Kotaku: chatpad

PSP Gets Unofficial Xbox Keyboard Mod

Stuart Houghton — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:20:00 MDT

We know that Sony are working on an official keyboard add-on for the PSP but that won't be here until mid 2009. Why wait that long when there is a perfectly good Xbox Chatpad just sitting on the table over there...

..NO! Heresy! Microsoft and Sony were never meant to be combined in this way! That is right up there with co-habiting dogs & cats, that is.

A depraved hardware modder over at AcidMods has taken an Xbox 360 Chatpad and performed unholy rituals upon it to make it work with the PSP. There was probably solder involved. Solder and goat's blood.

PSP Phat and Slim Open Keyboard in action!!!!! [AcidMods via PocketGamer]

Xbox 360 Chatpad Ripped Apart, Left for Dead

Mark Wilson — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:40:03 MDT

For somewhere around .09% of the populace, the first thing to do with any new gadget is to tear it apart and see what makes it tick. One ambitious consumer/modder did just that with the new Xbox 360 Chatpad (see our impressions here). Here's a list of things he learned about the device:

- 7 connections to controller
- Simple to open
- Plastic was molded in July of 07

And most interestingly, the "brains" Microchip PIC16F883 is easily accessible and looks "fun to hack."

Xbox 360 Chatpad Disassembly [via make]

Xbox 360 Chatpad Tires Out My Mitts

Mark Wilson — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:20:07 MDT

The new Xbox 360 Chatpad is pretty great. Despite most LIVE users being more inclined to voice chat than text message online, I can appreciate the solid construction of Microsoft's new peripheral. At first glance, the Chatpad looks like it will never fit on the controller, but the unit snaps on snugly. And you quickly find that its well-spaced keys are comfortable and prevent spillover button presses. Going from playing to typing requires a simple shift of balance—there has clearly been a ton of thought put behind the device's practical ergonomics.

But it really tires out the hands.

Holding the Chatpadized controller is a bulkier matter, but it's not uncomfortable. So when I found my fingers slow to respond on the thumbsticks after about an hour of play, I thought it was just me. Then I remembered my recent time in Germany, or more specifically, the countless gallons of steins that I've been lifting over the past 2 weeks. If anything, my hands should have increased their strength as of late...possibly to levels bordering on superheroic.

Realizing the Chatpad must be to blame, I popped it off. And yes, gaming was easy again.

If one were to keep playing with the Chatpad, I expect their hands would make the proper adjustments. And some may even look at the Chatpad as a training device—like adding weight to a runner's legs, or a second hot dog in the bun of a competitive eater.

But for now, I'm removing the Chatpad until I need to enter long strings of text information. Because like most gamers, my body needs to be in a perpetual top condition for my level of play.

Xbox 360 Chatpad in the House

Brian Crecente — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:59:01 MDT

I haven't had a chance to really playtest it yet, but the new Chatpad for the Xbox 360 feels like it won't really get in the way while you're gaming. And texting with the thing will be a breeze for anyone who is used to thumbtyping. I'm a big fan of this device so far, I'll let you know how I feel after a few hours of intense gaming.