Author Topic: kArmTI - TI-Nspire emulator with skin (Read 456836 times)

SpiroH · « **Reply #75 on:** June 04, 2012, 12:51:43 pm »

Franz: Thanks for the support you're giving out. That's much appreciated.

I've been doing some thinking over the /k3 or /k4 dilemna. Looked further into /k4 and it seems quite difficult to achieve satisfactory performance from the current status of the touchpad emulation.
At least it will never be comparable to /k3. So i guess we'll have to wait until somebody (Goplat?) comes up with a better touchpad emulation. Because this sort of work must really be carried out
inside the emulator engine and that requires quite some expert knowledge, effort and time. Of course, this is only necessary if you plan todo extensive graphic work. Otherwise, i reckon the current functionality is already sufficient for quite a large number of uses, as you know...

So, i went a bit further with the /k3 version, trying to replace/simulate most of the wrongly mapped key-functions. That's what i'm showing you in v20. Now it should (?) feel a lot more like the /k4 experience.
For fun, also added some cosmetic things: 1. Color distinction for left-click, right-click and key-click; 2. Right-clicking on the LCD screen sends an 'ESC', which is useful to quickly dismiss popups, for example.

Hope is better than previous v14/v15.
Here you go (beta!): http://www.filedropper.com/spirohv20

Cheers,

PS1. Do not pay too much attention to my 'app's versioning style'. Sometimes is not very coherent. And this is not yet meant for production

PS2: I didn't take into consideration your last post:

Quote from: fhub on June 04, 2012, 07:26:53 am

....
I've now read a bit through the Nspire manual

Actually, only read it now. As you know, i've been away for sometime. But, as this is a live process i'll get back to you and try to answer asap .

SpiroH · « **Reply #76 on:** June 04, 2012, 02:27:59 pm »

Quote from: fhub on June 04, 2012, 02:04:35 pm

Ok, reporting about v20:

The different key colors are a nice gimmick, maybe you could change the color for 'key' a bit, because this orange(?) looks very similar to the red left-click (maybe using a light-blue or cyan?)

And now a few bugs:
1) left-click on the 'calculator' and on 'doc' show the 'ctrl'-indicator in the display (shouldn't do this!), but the executed function is correct
2) left-click on '=' doesn't give the = character but instead opens the same menu as if you right-click on this key
3) right-click on 'x' (the multiplication) gives the same menu as the key above, but should insert " "

But everything else is working fine - and I have my 'double-cursor-diagonal-movement' back again!

So, it seems you like the overall picture. Good!

A: About the colors, I'll do it for you. cyan is it?

B: Bugs:
1) I didn't notice that. Is that a serious problem? Maybe we can skip this for the moment. After all we are using different keypads!
2) I'll look into it. I'vr missed that one. I'll fix it.
3) I've noticed that but i couldn't find the corresponding ctrl sequence. Do you know it?

Ok, "Franz can have back the crazy speeding cursors"

.

I'll be back later,

SpiroH · « **Reply #77 on:** June 04, 2012, 09:58:09 pm »

Franz: just a quick note to let you about the progress.

1. Changed colors.
2. Enabled context functions for all buttons. Quite a few won't do anything...
3. Has 2 limitations which i couldn't map, because those keys DO NOT exist in 'Touchpad Proto'.
   A: The equal sign: we get ':=' ; workaround: go back and delete the colon (':') - ( '=' is not that much used, anyway!)
   B: The context-function over 'multiply' doesn't correctly show the " " symbol. Work-around: show the symbols' palette, and then it's just one cursor movement away.
And a third one: (not a real limitation but just cosmetics)
   C. I see no way to avoid seeing the 'ctrl' from appearing on the top menu when using: 'pad' + doc' + 'equal'
4. Also added 'ENTER' when left-clicking over the LCD, besides ESC for right-click.

Considering that this not the real 'touchpad' but the 'proto', a lot of emulation on the emulator (emu^2) had to be done.
Let's say, i took many of your remarks into consideration

.

Tomorrow morning, i'll be at work. Will be back in the afternoon, though.
LBNL, please consider this is still a work in progress (ie, in a beta stage).

