Hope everyone is having a good time off!
Just a question I've been wondering the past few days.
Is it possible, for GB and future HC releases (if we get HC capacitive working someday) to make both the portrait and landscape buttons working at the same time?
So that would mean, while on landscape, being able to use the portrait buttons as well as landscape.
Reason I am asking about this is because it allows us, or rather me, to hold the tablet more natively at a non-awkward position. So you could grip both sides in landscape, press the back button there with your thumb without having to move your hand down to the buttons below.
Not to worry, in Honeycomb and ICS the buttons are all disabled by default as they are no longer needed since the on screen system bar replaces those functions. IN GB a clever developer can do anything, but its such a special case, not sure its worth the effort. It's certainly not easy.
DigitalMD said:
Not to worry, in Honeycomb and ICS the buttons are all disabled by default as they are no longer needed since the on screen system bar replaces those functions. IN GB a clever developer can do anything, but its such a special case, not sure its worth the effort. It's certainly not easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Evidently the HC code can be edited to enable the keys; according to a thread about the Dell device that still utilizes the feature. I'd further like to see the system bar disappear, or move to another edge, like windows OS's allows.
With enough time and money, software can be changed by clever developers to do anything including making the buttons flash, rotate and change colors, but for now, there is no option to turn them back on in HTCs HC implementation. Hard buttons are not part of Goggles base software.
HC Hardkeys Mod
Just FYI, this is being implemented in an upcoming Kernal/Rom by LeeDroid.. I was able to find TheManii have a mod and it has lead Lee to 100% hardkeys functionality
Related
So about the whole Honeycomb issue where it disables the physical buttons. I was playing with Lenovo's Thinkpad tablet and noticed that, in fact, it has physical buttons in Honeycomb just fine. They feel good and the fact that they are both on the screen and in physical form doesn't seem to be an issue, besides it being a little redundant. Anyone else noticed this?
Honeycomb, the OS doesn't disable anything, HTC made that decision on their beta HC. What are you asking? The Acer tablets running Honeycomb have physical home buttons. The A100s home button was redundant and really annoying due to placement. I wish they had left it off.
I'm not asking anything. There was some speculation on the physical buttons being incompatible with HC entirely. Clearly that's not true. That's all.
I think you misunderstood, what was being speculated on was whether it would be allowed to get rid of the on screen buttons and only have the capacitive buttons because the on-screen ones take up space on our smaller screen. If the answer to that is no, then I probably would have made the same choice as htc did in the beta if it was up to me.
That's a good point...
Sorry I misunderstood your post. GlobalTron is right, the notification bar buttons are an intrinsic part of the Honeycomb OS. It is possible to hide the entire bar however, some apps that require full screen display invoke this feature.
DigitalMD said:
Sorry I misunderstood your post. GlobalTron is right, the notification bar buttons are an intrinsic part of the Honeycomb OS. It is possible to hide the entire bar however, some apps that require full screen display invoke this feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant permitted, in terms or the normal UI, hiding within an app may possibly be different.
So far I managed to control the button leds (but the touch function has not working yet):
To turn on :
echo 20 > sys/devices/platform/leds-microp/leds/button-backlight-portrait/brightness
To turn off :
echo 0 > sys/devices/platform/leds-microp/leds/button-backlight-portrait/brightness
Anyone know how to make the capacitive buttons work in HC? If it is working, we can use the buttons when we hide the status bar.
Update as of 28th Dec 2011 : Capacitive buttons has been succesfully enabled by LeeDroid on his HC v2.0.0 kernel. (Thanks LeeDroid for your great effort!!!) Required driver for keys was missing in official HTC HC kernel. I hope HTC will include the driver in their next release.
The bottom bar is considered a permanent screen decoration in the same way that capacitive home/menu/etc. buttons below the touchscreen on Android phones are so there is no option to remove the bar, but there is a call that some apps use to darken the bar like some video players so it not intrusive, but you still lose that part of the screen.
