host usb and mass storage devices

[tiny turnip]

I've read a lot of threads here showing interest in these topics, and to my mind, their incorporation into a ppc would take the devices to another level of functionality - laptop replacement for many users.

I am investigating using an xda2i with backpack, and using the Twinparadox Solar Express host usb CF card. (http://www.twin-paradox.com/products.html)

I know that wm2003 does not support mass storage devices, and my best bet is to use the DeJe MSD driver for wm2003 (http://www.deje.gmxhome.de/index.html)

Where it gets interesting is that I recently emailed Twin Paradox, and although their website has been pretty inactive, I got a response by email with an intended release date of July 2005. This would be a different device from that shown on the web site, however. It would be a single host usb port on a CF card, usb 1.0 under wm 2003 but, under wm2005, it will be USB 2.0

so my question: Does anyone have any knowledge/ideas/hunches as to whether wm2005 will support MSDs?

cheers

tinyT

[jaderaven]

Out of curiosity, what backpack expansion pack are you using? I am wondering what expansion packs are compatible with the Blue Angel. I read somewhere here that http://www.directmobileaccessories.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=930 this one is compatible with the BA even though it says xda II

[tiny turnip]

Not bought it yet - trying to make sure that everything will play nicely with each other before spending loads of dosh. But I believe that there is just one model of backpack, which works for both the 2 and the 2i (Himalaya and Andes) I don't believe there is a backpack which will work with the Blue Angel (2s)
Certainly, I'm planning on using the Xda IIi Backpack - AHTXDAVN (for £89.99)
listed here
http://www.my-xda.com/xda2i_other.html se

cheers

tinyT

[tiny turnip]

I know that wm2003 does not support mass storage devices

:oops:

Er, oh yes it does - I should have looked at my own link properly!

http://www.twin-paradox.com/classdrivers.html

[Rudegar]

2003 does support usb mass storage cntrl

my gf's acer pda's sync cable have an extra female usb connector works just fine if i connect external usb disks or keyrings to it
but
but xda series dont
unless you can get it to work using a backpack and CF usb card
sounds like inviting a world of incompatilbity though imho

[tiny turnip]

unless you can get it to work using a backpack and CF usb card

Yep, that's the idea.

From the twin paradox site, and through email, I'm pretty confident of getting the host usb up and running, when (and its a big when) they release the second generation card. (the website is woefully out of date, btw.) As far as I know, the first generation 2port card as shown on the website never saw the light of day.

Here's the information they give on the drivers supported by wm2003. I don't know if the SE goes any further?

The following USB Class drivers are now included in Windows Mobile 2003.

USB HID Class
USB HID class driver
usbhid.dll
Windows CE.NET 4.2
(Supports)

USB Printer Class
USB Printer class driver
usbprn.dll
Windows CE.NET 4.2
(Supports)

USB Storage Class
USB Mass Storage class driver
usbmsc.dll
Windows CE.NET 4.2
(Supports)

Note: USB Hub support is part of the Windows CE.NET 4.2 operating system core.

WINDOWS MOBILE 2003 USB CLASS DRIVERS
USB HID (Human Interface Devices) Class – has robust support in the Windows CE.NET 4.2 O.S. This class driver supports a range of keyboards and mice from such companies as Logitech and Microsoft.
USB Printer Class – There is some level of support for printing within Windows CE.NET 4.2. SolarExpress PDA supports Printer Class devices, where an appropriate USB printer driver exists for the Windows Mobile 2003 environment. There are some printer drivers available under Windows CE.NET 4.2.

The figure below shows how Windows CE.NET 4.2 supports a USB Printer device.
http://www.twin-paradox.com/images/usbdiagram.jpg

USB Mass Storage Class – Windows CE.NET 4.2 supports FAT file format devices. USB Flash Hard drives and USB Hard drives support this type of file format. This class driver will support the majority of USB mass storage peripheral devices in the marketplace today. SolarExpress PDA currently supports only this type of file format.

Some specific examples of USB peripherals supported by SolarExpress PDA are:

Canon's USB BJC-85 printer
http://www.usa.canon.com/html/index1.jsp
Iogear's USB Hub
www.iogear.com
Iomega's USB bus powered Zip 100 drive
http://www.iomega.com/na/products/product_family.jsp
Maxtor's USB external hard drive
http://www.maxtor.com/en/products/external/onetouch/index.htm
Memory Experts' USB Flash Hard drives
www.clipdrive.com
Microsoft's USB Hub\Keyboard combo and Mouse
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/default.mspx
Olympus D-510 Zoom
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_digital_dseries.asp
The above list is not all inclusive as to the number of USB peripherals devices that SolarExpress PDA supports. It is merely to show that SolarExpress PDA supports the Windows Mobile 2003 USB class drivers.

USB DIGITAL STILL CAMERAS
USB Digital Still Cameras come in several types of protocols.

The two commonly used types are:

Mass Storage compliant – These are the Digital Still Camera protocols that are supported by SolarExpress PDA. (Olympus D- 500 Zoom series)
Still Image Class – This class uses Picture Transport Protocol (PTP) on top of Mass Storage to exchange data. PTP is similar to mass storage, but there are differences. SolarExpress does not support these types of Digital Still Cameras.
(Cannon Power Shot S400)

I'm painfully aware of the potential for incompatibility, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I bite the bullet and spend money! I hope if I can get a definitive list of the wm2003 drivers I can ask precise compatibility questions to the peripherals manufacturers (msds, keyboards et al.)

If anyone can direct me to a more definitive list of usb drivers under wm2003/ 2003se, I'd be grateful.

cheers

TT