Hey guys, I am curious to know if there is a shortcut I can create to open my Notification bar, I am going for a minimalist look and I don't want the bar showing at the top of the screen, however it would be nice to see it at the click of a button from time to time.
I know I can press the Menu button and it will side down, but I was looking for something a little more in keeping with my tidy homescreen. Is it even possible to do that?
*Edit* I worked it out, there is an option in LauncherPro under Bahavior Settings/Home key action. Must have missed that one.
Looking at the softkeys, where is the Menu key? I see Home, Back, and the new Multitasking key, but no Menu. How can this be? The iOS method of integrating all menu options into the application UI is terrible, and what about apps made before ICS? Lack of a Menu key would make them unusable. I must be missing something here, but I can't see what it might be.
A virtual menu button appears in the form of 3 dots. It can be seen in this photo.
Tung_meister said:
A virtual menu button appears in the form of 3 dots. It can be seen in this photo.
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Nice catch. Was wondering about that.
Menu items are represented by the 3 vertical dots at the top right corner of apps.
The indication is that new apps should no longer hide their menus, but rather make them intuitive to access in the app's UI.
For legacy apps, we'll probably see a menu button of some type appear along with the 3 softkeys at the bottom.
On my Honeycomb tablet either a button is in the top right corner or another is added to the bottom when menu is needed... I'm guessing HC is a good example of what we'll be getting, and if so I look forward to it
Thanks so much for a useful thread. I was actually wondering about that myself. Glad to know its non-obtrusive and clean
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
You have lost the search button though. Not all apps will handle this well... I had to tweak an app I was writing because of this (luckily found fairly early during testing on Honeycomb).
Of course for most apps search isn't useful - probably why they removed the dedicated key.
TonyHoyle said:
You have lost the search button though. Not all apps will handle this well... I had to tweak an app I was writing because of this (luckily found fairly early during testing on Honeycomb).
Of course for most apps search isn't useful - probably why they removed the dedicated key.
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The idea is if the app needs search in order to function properly, you just put the search button up in the menu bar, just like they're doing with settings buttons.
Otherwise, the google search button is at the top of every homescreen now.
martonikaj said:
The idea is if the app needs search in order to function properly, you just put the search button up in the menu bar, just like they're doing with settings buttons.
Otherwise, the google search button is at the top of every homescreen now.
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The menu button happens automatically (technically, since 2.3 android has called onCreateOptionsMenu at activity startup so it knows you need it already).
There simply is no search button in Honeycomb/ICS - you have to stick it on the options menu, the action bar*.. somewhere the user can reach it. That needs code (not much.. respond to 'search' in the options menu by calling onSearchRequested()).. existing apps will simply lose that function if they run on ICS assuming a button exists.
We're not talking about a lot of apps here.. Not much point in a search function in 'Angry Birds' for example. Just something to bear in mind when developing a new app or trying to work out if your favourite app will work without issue on ICS.
Home screen search is totally different.. that searches the global search (emails, contacts, etc.). Different class of app entirely.
* The honeycomb search widgets are really flexible, but of course not available unless you break compatibility with <3.0.
TonyHoyle said:
You have lost the search button though. Not all apps will handle this well... I had to tweak an app I was writing because of this (luckily found fairly early during testing on Honeycomb).
Of course for most apps search isn't useful - probably why they removed the dedicated key.
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There are already quite a few phones out there without a search button. My almost 2 years old X10 doesn't have a dedicated search button and i never missed it. The search function is bound to long-press menu at the x10. Given the fact that ICS has a dedicated task switcher button, they could bind the search to long-press home for example. Just an idea though
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
qwer23 said:
There are already quite a few phones out there without a search button. My almost 2 years old X10 doesn't have a dedicated search button and i never missed it. The search function is bound to long-press menu at the x10. Given the fact that ICS has a dedicated task switcher button, they could bind the search to long-press home for example.
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Hmm.. news to me - I've never seen an android phone without one. Lucky I was doing tablet compatibility testing then
There will probably also be custom roms that put it back (since a custom rom can do anything it likes with the buttons.. change their apparence, colour, hide them completely, make them dance up and down..).
TonyHoyle said:
Hmm.. news to me - I've never seen an android phone without one. Lucky I was doing tablet compatibility testing then
There will probably also be custom roms that put it back (since a custom rom can do anything it likes with the buttons.. change their apparence, colour, hide them completely, make them dance up and down..).
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The Galaxy series in general (SGS1, SGS2) do not have a dedicated search button. They have just the menu, home and back buttons. However search is bound as a long press to the menu button which I guess won't be possible anymore. Haven't really found search to be that vital (maybe because I don't want to long press the menu button just to bring it up when I can search in other ways)
Since it's purely software, I know for a fact someone will mod in a search key.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using XDA Ultimate App
That would be pointless. When search is available, the search box will appear in the menu bar of the app.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Is it possible to add a full size menu button much like the search button was added. I tried ICS on an older phone and the menu button seemed to work in even the native apps. I hate the look of the dot one that comes up in stock ics and with the mod to make it appear all the time. Ideal for me would be to make the button layout identical to my droid incredible. So home, menu, back, and search. Hold home down for the app switch. Hold menu for keyboard. Hold search for voice search. This has to be possible somehow since its all software keys now.
Hi,
I use the menu key a whole lot more than multi task. How hard would it be to remap the multi task key to act like a menu key? Is it even possible?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
If the apps is according to the new ICS look, Holo I think the theme is called, then the menu button is on the top right of the screen.
Seems to me it would be a hassle to press a button on the bottom right and then move youre finger to the top right to actually use the menu.
On apps not yet fitted for ICS I can understand what u mean, however this problem should hopefully be almost gone within not too long.
Would love to remap the useless.most recent programs button to act as a google search button, much like a long press on menu on my s2 does...
There are several threads about this. Here is one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1480130
I just got my One X, so haven't tried anything myself.
But being able switch songs with the volume buttons while locked is what I'm looking for.
A must when you're outside in heavy rain or snow.
I've searched through many threads now, and come up empty handed. I'm looking to change the navigation bar / soft key buttons. What I would like is:
Menu : Home : Back : Search
Long pressing home would bring up recents.
Does a mod like this exsist?
Well I was running a different rom based off CM9, however when I went to the official CM9, it's easy to switch those buttons.
Settings --> System --> Navigation Bar.
Problem solved.
Download AOKP and super problem solved.
I'be made my home button open S Voice when held down. =p
IPhone style.