Develop Bugs

[Q] menu button question

so i'm currently using a t-mobile g2, but i'm definitely considering the galaxy nexus being my next phone. might even switch to verizon for it (but most likely will just wait for it on t-mobile).
my question is, and this really probably applies to all ICS phones, but for now, mainly to the galaxy nexus, is what happens with the menu button with all my current apps? i'm sure that many devs will be updating their apps to take advantage of and deal with any and all changes, but as it is, like 99% of my apps using the menu button, and since there is none now, i was curious how that works... i know from what i've read that alot of the main system apps (browser, camera, email/gmail, calendar, etc) have a menu button built into the layout... but what about 3rd party apps?
this is just something i was wondering about. i'm sure once i have one in my hand it will all make sense, but figured i'd ask
Dave

My best guess is it will show up in the bottom bar, similar to how it works in Honeycomb.

jayzeroeee said:
My best guess is it will show up in the bottom bar, similar to how it works in Honeycomb.
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ok now i haven't messed with honeycomb at all, so does that mean the bar with the back/home/multitasking buttons is context sensitive and it could potentially change to include a menu button when needed with older apps?
thats what i was guessing...

polarbearmc said:
ok now i haven't messed with honeycomb at all, so does that mean the bar with the back/home/multitasking buttons is context sensitive and it could potentially change to include a menu button when needed with older apps?
thats what i was guessing...
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Menu button will be there most of the time like in honeycomb
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

rdy2go said:
Menu button will be there most of the time like in honeycomb
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i saw three or four hands-on and the bottom bar buttons have always been those three.
as far as i could understand, the menu is now raised by the "three dots" that appears contextually, often in the upper-right...
if i am right, it is at least a questionable choise i guess.

lorenx said:
i saw three or four hands-on and the bottom bar buttons have always been those three.
as far as i could understand, the menu is now raised by the "three dots" that appears contextually, often in the upper-right...
if i am right, it is at least a questionable choise i guess.
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I think you are right.. menu is going to be included in the app itself.

androidbuff123 said:
I think you are right.. menu is going to be included in the app itself.
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That only works for apps that are built for ICS. For apps that still rely on the hard menu button there will have to be some way to bring up the menu.

In honeycomb if there is a menu button present in the app there wont be a menu button on the bottom of the screen. If there is no menu button present in the app there will be one on the bottom of the app.
I'm sure it'll be just like that.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

In ICS applications the menù button is "3 dots" in somewhere in the app.
In Gingerbread applications that runs in ICS, in the bar with back, home and multitasking buttons, will appear the "3 dots" button, that is like the "menù" button in GB.
esxuse me for my english.
source: hdblog.it

if the app doesn't support the menu button within the app, then you'll see a "three dots button" near the three soft button.

yea looks like a few of you have confirmed what i thought. the main "button" bar at the bottom is context sensitive and as needed a 4th, menu button will appear. but i'm sure most devs will start rebuilding their apps for ics in the future to not need it.
thanks!
actually starting to get really excited for this change.

I got a certain idea that since the buttons are from the screen, and therefore, rendered, modders will find a way to include more or less buttons, and even change their icon. I wouldn't be too surprised.

Quick screenshot from the second video of the mentioned HDblog showing the "three dots" menu button in apps that are not optimized for ics.
You can find it in the second video at around 7min 30 sec.

