Develop Bugs

Tricks to avoid Pinch stop working when switching input method.

Some Desire user may have issues that sometime the pinch is not working, either home screen pinch or browser pinch to zoom.
I guess most of the people here knows that is due to switching of input method.
Not a very big issue but still quite annoying..
Just did some testing on my desire...
I realized that if I switch the input method while the keyboard is visible, the pinch feature may stop working(most of times it dies).
But if I switch the input method while the keyboard is off, means long press the input box w/o open up the keyboard, and switch the input method, the pinch will always working w/o any issues.
Tried few times on my desire by toggling between HTC chinese keyboard and swype, and type something, the pinch feature still working perfectly
Not sure does this works on everybody's device, do let me know if this solved your issue.

Thank you. This has solved the problem for me.
Previously after switching between Swype and the stock keyboard I would have to reboot in order to get pinch and zoom working again. Using your method keeps it working.

[Q] Keyboard problems when typing

Hello all,
Lately at random times, in any application where text can be typed, example, messages, my keyboard will randomly start typing more than I actually am.
To explain better, I can type like a 6 letter word but after that if I press any other character, the keyboard will register me pressing 4 characters, the space bar and the button to get numbers/special characters.
Closing the app and reopening usually does not help, but restarting the phone does.
Is there a fix for this or should I just restart the phone when it happens.
(this is not a major inconvenience, but it is an annoyance)
EDIT: In case it is relevant, I am running cm7.0.3.

which keyboard are u using? I would suggest you to use different keyboard like GB Keyboard or Swift or even Swype. Just search for keyboard in market and install the one you like.
Please report if problem persists.

No custom keyboard, just the default one in cm7.

Disappearing keyboard still not fixed?

Hey guys,
I'm running a Lumia 800 with the 8107 OS so I thought the disappearing Keyboard issue should have been fixed. However sometimes, when I write a mail or message it happens that the Keyboard still vanishes. I was not able to reproduce the Problem in parts. Could you please try the following and tell me what happens:
1. Go to the Home Screen
2. Open either an app from the home Screen or from the programs list
3. As soon as the Programm Shows the loading Screen hit the search button
4. Tap on the search box and wait
5. The Keyboard should now dissapear after a few seconds
This works best with Applications that take some time to load, like Facebook or Board Express. Instead of opening the Search App you can go into every app that opens the keyboard. I also guess that Network related callbacks are responsible for the dissapearing keyboard. You can try the following as well:
1. Open the Facebook App
2. Wait for it to load and Display the recent items
3. Hit "..." and "Refresh"
4. Tap the Search Button and open the Keyboard
5. After a few seconds the Keyboard disappears.
It would be great if some of you guys could try to reproduce this problem.
Regards
Chris

ChrisKringel said:
Hey guys,
I'm running a Lumia 800 with the 8107 OS so I thought the disappearing Keyboard issue should have been fixed. However sometimes, when I write a mail or message it happens that the Keyboard still vanishes. I was not able to reproduce the Problem in parts. Could you please try the following and tell me what happens:
1. Go to the Home Screen
2. Open either an app from the home Screen or from the programs list
3. As soon as the Programm Shows the loading Screen hit the search button
4. Tap on the search box and wait
5. The Keyboard should now dissapear after a few seconds
This works best with Applications that take some time to load, like Facebook or Board Express. Instead of opening the Search App you can go into every app that opens the keyboard. I also guess that Network related callbacks are responsible for the dissapearing keyboard. You can try the following as well:
1. Open the Facebook App
2. Wait for it to load and Display the recent items
3. Hit "..." and "Refresh"
4. Tap the Search Button and open the Keyboard
5. After a few seconds the Keyboard disappears.
It would be great if some of you guys could try to reproduce this problem.
Regards
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The keyboard isn't disappearing in that case, the app is loading, and you're intentionally trying to type before it's fully loaded to get this behavior. The disappearing keyboard issue would occur MID SENTENCE while typing something as simple as a text after the message had already loaded. What you're doing is intentional and happens everywhere.

FiyaFleye said:
The keyboard isn't disappearing in that case, the app is loading, and you're intentionally trying to type before it's fully loaded to get this behavior. The disappearing keyboard issue would occur MID SENTENCE while typing something as simple as a text after the message had already loaded. What you're doing is intentional and happens everywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this are only two Scenarios where the Keyboard dissapears. However sometimes while composing a longer message for instance, it goes away. And I don't think this behavior is intended. Imagine you're in an area with bad coverage and hit refresh. This refresh can take around 20 or 30 seconds so you decide to write a text. Halfway in the text, the Keyboard will disappear while you are writing. At least that occurs on my device.

