Related
When you double press the home button with you get the Sense UI overview of all homescreens. Its more useless than usefull and plain annoying if accidentally activated. How can we disable this specific feature without breaking Sense UI?
Easy: Get LauncherPro.
--
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk Pro.
Tried it and many others - Sense UI fits my needs and my taste better than all.
Simple: Don't do that then.
Also, a third press closes the preview.
I use an app called PreHome that is a great task switcher and launcher that works off the home button. When you press the home button it pops up, a second home press gives the SenseUI home screen. The preview home screen never pops up.
frifox said:
Tried it and many others - Sense UI fits my needs and my taste better than all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know LauncherPro can be customized any way you want, right? It can have the same "taste" as Rosie with far more customization and options.
try adw.Launcher.
i swipe down on my screen to access my "wall of screens".
TheBiles said:
You know LauncherPro can be customized any way you want, right? It can have the same "taste" as Rosie with far more customization and options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. open app drawer, hit search key... no way to filter apps by whatever you typed
2. scrolling between home screens isnt intuitive. if scrolling fast, screen wiggles left/right but doesnt change.
3. app drawer opens up too slow, didnt find the setting for that in preferences either
4. no sense ui widgets
jedwardmiller said:
I use an app called PreHome that is a great task switcher and launcher that works off the home button. When you press the home button it pops up, a second home press gives the SenseUI home screen. The preview home screen never pops up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. app list loads slow. froyo sense ui's task switcher is much quicker/nicer
2. doesn't open sense ui first. having to extra-press home key is same as hitting it again to close previews.
tdusen said:
Simple: Don't do that then.
Also, a third press closes the preview.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
true, that's what i currently do... but hitting home button again before previews finished "zooming" simply re-does that zooming action, sometimes resulting in me pressing it 5 times before finally pausing and letting it finish zooming and then finally exiting the expose-wannabe.
stock evo's 30fps cap (33ms per frame) made me wanna throw this brick against the wall, but the fps uncap to 50fps (20ms per frame) saved me from murdering the phone. thats a mere 13ms difference. that being said, you now can probably imagine how those 2,000ms-just-wasted-for-previews are driving me nuts all i'm looking for is an app that would lock the homekey and put it through a simple filter:
Code:
if($homekey=='single_press' && $foreground='sense_ui' && $current_screen=='home'){
$key_press->ignore();
}else{
$key_press->do();
}
any ideas?
frifox said:
1. open app drawer, hit search key... no way to filter apps by whatever you typed
2. scrolling between home screens isnt intuitive. if scrolling fast, screen wiggles left/right but doesnt change.
3. app drawer opens up too slow, didnt find the setting for that in preferences either
4. no sense ui widgets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. You don't even have to open the app drawer to search applications, at least on CM6. Just hit the quick search button and start typing away. You can also hide icons you don't want in LauncherPro.
2. Do you have Parkinson's or something?
3. Preferences -> Avanced Settings -> Opening speed. You can also find all of the other speed and scrolling settings here.
4. LauncherPro Plus has identical copies of the bookmarks, calendar, and contacts widgets with more on the way. There are also superior widgets on the Market that more than replace the HTC widgets.
TheBiles said:
1. You don't even have to open the app drawer to search applications, at least on CM6. Just hit the quick search button and start typing away. You can also hide icons you don't want in LauncherPro.
2. Do you have Parkinson's or something?
3. Preferences -> Avanced Settings -> Opening speed. You can also find all of the other speed and scrolling settings here.
4. LauncherPro Plus has identical copies of the bookmarks, calendar, and contacts widgets with more on the way. There are also superior widgets on the Market that more than replace the HTC widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. yup, i'm aware of that feature, but it searches more than just the apps... its more than i need but does the job i guess
2. i navigate ui VERY fast, and many times apps (mobile & PC) have hard time keeping up. i prefer apps/os's to adapt to my style or modify them to what i prefer, not the other way around
3. hmm, paid version? didn't see that in the free one, or i just didn't look hard enough
4. i'm looking for the clock. aka, the flip clock + weather + onscreen animations
You get plus by buying it from the dev's website for $3. Then you just enter the activation code in the app. Beautiful Widgets is the perfect clock replacement, in my opinion. Not only does it have a TON of skins, but you can assign different shortcuts to it. No full screen weather animation, but that's just useless eye candy that lasts 2 seconds when you aren't even using your phone.
