4 ms·

This is nice, but is pretty much useless on a tablet. I realize that desktop users are the primary focus, but it seems like any new editor has to consider table

by 8ig8 13y ago

This is nice, but is pretty much useless on a tablet. I realize that desktop users are the primary focus, but it seems like any new editor has to consider tablet/mobile use. It must be a difficult problem. Without using some kind of plain text markup syntax like Markdown, the user is required to select some text for formatting, but then you're competing with the OS's UI actions. Are there any good mobile/tablet browser-based editors that _my mom_ would use?

c2prods 13y ago
I'd be interested too! I think on iPad, the easiest thing is to have a fixed toolbar at the top of text area. (But still, this repo is a very nice work!)
- buro9 13y ago
  But how would that work? Is the experience as per Android that if you select text then the OS cut-and-paste dialogue appears?
  - c2prods 13y ago
    You could tap the button to add a <strong> element, then type your text and re-tap the button to close </strong>. Or you could select it and tap the button directly, but you'd have to dismiss the OS dialogue. I mean, it looks feasible on iOS, as I don't use Android, I can't really tell…
  - desas 13y ago
    Presumably like the google drive app, it doesn't show the cut and paste action bar but keeps the formatting bar, it does pop-up a cut and paste dialog. Evernote does show the cut and paste action bar but also has the text formatting bar at the bottom of the app, which will work on the selection.
- bergie 13y ago
  That is exactly what I do in Hallo: http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/hallo-editor/ http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/hallo-editor/
uio3 13y ago
Rather a moot point, as tablets are useless for typing anything of value. They're only meant for consumption of videos and other diversions.
- untog 13y ago
  Pretty much definitely not true. Tablets are mostly used for consumption, and putting together anything with extensive formatting like a slideshow is difficult, but just typing text really isn't difficult.
  - uio3 13y ago
    It probably depends on your ability at typing, for anyone with a reasonable wpm an iPad is a major hindrance.
    - untog 13y ago
      I see an increasing number of people using keyboard cases with iPads. They work fine.
    - doorhammer 13y ago
      I type about 90wpm on a keyboard and I can get a pretty consistent 55wpm - 60wpm using an ipad iwth the touch screen keyboard. I've used it as a big part of a content creation when creating with training materials and writing sop's, etc. It's obviously slower than my normal typing speed, but I've actually been surprised at how content I've been using it for that sort of thing. If I'm authoring anything of any substance, the bottleneck is usually my brain and not my typing speed, as far as phrasing and structure goes. I had originally thought about getting an external keyboard/keyboard case for it, but once I realized I could bang out text pretty quickly, I said "screw it" and just got a smart cover. I also hated the idea of bulking the thing up. I've also done a lot of document notation and review with PDFExpert adn that experience was really handy. Obviously you wouldn't make the final edits there, but given the right software, I don't think it would be that crazy. Obviously hugely subjective and ymmv I've also wondered how much could be done with a touch screen-only interface for code editors, using structure detection and the sort to input elements. After using Lisping for a bit on the iPad, I think you could really do some interesting things to make a really productive editor on an ipad. I really like that project because it seems to be the only editor I've found that really tries to embrace the tablet experience from the ground up. It's not perfect, but it's definitely a step. Not sure there's a market there, but it's interesting to me.

by 8ig8 13y ago

c2prods 13y ago

I'd be interested too! I think on iPad, the easiest thing is to have a fixed toolbar at the top of text area. (But still, this repo is a very nice work!)

buro9 13y ago
But how would that work? Is the experience as per Android that if you select text then the OS cut-and-paste dialogue appears?
- c2prods 13y ago
  You could tap the button to add a <strong> element, then type your text and re-tap the button to close </strong>. Or you could select it and tap the button directly, but you'd have to dismiss the OS dialogue. I mean, it looks feasible on iOS, as I don't use Android, I can't really tell…
- desas 13y ago
  Presumably like the google drive app, it doesn't show the cut and paste action bar but keeps the formatting bar, it does pop-up a cut and paste dialog. Evernote does show the cut and paste action bar but also has the text formatting bar at the bottom of the app, which will work on the selection.
bergie 13y ago
That is exactly what I do in Hallo: http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/hallo-editor/ http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/hallo-editor/

uio3 13y ago

Rather a moot point, as tablets are useless for typing anything of value. They're only meant for consumption of videos and other diversions.

untog 13y ago
Pretty much definitely not true. Tablets are mostly used for consumption, and putting together anything with extensive formatting like a slideshow is difficult, but just typing text really isn't difficult.
- uio3 13y ago
  It probably depends on your ability at typing, for anyone with a reasonable wpm an iPad is a major hindrance.
  - untog 13y ago
    I see an increasing number of people using keyboard cases with iPads. They work fine.
  - doorhammer 13y ago
    I type about 90wpm on a keyboard and I can get a pretty consistent 55wpm - 60wpm using an ipad iwth the touch screen keyboard. I've used it as a big part of a content creation when creating with training materials and writing sop's, etc. It's obviously slower than my normal typing speed, but I've actually been surprised at how content I've been using it for that sort of thing. If I'm authoring anything of any substance, the bottleneck is usually my brain and not my typing speed, as far as phrasing and structure goes. I had originally thought about getting an external keyboard/keyboard case for it, but once I realized I could bang out text pretty quickly, I said "screw it" and just got a smart cover. I also hated the idea of bulking the thing up. I've also done a lot of document notation and review with PDFExpert adn that experience was really handy. Obviously you wouldn't make the final edits there, but given the right software, I don't think it would be that crazy. Obviously hugely subjective and ymmv I've also wondered how much could be done with a touch screen-only interface for code editors, using structure detection and the sort to input elements. After using Lisping for a bit on the iPad, I think you could really do some interesting things to make a really productive editor on an ipad. I really like that project because it seems to be the only editor I've found that really tries to embrace the tablet experience from the ground up. It's not perfect, but it's definitely a step. Not sure there's a market there, but it's interesting to me.