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Is it just me or is this feature absolutely useless? This is supposed to automatically display my notifications when I whip my phone out of my pocket, without pressing any buttons, but it only does so 25% of the time. It’s also supposed to do this when I lift my phone from my desk, but this also happens just as often. How can Google publicly flaunt a feature that works so amazingly poorly? Most of the time I’m forced to put my finger on the “Nexus Imprint” to unlock my phone because Ambient Display is so useless and, when doing this, I still don’t readily see the notifications because unlocking the phone takes me to the home screen!
Fail Google!
especially coming from moto x active display
First thing I did was turn it off and just use the notification LED instead.
Try AcDisplay from the Play Store, it works much better.
It works every time I pick up the phone. It just takes a whole second for it to light up. And while taking it out of the pocket, I usually tap the fingerprint sensor so I'm already unlocked and checking whatever I gotta check.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Mine is pretty hit or miss. It seems like Doze is getting in the way of it working. If I pick up my phone within a short time period of sitting it down, Ambient Display comes up pretty quickly. If I pick it up after it's been sitting for a while it takes it quite a while to figure out to turn on (and usually quite a bit of shaking around). Hopefully Google can fix it with a software update.
Agreed, it rarely comes on from a pocket, never has with a "nudge" for me. Kind of disappointing coming from a Moto X, but not a dealbreaker.
Wish it had a voice-wake feature...
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
I ended up just turning it off and using the LED light instead to conserve battery somewhat. I'm thinking the LED uses less than the LCD.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Ambient display is unreliable and therefore totally useless.
As an aside, I turned on the notification LED and it is huge and very bright.
Sent from my Nexus 5X
:laugh: I found this thread while Googling how to turn Ambient Display off. BTW, it's ridiculously simple: Settings - Display - toggle Ambient Display off.
The ambient display on the Nexus 5X is absolutely pathetic. It very rarely works when it is supposed to and somehow gets triggered to turn the display on when the phone is just sitting untouched, with no incoming notifications. I find it more annoying than useful.
It's sad too because after using a Moto X for a couple of months, I now know how well ambient display can work when it's implemented correctly.
sn0warmy said:
:laugh: I found this thread while Googling how to turn Ambient Display off. BTW, it's ridiculously simple: Settings - Display - toggle Ambient Display off.
The ambient display on the Nexus 5X is absolutely pathetic. It very rarely works when it is supposed to and somehow gets triggered to turn the display on when the phone is just sitting untouched, with no incoming notifications. I find it more annoying than useful.
It's sad too because after using a Moto X for a couple of months, I now know how well ambient display can work when it's implemented correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah agreed. Shut off immediately. Only worked when I didn't need it to ha-ha
For those who turned off ambient display, were you using LightFlow to change the color of the LED? I attempted to use LightFlow to change the color, but I only got the white LED. I am stock and unrooted.
Definitely miss the 2013 moto x active display.
It checks the orientation of the phone. It works anytime you pick it up to the upright position (usb port facing the floor). I wish it worked with a tap on the screen.
It could work even better but I've found it to be useful. I also just like how it looks with the black and white lock screen.
It also doesn't seem to use much battery. I'm guessing that was the main consideration on a device using an IPS panel.
Has anyone else noticed, or can confirm this is how it works, that the ambient display only triggers when there is a lock screen? I have found it totally unreliable and even did a reset on my phone trying to fix it. Then as I was trying to get it to work by messaging my wife she asked if it only works when locked like her iPhone. . . .and lo and behold with my testing, it does only work while locked. Explains why after the factory reset it worked until I switched so that the power button doesn't automatically lock. This on target for anyone else? If so this just seems a terrible implementation and so easy to fix.
EDIT: Seems doesn't have to be locked but has to have some form of lock screen . . .i.e. swipe lock screen suffices. Anyone know if Smartlock can set to swipe instead of no lock screen?
