G'day everyone, just wanted to share a way to get awesome multitasking to get a nicer experience as a "tablet".
There's an app in the Galaxy store called GoodLock.
In the app is a heap of outstanding customisation tools you'll love. One particular one is called NavStar. It replaces the taskbar at the bottom on your screen with a "Task Stack". It's essentially a long list of all your currently running apps and interaction works the same way as the default taskbar... drag and drop an app from the Task Stack to the screen.
Instead of having only 8 apps in the default taskbar, the NavStar Task Stack shows all running apps, much like a desktop computer, for a much better multitasking experience.
On the inside screen, the task stack is shown next to the nav buttons. It disappears on the cover screen and only shows the nav buttons. Then checkout the GoodLock app called HomeUp... you can customise the entire multitasking interface (I have recent apps shown in a grid).
The only downsides are you can't use nav gestures with the task stack, and there's a bug the dev needs to sort out where when you rotate the screen, the stack disappears and you have to swipe the notification centre down to show the stack again. If youre using the cover screen then unfold it, it also disappears. I have a fix for it further below.
Now there are 2 tweaks for the task stack I've sorted out. One unfortunately requires root.
The first one is to get a tablet UI. It requires rooting and installing the Magisk module MagiskHide Props Config. Using this module, you need to change the build prop "ro.build.characteristics" value from "phone" to "tablet.
This gives you the date in the statusbar, a nicer/different notification centre and probably a couple over things I haven't noticed yet.
When done, it also gives you the task stack on the cover screen... that's the biggest reason I'd say to do this mod if you root.
If you set the nav buttons on the left hand side of the screen, you will get all 3 buttons and a couple apps in the stack on the cover screen. If you set the buttons on the right, the cover screen stack will show a lot more apps but the only nav button that will show is the back button on right hand side.
To get around this (if you want your buttons on the right), I have an app called Gesture Control. This way, I can have my nav buttons on the right which then allows me to use the back button on the cover screen to go back and use swipe up gesture to go home and swipe up and hold to access recents.
I also have a macrodroid task set up to disable the gestures on the inside screen (I don't need gestures as I have the 3 buttons) and enable the gestures on the cover screen.
The second tweak is using macrodroid/tasker to fix the task stack disappearing.
I have tasks set up so when the screen is rotated or the device is unfolded, a gesture pulls the notification centre down about 100 pixels then immediately back up in 50 microseconds... this shows the stack again and the status bar has a tiny little flicker you barely notice.
It's unfortunate that this bug exists and hopefully its fixed soon because it is an awesome desktop-like experience.
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As an add-on to the above - in order to be able to display the Task Stack in NavStar you first need to go into the phone's Settings - Display and disable "Taskbar" there.
Otherwise the "Show Task Stack" option will be greyed out in NavStar.
Related
I have an O2 xda 2s, and I've noticed that pressing the red phone button (normally used to hang up on a call or close the phone app) also closes any other applications I have running! It actually minimises them, i.e. they are still running in Settings/Memory/Running Programs. This is not ideal! Is this a known bug? Have any developers come across this? If so, any suggestions with how to prevent it from closing apps?
Thanks, Kath
i don't think its a bug mate i think its supposed to do that...
You might want to install a task manager to keep track of apps that are in the background. SPB battery bar comes with one, and I think it's free (not the "pro" version). It allows you to quickly jump between running apps.
Whenever you hit the Red Phone button it will minimize the application running. Remember, this may take a bit of your resources since it does not shut down the application. I would advise you taking a third party application which will close the application or even show you the runningn applications that were left running instead of going through the standard Settings - Memory procedure. Try SPB products or Battery Pack. They ain't free though...
as i understand it, the red fone button mimicks the operation of the X software button on the upper right corner of your window when outside the phone app. on desktops this would be the "close application" button but its default behavior on ppc's in general would be to minimize the app. kinda annoying but i guess it speeds up load times of commonly used apps. the only resource i see it hogging would be your memory as it is still loaded in your appications memory space but i dont think it will take up cpu time as it should be in sleep mode or sumthin like that.
there are a lot of add ons out there that can change that behavior to "close" instead of "minimize/standby". asides from what they recommended above, you can also try WISBar. dunno if it works on WM2003 tho (i use it on my WM2002 pda).
