Develop Bugs

ICS Wasted Screen Space?

So here's a thing.
I've been using and loving my Galaxy Nexus since launch day but one thing has always nagged me. I've always felt that this expansive screen didn't seem that big. I was caught up in the novelty of Ice Cream Sandwich's 'On Screen Buttons' and this new screen relative navigation paradigm to a point that I was glad to give over a large percentage of screen real estate to something that was new and novel.
I now suggest that after prolonged and optimistic use this paradigm is a waste of screen space.
I was swayed by the promise that this section of my precious screen would dynamically adjust and adapt to app specific requirements but as far as I can tell all it does is turn from icons to dots while running some apps and graciously disappears while using 2 (two) other apps (YouTube and Video).
For the most part it stays EXACTLY as it normally appears completely negating the whole point of moving these buttons to the screen!
With the reveal of the HTC OneX, which has pretty much the same sized screen, I've seen what properly used screen real estate can look like. It 'looks' bigger. The screen looks much bigger.
I think Google is wrong in promoting this screen based button layout. Either they change how these buttons persist in the interface and this is supported by 3rd parties or they give the 'whole' screen back to apps. The Galaxy Nexus has a beautiful screen but a 'not insignificant' portion of it is practically useless.
As GNex user what do you think about this?

I'm rooted and running aokp b27 so can hide the navigation buttons at a click of a button and have the full screen for all apps. Can then use button savior or similar or the options in the power menu for home back etc.
Want the navigation buttons back again, click of a button again.
Give it a try
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I think swiping up and down (like the notification pull down) would be awesome
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium

This would be awesome indeed!
So you guys know what I mean right? Seems like a waste right?
monoxide.tryst said:
I think swiping up and down (like the notification pull down) would be awesome
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Click to collapse

ShiroEd said:
This would be awesome indeed!
So you guys know what I mean right? Seems like a waste right?
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Click to collapse
Nope...I I like the sleekness of the front without ant buttons on it when it is off.

dave83uk said:
I'm rooted and running aokp b27 so can hide the navigation buttons at a click of a button and have the full screen for all apps. Can then use button savior or similar or the options in the power menu for home back etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The half pint mod (reducing the nav bar height) is mush more useful. I'm using it at 24dpi and I hardly notice its there and keeps the functionality.

ezcats said:
Nope...I I like the sleekness of the front without ant buttons on it when it is off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah me too but I wish they would disappear more often than they do ala Gallery,Video,Youtube.
The HTC OneX is sleek when it is off too. It's only when you turn it one do you see the buttons so its exactly like the GNex but with more usable screen space.

dave83uk said:
I'm rooted and running aokp b27 so can hide the navigation buttons at a click of a button and have the full screen for all apps. Can then use button savior or similar or the options in the power menu for home back etc.
Want the navigation buttons back again, click of a button again.
Give it a try
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This...I have no on-screen buttons on my GN. 4.65 inches of pure ICS beauty!

But you gain screen space in the same sized chassis because you don't have capacitive buttons down below the screen... You're not any better or worse off screen size-wise when you use on-screen buttons. Its really a wash if you think about it...
I prefer on-screen because they hide when you've got something full-screen up, and they rotate with the UI. And when you turn off the screen, the buttons 100% disappear.

is also use AOKPs setting to hide the nav bar but only when im gonna play games pretty much
theres a way also to use the volume rocker as back and home buttons
here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1521252

I too think the screen buttons are a wasted opportunity and would disappear more often.

RogerPodacter said:
I too think the screen buttons are a wasted opportunity and would disappear more often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think they could do it a little bit more, but remember ICS is meant to be more "user friendly" and not as technical. You shouldn't have to read a user manual to know the gestures to hide and restore the buttons.
I think it would be a very very poor decision on Google's part to just have the phone hiding and restoring buttons "randomly" when you enter different apps or modes.
The best thing about this paradigm is that the buttons can be updated with the OS. We aren't stuck with the buttons that come on the hardware. For example right now 2.3-optimized apps rely on the placement of a "menu" soft key in the action bar at the bottom, but as apps are updated we'll no longer see that button.

