My Dell Mini Forum

rock99rock · 06:36 PM

This is the Official Guide to adding an Accelerometer to any Windows-based PC.

YouTube- Dell Mini 9 Touchscreen w/ motion detection (accelerometer)

Requirements:
iRotate(free) - EnTech Taiwan | Utilities | iRotate
Xpadder(free) - Xpadder 5.3 - FREE Download Xpadder - Xpadder simulates keypresses and mouse movements using a gamepad - soft82.com
ActionXL wired motion controller ($20) - ActionXL - Products Page

iRotate enables you to use a key-combination to rotate your screen, in this case CTRL+ALT+DIRECTIONAL ARROW is the combination in play here. Xpadder enables you to map keys to controller buttons from a gamepad. The idea is to have Xpadder sense a change in orientation, and program it to press the correct key-combination used in iRotate, in order to rotate the screen accordingly.

Guide:

1) Plug motion controller into the Mini, and let windows install the default drivers for it. Worked perfect in Windows 7.
2) Install and configure Xpadder. (Windows 7 users must run the installer in compatibility mode for Vista, ask if you do not understand). Click the Xbox360 Controller icon on the left, and clcik "New" to configure the hardware. As seen below, click the "Sticks" tab, check the "Enabled" box for Stick 1, choose "Axis Y" for the up/down arrows, choose "Axis X" for the left/right arrows, click the "Finish" tab, then click the "Close" button.

You should now see the virtual buttons on the main interface of Xpadder. Click the tiny wrench icon just below the right button, then click "Settings".

In settings, on the right column choose "4-Way Standard", then raise the DeadZone up past 50% as seen below, then close the window.

How you configure each button is entirely dependent on how you orient the sensor. For example, I will configure the top button below. Click the top button, and up comes a virtual keyboard. I used my mouse to click CTRL ALT and the UP ARROW. When you click the UP ARROW, it will close the virtual keyboard. Your button is now mapped.

Click the up button on the virtual controller to once again bring up the virtual keyboard, then click "Advanced Settings". The motion controller is HIGHLY SENSITIVE. XPadder recognizes ANY movement (even if still within the same button area), as another button push. To combat this, I used the pause feature built into Xpadder. The pause delays further button presses only within the original area, and thusly prevents your screen from flickering out of control. Highlight the box AFTER the UP ARROW in the sequence as seen below. Choose 10 minutes from the drop down on the bottom left, then click "Add Pause". You can then close the window.

Now save everything! 1 saves the configuration, 2 saves the profile, and 3 opens the "Xpadder Settings" page. After you have saved, open the settings page.

In here, you can opt to have the software start with windows, with it being auto minimized. Made sense to me

It should start up with the last profile loaded. Done with Xpadder!

3)Install iRotate.

4)Enjoy!

Mentions:
http://gizmodo.com/5399727/dell-mini...windows-tablet
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/10/d...een-tablet-vi/
http://www.liliputing.com/2009/11/de...let-video.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Del...hack,9024.html
http://consumerelectronicsnewz.com/?p=29960
http://www.alltouchtablet.com/touchs...r-devices-447/
http://www.raminteractive.com/?p=26
http://www.coolbeta.com/dell-mini-9-...screen-tablet/
http://www.fun2chill.com/dell/dell-m...let-video.html
http://www.techzone24.com/index.php/...-tablet-video/
http://gadgetmix.com/index/mod-putti...th-tablet-mod/
http://netbookindia.net/news/acceler...r-dell-mini-9/
http://portal.lacaterinca.com/dell-m...-tablet-hacks/
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/new...windows_tablet
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives...lerometer.html
http://asuseeehacks.blogspot.com/200...-w-motion.html
http://www.augustinefou.com/2009/11/...k-creates.html
http://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/11...accelerometer/
http://laptoppimp.com/laptop-diy/lap...accelerometer/
http://dailydiy.com/category/dell-mini-9/
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Newsent...f4f02e7.0.html
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2009/11...i-9-tablet-mod
http://www.pcblue.com/dell-mini-9-gets-accelerometer/
http://onespot.wsj.com/gadgets/2009/...nsformed-into/
http://delldaily.com/dell-mini-9-hac...accelerometer/

pakkei · 11-05-2009, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rock99rock

Ok, so I had to back out of using snowleopard with the tablet, the OS was just not finger friendly.