There are hacks and apps for rooted HC that can hide the bar. Not sure you can recover the screen size or just darken the bar. Because the bar is at the system level, such a hack might cause issues with a lot of apps. its the same for all devices running honeycomb.
Also how would you get your notifications, clock, quick settings, etc?
DigitalMD said:
The bottom bar is considered a permanent screen decoration in the same way that capacitive home/menu/etc. buttons below the touchscreen on Android phones are so there is no option to remove the bar, but there is a call that some apps use to darken the bar like some video players so it not intrusive, but you still lose that part of the screen.
There are hacks and apps for rooted HC that can hide the bar. Not sure you can recover the screen size or just darken the bar. Because the bar is at the system level, such a hack might cause issues with a lot of apps. its the same for all devices running honeycomb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can hide the botom bar using app such as HoneyBar. Hiding the bar really saves space, especially for our small 7" screen. We can enjoy full screen size when browsing, viewing images, watching videos, read ebooks, playing games, etc.
Currently I'm using Button Savior to replace the missing navigation buttons when the bar is hided. But I'm thinking it would be better if we can use the capacitive buttons. (Having 2 sets of capacive buttons is actually a unique feature of HTC Flyer, but it currently useless in HC).
ikingblack said:
Also how would you get your notifications, clock, quick settings, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hiding bar is temporary, we can back to normal like the HoneyBar app do. If the capacive buttons can work on HC, maybe we can make the app to auto enable the buttons when the bar is hided and disable the buttons when the bar back to normal.
Wondering if there is any update on this ?
This seems like a great idea... even if we dont disable to onscreen buttons, there are TONS of uses for the capacitive buttons!
I would love to be able to use the capacitive buttons and have been hoping someone would figure out a way to enable them in HC. Honeybar works great, but 90% of the stuff I need the bar for the capacitive buttons would work fine for and wouldn't cut into our limited screen size.
Just went back to GB due to this. It's a shame It's not a customizable option on HC
Sent from my HTC Flyer P510e using Tapatalk
I think the key has to be in the code for the pen button.
Obviously its not a standard features in HC since its' hardware specific. We would need all the source code from HTC to compile a new HC ROM which we don't have. Someday this might happen, but not yet. You will get used to the HC implementation.
DigitalMD said:
Obviously its not a standard features in HC since its' hardware specific. We would need all the source code from HTC to compile a new HC ROM which we don't have. Someday this might happen, but not yet. You will get used to the HC implementation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's sad to hear, especially considering the HC implementation is pretty ****ty. Many times in HC you only need the home, menu, back buttons. The majority of time the status bar isn't needed.
No source, no buttons. It's just not worth the effort for any dev.
globatron said:
No source, no buttons. It's just not worth the effort for any dev.
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Click to collapse
So does that mean we could achieve this if someone brings ICS to the Flyer?
No, the hardware buttons are HTC hardware specifc. You would need HTC source. Goggle has no buttons , therefore the system bar that is omni present.
Everyone needs to understand there are a lot of pieces that must be in place to build a working ROM for a device.
When Google throws out a OS version, it works on zero, nada, nothing, no device in the world.
Then the HW makers (HTC, samsung, etc.) have to add their pieces of software to make it work. Kernel, drivers, bootloader, Sense UI, framework, libraries, etc.
HTC has to take ICS and make it work on the hardware. Then if the hardware is similar enough, you might be able to port the ROM to run on another HTC device. But without the source for the HTC specific pieces , you cannot tweak it very much or fix bugs.
but wait can not search for drivers on Rom 2.3
____no____
I have no idea if this info is at all meaningful or not but the Dell 7" Streak got a Dell approved update to HC 3.2 and they managed to keep the hardware capacitive buttons working. And they are handy, in that I agree. It'd be great if the Flyer/View had them working.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
I changed the screen density to over 160... Though Gingerbread ui started, but even there without the sensor buttons... Impossible to navigate
Sent from my HTC Flyer P510e using xda premium
Flyer.michael said:
I changed the screen density to over 160... Though Gingerbread ui started, but even there without the sensor buttons... Impossible to navigate
Sent from my HTC Flyer P510e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And this is meaningful in what universe???
