Keyboard Debate
From Openmoko
m (→How to "turn off" Qtopia keyboard ?: typo on /etc/X11/Xsession.d/89qtopia) |
m (→How to "turn off" Qtopia keyboard ?) |
||
| Line 59: | Line 59: | ||
By default, if illume keyboard is installed, it will compete with the qtopia one with non-predictable results on which one is displayed on top (correct me if I'm wrong). | By default, if illume keyboard is installed, it will compete with the qtopia one with non-predictable results on which one is displayed on top (correct me if I'm wrong). | ||
| − | According to [http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/ticket/1864 | + | According to [http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/ticket/1864 Comment on ticket 1864]: You can put "export QTOPIA_NO_VIRTUAL_KEYBOARD=1" into /etc/X11/Xsession.d/89qtopia and qpe will not instantiate a virtual keyboard and illume's keyboard should be shown. |
Another option involves [http://n2.nabble.com/preserving-illume-keyboard-on-update-tp778734p778919.html patching and recompiling qpe]. | Another option involves [http://n2.nabble.com/preserving-illume-keyboard-on-update-tp778734p778919.html patching and recompiling qpe]. | ||
Revision as of 12:48, 28 August 2008
| NOTE: This is an emotionally laden topic. Please stick to facts and Neutral Point of View. |
| NOTE: This is work in progress. Please help by linking to appropriate messages and wiki pages. |
Summary of the problem
Om 2008.8 uses Qtopia for its phone stack. Qtopia has a build-in keyboard primarily designed to compose SMS in English. This keyboard is very impractical to use with a terminal or enter an URL.
More details..., list of all keyboard bugs in the defect tracking system.
List of available keyboards
Qtopia keyboard
The Qtopia keyboard build-in Om 2008.8. See also the [documentation at Trolltech]
Matchbox keyboard
The matchbox keyboard.
Illume keyboard
The illume virtual keyboard a.k.a. Raster's keyboard.
Probably looking like this
See also Illume#Virtual_Keyboard (which would need to be completed ;)
Vkbd system
The vkbd system.
How to use the Qtopia keyboard shipped with Om 2008.8 ?
See How to use the Qtopia keyboard.
How to have a toggle button to make the keyboard appear/disappear ?
How to change the keyboards layout ?
TBD
How to change the dictionary used by the predictive keyboards ?
TBD
How to toggle the predictive mode on and off ?
TBD
How to "turn off" Qtopia keyboard ?
By default, if illume keyboard is installed, it will compete with the qtopia one with non-predictable results on which one is displayed on top (correct me if I'm wrong).
According to Comment on ticket 1864: You can put "export QTOPIA_NO_VIRTUAL_KEYBOARD=1" into /etc/X11/Xsession.d/89qtopia and qpe will not instantiate a virtual keyboard and illume's keyboard should be shown.
Another option involves patching and recompiling qpe.
How to make Qtopia keyboards and illume/raster keyboard coexist ?
TBD
Your short-term options
- Live with it, let go (for a while) the desire to use the terminal locally, login remotely via ssh when you need.
- Get an external keyboard, USB or Bluetooth, light and foldable if you want.
- Switch to 2007.2 (but then similar issues arise : Switching Keyboards on Om 2007.2), FSO or Debian.
- Recompile Qtopia and provide a package.
PS: Complaining that management does not listen to the users needs is not a productive option.
Perspectives for long-term resolution
On August 27th 2008, Marek from Openmoko inc. announced the intention to focus on the low-level layers. Future "base system" distribution may not include any phone stack at all.
