Develop Bugs

[Q] Help needed to change touchflo default programs...

I have an HTC Touchpro 2 with windows mobile. The touchflo bar at the botton of the HTC Sense homepage is nice with one exception...the inability to change default programs.
Let's start with the webbrowser for example. I do NOT like Opera. As a matter of fact I use Skyfire. Currently it's sitting in the PROGRAMS tab and then I have to choose the browser from there. I would like to set it up so that I can just go to the internet tab and hit the planet/web icon and it will launch skyfire instead of opera. Is this doable?
Then there are the bookmarks on the internet tab. I don't want this to be a political thread, so don't make it one. It comes programmed with CNN and ESPN on there. Well one, I do not like CNN and I'd much rather put FOX on there. Second, I don't much care for sports so I'd like to remove ESPN altogether. It would be nice if I could add my own bookmarks.
What about the other programs? Can I change the default calender? What about the text program? The text program is ok but when I am sending a message to 10 people, I dont like having to type in each number or go select each name one at a time. I'd like a text/multimedia program that will let me select multiple recipients.
I know this is a lot to ask but once you point me in the right direction, I'll get it. Thanks in advance for the help.
~Mike

This website's search function is your friend. Instructions on how to make Skyfire the default browser in the Internet tab:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=4476068#post4476068
Cookies Home tab Editor (which requires Cookies Home Tab to be installed also) lets you change the applications launched from the Sense tabs (Messaging, Calendar, etc. but apparently not the Internet tab?). Its also an awesome way to customize the home tab, and well worth having on your phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633590
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=625483
nativetexan210 said:
Then there are the bookmarks on the internet tab. I don't want this to be a political thread, so don't make it one. It comes programmed with CNN and ESPN on there. Well one, I do not like CNN and I'd much rather put FOX on there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't want to make it a political thread, why not just say "I want to change the website shortcuts" ? You can want to change it from CNN to Bang Bros for all the heck we care.
Changing the website shortcuts in the Internet tab is simple. In the Internet tab, just touch Menu, remove the shortcut, then add the website of your choice.

Thanks.
Well, I guess that's a start. I was hoping to not have to install a different home screen or tabs slider, maybe I have the wrong idea about the Cookie app, I'll check it out.
Good point on the political part. I still honestly didn't want a political debate on my news choices but I could have gone with a different example. As for going into Opera and deleting the bookmarks and putting my own, that doesn't effect the pre-programmed bookmarks on the Internet touchflo tab. I think that removing those bookmarks will take some actual digging into the phone system files.
As for changing the default browser, yea, that part wasn't so hard. What I meant was that I wanted to open the internet touchflo tab and click the internet icon and have it open Skyfire instead of Opera, changing the default SYSTEM browser only affects what browser is used when opening hyperlinks from texts or emails.
Thank you for your suggestions though. They ARE greatly appreciated and I will check out the apps you suggested. As for the search function, I hate it because I can never get a narrowed set of results that apply directly to what I'm looking at. I'll try again though. Thanks again.

scratch that, I just looked at the first link you posted about the internet, I think that was PRECISELY what I was looking for. Thank you.

nativetexan210 said:
Well, I guess that's a start. I was hoping to not have to install a different home screen or tabs slider, maybe I have the wrong idea about the Cookie app, I'll check it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the CHT re-skins the home screen. It has awesome customizations, but it does use more program memory (some complain that it slows down the TP2 too much). So if you're on the fence, it might not be for you.
nativetexan210 said:
As for going into Opera and deleting the bookmarks and putting my own, that doesn't effect the pre-programmed bookmarks on the Internet touchflo tab. I think that removing those bookmarks will take some actual digging into the phone system files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You aren't reading my post very carefully. I didn't tell you to delete the bookmarks in Opera. While in the INTERNET TAB, select menu, pick "Remove Favorite Shortcut", select "Done". Then select "Add Internet Shortcut" and pick the website of your choice. I haven't been using the stock ROM for a long time now, so it might be setup a bit different. But I don't think so, from my recollection.

