kernel-packages team mailing list archive

[Clinton <cssprain@xxxxxxxxx>]

Public bug reported:

When using the appletouch driver on a Macbook 3,1, the cursor moves in
noticable horizontal or vertical 'steps'. This is particularly
noticeable when dragging a diagonal line. This can make the trackpad
very difficult to use, as it becomes hard to hone in on small objects,
particularly if the user has opted for a faster cursor. This issue is
also described in a forum thread:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=813884&page=6

There is a workaround that involves modifying and recompiling
appletouch.c with a couple of changes. This is also detailed in bug
#1034132.

Original:
#define ATP_FUZZ 16
#define ATP_THRESHOLD 5

New:
#define ATP_FUZZ 0
#define ATP_THRESHOLD 2

This makes the trackpad much more usable, though slight stepping is
still noticable. I've found the modification below seems to provide a
small amount of additional smoothness:

Original:
pcum += (xy_sensors[i] - threshold) * i;
psum += (xy_sensors[i] - threshold);

New:
pcum += (xy_sensors[i]) * i;
psum += (xy_sensors[i]);

Regression testing will be necessary on the earlier (pre-geyser 4)
models to rule out the possibility that these changes would just be
trading better behavior for some models at the expense of others; if
that were the case, some conditional logic would be in order.

I expect this bug to hit a larger audience as owners of Macbooks too old
for OS X Mavericks begin to migrate to Linux.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.12.0-7-generic 3.12.0-7.15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.12.0-7.15-generic 3.12.4
Uname: Linux 3.12.0-7-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.12.7-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0:  ubuntu     2706 F.... pulseaudio
CasperVersion: 1.336ubuntu1
CurrentDesktop: Unity
CurrentDmesg:
 [   31.859199] sky2 0000:03:00.0 eth0: Link is up at 1000 Mbps, full duplex, flow control both
 [   31.859229] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth0: link becomes ready
 [  299.816181] mce: [Hardware Error]: Machine check events logged
Date: Fri Dec 27 03:05:13 2013
IwConfig:
 eth0      no wireless extensions.
 
 lo        no wireless extensions.
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20131226)
MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBook3,1
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz.efi file=/cdrom/preseed/username.seed boot=casper quiet splash --
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.12.0-7-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.12.0-7-generic  N/A
 linux-firmware                            1.117
RfKill:
 0: hci0: Bluetooth
 	Soft blocked: no
 	Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/05/08
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MB31.88Z.008E.B02.0803051832
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Mac-F22788C8
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.board.version: PVT
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag#
dmi.chassis.type: 2
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-F22788C8
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMB31.88Z.008E.B02.0803051832:bd03/05/08:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBook3,1:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-F22788C8:rvrPVT:cvnAppleInc.:ct2:cvrMac-F22788C8:
dmi.product.name: MacBook3,1
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.

** Affects: linux (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Confirmed


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug precise quantal raring saucy trusty

-- 
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Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1264426

Title:
  Appletouch driver moves cursor in steps

Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  When using the appletouch driver on a Macbook 3,1, the cursor moves in
  noticable horizontal or vertical 'steps'. This is particularly
  noticeable when dragging a diagonal line. This can make the trackpad
  very difficult to use, as it becomes hard to hone in on small objects,
  particularly if the user has opted for a faster cursor. This issue is
  also described in a forum thread:
  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=813884&page=6

  There is a workaround that involves modifying and recompiling
  appletouch.c with a couple of changes. This is also detailed in bug
  #1034132.

  Original:
  #define ATP_FUZZ 16
  #define ATP_THRESHOLD 5

  New:
  #define ATP_FUZZ 0
  #define ATP_THRESHOLD 2

  This makes the trackpad much more usable, though slight stepping is
  still noticable. I've found the modification below seems to provide a
  small amount of additional smoothness:

  Original:
  pcum += (xy_sensors[i] - threshold) * i;
  psum += (xy_sensors[i] - threshold);

  New:
  pcum += (xy_sensors[i]) * i;
  psum += (xy_sensors[i]);

  Regression testing will be necessary on the earlier (pre-geyser 4)
  models to rule out the possibility that these changes would just be
  trading better behavior for some models at the expense of others; if
  that were the case, some conditional logic would be in order.

  I expect this bug to hit a larger audience as owners of Macbooks too
  old for OS X Mavericks begin to migrate to Linux.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
  Package: linux-image-3.12.0-7-generic 3.12.0-7.15
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.12.0-7.15-generic 3.12.4
  Uname: Linux 3.12.0-7-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.12.7-0ubuntu3
  Architecture: amd64
  AudioDevicesInUse:
   USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
   /dev/snd/controlC0:  ubuntu     2706 F.... pulseaudio
  CasperVersion: 1.336ubuntu1
  CurrentDesktop: Unity
  CurrentDmesg:
   [   31.859199] sky2 0000:03:00.0 eth0: Link is up at 1000 Mbps, full duplex, flow control both
   [   31.859229] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth0: link becomes ready
   [  299.816181] mce: [Hardware Error]: Machine check events logged
  Date: Fri Dec 27 03:05:13 2013
  IwConfig:
   eth0      no wireless extensions.
   
   lo        no wireless extensions.
  LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20131226)
  MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBook3,1
  ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz.efi file=/cdrom/preseed/username.seed boot=casper quiet splash --
  RelatedPackageVersions:
   linux-restricted-modules-3.12.0-7-generic N/A
   linux-backports-modules-3.12.0-7-generic  N/A
   linux-firmware                            1.117
  RfKill:
   0: hci0: Bluetooth
   	Soft blocked: no
   	Hard blocked: no
  SourcePackage: linux
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  dmi.bios.date: 03/05/08
  dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc.
  dmi.bios.version: MB31.88Z.008E.B02.0803051832
  dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
  dmi.board.name: Mac-F22788C8
  dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc.
  dmi.board.version: PVT
  dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag#
  dmi.chassis.type: 2
  dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc.
  dmi.chassis.version: Mac-F22788C8
  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMB31.88Z.008E.B02.0803051832:bd03/05/08:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBook3,1:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-F22788C8:rvrPVT:cvnAppleInc.:ct2:cvrMac-F22788C8:
  dmi.product.name: MacBook3,1
  dmi.product.version: 1.0
  dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc.

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