External keyboard support

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Paired iPod touch 4 with apple wireless keyboard.
Perhaps it also apply to the wired keyboards connected to the iPads via apple 
camera connection kit. 

Letter, number and some modifier keys working normaly, on-screen keyboard did 
not show up (as expected).

- Arrow keys don't work 
- Can't use keys combinations 

All that works in native apps like Notes or Safari, and some other build for 
iOs 4.3

iPod Toutch 4g 
iOs 4.3.1
Mobile terminal r520

I'm currently interested in having tiny, but powerful device to try some python 
development. iPod touch is just great, but i cant use most of the iOs apps to 
write a code (thay store it in local databases, so i can't run it on-the-go) 
and i can't use nano without arrow keys.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by da4e...@gmail.com on 9 Apr 2011 at 6:56

[GoogleCodeExporter]

The plan: to use my iPad 2 (iOS 4.3.3) and Logitech/ZAGG keyboard as a 
lightweight development platform. But mobileterminal (520-1 per Cydia) appears 
to ignore the arrow keys. Other apps honor these keys. Any known solution for 
this?

-B...

Original comment by bruce.a....@gmail.com on 8 Jul 2011 at 10:39

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Please understand MobileTerminal was created back on iOS 1
The cydia page still says "not quite done for iOS 2.x"

The code is more or less stable and changes are quite difficult as far as I know

However, I'll mark it as accepted for now

Original comment by dave.sto...@gmail.com on 8 Jul 2011 at 10:51

• Changed state: Accepted
• Added labels: Type-Enhancement
• Removed labels: Type-Defect

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Seconding this suggestion.  I use a zaggmate keyboard.  Using a text editor 
(like nano) in terminal mode is not workable due to the lack of support for 
arrow keys and the control key.  As noted above, these keys do work elsewhere 
on the iPad.

Original comment by elmb...@gmail.com on 11 Oct 2011 at 12:30

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I would also like to see the Esc, Control, and Arrow Keys supported on external 
keyboards.  This would make vim (and most other curses supported applications) 
usable and turn the iPad into a truly useful tool.

iPad2, iOS 5.0.1, Apple Wireless Keyboard, MobileTerminal r520_1

Thanks
Matt

Original comment by matt.mar...@gmail.com on 21 Feb 2012 at 3:26

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[deleted comment]

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Looks like the rejection of multi-character input in this snippet from 
Keyboard.m is the culprit.  Would just commenting this out fix the issue?

- (void)insertText:(id)character
{
    if ([character length] != 1)
        [NSException raise:@"Unsupported" format:@"Unhandled multi-char insert!"];
    [shellKeyboard handleKeyPress:[character characterAtIndex:0]];
}

Original comment by matt.mar...@gmail.com on 21 Feb 2012 at 3:45

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Agreed. Unsuccessfully tried to use this with Apple Wireless Keyboard.

Original comment by hiloba...@gmail.com on 8 Jun 2013 at 3:57

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I agree; fixing this would transform the way I used my iPad. I know a little 
Objective-C and would totally be willing to pitch in to make this happen, if 
that would help ... feel free to drop me an email.

Original comment by r.ryan.t...@gmail.com on 3 Sep 2013 at 6:15

[GoogleCodeExporter]

su  password ??

Original comment by gamriamd...@gmail.com on 5 Feb 2014 at 1:07

[GoogleCodeExporter]

alpine is usually the default. 

Original comment by ensje...@gmail.com on 5 Feb 2014 at 6:39

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I need this too. I have been developing and compiling terminal applications on 
iOS for some time and I cannot live without my old, loud, and amazing IBM 
keyboard. If I were able to use the terminal like I would on a desktop 
UNIX-like workstation, I would be beyond grateful... I would finally have a 
reason to use iOS as more than a toy or a pet project.

Original comment by legend5...@gmail.com on 1 Apr 2014 at 8:09

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I would like to add that this is possibly the single most important feature I 
want on my iPhone that is yet not available. I mean, I can already run an X 
server and hack mouse input. If the keyboard worked properly I would be set for 
life and finally be ready to accept tablets/smartphones as the way of the 
future (that said, my desktop PC would remain my favorite machine for it's raw 
power. But seriously, I WANT THIS).

Original comment by legend5...@gmail.com on 1 Apr 2014 at 8:18

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yeah, it would be great if someone wants to implement it.  I haven't seen any 
volunteers yet.

Original comment by allen.po...@gmail.com on 1 Apr 2014 at 9:30

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Bump. Key combos would give us ^c and use of ctrl in general, allow with 
support of the arrow keys, gives the ability to use editors, which are 
worthless otherwise. Possibly, cmd-c and cmd-v for copy/paste? What can be done 
to make this happen? If only someone would adopt mobileTerminal and maintain 
it. Put it up for sale, it will sell. I find it hard to believe there is no 
alternative other than ssh 127.0.0.1 from a client. 

Original comment by night.ho...@gmail.com on 3 Jul 2014 at 9:43