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btstack - issue #36

Keyboard/Mouse: better support for remote desktop app


Posted on May 19, 2010 by Massive Giraffe

Jump desktop is a remote desktop app for ipad. This app has great support for bluetooth keyboard which enables the users to use short cut such as copy-paste and select-all. It also support arrow keys. I tried these keyboard functions with ipad built-in bluetooth keyboard connection. It worked great. The problem is that when using built-in bt keyboard connection, I can't use bt mouse.

I bought the btstack keyboard and hope with this app and bt keyboard and mouse ipad will become a great terminal. However, it seems that the btstack keyboard only works as the basic keyboard so there is no arrow keys and shortcut such as copy-paste when using jump desktop with btstack keyboard. Is it possible that btstack keyboard working the same as ipad built-int bt connection such that all keyboard function of jump desktop can work properly?

Thanks

Comment #1

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Massive Giraffe

I just make my microsoft mouse and bt keyboard to work on ipad at the same time. It works well on "jump desktop" generally. However, there are 2 things may be improved in the future: 1. As I mentioned, jump desktop support some useful shortcuts in official bt connection to bt keyboard. These shortcuts are critical to do serious jobs such as coding using remote desktop on ipad. Because the ipad bt mouse doesn't support right click, the shortcut becomes more important on computer. Ex. I Now have to use gesture to achieve copy-paste function. In my case, upward arrow key doesn't work in remote desktop. As a result, it will be great if the btstack keyboard can support shortcuts, arrow keys and function keys which is similar to the official bt keyboard connection.

  1. The 1/4 right side of the lcd doesn't respond to my mouse click.

Thanks!

Comment #2

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Swift Ox

Hi. Can you be more precise and list what's working with Apple's BT but not in BTstack keyboard? Do the cursor keys gets forwarded to the remote desktop? Cool. I'll try to fix that.

The mouse pointer does not click in the area next to the HOME button. We're looking into it but don't have a clue at them moment why it doesn't work.

Comment #3

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Massive Giraffe

I tried several remote desktop app on my ipad with btstack mouse and keyboard at the same time: 1) iteleport 2) real vnc 3) logmein 4) jump desktop

Jump desktop has the best compatibility with btstack. Both mouse and keyboard can work properly. Except jump desktop, I can't even move the mouse cursor with bt mouse in other apps. Another good thing of jump desktop is that the right click of mouse can be achieved by holding the left key. Another best feature of jump desktop is the shortcuts and cursor keys supporting with Apple's BT. The BTstack can't support any shortcuts (The shortcuts list of jump desktop will be attached at the bottom). Part of the cursor keys gets forwarded to the remote desktop (left, right, down works but up fails).

Shortcuts list: Command+x: Cut Command+c: Copy Command+v: Paste Command+a: Select All

Arrow keys: Sent as is. Shift+Arrow keys: Sent as is.

Tab: Tab Shift+Tab: Shift+Tab

Ctrl + Left arrow: Home Ctrl + Right arrow: End

Ctrl + Up: PgUp Ctrl + Down: PgDown

Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow: Previous Window Shift + Ctrl + Right arrow: Next Window

Alt + Left: Ctrl + Left (word skipping on windows) Alt + Right: Ctrl + Right (word skipping on windows)

The Alt key by itself will not work. To access Alt key combination- you have do execute the entire combination. I.e. Alt+F. We support almost all Alt combinations (Alt + F, Alt + S etc). The only exception is the following letters: E, U, I and N.

Function keys are not supported as yet but we're planning to add this in 2.1. The iPad actually does not notify the application when you press the function keys so we will need to 'hack' our way around this. One idea we had was to make the user press a key sequence that Jump will recognize and then have the user press one of the numeric keys - Jump will the send the corresponding Function key presses.

Comment #4

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Swift Ox

(No comment was entered for this change.)

Comment #5

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Massive Giraffe

Thanks for update! But, I have update to the latest btstack and nothing about keyboard improved in "jump desktop". That is, the keys that don't work before still don't work. Could you provide more specific information about what is "better support for remote desktop app" in this version?

