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• Launchpad entry: https://features.launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/kubuntu-feisty-laptop

• Packages affected: kdebase, kde-guidance, ksynaptics, acpi-support, casper

Summary

Edgy has several improvements (see KubuntuLaptopButtons and KubuntuPowerManagement spec) in laptop support that brings laptop support to comparable level with Ubuntu. For Feisty, we need to polish the solution to get to great out-of-the-box experience on Kubuntu laptop.

Rationale

Some functionality implemented in Edgy is lacking or implemented with limitations ([https://launchpad.net/bugs/64650 #64650], [https://launchpad.net/bugs/70454 #70454], [https://launchpad.net/bugs/67341 #67341]).

Use cases

• Sarah would like that suspend and hibernate buttons on her laptop just work out of the box.
• Jonathan would like that power button would offer him logout/shutdown/restart/suspend/hibernate options and not just power-off immediately,
• Sebastian would like to set different CPU frequency scaling levels (powersave, performance) and automatic action if laptop is idle.
• Tonio does not find a way to configure synaptics touch pad as ksynaptics is not installed by default.
• Nuno does not like suspend/hibernate options not working on Desktop CD.

Scope

The intention is to reconsider kpowersave and implement some minor improvements that were not implemented in Edgy due to technical and/or time constraints.

Design

• Review new kpowersave for potential main inclusion and feasibility to replace Guidance Powermanager.

• Review laptop buttons assignments and implement missing functionality.

• Review ksynaptics for main inclusion and inclusion in default setup.

• Disable suspend/hibernate functionality when running Live/Desktop CD

Implementation

• Evaluate recent kpowersave with [http://dkukawka.blogspot.com/2006/11/kpowersave-on-way-to-070.html HAL support] for main inclusion and as potential replacement of Guidance Powermanager. In order to be considered as default power management application in Kubuntu, it needs to fulfill the following criteria:

  • Proper integration with Ubuntu laptop infrastructure (acpi-support, pmi, hal)
  • Simplification of user interface (comparable to existing Guidance Powermanager)

• kdebase

  • Define global shortcuts for Suspend/Hibernate buttons and call HAL action
  • Define global shortcut for Battery button and call Powermanager over DCOP to show battery info
  • Define global shortcut for Power button to present standard logout dialog with Logout/Shutdown/Restart/Suspend/Hibernate options

  • Parse power-managerrc file for lockOnResume, disableSuspend and disableHibernate options and act appropriately

  • Update xkeysyms assignments in /usr/share/apps/kxkb/ubuntu.xmodmap to match most laptops buttons

• kde-guidance

  • Fix power-manager DCOP interface to not use PID

  • Parse power-managerrc file for lockOnResume, disableSuspend and disableHibernate options and act appropriately

  • Allow setting current CPU frequency scaling (ondemand, powersave, performance)
  • Idle actions: automatic actions if machine is idle for X minutes

• casper

  • Provide power-managerrc with disableSuspend and disableHibernate options turned on for Desktop CD user.

• ksynaptics

  • Prepare package for main inclusion
  • Should not be started by default and should have proper default settings for just-works experience.

  • Add configuration module to System settings -> Keyboard and Mouse

Unresolved issues

• Does new KPowersave provide proper replacement for Guidance Powermanager and similar simple and just-works experience?
• Will HAL in Feisty provide CPU frequency functionality?

• PyQt/PyKDE does not provide proper dbus event handling (polling still required) - porting to PyQt4 is also not an option as we need KDE features (tray, dcop...)

CategorySpec