KDE Calls Microsoft's Copilot Key 'Dumb', Will Let You Remap It Soon

Plasma 6.4.5 is coming September 9th, reports Neowin. But they also report that the KDE team is already focusing on other upcoming release: Starting with KDE Frameworks, KDE's collection of foundational libraries, version 6.18 promises to let you do something with that "dumb" Microsoft Copilot key found on many new laptops. The developers will soon allow you to set up keyboard shortcuts using this new key, and the team plans to let you remap it to another key in the future. If you're curious, one user on KDE's bug tracker noted that on GNOME, the key combination shows up as "Meta+Shift+Touchpad Disable" and is fully remappable...

When you try to install a Flatpak from a website like Flathub in Plasma 6.5 [coming in October], Discover now has proper support for flatpak+https:// URLs, so it opens automatically. 6.5 is also bringing a much stricter window activation policy on Wayland to stop applications from rudely stealing your focus. And now, when you mute your microphone with a shortcut, the "Mute Microphone" button will mute all input sources, not just the active one.

Since Firefox does not block the system from sleeping during a download, the Plasma Browser Integration extension for Firefox has gotten an update to handle that job itself.

Good! Focus stealing sucks

[evanh]

Nothing more annoying than an interjecting focus change midway through typing.

Re:

[fluffernutter]

I *hated* the siri key on the touch strip on my Mac for that reason.

Re:

[ls671]

I have been remapping my keyboard keys when needed since Slackware 1.2.3, my first Linux. Here is an example:
  https://wiki.archlinux.org/tit... [archlinux.org]

If something is good...

[MpVpRb]

..people will choose it, wait in line for it and pay for it
If a company decides to force something on customers, be suspicious and skeptical

windows key

[groobly]

Now get rid of that pointless windows key.

Re:

[fluffernutter]

The Windows key is the easiest way to start a program by typing the first part of the name. For example win-e-x-c-enter is the easiest way to start Excel short of having the icon pinned to the taskbar.

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[weirdow]

CTRL-ESC also brings up the windows start menu, and then you start typing.

the only thing that it makes faster is all the shortcuts that are tied to the windows key like, I for settings, E for explorer, P for screen projection, L for lock, D for show desktop, ...

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[fluffernutter]

So you need to use two fingers at the very left of the keyboard? Too awkward. The idea is for it to fit into typing flow.

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[fahrbot-bot]

So you need to use two fingers at the very left of the keyboard? Too awkward. The idea is for it to fit into typing flow.

I've used Emacs for 30+ years and never found that to be a problem, even after long edit sessions.

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[fluffernutter]

I'm more of a vim guy. Tried emacs at one time, found it depended too much on hotkeys.

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[fahrbot-bot]

I'm more of a vim guy. Tried emacs at one time, found it depended too much on hotkeys.

I wouldn't say hotkeys, but keys and key combinations, sure, though they usually make some sense and follow patterns. I'll note that functions can be (re)bound to different keys or key combinations by the user, though I generally don't recommend it for your own compatibility with the standard. Personally, I only bind functions to unused keys/combinations. Even the characters you type are bound to the function "self-insert-command". Also, Emacs can emulate Vim. :-)

Re:windows key

[quonset]

The Windows key is the easiest way to start a program by typing the first part of the name.

That's because Microsoft keeps hiding where programs are located and forcing you to "search" for something rather than going directly to it.

Re:

[fluffernutter]

How can you go directly to every program on a system with 100 programs on it? Sure, if you only have office then put every icon on the taskbar.

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[test321]

How can you go directly to every program on a system with 100 programs on it?

Since W95 they had a menu thing that worked ok.

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[fluffernutter]

Is there not 'all programs' in the start menu? I don't know because there is no reason to use it since typing the first few letters of what you want is so much faster.

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[Big Hairy Gorilla]

icon on desktop?
I would suggest that no one actually use 100 programs on a regular basis. Power users, nerds, might, it is possible, but most people have a handful of programs they use repeatedly, and then a bunch of other programs they use infrequently. From what I've seen the less technical a user you are, the fewer programs you use. Top 10 use cases covers what most people want to do 90% of the time 19 times out of 20. (this isn't scientific, It thought I'd throw a bit of archaic stats mumbo jumbo in, wh

Re:

[fluffernutter]

If you have an icon on your desktop then you need to get rid of all the windows on your desktop to use it. Then you need to move the mouse pointer to it and click it. It's like being in OSX.

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[Kernel Kurtz]

Mavis Beacon approves this message.

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[gavron]

That's because Microsoft keeps hiding where programs are located and forcing you to "search" for something rather than going directly to it.

"Microsoft wants it this way" is no excuse for taking over my computer, one key at a time. Saying "that's beacause" assumes anyone asked WHY that key is not available, which nobody did. The discussion was about Microsoft taking over Yet Another Key they made manufacturers put in.

Shove a sock in it, Microsoft apologist.

Re:

[nashv]

Now this is stupid. Almost every OS/DE including Gnome and KDE follow this paradigm : Hotkey + First Letter + Enter to launch programs.

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[93 Escort Wagon]

Launching an application via quick search can be much faster than selecting it from a menu or an oft-crowded desktop (even assuming you can *see* the icons on your desktop). I've been doing this on a Mac for a couple decades now (first with Quicksilver, then later with Spotlight), and I've used it on my Mint machine for some time as well.

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[LainTouko]

Extra modifier keys are useful. My window manager is based around the idea that if you want to tell the window manager what to do instead of the active window, you hold the win key along with one or more keys or mouse buttons. Even when I was using KDE, I used the win key for all of my custom shortcuts.

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[fluffernutter]

That's great if you can remember shortcuts. I have room in my head for around the 10 main ones. Beyond that I need other methods that are efficient.

Compose key

[jabuzz]

Why don't they add something actually useful like a compose key.

Extra Modifier Please

[John Allsup]

One great use would be as an extra modifier for global shortcuts. So e.g. Control+Copilot+G to launch Gimp, and so on. I could make good use of that.