I apologize if this is a repeat or an obvious question, but...
Has anyone had any success remapping the volume buttons to be page up/page down or simply up/down for any purpose? I'm specifically thinking of eBook readers that require tapping or swiping the screen currently to flip pages. But also perhaps browsers as well.
We saw this on WinMo devices back in the day, but I've never seen it on Android. Is it impossible, difficult, or simply not in demand?
Would appreciate any insight, and thanks for all you do.
I'm thinking an app would be able to hook the volume keys, and override their functionality.
But it would not be so easy to hook that functionality from outside the app you want to affect. You could also remap the volume keys to page up/down, assuming you have root.
Don't know about global remapping, but apps often do it themselves. For example Dolphin Browser HD has settings to scroll the page with vol up/down.
maejrep said:
I'm thinking an app would be able to hook the volume keys, and override their functionality.
But it would not be so easy to hook that functionality from outside the app you want to affect. You could also remap the volume keys to page up/down, assuming you have root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
Is there a built-in page up/page down function to which they could be mapped?
It would be more useful to make it either application-specific or a global app to grab them based on which app was running, but remapping might be worth it.
I'd love to see an app that would use the volume buttons as a physical camera shutter button. So much better than an onscreen button.
Aldiko reader in the market uses volume buttons to flip pages
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Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
katmandu421 said:
Aldiko reader in the market uses volume buttons to flip pages
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the help! That's halfway to solving all my problems!
Page up/page down on a browser would be great as well, but I'm very glad to have this.
Thanks again!
Related
After I made my version of the GB keyboard do paging with volume +/-, I thought a little about what else one might want. I know some people here really like to have apps in fullscreen mode, without the soft buttons, but then there is the problem of how to get out of such apps (unless the developer thoughtfully provided an exit option). Well, one could modify the GB keyboard app to map something to HOME. Here are three options that come to mind:
- Volume down press. (But then you can't adjust volume.)
- Long volume down hold. (But then your volume gets unnecessarily adjusted.)
- Half-long power hold. (Assuming I can map power keys. I haven't tried.) The down side is that if you want to pop up the long power hold menu, you will be sent home before it shows up. Still, that's perhaps not so bad if you only enable this feature for selected apps.
And here's another option, which could even work together with other keyboards:
- Power button double tap.
You press the power button twice within a short interval (say, 1/2 second) and the current app is exited. Of course, this won't look so good: the screen will turn off and turn back on. But it should be pretty easy to implement.
Any other thoughts?
Hi,
you could simply press the power-button long until the menu pops up and then switch to button-mode which provides a home-button
Instead of getting rid of the softkeys completely, I just make them smaller (24px) using Buttons for RW Rooted Archos.
I you have a rooted device, you can use the button savior app which is available on the market. You can locate this button wherever you want.
ma-shell said:
Hi,
you could simply press the power-button long until the menu pops up and then switch to button-mode which provides a home-button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think not. When you an application is forced into fullscreen mode by setting the FULLSCREEN.FULL option in the manifest, the button mode option isn't in the menu--or so I recall.
bach0405 said:
I you have a rooted device, you can use the button savior app which is available on the market. You can locate this button wherever you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question: Has anybody benchmarked the device with and without button savior to see what it does to graphics performance?
arpruss said:
Question: Has anybody benchmarked the device with and without button savior to see what it does to graphics performance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, now I did.
AnTuTu 2D without Button Savior: 295
AnTuTu 3D without Button Savior: 674
AnTuTu 2D with Button Savior: 289
AnTuTu 3D with Button Savior: 666
So, surprisingly little difference.
arpruss said:
I think not. When you an application is forced into fullscreen mode by setting the FULLSCREEN.FULL option in the manifest, the button mode option isn't in the menu--or so I recall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, what about e.g. the default clock-app or the gallery-app by archos? They don't have those Buttons but you can get them over the menu. Is this somehow "another kind of fullscreen"?
ma-shell said:
Oh, what about e.g. the default clock-app or the gallery-app by archos? They don't have those Buttons but you can get them over the menu. Is this somehow "another kind of fullscreen"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am thinking of apps forced into fullscreen mode either by modifying their manifest.xml file, or by editing the device's packages.xml. These are apps not designed to be used in fullscreen mode, but which can benefit from a fullscreen mode.