Here: http://www.filedropper.com/spirohv202

SpiroH

SpiroH · « **Reply #78 on:** June 05, 2012, 11:53:24 am »

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 07:34:31 am

Since you mentioned "Touchpad proto" I've tried this with the original nspire_emu, and I've found both things on quite unusual keys:
The = sign is on the [,] key at the bottom rightmost corner, and the double-quotes " " are on the [F] key in the leftmost column.
Maybe this could help you to find the correct code for these 2 keys/functions!?

Unfortunately, they are NOT. You need to 'Reset CPU' after you've changed the keypad, so that the TI-OS properly recongnizes the new keypad.
So what you say is only valid for the 'Clickpad' not for the 'Touchpad Prototype'.

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 07:34:31 am

So let me explain it:
I always thought that both following actions would have the same effect:
1) pressing (or clicking on) the 'ctrl' button and releasing it again, and then pressing or clicking on any other key
2) pressing the 'ctrl' button and holding it down and then additionally pressing any other key.
And I'm quite sure that it's in fact working this way on a real Nspire, i.e. there's no difference between releasing the 'ctrl' key or keeping it pressed while pressing the desired key.

Yep, I know that. We're just trying to use a 'Touchpad', when in reality the Ti-OS sees a 'Touchpad proto' keypad.
All the partial /k4-emulation using a /k3, most certainly won't work when the ctrl-key + 'some-funny-key' are pressed on the keyboard (as you've mentionned). But using the mouse, it should 'almost fine'.
When you use the keyboard keys separately (one at a time) what you get is the real 'touchpad proto' not the 'touchpad'. Yeah, i agree is rather messy at this stage (and not worth to continue the effort).

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 07:34:31 am

So in my opinion it would indeed be better to switch back to version v17_2 (with its /K4 method), and simply implement there those few new improvements you made in
v20_2 (i.e. ENTER/ESC on the LCD, the 3 key colors and right-click for ALL keys).
Since this /K4 emulation is much better (as you wrote in your previous posts), it will probably also be easier for you to implement any new features, because you won't always have to circumvent the glitches of the /K3 emulation with your own tricks.

Again, I say yay. That's why I've shown quite some resistence to follow the /k3 path (a few posts ago). Now things are clearer. Let's say v20_2 is just a "touchy prototype" for testing purposes. It costed some time, but now we know how it behaves.

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 07:34:31 am

Thanks again for your great work,

Many thanks to you too, for such a detailed answer that will also be useful to other potential users to make up their minds on which version to pick-up.

Ok, I'll try to update my last v17_2 with the latest 'color' + mouse-gestures (joking!

) and prepare a new version for testing.
Anyway, the v14/v20_2 (the /k3 variety) will always be handy to use when snappier cursor handling is required.

SpiroH

SpiroH · « **Reply #79 on:** June 05, 2012, 04:58:21 pm »

Hey Franz:
Please check this one: http://www.filedropper.com/spirohv18
We'll talk later,

PS:

SpiroH · « **Reply #80 on:** June 05, 2012, 06:17:34 pm »

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 06:08:16 pm

WOW, I don't know what to say: simply perfect!

Thanks, not really, but a 'good step' in the right direction, we hope.

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 06:08:16 pm

BTW, who's this Franz mentioned in the About-box?

Some 'better-quality german' guy i once met at Omnimaga. You just might have heard about him. If not, just drop at Omni and he'll be there.

Cheers,

PS1: Just posted a pic above to remember the difficulty to get it going.
PS2: I guess it's about time to invite some Photoshop guru(s) to improve the skin's picture quality, specially the keys' text and a lighter background. What do you think?

SpiroH · « **Reply #81 on:** June 05, 2012, 07:03:28 pm »

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 06:59:03 pm

I've found 2 very high-quality Nspire pictures on the internet, which are bigger but if you make the layout as in your SpiroH then they won't be too large.

Would you please provide the links? I would like to have a look. Then we may negotiate... Thanks.

