Linux users of Sony Z1 series

On Tuesday, 3rd Aug 2004, Ionut Georgescu wrote:

> I was also thinking of a different approach:
> What about writing a XFree input driver which based on some
> configuration file( = the mapping between the Fn-Keys and the keysyms),
> would sent the Multimedia-Key-press events to the server ? The desktop
> manager would then capture them and take action. The advantage is that
> we have a unique front-end for all laptops floating around.

Certainly, I don't think that this would be a particularly difficult task - 
the source to sonypid already has code to send keyevents to the X server.  An 
XFree/Xorg input driver is an additional level of complexity - but shouldn't 
be too difficult given the limited inputs it has to deal with.  The most 
difficult thing would probably be determining the Fn+{x} to multimedia-key 
mapping - I'm sure that the keycaps on my Z1 are in a different place to 
those on my old SR machine.

Then, all that's needed are the X applications/UI to respond to these input 
events...

Incidentally, I've uploaded to my site a modified version of sonypid 
*without* any X interaction - on the basis that it is (currently) unecessary 
on machines without a JogDial.

Note - Compile sonypid against up-to-date kernel headers to get increased 
functionality - Still no luck with the P2 key, though :(

Cheers,
    Stuart