Here's also some good info regarding the soft-buttons and ICS from the SDK.
Controls for system UI visibility
Since the early days of Android, the system has managed a UI component known as the status bar, which resides at the top of handset devices to deliver information such as the carrier signal, time, notifications, and so on. Android 3.0 added the system bar for tablet devices, which resides at the bottom of the screen to provide system navigation controls (Home, Back, and so forth) and also an interface for elements traditionally provided by the status bar. In Android 4.0, the system provides a new type of system UI called the navigation bar. You might consider the navigation bar a re-tuned version of the system bar designed for handsets—it provides navigation controls for devices that don’t have hardware counterparts for navigating the system, but it leaves out the system bar's notification UI and setting controls. As such, a device that provides the navigation bar also has the status bar at the top.
To this day, you can hide the status bar on handsets using the FLAG_FULLSCREEN flag. In Android 4.0, the APIs that control the system bar’s visibility have been updated to better reflect the behavior of both the system bar and navigation bar:
The SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_LOW_PROFILE flag replaces the STATUS_BAR_HIDDEN flag. When set, this flag enables “low profile" mode for the system bar or navigation bar. Navigation buttons dim and other elements in the system bar also hide. Enabling this is useful for creating more immersive games without distraction for the system navigation buttons.
The SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_VISIBLE flag replaces the STATUS_BAR_VISIBLE flag to request the system bar or navigation bar be visible.
The SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION is a new flag that requests the navigation bar hide completely. Be aware that this works only for the navigation bar used by some handsets (it does not hide the system bar on tablets). The navigation bar returns to view as soon as the system receives user input. As such, this mode is useful primarily for video playback or other cases in which the whole screen is needed but user input is not required.
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The Settings problem.

Dear friends,
for an unknown reason I cannot access my " Settings" whatever you call it from the below right hand corner of the screen as it used to be, it's no longer there. The only other option of getting the phone settings is from on top of the screen which I do not like. Thanks for your help.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

In ICS Android no longer has the menu button. Instead, apps now use the action bar. Any overflow from said bar now displays as 3 dots, which include actions such as settings.
Apps that haven't been updated to the new API's will display the 3 dots next to the multi-task button.
However, some custom roms allow you to persistently add the menu button to the navigation bar.
So, the short answer to your question would be to flash a custom rom.

Better get used to hitting the 3 dots, as Google is intent on phasing out the menu button

If you install a custom rom you can add the menu as a soft key

El Daddy said:
In ICS Android no longer has the menu button. Instead, apps now use the action bar. Any overflow from said bar now displays as 3 dots, which include actions such as settings.
Apps that haven't been updated to the new API's will display the 3 dots next to the multi-task button.
However, some custom roms allow you to persistently add the menu button to the navigation bar.
So, the short answer to your question would be to flash a custom rom.
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Thanks but I have always had the Menu Bar since when I bought it and there is no software upgrade up till now.

Removing In-App menu button after navbar mod (AOKP)

Is there a way to get the system to not add the menu button to various google programs? I'm running AOKP and I've got the menu button added to the navbar. Consequently, I want to get rid of it in the apps. Also, I would like the menu to pop up at the bottom and not the top. I would think this would be highly desired. What am I missing?

the menu inside the applications is built into the app itself. you wont be able to remove it unless you decompile the APK's and remove the menu yourself

I thought that the program used a signal from the system to determine if it has a menu button and uses that to determine the need for it. Does the Galaxy S III still get this button in apps like the play store and gmail? I don't know, but I would think not.

So from my research, it seems that the "overflow menu", as it is now called, only appears in the "action bar" when there is no menu button present on the device. For legacy devices that run ICS, it seems that android will detect that a menu button is present and not show the "overflow menu".
So basically, I'm wondering how I can trick the Galaxy Nexus into thinking there is a menu button present. This really should be an option for current roms as lots of people add the menu button to the navbar.

You have to hide the navbar to get what you want. When I use LMT and disable the navbar, the action button in all apps no longer appears. There is some api that tells the action bar menu to appear or not just like you want.

RogerPodacter said:
You have to hide the navbar to get what you want. When I use LMT and disable the navbar, the action button in all apps no longer appears. There is some api that tells the action bar menu to appear or not just like you want.
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What is LMT?
From my searchings, that seems to be what I've found. there is a methods called "hasPermanentMenuKey()" to return true this requires that there not be a navbar. Unfortunately, this kinda kills things as the whole point of hiding it was because I had a menu key in my navbar.
Thanks so much for the helpful reply!!!