Thanks for your replies. My problem isn't so much that pressing the button is minimising rather than closing the apps, it's that I don't want it to minimise OR close my app, I want my app to remain open even when the red button is pressed. It seems like a wierd design feature to me. Does anyone know how to overcome the app being minimised?
Thanks again,
Kath
Dynamo 2 lets you switch between and close apps. And it looks cool!
http://www.aspecto-software.com/Dynamo/Dynamo.htm
Use the stylus on the icon at the top right of the screen you want to close. Or use the d-pad to navigate to select the window, then hold the middle d-pad button for half a sec to close it.
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kathhawkes - use something like ae button http://ae.inc.ru/aebplus_t.html to remap red button to something else. Then, make that "something else" be to just hang up. It should override default functionality.
V
Had a bit of a rummage thru the forums and came up blank...so,
Is there a way of getting the HTC Task Manager/Quick Menu to replace the X button on all screens?.. tis mighty handy.
Mapping it to a button is a good second option I guess
Quickmenu 2.7 isn't too bad an alternative, but it's not quite as thumb friendly as the HTC version.
Here's the link anyways,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=341845&highlight=Quickmenu
I use WKTASK. It is really excellent. It has a line style battery indicator on top of the task bar. It displays all running application on the taskbar the same way was PC for you to know at all time running process and to switch to any of them. It also lets you click and hold any of these running icons to close them.
I disable the HTC task manager icon on the today screen the first time after flashing a ROM.
Also, it is free.
If you want it, just google for it.
eaglesteve said:
I use WKTASK. It is really excellent. It has a line style battery indicator on top of the task bar. It displays all running application on the taskbar the same way was PC for you to know at all time running process and to switch to any of them. It also lets you click and hold any of these running icons to close them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I downloaded wktask at your advice and must concur, it is superb as a taskbar and app.launcher! Thanks for the tip, I'll add it to the wiki.
I know it's freeware but an autostartup would be excellent, so now to find out how to register.
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eaglesteve said:
I use WKTASK. It is really excellent. It has a line style battery indicator on top of the task bar. It displays all running application on the taskbar the same way was PC for you to know at all time running process and to switch to any of them. It also lets you click and hold any of these running icons to close them.
I disable the HTC task manager icon on the today screen the first time after flashing a ROM.
Also, it is free.
If you want it, just google for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AWSOME! this solved my task menu quick launch lag! problem as well!
I got rid of the battery meter because i think the HD looks better with all black up the top.
Just some configuration tips using WKTASK
1) In General 1 tab, tick the "hide the Task-list where there is no task". This is to enable you to see message/warning bubbles on the task bar when all tasks are closed.
2)In the Action tab, I set the first four windows to:
Tap:Close/OK
Tab&Hold:Close All
Tap in today:Action Menu
Horizontal drag:Action Menu
Reason: I want a quick way to kill all task anywhere, but pressing and holding my finger at the top right corner of the screen.
And I want the ability to bring up the wktask menu anywhere, by horizontal drag.
3) I always choose PCstyle at the Design tab.
4) I always use the battery meter and disable the battery icon of TF3D to show time instead (use HDTweak to do this). Also, I always display time in HH:mm:ss:tt format (Set in regional setting) on every page (set in Time setting). This ensures that the task bar icons do not shift position relative to the active task icons.
I find the above preference settings to work best for myself.
Quickmenu was a bit busy for my tastes. I prefer Pbar 1.5, does what I need, clock and battery on the bar (in all windows) and a nice task manager on the X button.
