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Hi developers!
Would anyone be able to develop a tweak for the Desire so that we could use the volume keys to also modify the screen brightness up and down.
I'm thinking of something like when you first press the + or - button, a pop-up appears on the screen asking you whether you want to switch to brightness control and tapping on the screen would effectively switch to brightness control, while not tapping the screen but keeping pressing on the + or - button would maintain the default volume control (so that people who do not need the brightness control would not suffer the hassle of this additional option).
I think such tweaked feature would be a great addon to our phone. I'm used to use the lowest brightness possible in order to save battery but once I go outdoor or in any bright environement, I need to rapidely increase the screen brightness without the hassle of having to go through Settings etc...
Unfortunately, I'm no developer myself
Surfinette
You should try Brightness Profiles
Surfinette said:
Hi developers!
Would anyone be able to develop a tweak for the Desire so that we could use the volume keys to also modify the screen brightness up and down.
I'm thinking of something like when you first press the + or - button, a pop-up appears on the screen asking you whether you want to switch to brightness control and tapping on the screen would effectively switch to brightness control, while not tapping the screen but keeping pressing on the + or - button would maintain the default volume control (so that people who do not need the brightness control would not suffer the hassle of this additional option).
I think such tweaked feature would be a great addon to our phone. I'm used to use the lowest brightness possible in order to save battery but once I go outdoor or in any bright environement, I need to rapidely increase the screen brightness without the hassle of having to go through Settings etc...
Unfortunately, I'm no developer myself
Surfinette
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why dont you use power control from widgets.
So brightness can be changed without exiting apps.
A bit like in-app wifi switch (switch wifi with search button)
The dev of this app is on this forum and may be able to help.
spooky75 said:
You should try Brightness Profiles
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I know, I'm already using it
It is the best thing I found so far for my need, but it is still not perfect!
Because when I'm using an App requiring more brightness, I still need to "quit" it go to Home, hit the Brightness Profiles widget, change the brightness and switch back to the App.
For ultimate convenience, I wish I could just use the volume control buttons so that I would never have to go back and forth off my App screen...
I'm probably too lazy but still, that would be a cool feature (not less useful imho than using than tweaking the trackpad to make it a power button).
mercianary said:
So brightness can be changed without exiting apps.
A bit like in-app wifi switch (switch wifi with search button)
The dev of this app is on this forum and may be able to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly the philosophy behind what i'm looking for... and I was thinking of using the volume keys because brightness needs to be set up and down just like volume...
I think a switch may be better. Pressing it forces 100%. Then you could use a less used key. Like holding search.
Search for in-app wifi toggle in the market and email the dev. You never know he may develop the app you want if it only involves changing a few lines in his existing app.
Surfinette said:
Yes I know, I'm already using it
It is the best thing I found so far for my need, but it is still not perfect!
Because when I'm using an App requiring more brightness, I still need to "quit" it go to Home, hit the Brightness Profiles widget, change the brightness and switch back to the App.
For ultimate convenience, I wish I could just use the volume control buttons so that I would never have to go back and forth off my App screen...
I'm probably too lazy but still, that would be a cool feature (not less useful imho than using than tweaking the trackpad to make it a power button).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way I get round this is using Bar Control to put a shortcut to Brightness Profiles in the notification window shade - so changing the brightness is only ever a drag then tap away. You never have to leave your current app at all.
Tbh though, I would rather a hardware control like the vol key - the other day I had gone outside in the bright sun, and I honestly thought my phone had switched itself off cos I couldn't see the screen well enough to perform this simple procedure.
It's pretty rubbish imho that the battery life/poor AMOLED screen tech mean we have eff around changing screen brightness manually. In fact I'd go so far as to say it's a major fault with the phone...
Has anyone else noticed that the radios widget is no longer in Cyanogens 7.0.2.1? This is the widget that you can toggle the radios off and on in. I use this quite a bit as I do WiFi in my house, have Wimax at work and I trvel very heavily so I use airplane mode quite a bit.
-Don
dtabbs said:
Has anyone else noticed that the radios widget is no longer in Cyanogens 7.0.2.1? This is the widget that you can toggle the radios off and on in. I use this quite a bit as I do WiFi in my house, have Wimax at work and I trvel very heavily so I use airplane mode quite a bit.
-Don
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have that widget on my home screen right now, running CM7.0.2.1 it is called power control, and you just long press on the home screen, choose widget, and power control, then you choose which controls you want.
Its still there.