Farlicimo said:
Has anyone else noticed, or can confirm this is how it works, that the ambient display only triggers when there is a lock screen? I have found it totally unreliable and even did a reset on my phone trying to fix it. Then as I was trying to get it to work by messaging my wife she asked if it only works when locked like her iPhone. . . .and lo and behold with my testing, it does only work while locked. Explains why after the factory reset it worked until I switched so that the power button doesn't automatically lock. This on target for anyone else? If so this just seems a terrible implementation and so easy to fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes sense as it's only a black and white version of the notifications on the lockscreen.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Although not having a nexus 5x myself. I have seen from several reviewers that the ambient display does not trigger every time the phone is taken out. Unlike moto display it barely works. Also as the nexus 5x has an LCD panel ambient display is not battery efficient since it has to light up the black pixels unlike an AMOLED panel (nexus 6p,moto x pure). If this is the case when I do get this phone I would rather turn it off and just use LED light plus fingerprint sensor is incredibly fast and works 100% (from what I have heard) so not a big deal that ambient display doesn't work properly. It's really more disappointing on the nexus 6p were it can benefit from ambient display due to the AMOLED panel
Mikecosta64 said:
Although not having a nexus 5x myself. I have seen from several reviewers that the ambient display does not trigger every time the phone is taken out. Unlike moto display it barely works. Also as the nexus 5x has an LCD panel ambient display is not battery efficient since it has to light up the black pixels unlike an AMOLED panel (nexus 6p,moto x pure). If this is the case when I do get this phone I would rather turn it off and just use LED light plus fingerprint sensor is incredibly fast and works 100% (from what I have heard) so not a big deal that ambient display doesn't work properly. It's really more disappointing on the nexus 6p were it can benefit from ambient display due to the AMOLED panel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah only moto has a good ambient display. Nexus fails at that
Both me and my girlfriend bought this wonderful phone, and we are quite happy with it. But she brought something to my attention...
She would very much like to be able to turn off the notifications from waking the screen. Or even better she would like to avoid the notifications she ignore to continuously keep waking the screen. So that new ones wakes it but old ones don't.
Any way of doing g this?
I think you're talking about ambient display. This setting will turn on the screen when a notification is received or when the phone is picked up. To turn it off, go into settings, then display, and then switch of ambient display.
Has anyone noticed that ambient display lights up upon receiving a notification but does not continue to flash like it did on previous nexus? Also it does not flash on upon picking up the device.....
I have ambient display turned on but to be honest I'm not sure my notifications even show once but I'm certain they don't show again.
Sent from my Pixel XL using XDA-Developers mobile app
Came to post this myself. It looks like Ambient Display pops up when you get the notification then never again.
Coming from Moto Display, super disappointed. I was prepared to give up the "wave" to trigger IR sensors and pulse my notifications... I wasn't prepared to give up the feature all together!
Running into the same thing. The ambient display should flash the time, date etc when picking up the phone . Maybe just a late software bug?
Not sure how many others have seen this yet...Notification LED. Mine is getting delivered today so I haven't been able to play around with it yet. It might help with the ambient display issue.
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.andr...otification-light?client=ms-android-sprint-us
lgldrgdlr said:
Not sure how many others have seen this yet...Notification LED. Mine is getting delivered today so I haven't been able to play around with it yet. It might help with the ambient display issue.
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.andr...otification-light?client=ms-android-sprint-us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately that doesnt help
The display turns on it uses the battery.
I hope they never "fix" it.
I pickup the device right hand let my finger touch the finger print sensor if I want to see the display.
AstroDigital said:
The display turns on it uses the battery.
I hope they never "fix" it.
I pickup the device right hand let my finger touch the finger print sensor if I want to see the display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is an argument for disabling Ambient Display. Not for hoping that Ambient Display doesn't work like it's supposed to in the first place.
Celeras said:
That is an argument for disabling Ambient Display. Not for hoping that Ambient Display doesn't work like it's supposed to in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right and I say three things.
1) Why when you lift it is it supposed to turn on ? Did Google ever say? When you pickup you phone the Display should turn on, because we know you careless about battery life.
2) When you pick up you phone why is it so hard to brush your finger on the finger print scanner if you want to display on ?
