Develop Bugs

[GUIDE] Control media player using volume buttons (and other tweaks)

Greetings,
I just wanted to share some tweaks that I've done on my phone to make it much more user-friendly.
Disclaimer: I am not an android expert, until two days ago I had no idea how to root a phone. I realise some CM and other roms can do some of this stuff, but from my linux days I didn't want to go down this road.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROM: This works with the stock Galaxy Y rom, and can be adapted to pretty much any Android phone, I think.
The Main Event: Media control using hardware buttons
1. Root your phone.
2. Install the XPosed installer backported by liudongmiao, found as an attachment from the following link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44034334&postcount=1
2.1. Using the installer, download and install the XPosed framework. For more help on this see this video by galaxyyarchive (the link in the description did not work for me) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsmQsP-lDWU
3. Using the Xposed installer, you will need to download and enable the module Xposed Additions. I also highly recommend the App Settings GB module.
4. Once it's all installed and rebooted, open the Xposed Additions app. Click on Buttons, Add New Key. Press the key you want. Add a condition (screen on / off / lock screen). Select the actions. Repeat this for all the keys and actions that you would like!
How I have my phone configured: Hold volume up to play/pause (regardless of screen condition). Hold volume down to go next song (regardless of screen condition). Hold back to go previous song (unless the screen is off).
It works flawlessly for me, never had unexpected results.
Problems / Tweaks
This method can not control the stock music app!. Most other players seem to work, I like to use RocketPlayer. It also works with pandora and jango.
On my phone, holding any of these buttons will start rocket player, even when the screen is off. So don't accidentally hold down volume down when you desperately want silence!
Do not install the Xposed framework or modules on the SD card (link2sd). They need to be loaded on boot.
How to prevent the screen turning on
1. To prevent media controls from waking the screen, you will need to edit a few files. Using root explorer or similar, navigate to /system/usr/keylayout
2. Open each of the files, and wherever it says VOLUME_UP or VOLUME_DOWN, remove the word WAKE from the same line.
3. Reboot.
Small problem
Rocket player has a really cool lock screen with media control, which works great together with the stock lock screen. However, when this is on, the phone will wake regardless of the above changes, when pressing volume buttons.
Camera Tweaks
If you install the App Settings GB module in XPosed, you can tick the box "show when locked" on the camera. Now when the camera is open and you lock the screen, when you wake the phone you will still be in the camera app! Close it and the screen is still locked.
This App also allows other handy tweaks, like forcing auto rotation or full screen (or not) in any application. Like Gallery!
I've also set holding menu to open the camera using XPosed Additions when the screen is on.
I hope this information will be helpful to someone! All the above, together with link2sd and juicedefender have made me like my phone again!

XPosed modules seem to do very little on Amazon Fire phone

IMO - The few that i have tried - Theme Engine, Xposed Additionas, HDXPosed.
Anyone else found issues with using any?

Greenify works fine so far. Haven't tried others.

Greenify, GEL Settings (MoRe Google Now Launcher Settings) and XStana

I tried Xposed Additions to disable the firefly key but it doesnt register. I Contacted the person that made the plugin

I installed and activated HDXposed, how to we know it's working ? I keep getting Firefly and the amazon appstore reactivate by themself and auto-update. I try to desactivate the auto-update and nothing working so far. Do I need a another module ?

For deactivating: Titanium.
Nothing will bei anymore reactivate

For key remapping, I used Physical Button Music Control. I was able to remap volumes and camera button.
I tried remapping home, but it doesn't pick that home is getting pressed.

hydromän said:
For deactivating: Titanium.
Nothing will bei anymore reactivate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the stupid question lol but is it the titanium app on google play? Pro or free version?

rich8511 said:
For key remapping, I used Physical Button Music Control. I was able to remap volumes and camera button.
I tried remapping home, but it doesn't pick that home is getting pressed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post a link to that app? I can't find it in the app store.
I am using CM11 on my fire phone, and would like to map something to the camera quick launch button.