Yea, I misunderstood. Sorry. That might be due to the fact that upon opening the Internet Tab, there is no menu button. Tapping and Holding on a bookmark does nothing (i.e. circle of dots...onscreen "right click" menu), and the soft keys only show Browser and Bookmarks. Browser is obvious. Bookmarks, well that lists two bookmarks that AREN'T the "permanent" bookmarks I was talking about.
But I should note that I have found the solution, kinda. If you search the phones system files (via computer) go to /application data/manilla/InternetPortal-en-us.xml then you can edit the default browser AND add/remove "permanent" links. Now I say I KINDA figured it out because unfortunately my .xml is write protected. Even if I right click and open the properties, uncheck "read only" it still remains write protected. If I create a new file, similarly named, the phone for some reason ignores the new .xml file and reads as if there is no .xml (provided that I remove the original, as I'd have to in order to make a new one)
So I'm about to try and figure out how to edit this .xml. I'll figure it out and when I do I'll post the solution on here. Wish me luck...I'm SOOOOOOOO close to getting this right.

nativetexan210 said:
That might be due to the fact that upon opening the Internet Tab, there is no menu button. Tapping and Holding on a bookmark does nothing (i.e. circle of dots...onscreen "right click" menu), and the soft keys only show Browser and Bookmarks. Browser is obvious. Bookmarks, well that lists two bookmarks that AREN'T the "permanent" bookmarks I was talking about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are those 2 links that you see under "Bookmarks" in the Internet tab the CNN and ESPN shortcuts, or something else?
nativetexan210 said:
But I should note that I have found the solution, kinda. If you search the phones system files (via computer) go to /application data/manilla/InternetPortal-en-us.xml then you can edit the default browser AND add/remove "permanent" links. Now I say I KINDA figured it out because unfortunately my .xml is write protected. Even if I right click and open the properties, uncheck "read only" it still remains write protected. If I create a new file, similarly named, the phone for some reason ignores the new .xml file and reads as if there is no .xml (provided that I remove the original, as I'd have to in order to make a new one)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I remember properly, the trick the un-write protecting the Manila files, is to copy them (use Total Commander or similar, not the built-in File Explorer) to another directory. Then go Properties, uncheck Read Only, then copy back to the Manila directory to overwrite the old file. Save a version of the un-edited .xml file just in case you screw something up.

Yea, those two bookmarks are something else. Sites that I personally bookmarked IN Opera. I hit that softkey and it opens Opera and takes me to the bookmarks in the browser.
As for editing the file. I already messed it up. Copied to my desktop, edited that in notepad, and copied it OVER the existing file without thinking. As SOON as I started the copy I realized that I failed to make a backup. ****. Unfortunately, now my phone acts as if InternetPortal-en-us doesn't exist. It opens up my systems default browser (which IS skyfire) but the first screen isn't google like I specified in the XML, instead its an Error 404 type screen that says it can't find "\Search\\Home" or something like that. I also edited the permanent bookmarks, deleted youtube and espn, edited cnn to show fox. Now only 1 bookmark shows up...and it isn't Fox like you would hope...no, it's youtube.
I can't figure out how it defaults to youtube nor can I figure out why, with no programming errors or file-name errors, my phone believes that the file doesn't exist. I downloaded Total Commander and edited the properties of this file to read as READ-ONLY and SYSTEM but that didn't help either.
So, do you have any fix ideas? Yes, I know it's a good idea to make a backup, I typically do. I just got impulsive and reckless. Moved too fast.

I'm out of ideas. Personally, I don't use the Internet tab. In fact, I turned that tab off. My browser is one of the quicklinks on my home tab. It might just be easier to go that route.
If you want to return the Manila file to the way it was before, and don't mind losing your data, customizations, etc., a hard reset will restore the phone to factory condition. Go to Start>Settings>System>Empty Storage.

Well I thank you for your help thus far. I have been thinking about a hard reset but it really isn't worth it. I don't use the internet tab either because I use skyfire. So I'll either disable the tab or try one last thing. My father has the same phone. Service and model. I'll try copying the file from his phone and hopefully it works will with mine. I can't find anywhere on the web to download this file so this is my last logical resort.

nativetexan210 said:
My father has the same phone. Service and model. I'll try copying the file from his phone and hopefully it works will with mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This should work just fine.

What keys am I hitting?