SpiroH · « **Reply #82 on:** June 05, 2012, 07:17:46 pm »

Quote from: fhub on June 05, 2012, 07:08:07 pm

Oh, I don't remember the links anymore, but I have ZIPed it for you and uploaded it here:
http://www.spaadyshare.net/65wpewnl7qgg/nspirepic.zip

Very good quality indeed. Thanks, I'll work a bit on it and will let you know.

khiconmtv · « **Reply #83 on:** June 05, 2012, 07:57:34 pm »

Quote from: SpiroH on June 05, 2012, 07:03:28 pm

Would you please provide the links? I would like to have a look. Then we may negotiate... Thanks.

http://www.valleybusinessmachines.com/images/TI-NSCX_CAS-Front_Home.jpg

SpiroH · « **Reply #84 on:** June 06, 2012, 05:12:38 pm »

Quote from: fhub on June 06, 2012, 04:46:44 am

PS: I've now played around a bit with this bigger image and made a Nspire-'book' of it (895x525 so it should still fit on a netbook-screen, and the LCD is original size).
Not really a piece of art but just for fun, I'm sure you'll make a much prettier skin.
http://image-upload.de/image/5ILPPi/30c92e1054.png

WOW, That looks great Franz! If you could send me the Photoshop file, i will play with it a bit. Just maybe we can sort something out along those lines.
(Maybe we should abstain from using the TI logo, it can bring us some troubles).

In the meantime, i've been doing my bit too. I've also been (a little) busy with the new look and haven't done much else. See if you like it.(NOW IT WILL BE DIFFICULT!

)

SpiroH_v19: http://www.filedropper.com/spirohv19

I will try to workout minor bugs/features as time allows. Best Regards,
SpiroH

PS: Yep, painting+skinning (for me!) requires an awful amount of time.

SpiroH · « **Reply #85 on:** June 06, 2012, 05:42:20 pm »

Quote from: fhub on June 06, 2012, 05:29:16 pm

What??? I can't imagine this - look at all those hundreds of pictures of the Nspire on the internet. Do you think they would all be 'illegal'?

Not the picture in itself, BUT when bundled with an emulator that's a quite different story, i gather. But then i'm not a lawyer!
You know, these companies have a lot of power in judicial terms. I'm a bit afraid that's all.

Deep Toaster · « **Reply #86 on:** June 06, 2012, 07:20:51 pm »

Whoa, I've missed a lot. How do you use those skins in nspire_emu? (I'm not even sure I have the latest version of the emulator

)

Quote from: fhub on June 06, 2012, 05:29:16 pm

Quote
(Maybe we should abstain from using the TI logo, it can bring us some troubles).
What??? I can't imagine this - look at all those hundreds of pictures of the Nspire on the internet. Do you think they would all be 'illegal'?

Well, that's the difference between taking a picture of someone holding a book and actually using the book's cover design in your own work. Though I'm not really sure in this case if it's illegal or not.

By the way, you should generally avoid double posts and use the MODIFY button instead if you have something new to add.

khiconmtv · « **Reply #87 on:** June 06, 2012, 07:51:57 pm »

TI Nspire CX CAS OS 3.2
http://education.ti.com/downloads/files/ti-nspire/3.2/TI-NspireCXCAS-3.2.0.1212.tcc

cyanophycean314 · « **Reply #88 on:** June 06, 2012, 09:19:44 pm »

Quote from: Deep Thought on June 06, 2012, 07:20:51 pm

Whoa, I've missed a lot. How do you use those skins in nspire_emu? (I'm not even sure I have the latest version of the emulator )
Quote from: fhub on June 06, 2012, 05:29:16 pm
Quote
(Maybe we should abstain from using the TI logo, it can bring us some troubles).
What??? I can't imagine this - look at all those hundreds of pictures of the Nspire on the internet. Do you think they would all be 'illegal'?
Well, that's the difference between taking a picture of someone holding a book and actually using the book's cover design in your own work. Though I'm not really sure in this case if it's illegal or not.

By the way, you should generally avoid double posts and use the MODIFY button instead if you have something new to add.

The program is still based off of Goplat's nspire_emu_060, but Spiro_H has added a very pretty GUI (with skins) for it, called karmTI?

Deep Toaster · « **Reply #89 on:** June 06, 2012, 09:49:57 pm »

Oh, I didn't realize his uploads were EXEs. I just assumed he'd uploaded some skins that required some sort of arcane hacking to use.

In that case, this is great! The skins make using the emulator so much easier!