[maemo-developers] N900 usb host + power charge

[From: David Greaves]

quim.gil at nokia.com wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>> > > I plan to create a proposal for the push n900[1] and I plan to use
> the
>> > > usb port. I have the following question.
>> > > When the device is in usb-host mode it should of course provide
> power does
>> > > it? Is it possible to charge the device while it's in usb-host mode?
> 
> The N900 comes without USB host mode. When I asked I was told that the
> limitation comes at hardware level.
> 
> The reason for this decision was the complexity of providing support for
> charging, PC connectivity and USB OTG efficiently through the same Micro
> USB port within the project deadlines. We needed to make choices and the
> decision was to sacrify USB OTG and concentrate on the essential use
> cases of charging and connecting to the PC, bringing the N900 to the
> market in its due time.

Sigh :(

I realised today that PUSH needed a way for software people to get at it easily.

So I spent the entire day packaging an I/O library and porting it to Maemo so
there was a python app that could do:
  ReadDigitalChannel(1)
or
  WriteAllDigital(17)
to do the I/O


This afternoon I created a garage project and then wrote an article:
  http://mer-l-in.blogspot.com/2009/09/want-to-push-need-kickstart.html

Never mind...

Hmm, can I get dispensation to enter PUSH using a $100 SmartQ ?

Maybe I could run ssh from the N900 and have the N900 drive a Maemo powered
SmartQ... proxy host mode...

David

-- 
"Don't worry, you'll be fine; I saw it work in a cartoon once..."