[kde-embedded] KDE for embedded: update

[Agustin Benito (toscalix)]

Dear colleagues,

this mail is an attempt to inform you about the progress to bring KDE
to embedded.

FOSDEM 2019 has served as catalist for our efforts raising awareness
among our developers about the opportunities that Plasma Mobile and
Kirigami can bring in this industry.

The outcome of the past Plasma Sprint and additional technical effort
coordinated by Volker Krausse has allowed us to improve the demo we
have been showing in past events (ELCE 2018 and FOSDEM 2019). The
widgets has been improved, applications like Okular, Koko, Konsole or
KDEConnect has been added, the search bar works, the configuration
manager is functional which allow us to smoothly connect to wifi
networks or shutdown the RPi3 and the 7" RPi screen smoothly, etc.

KDEConnect allow us to include a phone in our demos and interact with
it sending files, using the phone as touchpad, etc. which has been
well received by those who have seen it or use it. The virtual
keyboard works without issues and it is automatically disabled when
connecting an external keyboard, the performance is remarkable and the
reaction of the touch screen has improved too, just to name some
improvements.

During the following weeks, several of us will continue to put effort
to show our demo at the Automotive Linux Summit that will take place
in Tokyo, Japan, in July, as well as other events like OpenExpoEurope,
where KDE will have a booth, OpenSouthCode, both in Spain and others
during this coming Spring.

We are reaching a point in which we need to think how to provide the
image of the demo to other KDE contributors so they can also show it
and contribute to it.

In conclusion, the progress made this past month has been significant
and it seems that more and more people is paying attention to Plasma
Mobile inside and outside our community. Yocto/Poky might end up being
a good distro for us to bring more attention to KDE, specially to
Plasma Mobile, Kirigami and the apps for this shell.

Best Regards

Agustin Benito (toscalix)
KDE eV member
Profile: http://www.toscalix.com