VNC as a way to use PDA as secondary screen...

[NEUR0M4NCER]

This has got to be possible. In fact, I spoke to a chap on irc #ubuntuforums who showed me a screenshot of it working, but so long ago that he couldn't remember how he did it - and i've since lost the pic to a fresh install - one of the ones where you're so mad at the computer that you scream "f*** you!!!" at the screen and gParted the life out of it without thinking about all the little snippets of great info you're losing.


GOAL:

To have my filthy old iPAQ connected via serial (yeah, that's where I hit the problems) - and in it's lovely stand-up cradle, to my desktop, and show a stand-alone screen with media controls - maybe a custom Rhythmbox skin or similar - and have the touch screen working without stealing the mouse cursor (or even focus if possible) from the main desktop.

How hard can it be? :D

And if any uber-dudes out there needed any more urging, well...

<whispers> windows can do it...



Hope someone can help - I need to restore my partner's faith in Ubuntu after I spent two weeks getting Youtube to work with AMD64 Flash and deleting her Sims2 guys on the XP partition... :twisted: - she's loving Compiz Cube Sphere, but I think it'll take more than that to stop her proclaiming: "My laptop's better than your computer because it has Vista!" :roll:.

Regards

[NEUR0M4NCER]

... bump. Someone must have an idea.

[wdaniels]

To have my filthy old iPAQ connected via serial (yeah, that's where I hit the problems)

Couldn't you install Linux on the iPAQ and use usbnet to connect the two? It would give you a lot more options to do something nice that way.

[NEUR0M4NCER]

Thanks for your reply.

I had a look at usbnet (http://www.linux-usb.org/usbnet/), but to be honest, it looks... more complex than I was hoping for... Besides - the PDA doesn't have USB (it's OLD) - although if there is a 'simpler' way of using usbnet, then i'm sure I could fork out 10 or 12 quid for a slightly less old PDA with USB...

[Quantumstate]

I have plans for doing just about this with a media server that records TV (MythTV), and a hoped-for wireless remote control maybe running VNC.

I doubt any version of Winduhs Mobile can run VNC reliably (assuming there is a VNC for WM), so I suggest trying Opie (http://opie.handhelds.org). It's been a while since I tried it, but when I did it was superb.

[jure1873]

I'm sure there is a vnc viewer for PDAs, cause I've installed it on a friend's PDA... I don't remember the brand, it was somethind like qtek.
Is is possible to create a ppp connection over serial? If it is maybe it's possible to get it working. A second xorg should be started that accepts vnc connections from your pda so it doesn't interfere with you mouse cursor.
I'm just thinking out loud...


http://www.cs.utah.edu/~midgley/wince/vnc.html

[NEUR0M4NCER]

I have plans for doing just about this with a media server that records TV (MythTV), and a hoped-for wireless remote control maybe running VNC.

I doubt any version of Winduhs Mobile can run VNC reliably (assuming there is a VNC for WM), so I suggest trying Opie (http://opie.handhelds.org). It's been a while since I tried it, but when I did it was superb.

Have a look at Innobec SideWindow (http://www.innobec.com/index.php?page=sidewindow) - it's absolutely beautiful, runs on Windows Mobile & XP/2k etc. Imagine (in the WinWorld at least) a maximised Winamp on the second screen... Awesome - except you have to pay for it :(.

That's pretty much what I want, but for Linux (amd64), and if poss' seperate pointer confined to the seperate screen, so to use it as a control device more effectively, rather than a simple secondary screen.

On the Opie front, I gave it a whirl on my XDA Pro a few months ago. Very nice - SLOW - but nice. I reckon OpenMoko might be a better bet (when the FreeRunner's finally out and the OS is stable). At the moment, OpenMoko DOES run, but has a lot of bugs that are simply way beyond my level of expertise (i.e. none whatsoever).

[NEUR0M4NCER]

For those who don't click the link above...

http://www.innobec.com/uploads/InnoColorful/sw_pocketpc.gif

This is what SideWindow looks like (from the Innobec Site). Nice, huh?

[NEUR0M4NCER]

bump

[staghni]

Hi, I am not the only who tries to use my old PDA as a second monitor!! :KS
Sorry for my bad english.
Actually I tried to install Innobec Sidewindow with WINE but had no luck!
I use this software under windows it's great! :cry:.
In windows it creates a second virtual monitor that u can use as an extended desktop. If I go through properties of this second monitor I find the Innobec drivers.
Then there is the innobec service server window where you can change parameters of the visualization on PDA monitor (pixel visualization , deep of color... and it show the port used by this server)
Actually I am quite knew to linux so no ideas on how to use these info.
I hope these would be useful for someone else.
A screen capture : On the right side is the 2 monitor and the PDA monitor shows the top left part of it!
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6610/sidewindowvn3.th.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sidewindowvn3.jpg)
Waiting for good news.. :popcorn::)