[Root][App] GMD HideSoftKeys

I'm developing app that allows to hide soft keys without modifying the system and without reboot. In only hides soft keys and leaves notification bar intact. After hiding soft keys I replace them similar auto hiding bar with Back, Home, Recent Apps and Menu buttons.
It does NOT modify system files. If something unplanned happens, just reboot your device and it will restore your stock navigation bar.
Unique Features:
* Hide soft keys on any rooted device (Phone UI only).
* Auto hiding navigation bar replacement - swipe trigger upwards to show it.
Differences to other status bar hiding apps:
* Does not remove notification bar
* Does not modify system
* No need to reboot
* Stock Notification panel and settings panels are fully working
* Stock recent apps list is fully working
* No problems with receiving phone calls
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.hidesoftkeys
I'm collecting new ideas for future updates

It works on the GNEX. Lol I've been using it for a week or more.

CRIME INC. said:
It works on the GNEX. Lol I've been using it for a week or more.
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Thanks, updated supported device list :fingers-crossed:. Do buttons look ok?

Hi there...
I just try your app and have few comments.
- Softkey could we biger, just like original. It is not necessarily to be smaller because - they can be hidden
- Vibrate on key press is missing thing for me
- After few turning on and off my phone reboot (Gnex, stock 4.2.2., I9250XXLJ1, JDW39)
I am not developer but I was always askin why someone don't make hiden navigation bar (buttons) and activate it just like we swipe our notification bar. Just like that and but very smooth. Al that PIE's and invisible areas was too laggy and don't enough responsive to me. You are very close to my idea and if this will work I think your app have potencial.
Good luck

Hello guys, i have my own implementation of this, I made it long time ago, but haven't released to public until today
Check it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=41195717

Grate app bro. Confirm that work on GSM GNexus with stock 4.2.2 rom.
Send from my awesome-superb-f.... ng incredible Galaxy Nexus

0.93:
- Added Google Now button when Home is hovered. Added animation.
- Added option to hide QuickNav bar when empty space on bar is pressed.
- Added option to keep/hide QuickNav bar when pressed anywhere else on scren.
- Added option to delay bar hide after pressing soft button. Pressing new button resets delay.

Donator here: Could it be possible to be able to disable the glow and maybe to add another section where you can be able to change the nav bar icons from a respository of sorts? Thanks! Keep up the good work!

kdmhong said:
Donator here: Could it be possible to be able to disable the glow and maybe to add another section where you can be able to change the nav bar icons from a respository of sorts? Thanks! Keep up the good work!
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Try newest development version. I added theming funtionality.

hello, developer. Pro buyer here. Your app is very nice indeed and works great. I'm using it on my gnex with rooted stock rom. I just have the following observations:
1. It seems the app makes scrolling of the recent apps stuttery.
2. May I request for an option to use the stock 3-dot menu icon, instead of the 3-bar menu icon? The 3-dot icon blends better with the stock icons, in my opinion.
3. The menu icon randomly appears. (I have disabled it.)
Thanks!

Action bar extension ?

Hello all
Just a quick question regarding the "action bar" I hope it's what it's called, the lower band on your screen where we have the back button home button and recent app button. Anyways,y question is, is there any app that can add like an extension to the bar to give additional functionality ?
To make my question more clear, I downloaded 360 launcher and noticed that the developer has managed to add 3 dots on the left of this bar, which when touched comes up the settings option for the launcher. How did they do that ? My phone is stock and not even rooted. But I find having an option to add something like this would be extremely useful...like placing custom shortcuts. Just look at the pictures too.

ebinmoothedam said:
Hello all
Just a quick question regarding the "action bar" I hope it's what it's called, the lower band on your screen where we have the back button home button and recent app button. Anyways,y question is, is there any app that can add like an extension to the bar to give additional functionality ?
To make my question more clear, I downloaded 360 launcher and noticed that the developer has managed to add 3 dots on the left of this bar, which when touched comes up the settings option for the launcher. How did they do that ? My phone is stock and not even rooted. But I find having an option to add something like this would be extremely useful...like placing custom shortcuts. Just look at the pictures too.
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Click to collapse
There's a lot of stuff you can check up on and try...
[APP][4.0+]Ultimate Dynamic Navbar - Development temp stopped.
[MOD][Xposed] Xtended NavBar
There is also Softkeyz on the play store (Paid app)