The buttons are not coming back in HC folks, get over, it. In 3 days use you will forget they were ever there.
DigitalMD said:
No, the hardware buttons are HTC hardware specifc. You would need HTC source. Goggle has no buttons , therefore the system bar that is omni present.
Everyone needs to understand there are a lot of pieces that must be in place to build a working ROM for a device.
When Google throws out a OS version, it works on zero, nada, nothing, no device in the world.
Then the HW makers (HTC, samsung, etc.) have to add their pieces of software to make it work. Kernel, drivers, bootloader, Sense UI, framework, libraries, etc.
HTC has to take ICS and make it work on the hardware. Then if the hardware is similar enough, you might be able to port the ROM to run on another HTC device. But without the source for the HTC specific pieces , you cannot tweak it very much or fix bugs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is true...for a month now i'm trying to port ICS......we need something from HTC to start....
Hardware Buttons & Calls on Honeycomb
Dear Devs,
Please is there any hope of getting the hardware buttons on the flyer active on HC? Also is it possible for calls to be made; now that the source code has been released by HTC?
Thanks.
Would it be possible that once community ICS ROMs start getting released like AOKP, and CM9, would the capacitive buttons be able to be disabled and then replaced by on screen buttons? I was having this thought because it doesn't have any physical buttons so it wouldn't be much of a big deal in terms of removing a physical key, it just removes redundancy.
I'm sure it's possible. I know that devs made the option available on Nexus S ICS ROMs, so I'm sure we'll see it on the Note ICS ROMs as well.
OMG...this would make using the S-Pen much more enjoyable. I the gestures...AKA pushing the button.
How hard would it be to implement? Would apps conflict? or is it just a simple deletion of something in system to make the buttons rendered useless? Could we permanently(untill we flash a ROM with them enabled normally) change the function to a notification light bar?
You can enable the on-screen buttons in ICS on the Note. I am not running ICS any longer so I can't remember if you can disable the capacitive ones but you can definitely enable the on-screen ones.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
I use my Nook Colors all with Button Savior to simulate hardware buttons that do not exsist and very very rarely run into any issues. There's always the little itty bitty tab on the side that you tap to pop up the needed buttons, but stay out of the way the rest of the time. Link above goes to market (refuse to call it play, so stupid), you will need to have root to use it of course. Give it a whirl if you want on screen buttons. Not sure how to disable the hardware buttons yet, although a google search may reveal someone whos already done it or even an app that will do it for you.
I've been using my HOX+ for almost six months now, fairly light use but I'm mostly happy with it. I'm still running unrooted stock, just installed the official 4.2.2 update. This is my first real smartphone, I had an unsubsidized $100 3.14" Android smartphone last year that I don't think really qualifies.
The big complaint I have with the jump to a 4.7" screen is that one-handed use is uncomfortable and requires me to stretch to reach the corners, where the buttons are often stupidly located, or sometimes even to slide the phone up and down in my hand to make the buttons accessible, not exactly easy to do with one hand without dropping the phone. I would really like a phone that is comfortable to use one-handed, but I don't want to compromise by buying a smaller screen phone, say 4.3" or god forbid the 4" size of the iPhone, as I'm not exactly thrilled with the "looking through a keyhole" quality of 4.7" either.
I think the right solution would be a thumbwheel UI in the bottom right corner, placed in the arc right where my thumb is, so I can use it one-handed with my thumb and not have to reach with my fingers. As long as it let me virtually hit all the buttons on the screen, even native app buttons like the menu button at the top or the tab switcher button at the top in Chrome, I could even buy a phablet if there was something like this, maybe a 5.5+ inch screen that I could use comfortably one-handed with just my thumb in the bottom-right corner.
The closest thing I've been able to find like this is the Splay launcher, but I don't think such launchers actually let me control menus within apps, only launch apps. This guy wrote a small app earlier this year to do something similar, seems to be a great article talking about the idea but I don't think that effort went anywhere.
