I am demoralized beyond words just thinking about doing Emacs key bindings on a touch screen keyboard.
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Beyond the fact that as others have said Android is not tied to a touch screen keyboard, consider how this could simply be used to view your, e.g, org agenda with the right font and buffer settings. Using ERC, gnus, Org-mode rss feeds too! There are a lot of possibilities but you have to figure it out yourself, and there are plenty of new flashy things that you can use instead if this is unacceptable to you.
You should never feel demoralized about stuff like this, thats a definite sign you're taking it all too seriously. :)
I literally laughed out loud when I saw the headline. I'm thinking of the seven people who are going to engineer some ridiculous hacks to actually make this usable.
(not intending to discourage, I say go for it! but ... yeah.)
I expect it'll be more usable through an attached keyboard on, say, an Android device, e.g. "my TV runs Emacs".
There's a UBS-OTG thing. Allegedly. I haven't tried it, but have heard claims that you should be able to connect a normal keyboard to Android device.
My Android phone is planned to be made obsolete this April because the banking app decided to drop support to the Android version I'm running (and cannot upgrade). So, come April, I'll have to re-investigate the options available for making phone experience palatable, and will probably try this USB-OTG thing, so, will be better prepared for stuff like this.
USB-OTG worked perfectly on my Moto G5+ with a Lenovo keyboard with built in hub to which I connected a mouse. Haven't tried yet with my Moto G30 because I haven't got, or even seen, a USB-C OTG adapter.
You don't need one. A USB C hub will probably just work except maybe the HDMI port. Even the cheapo Amazon Fire tablets just work (except video because they don't support alt-mode).
That's a lot of extra hardware to replace what was just a very short cable with a connector on each end! I'll have to look into a USB-C hub that also has USB-A for the keyboard.
You can also just get USB A to C adapters that will work. Hubs are just better value IMO.
You've been able to attach keyboards and pointing devices - mice, trackpads, those presenter pointer things with joysticks on ´m - to Android for a very long time. Attach a pointing device and you get a pointer on your screen which can be used together with the touch screen. Attach a keyboard and the virtual keyboard won't pop up since the thing expects you (rightly IMnsHO) to use the newly attached keyboard. With pointer device, keyboard and Termux Android devices become somewhat useable general computing devices.
You can. Or via Bluetooth keyboard. Depending on your setup, a gamepad may work for potability
That's good to know. Thanks!
Just to confirm: Do make sure your phone supports USB-OTG before getting an adapter (modern phones should).
This has worked for most devices for a long time, e.g. the 12yo Motorola Defy I use as 'dangerous work device' supports it and works with both keyboard, pointing devices as well as more odd things like a borescope camera.
I have a Gemini and an AstroSlide, (from Planet Computers), both are mobile phones with built-in full-Qwerty keyboards. Great for Emacs!
you just have to re-learn typing them with just your thumbs, no big deal ;)
i've been using emacs in termux for my org file, and for sone reason the big thing i can never manage to pull off is moving to the top or botton of the buffer. i don't know if it's me or my keyboard.
use a BT keyboard
Exactly. I have a full fledged emacs inside termux. With a Bluetooth keyboard, it is a surprisingly good solution. I bring this set up with me when I am on vacation and may have to do some emergency interventions for work. The only thing I have not figured out is how to re-bind the cap lock key for ctrl on the BT keyboard. BTW, I install emacs via Termux via their package utility. Termux itself is installed via F-Droid on my Android phone. One last thing: I also have tmux running inside Termux. Again, I am always surprised by how well this works.
I use my foldable bluetooth keyboard. Using iAWriter and termux, I can write posts for my PHP and ruby based blogs, run my static site generator and publish via git. Termux lets you make a shortcut that runs commands.
I tried to make gtk3 GUI apps with ruby on termux, apparently termux now supports this new mode that works in the browser, but some libs seem to be missing! I think that would be a cool platform.
I have a foldable BT keyboard as well (generic one on Amazon under different brand names). I find myself not using it because it sits completely flat, which is uncomfortable to type on for long periods of time. My palm doesn't seem to rest on the table, it hovers over the keys instead. Not sure if it's the same for you.
A laptop keyboard is usually a half-inch or so off the table surface, as it sits on top of the laptop base.
Seems like evil is the better more after all... ;)