Thank you.

Comment #6

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Swift Ox

hi. no there is no improvement in that area. Where did I say that? BTstack description: http://apt.thebigboss.org/onepackage.php?bundleid=ch.ringwald.btstack&db=

stay tuned.

Comment #7

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Grumpy Panda

I just wanted to add my support for this topic... JUMP Desktop seems to be the best Remote Desktop app out there right now, it's works very well!

Unfortunately, the BTMouse doesn't always play nice... it's capable of controlling SOME applications (web browsers - NO mouse wheel scrolling)... but doesn't work very well at all with other business software (Photoshop - right-click is integral).

It makes me furious that Apple chose to omit MOUSE SUPPORT and ARROW KEYS from the iPad... as another suggestion, I hope someone creates a "software" keyboard replacement... I really enjoy writing on the iPad (App: Office2 HD), but the software keyboard desperately needs arrows keys for cursor navigation.

Rock on guys...

Comment #8

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Swift Ox

(No comment was entered for this change.)

Comment #9

Posted on Jun 4, 2010 by Swift Ox

I've send mail/filled out support forms for: * Jump Desktop * iTeleport * Mocha VNC * Real VNC * CloudBrowse * LogMeIn

Let's see if I get some responses

Comment #10

Posted on Jun 4, 2010 by Swift Ox

Issue 33 has been merged into this issue.

Comment #11

Posted on Jul 1, 2010 by Helpful Panda

Hi Matthias, any update on adding extended/enhanced keyboard support to btstack?

Comment #12

Posted on Jul 3, 2010 by Swift Ox

@bolesjb yep. a bit. I got a beta versions of Jump Desktop and CloudBrowser, sketched some idea, but was busy otherwise. I got side-tracked by the idea of implementing a client for Synergy, which is like remote desktop just into the other direction. Will release that this weekend. ... stay tuned ...

Comment #13

Posted on Jul 3, 2010 by Massive Giraffe

Just update my jump desktop of ipad. It's from good to great. Now it supports more key combination for apple wireless keyboard with apple BT. If apple BT can be used with BTmouse, jump desktop will become perfect remote terminal. The keys supported with the BTstack keyboard is too limitted. It is really sad that we can't use apple BT and BTstack at the same time. At current stage, I will have to choose to use wireless keyboard with apple BT and give up the BTstack mouse....

Comment #14

Posted on Jul 30, 2010 by Happy Camel

How to use classic controller with wiimote support I'm confused here can someone help isnes 1.1 use classic controller support

Comment #15

Posted on Aug 1, 2010 by Swift Ox

@kombat that's certainly the wrong place for your question. iSNES is probably by zodTTD. You have to write him for classic controller support.

Comment #16

Posted on Sep 28, 2011 by Massive Rabbit

Hi, I am using Teamviewer, but the mouse does not work. Any support on this?

Thanks,

Comment #17

Posted on Mar 1, 2012 by Helpful Panda

+1 I would love to have right-click ability with BTMouse. If this is fixed, i can throw my laptop away.. Can get all my work done by RDPing to my VM at office. Plus this will push up ipad sales too.. One of the reasons i bought ipad.. So that i can use it for both fun and work :)

Comment #18

Posted on Nov 2, 2012 by Swift Ox

hi. The new BTC Mouse & Trackpad has special support for Jump Desktop. The mouse directly controls the remote mouse, so it pans automatically and you can right click.

Sadly, this requires individual per RDP app hacks to support. If you like, please vote for support of your favorite RDP app in the Idea Zone of btstack.uservoice.com.

Comment #19

Posted on Nov 2, 2012 by Massive Giraffe

I tried the jump desktop and btstack keyboard and mouse recently. It works great now. Thanks!

Comment #20

Posted on Jan 8, 2013 by Swift Ox

I'll close this one although support for remote desktop apps can always improved. For Jump Desktop uses, and all others, please check out BTC Mouse & Trackpad. It has explicit support for Jump Desktop and integrates the mouse fully with the iOS Bluetooth stack.

Status: Done

Labels:
Type-Enhancement Priority-Medium