I use stock browser with quick controls turned on. This has happened about three times now. I'm on a forum andi have about 4 or 5 browser tabs open. I'm finishing a long letter and I'm hitting the submit button. Suddenly I'm at android's home screen. I hit the browser button and my letter is gone including all tabs.I don't know what I'm doing to cause this.i don't even know what buttonsi could hit to make all the browser tabs to close at once. Does anyone have any idea? Thanks.

You're running out of memory. If rooted, try changing your low mem settings.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

If you are running out of memory while browsing the web, there is something wrong with your unit. That should not be happening.

Is that what's really going on? I thought maybe I was hitting a combination of keys with the outer palm of my hand or something.

My evo 3d has a gig of memory (800 something useable), and to many browser tabs, plus some music playing, etc will kill my browser. It's not really out of memory per se just the oom value of the browser gets up there too high. Especially with the values most people set by default on custom roms. What's the default for the tab?
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

I don't understand. How do I look that up?

It happened today also and I'm positive this time I didn't accidentally hit any buttons or keys.

Every problem I had went away when I installed Opera browser. No more crashes. No more stuttering, choppy YouTube videos. Working select text, copy, and paste. No more bumping the wrong links or accidently closing on-screen keyboard because I hit the spacebar wrong. No more opening windows because my finger accidently strayed across the screen. Everything just works now. Boy am I glad I tried Opera. If you're having any of these issues I suggest giving Opera a try.

Unfortunatly, Opera wont work for some sites that use certain javascript functions and most sites that I use break in Opera (tables & forms dont show up properly). Luckily Ive never really had a problem with the stock browser, but I think the reason why is because I have pluggins set to On Demand. If you ever feel like giving the stock browser another shot I'd highly recommend to keep the plugins set to on demand and clearing out the cache every once in a while doesnt hurt either.

crossix said:
Opera wont work for some sites that use certain javascript functions and most sites that I use break in Opera (tables & forms dont show up properly).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please give some examples of sites that "break in Opera"? I am using Opera exclusively and I haven't experienced that problem.

I havent tried using Opera Moble recently, but the last time I worked with it one of my banking sites wouldn't let me login due to javascript errors that were only present while using opera. Also, I use my tablet for supporting customers while out in the field and the primary site I support does not function properly under opera (things like javascript links, the div wrapped tables and embedded videos do not display properly or sometimes not at all).
Opera is great for sites using html5 and simple javascript functions, but I cant use it as my daily driver when it wont play nice with my development stuff and refuses to render pages properly that my clients create. I want to be able to use one browser for everything, not be in the middle of a call and have to tell a customer "oh wait, give me just a sec I have to switch browsers, I forgot your site uses a ajax generated, javascript pop-up and I cant scroll it".
I'd link a specific site as an example, but it would require customer permissiions to do so since their site requires authentication but here's a charted example you can see that while opera has issues other browsers do not: www.quirksmode.org/m/table.html
For the general public though, you shouldnt have an issue.

Browser questions

Hello everyone,
This is my first android device and I have a couple of questions regarding the browser:
1) Is there a way to add a plug-in to the browser to behave like iOS's Safari "Reader" functionality? Something that will basically display the text of an article without all the fluff (like ads and whatnot)?
2) The fonts used for the different sites I frequent seem to be a bit off. Are there fonts missing from the stock android that I need to add?
3) Zooming-in to a piece of the text by double-tapping seems to be a bit off, for me its zooming in a bit more that it should leaving the last few words of each line of text outside of the view. Am I doing something wrong here?
Thanks a lot!

LordGrahf said:
Hello everyone,
This is my first android device and I have a couple of questions regarding the browser:
1) Is there a way to add a plug-in to the browser to behave like iOS's Safari "Reader" functionality? Something that will basically display the text of an article without all the fluff (like ads and whatnot)?
2) The fonts used for the different sites I frequent seem to be a bit off. Are there fonts missing from the stock android that I need to add?
3) Zooming-in to a piece of the text by double-tapping seems to be a bit off, for me its zooming in a bit more that it should leaving the last few words of each line of text outside of the view. Am I doing something wrong here?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what the...
1) "Reader" functionality? some kind of jailbreak hack? Anyways, I believe you can disable images in the settings of browser (theres a ton of settings there so go check them out). As for ads, there are some apps out there that do that.. but as a dev, I'm pretty against it so maybe someone else will point one out
2) Thats even more weird.. the Galaxy Nexus does use the new roboto font and it does use this to render websites. But you're saying some websites appear off? Got any examples?
3) huh? double-tapping works very well for me. Again, some example sites? You're double tapping on a segment of text right?

