Xbox 360 Chatpad Disassembly
LEDs in the Xbox 360 Chatpad(Click for more Xbox 360 Chatpad disassembly photos (photo gallery retired)…)
While out at lunch today we swung by Best Buy where I was both was hassled by loss prevention†and where I acquired an Xbox 360 Messenger Kit. This small keyboard which snaps on to the bottom of the Xbox 360 controller (wired or wireless) is a pretty nice accessory and makes typing messages and filling out forms on the 360 far easier than using the on-screen keyboard.
After looking at it for a bit, I realized that the Chatpad has four data lines, leading me to wonder if it is really a USB device and if the controller contains a USB hub. So, what did I do when I got home? I tore apart my brand new Xbox 360 Chatpad (photo gallery retired).
All of the photos can be seen here (photo gallery retired), but the most notable ones are the ones which show its PIC16F883 microcontroller, the individual key LEDs for specialized keys, and plastic peg / inverted dome key design.
† When leaving the Loss Prevention asshat demanded to see our receipts, and after questioning him briefly as to why he needed to see it, I took it out just to be nice, when he grabbed it from my hand, thoroughly checked it over compared to what I was carrying, then explained to me how it’s something he “has” to do, and that he “doesn’t check all receipts”. When asked if he picks who to check, he answered affirmatively, and when I asked why I was singled out for a subjective check he just walked away.
I’m still not quite sure how to deal with it from here, but what I should have done was simply not show the receipt and walk out the door. I’m not sure why I didn’t… Probably because I was talking with my coworkers who were standing there as well, and I couldn’t have just walked out to my car.
I partially feel like an ass for not doing what is right, and partially for having to deal with a jackass LP tool at Best Buy.
You’re not legally required to submit to a search on exit, but apparently some asshat cops will still take the store’s side in this kind of argument despite that.
Yeah. I read that the other day. :( In retrospect I really should have just said “no thanks” and walked out, but my normal courtesy and talking with the two coworkers who were happily showing their receipts stepped on that, I guess.
I’m still trying to sort out if I’m going to take it up with BBY’s corporate headquarters, but I don’t think it’ll matter much.
Also, I took my x0xb0x to the bay area AH gathering yesterday, and several people remarked about how great your panel overlay was.
Aww, thanks. :) Honestly, I’m really happy with them… I wish there was a way (besides ordering 100 at a time, or finding one place to print them and another to die cut them) to get them to people more cheaply. Maverick Label will do 100 piece quantities for around $10/each, but I can’t guarantee they will sell.
I even asked Limor about it sometime last year, but she wasn’t interested in offering them. Ah well. At least we’ve got some. :)
the easiest solution would be to stop shopping at best buy. I’m living, breathing proof one can not go there and still live life to the fullest. :)
Normally it’s not an issue going there… And a coworker was driving, the item I wanted would be the same price there as elsewhere, and I had no good reason (at the time) to avoid the place. :\
the fates conspired to let you test out the anti-retail rubberglove theory.
hate that place. hate meijer too.. what a circus. 40 minutes wandering the store in search of an item, 20 minutes standing in a line waiting for the person with the abacus and quipo to ring me out.
Usually if I go there I walk out with receipt in hand or something similar & they pay no attention to me. Kinda like taking my boots off at the airport because I already know the hassle is coming:)
Many big box electronic places are doing this now. & some places won’t allow returns without the final door guy marking the receipt(Guitar Center)
Yeah, I normally don’t have a problem, but in this case… bah. What bothers me is that stores have no right to search individuals. If I am being accused of theft, the police should be called. Full stop. If not, I should not be hassled unnecessarily.
What is this “Loss Prevention” rubbish anyway? Stuff isn’t “lost”, it’s “stolen”, and usually by people who won’t politely submit to being searched.
You’ve reminded me that I need to get a small, cheap USB keyboard for my xbox 360.
Clearly you haven’t studied newspeak. ;)
Just get the chatpad… It works really well.
Re: the keypad, instead of the loss prevention door monitor (we have those mostly at Fry’s here, I’m usually polite if there’s no line, but if there’s a line queue’d up to the guy, I just walk past it)
Anyway…
If you’re just looking for a USB thumb keyboard, instead of looking for hacking fun (which is good too), then there was a thumb keyboard designed for the Playstation 2 controller, that sort of latches on … but I read that it’s just a usb keyboard usable like any other usb keyboard. It’s from DreamGear:
http://www.dreamgear.net/view-product.asp?idpr=437
Oh, thanks. That’s interesting… I saw some of those at the store, but I didn’t really pick them up to look.
This LP guy actually came up to us while we were standinging in the vestibule / airlock (there are double sets of doors here because of the summer heat / winter cold) talking.