Initial thoughts and some performance issues
Comment on installation:
I noted after installing Options+ the old version of Options was still running. After a restart it didn’t load again. I don’t recall any instructions to restart the computer after installation. So on one of my computers, it was running for days with both Options and Options+ loaded as per Task Manager.
Suggestion: The user be told to restart to clear any remnants of the old version for systems that had Options previously running on their computer. Actually, the old Options should be uninstalled as part of installing Options+. This will eliminate any potential conflict between the two programs. I found on one computer the original Options would load on each computer restart. I went around to all three computers and removed the older Options to ensure that there were no application conflicts between the old and the plus versions.
Intermittent Transition of Mouse and Keyboard Between Computers
I am finding that I cannot transition between the two computers all of the time using Flow. I use the control plus move the mouse at the edge feature. When I look at the flow panel on both computers it shows the other computer “Connected” yet when I try and transfer to the other computer it won’t work.
I try various techniques such as:
Hold the control key and slowly move the mouse across the boundary
Hold the control key and rapidly “flick” the mouse across the boundary
I note that if I turn Flow on and off, I immediately see the “connected” changes on both computers. This is indicating that the computers are talking to each other as the response is quite quick as I turn Flow on and off from either computer. Sometimes after turning Flow off and then back on I can then transition between computers with the control & mouse movement at the edge. Other times it doesn’t.
Sometimes I manually set the KB and mouse to the other computer and then try the Flow transition method and the mouse and KB will transition.
A little later I can no longer transition without trying one of the methods described above.
I haven’t been able to find a pattern of conditions when it will stop transitioning. This non-transitioning situation can occur randomly.
Options+ Tray Icon – Missing
I notice in the version of the Beta there is no Tray Icon for Options+. I found this feature handy to be able to start the application if I wanted to view the status or make a change. I especially miss it while trying out this Beta. It would be appreciated to have this back so that it is easy to jump into the app to see what the status is or try a different setting.
Requested feature:
There are times where I want to manually switch between computers. Currently you have to do the changes individually on both the keyboard and mouse (MX Keys & MX Master 3) if you want to manually switch between computers.
Suggestion: I strongly recommend that there should be a feature (selectable or permanent) that when you press the Easy-Switch button on the keyboard both the keyboard and the mouse would switch to the same computer.