Revision 39 as of 2008-07-13 03:12:49

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Introduction

  • This page is created to provide configuration files for Sony Ericsson (and any other) phones that support remote control over bluetooth using HID. Other mobile phones can try the bemused project .

Devices

  • Following Sony Ericsson provide this functionality.
    D750, K320, K510, K530, K550, K600, K610, K660i, K700, K750, K790, K800, K810, K850, S500, S700, T650, V800, W300, W550, W580, W600, W610, W660, W700, W710, W800, W810, W830, W850, W880, W900, W910, Z520, Z525, Z530, Z550, Z558, Z610, Z710, Z750, Z800

    (i) Please refer to your handset's manual for usage instructions.

Solutions

There several possibilities to get remote controller functionality under Linux. First of all there is the the Linux port of the bemused server and its clients, secondly there is the remoteJ project, and of course there is the possibility to use the better documented remote controller of your own phone. This page is primarily about this third alternative.

Installation and Configuration

  • Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake)

    • Install package 'bluez-utils' using your favourite package manager. Edit file /etc/default/bluez-utils.
        sudo cp /etc/default/bluez-utils /etc/default/bluez-utils_backup
        sudo nano /etc/default/bluez-utils
      Look for the following line:
        HIDD_ENABLED=0
      Change it to:
        HIDD_ENABLED=1

Certain phones require the following options line:

  •   # -D (nosdp) special hack for 700i and similar phones
      # -Z (nocheck) also needed in the setup procedure
      HIDD_OPTIONS="--master --server -D -Z"
    Restart bluetooth services:
      sudo /etc/init.d/bluez-utils restart
    One this is done your PC is set to use HID services. Now you need to transfer remote control (.hid) files to your phone. Install package 'gnome-bluetooth' using your favourite package manager. Send .hid file to your phone (replace btaddr with appropriate value for your phone):
      gnome-obex-send -d btaddr /path/to/<filename>.hid
    The phone firmware detects this file as remote control file and automatically sets it up. Depending on the phone the profile is now accessible along with default profiles.
  • Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty) 7.10(Gutsy)

    • Right, this is deadly simple. It allows your mobile to take control of the mouse and provide some keyboard functionality as well. first install bluez-utils, there may be some dependancies
         sudo apt-get install bluez-utils
      next lets find your phone via ol' bluetooth
         sudo hcitool scan
      and you'll get a MAC address and identifier
         00:11:22:AA:BB:CC  MyPhonesName
      copy the MAC address and do the following
         sudo hidd --connect 00:11:22:AA:BB:CC
      but with your phone's MAC address, this should bring a mesage up on your phone "allow *** to access remote control?", click yes and select 'Desktop'. woohoo you can control the mouse (as well as tab and windows key and a few other things depending on you model of sony ericsson) it sucks a bit if you have to do this everytime you want to use ur mobile, and so....back to the terminal
         sudo hidd --server

      and now you can connect your phone from your phones remote control menu option ( usually entertainment>>remote control )

      Note: If hidd --server does not work for you, you can try adding your phones's MAC address in /etc/default/bluetooth or /etc/default/bluez-utils file in HIDD_OPTIONS like HIDD_OPTIONS="--connect 00:11:22:AA:BB:CC --master --server"

  • Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy)

    • Follow the instructions from Feisty and Gutsy.
    • Send .hid file to your phone (gnome-obex-send is deprecated):
        bluetooth-sendto

See this forum post for more information on Bluetooth HID remote control in Ubuntu Feisty.

Configuration files

  • The bluetooth remote control configuration file for Sony Ericsson is a tar archive with extension as .hid
    The tar file contains two files
    a) an image containing visual representation of key mappings.
    b) A XML descriptor with extension .kcf that defines key mappings.
    The format of XML descriptor is defined at Sony Ericsson developer site
    The key codes for HID are defined at USB website

Example configurations

  • By default there are some configurations provided with the phones. Some work with Linux while others do not.
    Following table lists the remote control configuration files specifically made for Linux applications.

  • Bluetooth Remote Configuration Files

    Application

    Phone

    File

    Created By

    Notes

    Totem

    K660i, SE K700i, K750i, W610i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)

    Totem1.hid

    frandavid100 (frandavid100 at gmail dot com)

    I have tried to map as much commands in Totem as possible to phone keys (ex. DVD Menu, Fullscreen). Please let know if you have any comments or suggestions

    amaroK

    K660i, SE K750i, W810i (Not tested with Other phones)

    Amarok.hid

    -- V7 2007-02-08 23:15:36

    MPlayer

    SE K700i, K750i, W810i (Not tested with other phones)

    MPlayer.hid

    Szasz Pal (space at spacesoftwarestudio dot com)

    XMMS

    SE K750i (Not tested with other phones)

    XMMS.hid

    Szasz Pal (space at spacesoftwarestudio dot com)

    Rhythmbox

    K660i, SE K700i, K750i, W610i, W710i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)

    Rhythmbox1.hid

    frandavid100 (frandavid100 at gmail dot com)

    Banshee

    SE K700i, K750i (Not tested with other phones)

    Banshee.hid

    adam (dot) lofts (at) gmail (dot) com

    Volume control does not work since Banshee lacks the keybindings

    Elisa

    SE K700i, K750i, W610i, W710i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)

    Elisa.hid

    frandavid100 (frandavid100 at gmail dot com)

    Ubuntu

    K660i, SE K700i, K750i, W610i, W710i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)

    Ubuntu.hid

    frandavid100 (frandavid100 at gmail dot com)

    XBMC

    K550i (Not tested with other phones)

    XBMC.hid

    Peter Gyongyosi (gyp (at) impulzus (dot) com)

    Some functions could not be bound to default XBMC keyboard bindings so some changes were needed for volume and context menu, see the keyboard section of Keymap.xml for an example

    OpenOffice Impress

    K750i (Not tested with other phones)

    Download here.

    Stani (spe.stani.be on gmail)

    This is a meta package with HID files for OpenOffice Impress, VLC, Amarok, Kaffeine and KDE Desktop. The OpenOffice Impress works fine. I've tested the VLC player but not all keys did work as expected. (Note from Carey O'Shea: The VLC keys should be fine -- the only thing I think that is stopping them working properly all the time is a WxWidgets bug, see here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/vlc/+bug/2772 (ie. disable the "Embed video in interface" option under WxWidgets in VLC options under Interfaces and restart VLC, your video should be in a different window to the VLC controls, but at least your keyboard shortcuts should work properly from then on -- works for me.)

Misc

  • Keymap image templates can be found here: Template176x220 Template222x296 so that it is easy to create visual representation for key mappings.
    Please note that this template was made according to SE K700i screen resolution and may not fit for other phones.


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