ChrisKringel said:
Well, this are only two Scenarios where the Keyboard dissapears. However sometimes while composing a longer message for instance, it goes away. And I don't think this behavior is intended. Imagine you're in an area with bad coverage and hit refresh. This refresh can take around 20 or 30 seconds so you decide to write a text. Halfway in the text, the Keyboard will disappear while you are writing. At least that occurs on my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what to tell you then. I know that the disappearing keyboard was solved for me. It's pretty much a given that on any device, because this used to happen to me on Android and WinMo, that refreshing incoming data will cause your typing indicator to disappear once the data has completely loaded. You can try this on Internet Explorer on your computer. It might be a hassle, but that occured before Mango's keyboard issue. As far as typing a long message, I've typed 10 page texts and haven't had the keyboard disappear once. When I had the disappearing keyboard, it would disappear every 3-4 words, sometimes quicker, and was quite annoying.

i think its not an internet related problem, it is caused by ram issues...if i play with angry birds with dehydration hack, then i switch to an incoming message and quickly reply, the keyboard disappears after 2 sec...lg o7, sorry for bad english..

Updated to 8107 last week and haven't seen the disappearing keyboard since. I call fail on this thread.

Haven't had any issues with disappearing keyboard since 8107, although it was frequent prior.

for some reason, it took two updates for my keyboard to stay. I did an update last week...and for whatever reason, i had another update last night, which appeared to be the same one I did earlier that week...don't know why.
but since, i've had no keyboard issues.

I second the one who said this thread is fail.
The method you gave is a way to force the page to refresh, so as soon as the page (or in this case the app or Bing search) loads with the keyboard, the background agents from the opened app causes the page you are in to refresh as well, thus the keyboard disappears.
The incident before, is when you are already typing a message for 10 seconds or so, then the keyboard will suddenly disappear for no apparent reason. In some occasions, it disappears again when you type on the message box as if the keyboard is doing a "double take" disappearing action = annoying.

That's exactly what I said. He's purposely trying to type while data/agents/pieces of the app are still loading or refreshing. Obviously the keyboard is going to disappear once its done. Go to a website on the phone, and start typing in a text box before it fully loads. Once it fully loads, it'll disappear. This is common knowledge and happens on every platform I've ever used...

Thanks for pointing up that this is intended. I thought it would be odd if an app in the Background could hide the Keyboard in a completely diffrent active app. But it seems as this behaviour is a Feature and not a bug.

[Q] Black bar on bottom of screen when connected to BT keyboard?

I've been using an old Palm bluetooth keyboard with my android devices since switching from a Palm device several years ago. I just recently purchased a BT keyboard specifically designed for the Note 10.1 2014 and from first connection noticed this bar that pops up at the bottom of the screen whenever the keyboard is in use. The little button with the "^" in the corner doesn't seem to do anything. Not sure what it's for. Is this something that normally happens with BT keyboards and I haven't encountered it because I've been using an older Palm BT keyboard?

Looks like a placeholder for a nav bar, which the note don't need, or ads. Ad blockers which work with non-rooted devices produce such empty placeholders.

I'm not running any ad blocker (even though my device is rooted), but this only shows up when I first connect the BT keyboard??? Weird stuff.

Well, the black bar still persists except that I figure out a workaround to get rid of it. It's just a matter of connection order. I have to turn on the keyboard first, then turn on BT on the tablet, go to a text field and when the onscreen keyboard pops up just press the spacebar and on the external keyboard and I'm good to go -- no black bar and a completely functional external keyboard.

internetpilot said:
Well, the black bar still persists except that I figure out a workaround to get rid of it. It's just a matter of connection order. I have to turn on the keyboard first, then turn on BT on the tablet, go to a text field and when the onscreen keyboard pops up just press the spacebar and on the external keyboard and I'm good to go -- no black bar and a completely functional external keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this didnt work, did you end up figuring oout whwat causes this? im usung a galaxy note pro 12.2

I did not figure out any other way to avoid it happening other than the work-around I mentioned. I believe it's the auto-spelling-correct or maybe the auto-complete, but don't know for sure.

I have the same problem on my note 12.2. Simple install "External Keyboard Helper" from Play Store and enable the on screen keyboard and choose "External Keyboard Helper" if you will be asked. Now your BT keyboard is a soft-Keyboard and no black bar was seen again.

screen shot with aftv remote?

