Linux Patches Add Support For New "Phone Link" Hotkey On Latest ThinkPads

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Linux Patches Add Support For New "Phone Link" Hotkey On Latest ThinkPads

Patches posted on Thursday for the Linux kernel add support for the newest hotkey being found on Lenovo ThinkPad laptops... The "Phone Link" hotkey for launching the Microsoft Phone Link software for linking your Android/iOS smartphone to your laptop. This hotkey can be adapted for similar purposes on Linux...

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-Phone-Link-Hotkey

[PennRobotics]

Sweet!

Maybe next they can make Alt+F4 work whether FnLock is on or off...

[anda_skoa]

No idea what that key is actually doing on Windows but my KDE Connect established the phone link fully automatically when the phone appears on the same network.

I mean it is great that the button can now be used but I unclear what for?

[Quackdoc]

It's wild to me that we can have a key for linking phones, but not a "application back key" that would do what many android phones have, well had, hardware buttons are not so common now.

[slalomsk8er]

Quackdoc "application back" sounds good but anda_skoa binding a function in KDE Connect would be a good use for the new key.

[anda_skoa]

It's wild to me that we can have a key for linking phones, but not a "application back key" that would do what many android phones have, well had, hardware buttons are not so common now.

Many mice have a "back button" and a lot of applications have ALT+Left mapped for this as well.

[Quackdoc]

Many mice have a "back button" and a lot of applications have ALT+Left mapped for this as well.

the issue is that the "mouse back" or "IE back" doesn't really map to an "application back" well. It does in many cases, but in others say like games, the effect can be jarring. Though I do agree in many cases that it does map decently.

[anda_skoa]

anda_skoa binding a function in KDE Connect would be a good use for the new key.

That sounds quite reasonable.

I''ve so far mostly used the connection the other way around, e..g. having the phone push notifications to the desktop, but I guess mapping something like "Ring my phone" to a special key could make this more convenient.

Did you have a function in mind that you would want to trigger through such a shortcut?

[Quackdoc]

That sounds quite reasonable.

I''ve so far mostly used the connection the other way around, e..g. having the phone push notifications to the desktop, but I guess mapping something like "Ring my phone" to a special key could make this more convenient.

Did you have a function in mind that you would want to trigger through such a shortcut?

if kde connect had full sms/call integration I would 100% use that daily.

[Eudyptula]

if kde connect had full sms/call integration I would 100% use that daily.

I assume you mean using the desktop audio input and output devices for calls on your phone? As well as to read, manage and send SMS via KDE Connect. I agree, this would be huge. KDE Connect is already really useful and a must to set up and use, but that would definitely elevate it considerably.

I'm a bit fuzzy on the current situation as I've been using a VPN that made KDE Connect not work reliably, and I've been lazy/busy when I could've fixed it by configuring it properly. So, I might be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I could reply to SMSs on my laptop via KDE Connect as early as Plasma 5, but it hasn't been expanded on for full integration. I can't remember whether if you can answer or decline, but think yes.


Anyway, the recent beta support of Bluetooth might make it able to use the laptop as a "headset" device? Though, this is not the ideal solution for a number of reasons, but it might be easier and faster to implement. Perhaps as a stop-gap solution (personally, I wouldn't be stoked about having to connect my laptop as a headset all the time).

As far as I know, it should be possible for the KDE Connect Android app to make and manage calls even when it's not a phone app (or assigned phone app). This should (?) also provide access to the audio and microphone feed? But then it would have to be transferred over the network and I guess the question is how much work that would involve or whether there are any open source libraries for it or something similar that can be adapted.

As a non-developer here's what I could find on the phone side of things that should be relevant:

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/telecom/TelecomManager

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/telecom/package-summary

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/telecom/ConnectionService

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/telecom/PhoneAccount

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/telecom/PhoneAccountHandle

Regarding full SMS integration, there is an Android class for it and corresponding permissions (which the app already has?). This should be it: https://developer.android.com/refere...ony/SmsManager


As for iOS, I have no idea. But I have a feeling it wouldn't be that easy as Apple likes to keep a strong grip on their users to keep them within the walls that they love set up around their eco system.