Hi,
How I have done this I don't know, but suddenly the back hardware button (2nd to the right) brings up the volume adjust screen instead of returning to the previous screen?
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It is the same screen as when pressing the VOLUME UP/VOLUME DOWN button.
Regarding registry tweaks etc I have only installed Diamond Tweak and the Itouch sensitivity tweak, for the rest all official software but I can't find any relevant settings that could have caused this.
It's not really a problem, but pretty annoying as I was used to using the back button and now everytime this screen pops up.
Anyone knows how I can restore the original functionality of this button?
Thanks!
Doesn't look like the standard volume control app to me. Have you installed some other volume control application that may have a hardware key assigned to it?
Hi and thanks for your reply. I installed the following apps and software but I can't imagine which one has caused this:
- TP2 TF3D Neon Tabs - V1.1 > removed again properly
- MusicID
- Skype
- Emoze Pro
- Diamond Tweak
- MP3Trimmer
- ITouch sensitivity tweak
- S2U2
- Total Commander
- Sprite backup
- Fabliv Action Screen
- No bottom curtain (transparent T3FD icons)
- No top curtain (transparent provider bar)
- Custom top bar icons
- Spike's ~ 6.1 MicNeo TaskBar Varient
I installed all cabs and did not use any manual regedit...
Hi,
I had the same after installing S2U2. If you disable in S2U2 sttings the Volume Control option the hardware back button is working like it has been in the beginning. By the way the volume keys will work in standby so this option is not neede for the Rhodium.
Kind regards
I dont have a pro 2, but it is possible that the button got reassigned for some reason, if open the start menu, go to settings, then all settings, go to the personal tab, and then click buttons and you can reassign what all the buttons do, and you can select the back button and then choose what command you want it to do, and that should allow you to fix it.
BTW- the steps might not be 100% accurate because I typed this based off of memory and didn't actually go through the steps to double check but I think it should work, if you get to the button settings screen though you should be able to reassign what all the buttons do
hope that helps
I dont think thats gonna work because you cant reassign the back button.. Ive also installed s2u2 and have also volume control when i press the back button.. When i disable volume control it works again..
planet x said:
hi,
i had the same after installing s2u2. If you disable in s2u2 sttings the volume control option the hardware back button is working like it has been in the beginning. By the way the volume keys will work in standby so this option is not neede for the rhodium.
Kind regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks so much spot on :d:d:d:d:d
(I'm going to be cheeky and cut-and-paste this (with some edits) from an earlier post on the Gemini Planet Facebook page, so some people may recognise it if you spend time there.)
Since upgrading my Gemini from Android 7.1.1 to 8.1 I've hit a snag with the Amiga emulator UAE4ARM and other emulation apps that use the SDL library for handling video.
It looks as though the new OS may not be providing the correct screen width to whatever function the SDL libraries is using for their fullscreen display. Whether or not the Gemini's navigation bar is hidden, I lose 10% or so of the screen on the right hand side (or the left, if the navigation bar has been moved) when running these apps fullscreen.
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All of the apps I've seen this happen to are emulators (UAE4ARM, Vice64 and Unreal Speccy Portable) and while I'm not certain whether Unreal Speccy uses SDL the other two definitely do, which leads me to suspect it as the common factor. The DOS emulator Magic DOSbox uses a different display methodology and works perfectly in fullscreen landscape.
I've tried all available methods for hiding the navigation buttons; Gemini's new settings, UAE4ARM/SDL's built-in Immersive Mode and the Granular Immersive Mode app. All methods exhibit this truncated screen effect. It's interesting to note that in terms of raw pixels, the truncation appears at the same horizontal position that the navigation bar would appear if it were visible. This also coincides with the right side of the titlebar clock, and is only a few pixels to the right of where Planet's own App Bar cuts off, whether or not the navigation buttons are visible.
