I've just bought a mini bluetooth keyboard off the internet. It's supposedly compatible with Android devices. I MUD (Multi User Dungeon, I call it the grandfather of MMOs) and seeing the possibility to MUD on the go without an entire computer, I was enticed to buy it.
Just a brief description:
It's a 49 key small keyboard, not the full QWERTY design but it's working well enough.
I bought it off Qoo10, though you can find it on places like Amazon as well.
***WARNING***
This item will not be easy to set up for the non tech savvy.
But for the rest who are frustrated, here's how I got it working.
Summary
1) Pair up keyboard
2) Connect keyboard
3) To reuse after turning off
Steps
1) Pair up keyboard
-Go into Android, Settings, Wireless & Networks, Turn on Bluetooth, Bluetooth Settings.
-Turn on keyboard, it will glow blue (top right) for about 2 seconds.
-Click the button next to the blue LED, it should start flashing, this is the pairing mode.
-On phone, you should get "Bluetooth Keyboard, Pair with this device", click it.
***IMPORTANT STEP***
-When it asks for a PIN code, enter 0000, click 'OK' (on phone) and then on the keyboard, press 0000 and then the enter key. This will pair it up.
If you take too long and the keyboard stops flashing, press and hold the pairing button until it flashes again.
***Step 1 done***
2) Connect keyboard
-You will need an app called BlueKeyboard JP by Elbrain. Download it off the Play Store.
-Start up the program, you should end up in the Language & Keyboard Settings. You can get here again by going from Android, Settings, Language & Keyboard Settings.
-Check BlueKeyboard JP, read through warning and click 'OK' if you're acceptable with it.
-Click BlueKeyboard JP to edit the settings or you can click the BlueKeyboard JP program from the app list.
-You will arrive at 'BlueKeyboard Settings'.
-Click 'Selected keyboard' and select the only option, which should be 'Bluetooth keyboard'.
-Make sure 'Connecting process' is checked.
-Go to any text input app, for example, SMS.
-Long press on the text input, choose 'Input Method' and select 'BlueKeyboard JP'
-Type something on the bluetooth keyboard, there should be a message prompt on the screen saying something similar to 'Connecting to keyboard, change keyboard state to pairing mode'. Press and hold the pairing button on the mini bluetooth keyboard.
-There should be a notification on top that says 'Connected. Bluetooth keyboard etc'.
***Congratulations, your mini bluetooth keyboard is usable now!***
3) To reuse after turning off
-To go back to normal usage, turn off keyboard and long press on text input and select back 'International keyboard' or whichever keyboard you were using.
-To go back to using the mini bluetooth keyboard again, turn on keyboard. Long press text input and change to to BlueKeyboard JP. It will show a 'Connecting' notification. Press and hold the pairing button on keyboard.
-Once it shows 'Connected', you're back to typing!
***If this post has helped you, you can help me in return. Click on one of the Google Ads on the side :) ***