Is Xstana working? Sure I can change the icons but I still don't see the wifi/bluetooth and notification icons. Is there a way to make it work with fireos short of installing Cyanogenmod? Thanks

How to AVOID accidental HOME click while typing

I've resorted to this because...
1. Modifying "kl" files doesn't work for me.
2. I don't like using softkeys
*PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. I AM NOT LIABLE IF YOU SOMEHOW DAMAGED YOUR PHONE.
*EVERYTHING IS REVERSIBLE by just removing the apps listed below.
Hi everyone,
If you are just like me, wanting to mitigate from accidentally clicking home button while supposedly trying to click space bar while typing, here is my suggestion.
1. You need root
2. Install xposed app
3. Install xposed gravityboxLp module (NO NEED FOR THIS - EVERYTHING CAN BE DONE ON Xposed Addition Module)
4. Install xposed additions module
Xposed additions: you need to remap each button to your preference.
My current setup:
BACK button:
click = go back
click+hold = forcekill foreground app
HOME button:
click = disabled
click+hold = go home (this may not work, so you might need to call your launcher activity instead)
RECENT button:
click = show recent apps
click+hold = screenshot

Don't forget to click thanks and, if not so burdensome, reply here if this has helped you. thanks

BTW, if you guys have simpler/better solution that this, please do share. thanks.

xgneilx said:
BTW, if you guys have simpler/better solution that this, please do share. thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Change keyboard to Google keyboard...
Oh, and stop eating all those sweets and lollies that are making your fingers pudgy...

ultramag69 said:
Change keyboard to Google keyboard...
Oh, and stop eating all those sweets and lollies that are making your fingers pudgy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for this suggestion. however, it didn't get the job done

One way to temporary disable the home and task switch key is to use screen pinning:
http://www.howtogeek.com/202841/how-to-pin-screens-in-android-5.0-for-more-security-and-privacy/
Back key still work, and it last until you quit the app. I only use it for running Asphalt 8, since my left thumb tends to hit those keys when playing.

cf18 said:
One way to temporary disable the home and task switch key is to use screen pinning:
http://www.howtogeek.com/202841/how-to-pin-screens-in-android-5.0-for-more-security-and-privacy/
Back key still work, and it last until you quit the app. I only use it for running Asphalt 8, since my left thumb tends to hit those keys when playing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this one too. But pinning foreground apps just just to mitigate from accidentally clicking the home won't work for me. thanks for this though.

xgneilx said:
In gravitybox, manage the behavior of your capacitive buttons by appropriating each purpose to meet your requirements
In xposed additions, you need to remap your home button and set a condition that will disable it's click functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works. I only installed the xposed additions, and set the home button to respond to long click on screen-on.

"RECENT button:
click = show recent apps
click+hold = screenshot "
I am sure that there are some applications where the default "click+hold" function of recent apps button, i.e. calling up the app menu, may come handy as those apps don't have the three dots in upper right corner or that hype design....yes, "material" they call it
How would you proceed to call up the menu in such cases?
Just my observation/warning for users, otherwise your solution is a good one, I used to have similar settings through Gravity Box.
Heh, my thumb still keeps hitting a "." key on my favourite keyboard instead of spacebar due to ZF2 having a slightly larger screen than my previous device )

mp3comanche said:
"RECENT button:
click = show recent apps
click+hold = screenshot "
I am sure that there are some applications where the default "click+hold" function of recent apps button, i.e. calling up the app menu, may come handy as those apps don't have the three dots in upper right corner or that hype design....yes, "material" they call it
How would you proceed to call up the menu in such cases?
Just my observation/warning for users, otherwise your solution is a good one, I used to have similar settings through Gravity Box.
Heh, my thumb still keeps hitting a "." key on my favourite keyboard instead of spacebar due to ZF2 having a slightly larger screen than my previous device )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good that you've mentioned the possible issue with app menu. I honestly haven't experienced the issue with any app that i use to call upon app menu, but i think we can still add double tap in gravity box on recent key to do that.
So far, i am still mistyping due to big hands, but at least I no longer experience being brought back to home accidentally.

great one

does anybody here have better solution than this?

Easy way to launch an app from Fire TV?

Hi, I am setting a Fire TV 4K stick for my mother in law, and would like to make it as simple as possible. She only needs to use two apps: Netflix and Youtube. Is there any way to quickly launch one of those two apps? Right now, clicking the home button will show the "Sling App" on top, I have to click the down button two times to highlight the most recent app (Youtube or Netflix) and then press the center button to select it. Easy for us but not so much for seniors.
I looked at Echo Buttons, but they don't support FireTV and looks like they are being discontinued?
I am also wondering if there are android app that can be installed on the phone to launch app on the fireTV. A widget would be perfect, so I could set up two widget buttons on her phone, one for Youtube and one for Netflix.
Any suggestions/recommendations for making it easier for seniors would be appreciated.
Thank you!