Yes, i know thats not what the play is for, but sometimes i want to use it for e-books.
Is there an app that allows me to turn pages with my shoulder buttons?
PLAY around with the button changer apps
I used the XDA App to post this, what did you use?
Played around with them but could not get ihem to work. I use CM7.
Do they even allow remapping to the volume keys?
Well there was an app, but doesn't support new FW.
no point in making now since ICE CREAM SAMMICH is coming next month. Give time till NOVEMBER and in sure there will be an app for it.
I used the XDA App to post this, what did you use?
And how would waiting for till November solve anything?
Back to my question, is there an e reader out there that allows you to chose wat buttons turn the page? Seems to me like that would be a basic feature, but the ones i tried didn't have it.
Keep in mind that unlike volume buttons, shoulder buttons are by no mean a standard feature of Android phones. It's not a "basic feature" at all.
The user hatcyl is working on an app to give extra functions to the buttons. That would be your best bet
I am not saying shoulder buttons are a basic feature, but i am saying that choosing what button goes to the next page is a basic feature.
There are tons of different phones out there with facebook button and multimedia buttons. Not to mention camera buttons. Or even the dpads.
Is there no ebook reader app that lets me pick what keys turn the page?
Azeazezar said:
I am not saying shoulder buttons are a basic feature, but i am saying that choosing what button goes to the next page is a basic feature.
There are tons of different phones out there with facebook button and multimedia buttons. Not to mention camera buttons. Or even the dpads.
Is there no ebook reader app that lets me pick what keys turn the page?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried Cool Reader, FBReader and Aldiko to no avail . The only common feature for Android smartphones are the volume buttons. There are more readers though, like Moon+, Laputa and Mantano.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=850464
This has been my solution.
I used it to set both shoulder buttons to volume down.
Hope it helps everyone else.
Azeazezar said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=850464
This has been my solution.
I used it to set both shoulder buttons to volume down.
Hope it helps everyone else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you need to reboot every time you change the mapping or does it work without reboot please. Also if I map sholder buttons to dpUp and dpDown for example and then start a game which has it's own function attached to shoulder buttons, what will be prevailing: my own mapping or the in-game mapping? Thank you in advance.
You have to do a "Hot reboot" to change the buttons. This takes about a minute.
I haven't tried gaming with this settings. I always change the buttons back when i'm done.
I keep managing to hit (with my palm) the capacitive back button (right capacitive touch press to the home button) when taking notes through the note taking application. Is there anyway to disable the back button when taking notes?
Thanks in advance for any kind assistance.
arsi123 said:
I keep managing to hit (with my palm) the capacitive back button (right capacitive touch press to the home button) when taking notes through the note taking application. Is there anyway to disable the back button when taking notes?
Thanks in anticipation for any assistance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had this problem too and the only way I have found to overcome it is with GMD Pen control which allows you to temporarily disable the buttons. You do need to be rooted and it is a paid app, but well worth it in my opinion. The Play store link is:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...1bGwsMSwxLDIxMiwiY29tLmdtZC5zcGVuY29udHJvbCJd
There is also a forum thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1990386
The developer is very responsive to issues and ideas.
I hope this helps.
One option is to use a program like 'ultimate rotation control' to temporarily flip your screen 180 degrees.
That way the capacitive buttons are on top, away from your palms.