Is there any effort within the xda community to integrate a one-handed control interface like this? This is a feature that would actually make me root and install a ROM, as I haven't had the need to go to the trouble yet. I'd love to see an effort like this on Android, wonder what everyone else thinks.
joakim_one said:
I've been using my HOX+ for almost six months now, fairly light use but I'm mostly happy with it. I'm still running unrooted stock, just installed the official 4.2.2 update. This is my first real smartphone, I had an unsubsidized $100 3.14" Android smartphone last year that I don't think really qualifies.
The big complaint I have with the jump to a 4.7" screen is that one-handed use is uncomfortable and requires me to stretch to reach the corners, where the buttons are often stupidly located, or sometimes even to slide the phone up and down in my hand to make the buttons accessible, not exactly easy to do with one hand without dropping the phone. I would really like a phone that is comfortable to use one-handed, but I don't want to compromise by buying a smaller screen phone, say 4.3" or god forbid the 4" size of the iPhone, as I'm not exactly thrilled with the "looking through a keyhole" quality of 4.7" either.
I think the right solution would be a thumbwheel UI in the bottom right corner, placed in the arc right where my thumb is, so I can use it one-handed with my thumb and not have to reach with my fingers. As long as it let me virtually hit all the buttons on the screen, even native app buttons like the menu button at the top or the tab switcher button at the top in Chrome, I could even buy a phablet if there was something like this, maybe a 5.5+ inch screen that I could use comfortably one-handed with just my thumb in the bottom-right corner.
The closest thing I've been able to find like this is the Splay launcher, but I don't think such launchers actually let me control menus within apps, only launch apps. This guy wrote a small app earlier this year to do something similar, seems to be a great article talking about the idea but I don't think that effort went anywhere.
Is there any effort within the xda community to integrate a one-handed control interface like this? This is a feature that would actually make me root and install a ROM, as I haven't had the need to go to the trouble yet. I'd love to see an effort like this on Android, wonder what everyone else thinks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A "Whole" UI made especially for one hand usage? Well I know the second best solution.
Install "Pie Controls" and assign it to any corner/side of the screen, it will allow you to launch apps but for the function that you want, you will need to root. Once you are rooted PIE has extra features like "Back, Home, Sleep, Menu, Recent Apps" ..etc.
A Second best is "LMT" launcher ALSO requires root. Once you have it, you will be able to have PIE Controls as well, PLUS a unique feature to have gestures working in all screens. You can swipe down to bring up the notification bar or swipe up for recent apps. The reason i put it as second best was because I don't really like it ..
Ofcourse there are normal launchers , like nova launcher ..etc. that allows you to swipe down to bring up the notifications but sadly that only works on the home screen.
There are also ROMS like AOKP (For us Carbon rom or something similar) which has a stock feeling but extra buttons in the Power menu. When you hold down the power menu , under the normal "Power off, restart, screenshot, airplane" you will also find "Back, Home, Recent apps"
I honestly think that PIE Controls is the best app to have out of them all since it works on all ROMs . Though for full features you should buy the Pro version.
P.S: All apps that you are looking for will require ROOT access.
Ghand0ur said:
A "Whole" UI made especially for one hand usage? Well I know the second best solution.
Install "Pie Controls" and assign it to any corner/side of the screen, it will allow you to launch apps but for the function that you want, you will need to root. Once you are rooted PIE has extra features like "Back, Home, Sleep, Menu, Recent Apps" ..etc.
A Second best is "LMT" launcher ALSO requires root. Once you have it, you will be able to have PIE Controls as well, PLUS a unique feature to have gestures working in all screens. You can swipe down to bring up the notification bar or swipe up for recent apps. The reason i put it as second best was because I don't really like it ..
Ofcourse there are normal launchers , like nova launcher ..etc. that allows you to swipe down to bring up the notifications but sadly that only works on the home screen.