Dasaita PX6 Touch Buttons

Hi,
I just installed a Dasaita PX6 Max 10 in my nissan. It has touch buttons down the left hand side of the unit to select the menu, navigation, music, volume down and volume up.
I can go into the touch key study and remap the buttons without issue, choose a different program for the navigation button to load etc but I can't choose the buttons to load custom applications. There is no option to change the default music player so I am hoping there is a work around. I have tried a couple of button mappers from the play store with no success.
Does anyone know how to change the buttons?
Thanks.

louismcguire said:
Hi,
I just installed a Dasaita PX6 Max 10 in my nissan. It has touch buttons down the left hand side of the unit to select the menu, navigation, music, volume down and volume up.
I can go into the touch key study and remap the buttons without issue, choose a different program for the navigation button to load etc but I can't choose the buttons to load custom applications. There is no option to change the default music player so I am hoping there is a work around. I have tried a couple of button mappers from the play store with no success.
Does anyone know how to change the buttons?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What has been identified from reading the forums?

marchnz said:
What has been identified from reading the forums?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing. I have looked and followed posts to bind the buttons, albeit this only allows me to choose from a predefined list. It doesn't allow me to choose a specific application as far as I can see.
I haven't read posts where someone says this can't be done, nor have I read a post with instructions. Therefore I am wondering if I am missing something obvious and hence why no one else has this issue?
My software appears to be the latest available according to another forum post.

louismcguire said:
Hi,
I just installed a Dasaita PX6 Max 10 in my nissan. It has touch buttons down the left hand side of the unit to select the menu, navigation, music, volume down and volume up.
I can go into the touch key study and remap the buttons without issue, choose a different program for the navigation button to load etc but I can't choose the buttons to load custom applications. There is no option to change the default music player so I am hoping there is a work around. I have tried a couple of button mappers from the play store with no success.
Does anyone know how to change the buttons?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if that's a glitch. There could be a reason they don't want you assigning apps to the touch buttons... I don't know, but you can always customize your launcher or even install your own with customisable app buttons.

Thanks for your reply. For the time being I have downloaded Agama launcher which appears to integrate well, and I have disabled the music button.
From other research it appears that if the device was rooted then I could possibly use mtce tools or services to re assign the buttons so I'm currently looking for instructions for doing that, as the other articles appear to refer to px5 devices.

did you have any further success? I'm very much interested in that, too.

Apollon2 said:
did you have any further success? I'm very much interested in that, too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately not. I didn't want to try and root it incase I messed up zlink and my vehicle specific parameters.
I just disabled the music button for now and use agama to launch everything.

Apollon2 said:
did you have any further success? I'm very much interested in that, too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Yes I found that a different version of mcd tools which I downloaded from here:
Post in thread '[Release][PX3|PX5] MtcdTools-Control music players, customize buttons, voice control' https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...e-buttons-voice-control.3436789/post-83416527
Allowed me to custom bind the music buttons to dab+.
I just had to change the factory setting for the music button first. I set it up to launch the radio on long press only. That way when I bound a short press using mcdtools it didn't open the default radio app in the background.

Yeah! Found that too and wanted to post it here, but haven’t had time to further play around with it. Works on my Dasaita Max10. Good tip the factory setting thing!
by the way: rooting worked flawlessly with this instruction (also based on posts in this forum):

It's all working great now. I have set the touch buttons up to open the media player on a single click and disabled that application In settings. This has allowed me to set it to open dab z on short press and Spotify on long without it opening the media player at all.
Previously I used it to open the default radio app and that caused issues with it going back to Spotify or dab z.

would you mind describing a bit more detailed, what exacly you did (which exact settings). Would apreciate that very much!

I'll post proper instructions tomorrow, but I went into factory settings and set the music button to open the media player on a short press. Then in Android applications I disabled the media player applocation so it didn't launch anything when pressed.
I then used mtcdtools to create actions for dab z and Spotify.
Then I bound the action to the key for the music button. Choosing dab z for the short press and Spotify for the long press.

thats proper enough for me, Thanks!

I downloaded poweramp from play store and it integrates with no hacking or rooting. I set it as my touch key default music player. Very much recommend it.

DoucheCanoe1 said:
I downloaded poweramp from play store and it integrates with no hacking or rooting. I set it as my touch key default music player. Very much recommend it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how did you set poweramp as your touch key music player?