Re: Working on iPad Pro

[John Hendy <jw.hendy@gmail.com>]

On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 11:52 AM, John Hendy <jw.hendy@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 11:27 AM, Peter Davis <pfd@pfdstudio.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I've been using org-mode for a few years, mainly for writing blog posts and documents, and, to a lesser extent, for keeping track of TODO items, etc. I barely scratch the surface of what org-mode can do, and I keep learning new bits incrementally, largely by reading this list.
>>
>> I'm now almost ready to shelve my laptop and start using an iPad Pro with the Apple "smart" keyboard. However, I haven't found a good way to do my org-mode authoring.  I know there's org-mobile, but I don't want to have to think about sync'ing, or try to remember where the latest versions of my docs are as I move from one computer to another.
>
> I'm in a similar boat with respect to mobile-org... I've set it up a
> few times but just never got into it other than for being able to view
> entries from afar. I also don't care for the capture/re-file mechanism
> of syncing back to the mothership when I add from the phone. I've
> tried emacs on Android, but typing is awful. I think having a legit
> keyboard would make this awesome!
>
>> I've thought about using the iPad to ssh to a desktop computer, and just running emacs on that. That might be the best solution, but the Apple "smart" keyboard doesn't seem to have any meta key. Has anyone figured out how to get the option key to work that way in vSSH? Or is there a better ssh app?
>>
>
> I'm not on ios, so maybe shouldn't comment (and I think the emacs apps
> on android are pretty feature-ful, so haven't experienced what's
> lacking on ios), but there appears to be this relatively simple way to
> get full blown emacs on ios:
> - http://gamma-level.com/iphoneos/ports/emacs
>
> Or does that require jailbreaking (says you need development tools
> available on the device)?
>
> This reddit post suggests the ssh method, and somewhere else I read
> the claim that Prompt is the best ssh app:
> - https://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/2dwapw/emacsish_text_editor_for_ipad/

Adding: this is where I saw Prompt mentioned, and it happened to
appear on a thread related to the option key issue you mentioned:
- http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/48043/how-to-ssh-from-ipad-with-external-keyboard-and-emacs

So if you could learn to use Esc, sounds like ssh might be a legit option?

John

>
>> Is there some other option I'm overlooking? I know there are some "almost emacs" apps, but ... they're "almost."
>>
>
> Other than the option key, if ssh would work and the limitation is an
> always-on box, could you work with a Raspberry Pi? I have one under my
> desk that I've been fiddling with for a few months. Your post reminded
> me that this would be an option for me on Android as well. Just
> throwing it out there... ~$35 and you'd have something easily able to
> handle anything Org-mode. I set mine to use a static ip address so I
> can always find it.  Sorry I can't be more helpful, but those are the
> options that come to mind... (basically, trying emacs itself or ssh
> like you're already thinking about).
> a
>> BTW, I also use emacs for gnus, and for web and software development, but org-mode is what I really need on the iPad.
>>
>
> Good luck!
> John
>
>> Thanks!
>> -pd
>>
>>
>> --
>> ----
>> Peter Davis
>> http://www.techcurmudgeon.com
>>
>>