3) You think every time the phone moves and the display turns on it is not going to use more current, drain the battery ?
If Google ever allows you to turn on the display with just movement picking the phone up.
I hope Google allows people that think 2) and 3) are true to keep this "feature off"
AstroDigital said:
Right and I say three things.
1) Why when you lift it is it supposed to turn on ? Did Google ever say? When you pickup you phone the Display should turn on, because we know you careless about battery life.
2) When you pick up you phone why is it so hard to brush your finger on the finger print scanner if you want to display on ?
3) You think every time the phone moves and the display turns on it is not going to use more current, drain the battery ?
If Google ever allows you to turn on the display with just movement picking the phone up.
I hope Google allows people that think 2) and 3) are true to keep this "feature off"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try to spell it out for you since you apparently lack the capacity to do it yourself.
Ambient Display currently does nothing. It flashes once and is gone forever, which is completely useless. You LIKE it doing nothing. Fine. Then you can turn it off and it will still do nothing. You are happy either way.
There are people who like Ambient Display when it actually works. These people are not happy that it doesn't currently do anything. If it is fixed, then they are happy. If it is fixed, you can disable it, and you are still happy because you weren't getting anything from it in the first place.
Your twisted desire to hope something doesn't work because you don't like it is asinine.
Have a good day.
Celeras said:
I'll try to spell it out for you since you apparently lack the capacity to do it yourself.
Ambient Display currently does nothing. It flashes once and is gone forever, which is completely useless. You LIKE it doing nothing. Fine. Then you can turn it off and it will still do nothing. You are happy either way.
There are people who like Ambient Display when it actually works. These people are not happy that it doesn't currently do anything. If it is fixed, then they are happy. If it is fixed, you can disable it, and you are still happy because you weren't getting anything from it in the first place.
Your twisted desire to hope something doesn't work because you don't like it is asinine.
Have a good day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^ This ^^ Because if you don't like it...then you turn it off.
Youtube link - https://youtu.be/aZREEM08Zfs
Ambient Notification Issue
Also please report this in the official thread (you can just click the star at the bottom without entering text): https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=226350&thanks=226350&ts=1477484991
I've created an app that wakes ambient display when you take the phone out of your pocket or if you have the phone face down and turn it over. The app is in addition to Google's ambient display and does not change your lock screen in anyway.
I added a few other paid features for lift to unlock, wave to unlock, pulsing at an interval, and battery percentage display on the ambient display.
I have a thread going on the Pixel XL forums and a number of people have been testing it out. I think it's stable enough to start spreading the word.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions or run into any problems. Thank you!
Check it out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.compass.ambiturner
I'm interested, but it appears your link is dead.
Edit: found it in play store. Went ahead and got pro for lift to wake.
Atemi1337 said:
I'm interested, but it appears your link is dead.
Edit: found it in play store. Went ahead and got pro for lift to wake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I fixed the link...cut and paste truncated the link.
I'm testing it since four days and can absolutely recommend it.
No battery drain here at all. Proper functionality and even more options with every new version.
Keep up the great work.
Edit: do you have PayPal? I'm gonna hook you up with a beer.
Melecatius said:
I'm testing it since four days and can absolutely recommend it.
No battery drain here at all. Proper functionality and even more options with every new version.
Keep up the great work.
Edit: do you have PayPal? I'm gonna hook you up with a beer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, thank you. The app support is more than enough thanks!
Just bought the pro version. Coming from a note 7 and missing that ambient display, this great app will do.
Looks great.
Thank you very much sir
Trying it on a Nexus 6p. So far i'm loving it.
Bought pro, thanks!
So I've done some limited testing with the app white listed from doze and so far it improves the responsiveness significantly. I don't know the battery impacts yet, but if it's not noticeable I'll add code to prompt users to white list it.
Other upcoming changes:
Advanced settings to adjust wait times for how long the phone has to be in your pocket or laying flat before a wake can occur.
A pulse option that initially pulses faster when a notification comes in, and progressively shows down until the timeout.
