[NTLK] Newton-re on Linux comments

[irntooth at eznet.net]

Dashboard, when installed, has a couple of problems in newton-re. I was able to install it successfully (I installed Dashboard Prefs first), but it crashes newton-re: 

 - Upon rotation 
 - Upon freezing 

In both cases, it appears as though newton-re successfully performs the requested action, but then crashes. For example: When rotating, newton-re crashes, but upon restart, Dashboard is active in the rotated screen. When freezing Dashboard, newton-re crashes, but upon restart, Dashboard is frozen. I activated freezing using SBM’s Optionen package (appears as Options in Extras).

It appears as though all of the other things I reported have been handled. A correction, though - The physical keyboard’s volume keys are not interacting with newton-re; they are only affecting the computer system volume. Not advocating change here, just reporting what’s really happening.

 - Don

 From: Marisa Giancarla via NewtonTalk < newtontalk at newtontalk.net > Subject: Re: [NTLK] Newton-re on Linux comments Date: 10/25/26 8:13 AM To: Daniel Parnell < me at danielparnell.com >, NewtonTalk Mailing List < newtontalk at newtontalk.net > Here is the package i was trying: 
 https://newtoncity.org/index.php/downloads/3-newton/26-utilities/566-dashboard-151 Let me know if you need more info...
 Marisa
 On 10/24/26 5:35 PM, Daniel Parnell wrote:
 > I have just release v0.0.4 that should deal with all the issues 
 > mentioned here. Give it a go and let me know if you are still having 
 > problems with the app.
 >>
 >> On 25/10/2026 9:28:45 AM, Marisa Giancarla via NewtonTalk 
 >> < newtontalk at newtontalk.net > wrote:
 >>
 >> I saw all those issues as well. I also have an issue where at every
 >> start it goes to the setup sequence and doesn't remember my previous
 >> config...
 >> Marisa
 >> On 10/24/26 6:45 AM, Don Zahniser via NewtonTalk wrote:
 >> > I am testing newton-re on an obsolete (2009?) Intel iMac running 
 >> Debian Trixie. I’ve used both a Kensington wired keyboard (Mac) and a 
 >> Logitech Bluetooth keyboard (Windows), both with an Orbit trackball. 
 >> I have tested both in the Cinnamon desktop and the IceWM window manager.
 >> >
 >> > Oddities and observations that are consistent in newton-re 0.1 
 >> through 0.3:
 >> >
 >> > Screen calibration requires a tap and hold for longer than in a 
 >> MessagePad 2100 , as noted by others. This also seems to apply 
 >> elsewhere, such as positioning the cursor in Notes.
 >> >
 >> > During Setup, the first character typed in the First Name field is 
 >> lowercase, regardless of the shift key position on the external 
 >> keyboard. Subsequent keypresses do honor the shift key status.
 >> >
 >> > In the Time Zones app, using the Newton’s arrow controls scrolls to 
 >> the end of the entire list or back to the beginning. For example, if 
 >> I am in the ‘abc’ panel for cities, want Buffalo, NY, and hit the 
 >> down arrow, it takes me all the way to the end of the city listing 
 >> (Worcester). However, while sitting in the ‘abc’ panel, hitting ‘abc’ 
 >> again scrolls one screen so that Buffalo can be selected. The same 
 >> thing applies to the countries list.
 >> >
 >> > The Newton volume slider in the Extras drawer doesn’t change the 
 >> volume, although the slider does change position and a tone is 
 >> sounded. The volume keys on my external keyboards do change the 
 >> volume, but the slider doesn’t move accordingly and no tone is sounded.
 >> >
 >> > In both external keyboards, there are characters missing, 
 >> specifically: ` (left of 1) - = [ ] ; ‘ and their shift characters .
 >> > This means, for example, that if I want a dash in my phone number 
 >> during Setup, I must type it on Newton’s internal keyboard. These 
 >> external keys are unavailable system-wide in newton-re.
 >> >
 >> > On the external keyboards numbers keybads, the only key that works 
 >> is the Enter key.
 >> >
 >> > Rotation is not available. Upon tapping the Rotate button, Newton 
 >> tries to rotate, but the window dimensions don’t change, there are 
 >> multiple alignment ‘X’s with pens, and the graphics are ‘faded’ 
 >> compared to normal. Tapping on one of the pens displays the next ‘X’ 
 >> in the sequence, but after the 3rd ‘X’, the pattern repeats.
 >> >
 >> > A differently named newton.store file is needed for each 
 >> differently sized newton instance, because the pen calibration is 
 >> stored in the newton.store file. This also means that user data 
 >> stored in one screen size is not accessed from an instance of another 
 >> screen size. So, if you want to use newton-re to store data, pick a 
 >> screen size and stick with it. - Don
 >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 >> >
 >> > https://newtontalk.net >> > https://bitbang.social/@newtontalk >> > https://bsky.app/profile/newtontalk.bsky.social >> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 >> https://newtontalk.net >> https://bitbang.social/@newtontalk >> https://bsky.app/profile/newtontalk.bsky.social > 2966ac64-c5d7-4675-9cc7-5f25bba80df2 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 https://newtontalk.net https://bitbang.social/@newtontalk https://bsky.app/profile/newtontalk.bsky.social