Whoa! Is that really a fully functional Super Nintendo controller attached to the Dell Streak through its PDMI port? Why, yes. Yes it is.
Streak user 0TheRain0 modded his SNES controller using a spare Streak connector (which has been sacrified in the name of hacking before) and a Teensy USB Microcontroller board. The Streak recognizes the gamepad as a USB keyboard (it supports OTG, remember?), which is how it's able to navigate standard system menus, and is said to work with all the emulators available in the Market with no additional configuration.
Don't believe it's real? See it in action below. Better yet, check it out in person by doing it yourself (tutorial here – thanks, Jonathan-Streaker).
Thanks, X-Man!
Nice first run, but a man’s gotta have shoulder button access. Would be great with many (most) other emulators due to button count though.
I’d buy this just to play the original NES emulator… He should start selling…
Amazing. I was actually thinking about doing this but ultimately decided to hack a Bluetooth gamepad into an snes controller. I have the Bluetooth gamepad but I’m waiting for my super famicom controller in the mail (Multi color buttons!)
Bonus points for the effort of hacking it. Functionally, a BT controller is probably superior for this.
That being said, the Streak has a HUGE amount of possibilities that is currently being limited to the availability of the PDMI connector.
There has got to be a supplier for them somewhere…
Here is his tutorial:
http://devdot.wikispaces.com/Dell+Streak+USB+Host+and+Game+Controller+Tutorial
- I didn’t realize that the Teensy USB Microcontroller board was an actual product. Pretty cool.
I think I would have made this with a long cable so I could rest the Streak in a stand and play (probably cause I hold my controllers kinda weird).
Great work!
Contrags Jenn and 0TheRain0, this article’s really making the rounds!
Thanks Jenn for posting my project! Yah it seriously made the rounds… gizmodo, engadget, hackaday
Someone mentioned Bluetooth being a superior method of input here. I’d just like to argue otherwise briefly
I have a great mini Wiimote that I can use as a bluetooth controller for the streak. Works just as well as a controller but the problem is, it requires separate batteries. And in my opinion it’s hassle to have to manage batteries for very many devices. Sure I could put a rechargable batter pack in the thing or something, but then I still have to pay mind to it’s charge etc.
But obviously a hack like this was mostly for my own amusement and for the appreciation of other people who like this sort of thing!
Cheers
Collin
Great work Collin! With people like you pushing the boundaries, there is no limit to what the streak can do!
Gotta love Dell for the (unnecessarily) hidden possibilities!
Cheers