Settings > CM Settings > Interface > Notification Power Widgets
Scroll down to mobile data [3G], Wimax is your 4G, and Wifi toggle AP [hotspot]
Muellersirch said:
I have that widget on my home screen right now, running CM7.0.2.1 it is called power control, and you just long press on the home screen, choose widget, and power control, then you choose which controls you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, don't know why I could not find it previously.
-Don
P.S. This is BS that I have to wait five minutes to edit a post. can't do a ninja edit that way...
No problem man.
Hey everyone I’m switching from a jailbroken iPhone 4S to a Galaxy S3 AT&T. What similar apps and tweaks are available for the Galaxy S3 that I currently use on my iPhone? I also plan to root my S3 so any apps that are similar that require rooting are fine. Also any recommendations of cool tweaks, apps and ROMS are welcomed. I am new to this but I have read quite a bit. I like my phone looking totally different then everyone else’s. ☺
Any help is welcomed,
Thanks
Tweaks & apps I use on my iPhone:
Bite SMS – One can push the volume button and then tap the screen where it shows that volume being adjusted and quick composes a message. One may also quick reply without having to go into the native sms app, such as replying to a text message while in a game or in the music app.
- Features: “Quick Reply, Quick Compose, Passcode Lock, Delivery Reports”
Activator – One can set short cuts by customizing what a certain button or certain screen gestures such as pressing the home button three times and the camera flash turns into a flashlight. Another example is pressing the sleep button twice while listening to music and the phone will go to the next song in the playlist. Also one can set a gesture such as “pinching” an icon on the home screen and the email app will open in the compose new email window.
SBSettings - Simple shortcut utility allows you to access all of the system settings you toggle daily with a quick Activator action. For example, you could double tap your iPhone’s status bar to trigger a panel of settings, and adjust settings such as Bluetooth, wifi, 3G, brightness, kill background apps. Also have a toggle setting for the flash setting it as a flashlight on and off at an ease.
Tethering – Using the cellphones 3G or 4G to give out internet access by setting a wireless hotspot, Bluetooth or USB cable.
Folder Enhancer – unlimited amount of apps in any folder
Applocker – passcode apps and folders
Fake caller ID app
Lock screen quick features - camera app toggle and people you’d like to speed dial, flashlight
Remove running apps in the background with one touch
3G unrestrictor – run or download apps that are limited to only use while on wifi
Most of those things you can do without root.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
zak9494 said:
Hey everyone I’m switching from a jailbroken iPhone 4S to a Galaxy S3 AT&T. What similar apps and tweaks are available for the Galaxy S3 that I currently use on my iPhone? I also plan to root my S3 so any apps that are similar that require rooting are fine. Also any recommendations of cool tweaks, apps and ROMS are welcomed. I am new to this but I have read quite a bit. I like my phone looking totally different then everyone else’s. ☺
Any help is welcomed,
Thanks
Tweaks & apps I use on my iPhone:
Bite SMS – One can push the volume button and then tap the screen where it shows that volume being adjusted and quick composes a message. One may also quick reply without having to go into the native sms app, such as replying to a text message while in a game or in the music app.
-Features: “Quick Reply, Quick Compose, Passcode Lock, Delivery Reports”
Activator – One can set short cuts by customizing what a certain button or certain screen gestures such as pressing the home button three times and the camera flash turns into a flashlight. Another example is pressing the sleep button twice while listening to music and the phone will go to the next song in the playlist. Also one can set a gesture such as “pinching” an icon on the home screen and the email app will open in the compose new email window.
SBSettings - Simple shortcut utility allows you to access all of the system settings you toggle daily with a quick Activator action. For example, you could double tap your iPhone’s status bar to trigger a panel of settings, and adjust settings such as Bluetooth, wifi, 3G, brightness, kill background apps. Also have a toggle setting for the flash setting it as a flashlight on and off at an ease.
Tethering – Using the cellphones 3G or 4G to give out internet access by setting a wireless hotspot, Bluetooth or USB cable.
Folder Enhancer – unlimited amount of apps in any folder
Applocker – passcode apps and folders
Fake caller ID app
Lock screen quick features - camera app toggle and people you’d like to speed dial, flashlight
Remove running apps in the background with one touch
3G unrestrictor – run or download apps that are limited to only use while on wifi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CyanogenMod 10.1 - All of these features are included plus a million more...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
zak9494 said:
Hey everyone I’m switching from a jailbroken iPhone 4S to a Galaxy S3 AT&T. What similar apps and tweaks are available for the Galaxy S3 that I currently use on my iPhone? I also plan to root my S3 so any apps that are similar that require rooting are fine. Also any recommendations of cool tweaks, apps and ROMS are welcomed. I am new to this but I have read quite a bit. I like my phone looking totally different then everyone else’s. ☺
Any help is welcomed,
Thanks
Tweaks & apps I use on my iPhone:
Bite SMS – One can push the volume button and then tap the screen where it shows that volume being adjusted and quick composes a message. One may also quick reply without having to go into the native sms app, such as replying to a text message while in a game or in the music app.