Possibly change in lock screen battery indicator appearance.
Filter on laying flat thresholds. I suspect the accelerometer incorrectly reports the phone tilted while it is laying flat on occasion.
Just bought the Pro version, thanks for the nice app.
Unfortunately the ambient display doesn't light up on my Pixel if the phone is unlocked, e.g. by SmartLock. Typically, I have the phone lying next to me on the desk at work or at home und the phone is unlocked by location based SmartLock. This is where I would like to see incoming notifications without touching the phone. Do you think this is possible to implement?
Wrapp said:
Just bought the Pro version, thanks for the nice app.
Unfortunately the ambient display doesn't light up on my Pixel if the phone is unlocked, e.g. by SmartLock. Typically, I have the phone lying next to me on the desk at work or at home und the phone is unlocked by location based SmartLock. This is where I would like to see incoming notifications without touching the phone. Do you think this is possible to implement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll look into that. I've got an idea that may work.
grokus said:
I'll look into that. I've got an idea that may work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me wave to wake works with smart lock in my home.
Taebom said:
For me wave to wake works with smart lock in my home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't work for me.
More important (maybe only for me): the screen doesn't light up without interaction if the phone is unlocked by smartlock. That's the same behavior as with the ROM build in ambient display feature. It only lights up the screen when the phone is locked.
Thanks a lot for looking into that. This would overcome the disappointing original Google ambient display implementation!
If i can help somehow (testing,...) please let me know.
Wrapp said:
Doesn't work for me.
More important (maybe only for me): the screen doesn't light up without interaction if the phone is unlocked by smartlock. That's the same behavior as with the ROM build in ambient display feature. It only lights up the screen when the phone is locked.
Thanks a lot for looking into that. This would overcome the disappointing original Google ambient display implementation!
If i can help somehow (testing,...) please let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you still have ambient display enabled in settings? Mine is working with the location smart lock turned on and ambient display enabled.
grokus said:
Do you still have ambient display enabled in settings? Mine is working with the location smart lock turned on and ambient display enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tested again..
Ambi-turner enabled.
In display settings
Ambient display : on
Display timeout : 15sec
Security settings:
Pin lock screen after 10min
On/off button locks immediately
(I'm not on an English version, hope the translations are understandable)
The phone is in an area where is unlocked by location based smartlock.
Test 1: wait for 15sec until the screen switches off, wait another minute, send me an WhatsApp from 2nd phone: i hear the notification sound, screen doesn't turn on. If i turn on the display using the on/off button i am on the home screen.
Test 2: switch off the screen by on\off button, (i can hear the lockscreen notification) and send me a WhatsApp from another phone. I hear the notification sound, screen turns on and shows the message. If i turn on the phone by on/off button I'm on the lock screen.
Pixel, version NDE63H
Just bought pro - nice job!
I' ve just tested it on my Nexus 5 with PureNexus 6.0.1 rom. PN has ambient display function in settings but it doesn't work because Nexus 5 doesn't have pick up sensors or pocket sensors. Therefore I've been looking for some solution how to wake it, for example cmactions-wave to wake or similar. For the previous period I've been using GravityBox but it's battery hungry.
I see now that ambi-turner works also, so testing it ATM...
nice work...
jazzh said:
I' ve just tested it on my Nexus 5 with PureNexus 6.0.1 rom. PN has ambient display function in settings but it doesn't work because Nexus 5 doesn't have pick up sensors or pocket sensors. Therefore I've been looking for some solution how to wake it, for example cmactions-wave to wake or similar. For the previous period I've been using GravityBox but it's battery hungry.
I see now that ambi-turner works also, so testing it ATM...
nice work...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I'm posting an update soon. I'm testing a new mechanism that is waking the screen up much more reliably than the current version.