For #3 you probably need to turn on word wrap/reflow or whatever it is called. Occassionally doesnt work and you need to refresh on dolphin browser.
Sent from my samsung gt i9250 which is in the wrong state.

The answer is yes
For issue #1, there is! You don't need an account, but I would highly recommend signing up for one at readability dot com
Go the Android Market and search for Readability. Download the Readability Bookmark app and create the bookmarklet. This will create a bookmark with no icon called Readability. Then just go to any page with boat loads of text and images and ads and garbage and click the tabs button to show the bookmarks button, click it and then click the Readability bookmarklet.
It's a terrible workflow but it does work. I've been using it the past couple of days and it's very comparable to the Reader button in Mobile Safari.
For issue #2, I don't know of anything like that.
For issue #3, I have the same problem. Double tap on a column of text and the column fills the screen with just a few words off of the edge. I've played around with the browser settings and I can't get it to work. Pretty much any site with text, to answer kwazi's question.

Thanks for the respone!
kwazi said:
1) "Reader" functionality? some kind of jailbreak hack? Anyways, I believe you can disable images in the settings of browser (theres a ton of settings there so go check them out). As for ads, there are some apps out there that do that.. but as a dev, I'm pretty against it so maybe someone else will point one out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It just formats the page to make it all text with no images or ads or anything else that doesn't belong to the article you're reading. Its like the Readability plug-in for desktop google Chrome and Firefox.
kwazi said:
2) Thats even more weird.. the Galaxy Nexus does use the new roboto font and it does use this to render websites. But you're saying some websites appear off? Got any examples?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed this while reading on a boxing site I frequent: www.eastsideboxing.com
I also noticed the same with websites written in a foreign language.
kwazi said:
3) huh? double-tapping works very well for me. Again, some example sites? You're double tapping on a segment of text right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed this also on www.eastsideboxing.com
Thanks!

freicook said:
For issue #1, there is! You don't need an account, but I would highly recommend signing up for one at readability dot com
Go the Android Market and search for Readability. Download the Readability Bookmark app and create the bookmarklet. This will create a bookmark with no icon called Readability. Then just go to any page with boat loads of text and images and ads and garbage and click the tabs button to show the bookmarks button, click it and then click the Readability bookmarklet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh thanks a lot! That's what I was looking for. Yeah its bit of a workout, but better than nothing

pukemon said:
For #3 you probably need to turn on word wrap/reflow or whatever it is called. Occassionally doesnt work and you need to refresh on dolphin browser.
Sent from my samsung gt i9250 which is in the wrong state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Do you think this can only be done under Dolphin browser and not the stock one? I've just checked the settings of the stock browser and didn't find that option.

I have a question, will Last Pass be able to plug into it something like it does with Dolphin?

After further inspection, the font looks just about right when zoomed in (for English at least). I think my eyes are not used yet to see cramped text on this display
So I guess the only thing that I still can't figure out is how to make the double tap zoom work properly.

Crazy fast new Maxthon Browser!

I've always been a fan of Maxthon Android Web Browser but it was never my #1 because it wasn't "quite there". Well it looks like is now "there".
The list of all the things this browser does well is too long to go into here. But suffice it to say it is VERY fast, looks gorgeous and does an amazing job of organizing bookmarks and syncing them with the cloud. It also "preloads" links in the background like the stock browser does so when you click a link on an open page the new page opens instantly. Also going back to previous pages is very fast.
One thing this browser does that the stock browser doesn't is to "save your place" in your bookmarks when you go back to them. That way if you click on a bookmark 3 folders deep, it is still in that folder when you return as opposed to the stock browser which returns you to the top layer every time (annoying).
Anyway check it out in the Market (https://play.google.com/store/search?q=maxthon+browser). I prefer the layout and handling of the Maxthon Android Web Browser as opposed to the Maxthon HD For Tablets.
** I am in no way associated with Maxthon Browser or promoting them for my own benefit. I just think it's a great browser.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

Am I missing something incredibly obvious or is there no way to import my Google bookmarks into Maxthon? Because it sure seems like there isn't unless I'm forced into using there browser on the desktop as well.
I have about 300 bookmarks...and no way am I recreating them manually.