Hi!
Was wondering if we could somehow override the home button long press to run a custom application instead of showing the recent apps list? This way, we could develop a custom application which shows more stuff rather than just 6 recent apps.
Some ideas are - integrating a task manager which shows running apps, favorite apps shortcuts, shortcut to app drawer etc.
I could develop the application but I wouldn't know how to override the home button long press! Any ideas anyone?
Cheers,
San
Well, there is at least one (paid) app that already does this (could be more but i don't know of them) - "MultiTasking Pro" http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.tkdtnek23.app.multitaskingpro
It would be nice to have extra functionality though, such as a clock (say, if you're in the middle of a game and want to check the time).
As for how it works, just from testing it out, it appears to act as a launcher (given that single home button press takes you to home launcher). I gather this as I had to set it as the default app when i pressed home button for the first time, aswell asthe fact that you have to select the home launcher in the app settings.
The way the app works is, press home button once brings up the menu (overlaying existing app). press it a second time and it takes you to the "default" home launcher as selected in settings. If you hold down home, the original app menu pops up, reinforcing the fact that this isn't a replacement per se.
Of course, overriding the original home button hold function menu would appear to be a much cleaner solution, and I welcome any info on that... whether its integrated into touchwiz or what not... One things for sure, is that samsung modified it to include a link to their "task manager" app.
TaskSwitcher is better, faster, uses less memory and it's completely free.
However no app can replace the long press. It needs kernel/system file modding.
Bec07 said:
TaskSwitcher is better, faster, uses less memory and it's completely free.
However no app can replace the long press. It needs kernel/system file modding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, not possible. Does anyone know if it was implemented in other android phones?
PS. Power strip is better =) Very very fast and you can see 12 recent apps + widgets. Itching thumb is very promising, but its a plain beta for now.
Yeah but itching thumb uses a LOT of memory.
Bec07 said:
Yeah but itching thumb uses a LOT of memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me Itching Thumb is currently the only task switcher style thing I find good enough (interface, functionality) to run next to Launcher Pro... I uninstalled all others I tried before.
But if I could have Launcher Pro on short press home, and Itching Thumb on long press home, that would be exactly how I would want that . Because I think optimizations such as memory use will come in time anyway.
I hope for the visual style to be integrated in android and have a real preview, live of the app.
Bec07 said:
However no app can replace the long press. It needs kernel/system file modding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any idea on what would need to be modified?
I'm hoping the discussion in this thread can inspire devs to really tweak Android.
An article I read a while back through Daring Fireball really got me thinking on how to fix the back button. This quote in particular:
They’ve replaced dumb hardware buttons with equally dumb software buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/01/16/android-buttons
This is also a good discussion on the topic:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/10/2...uidelines-update-settings-navigation#98209921
This is what I've come up with:
The back button should be dimmed or not visible at all when looking at the home screen.
This should also be the case for looking at the home/main scene of an app, for this reason:
The back button should never take you out of an app to the home screen, that is what the home button is for.
Instead of using the back button to close apps, use the task switcher to swipe away and actually close unwanted apps.
I know all this is possible, I just don't know how feasible it would be. I would love to see these changes in Android, what do you think?
I actually use the back button to exit out of applications, this way the app get's a chance to save any information to files. if it's forced closed, these writes can sometimes get missed and cause inconsistencies in the app (or lost time if game progress is not saved).
Having it on the home screen maintains a consistent look that many people appreciate. What i find is fantastic now is how the button rotate to the right place regardless of orientation, I KNOW that if I'm in landscape, the buttons will always be on the right hand side.
The buttons also dim down to dots in some applications (not sure if it's a new API) look at the camera app to see this in action. This removes the aesthetics of the bright buttons while leaving the functionality.
