New Scroll User (but seasoned Linux Hacker) from Essex

[mhoust42]

Been thinking about trying Android for some time.

The Scroll at £129.99 in Maplins was tempting enough to take the plunge.

The only problem so far is that it seems reticent to identify itself to the Android Market - so how does one get the Google Maps as mentioned in the manual?

I mainly want it so I can have a play at Android software development. The provision of host USB is interesting. Wondering if I can get it to work with stuff like bluetooth and GSM dongles?

A little kludgey perhaps but it means I can share USB gadgets from my bigger PCs.

Got a very nice little bluetooth unit for the £1 shop!

If that worked then the Scroll has videophone capability.

[Detection]

Hey, welcome to the forum -

The issue with the market is an on-going problem for most of us, minus a select lucky few with certain firmwares

If you manage to get the market to accept the scroll, don't hesitate to let us all know how

So far I have seen flash drives working through the USB Host port, but not much, if anything else but keyboards, and a weird thing that happens with a mouse

[Diego]

..minus a select lucky few with certain firmwares

*cough*

[mojo]

i installed ADW.launcher for an iphone like theme, that got the market working for me...

if you have any luck with the bluetooth, i'd donate some drink money lol

[mhoust42]

I got a really cool little bluetooth dongle in the 99p shop Just came blister packed with no ref to any drivers.

It just worked under Ubuntu - only issue with it is that it tends to eat battery power.

But hey ho - just plug it in if you want to combine the Scroll with a bluetooth headset to make a nice Skype etc phone.

Its nice that the Scroll will charge from a host over USB as well as having to carry the mains adapter. That means all I need to take with me to keep it topped up is a USB cable.

The Windows PCs at work have USB locked down for security but they still supply 5v power

So as long as the battery lasts a train rise that's all that is needed.

Can also take advantage of things that supply power in USB form such as solar or windup based chargers.

[Steveee-B]

Where ya from mhoust42?
I'm probably down the road from ya, I live in sunny Witham. Ha, ha.....

[mhoust42]

Chelmsford.

I just spent another £30 on the nice leatherette case with USB keyboard Maplins have for sale. It brings the spend up to the pre-discounted price but the other way to look at it is I now have a case to keep the Scroll safe. The keyboard will keep the screen cleaner too.

A friend pointed out that the size is now up to the same as my Netbook - not a problem the Scroll is still much lighter.

I have just done my first 'Hello World' Android program using Eclipse and the Android SDK - was not too painful.

Another thing that impressed me is that he Scroll accepted the 8g micro SD card from my N95.

Pictures in the Gallery and Music in the player - cool! Not something the iPAD can easily do