Nokia N900 tips & tricks; using a Bluetooth keyboard and external display

What about a mouse? would it be possible?

Can you use the cursor keys to navigate in menus/forms/lists? Like scrolling down the contacts with “arrow down”, open entry with “enter” etc.?

Nice stuff! Are there any screen shots of the TV screen ?, and how is the performance (screen resolution, refresh rate)?

[...] device has been shipping for about a day, and already Matthew Miller has produced an N900 Tips and Tricks post – this one covering using a Bluetooth [...]

just a suggestion (not sure if its a working one) but can you try to use the “longpress” to activate numbers on your BT keyboard? (as you would do now on the N97 v20)

[...] N900, teclado externo Bluetooth e TV grande? Claro que pode! [...]

Sweet. I’ve used my N82 this way before. I love the idea of this because, laptops are still luggage. They don’t fit in your pocket. Yet, I need a real keyboard and screen to compose anything substantial. With 16gb cards, TV out and bluetooth keyboards, who needs a laptop? Great stuff

[...] Via Nokia Experts [...]

Could you actuall extend or mirror the desktop onto the external LCD and use it instead of the n900 LCD? Which resolutions were available and usuable, without too much load on the n900 GPU/CPU?

Thanks for this Matt. Weird how it doesn’t register numbers, though. I’m really tempted by the N900, but there seems to be all these “almost there” kind of experiences.

I noticed no one’s questions are being answered (that I can see)…

First, you have to change /etc/bluetooth/main.conf to remove ‘input’ from disabled devices list. Otherwise, you’ll never have success joining a BT KB. Not intuitive and while people/Nokia is advertising as a tablet that runs in the line of N8*0, it’s more of a half attempt of phone and half attempt at tablet – so far.

I have a Stoaway BT KB. After finally getting it to pair by making the adjustment to main.conf, I learned that it’s almost entirely nonfunctional. You can get letters, but that’s it. No arrows, no numbers, no long press anything.

So, did some research since there is no way to set KB layout like previous versions of Maemo. This issue is common across all BT keyboards and some with a Right Fn key can do certain things (not convenient and most don’t have a Right Fn key). This was entered as a bug (several times) on maemo.org. They’ve all been set as “Resolved” and the comment is (not exactly verbatim, but close): “Bluetooth keyboards are not officially supported by Maemo 5 and it’s not an important feature [goes on a little bit, but that's the beef].”

Coming from the source itself, Maemo (Nokia) has no plans of supporting or fixing this. Enough of us put this in as a bug and make a case, perhaps they will. But, right now, they are direct and vehement about you won’t ever get this.

Very surprising since a lot of us looked at this as a handy step away from carrying both a tablet and phone and making this our next tablet.

Oh, and have fun calling Nokia. I’ve done so 8x in the last couple weeks whether order status or issues with the phone. It’s always an hour of frustrating joy and for some reason seems their arrogance level has jumped with the N900, which is truly nothing to be arrogant about (esp. when everyone asks me “did you get a new camera?

Good comments Hex90. I’ve been using an Apple BT keyboard with my n61 (OK, it’s old but still killer…). The default Nokia BT driver provides nearly full functionality for the keyboard, even in my AZERTY layout. If I can’t continue to do that with the N900, then it might actually be a deal breaker in favor of getting a basic phone and a separate netbook.

Hmm, I wish he would say what version of the SW he’s using. I have the PR1.1 version, but I can’t get my Stowawy BT KB to work. (Yep, it’s the one in the picture above). Like hex90 points out, I even made the mode to /etc/bluetooth/main.conf and rebooted. I can get it to pair and get a BT address, but it won’t work in any form in the Notes app (not even letters). I want this to work so badly it hurts, as this would make the n900 the convergent device that so many of us are looking for. When I need to travel light, I guess I’ll have to take my BT KB and my n810. :-/

Does anyone else have any advice on making this work?

Could you please give me the part number of the keyboard in the picture? I’ve searched “Think Outside BT keyboard” but couldn’t find it out. Thanks a lot.

I too have the same keyboard and done all you have done Kevin with the same lousy results-Pairing with no input, so sick if seeing this damn article when I search. Check maemo.org there are so more involved fixes I may try next.

Hello… I have a Bluetooth Stowaway keyboard and mouse. I also have a Jawbone earpiece. Does anyone know if these accessories are compatible with my Nokia E71x? Any help is appreciated. God Bless, Brian

Dear Brian Masters,

yes its very much compatible; not your Mouse but you can easily connect your bluetooth keyboard with built-in app in your phone.

I have used SU-w8(Nokia) and apple keybaord with E71

And for me again; no support of keyboard with N900 will be a deal breaker.

I am currently using N95 8GB with bluetooth keyboard and was very much interested in N900 to be my next upgrade; i have been user of bluetooth keyboard since it was advertised with Nokia 6630.

I have been using Nokia 6630 with Nokia SU-W8

It worked for hardly 2 or 3 months and got out of order due to some broken wire at point of fold.

Though I have fond of blue tooth keyboads with phone. As I am usually in field and need to type long emails; Make basic presentation.

For me Quick office and keyboard is Must.

The KB is a “Stowaway Sierra BT KB”, part# 102034, model# STBT01. I think the model# is what you need.

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=490777#post490777 has instructions that look very promising, but I’ve yet to try them. Maybe this weekend.

I tried something new and it worked. After I had modified /etc/bluetooth/main.conf (the disabled devices list has only network in it now), the KB still wouldn’t work. It finally occurred to me to delete the device and re-pair it. When I did that, the KB started to work! Now I’m like the others in that the letters, punct, and arrows work, but the numbers don’t work. Still, this is a great start. I’ll try the xkb thing and see if that fixes the rest.

does any know how to send a multi media device using bluetooth as it dont seem to work on my nokia n900 but is working when i want to send a image

I’m tired of typing letters on the palm and I feel very much bluetooth laser virtual keyboard

Very Good keyboard … Is it using battery ? and Dimesion ?

Nokia N900 is the best of phone. I like it very much. many accessories for life style . Your keyboard (in picture) . Have you information ?

Thank you …..

I am an iPhone user come iPhone developer , I was eagerly waiting for Nokia to come with something new, I have seen this N900 demo in march 2009 Bangalore in “Unlock the *” conference now I bought it and it is amazing, now nokia has shown it’s power this is not comparable with iPhone since both r on different track but both are ultimate, I have connected my N900 to TV and connected Apple wireless keyboard and work on terminal.

That’s great work by NOKIA.

One needs to appreciate it.

[...] Nokia N900 tips & tricks; using a Bluetooth keyboard and external display [...]