There are also ROMS like AOKP (For us Carbon rom or something similar) which has a stock feeling but extra buttons in the Power menu. When you hold down the power menu , under the normal "Power off, restart, screenshot, airplane" you will also find "Back, Home, Recent apps"
I honestly think that PIE Controls is the best app to have out of them all since it works on all ROMs . Though for full features you should buy the Pro version.
P.S: All apps that you are looking for will require ROOT access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the info. I tried the Pie Control app by coolace based on your recommendation, but it didn't seem to do anything on my unrooted HOX+. I'll look into the other stuff you talked about.
joakim_one said:
Thanks for all the info. I tried the Pie Control app by coolace based on your recommendation, but it didn't seem to do anything on my unrooted HOX+. I'll look into the other stuff you talked about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How didn't it function?
Well here is a good video that will help you install it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBud1hk27Rw
Although to have full features you will require to BUY the pro version and root, the free version on an unrooted version should have some functions that will work like launching apps and other stuff. Try to clarify what you meant
Ghand0ur said:
How didn't it function?
Well here is a good video that will help you install it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBud1hk27Rw
Although to have full features you will require to BUY the pro version and root, the free version on an unrooted version should have some functions that will work like launching apps and other stuff. Try to clarify what you meant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed the app and set it to work on the left, right, and bottom, then configured two short-click apps in level 1. I would then long-press at those edges and nothing happened with pie control: HTC Sense would send me to widget configuration instead.
I just watched your video and he does a slight swipe from the edge, instead of the long-press I was trying. I just installed the app again and tried that on the home screen and within a couple other apps, again no pie controls. If I do it on the home screen, it starts to scroll to the next home screen, as it always did.
There may be something about HTC Sense that it's not giving control to the pie app for gestures, or maybe there's some other switch I have to hit somewhere to actually enable the pie gestures?
joakim_one said:
I installed the app and set it to work on the left, right, and bottom, then configured two short-click apps in level 1. I would then long-press at those edges and nothing happened with pie control: HTC Sense would send me to widget configuration instead.
I just watched your video and he does a slight swipe from the edge, instead of the long-press I was trying. I just installed the app again and tried that on the home screen and within a couple other apps, again no pie controls. If I do it on the home screen, it starts to scroll to the next home screen, as it always did.
There may be something about HTC Sense that it's not giving control to the pie app for gestures, or maybe there's some other switch I have to hit somewhere to actually enable the pie gestures?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah I forgot to tell you. Although HOX+ and S3 have the same screen size, for the PIE to activate you just need to increase the activation area width. Just thought of installing Pie again after a while of not using it and just remembered. Now it's working fine
I remember there was a small bug of the activation area width being reset everytime you open the app if I can remember correctly. That or everytime you press on the activation width area. Can't really remember but my point is, while using the app if it suddenly doesnt appear anymore just increase the width again and it will work.
Sorry it took me a while to reply since I couldn't really remember
Sent from my HTC One x+ using XDA developers app
Ghand0ur said:
Oh yeah I forgot to tell you. Although HOX+ and S3 have the same screen size, for the PIE to activate you just need to increase the activation area width. Just thought of installing Pie again after a while of not using it and just remembered. Now it's working fine
I remember there was a small bug of the activation area width being reset everytime you open the app if I can remember correctly. That or everytime you press on the activation width area. Can't really remember but my point is, while using the app if it suddenly doesnt appear anymore just increase the width again and it will work.
Sorry it took me a while to reply since I couldn't really remember
Sent from my HTC One x+ using XDA developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, now it shows up. I'll mess around with it and let you know what I think.
Is it me or does having the soft keys eat up a strong 1/4" of the screen negate the larger screen?
I have used the program to auto hide them but every time I type a text they pop up and take be back, home or wherever depending on how I have the layout set.
In addition, the text messaging viewable area is smaller given these keys and continually hides the last messages.
Something tells me I am not going to get used to not having a physical home key and off screen menu and back keys.
Thoughts / Opinions?
