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diff --git a/src/SW/tf101/document.en.rest.txt b/src/SW/tf101/document.en.rest.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f426e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/SW/tf101/document.en.rest.txt @@ -0,0 +1,103 @@ +======================== +Asus "Transformer" TF101 +======================== +:CreationDate: 2011-07-15 17:54:21 +:Id: SW/tf101 +:tags: - software + - hardware + - keyboard + +Some time ago I bought an `Asus TF101`_, together with its keyboard +dock. It's a nice gadget: recent Android, updated often, fast, good +screen, and the keyboard (which includes an additional battery) allows +to use it like a laptop (mostly). + +Of course, I had to modify it my way :) + +The operating system +==================== + +I installed the alternative image `PRIME`_, that looks to me to be +well supported, and has minimal changes w.r.t. the stock Asus one. It +obviously provides ``root`` access. + +The keyboard +============ + +It could not be one of my computers without a `Dvorak +keyboard`_. Searching the 'net it's easy to discover that the files +that describe the physical keyboard layout are +``/system/usr/keychars/asusec.kcm`` and +``/system/usr/keylayout/asusec.kl``. The format of these files is +quite easy to understand, although I still have some questions. Sadly, +not having the source code for Android 3, we are left to guess. `My +changes`_ are simple enough. + +.. note:: + + Mine is a UK model. It's possible that TF101 sold outside the UK + have different keyboards; I'm pretty sure that the US one has one + fewer key. Don't use my modifications without checking first! + +Since the keys are of different sizes / shapes, I couldn't just move +the keycaps around. So, I wrote a `LaTeX file to print key labels`_, I +printed it on adhesive labels (Avery L7165, 8 on an A4 sheet), I +painted the sheet with transparent spray, I cut the key labels, and +attached them on the keys. It works. (The "esc" key is below the +"back" key, on the left of "1"). + +ConnectBot and the physical keyboard +------------------------------------ + +Most Android applications have no problems with the physical keyboard, +ma some get confused by complicated keys like "control" or +"escape". In particular, `ConnectBot`_ completely ignores them. Since +in a terminal emulator such keys are *very* useful, I looked around +for a version that supported them. I found a couple of them on GitHub, +but they were a bit behind w.r.t. to the main ConnectBot development, +so I forked `"my own" version`_. If you want, you can `get it from +GitHub`_. + +.. note:: + + There's very little of mine: I took two branches other people had + written, merged them, and updated the project files. If it works, + it's thanks to the original authors; if it breaks, it's my fault. + +The battery +=========== + +The internal battery in the tablet lasts several hours of continuous +use; with the light use I make of it, I only have to charge it every +couple of days. + +There was, though, a rather strange problem: the battery inside the +dock was not charging. This became particularly obvious with the +latest version of `PRIME`_, which includes a charge indicator for both +batteries. On the 'net you can find quite a few threads about charging +problems, but I was very intrigued when reading a `tear-down`_: +there's a battery disconnection switch! + +I opened the dock, flipped the switch, closed everything up again, and +now the battery charges perfectly. No, I don't know if they sold it to +me that way, or if it magically flipped itself. + +The cable is short +------------------ + +The cable that Asus sells in the box, to connect the power supply to +the tablet, is very short. A normal USB extension does not seem to +work: you need a USB 3.0 extension, because some the 5 additional +wires is used to carry the higher voltage needed to charge the +battery. + +.. _`Asus TF101`: http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101/ +.. _`PRIME`: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052380 +.. _`Dvorak keyboard`: /SW/my-layout/ +.. _`My changes`: http://www.thenautilus.net/cgit/tf101-dvorak-keyboard/commit/?h=dvorak&id=67bbe0db664ff57a0cb0a770f8b92fda9c50a152 +.. _`LaTeX file do print key labels`: http://www.thenautilus.net/cgit/tf101-dvorak-keyboard/tree/tasti-tf101.tex?h=keycaps +.. _`ConnectBot`: http://connectbot.org/ +.. _`"my own" version`: https://github.com/dakkar/connectbot +.. _`get it from GitHub`: https://github.com/downloads/dakkar/connectbot/Connectbot.apk +.. _`tear-down`: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1120114&page=2 + |