Android Arrows on screen - Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) Q&A, Help & Troubl

I have a rooted Note 2014 with Clean Romo 1.0 on it. I mainly use my Note in tablet mode but hate having to use the default arrows on the side. I was hoping their was an app or a zip that enabled this so it would float to however you had your screen. Any ideas?
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

sdelliott31 said:
I have a rooted Note 2014 with Clean Romo 1.0 on it. I mainly use my Note in tablet mode but hate having to use the default arrows on the side. I was hoping their was an app or a zip that enabled this so it would float to however you had your screen. Any ideas?
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I assume you're referring to the soft navigation keys?
There are a number of apps if you search for soft navigation keys on Google Play. Maybe start with this one (as it doesn't seem you need root access to enable it)?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.yesoft.handysoftkeys&hl=en
Edit: So I just installed the Handy SoftKeys app and it seems to do what you want it to do, although the placement on the screen is a little weird (middle of the screen on the right edge). The "back" key doesn't seem to work in every single application, but the "home" and "running apps" buttons seem to work okay.

Related

Q: Avoiding Hardware Home Key?

The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
My Galaxy S4 has an Assistant Menu which provides things like an on screen Home and menu button. It's not in my Note 8.0 yet but may be added in a future release I guess.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk HD
Button Savior from the Play Store may do what you are after. It's funny. l personally like the hardware home key.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda premium
If you are rooted it would be simple to change your back or menu button to act as your home. You can go to /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchscreen.kl and edit the BACK or MENU to read HOME.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
I am using GMD gesture control on note 2&8 to simulate hardware buttons and keeping full screen for applications
Envoyé depuis mon GT-N7100 avec Tapatalk
Same issue as the OP, I'm using LMT with a pie control right on top of the hardware home button.
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Taskbar task switcher by gdroid, it places a Return to desktop shortcut along with a configurable number of recent apps in the notifications pull down.
sisterchick said:
Button Savior from the Play Store may do what you are after. It's funny. l personally like the hardware home key.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Button Savior looks helpful, I played with it a little using both auto-hide and permanent display modes. The only downside to hidden mode is it takes two motions, first to expand the menu, then to click the home button. That can be done pretty quickly though.
Why do you like having a hardware button? I don't see why they made 2 buttons compatible with S-pen, and didn't make the Home button usable with the stylus as well.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app
ual4720 said:
If you are rooted it would be simple to change your back or menu button to act as your home. You can go to /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchscreen.kl and edit the BACK or MENU to read HOME.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
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Click to collapse
Thanks, that would be useful. Is it also possible to assign those actions to a long-press? For example, Menu goes to Home with long press.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app
Handy Hardware Button
MikeChelen said:
Button Savior looks helpful, I played with it a little using both auto-hide and permanent display modes. The only downside to hidden mode is it takes two motions, first to expand the menu, then to click the home button. That can be done pretty quickly though.
Why do you like having a hardware button? I don't see why they made 2 buttons compatible with S-pen, and didn't make the Home button usable with the stylus as well.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Habit would probably be the best answer. I came to the Note 8 from a hacked Nook Color running CM10. I got accustomed to waking the device with the "n" hardware button. Like my old Nook, I put a non-slip bumper case on my Note 8 which makes pushing the power button to wake a little tedious. I also like to read in the dark and like the hardware key as a landmark for orientation when I pick it up with the lights off. Finally, I use the tablet in the kitchen on a stand for displaying recipes. I use a cheapest of the cheap $5 stylus in the kitchen to wake it up by pushing the hardware key and for scrolling pages so I don't get the tablet or the S-pen all gunked up with cookie dough from my fingers.:silly:
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROM
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LMT Pie
MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use your Note 8 in landscape mode, you'll soon wish all keys were physical, not capacitive.
tokugawa said:
If you use your Note 8 in landscape mode, you'll soon wish all keys were physical, not capacitive.
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Click to collapse
This is my concern, Im hoping that by using a case that goes over the bevel rather than sits flush with it, my palm will be less likely to brush against the back and menu capacitive buttons when playing games or drawing. My device should be arriving this evening so I will have to experiment to find my best solution. I dont want to mod the software to disble the buttons and get the traditional menu bar on the screen. I value the screen real estate. If they were physical buttons I wouldnt have this issue
hertsjoatmon said:
This is my concern, Im hoping that by using a case that goes over the bevel rather than sits flush with it, my palm will be less likely to brush against the back and menu capacitive buttons when playing games or drawing. My device should be arriving this evening so I will have to experiment to find my best solution. I dont want to mod the software to disble the buttons and get the traditional menu bar on the screen. I value the screen real estate. If they were physical buttons I wouldnt have this issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still a bit annoying to me in landscape mode, but in Portrait mode it's been actually quite fine (even drawing). Perfect would be an app that could just temporarily disable/toggle it (maybe via a small 1x1 widget). Then if I want to use it in landscape mode (or whenever Im going to use it in a way that could be annoying with the capacitive keys), I could simply turn it on.
I do like the physical/capacitive keys in general too, since I also value the screen real estate so I guess for me a toggle solution would be best. Maybe I'll investigate into it and make it myself...
Or you can add Home button as Multiwindow "app" with this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t2.shome
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Hi, there's a way for disabling the capacitive keys, just look under development here on this forum. The mod will disable the keys and require the S Pen to make them work (quite useful for landscape) to enable On-Screen Buttons you should try this (works on the Galaxy S3/Note/Note II) I haven't tested in the Note 8 but I will as soon as I get mine (by the end of this month).
Enable on-screen buttons:
You will need root access for this.
Install ES File Explorer File Manager on your Note from the Play Store. This is a file manager that will be used to edit those system files to enable/disable on-screen/soft buttons.
Open ES Explorer. Then, click the menu button on your device and click Settings. Here, tick the “Up to Root” option. Then go down and tick the “Root Explorer” option, then press Allow/Grant button when prompted to grant it root access. Then, tick the “Mount File System Option” as well. Once all three options are selected, press back to exit the settings.
Hit the Up on top in ES Explorer till you reach the outermost folder (till it says / at the top).
Go into the system folder, then scroll down to find the build.prop file (Copy this file to a Safe location!!).
Tap on this file to start editing it. If you get an “Open With” prompt, select “ES Note Editor”.
Now, at the end of the file (at the bottom after the last line), add the line “qemu.hw.mainkeys=0″ (without the ” quotes), then save the file (press the Menu button to see the Save option).
Then, reboot. After the boot up, you should have the virtual on-screen buttons on your screen.
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app
EDIT
How-to: disable the home button
The thread that Samper was referring to is at: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2250941
I can't post there yet, so I would like to add here that after disabling the menu/back buttons as described there, I worked out how to disable the home button. Following the same instructions as in the above link, also edit the gpio-keys.kl, changing the last line by adding a # to the beginning, so it looks like this:
Code:
#key 172 HOME WAKE
Now that all three buttons are completely dead (though the pen will still activate the menu/back buttons), I use LMT Launcher to provide pie controls at the bottom of the screen. Get it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1330150. PieControl from the Play Store is an easier-to-configure but less powerful alternative to LMT.

