Physical keyboard for galaxy note 4

[ryu1]

I always enjoyed typing on a hardware keyboard. Unfortunately phones with physical keyboards are no longer produced (except blackberry).
The phone i used until now was nokia n900, but its battery died, so i decided to move on. I wanted a device like htc tytn 2 or htc touch pro 2 but with today specifications. I found none.
So i got a samsung galaxy note 4 and decided to add a hardware keyboard to it. I know that for galaxy s4 there are some bluetooth keyboard cases, but they does not allow full control of the interface. I wanted something with a mousepad.
For that i found the Rii mini bluetooth keyboard. It is about the same size as the note 4.
With two ringke slim cases, i build a slide mechanism that can also tilt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f68Yjjv8QEw

Here are a few photos of the note 4 next to older devices

You can see how i build it here: http://simpledevices.blogspot.ro/

 

[alfredtv]

nice mod!
I haven't seen a psion in forever!
Did you consider those similar keyboards that connect via bluetooth or is the USB host for something else?

 

[ryu1]

The usb host is for connecting any usb device. I make a small host adapter which i keep in a free space in the keyboard case:

 

[bogdan_wrc]

nice one. where did you buy the keyboard from, in Romania?

 

[ryu1]

i bought it from olx.ro, but i also found on robofun.ro

 

[burntrat]

I have a very similar keyboard. How would I go about connecting the keyboard with the phone? I am not trying to make a slider phone, but just want to use the keyboard wirelessly with the phone. Thanks.

 

[kabuk1]

That is freaking awesome. I have that same little keyboard, I may have to set aside some time to make one of these for myself.

 

[ryu1]

I have a very similar keyboard. How would I go about connecting the keyboard with the phone? I am not trying to make a slider phone, but just want to use the keyboard wirelessly with the phone. Thanks.

well, there are several model of this keyboard available. some of them are using wifi, some bluetooth. If your keyboard is using bluetooth, simple activate bluetooth on the phone, turn on the keyboard, on the phone search for bluetooth devices, you should find the keyboard, select it, it may ask you to introduce a code, insert it, and you are done.
If your keyboard is using wifi, you'll need to use a usb host adapter to plug the wifi adapter that came with the keyboard to the phone usb. I didn't use such a keyboard before, so not sure what you have to do after that.

 

[ryu1]

That is freaking awesome. I have that same little keyboard, I may have to set aside some time to make one of these for myself.

if you have access to a 3d printer, you can make it look alot better, however the slide mechanism should be made from metal, becase the note 4 is not very light.
I would really like to see something similar, so if you can find some time to do it, please post the pictures
Maybe you have better ideas about the slide and tilt mechanism.

Best regards,

Liviu

 

[burntrat]

well, there are several model of this keyboard available. some of them are using wifi, some bluetooth. If your keyboard is using bluetooth, simple activate bluetooth on the phone, turn on the keyboard, on the phone search for bluetooth devices, you should find the keyboard, select it, it may ask you to introduce a code, insert it, and you are done.
If your keyboard is using wifi, you'll need to use a usb host adapter to plug the wifi adapter that came with the keyboard to the phone usb. I didn't use such a keyboard before, so not sure what you have to do after that.

My keyboard has an usb dongle I have to plug in somewhere. I wasn't sure how it connected until much later after looking at your pics much more closely. I ordered an otg cable, hopefully it works out. Thanks man, and that is a sick mod.

 

[kabuk1]

if you have access to a 3d printer, you can make it look alot better, however the slide mechanism should be made from metal, becase the note 4 is not very light.
I would really like to see something similar, so if you can find some time to do it, please post the pictures
Maybe you have better ideas about the slide and tilt mechanism.

Best regards,

Liviu

I wouldn't have the first clue where to find a 3D printer, unfortunately. That's a good idea though.

I have a couple of cases that would work well for this and I think they'd look nice with a leather covering, so we'll see what I can come up with. I'll definitely post pics when/if I do this

 

[ryu1]

I wouldn't have the first clue where to find a 3D printer, unfortunately. That's a good idea though.

I have a couple of cases that would work well for this and I think they'd look nice with a leather covering, so we'll see what I can come up with. I'll definitely post pics when/if I do this

i may have acces to a 3d printer soon, and hopefully i can make it look better.
Looking forward to see your case, especially the slide mechanism, will you do the same as i did, or you have better ideas?

 

[kabuk1]

i may have acces to a 3d printer soon, and hopefully i can make it look better.
Looking forward to see your case, especially the slide mechanism, will you do the same as i did, or you have better ideas?

I have to see what I can rummage up for the mechanism, I may have to make a trip to Fry's or something. I'll probably keep it similar to your design cause I like the slide & tilt thing. I'm out of state visiting my mom all week so I have lots of time to brainstorm :good:

 

[ryu1]

I have to see what I can rummage up for the mechanism, I may have to make a trip to Fry's or something. I'll probably keep it similar to your design cause I like the slide & tilt thing. I'm out of state visiting my mom all week so I have lots of time to brainstorm :good:

Sounds great! I have some ideas that can remove those bulges from the first case:

The idea is to use some screws to fix the case to slide and cut the metal bends that holds the first case:

Flipping those two small holders will give you a space in the middle for the screws, allowing you to slide easily:

I'm not sure if i have time this weekend to do this on my case, but you can try it out.

 

[Br00talBean]

if someone makes this for me I swear I'll buy it or if someone could give me a link to some official ones I would love you forever lol. I need this in my life

 

[ryu1]

if someone makes this for me I swear I'll buy it or if someone could give me a link to some official ones I would love you forever lol. I need this in my life

I'm afraid you won't find this anywhere to buy, you'll have to build it yourself.

 

[Br00talBean]

yeah unfortunately I realized that after looking online for like 3 days straight lmao. literally impossible to find. I don't know why this isn't a thing I think it's absolutely amazing. brings me back to the G1 and Moto XT & all that.

 

[NamelessFragger]

I've searched all over for Note 4 keyboard cases and didn't find any like with my old S3, sadly, but then you went and made one! Looks nice!

I just wish that keyboard had backlighting, since I use my phone in dark rooms fairly often. But since it's a DIY effort anyway, I might as well base it off one of those old S3 cases that did have the backlighting and the classic HTC slide action with tilt.

 

[ryu1]

I've searched all over for Note 4 keyboard cases and didn't find any like with my old S3, sadly, but then you went and made one! Looks nice!

I just wish that keyboard had backlighting, since I use my phone in dark rooms fairly often. But since it's a DIY effort anyway, I might as well base it off one of those old S3 cases that did have the backlighting and the classic HTC slide action with tilt.

The keyboard has backlight. To turn it on, i press fn + f1 keys.

 

[rayanaaz]

wow :good: