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
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, thirdly there is anyremote, 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
- Install package 'bluez-utils' using your favourite package manager. Edit file /etc/default/bluez-utils.
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' bluetoothsudo hcitool scan
and you'll get a MAC address and identifier00:11:22:AA:BB:CC MyPhonesName
copy the MAC address and do the followingsudo 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 terminalsudo 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"
- 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
Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy)
- Follow the instructions from Feisty and Gutsy. There seems to be some problems with the
sudo hidd --server
command because it commonly tosses out this error message.
Can't listen on HID control channel: Address already in use
We are looking into that! At this point you will have to
sudo hidd --connect 00:11:22:AA:BB:CC
use that command continuously to connect. Also you could try these steps, copied from BluetoothInputDevices
1. Go to System > Preferences > Bluetooth or right-click on the Bluetooth applet and choose Preferences.
- Under "Mode of operation" choose "Visible and connectable for other devices"
Change to the Services tab, there will be a list of Available services. On that list, click once on Input service.
- Put your input device in "pair" or "connect" mode. This is usually done with a physical button on or under the device.
In the Input Devices section, click "Add". A new window will appear with the input devices visible (in this example, a mouse).
Mouse: Click on the mouse to choose it and click "Connect". A confirmation message will appear and the device should be connected.
Keyboard: Click on the keyboard to choose it and click "Connect". It will prompt you to enter a password. Enter any password in the dialog, e.g. "1234", and then enter the exact same password on the keyboard, followed by Enter, and the device should be connected.
There is no need to modify any configuration files manually when using Ubuntu 7.10 or Ubuntu 8.04.
- 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.
Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex)
hidd is by default missing in 8.10 (see Bug Report). By now it can be installed through the compatibility package:
apt-get install bluez-compat
You may have to remove a bluetooth plugin to get the hidd server to function. I quote from http://www.adamish.com/blog/
Back to the problems with HID. My phone simply won't connect, I just get messages (on the phone saying) Bluetooth connection failed. Check Bluetooth settings on other decice. Bluetooth on. Device visible. Device in range.
It seems the new bluetooth system has a HID daemon built-in. This is in the form of an 'input' plugin. I have found by deleting this file, and running the legacy hidd program supplied in bluez-compat that I'm able to use my phone
# remove input plugin (it won't work with my phone) rm /usr/lib/bluetooth/plugins/input.so # Restart the bluetooth daemon /etc/init.d/bluetooth stop /etc/init.d/bluetooth start # Load the legacy HID daemon (hidd) hidd --server # Now I can connect my mobile phone !! echo "Happy days"
Everything else seems to be as described for 8.04.
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
K660i, K750i (Not tested with other phones)
Refit Gustaroska (gustaroska at gmail dot com)
Number button as channel number, star(*) for window mode or fullscreen, hash(#) for mute and unmute sound, volume side key for controling sound volume
Totem
K660i, SE K700i, K750i, W610i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)
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, W580i, W810i (Not tested with Other phones)
-- V7 2007-02-08 23:15:36
You may have to modify the configuration file if you have changed Amarok's Global Shortcuts.
MPlayer
SE K700i, K750i, W810i (Not tested with other phones)
Szasz Pal (space at spacesoftwarestudio dot com)
XMMS
SE K750i (Not tested with other phones)
Szasz Pal (space at spacesoftwarestudio dot com)
Rhythmbox
K660i, SE K700i, K750i, W610i, W710i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)
frandavid100 (frandavid100 at gmail dot com)
Banshee
SE K700i, K750i (Not tested with other phones)
adam (dot) lofts (at) gmail (dot) com
Volume control does not work since Banshee lacks the keybindings
Banshee
SE z770i (Not tested with other phones)
tthorb (at) gmail (dot) com
I changed the Gnome shortcut to CTRL-ALT-Z/X to get Volume control to work since Banshee lacks the keybindings
Elisa
SE K700i, K750i, W610i, W710i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)
frandavid100 (frandavid100 at gmail dot com)
Ubuntu
K660i, SE K700i, K750i, W580i, W610i, W710i, W880i (Not tested with other phones)
frandavid100 (frandavid100 at gmail dot com)
This works extremely well and is meant for use with the ubuntu desktop! I was even able to control volume with no additional setup!
XBMC
K550i (Not tested with other phones)
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.