< Features
Feature Name
Synaptics update to 1.0 (or 1.1)
Summary
Update Fedora to ship xorg-x11-drv-synaptics version 1.0 (or 1.1).
Owner
- Name: Peter Hutterer
- email: peter DOT hutterer AT redhat DOT com
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora 11
- Last updated: (2009-02-26)
- Percentage of completion: 100%
Detailed Description
Update Fedora to ship synaptics 1.0 by default. F10 shipped 0.15.2, since, synaptics has seen a number of changes aimed at improved autoconfiguration of devices. Synaptics 1.0 reads the information from the kernel device and adjusts parameters such as speed, acceleration, etc. automatically depending on the axis resolution. In addition, 1.0 supports Features/InputDeviceProperties for run-time configuration of settings without the need for the (insecure) SHM area.
Benefit to Fedora
- New devices are supported out-of-the-box: Elantech touchpads, bcm5974 (autoconfiguration), and some touchscreens without buttons.
- Improved autoconfiguration - no need to manually configure touchpads anymore.
- Less prone to noise during tapping.
Scope
1.0 is released and shipped in Fedora. Version 1.1 may be released in time and will include the synclient tool without needing SHM, and two-finger emulation based on finger width.
How To Test
- FIXME
User Experience
Less configuration necessary to get the touchpad into the default state. Tapping (if enabled) is more reliable.
Dependencies
- xorg-x11-server 1.6 (already in rawhide)
Contingency Plan
- 1.0 has been in rawhide for a while. If 1.1 isn't ready in time, we stick with 1.0
Documentation
- synaptics(4)
Release Notes
The update to synaptics 1.0 may change the behaviour of the touchpad due to some changed default settings. Here is a list of what may change when updating from F10 to F11:
- Tap-to-click: disabled by default (enabled for devices that do not have physical buttons).
- Vertical scrolling: disabled for multi-touch touchpads, enabled for touchpads only supporting single-touch.
- Two-finger scrolling: enabled for multi-touch touchpads, disabled otherwise.
- Multi-finger click: enabled by default for buttons/fingers 1, 2, and 3 (i.e. holding two fingers down and clicking a button results in a right button click)
- Speed change: the driver derives settings for speed, acceleration, etc. based on the axis ranges the device advertises. For some users, this may result in the touchpad feeling slower or faster than the previous version.
Note that all settings can be adjusted by the user. The synaptics(4) man page explains all settings in more detail. Existing settings in the xorg.conf or in HAL's fdi files override the new defaults.
The update to synaptics 1.1 provides the following additional features:
- Emulation of two-finger presses through finger with (for touchpads that do not have multi-finger capabilities).
- synclient does not need SHM anymore, it can list and change settings through Input Device Properties.