[Q] How do you switch apps?

Forgive me if this is obvious. I'm coming from CM 10.1 and the LG interface is a huge turn off. I would expect the icon with three horizontal lines next to the home soft key to bring up the app switcher but it doesn't. Can I get that functionality on the G Pad? TIA.
Ron
I would like this to know the answer to this too. Is there any way to enable the default Jelly Bean launcher?
I figured it out after googling. You press and hold the home soft key.
Cm can't come fast enough on this tablet
Sent from my Nook HD running CM 10.1 using Tapatalk HD.
Long press on home key is the default way to bring up the app switcher. You can install GMD Auto Hide app, you can set it up to give you a dedicated key to bring up the app switcher.
woody1 said:
Long press on home key is the default way to bring up the app switcher. You can install GMD Auto Hide app, you can set it up to give you a dedicated key to bring up the app switcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope it doesn't become inconveniently obvious that when I ask questions about using LG's interface that I am completely inexperienced with android phones. What I know comes from my satisfying CM 10.1 experience on two Nook tablets.
So anything that is familiar from the LG phone world (makes sense they'd do that) I won't know.
Two other things I'd like to do.
Eliminate the screaming half screen notification pull down for something "normal."
Change the background on the settings app to black rather than white.
Thanks,
Ron
you can use 3finger left slide to" minimize" an app and then recall sliding to the right too
Inviato dal mio LG-V500 con Tapatalk 4
channeledbymodem said:
Forgive me if this is obvious. I'm coming from CM 10.1 and the LG interface is a huge turn off. I would expect the icon with three horizontal lines next to the home soft key to bring up the app switcher but it doesn't. Can I get that functionality on the G Pad? TIA.
Ron
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can change the soft buttons with Xposed Mod.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2528304
I expected different behaviour, too
Has also much more abilities than just changing the navigation bar.
Nice workaround for some things, until custom roms (hopefully) arrive ;D