Have you considered re-sizing them? G2 Xposed can do that if I remember correctly, and if you're on an AOSP-based rom Gravity Box can do it if that functionality is not included in the ROM. You can make them quite small, which may look a tad strange at first but in terms of actual use I think it's completely natural, considering any off-screen buttons would be below the screen anyway. I currently run them at about half height, and you can pretty easily get away with even less than that if you wanted to. I used to prefer hardware keys as well but in time I grew to like soft keys. I like how you can try all sorts of different sizes, button combinations and button layouts, to the point that I have even used soft keys of phones that did not initially have them. Try some different sizes and setups before giving up on them altogether.
DHM078 said:
Have you considered re-sizing them? G2 Xposed can do that if I remember correctly, and if you're on an AOSP-based rom Gravity Box can do it if that functionality is not included in the ROM. You can make them quite small, which may look a tad strange at first but in terms of actual use I think it's completely natural, considering any off-screen buttons would be below the screen anyway. I currently run them at about half height, and you can pretty easily get away with even less than that if you wanted to. I used to prefer hardware keys as well but in time I grew to like soft keys. I like how you can try all sorts of different sizes, button combinations and button layouts, to the point that I have even used soft keys of phones that did not initially have them. Try some different sizes and setups before giving up on them altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Kindly.
I had been searching for something like this but for whatever reason didn't find it.
Love the call quality on the phone and this may just be the answer
The soft keys also keep the size of the phone down. Otherwise it would be a butt hurt Note 3 . This phone is a perfect size.
What app are you using to hide them? I'm using GMD Auto Hide.. The paid version. I never accidentally bring up the software icons while texting. Did you know you can adjust the area that triggers the software keys? I have mine set to a tiny area across the bottom of the screen.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using xda app-developers app
Also currently enjoying GMD auto hide PRO
Sent from my LG-LS980 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
is that possible the Soft Keys to change smaller???
profeet said:
is that possible the Soft Keys to change smaller???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
READ, man.
DHM078 said:
Have you considered re-sizing them? G2 Xposed can do that if I remember correctly, and if you're on an AOSP-based rom Gravity Box can do it if that functionality is not included in the ROM. You can make them quite small, which may look a tad strange at first but in terms of actual use I think it's completely natural, considering any off-screen buttons would be below the screen anyway. I currently run them at about half height, and you can pretty easily get away with even less than that if you wanted to. I used to prefer hardware keys as well but in time I grew to like soft keys. I like how you can try all sorts of different sizes, button combinations and button layouts, to the point that I have even used soft keys of phones that did not initially have them. Try some different sizes and setups before giving up on them altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UDN Pro
I'm using Ultimate Dynamic Navbar Pro to hide the navigation bar. It takes some getting used to, but now I wouldn't have a phone without it.
You can set different triggers to show/hide the nav keys, I prefer sliding at the bottom of the screen to show the keys. With this you can also customize your buttons in many ways; glow effect, key color, keys sizes, fade effect and so on.
There's a free version available on Play Store, so give it a try.
Then there's pie to...
Or what I do, is:
Root (of course)
Download "texDroider" from the Play Store to change the DPI from 480 (default) to 400. Reboot. Enjoy MOAR SPACE
If you want to actually resize the NavBar to make it thinner:
Download the TWRP Recovery image using your phone that is designed for your version model
Download "Flashify" from the Play Store and select the TWRP Recovery file you downloaded (Probably in the "Downloads" folder on your Storage)
Reboot
Then look in the Development threads for a NavBar size mod, download the MEDIUM or SMALL. I use Medium with 400 DPI, else I'd use Small with 480 DPI
Reboot into TWRP and flash the NavBar Mod.
Rejoice
OR
Search for, and download, XPosed APK file from XDA, then install the APK
Search for and download the XPosed G2 Settings Module, then install the APK
Launch XPosed, enable the G2 Settings Module, resize NavBar
OR Hide them as previously said but I don't much care for this. It gets annoying pretty quick IMO. I move around too quick to require extra taps or swipes to go back or home.