As far as the \'general direction\', I don\'t see that there need be one - if put into words, I think the \'general direction\' most appropriate for pdaXrom itself would be a stable, flexible, general-purpose base on which to install whatever tools we desire.
To that end, I think it should try to incorporate support for all aspects of its unique environment, IE silkie buttons, rotation, and extreme flexibility in storage assignment - actually running off a flashcard would be a separate sub-project, I\'d think, but reliable control over initial partitioning, and better install-to-SD/CF results. (and that last depends in large part on ipk creators accounting for those possibilities, I think)
As far as \'add-on\' capabilities, here\'s a selection of things that would be of use to me.
Multiple kernels, or availability of a selection of kernel modules. (I\'ve been too busy to set up cross-compiling again to build a kernel with iptables, traffic control, advanced routing, bridging, etc as I have for my 5600)
Konsole, or something functionally similar. A shell environment with font and color control, and preferably tab support.
More flexible WM, or more control over MatchBox, if it offers \'enough\' knobs, and smoothly integrated file manager. Rox helps on that last part.
Mozilla Thunderbird email? Since firefox manages to work functionally (wow) perhaps t-bird can as well. On the flipside of that, perhaps a very lightweight email client, with modern protocol support (smtp-auth, imap, etc) but minimal bells and whistles - basically for quick check/send usage.
\'Silkie\' applet, so we can assign functions to the silkscreen buttons. (not necessarily a toolbar applet, though)
A toolbar applet to reproduce the \"active tasks\" list, and usable keyboard shortcuts to cycle through windows.
Rotation. On Sharp ROM on my 860 I had mapped the E/J silkie button as manual rotation - together with automatic rotation, I could tap it and go back to landscape while holding it in PDA form for the occasional need. I\'d like at least manual rotation, and triggering via E/J would be just great, automatic would be fantastic.
On the subject of rotation, I\'ve a gripe about the clock applet - when set to orientation north or south, the clock is oriented properly for viewing in \'laptop\' form. When set to east or west, the clock is oriented for viewing from the \'west\' or left side as seen in laptop form. The problem is that when the unit is swiveled to PDA form, this means the clock numerals are upside-down in west and east, both.
Keyboard-triggered mouse-button-selection, and mapping of jog wheel to mouse wheel. I\'m also pondering ok/cancel buttons to L/R mouse, but there\'d have to be a way to leave it off.
GUI for keyboard mapping.
My primary uses of my 860 are as a handheld remote terminal (ssh, X11, & rdesktop) and handheld apache-]perl-]mysql development environment. Secondary are as a PDA, and currently I\'ve not installed any PIM yet under pdaXrom.
When I get back from a business trip this coming week I want to try to set up the cross-compile environment. If someone can point me to the correct kernel sources to start with and the patches present in the pdaXrom kernel, (PM or email) I\'d be willing and able to handle the modules request above. I have ip and iptables originally compiled for my 5600 that run fine under pdaXrom, just lacking the actual netfilter kernel support. I could probably put together a kernel-networking ipk.
When I can find the time, I really want to do some development specifically for the X11 Z - right now, it\'s all just Perl quickies, and web-]DB interfaces and such for work. Except for the occasional need for address book or calendar, I haven\'t looked back since flashing to X11 the second day I had my C860. (eventually I\'ll install KoPi or something and end that.)
(FWIW, I\'ve used my 5600 as a wireless router/firewall before, feeding IR to a cellphone for several days)
Well, that\'s more than most of you will want to read, so I\'ll stop now.
j
ps - Power button. (\'nuf said :^)