I guess you can argue about anything these days. The software keys will work better as apps are updated to 4.0 API, but to get full use out of them use AOKP, or just remove them altogether and use LMT's Pie menu. Problem fixed.
If the user accidentally opens an app, it wants to go back to where he was before. If the user opens Maps from the Gmail app, and the user wants to go back, the only way to do so is by pressing the back key.
If the user is in the App Drawer, accidentally opens an app, it wants to go back to the app drawer, and not back to the home screens.
The home button doesn't close the app, but tells the app that it's moved to the background.
The back button closes the app, tells the app it is being destroyed and lots of memory will be given back to the system.
With Android, it's possible to open app X within app Y(if the developer of app Y wants the user to do so). It wouldn't make any sense if the user had no way to undo that operation.
In my opinion, the navigation buttons are used properly.
EDIT:
Matridom said:
I actually use the back button to exit out of applications, this way the app get's a chance to save any information to files. if it's forced closed, these writes can sometimes get missed and cause inconsistencies in the app (or lost time if game progress is not saved).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Android Documentation states that developers should save their data when onStop is called. onStop will be called both when user presses the home button, and when users presses the back button. So in theory, both buttons should work fine.
The buttons also dim down to dots in some applications (not sure if it's a new API) look at the camera app to see this in action. This removes the aesthetics of the bright buttons while leaving the functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's an API. It's possible to dim those buttons in some apps(like gallery/camera), and it's also possible to hide those buttons. The buttons will re-appear as soon as the user touches the screen. Look at the YouTube app if you want to see the buttons disappear and re-appear.
fifarunnerr said:
If the user accidentally opens an app, it wants to go back to where he was before. If the user opens Maps from the Gmail app, and the user wants to go back, the only way to do so is by pressing the back key.
If the user is in the App Drawer, accidentally opens an app, it wants to go back to the app drawer, and not back to the home screens.
The home button doesn't close the app, but tells the app that it's moved to the background.
The back button closes the app, tells the app it is being destroyed and lots of memory will be given back to the system.
With Android, it's possible to open app X within app Y(if the developer of app Y wants the user to do so). It wouldn't make any sense if the user had no way to undo that operation.
In my opinion, the navigation buttons are used properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. I dont think it is "broken". It works well for me and I hate using my friend iPhone because it doesnt have a back button and I have to find it on screen.
Matridom said:
I actually use the back button to exit out of applications, this way the app get's a chance to save any information to files. if it's forced closed, these writes can sometimes get missed and cause inconsistencies in the app (or lost time if game progress is not saved).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not talking about force closing apps, just regularly exiting apps only when they are swiped away from the multitask menu. I agree with everything else.
miketoasty said:
I guess you can argue about anything these days. The software keys will work better as apps are updated to 4.0 API, but to get full use out of them use AOKP, or just remove them altogether and use LMT's Pie menu. Problem fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not talking about removing the icons altogether, just make them contextually aware.
fifarunnerr said:
If the user accidentally opens an app, it wants to go back to where he was before. If the user opens Maps from the Gmail app, and the user wants to go back, the only way to do so is by pressing the back key.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't the case anymore with ICS. I think the multitask button should be utilized instead. Granted, it's one extra tap, but I think it's more consistent.
fifarunnerr said:
If the user is in the App Drawer, accidentally opens an app, it wants to go back to the app drawer, and not back to the home screens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that should happen. I realize that I'm arguing against actions Android has done since it's inception, but I believe that they are wrong now.
fifarunnerr said:
The home button doesn't close the app, but tells the app that it's moved to the background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The home button shouldn't close an app, they should never have to unless the system decide when it needs to close an app, or the user does by swiping it away.
juliano_q said:
I hate using my friend iPhone because it doesnt have a back button and I have to find it on screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same is for me as well, muscle memory is much faster. I just think the potential of the virtual back button is not even being scratched at yet.
thereddog said:
This isn't the case anymore with ICS. I think the multitask button should be utilized instead. Granted, it's one extra tap, but I think it's more consistent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Android, there are 2 ways of launching an app:
- As a new Task, this will add the app to the multitask interface
- As the same task, the new app won't be added to the multitask interface.
