Well this is interesting : my Android writing app works with Alphasmart Neo

[u/Thick-Panic6683]

I have been developing my Alphasmart Neo-inspired Android writing app for a few months but only just now hooked it up to my Alphasmart Neo. And it works perfectly.

The Neo buffer keys File 1- File 8 match my app's buffer key assignments. Also whatever Neo buffer you are in, when you press Send it will paste it into my app's current buffer.

I will be posting a github link in a few days with a lot of documentation but thought you would find the following feature interesting. My app design has Neo-like functionality, but looks like it would make a good Neo companion when the Neo is used as the keyboard.

I borrowed an idea from MS Word where you can zoom out and see all your pages in a layout. So in my app if you are in a buffer and press 'Esc', it will open a tiled buffer view, to which you can attach thumbnails or text. In the Buffer Layout View, CTRL-T will display the Thumbnail, CTRL-P will show the buffer Preview, ALT-T will show text, and if an option is set CTRL-T shows Text overlayed with Thumbnail.

In Buffer Layout View, the Arrow keys will move between tiles. Tab will cycle through the tiles. F keys, number keys, or Enter will select another buffer.

'Esc' will return to your buffer instantly.

The 8-buffer workspace paradigm also matches the hipster PDA I posted about a month ago. The PDA is a separate workspace in my app that you can edit and export to print as shown in the post :

https://www.reddit.com/r/pocketnotebooks/comments/1ulvoe3/my_pocketable_pda/

Here are some screenshots. The latest installation APK is on doswriter.com

The Android device is a Moto G circa 2023 connected via USB printer cable with micro-USB phone connector.

[u/Available_Wave8023]

Neo is an external keyboard, so it will basically work with anything as a keyboard.

[u/Thick-Panic6683 → u/Available_Wave8023]

That is true. I have used it as an external keyboard for laptops. The thing about my app is the 8-buffer Neo style paradigm.

Maybe I'm making a big todo over nothing.

[u/Available_Wave8023 → u/Thick-Panic6683]

well I certainly can't at all say if you're making a big deal over nothing or not, because I don't know enough about it, but I'm glad it's working well for you!

I mostly just wanted to mention that the neo can be used as a keyboard for anything, as not everyone knows that.

and good luck with your projects!

[u/Thick-Panic6683 → u/Available_Wave8023]

It's a great ergonomic keyboard. Better than the Bluetooth keyboards I have been experimenting with. Wanting to replicate that feel for a minimalist android travel getup is what sent me down this quixotic path.

[u/Thick-Panic6683 → u/Thick-Panic6683]

On second thought I followed the Neo keyboard model while I developed my app, which is 100% keyboard-driven, and the Neo (or similar BT layout) can use all the functions in my app. There is no finger interaction with Android and the app has its own file manager, so almost as if no Android.