Linux 6.14 Adds Support For The Microsoft Copilot Key Found On New Laptops (phoronix.com) 21
The Linux 6.14 kernel now maps out support for Microsoft's "Copilot" key "so that user-space software can determine the behavior for handling that key's action on the Linux desktop," writes Phoronix's Michael Larabel. From the report: A change made to the atkbd keyboard driver on Linux now maps the F23 key to support the default copilot shortcut action. The patch authored by Lenovo engineer Mark Pearson explains [...]. Now it's up to the Linux desktop environments for determining what to do if the new Copilot key is pressed. The patch was part of the input updates now merged for the Linux 6.14 kernel.
Re: (Score:3)
From TFS:
Now it's up to the Linux desktop environments for determining what to do if the new Copilot key is pressed.
Re: (Score:2)
The brand new Copilot crashes (the plane into the ground / the desktop environment)?
Re: (Score:2)
The key will load the new systemd configurator. It only runs as a snap.
Re: (Score:2)
From TFS:
Now it's up to the Linux desktop environments for determining what to do if the new Copilot key is pressed.
But if the Copilot key actually does something else, won't that make it a Meta key?
<Insert Meta key joke here.>
Re: (Score:2)
Windows key...? (Score:2)
Might as well make some tiny penguin logos and slap them on the keyboards. This sort of reminds me of the Windows key thing, all over again... except the Windows key did have a decent use for another set of launching macros and such.
Re: (Score:3)
Compose! A true Meta! Super! There are (too?) many keyboard modifiers in a good Unix keyboard, and it pleases me that PCs are finally giving us enough keys to represent them all.
Re: (Score:3)
iit pleases me that PCs are finally giving us enough keys to represent them all.
The new key replaces either the right-ctl or menu key, so you're not getting any new keys. Basically, the key that was already there just sends a different keycode. Stupid.
On keyboards where they replaced the control key, I would map it back to control. There's no way I'm going to go through finger contortions to hit the control combos for keys on the left side of the keyboard.
On my current keyboard, I already have the useless menu key mapped to the (missing) right-windows key (which on Linux is in turn map
This whole thing feels kinda silly. (Score:2)
Now onto my nonsensical rant:
I haven't looked at new computers in a while, at work I usually use whatever OEM or Microsoft keyboard I'm given, I was today years old when I looked at my keyboard and realised it had a Windows 10 logo on the start button, before that it was Windows XP, before that it was Windows 9x, it was usually a quick way to tell how old a keyboard was (if you ignore the beige and the PS2 connector).
I think key
What happened to the Cortana key? (Score:2)
Somewhere maybe 10 years ago, Microsoft was pushing for keyboards to include a Cortana key. It was a lone, blue circle. I was sure I'd remap it to something more useful, but... well, it never materialized! Has somebody ever seen a Cortana keyboard in the wild? How is that key mapped? Is that key the same as the Copilot one? Where was Cortana sent to retire in its old age?
Re: (Score:2)
Where was Cortana sent to retire in its old age?
Hopefully the ninth circle of Hell.
Re: What happened to the Cortana key? (Score:2)
What a pity. She was useful in Halo.
Jesus, just stop with new keys already. FFS. (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
And I get it, as there now appears to be an abundance of tenkeyless keyboards too, I guess that's for the laptop natives - but for desktop no number pad, no sale.
What else? (Score:2)
"what to do if the new Copilot key is pressed." ? Easy. Play a laugh track.
HAL 9000 (Score:2)
Obviously it should play back a sound clip of HAL 9000 saying "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that".
I'll just leave this here: (Score:3)
You make my keyboard lots of fun.
Double bucky, an additional bit or two:
(Vo-vo-de-o!)
Control and meta, side by side,
Augmented ASCII, nine bits wide!
Double bucky! Half a thousand glyphs, plus a few!
Oh,
I sure wish that I
Had a couple of
Bits more!
Perhaps a
Set of pedals to
Make the number of
Bits four:
Double double bucky!
Double bucky, left and right
OR'd together, outta sight!
Double bucky, I'd like a whole word of
Double bucky, I'm happy I heard of
Double bucky, I'd like a whole word of you!
--- The Great Quux (with apologies to Jeffrey Moss)