While do agree to TS in a certain capacity but I also think it would make the device very unintuitive for new users which is the point of ICS.
That's why we have custom roms. At least now with gnex, we have the hardware that to make it happen if the user choose to
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

The lack of physical buttons was one of my major considerations in getting the Galaxy Nexus rather than waiting for the HTC One X. That and the lack of removable battery. And the not wanting to wait. But I digress
ICS is designed to work with the soft buttons, and I've been enjoying how well they work on my Touchpad. So far I'm loving them on the Galaxy Nexus. To me they seem to get out of the way fairly often.
Another thing - I'm coming from a Nexus One. The funny thing about the Nexus One's capacitive buttons are that they do not work very well while wearing gloves. Even thin gloves. The rest of the screen works just fine, but switching apps, or bringing up the menu, or starting a search are all near impossible with gloves on.
With the Galaxy Nexus' soft buttons, everything is screen, so everything always works!

One thing for sure, youtube videos on wifi HQ look friggin FANTASTIC on this phone. No buttons and pure minimal black front, its truly beautiful. Buttons would diminish that effect/look.

martonikaj said:
But you gain screen space in the same sized chassis because you don't have capacitive buttons down below the screen... You're not any better or worse off screen size-wise when you use on-screen buttons. Its really a wash if you think about it...
I prefer on-screen because they hide when you've got something full-screen up, and they rotate with the UI. And when you turn off the screen, the buttons 100% disappear.
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Click to collapse
The HTC One X is actually slightly shorter than the Nexus, while having a slightly bigger screen.
On-screen buttons are a better solution to physically separated buttons in my opinion. The issue is that the Galaxy Nexus should be considered as a 'beta' for this type of implementation. Not only because the software isn't perfect, but also because of the physical attributes of the device. The space above and below the screen is far too much, and perhaps this is due to current technological limitations. Look at the space below your screen - you 'could' easily get a set of capacitive buttons in there.
If the spaces below and above the screen were reduced by 0.5cm each, the OP would have never made this complaint, as his device would be much more compact than a device with equivalent screen size and capacitive buttons.

Evangelion01 said:
The HTC One X is actually slightly shorter than the Nexus, while having a slightly bigger screen.
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This is true and when I saw a video on YouTube comparing the GNex with the OneX it just struck me that the on screen buttons of the GNex were just taking up screen for no real functional gain whatsoever.
They rotate. Big deal. That makes no difference to functionality. I'd rather more screen.
They disappear. Rarely. When they do we all love how the screen looks. The OneX will be like that ALL THE TIME.
Their behaviour is inconsistent across applications. They disappear completely when viewing video (awesome) but we get three dots when viewing images. Why?
Check out the side by side comparison between the GNex and OneX and you can clearly see that both are the same sized phone but the OneX has SIGNIFICANTLY more available screen real estate. A LOT MORE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF9bhcNV5wU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
One of the things I love the most about the GNex is how minimalist it looks when turned off. Just a black slab. No buttons. But this is the same for many phones with capacitive buttons that turn off with the screen.
I simply cannot see any benefit to having on screen buttons *as it is currently implemented* in Ice Cream Sandwich.
Another thing to consider with persistent on screen buttons is the issue of screen burn in on AMOLED screens. A lot of GNex owners have started to see this already myself included. While this is an issue with the hardware it is a well know issue with AMOLED screens yet Google went ahead regardless.
I love the GNex but I'm now waiting to see what the SIII has to offer. If I'm going to the trouser busting bother of carrying around a large screen I want to get use out of it!

Changing the scaling of objects on screen will allow for more space on the screen. Plus, I think it looks nicer. Why not utilize the screen? xD
This thread covers how todo so. Though, some roms do have a modification option built in.

I've just Rooted (Finally!) and flashed AOKP b27 and IT'S AWESOME!!!
Amongst many other cool things it enables you to change the dpi for the Nav Bar making it really thin and freeing up loads of screen space while keeping full functionality!
Sha-WHEET!

monoxide.tryst said:
I think swiping up and down (like the notification pull down) would be awesome
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With nova launcher you can do that
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

[Q] Need key combination for full screen capture

I have the new Galaxy Note II (GT-N7100).
I know how to capture the part of screen by stylus but I want to capture the whole screen.
Anybody can tell me key combination to capture full screen.

little Confused.... What do you mean by full Screen Capture???
the S pen can do it by holding the button and holding the pen on the screen!!! Is that what you mean???
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

On the Note 1 you slide your hand across the screen, holding your hand in karate chop fashion.
Then you can go into the notifications, click on the notification and edit with Skitch etc
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

Do you mean the single page you are viewing but not the multi pages?
Never heard of a part screen capture.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

Why don't you just use the s pen for screen capture..just press the button and tap on the screen...much easier than pressing multiple buttons.
Sent from my GT-N7100

Key combination is home + power key, or you can press the s-pen button and hold the s-pen on the screen for 2 seconds or so.

I honestly miss the sliding your hand over the screen. My Note 1 had that, and my friends S3 has it as well! I wonder why they decided to remove it from the Note 2. While I love the SPen, I don't ALWAYS use it! Sometimes I Just see something that I don't want to edit and just want to capture the screen and I just swipe and done! Now I'd have to take out the SPen, dismiss the autoaction, snap the screen shot, and then put the SPen back in. It seems like a waste of time. I hope Samsung brings back the swiping motion ASAP!

Settings, Motion, Palm swipe to capture screen.
Works great for me...
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

I also use to swype with my finger from left to right and it will capture your screen

Key combination: home button+power button. Hold it.

zkyevolved said:
I honestly miss the sliding your hand over the screen. My Note 1 had that, and my friends S3 has it as well! I wonder why they decided to remove it from the Note 2. While I love the SPen, I don't ALWAYS use it! Sometimes I Just see something that I don't want to edit and just want to capture the screen and I just swipe and done! Now I'd have to take out the SPen, dismiss the autoaction, snap the screen shot, and then put the SPen back in. It seems like a waste of time. I hope Samsung brings back the swiping motion ASAP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its still there.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

Swipe to take screenshot?

Hi, isit possible to take screenshot on the HOX like the samsung galaxy S3? using the palm to swipe across the screen.
i am getting sick and tired of S3 users telling me how smart their phone is by that gesture... zzz

Nope, this is a Samsung Touchwiz implemented feature. However, the HOX has 2 methods of taking a screenshot, 1 is the standard built-in Android 4.0+ feature, and is holding the power button and vol down for 2 seconds. The other one is HTC Sense implemented, and is holding the power button and tapping the home button.

No there is not. Stop getting worked up over kids and their plastic toys.

I'm sure on certain custom ROMs you can have different combinations etc. For me running a modded version of cynogen I can hold power for 2s and click screenshot. I'm sure in some settings u can choose what gestures do what, that might be worth playing with.
I would quite like to be able to pinch screen to take screenshot.
Sent from my HTC One X
====================
Google Nexus 7
HTC One X

I have a HTC Desire 526 and i want to get the Quick Memo that you can swipe on whatever the screen is and take a shot of it and crop it to what size you want or shape,write on it or what ever

[Q] Screenshot

Hi,
Can you tell me how to screenshot on the Samsung Tab S 10.5 please?
I have tried all the normal techniques and nothing seem's to work?!
Thanks, Louise

LouiseDuff said:
Hi,
Can you tell me how to screenshot on the Samsung Tab S 10.5 please?
I have tried all the normal techniques and nothing seem's to work?!
Thanks, Louise
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my 8.4 it's power and the home button at the same time. I'd assume it should be the same for you.

Press and hold the power and Home button at the same time.
The border of the screen will go white when it's taken a screenshot

I set mine up to swipe my hand over the screen as I'm less successful with the power and home button combination.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

simacca said:
I set mine up to swipe my hand over the screen as I'm less successful with the power and home button combination.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
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when i swipe my hand it just dont take the screenshot- whts the correct way to do tht- i m not sure if its issue in my tab,.
can you post short demo
Thanks

Bluehacks said:
when i swipe my hand it just dont take the screenshot- whts the correct way to do tht- i m not sure if its issue in my tab,.
can you post short demo
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go into settings>device>motions and switch on palm swipe to capture. Then, for example, if you hold your device in portrait mode and swipe from right to left with your hand pointed up straight (not with your palm), this will perform a screen capture. It takes some practice at first, but I have much more success than the home>power button combo. This may not be for everyone though.
Will post a video when I have time.
Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

simacca said:
Go into settings>device>motions and switch on palm swipe to capture. Then, for example, if you hold your device in portrait mode and swipe from right to left with your hand pointed up straight (not with your palm), this will perform a screen capture. It takes some practice at first, but I have much more success than the home>power button combo. This may not be for everyone though.
Will post a video when I have time.
Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Thx buddy... Do post a video whn u get time.
Sent from my SM-T700 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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