Jarne as AC Remote

Did you know that if you had a new model infrared Jarne and the proper firmware, you could use your Jarne as an infrared remote to control your air conditioning unit?!? 🤯

Plover v5.0.0.dev1 Released!

Plover v5.0.0.dev1 is here!

Features

Core

Update integrated Python version to 3.13. (#1720)

User Interface

Support dark mode that follows the system settings. (#1601)

Linux

On linux wayland, warn if ibus or fcitx5 isn't running. (#1711)

macOS

Add universal installer for macOS on Intel and Apple silicon. (#1720)

Bugfixes

Linux

Downgrade CI for building Linux AppImage to Ubuntu 22.04 to build against GLIBC 2.35. (#1718)

Fixed keyboards with mouse control functionality not able to be detected in the uinput module. (#1724)

Fix keys getting stuck if keys held when starting Plover and emulating keyboard with Uinput. (#1728)

When using Uinput, fix devices being disabled upon exceptions. (#1729)

macOS

Fix notifications for newer macOS versions. (#1601)

API

Breaking Changes

Update UI from PyQt5 to PySide6. (#1601)

3D Printed Lever Machine!!!

Noelle writes:

Hi everyone, recently I've been trying to get better at CAD and such by playing around with making a design for a lever machine, and I finally took what I have so far and printed and built a full machine out. I ended up with something pretty similar to the design in the lever machine thread, the main differences being a metal instead of 3D printed axle, and I put the magnets closer to the keys instead of all being at the back of the machine, which helps keep everything less wobbly. I've never touched a real lever machine in my life so I have no idea how well this actually replicates the feel, and it's missing some features like adjustable weight (and it's also like half held together with tape lol). But at least it writes pretty reliably.

🤯🤯🤯

Anna Sohn's Steno Videos

I just discovered Anna Sohn's YouTube Channel. I haven't watched all of her steno videos, but she's a court reporting student in a formal steno program who also uses a Starboard with Javelin, which makes me very happy. When I was in steno school, open steno didn't exist, and there weren't a lot of people who wanted to nerd out about the potential of spreading steno to learners who didn't necessarily want to become professionals, which made me kind of lonely. It's great to see someone with a foot in both sides of the steno world. I hope she keeps making more videos!

Plover 1Password Plugin

I don't use 1Password, but if you do, you should check out Paul Fioravanti's Plover Plugin! Especially if you've completely replaced your keyboard with a steno machine -- in which case, I salute you!

Vietnamese Steno!

Plover Discord member huynhtrankhanh has made a steno theory for Vietnamese! Also an innovative steno system that runs on two phones! Very cool stuff!!

Quick Stats

Yesterday I did an interview with a journalist about the Open Steno Project. It was really fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing the results in a few weeks! But one thing the journalist asked me was about the approximate size of the Open Steno community, and I thought that might be of interest to y'all, so I figured I'd post it.

Total downloads of Plover: 147,957

Now, of course this counts multiple releases potentially downloaded more than once by the same people, but still! That's a pretty respectable count, in my opinion! And of course that doesn't count people who are primarily using steno via Javelin, which would boost our numbers event more.

Plover Discord: 7,981 members

I'm really proud of this number too. Lots of really excellent people on there. One of them asked me to tell y'all about the Quote of the Day in the #raw-steno-only channel, where a different quote is posted every day and then everyone gets to show off their own idiosyncratic way of writing it. If you haven't yet joined the Plover Discord, you really should. It's the beating heart of the Open Steno community.