I tried NoLED but the immersive mode only last half a minute or so (tried tasker setting immersive mode to hide both when display is on ) and im afraid of battery drain and burn in.
tried glimpse notifications and ambi tuner with little luck (was trying to get pulsing ambient display when having a notification, otherwise off), but pulsing didnt work
what i have settled for so far is using secure settings and tasker to turn on always on display when i have a notification and turn off always on display when i remove a notification. its called doze_always_on in tasker>plugins.>secure settings>device setting (paywall)>system table>secure list>doze_always_on. where 0 is off and 1 is on. I had to set the wake screen up for notifications setting on for this to work.
here is a video jon2jay made of another method of using tasker without need of secure settings (watch in silent): https://ufile.io/fv287
if someone has a better idea that woudl be great. i was thinking about using the notches as notification leds, when you can switch between colors for different app notifications, and even use different "ears" of the notch. the dev of ambi tuner says hes working on pixel 3 xl compatibility.
looks like samsung pie has colored notificaitons on their ambient display. would love that, if it was only on when notifications were there.
Lack of Led alternative
Coming from the original Pixel, I too can't get used to not having an led. I have been using LED Blinker pro with acceptable success. Many customization options. Test mode does not seem to work, but the app works flawlessly.
With all the supposed focus on digital well-being, eliminating the notification LED was a really poor choice. Now we're forced to pick up the damn phone to see what a notification is. I'm going to have to try out some of the options you guys mentioned.
An app that makes a color near the notch would be great, you know something similar to the battery color around the notch. This on AOD would kinda replace the need for the LED...
Sent from my OnePlus5 using XDA Labs
dipstik said:
I tried NoLED but the immersive mode only last half a minute or so (tried tasker setting immersive mode to hide both when display is on ) and im afraid of battery drain and burn in.
tried glimpse notifications and ambi tuner with little luck (was trying to get pulsing ambient display when having a notification, otherwise off), but pulsing didnt work
what i have settled for so far is using secure settings and tasker to turn on always on display when i have a notification and turn off always on display when i remove a notification. its called doze_always_on in tasker>plugins.>secure settings>device setting (paywall)>system table>secure list>doze_always_on. where 0 is off and 1 is on. I had to set the wake screen up for notifications setting on for this to work.
if someone has a better idea that woudl be great. i was thinking about using the notches as notification leds, when you can switch between colors for different app notifications, and even use different "ears" of the notch. the dev of ambi tuner says hes working on pixel 3 xl compatibility.
looks like samsung pie has colored notificaitons on their ambient display. would love that, if it was only on when notifications were there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish google could read this. No one should have to bend over backwards and jump through hoops to enable something as simple as a stupid blinking light! Google failed us so hard by removing the LED.
Now, I can't even tell if my phone is charging without waking the screen. Worse, I have no clue if the battery is low and need to charge without also waking the screen. No clue if I missed a call, or a calendar event... NOTHING! unless I turn on the screen. I shouldn't have to actively interact with my phone to get passive information. If I wanted that, I would have purchased an iPhone.
Doesn't bother me, I've had phones with and without LED. My life hasn't changed
Time to fix that LED
PuffDaddy_d said:
I wish google could read this. No one should have to bend over backwards and jump through hoops to enable something as simple as a stupid blinking light! Google failed us so hard by removing the LED.
Now, I can't even tell if my phone is charging without waking the screen. Worse, I have no clue if the battery is low and need to charge without also waking the screen. No clue if I missed a call, or a calendar event... NOTHING! unless I turn on the screen. I shouldn't have to actively interact with my phone to get passive information. If I wanted that, I would have purchased an iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey. I love to develop and will make this my mission. Since the display is an OLED wich make it possible to turn on and off idividual pixels this should not be that hard. Keep you updated.
I hate not having an LED. Turning the display on to simply check for notifications is becoming aggravating.
Someone please come up with something.
deepsurge said:
Hey. I love to develop and will make this my mission. Since the display is an OLED wich make it possible to turn on and off idividual pixels this should not be that hard. Keep you updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So there are some apps that already do this; however, they all struggle to play nicely with the default lock screen. If you can get around this limitation, I would gladly make a financial contribution.
Haven't missed it one bit. I use the AOD though. If I didn't, I would definitely want the LED.