I'll post later with details as to how you can do this mod for under $20

For now, enjoy this 2 minute video showing the Mini in action.

(Mods, if you could enable youtube embedding, that'd be sweet

)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAchgY9t2gw

Awesome. I had always wondered how to integrate that, and using a game controller is pretty clever. Great job!

nevon · 11-05-2009, 05:29 AM

That is excellent. I can't wait for the tutorial! I'm ordering my touch overlay today. Right now I've got a rough tablet, but no way to interact with it except my bluetooth mouse, and that's no fun

nevon · 11-05-2009, 03:46 PM

I didn't realize this was done with a gamepad! That was the idea I had, I was going to hook up a wii remote board inside the mini, but it's a bit big and has extra pieces I don't need. Plus I would have to wire the batteries up to USB power with resisters and it would operate over bluetooth. I'd love to know what type of gamepad you used.

I want to wire the gamepad buttons to the face of the tablet too, for arrow key scrolling and maybe some emulator action.

rock99rock · 11-05-2009, 10:27 PM

Updated with the guide, feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Rob928 · 06:38 AM

I'm so excited to try this! The method I was looking at involved soldering and pic programming. The accelerometer chip itself cost more than the game controller!

Thanks so much for this!

BTW-If l had to do it over again, I would have kept my hinges like you did. Then I wouldn't need a separate stand and I think it would have easier to keep cool.

AaronASB · 11-08-2009, 08:58 AM

Rocker post some HQ pictures of the internal modding that was done with a tutorial PLEASEEE!?

I would love to replicate your mods. Are you an engineer by trade?

rock99rock · 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob928

I'm so excited to try this! The method I was looking at involved soldering and pic programming. The accelerometer chip itself cost more than the game controller!

Thanks so much for this!

BTW-If l had to do it over again, I would have kept my hinges like you did. Then I wouldn't need a separate stand and I think it would have easier to keep cool.

Hah! I cut my original hinges, I had to order these separately, as the previous method was scrapped.

---------- Post added at 06:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:19 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronASB

Rocker post some HQ pictures of the internal modding that was done with a tutorial PLEASEEE!?

I would love to replicate your mods. Are you an engineer by trade?

I took some electrical engineering courses that contributed to a degree geared towards broadcast television. ALOT of what I have done was done by others before I documented it, with exception to the motion controller mod. There really isn't much to tutor, the pictures speak much for themselves.

In this first pic, you can see that I reversed the LCD. The LCD wire had to be re-routed through the right hinge as opposed to the left. You can also see that the resistive wire from the touchscreen is routed through the left hinge, as opposed to the right hinge, which it was actually designed for... more on that later

Below you can see the severe wire packaging under where the power button resides:

Here are the 2 extra usb wires that connect to the touchscreen controller. They are routed under the mobo, then out this bottom left corner:

Here is the webcam connector cable, unused at the moment. It was routed underneath the mobo as well, but comes out from the bottom right instead:

Here is the hard drive compartment. Where is the controller/hub you ask?

In reference to the "more on that later" mentioned earlier... There was not enough cable to meet the required length if mounted from the usual WWAN location to the opposite hinge the cable was designed for. (CRAP

) I had to get inventive.

This picture below might blow your mind, just a little bit. What you are seeing below, is the actual inside of the base of the Mini 9, with the mobo removed. The controller is basically mounted underneath the Dell product sticker on the bottom of the Mini. This, is as about as tight a fit as you might find inside.

Notice the placement of the backup battery below, this was necessary to have enough room for everything to fit. I hope that padded tape on the controller lasts a while!

This was certainly not easy, and definitely required some wire-routing skills.

nevon · 11-09-2009, 06:35 PM

That's beautiful! I can't wait until I get my touchscreen. Also, congrats on getting on Gizmodo.

Thorsteenster · 11-09-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rock99rock

This was certainly not easy, and definitely required some wire-routing skills.

Wow, nice install, very impressive. Even the typical/guided install took me a while to make sure of the wire placement.
Wish I had seen this before doing mine, I would have given it a go.