Everything points to the OS reporting the wrong screen width to certain apps and libraries when the navigation bar is hidden. None of these apps exhibited this behaviour under 7.1.1, but it's unclear to me whether this is a change in Android functionality or a result of something Planet have specifically tweaked for the Gemini firmware (perhaps related to the new built-in ability to hide the navigation buttons?)
I've tried the obvious Google searches but with fairly generic parameters such as "Oreo" "8.1" "width" "SDL" etc. I'm getting a lot of false positives and nothing of actual use.
Does anyone know what might be causing this, and whether there's a workaround to change whatever value the OS is reporting to SDL? I'm pretty sure I've exhausted all of the tweaks available under Developer Options but I don't mind using tools such as ADB to apply tweaks if necessary. I'm even prepared to root the Gemini if that's what's needed, although I'd rather avoid that if possible. I'm really hoping for the equivalent of an .ini or .plist file (you can tell I'm not an Android developer!) that I can tweak.
My next stop will be to contact Planet and let them know, in the perhaps vain hope that this is a simple bug/oversight that they can fix with a later update. The problem with Planet is that their e-mail based support system has no proper feedback channel, so you often don't even know whether your issue has been acknowledged let alone investigated. So I figured I'd run it past the folks in here first, in case I'm missing something obvious.
TIA for any assistance.
[GUIDE] Make a stock "screen off" shortcut that works with Fingerprint/SmartLock
Hi!
One thing I've always thought that was missing in this phone was a "screen off" shortcut that so many brands currently have.
Third party options have caveats. Using device administrator locks the phone but disables fingerprint or smar lock, using timeout often didn't work well as the black screen sometimes continued to show the status bar or was responsive to touches during the timeout.
This method shuts the screen off as if you pressed the power button using bixby.
To do this:
- Open Bixby - Click the 3 dotted menu - Quick commands - My commands - Click on the plus icon to add a command.
-Name it as you wish in any language, the name you give it here is the name of the shortcut on the home screen.
-Then in what bixby does choose "type a command" and write "Screen off".
- Save it
- Then click the 3 dotted menu in front of the command you've just made and choose Add to Home Screen.
That's it, enjoy!
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Great
doubleHome
There's an even easier way to do this and it works anywhere on the phone, not just the launcher shortcut. I've been using this utility called doubleHome from Jawomo since my S8+ days, and it lets me double tap the home button from anywhere to turn off and lock the screen. Just installed it on my new A50, still works great!
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-doublehome-double-tap-home-to-off-t3611220
It's no longer on the Play Store or even supported anymore, but the above thread has one of the last versions (v1.30). There was one last update to v1.31, which is the one I've always used since I originally updated it through the Play Store before it was pulled. This last version can easily be found with a Google search.
There are a few miscellaneous options to customize its behavior and some Pro features that were unlockable at one point but no longer. One little "glitch" if you can even call it that, the status bar will stay on for a second or two before turning off like the rest of the screen. This didn't used to happen until Oreo and later, but it's not a big deal at all - actually looks kinda neat.
Give it a try!
This is great!
orbitalcomp said:
There's an even easier way to do this and it works anywhere on the phone, not just the launcher shortcut. I've been using this utility called doubleHome from Jawomo since my S8+ days, and it lets me double tap the home button from anywhere to turn off and lock the screen. Just installed it on my new A50, still works great!
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-doublehome-double-tap-home-to-off-t3611220
It's no longer on the Play Store or even supported anymore, but the above thread has one of the last versions (v1.30). There was one last update to v1.31, which is the one I've always used since I originally updated it through the Play Store before it was pulled. This last version can easily be found with a Google search.
There are a few miscellaneous options to customize its behavior and some Pro features that were unlockable at one point but no longer. One little "glitch" if you can even call it that, the status bar will stay on for a second or two before turning off like the rest of the screen. This didn't used to happen until Oreo and later, but it's not a big deal at all - actually looks kinda neat.
Give it a try!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice ??