comes in handy when you need to type out a long email. I really like the shortcut buttons, it has them for Gmail, Browser, Contacts, Messaging (doesn't work on the XOOM), Search, Home, Menu and Music. It also has volume controls, stop, play and track forward / back buttons. It is a little laggy, but I figure that's just because it's bluetooth. It takes 2 AA batteries, and I don't think that you can use anything else, no place to plug in a charger or anything. The more I use it the more I like it actually. The hard part is shelling out $70 for it.

i have the keyboard. The only lag I expierence is when typing on forums. For email and talk it is very capable. Also very light and compact. Would purchase again. I could do up a review when I get home.

A review would be much appreciated the two things stopping me from buying it are 1. How portable it is and 2. If its worth the price tag

I owned and returned it.
portability was decent, largeish as far as BT keyboards go but nothing major.
price is more than double other similar keyboards, but it has the dedicated keys, which you might like
quality I found to be on the cheapish side, given the premium price.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

Best keyboard and mouse setup for your i9300

Hi Guys!
I've been wanting to get a decent wireless keyboard and mouse to use on my S3.
I've seen the cheap mini ones with a mouse pad on ebay, but I'd be after a proper mouse and a real enough sized keyboard to type with.
Has anyone tested the Apple bluetooth keyboard and the magic mouse? I see those as beneficial for transportation, flatter and easier to store away. Minus the price of course
I've seen that a few like Toshiba, Samsung, Motorola have done their own portable keyboards for such uses, but very few seem to have bluetooth mice any more which can be paired.
So, your ideas, XDA?

Pretty much after posting this I hopped on ebay and looked around. There were some cheap Motorola Atrix Work and Play Kits going, so I ordered one, not really caring about the dock it comes with. Arrived this morning.
The box was pretty heavy. The dock actually feels very solid and high quality, shame you cant use it here... unless I break one of the connectors off leaving just the micro usb........ tempting. But then it's still a bit oversized.
Onto the keyboard. Very solid, good feel with the keys, standard laptop size. Function keys for app shortcuts don't work (although they register a sound on the phone), but the media keys do. play/pause, stop, skip, volume up/down mute. Search (opens google now) menu key, home key, back key. Seems to be able to wake my phone and unlock it too
My only issue is it seems to be similar to the american keyboard layout. A couple of keys are different though, so it maybe some european country's standard.
The mouse I am pleased with. It's standard size for a mini-mouse, again feels solid. All buttons and scrolling work fine.
Now to try and make it work with various FPS games. I may have read in a few places that it's possible.

Kurai Kitsune said:
Function keys for app shortcuts don't work (although they register a sound on the phone)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have root go into /system/usr/keylayout/ and mod the text files, you should be able to assign them to anything as long as you know what code you want them to open, take a look at the atrix files to see what they were generating
Sent from my GT-I9300T using xda app-developers app

Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard

Has anyone tried using both a bluetooth mouse and keboard? I want to use both to take notes in class, read powerpoints, etc. Mostly easy basic stuff like that.
I am thinking of getting the Minisuit keyboard since it seems to balance well inside the slot. I don't want a full case, so this seems like the best option for me right now. unless some can tell me of an option that comes with a stand like this, that is cheaper....
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Tablet-Keyboard-Windows-Android3-0/dp/B009JPBPWO/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
The mouse part is confusing me. There seem to be a lot of brands I'm not familiar with. And many mice with poor reviews. Does anyone have experience with one that has worked well at a fair price?
Thanks!
EDIT: Or will any basic bluetooth mouse work? I figured it had to be designed to work with android.

drewmey said:
Has anyone tried using both a bluetooth mouse and keboard? I want to use both to take notes in class, read powerpoints, etc. Mostly easy basic stuff like that.
I am thinking of getting the Minisuit keyboard since it seems to balance well inside the slot. I don't want a full case, so this seems like the best option for me right now. unless some can tell me of an option that comes with a stand like this, that is cheaper....
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Tablet-Keyboard-Windows-Android3-0/dp/B009JPBPWO/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
The mouse part is confusing me. There seem to be a lot of brands I'm not familiar with. And many mice with poor reviews. Does anyone have experience with one that has worked well at a fair price?
Thanks!
EDIT: Or will any basic bluetooth mouse work? I figured it had to be designed to work with android.
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Click to collapse
I've used the Logitech K810 keyboard successfully, and I've used Microsoft's Wedge mouse successfully, but I couldn't get both of them to work at the same time. I did not troubleshoot, and it's possible there's a way to fix the glitch, I'm just reporting my experience.
I love the Logitech keyboard. Originally I bought it for occasional use and traveling, but it's so good that I use it as my everyday keyboard at my desk. Just as advertised, it pairs smoothly with up to three devices. When I use it at my desk, I use a regular (not Bluetooth) wireless mouse.

My Anker Ultra-Slim keyboard and Microsoft Notebook Mouse 5000 work together just fine on my 2013 N7. Sometimes I first have to unpair and re-pair them to get them to connect but after that they work.

I use Logitech K810 keyboard and T610 mouse. Both are Bluetooth and you can switch when using it with your PC or MacBook.
Works great... But the problem is that the mouse sometimes just last out of the blue. Had to reboot. There is a thread in Google forums that discussed this and this is a known flaw that Google has not fixed.

What does the keyboard do that any BT KB doesn't?

Has anyone noticed anything? I keep reading how this tablet has been designed for use with the keyboard, but nothing concrete has ever been said, that I know of. Sure, it's sleek and it's magnetic and it charges from the tablet. But actual KB functionality, how is it different than, say, a Logitech K810 or any other bluetooth keyboard, especially those designed for Android, with a proper home (and sometimes recents) button?
One peeve I have always had with Android is the way it handles the US International layout. It's not the same standard MS and Apple (iOS) use. To input something like an "á" you need to press Alt. I wonder if they'll ever fix that. In the meantime I use the splendid app External Keyboard Helper, but if you're not rooted it's not 100% seamless, you need to manually select EKH in the input dialog when connecting the BT keyboard.

andy o said:
Has anyone noticed anything? I keep reading how this tablet has been designed for use with the keyboard, but nothing concrete has ever been said, that I know of. Sure, it's sleek and it's magnetic and it charges from the tablet. But actual KB functionality, how is it different than, say, a Logitech K810 or any other bluetooth keyboard, especially those designed for Android, with a proper home (and sometimes recents) button?
One peeve I have always had with Android is the way it handles the US International layout. It's not the same standard MS and Apple (iOS) use. To input something like an "á" you need to press Alt. I wonder if they'll ever fix that. In the meantime I use the splendid app External Keyboard Helper, but if you're not rooted it's not 100% seamless, you need to manually select EKH in the input dialog when connecting the BT keyboard.
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Click to collapse
I, too, am curious about this. It is pretty cool how the keyboard kind of completes the design. However, I can't really justify spending $150 on it when I have a $20 Anker BT keyboard that works perfectly fine with my Nexus 10, and should work the same with the Pixel C.

a lot of manufacturers make accessories in an attempt to increase profits from sales, google is no different. google places a big checkmark on design issues throughout all the products it deals with. the design is what sets this keyboard apart, not the function. google even offers two designs of the keyboard. it was interesting to me that each design cost the same to the buyer when it appears from the specs that the folio would probably cost more to make.

Google should have never advertised the keyboard accessory like it was necessary when it definitely isn't. It made people think that this device would be more productive than any other android tablet when it's not. Even a iPad Air 2 with a keyboard is more productive due to tablet optimized apps than any android tablet except maybe for Samsung tablets who at least try to make interface customizations for tablet optimization.

It's worth every penny
As someone that bought the keyboard, heck I bought the Pixel BECAUSE of its keyboard - I also bought the excellent Dell 7840 and it's keyboard, and have 5 BT keyboards in various storage nooks around the house, used on my Note 10.1 or iPad original - so I know a thing or two about what I want. Oh, and I recently sold my semi-loved Chromebook Flip to help fund this beast of a tablet...
Anyway - this is the first typing experience I've had on a tablet that makes it feel like a laptop. So what, you ask? So I was looking for a great typing experience for productivity reasons. And the keyboard (not folio) delivers this in spades. Yes the design integrates perfectly with the tablet. Yes the magnetic system and charging mechanism are awesome and very Apple-like (the old Apple that designed products to JUST WORK and perform so well it was almost magic). Yes the pitch is great - no your enter key is not identical to a laptop but you can get used to it (and I am not a great typist).
The real thing that makes a difference tho? Funny enough its that dang hinge. The ability to customize the angle of your screen is HUGE. Don't underestimate the difference 5 degrees makes when you are on your lap, then on an aircraft seat table, then at a restaurant - every bit is welcome and makes the experience BETTER.
So would I recommend the keyboard? If you are ponying up for this tablet (and lets be honest there are number of good alternatives at less cost), and you intend to do any amount of typing, do not think twice - buy the keyboard at the same time - you won't regret it.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk

davedigerati said:
It's worth every penny
As someone that bought the keyboard, heck I bought the Pixel BECAUSE of its keyboard - I also bought the excellent Dell 7840 and it's keyboard, and have 5 BT keyboards in various storage nooks around the house, used on my Note 10.1 or iPad original - so I know a thing or two about what I want. Oh, and I recently sold my semi-loved Chromebook Flip to help fund this beast of a tablet...
Anyway - this is the first typing experience I've had on a tablet that makes it feel like a laptop. So what, you ask? So I was looking for a great typing experience for productivity reasons. And the keyboard (not folio) delivers this in spades. Yes the design integrates perfectly with the tablet. Yes the magnetic system and charging mechanism are awesome and very Apple-like (the old Apple that designed products to JUST WORK and perform so well it was almost magic). Yes the pitch is great - no your enter key is not identical to a laptop but you can get used to it (and I am not a great typist).
The real thing that makes a difference tho? Funny enough its that dang hinge. The ability to customize the angle of your screen is HUGE. Don't underestimate the difference 5 degrees makes when you are on your lap, then on an aircraft seat table, then at a restaurant - every bit is welcome and makes the experience BETTER.
So would I recommend the keyboard? If you are ponying up for this tablet (and lets be honest there are number of good alternatives at less cost), and you intend to do any amount of typing, do not think twice - buy the keyboard at the same time - you won't regret it.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't doubt that the keyboard is high-quality, but that wasn't my concern. I already have very good BT keyboards and I don't mind not having the hinge. As far as I can tell, this keyboard doesn't have a home key? Does it have a "recents" key, or do you just Alt+Tab like on any other one? Right away I can see that since there's no right Alt I couldn't use US Int'l layout for Spanish characters very comfortably (imagine having to use only left Shift for caps). I would still have to use External Keyboard Helper I guess.

I think I'm in a similar situation as davedigerati. I used a Nexus 10 with a bluetooth keyboard for years previously. It was a very similar experience. At times, I'd get ddoouubbllee keys, but nothing major. Everyone can complain about the Android ecosystem, but I actually enjoy using Android w/ a keyboard (and a mouse!).
...but this keyboard 'feels' better. I'm not talking about the key action or even typing experience. The hinge and magnets makes it feel like a laptop. When I used my Nexus, I'd throw it in the laptop pouch of my backpack. My keyboard would go in the main section. With the Pixel C, it's much more like a laptop.
davedigerati said:
It's worth every penny...
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Click to collapse
While I really like the keyboard, I'm not really sure I'm ready to say it's worth every penny. This thing was expensive! I generally have no use for backlit keyboards; the keys have all been in the same location for years....but since they've messed with some of the keys, it may have been useful. I'd take 1 month of battery life in exchange for backlit keys and some way to know the battery status.
The lack of some character keys is quite annoying. I mean, I guess I'll get used to pressing [...] + [shift] +[o] for a bracket (that took much longer to type than I'd like to admit), but it's not optimal. I'd also really appreciate a delete key or the ability to make [...] + [backspace] = delete.
Considering you can buy a nice, portable BT keyboard for around $30 and you could probably get a nice case for around $30; I'd say the Pixel C keyboard is at least worth $100. I mean, you're getting a solid keyboard that you don't have to worry about charging (ever), a ridiculously awesome magnetic hinge that functions as the best tablet stand I've ever seen, and protection for the tablet itself. It provides a nice, compact method to take both devices with you. Maybe the other $50 is covered by the aesthetics? So conflicted...

Android doesn't display the virtual "touch keyboard" when a hardware keyboard is detected and because of that, what's unique with the Pixel C keyboard is that the OS "knows" when to activate the hardware keyboard and not, depending on its position relatively to the tablet.

kgersen said:
Android doesn't display the virtual "touch keyboard" when a hardware keyboard is detected and because of that, what's unique with the Pixel C keyboard is that the OS "knows" when to activate the hardware keyboard and not, depending on its position relatively to the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean if it's attached or not? Any BT keyboard will do the same when it's connected or disconnected. Android will activate the soft keys when the BT keyboard is no longer connected. For instance, with the Microsoft Foldable keyboard, I fold it, and Android enables the soft keys. I open it, and they get disabled. There is also a toggle to enable soft keys with the BT keyboard connected if you want.

andy o said:
You mean if it's attached or not? Any BT keyboard will do the same when it's connected or disconnected. Android will activate the soft keys when the BT keyboard is no longer connected. For instance, with the Microsoft Foldable keyboard, I fold it, and Android enables the soft keys. I open it, and they get disabled. There is also a toggle to enable soft keys with the BT keyboard connected if you want.
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if you take the tablet and move away from a BT keyboard while staying in BT range the OS doesn't switch to soft keys.
if you move the Pixel kb under it or away from it even a few centimeters the OS switches to soft keys. There is a positioning involved. That's just what I meant.
But I agree it's a minor feature.

Main advantage of this keyboard is the mechanicals - I find it so much nicer to use than my N9 from a holding or desktop position.