I'm not sure because I'm not in front of my pc but I think you need to import them on your desktop then sync them from the cloud with your phone. Not hard.
Although I don't believe they will continuously sync in the future as of course Maxthon wants you to use Maxthon.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

Yes, it is easy to import your Chrome bookmarks into Maxthon.
Just download the Maxthon Browser to your desktop and sign up for a Maxthon Passport which is like your free cloud account. Then open the browser and click on the menu looking button at the top right and then click on the star. That will open your Favorites Manager. Click on the 3 vertical dots at the top and select import/export bookmarks. Then select "import Chrome" and there you go.
Next you will need to sync your bookmarks with the cloud then sign in on your phone and sync them there.
Boom, Chrome bookmarks on Maxthon. Easy.

mitchellvii said:
Yes, it is easy to import your Chrome bookmarks into Maxthon.
Just download the Maxthon Browser to your desktop and sign up for a Maxthon Passport which is like your free cloud account. Then open the browser and click on the menu looking button at the top right and then click on the star. That will open your Favorites Manager. Click on the 3 vertical dots at the top and select import/export bookmarks. Then select "import Chrome" and there you go.
Next you will need to sync your bookmarks with the cloud then sign in on your phone and sync them there.
Boom, Chrome bookmarks on Maxthon. Easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx much.
One very broken behavior is Maxthon handling of bottom of page text fields and onscreen keyboards...meaning other browsers like stock or Opera Mobile scroll the field above the keyboard area whereas Maxthon doesn't.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

Skripka said:
Am I missing something incredibly obvious or is there no way to import my Google bookmarks into Maxthon? Because it sure seems like there isn't unless I'm forced into using there browser on the desktop as well.
I have about 300 bookmarks...and no way am I recreating them manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a link on XDA (sorry don't have it) for manually finding bookmarks stored location.
MX5 is here!!!!!!!!!!!!

coolbeans2016 said:
There is a link on XDA (sorry don't have it) for manually finding bookmarks stored location.
MX5 is here!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After their kerfuffle of their desktop spyware and secret data traffic... You'd have to be paying my to use any Maxthon product

lol
Skripka said:
After their kerfuffle of their desktop spyware and secret data traffic... You'd have to be paying my to use any Maxthon product
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, with favorites/tabs that synch amongst your devices, there is going to be uploads. It now has UUMail, which gives you your own server you name anything you want to create shadow mails to use for your real email addy! + not only makes webpages completely offline for viewing + snapshots you can extract pics/videos and modify them for use in other projects. I'm just on here trying to see what would be the best way to get users into this online community forum with the MX5 so people that have knowledge of android, and what apps can/need to do in the os enviroment can give them proper feedback to finish this product up. What their getting in feedback now is a joke!

some issues!

1: i noticed that chrome "cuts" and overlap part of some web pages...for ex google upper menu appears over the first search result, making it impossible to click.
(edit)
1,1: sometimes it stucks and has a strange behavour with s pen (i click somewhere but it takes as click in another place in the page. it s evidente when small chars and many links )
it doesnt happen in any other app or menu.
2 stock browser doesn t recognize "other favourites" folder or the equivalent for italian "altri preferiti".
i can save only in the main folder and subfolders and not there
same for you?

1. Same here
2. I don't know, I mainly use Firefox beta now

edited main post.
firefox has any kind of sync with google favourites? can be edited?
for me it's a major feature.

I started getting this with Chrome when we got the first "performance improvement" update. I work around it by zooming in and scrolling. Not ideal by any means.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 2

I dont know but I think the chrome has it's issues?

Noticed the same issue with Chrome, took me a while to really notice what was going on.

I had problems with Chrome as well. I like it but not enough to put up with a chopped off screen and major offset for the touch screen. I went with Opera and it works like it should so far.

Yip, this happens to me as well and it sucks.