On screen buttons

Is it possible to have on screen buttons like nexus 5, and disable current below screen buttons (home, menu, back)?
I think you can do it natively under Accessability options.....not sure where though, saw a youtube video on it
Sent from my BNTV600 using xda app-developers app
Why would you want to use screen space for navigation buttons when there is space allotted for them on the device already? I'm just curious, as one of my main reasons for switching from GN5 to Note 3 was to not use screen space for nav buttons.
Coming from a Gnex and Nexus 10, I do find it annoying that the hardware back-button on the Note ends up being out of place when I rotate my phone for YouTube etc. Clearly not a big deal, but I would prefer software buttons in those situations.
I'm also not a fan of the hardware menu button. Some apps have a menu and some don't. I'd rather have the app show the button when it's relevant than tap it to see if anything pops up.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
Root your phone, download temasek will03 aosp rom, install,???, profit

[Q] Where did the G2's left / right cursor arrows go on the Home Button row?

The LG G2, had the most wonderful left and right cursor arrow keys that showed up in the row of the home button (front touch buttons they were called on the G2) anytime you launched a keyboard to type.
But this feature seems omitted on the G3..?? No please say it aint so!
How do I get those back?
Not sure if this is what you are looking for since I never owned the G2. When keyboard is up, long press on space bar. This brings up your left and right cursors.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Free mobile app
Thanks, but no that's not it. On the G2 there are permanent cursor keys on the far left and right of the front home buttons. Just to the left and right of the Back button and Recent Apps button. They only show up with a keyboard is displayed.
Anyone know how to get these on the G3?
Sent from my VS985 4G using XDA Free mobile app
These arrows. Does anyone know how to get these arrows on the g3?
See them at the bottom left and right of the screen on the nav bar.
Please help!
Side load the G2 keyboard. The G3 one doesn't have the arrows so you will need another one
Pilz said:
Side load the G2 keyboard. The G3 one doesn't have the arrows so you will need another one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great suggestion Pilz. Two questions:
1) Are you sure functionality of the left/ right cursor keys on the Nav Bar are built into the LG keyboard? I only ask because those keys show up even when the LG Keyboard isn't being used. I usually use TouchPal or SwiftKey.
2) I attempted to side load the G2 apk be backing up the app using ES Files Explorer. When I tried to install it on the G3 it said not insatlled. Do I do this by simply opening the apk file or do I have to do something with the .odex and .systag files? BTW - I'm not rooted yet.
3) Also when I tried to install the G2 keyboard apk, it said it was going to UPDATE the G3 LG Keyboard. Know of a way to have it load as secondary version of the app instead of replace it?
Thank you so much!
If you want to sideload the G2 keyboard you may need root to move the odex and or lib files into the appropriate folders. Some apps work without this, but since it's a system app you will more then likely need root. I don't like the G3's keyboard (I use the google one with the material overlay). Here is a screenshot of my G3 keyboard for reference it doesn't have the arrows on the bottom. The good news is that if you hold the space bar then you can move the cursor as seen below. I hope this helps.
I think you are correct about needing to be rooted to move the odex files. I'll get to that later.
As a workaround I downloaded the new Google keyboard also. I was wondering though how you got the arrow keys for the cursor. Holding down the space bar for me prompts the keyboard change menu to select a different keyboard all together...??
Sent from my VS985 4G using XDA Free mobile app
Great tip about holding down the spacebar ! Then I can slide left or right to move the cursor for edits !
That isn't working for me..? What version are you using? I thought I downloaded the latest L version. Mine prompts a keyboard change.
Sent from my VS985 4G using XDA Free mobile app
tstretch said:
That isn't working for me..? What version are you using? I thought I downloaded the latest L version. Mine prompts a keyboard change.
Sent from my VS985 4G using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's only on the LG keyboard which I don't use. I only use the google one I posted the screenshots of the LG one for the other member to show him the feature.

Captivate and home button on side of screen?

Just got a used Note 10.1 2014 and the first thing buggin me is when using the Note I find it it difficult with the captivate and home button along the bottom. Is there an app that can move them to the right or left side of the screen? While holding it in landscape mode it just seems to make sense.
gottria said:
Just got a used Note 10.1 2014 and the first thing buggin me is when using the Note I find it it difficult with the captivate and home button along the bottom. Is there an app that can move them to the right or left side of the screen? While holding it in landscape mode it just seems to make sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried pie control? Its a cool menu app that you can configure in any number of ways. If its not to your liking just search for "soft keys" in the play store and you will have many apps to choose from that are intended to do exactly what your looking to do. Some will require a rooted device, others won't. Pie control is a wonderful menu alternative and I know you can put soft keys in it too. heres a link for it https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jun.ace.piecontrol

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