N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

Hi there, i'am thinking of purchasing a N900 after all the amazing things i've seen so far running on the N900.

Nevertheless there is still one Question in mind, i would like to ask you.

Did anyone here, ever try to run a smart-card reader under Maemo e.g N900?
And would it be possible to use this smart-card reader with the N900 :
http://www.costcentral.com/proddetai...3500/10948283/
Furthermore the size is simply amazing and ultra-portable for a Smart-Card Reader.

I would like to use it for simple read/write/backup processes i used to do with blank-smartcards...
Like this:
http://www.donsense-card.com/Contact...Smart-Card.jpg



I would be amazed if anyone here would have tested this any time before :)

Thank you in anticipation, and excuse my bad English.


Regards, Eric C.

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

When I first read, I thought about a card reader, yeees SD card reader... but lol that's not what I thought !
so no I did not try, but I think that the correct question is "is there any driver for the smart card reader to work ?" and then, you'll have to write an app to use such a device ...

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

Have taken a look at the provided link. They claim the SCR to work under Linux. At least in theory it should be possible to compile the needed module (driver) for the Powerkernel, if the source is provided by the manufacturer. Then IMHO you need H-E-N to connect it to the N900. Last but not least: how will you access the device? With a special app I guess?

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

In theory any device such as this should automount the folders so they are usable with file manager, this is how Wizard Mounter works.

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

There is one application right now, called magread or something like that, that does what you're asking for - reads the magnetic strip of cards. I THINK "SmartCard" is a marketing or slang term somewhere that not all english speakers would be familiar with. But I presume you're talking about all plastic cards that have magnetic strips on the back of them.

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

my bad for not clicking the link... I was of course talking about SD/MMC etc card readers...

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

Smart card is a card with embedded microprocessor, it is programmable, has data storage, and can perform functions. Not a magstripe.

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

Iam talking about "Cards" like this one here...

http://www.donsense-card.com/Contact...Smart-Card.jpg

Didnt know "smart-card" wasnt the official word for the card-type i meant.


Cheers.

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

Oh, the little chips. I was reading up on the magstrip readers just now to come back and edit my post, and I realized the chip technology is much more common in Europe now. (I live in America... we're a bit backward in regard to some technology here... my bank cards don't habe them on them. My university card actually DID, but now we got new versions last year... that don't. *Facepalm*)

Yeah, I don't believe we have a program for it. But if it's open source and on Linux, it should be compileable for the N900. Throw in hostmode and a USB adapter and you're good to go. Hopefully.

Re: N900 + Smartcard-Reader... Anyone?
 

No, I'm pretty sure you're right. At least, I've never heard them be referred to by anything other than "smartcard". (other than sometimes as "chip cards" - usually in relation to bank or credit cards). There are also contactless smartcards that do not have the visible contacts.

I think people have mixed up smart cards with "SmartMedia" cards in their minds. The latter is an older flash memory card technology (similar in use-case to Secure Digital cards).

I am curious though, to know what you have used smart cards for in the past? My laptop has an integrated smart card slot in it, but I haven't really found a use for it. I believe that most enterprise users would use it for security authentication purposes (e.g. you must have the smartcard inserted to log onto the network, etc).