[meklort]

Well, I've been working on the touchpad and here is a kext with a semi (barely) usable new feature. I'll be updating this post more or less whenever I have a kext that adds somethign interesting.

Please post any ideas / feature requests that you have for the driver. If I like them, I may just code that feature.

To install the kext, please first reset the mouse slider in the preference pane to the center. After you do that, follow the instructions here: http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/77452-post697.html


Feature Requests (prioritiezed)

• (DONE) Two finger scroll (if possible)
• (DONE) Decreased tap sensitivity: This will be configurable
• (IN PROGRESS) Secondary click via two finger tap
• Disable trackpad when keyboard is in use

ApplePS2Touchpad.kext
Changes
- Updated scaling algorithm
- Updated Acceleration Table
- Fixed Dragging, Draglock
- Fixed tap to click (not perfect, but it's better).
- Reduced jumpiness of mouse by adding a settle time when the trackpad changes more (from scrolling to movement for example). The dealy is not added when going from nothing to movement, so it shouldn't add a lag.
- Scrolling Sensitivity slider controls two finger threshold.
- takes into account the resolution of the trackpad and scales properly.
- Enabled horizontal scrolling.
- Most movement issues fixed
- Selectable scroll and movement speeds.
- Helper app now initializes kext when the user logs in.
- Prefrence pane now communicates with the kext to set conifiguration settings
- Defaults to clicking off and scrolling off
- Enables absolute mode

Known Bugs
- Secondary tapping (two finger tapping) doesnt work very well.
- Horizontal scroll speed it probably too fast.

Probably Never going to work (well)
- True two or three finger gestures (The hardware does not support it, however it can be emulated).


Uploaded Files
kext 18: NLots of changes. look at the post on page 65 gor more info.
Preference Pane: Controls kext18+. Will not work on pre kext13 (really, kext12 and below will ignore it).

Old Kexts
I'll keep and archive of kexts, starting with number 14, here: http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/863180/kexts.html.

[popophobia]

How about making it less sensitive? I always accidentally tap when I type.

Also, can I turn the touchpad off when a mouse is present? The setting in the pref panel does not seem to work.

[knuu]

Originally Posted by popophobia

How about making it less sensitive? I always accidentally tap when I type.

I agree; this is an annoying issue. The option under System Prefs to ignore accidental trackpad presses does not seem to work very well (or at all).

Is this something that can be dealt with by a touchpad driver?

[NoBugsOnMe]

Would it be possible to add something similar to the two finger scroll? This is the feature I miss the most. :cry:

What about scrolling by tapping the pad twice and this activates the scrolling mode. You tap, release, tap again, and this time you can scroll with your finger. That would be cool! 8-) I don't like the "scrolling at the right side" that much, it takes away precious space.

I know, this is not as awesome as the two finger scroll, but better than none at all... What do you think?

[meklort]

Originally Posted by knuu

I agree; this is an annoying issue. The option under System Prefs to ignore accidental trackpad presses does not seem to work very well (or at all).

Is this something that can be dealt with by a touchpad driver?

I can definitely make it less sensitive, although I never have that problem (I always have taping disabled).
I'll also have the absolute mode portion of the driver so that it should ignores (some) accidental input. I'm not sure how to get the setting from system preferences at the moment, I'll have to look into it.

I'll look into disabling the trackpad when a mouse is inserted, however it wont be too high on my list.

Double tapping to scroll is possible and I may look into adding that. (it'll would work in both relative mode and absolute mode if anyone is wondering).
I don't think the touchpad supports multiple finger detection, so two finger scrolling isn't possible (well it is by reading the pressure, but they it probably wont work well). I'll look into using the pressure and see if its usable for two finger scrolling.

[NoBugsOnMe]

I just had one more idea for a substitute: Right mouse button + finger = scoll. Hmm...

[benb1]

hi!

thanks for all your hard work on all that is Dell Mac Mini 9

quick question -- I noticed with XP on the Dell mini 9 that it would allow 1 finger scroll if you ran your finger up-down along the right end of the trackpad (and horizontal scroll if your finger ran left-right along the bottom of the trackpad). If the trackpad hardware allows this (and excuse my ignorance), why is it so difficult to do this for our dell mac mini's?

I would love 2 finger scroll (like on my MBP) but i'd be content with 1 finger scroll as it is on XP on the mini 9.

Thanks!

[meklort]

Originally Posted by benb1

hi!

thanks for all your hard work on all that is Dell Mac Mini 9

quick question -- I noticed with XP on the Dell mini 9 that it would allow 1 finger scroll if you ran your finger up-down along the right end of the trackpad (and horizontal scroll if your finger ran left-right along the bottom of the trackpad). If the trackpad hardware allows this (and excuse my ignorance), why is it so difficult to do this for our dell mac mini's?

I would love 2 finger scroll (like on my MBP) but i'd be content with 1 finger scroll as it is on XP on the mini 9.

Thanks!

That's actually what I have been working on (and almost have it working, maybe a day or so).

Random information:
The driver that mac os x includes for the touchpad really doesn't do anything. All it does is identified that the trackpad is a synaptic, verifies it is versions 4.0 or greater, and then enables streaming mode.
The mouse driver does this automatically by itself. If you really wanted to, you could delete the touchpad driver and you couldn't notice much / any different functionality (other than possibly tap to click).
The new driver will enable the more advanced features of the driver, specifically absolute mode (and if supported W mode). By using absolute mode, we can determine where the finger is as well as if it's moving. Because we know where it is, we can do side scrolling as well as things like hot corners.

[benb1]

thanks for the reply and taking the time to explain that. I really wish I could code like you, to contribute. Again, thanks for everything you (and others) have done for making this possible on the mini.

I eagerly wait the driver update

[jb2590]

scrolling is gonna rock