If you would like to see the second one, go to the Play Store, and click on the Email button. The Gmail apps opens. Now press the home button and open the multitask interface. You won't see the Gmail app, only the Play Store. If you open the Play Store, it'll open the gmail app, since it's the same task.
Press the home button again, and open the Gmail app(from the app drawer). The draft of the Play Store email won't show up, but it'll open the Gmail task that you opened before(for example, your latest received mail).
So, the multitask button won't work properly when the second way of launching an app is used.
The home button shouldn't close an app, they should never have to unless the system decide when it needs to close an app, or the user does by swiping it away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In some cases, the back button would fit better. When you're in the Paypal app and want to close it, it's much easier to press the back button(then the user logs out), instead of pressing home, multitask button, and swipe away(thats 3 times as much time/energy).
In Android, there are 2 ways of launching an app:
- As a new Task, this will add the app to the multitask interface
- As the same task, the new app won't be added to the multitask interface.
If you would like to see the second one, go to the Play Store, and click on the Email button. The Gmail apps opens. Now press the home button and open the multitask interface. You won't see the Gmail app, only the Play Store. If you open the Play Store, it'll open the gmail app, since it's the same task.
Press the home button again, and open the Gmail app(from the app drawer). The draft of the Play Store email won't show up, but it'll open the Gmail task that you opened before(for example, your latest received mail).
So, the multitask button won't work properly when the second way of launching an app is used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually agree with this. The back button would be used to to back into the store. GMail was never really opened though so it wouldn't have to be closed.
When you're in the Paypal app and want to close it, it's much easier to press the back button(then the user logs out), instead of pressing home, multitask button, and swipe away(thats 3 times as much time/energy).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In this case, I believe it is up to PayPal to have a Log Off button on the main scene of their app, and possibly in a context menu in other scenes.
although I get your main premise, I think it might be extra confusing when you have buttons just "randomly" disappearing and reappearing.
martonikaj said:
although I get your main premise, I think it might be extra confusing when you have buttons just "randomly" disappearing and reappearing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe not disappear, dim would work
thereddog said:
Maybe not disappear, dim would work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly. But I think what you're looking for is a fundamental reworking of the OS here. The "Back" button is meant to work a certain way (completely at the OS level), and changing that changes everything.
What you're really looking for is the iPhone setup, where all you have is a "Home" and "Multitasking" (just double tap home, could be a separate button). All "Back" functions are handled at the app level, not the OS level. Back buttons are placed at the discretion of the developer.
The consistency provided by the Android way of handling "Back" at the OS level has many advantages I think.
The software keys actually work great. I've never had a problem with them. The menu key always comes up when its needed and I'm not finding myself missing the search key either.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
the whole back button talk has got me thinking. do you guys think the back virtual button will go away any time soon since the new style guides want a back button in the top left corner.?
The way the android back button works is simply brilliant and I hope it never changes. The application stack is very thoroughly thought out and designed for a specific reason. As already mentioned there are many examples/situations that wouldn't be possible if there was no activity stack history with the back button function. You just have to learn how the activity stack works.
And yes you should ALWAYS use the back button to leave an app, never home. It clears that activity stack. Only time to use home is when you want to background said app to come back to later, ie multitasking.
I pray to god they don't change the way the back button functions. I like having all my keys lit up whenever I'm not using a full screen application. I like that the back button goes through different apps/pages when you close out of it. This just integrates multi-tasking soooo much better. I don't want to have to wade through different clicks and apps just to get to a place I was before (i.e. backing into a different application). I'm not sure I understand the premise of this... please elaborate?
It is entirely possible to implement this in the OS, it's just a question if Google wants to do this. I personally am well adapted to Android's back button, and find it much better for multitasking than Apple's iOS design. Example:
1. Open Twitter, click on link from Tweet
2. Android opens the browser, I read whatever was posted, then hit back
3. I return to my Twitter feed, ready to move onto the next Tweet
This works in a multitude of apps, from Reader to Google Music to anything that wants to keep the previous app alive in the background. Can you imagine having a back button in the Browser that could both take you back a page and also take you back to the app you used to launch it? Apple's iOS solves this by eliminating any form of efficient multitasking in my opinion, as you have to double press home and select the previous app. The iPad does it better with gestures, but a soft back-key would easily suffice.