- Features: “Quick Reply, Quick Compose, Passcode Lock, Delivery Reports”
Activator – One can set short cuts by customizing what a certain button or certain screen gestures such as pressing the home button three times and the camera flash turns into a flashlight. Another example is pressing the sleep button twice while listening to music and the phone will go to the next song in the playlist. Also one can set a gesture such as “pinching” an icon on the home screen and the email app will open in the compose new email window.
SBSettings - Simple shortcut utility allows you to access all of the system settings you toggle daily with a quick Activator action. For example, you could double tap your iPhone’s status bar to trigger a panel of settings, and adjust settings such as Bluetooth, wifi, 3G, brightness, kill background apps. Also have a toggle setting for the flash setting it as a flashlight on and off at an ease.
Tethering – Using the cellphones 3G or 4G to give out internet access by setting a wireless hotspot, Bluetooth or USB cable.
Folder Enhancer – unlimited amount of apps in any folder
Applocker – passcode apps and folders
Fake caller ID app
Lock screen quick features - camera app toggle and people you’d like to speed dial, flashlight
Remove running apps in the background with one touch
3G unrestrictor – run or download apps that are limited to only use while on wifi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just go to play store and look mos of what you post is there w/o rooting. BTW.. welcome to S3 forum. I switch around year ago and i never look back...
I highly recommend reading as many guides as you can (twice) before you destroy your phone. There are a thousand ways you can end up with a 600 dollar paperweight.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Hey everyone! I just got an XZ1C myself a few days ago, and I'd like to share a few of the little quality of life changes I personally use to make the everyday experience with this phone more to how I like it. I figured maybe everyone could contribute a few ideas here and there to help other users deal with things they might be frustrated with, but not know a solution for.
A couple of notes - I gave up the root life a while ago, so all of these solutions are non-root! Also, some of these apps are paid apps (though they might have lite or free versions). Sorry! But as a software developer myself, I have the obligation to pay it forward when I find a nice app.
So here goes!
Making the volume keys default to Media Volume:
Having owned a Samsung phone before, this is one of the things I miss most in almost any other Android phone. But, as they say, there's an app for that! There's a very simple app called Media Volume Only (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=catchpower.gogo.mediavolumeonly&hl=en), which binds your volume keys to Media by default. It asks for Call permissions to see if you're in a call, where it will then bind the volume keys to call volume. Otherwise, it will always be Media, which is great!
However, that means there isn't a super easy way to changing your ring volume, unless you first press the volume key to bring up the sliders and hitting the down arrow to show the rest of the sliders....which brought me to:
Re-adding the missing Ring/Vibrate Mode switch to quick switches:
I am using Central Europe .374 + US oem file to get Fingerprint+VoLTE on T-mobile; I'm not sure if it's because of the CE1 region or whatever else, but I couldn't find any button in the quick settings that would just toggle the phone to ring mode, vibrate mode or silent.
To remedy this, I use Shortcutter (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.leedroid.shortcutter&hl=en). This allows you to enable a ton of different switches in the quick settings dropdown, though some of them may not work properly without root and only with other phones. After installing Shortcutter, swipe over to the "Pull-Down" tab, then hit "System Setting Tiles". In this list, scroll down and you'll find "Ring Mode". Turning this switch on will put the Ring Mode icon into the box of icons you can edit your quick settings with. Finally, pull down your quick settings, click the pencil icon to modify the quick settings and scroll down to find Ring Mode.
This way, it's easy to switch the phone to silent before going into a movie, or a meeting at work.
Fixing the crazy stock backlight control:
The stock backlight is a little crazy right now. It jumps around when the room is dark and it does not transition smoothly. A great app for controlling backlight is Lux (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vito.lux&hl=en). It even allows you to keep different profiles and define exactly how bright you want the screen to be in any lighting situation, and it will keep a map of your selections for you! You can control all sorts of variables, like how quickly it will transition, if it should only transition given what % of lighting change, so on and so forth. It's really very powerful and useful. I haven't had any trouble with the XZ1C display since installing Lux, which I've used on previous phones as well. Highly recommend this one! There's a free version called Lux Lite (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vitocassisi.luxlite&hl=en), but I've never tried it so YMMV.
Alternative for No Double Tap to Wake (or not having Ambient Display):
This is another one I have almost always used on phones that aren't Nexii/Pixel or Motorola. Gravity Screen (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plexnor.gravityscreenofffree&hl=en) gives you a ton of different ways to automatically wake up the phone to the lockscreen. I find that using ONLY the Proximity Sensor setting to turn ON the screen (and turning everything else off) has negligible effect on the battery, and maintains extreme usefulness. With just that setting, when my phone is on the desk I can poke the phone where the proximity sensor is (as if I one-tap it) and it will wake up. If I take the phone out of my pocket, the phone turns on and is already waiting for me by the time I look at it. Super convenient!
UPDATE: Another user (quack3d) mentioned the app WaveUp(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jarsilio.android.waveup) which does exactly how I have Gravity Screen set up. If you want just that, this seems to be a great and simpler alternative! Thanks!
If you want more options, it has all sorts of other things like turn on by motion, etc. etc....I personally don't use those though, so I can't vouch for how well they work.
Double Tap to Sleep
I'm pretty sure you have to pay for this one, but Nova Launcher Prime (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher.prime&hl=en) is an incredible launcher, and it allows you to specify custom gestures on the desktop. The gestures can trigger all sorts of things, one of which is Screen Lock. If you select the Time-Out method of locking the screen, it will work with fingerprint unlocking.
Custom Auto-Rotation Switching:
Normally, I don't like auto-rotation. I use my phone a lot in bed (lying sideways), but I still want to use it in portrait. So, I prefer to have my phone default to NO auto-rotation. That being said, it's annoying when you pull up a funny gif or the photo album or youtube and you want to just flip your phone over to watch a video. Sure, you can drag down the quicksettings and flip that switch, but there's a better way! That's where Automate (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.llamalab.automate&hl=en) comes in! Automate allows you to program your phone to do just about anything (especially if you have root) based on custom triggers.
In Automate, if first select "More flows..." and search for a script called "Auto Enable Rotation" by the author Anthony Beaumont. Once you download this script and run it, it will present you with 2 options, either to "start" the script service, or to "modify" the list of apps. You'll want to "modify" the list of apps and start a new one. To this, you can add apps such as Album, Youtube, Twitch and whatever else you want to watch in landscape mode. Finally, once that's done, stop the script and start it again, but this time select "start". (You can also select in the 3 dot menu to have this script run at start-up. Highly recommended!) Now, when you open Album/Youtube/Twitch etc. the phone should automatically flip to auto-rotation.
Enter all your app and website passwords automatically with fingerprint:
For better or for worse, I keep all of my online passwords saved in Lastpass. It turns out that once you have an account and saved passwords, Lastpass has an incredible app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lastpass.lpandroid&hl=en) that can pop up over Chrome and just about any other app on your phone that can fill in the username/password fields for you using your fingerprint! It doesn't work for all the different browsers out there (I just use Chrome), and there may have been a pay wall for the in-app password filling, I forgot (sorry!). That said, it's super convenient to head to any site and just tap the fingerprint to log in.
Additionally, if you're a Lastpass user already, they also have a Lastpass Authenticator (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lastpass.authenticator&hl=en) that works in place of the Google Authenticator (you can add Google Authenticator 2factor sites to the LastPass one), which is IMHO superior because the keys are linked to your account rather than to the physical phone. Also, if you have LP Authenticator + the Chrome addon on your PC/Mac, on some sites you don't even have to enter the Authenticator number, you can just press "approve" on your phone to get into the website on your PC. Awesome!
Send links from your PC to phone or phone to PC
Ever read something on your PC and wish you could link it to your phone super quickly and not have to go through emailing it to yourself? I use Pushbullet (Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pushbullet.android&hl=en PC: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pushbullet/chlffgpmiacpedhhbkiomidkjlcfhogd?hl=en), which allows you to directly link webpages from PC to phone and vice versa. Additionally, if you give it the permissions, it can hook up your phone's notifications to your Windows notifications (not sure about mac), including allowing you to read and send SMS from your PC. I believe it also has file transfer capabilities, but I don't use it.