PuffDaddy_d said:
So there are some apps that already do this; however, they all struggle to play nicely with the default lock screen. If you can get around this limitation, I would gladly make a financial contribution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will look in to this, as an old embedded engineer i will try to solve this, i love a challange.
deepsurge said:
I will look in to this, as an old embedded engineer i will try to solve this, i love a challange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PM me if you need a beta tester
Or some app that would show the Notification Icon on the top of the screen. Just the icon blinking on the all black OLED screen.
I think Samsung's implementation is cool. It takes the colors from the app and uses that as the icon on the screen. Being able to customize that even further would be awesome. Like make all unimportant white and urgent ones red.
kauemelhado said:
Or some app that would show the Notification Icon on the top of the screen. Just the icon blinking on the all black OLED screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those apps exist. They just don't play nicely with the lock screen.
killakarl said:
I think Samsung's implementation is cool. It takes the colors from the app and uses that as the icon on the screen. Being able to customize that even further would be awesome. Like make all unimportant white and urgent ones red.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I initially receive a notification with the AOD on, the icon is colored like that. For Textra it colors the icon the color of the conversation, which is neat. I can tell at a glance who messaged me. For Facebook the icon is blue, Gmail is red, etc.
When the notification goes away and the AOD has the normal display of clock and the icons, it's all that muted shade of gray/white
Hooray!
I am glad this was pointed out, I always found the notification LED on my old Samsung to be mildly annoying but not worth the effort to completely disable. I am glad this phone doesn't have one, easy enough to tap the screen to see what apps the notifications are from and expand if needed. The blinking light was irritating when sleeping or in a dark room. Thanks for pointing this out, one more reason I love my new Pixel 3 XL :laugh:
dipstik said:
I tried NoLED but the immersive mode only last half a minute or so (tried tasker setting immersive mode to hide both when display is on ) and im afraid of battery drain and burn in.
tried glimpse notifications and ambi tuner with little luck (was trying to get pulsing ambient display when having a notification, otherwise off), but pulsing didnt work
what i have settled for so far is using secure settings and tasker to turn on always on display when i have a notification and turn off always on display when i remove a notification. its called doze_always_on in tasker>plugins.>secure settings>device setting (paywall)>system table>secure list>doze_always_on. where 0 is off and 1 is on. I had to set the wake screen up for notifications setting on for this to work.
if someone has a better idea that woudl be great. i was thinking about using the notches as notification leds, when you can switch between colors for different app notifications, and even use different "ears" of the notch. the dev of ambi tuner says hes working on pixel 3 xl compatibility.
looks like samsung pie has colored notificaitons on their ambient display. would love that, if it was only on when notifications were there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey could you please share your tasker profiles? I think that you are having 2 different profiles right? I'm trying to do the same but can't seem to find the doze always on in secure settings :S
This would do until someone manages to customize the ambient or make an app that makes something blink or i dunno what
I've just created an app called Pixel Pulse. I could use some testers if anyone is willing to give it a try. You can select the apps you want to have the app pulse your Ambient Display. There's paid customization for icons and colors but the core functionality of the app is free.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.compass.pixelpulse
If you had previously purchased Ambi-Turner, it has been updated for the new permissions, but because it was written for 8.0 and when Google's ambient display worked differently I decided to leave it as it is. You may however transfer your purchase status of Ambient Display to Pixel Pulse using both apps.
grokus said:
I've just created an app called Pixel Pulse. I could use some testers if anyone is willing to give it a try. You can select the apps you want to have the app pulse your Ambient Display. There's paid customization for icons and colors but the core functionality of the app is free.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.compass.pixelpulse
If you had previously purchased Ambi-Turner, it has been updated for the new permissions, but because it was written for 8.0 and when Google's ambient display worked differently I decided to leave it as it is. You may however transfer your purchase status of Ambient Display to Pixel Pulse using both apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. If I understand correctly, Pixel Pulse works alongside Ambient Display? It appears that PP adds the pulse customization that AD does not have?