- Frank
Census Taker said:
I have had this problem too and the only way I have found to overcome it is with GMD Pen control which allows you to temporarily disable the buttons. You do need to be rooted and it is a paid app, but well worth it in my opinion. The Play store link is:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...1bGwsMSwxLDIxMiwiY29tLmdtZC5zcGVuY29udHJvbCJd
There is also a forum thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1990386
The developer is very responsive to issues and ideas.
I hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a million mate! That application has solved the issue.
Great. I'm glad I was able to help!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
Hold on a sec, if the air view is tuned on (or maybe with off too) the capacitive buttons are automatically deactivated, at least that how it works on mine!
jujuburi said:
Hold on a sec, if the air view is tuned on (or maybe with off too) the capacitive buttons are automatically deactivated, at least that how it works on mine!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, doesn't deactivate in my case, and apparently, it's not an issue solely affecting me. It's an issue that affects everyone. I'm surprised how your phone manages to deactivate the touch buttons?
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
My Galaxy S4 has an Assistant Menu which provides things like an on screen Home and menu button. It's not in my Note 8.0 yet but may be added in a future release I guess.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk HD
Button Savior from the Play Store may do what you are after. It's funny. l personally like the hardware home key.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda premium
If you are rooted it would be simple to change your back or menu button to act as your home. You can go to /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchscreen.kl and edit the BACK or MENU to read HOME.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
I am using GMD gesture control on note 2&8 to simulate hardware buttons and keeping full screen for applications
Envoyé depuis mon GT-N7100 avec Tapatalk
Same issue as the OP, I'm using LMT with a pie control right on top of the hardware home button.
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Taskbar task switcher by gdroid, it places a Return to desktop shortcut along with a configurable number of recent apps in the notifications pull down.
sisterchick said:
Button Savior from the Play Store may do what you are after. It's funny. l personally like the hardware home key.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Button Savior looks helpful, I played with it a little using both auto-hide and permanent display modes. The only downside to hidden mode is it takes two motions, first to expand the menu, then to click the home button. That can be done pretty quickly though.
Why do you like having a hardware button? I don't see why they made 2 buttons compatible with S-pen, and didn't make the Home button usable with the stylus as well.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app
ual4720 said:
If you are rooted it would be simple to change your back or menu button to act as your home. You can go to /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchscreen.kl and edit the BACK or MENU to read HOME.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that would be useful. Is it also possible to assign those actions to a long-press? For example, Menu goes to Home with long press.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app
Handy Hardware Button
MikeChelen said:
Button Savior looks helpful, I played with it a little using both auto-hide and permanent display modes. The only downside to hidden mode is it takes two motions, first to expand the menu, then to click the home button. That can be done pretty quickly though.
Why do you like having a hardware button? I don't see why they made 2 buttons compatible with S-pen, and didn't make the Home button usable with the stylus as well.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Habit would probably be the best answer. I came to the Note 8 from a hacked Nook Color running CM10. I got accustomed to waking the device with the "n" hardware button. Like my old Nook, I put a non-slip bumper case on my Note 8 which makes pushing the power button to wake a little tedious. I also like to read in the dark and like the hardware key as a landmark for orientation when I pick it up with the lights off. Finally, I use the tablet in the kitchen on a stand for displaying recipes. I use a cheapest of the cheap $5 stylus in the kitchen to wake it up by pushing the hardware key and for scrolling pages so I don't get the tablet or the S-pen all gunked up with cookie dough from my fingers.:silly:
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROM
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LMT Pie
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use your Note 8 in landscape mode, you'll soon wish all keys were physical, not capacitive.