I think that's it for now...I'll add more when I think of them. These are just a few of the mods I run which makes using the phone more effortless and enjoyable; please, feel free to add more and I'll add them to the list if there's something you want to share! Hope this helps someone out there!:highfive:
maidguitar said:
Re-adding the missing Ring/Vibrate Mode switch to quick switches:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alternative implementation that I use: Add a toggle on the home screen to quickly switch between Ring/Vibrate/Silent modes
First install Media-Mute [free & ad-free]. What this app does is automatically mute the media volume whenever the ringer volume is also muted, which applies to both Vibrate mode and Silent mode.
For some reason, since Android 4.x Google has decided that Silent mode should only apply to the ringer, instead of silencing everything that can make sounds out of the speaker. Media-Mute fixes that.
Next, install Silent Mode Toggle [free & ad-free], then add the widget on the home screen. Switching modes is now super easy, just tap on the toggle.
What I really appreciate about this app is that it allows customization to the toggle order. For example, I never use the vibrate mode, so I can set it to toggle between Ringer > Silent only.
As a bonus, it also lets you use your own custom icons for the toggle, super cool and makes it possible to perfectly complement your home screen layout.
Hide the annoying "running in the background" notification that comes with Android 8.0
With Android 8.0 Oreo, Google thought it would be a great idea to permanently remind you of any background processing currently running in the form of an impossible to dismiss notification.
While the intention was well meaning, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
Thankfully, there's an app for that! Just install this cleverly named app Hide "running in the background" Notification [free & ad-free], problem solved!
Vibrate phone when call connects, ends
Yet another app to the rescue! VibCall [free & ad-free] brings this useful feature found on some OEM phones to any compatible Android device.
Basically, your phone will vibrate once to let you know that a call has connected, and twice when a call has ended. It's something that once you've used, you wonder why it's not baked into the Android system as a default option.
Add a fingerprint (Smart Lock) compatible screen lock toggle on the home screen
So Sony has unilaterally decided to remove double tap to sleep feature with no sign of bring it back. But I still want to turn off the screen and lock the device by tapping on the screen instead of waiting for the system to hibernate or hitting the power button.
The OP listed a paid solution which brings back double tap to sleep, but for those looking for a free alternative, this is the solution I'm currently using - Smart Screen Lock Pro [free & ad-free].
It's not a double tap anywhere convenience, but a toggle that is better than nothing, and most importantly it's compatible with fingerprint unlock. I've tried numerous screen off apps in the Play store, and this is the only one that I was satisfied with.
IMPORTANT: Take the time to carefully read and follow setup instructions, it's necessary for it to work properly due to OS restrictions. Once it's setup correctly, simply add a shortcut on the home screen and tap it to lock.
It's worth mentioning that it's not a true "instant" screen off and lock, but without root this is probably the best solution we'll get.
Non-root ad blocking
Ads are a necessary evil for the current economics of the Internet, but aside from the annoyance factor, they eat up precious mobile data, plus there's also very real security risks with ad networks, potentially hogging your phone's resources and draining the battery.
Whatever the argument, if you do decide to block ads, there are quite a lot of ad blockers to choose from.
Personally, I use dns66 [free & ad-free]. In my experience, it's very lightweight, and I haven't seen any ads in my browser or apps.
It does have its quirks though, sometimes downloads fail, such as OTA update or file in browser, for one reason or another (the author says it's a bug with the Android OS itself, see linked post).
But it's easy to workaround, just temporarily disable dns66 by tapping pause on the notification, and download again. After download has completed, tap the notification again to resume.
By the way, this is also the main reason I installed the hide background notification app.
Just got my new (refurb) 2 XL. I would like to try to go stock android on this for a while.
Is there any way to achieve the one feature I cannot live without: long-press power button for flashlight?
I don't think so. You can quickly access it via the notification shade of course. You can set a swipe down gesture on the fingerprint sensor to call the notification shade. You should also be able to turn the flashlight on with voice commands, even with the screen off.
The above are only suggestions for workarounds, but I may have missed something.
I have a sloppy way I do it on 8.1 that uses Automagic and the volume key shortcut in Accessibility Settings. Tasker probably works too.
Turn the shortcut on, select a service. I selected a launcher I don't use. Note that this toggles the accessibility features of an app, so don't use something that needs this. Click to enable it on lockscreen.
Now when you hold both volume buttons for 3 seconds, the system notifies you the service has been toggled. Finally I have a flow in Automagic that triggers when this pops up and from there toggle the flashlight. It even works when locked IF the screen is on.
I use a similar method to customize the Active Edge thing.
Locked on Verizon. Have to be creative
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-power-button-flashlight-t3839323
This is probably the best option a double tap
Torchie app
Torchie (no root) is another alternative: https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...torchie-torch-volume-buttons-anytime-t3270230