Been playing around with my new Bluetooth keyboard and really like the easy screenshot option by pressing ctrl + s. Is there anyway to configure the stock remote to do this?
Also, there is one obvious flaw with web browsers Ive tried. The on-screen keyboard pops up, blocking a good deal of the page and its also very awkward. How do i disable this? And while im at it...having a web browser loses some of its convenience when you need to navigate the deep forest of crap that is the fire os ui. How do i get a shortcut in the recent apps section? Would i need to install appstore then sideload a web browser from amazon? Or maybe theres a llama event that can be used?
Id appreciate any tips. Itll save lots of time in trial & error. Thanks.

KLit75 said:
Been playing around with my new Bluetooth keyboard and really like the easy screenshot option by pressing ctrl + s. Is there anyway to configure the stock remote to do this?
Also, there is one obvious flaw with web browsers Ive tried. The on-screen keyboard pops up, blocking a good deal of the page and its also very awkward. How do i disable this? And while im at it...having a web browser loses some of its convenience when you need to navigate the deep forest of crap that is the fire os ui. How do i get a shortcut in the recent apps section? Would i need to install appstore then sideload a web browser from amazon? Or maybe theres a llama event that can be used?
Id appreciate any tips. Itll save lots of time in trial & error. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not a browser flaw, it works the same way on all android devices. You tap the text area, the keyboard pops up. Some browsers do it automatically on sites if you enter a site that is already setup for you to start typing. Youtube, Facebook and several other sites are already setup for you start typing when you enter the site so they keyboard pops up automatically. A way to stp this is to tap anywhere on the screen before the keyboard pops up. That why I use Maxthon browser cause it does not auto popup the keyboard on those sites like Firefox and Chrome do. Also, if you wanna type without the keyboard popping up all you have to do is hold down on the text area for a few seconds and the little placer and the word paste should popup, then let off the text area and you can type without the keyboard popping up. It works the same way on all android devices except you use your mouse button instead of your finger. So all you have to do is go to the text area you wanna type in and place your cursor there, hold down on the mouse button for a couple seconds, the placer and the word paste will popup, depress the mouse button and you can type without the keyboard popping up. Just like on all android devices this method does not work for all apps, but it does for most apps. I type 90% of the time on the Fire TV without the keyboard ever popping up. Advice, try it on your phone first to get the hang of it. Open your browser, hold down on a text area and you will see that after a couple seconds paste will appear and the keyboard does not popup, which means if you had a keyboard you could type without the onscreen keyboard popping up and it works the exact same way on the Fire TV.

porkenhimer said:
It is not a browser flaw, it works the same way on all android devices. You tap the text area, the keyboard pops up. Some browsers do it automatically on sites if you enter a site that is already setup for you to start typing. Youtube, Facebook and several other sites are already setup for you start typing when you enter the site so they keyboard pops up automatically. A way to stp this is to tap anywhere on the screen before the keyboard pops up. That why I use Maxthon browser cause it does not auto popup the keyboard on those sites like Firefox and Chrome do. Also, if you wanna type without the keyboard popping up all you have to do is hold down on the text area for a few seconds and the little placer and the word paste should popup, then let off the text area and you can type without the keyboard popping up. It works the same way on all android devices except you use your mouse button instead of your finger. So all you have to do is go to the text area you wanna type in and place your cursor there, hold down on the mouse button for a couple seconds, the placer and the word paste will popup, depress the mouse button and you can type without the keyboard popping up. Just like on all android devices this method does not work for all apps, but it does for most apps. I type 90% of the time on the Fire TV without the keyboard ever popping up. Advice, try it on your phone first to get the hang of it. Open your browser, hold down on a text area and you will see that after a couple seconds paste will appear and the keyboard does not popup, which means if you had a keyboard you could type without the onscreen keyboard popping up and it works the exact same way on the Fire TV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great info! And that's a cool trick (holding down to avoid pop up). Still I have questions just not real techy ones. Essentially android is made for mobile so not being able to disable the keyboard wouldn't make sense. But now that its branched into set top boxes and some people are installing this on PC, not to mention chrome books...I can't believe the os isn't slightly modded for these platforms. If I'm not mistaken, I may have seen a xposed module that let's you do that? But the xposed mods I've tried on aftv have been limited to rbox TV mods and the necessary settings for playstore to work but itll be worth looking into. For now its not a big hardship.

Its not a trick. Android is made to do that. If you hold your finger/cursor over the text area, option will popup instead of the keyboard, and its always been that way.