Saturday 3 March 2012

Time for plan C?

Plan B was to run the tablet in client mode, using the Android Accessory API. As it turns out, that API is also not supported by Ainol. There is a /dev/usb_accessory, which might imply that kernel support is present. But library support isn't, when I upload some test code, I get I get requires unavailable shared library com.android.future.usb.accessory. 


It also turns out that using one of the USB host shields with the Jeenode wouldn't be ideal. The reason is that the shields communicate with the host using SPI. There is a hardware SPI bus on the Jeenode, but it's already used by the radio module, and sharing is tricky. It's possible to implement SPI on some of the general purpose pins in software, but I'd rather not go that route.

So, time to rethink. What's plan C? Replace the tablet? My chances would be slightly better with an ARM based device, but it's difficult to know what APIs are implemented without testing. As it is, the Ainol Paladin is pretty awful for this purpose.


2 comments:

  1. Found your blog while searching for an ICS tablet with ftdi support. I'm actually working on very similar project, but it's only working on a WM 8650 tablet right now. theultimatelightswitch.com

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  2. Thanks Rob,

    not much luck with the Paladin that's for sure. As a MIPS based system, if something is not supported, looks like you're entirely out of luck currently.

    Your project looks very interesting, you're quite a bit further than I am.

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