Prompt to connect Bluetooth input devices when no input devices exist

[michaelkanis]

Currently in all Linux distributions I know, there is no way of connecting a bluetooth mouse without another mouse. macOS shows a window where you can do this as it's very first thing when you set up a new Mac that has no mouse connected (like a mac mini or iMac).

I think this app would be perfect to do something similar. Would add a lot to the UX polish.

Unfortunately I can't find a screenshot for this and currently don't have access to a stationary Mac, but from what I remember the dialog was very simple. It definitely wasn't the full bluetooth prefpane. It just said something along the lines "There is no mouse connected. Connect a wired mouse or put your Bluetooth mouse into pairing mode". It would then auto pair and connect any mouse that it found and I believe it would even automatically close the dialog.

[cassidyjames]

I've seen this dialog and know what you're talking about. 😁

@danrabbit what do you think about the Bluetooth indicator being in charge of that and throwing a special dialog if there's no mouse? I guess that would usually appear on the greeter instead of in a user session.

[cassidyjames]

@michaelkanis the reason I don't think this belongs in onboarding is because you have the greeter first, which requires a keyboard at least to create the first user. The Bluetooth indicator already knows about Bluetooth devices and seems like a natural place for this.

I guess it could also be its own sort of daemon, but that seems overkill. Unless GNOME Settings Daemon already has this sort of functionality, but I'm not aware.

[michaelkanis]

I think I've submitted this ticket too fast without actually thinking it through enough, because it would probably actually be also needed in the live session when installing. And, as you noted, of course in the greeter. Thrown in the idea nevertheless. 😉

[cassidyjames]

@michaelkanis luckily the Bluetooth indicator is running in all of those instances, so it could still make sense there. I've transferred this issue.

[danirabbit]

Yeah bluetooth indicator probably makes sense since it's bluetooth aware and exists pretty much always

[cassidyjames]

@danrabbit I guess the one counter-argument is on a system with no input devices and no Bluetooth, we might still want to prompt to like… plug in a mouse and keyboard.