Additionally, Apple's iOS also has a varying design for the back-key, it's in different places for different apps. I personally love the static back-key on Android, and I've used both on a daily basis. You could dim the back button when on the home screen, but that would leave a gaping hole in the Navigation bar, in addition of wasting RAM/Processing power continuously disappearing and reappearing the key when you move from home-screen to app.
Been searching around, but couldn't find anything directly on this issue--
Is there any way to decrease the time that you need to hold the Home button to get the multitasking menu to pop up? As a side note, I've already disabled animations in the Developer Options, which helps to cut the time that it takes for the multitasking menu to become usable.
Thanks in advance.
davidrqli said:
Been searching around, but couldn't find anything directly on this issue--
Is there any way to decrease the time that you need to hold the Home button to get the multitasking menu to pop up? As a side note, I've already disabled animations in the Developer Options, which helps to cut the time that it takes for the multitasking menu to become usable.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well idk if this will be useful, but just use a gesture on a launcher to open up the multitasking menu. I didn't like how long the delay was either so now all I have to do is pinch n zoom with apex launcher and it opens it up.
davidrqli said:
Been searching around, but couldn't find anything directly on this issue--
Is there any way to decrease the time that you need to hold the Home button to get the multitasking menu to pop up? As a side note, I've already disabled animations in the Developer Options, which helps to cut the time that it takes for the multitasking menu to become usable.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disable S-Voice if you're not using it , it adds about half a seconds to long press waiting for double click action.
Its under S-Voice settings menu , and or just freeze the whole application.
CaLiSwEEPeR said:
well idk if this will be useful, but just use a gesture on a launcher to open up the multitasking menu. I didn't like how long the delay was either so now all I have to do is pinch n zoom with apex launcher and it opens it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been considering that, but I generally don't like mucking with launchers. We'll see, though--thanks for the suggestion.
ghost77 said:
Disable S-Voice if you're not using it , it adds about half a seconds to long press waiting for double click action.
Its under S-Voice settings menu , and or just freeze the whole application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean disabling the double-tap to launch or the entire application? The former doesn't seem to impact the multitasking menu launch delay, and I'd rather not go with the second option.
davidrqli said:
I've been considering that, but I generally don't like mucking with launchers. We'll see, though--thanks for the suggestion.
Do you mean disabling the double-tap to launch or the entire application? The former doesn't seem to impact the multitasking menu launch delay, and I'd rather not go with the second option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no problem I hope you find a solution!
Anyone have additional ideas on this? Thanks!
I read that Wanam was working on a "no home button lag", coming son I guess.Keep an eye on the dev forum during the week to see if it pops up. I know it will sooner or later.
The JB roms we have have virtually no delay for the recent app window.
'Button Savior', I liked it so much I ended up getting the paid version. There is a free version to try. This allows me so much control without having to beat up my hardware buttons. Even the volume. Use it with a different launcher or not. It works either way.
DudeWatsThat said:
I read that Wanam was working on a "no home button lag", coming son I guess.Keep an eye on the dev forum during the week to see if it pops up. I know it will sooner or later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that was applicable only to short-pressing the menu button (disabling double-tap to launch Siri gets rid of this delay anyways), and not the long-press Recent Apps menu, unfortunately.
I'm looking for a tool that can assign shortcuts or the likes, by long pressing one of the hardware buttons.
(Like Long pressing home opens recent apps and longpress power button opens shutdown menu.)
I've searched a litte but nothing usefull comes up.
Thanks.
Use this app-Home2 Shortcut from the play store..works well..
Lordemort said:
Use this app-Home2 Shortcut from the play store..works well..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the input, but it stays up, Taking RAM & Battery. I was looking more for a sort of System edit to make it work, without having an app open all the time.
Else I'd just use swipe opener.