AndrOpen Office

[MarjaE]

So I do a lot of typing in Andropen Office.

It's an OpenOffice derivative adapted to Android.

I like that it works, it works reasonably well with e-ink devices, and it uses a constant cursor which usually hides the accursed blinking Android cursors.

I don't like that, like other Android apps, it crashes if I connect or disconnect a usb keyboard, or if a blutooth keyboard disconnects or reconnects itself, as they do.

I sometimes get a weird flicker effect with gray backgrounds.

It does have the OpenOffice/LibreOffice Navigator but it loads in its own small window. I can't figure out how to get it to appear alongside the document. I end up having to hide the Navigator and do all my navigation by repeated Page Up and Page Down.

It often requires several clicks to open the menu to edit math formulae, and I haven't figured out a way to type special characters.

Anyone else using it? Comments, questions, or suggestions?

[Quoth]

Android isn't suitable because
1) Many devices / versions can only have one window.
2) At best you can split the screen between two applications.
3) There is no real "window manager"

Jota (plain text) on Android lets you turn off the cursor flashing.

With Android it's best to connect or disconnect a keyboard when the app needed isn't even in the task list. I use a 3rd party Keyboard manager on some Android devices.

Open office is dead years ago.
Android adaptations of any serious desktop Software are usually poor because Andriod isn't designed for it. That's why Google also has ChromeOS, which is also totally inferior to Mac, Linux or Windows for content creation.

Edit:
Only Android app I ever bought and a nightmare to remove payment method from Google afterwards.
Maybe External Keyboard Helper Pro by Apedroid. It was bought for an Android 4 phone because that version only did USA layout.

Never had a crash.

[MarjaE]

Conventional screens give me migraines.

E-ink screens, used without backlights, don't.

And most e-ink devices either run Android or run their own specialist operating systems.

If I'm using Android, and need to write or edit an oft file with footnotes, then I think it's either AndrOpen Office or Collabora Office. I chose AndrOpen Office because it works around Android's blinding paincursors. I might use Collabora otherwise. I don't want to try to edit doc files...

[Quoth]

An LG 23″ 4K HDR with brightness at only 7 is very like eInk, except colour.

It is absolutely flicker free at any refresh rate, even out of the corner of the eye.

I have it adjusted in my library with subdued lighting and closed curtains so that it's just like coloured paper. No shiny and no reflections. The trick is lighting just good enough to read paper and massively turn down screen contrast and brightness to match paper beside it.
There is a larger Samsung 4K HDR that's nearly as good. Both are more advanced LCD than IPS and have no flicker, no colour or brightness shift with viewing position. They are first screens since 1980 I can spend hours reading documents on.
There are also eInk monitors, though not very good.
I have an Android eink tablet and it's far more tiring to edit on. I now only use it for the Irish library system.

I also recently added a Cherry "Stream" TKL keyboard with nicest action I've ever used. It's also very low profile. I have the rear sitting on the monitor stand's foot. Also Linux lets me directly type any character direct. The Compose key also means you can avoid AltGr combos as it's tapped and released to initiate extended input.
á by Compose ' a
à by key beside 1 and a
ø by Compose / o
ü by Compose " u
Any key not needed can be the Compose. I use Caps Lock, but you can use Win or List.

[Pajamaman]

I find an ascii text editor the way to go with e-ink. I use an app called Quickedit on an Onyx. It is the only free app I know that allows multiple tabbed files. I write and proof texts within it (proofing can also be done with epubs, but only for highlighting and adding notes, which I do in final stages). The tabbed files allows me to copy and paste between files easily. The disadvantage is the Onyx touch screen not being as sensitive as I would like. Also the stock keyboard lacks arrow navigation keys. I suppose I could make one. The old Nook Simple Touch was better in both respects.

If I use a BT keyboard, I go with some form of VIM. It is designed to work without having to touch the screen or need any type of pointer device. The controls are a learning curve, but not that hard, and very powerful.

I don't find that e-ink works well with complex software like full blown word processors. E-ink works well as part of the process, particularly for proofing, which can be done while laying on the sofa or playing with a cat.

[MarjaE]

I have a hard time judging computer monitors.

Most resources list maximum brightness, if I search for minimum, it's "you need at least 600 nits or whatever ..." after checking available stats, I was pretty sure a Samsung Galaxy Tab would be dim enough to use, but it was still far too bright.

Most also list maximum frame rates, because they assume people prefer "smooth" animation, but I get migraines and motion sickness from "smooth" and "ease" animation as well as from most monitors. On my main computer,I can reduce Firefox to 1 frame/second. I can't reduce most other apps and can't reduce the operating system setting below 50 frames/second. So it'd be nice if the monitor had suitable settings for *lower* frame rates, less than 3 frames/second. If anything, my Boox screen is too fast rather than too slow.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by MarjaE

I have a hard time judging computer monitors.

You have to try them in your own room and adjust the settings. The specs are pointless.
The settings and content in showrooms are pointless.
The Brightness spec aimed at bright daylight and other aspects for gamers or video. I've never seen any spec (other than screen is not shiny surface) of any use for editing or staring at documents other than screen size and resolution.

This is best I've ever used for text editing. Ignore the specs.
23" 3840 x2160
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01JM4E3UC/
This is 2nd best ever
28" 3840 x2160
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B081TR5BMH/
(Replaced by newer model)

Makes no difference of laptop is 24, 30 or 60 Hz.

When you set Firefox to whatever the screen refresh rate is unaffected on LCD & OLED & CRT.

An eink screen doesn't refresh in the same sense at all. It's static and only changes are written.

[MarjaE]

I'm getting increasingly painful rsi from having to reach over to add footnotes, edit tables, etc. I am not sure what solution might work. In theory a mouse shoukd works, but it takes too much space, and it invites trouble with cursor lag. I think switch control might be an option.