tokugawa said:
If you use your Note 8 in landscape mode, you'll soon wish all keys were physical, not capacitive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my concern, Im hoping that by using a case that goes over the bevel rather than sits flush with it, my palm will be less likely to brush against the back and menu capacitive buttons when playing games or drawing. My device should be arriving this evening so I will have to experiment to find my best solution. I dont want to mod the software to disble the buttons and get the traditional menu bar on the screen. I value the screen real estate. If they were physical buttons I wouldnt have this issue
hertsjoatmon said:
This is my concern, Im hoping that by using a case that goes over the bevel rather than sits flush with it, my palm will be less likely to brush against the back and menu capacitive buttons when playing games or drawing. My device should be arriving this evening so I will have to experiment to find my best solution. I dont want to mod the software to disble the buttons and get the traditional menu bar on the screen. I value the screen real estate. If they were physical buttons I wouldnt have this issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still a bit annoying to me in landscape mode, but in Portrait mode it's been actually quite fine (even drawing). Perfect would be an app that could just temporarily disable/toggle it (maybe via a small 1x1 widget). Then if I want to use it in landscape mode (or whenever Im going to use it in a way that could be annoying with the capacitive keys), I could simply turn it on.
I do like the physical/capacitive keys in general too, since I also value the screen real estate so I guess for me a toggle solution would be best. Maybe I'll investigate into it and make it myself...
Or you can add Home button as Multiwindow "app" with this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t2.shome
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Hi, there's a way for disabling the capacitive keys, just look under development here on this forum. The mod will disable the keys and require the S Pen to make them work (quite useful for landscape) to enable On-Screen Buttons you should try this (works on the Galaxy S3/Note/Note II) I haven't tested in the Note 8 but I will as soon as I get mine (by the end of this month).
Enable on-screen buttons:
You will need root access for this.
Install ES File Explorer File Manager on your Note from the Play Store. This is a file manager that will be used to edit those system files to enable/disable on-screen/soft buttons.
Open ES Explorer. Then, click the menu button on your device and click Settings. Here, tick the “Up to Root” option. Then go down and tick the “Root Explorer” option, then press Allow/Grant button when prompted to grant it root access. Then, tick the “Mount File System Option” as well. Once all three options are selected, press back to exit the settings.
Hit the Up on top in ES Explorer till you reach the outermost folder (till it says / at the top).
Go into the system folder, then scroll down to find the build.prop file (Copy this file to a Safe location!!).
Tap on this file to start editing it. If you get an “Open With” prompt, select “ES Note Editor”.
Now, at the end of the file (at the bottom after the last line), add the line “qemu.hw.mainkeys=0″ (without the ” quotes), then save the file (press the Menu button to see the Save option).
Then, reboot. After the boot up, you should have the virtual on-screen buttons on your screen.
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app
EDIT
How-to: disable the home button
The thread that Samper was referring to is at: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2250941
I can't post there yet, so I would like to add here that after disabling the menu/back buttons as described there, I worked out how to disable the home button. Following the same instructions as in the above link, also edit the gpio-keys.kl, changing the last line by adding a # to the beginning, so it looks like this:
Code:
#key 172 HOME WAKE
Now that all three buttons are completely dead (though the pen will still activate the menu/back buttons), I use LMT Launcher to provide pie controls at the bottom of the screen. Get it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1330150. PieControl from the Play Store is an easier-to-configure but less powerful alternative to LMT.
Couldn't find anything about this anywhere, so I'm starting a new thread.
Is there a way to remap what application loads when long-pressing the home soft-key? I've remapped what app loads when holding the volume-up key with the screen-off, but I'm looking to have a specific application run when holding the home button soft key, instead of the default "google" option that appears when doing it on the stock ROM.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, as would the monitors moving this thread to its proper location if it should belong somewhere else :good:
We'll need root.
I wish OEMs would include this level of customization by default. I wouldn't mind having my home button long press either launch my camera or the App Swap app and have my recent button long press switch to the last app.
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
partylikeaninjastar said:
We'll need root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I was hoping there might be a workaround (like KeyPlus) or an app like Home2Shortcut which I used on my SGS5 to accomplish that change. Oh well. Guess I'll just keep doing what I've been doing: patiently waiting for root to drop whenever the dev's involved feel it's ready! Thanks for the quick reply!