AT&T Galaxy Note Tips,Tricks, and Tweaks
Overview
I decided that I would make a simple tweak thread for our AT&T Galaxy Note so they're easy to find and all in one place to reduce clutter. I will post simple tweaks that I find that may be useful to other users. I encourage everyone to also help the development of this thread and to post any tweaks they know of or find. I will update the OP as these new tweaks come in, I will post them as links with descriptions. Also I will organize and shorten/ simplify descriptions as needed.
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for anything that may happen to your device when using any of these tweaks nor is anyone that has posted them we did not force you to perform them on your device, the only person responsible is You.
Credits: Will go here for the finder/ creator of tweak.
First credit to SysAdmNj for giving me the idea to create this thread.
Thank you Irishwake83 for Screenshot methods and quick changing of brightness also for ideas to expand thread.
And don't forget the thanks button for the discoverer/ creator of the tweaks you use. I only want thanked for thing I post or if you're thanking me for the organization of the information. I want credit, where credit is due.
My Contributions: Soft Button Remapping
I am open to ideas to make this thread better. Please PM me with any you may have.
Tweaks
Soft Button Remapping
This is the first tweak that I see many people complaining about the soft button search key should be swapped for the Menu key so it would be easier to press. This is a very simple and safe tweak. First you'll need root and rootexplorer application. Next open rootexplorer and go to /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchkey.kl. Before long pressing the file in the top make sure you have it set to read write. Then long press the file and go to open in text editor. Then simply replace the word "search" with any of the others. Mix and match all you want. Then save and reboot. Done you have now remapped your touch keys.
Tricks/Tips
3 methods to take a screen shot
1) Take out the S-pen, then push the S-Pen button and hold the S-pen on the screen. This will also pull the image up into an editor.
2) Using the pinky side of your hand start at either edge of your screen and slide your hand across the screen. This works either direction.
3) Hold down the Home and Power Button then release them.
Quickly Change Brightness
Simply place any finger or your thumb on the task bar and slide left to decrease brightness, right to increase.
Quick Access to recent apps and Task Manager
Hold down the home button and it will pull up in an overlay.
S-Memo Lite
Can be accessed by Holding the S-Pen Button and Double Tapping the screen rapidly. It will then pull up no matter where you are in the OS. Then a cool function while in S-Memo Lite is putting the S-Pen above S-Memo Lite hides it allowing you to see what is on the screen.
S-Pen and soft keys
By now many of you have found out that you cannot use the pen on the soft keys such as Home, Back, and Menu. But with the S-Pen Button you can use these functions. While Holding the button simply swiping up along the screen is the menu function, swiping down is the Home function, and Finally swiping right to left is the Back Function.
S-Pen writing off of actual position
When drawing/ writing in some positions the S-Pen will write above the actual pens position this is fixed by holding the S-Pen back at an angle to the Bottom Right corner and for the left handed the bottom Left. It takes some getting used to for some depending on how you write/ draw but does solve the issue.
And one more...
sweet
Is it possible to create an action for the long press of menu or back button?
I was considering a similar thread, but we need to consolidate all the things that people keep repeatedly asking or projecting as new information like the 3 different ways to take screen captures, the quick way to dim the screen.... This might be a good thread for all of that.
BigBison420 said:
sweet
Is it possible to create an action for the long press of menu or back button?
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Click to collapse
I'm not sure I'll have to look into it tonight I'll update if I find a way.
Irishwake83 said:
I was considering a similar thread, but we need to consolidate all the things that people keep repeatedly asking or projecting as new information like the 3 different ways to take screen captures, the quick way to dim the screen.... This might be a good thread for all of that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome Idea thank you! I added it in. I would love the help to hopefully get this stickied and become a big help to users.
Holding the home button for me brings up the most recent apps and task manager.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA App
Related
My HD2 "Frankenphone" (it's built from no less than 3 other HD2's) has no working hardware keys on the front of the phone. The volume keys, however, do still work. I therefore want to cook a rom based on an existing one that has Volume up/down mapped to HOME/Back.
Furthermore, I was wondering if I could somehow get the MENU button implemented as well. I understand that this is not possible through the SDK, but perhaps it can be done by writing native C code. E.g. a longpress Volume-up could be menu, a long-press Volume-down could be search.
I'm not asking for someone to do this for me, I'd like to do this myself. What I'm looking for are a few quick pointers to how to start this endeavor. I have previous experience cooking custom roms using toolchains under linux, and also experience writing C (non-gui) code under linux. So useful pointers would be :
* Where can I find the key mappings? I suppose this is part of the kernel/user space?
* How would I go about implementing the long-press feature? Or can you hint towards another possible solution that does not involve the front hardware keys (touchscreen snooping for gestures? accellerometer? Any other sensor?)
Take a look here:
http://source.android.com/porting/keymaps_keyboard_input.html
Hope that helps.
One thing I do in most builds is change my call key to a search key.
Hi!
Take a look at the following thread! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=740629
paalkr said:
Hi!
Take a look at the following thread! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=740629
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, thanks! That worked like a charm. Mounted the system.ext2 loopback, patched the keys, and tadaah, working home + back. That at least makes the phone usable again.
Can anyone recommend a solution to get a working MENU action? It looks like long-press back is handled by apps individually (e.g. in the browser it will show a history), while long-press home displays a task switcher. I could live with long-press back being handled by android itself to implement the menu function.
(edit) looks like this is possible, e.g. here it mentions "including some special features to support the virtual hard keys that are appearing on recent devices such as Droid." Now how did they do that?
This apk is a slight mod on jerryfan2000's Button Saviour app (similar to softkeys). . . the only difference I made on his app is that the ever-present overlay icon (that you press to bring up the soft keys) is invisible.
So if you learn where it is on the screen, just touch there to bring up the keys--and you won't have to have an always-present arrow overlay sitting on your screen. It gives you the option to set it to launch on a long-press, in case you find yourself accidentally launching it.
If you have trouble finding it the first time (after all, it is invisible), just switch to the Sense theme, then back to default...
If you have trouble finding it on a regular basis ( harder than you might think) and your LCD density is set to 250 like mine, here's a setting that will make it easier:
1. Set it to come up on the right side (default)
2. Set "icon position" to 0
... This will give you an easy landmark to help you find the invisible launcher icon: the bottom of the volume down button on your nook. Look for that, then touch the edge of the screen next to it to launch button saviour.
If anyone has found useful landmarks for screens with LCD densities other than 250, please post and I'll update.
If you want to check this out, you'll have to uninstall Button Saviour (if you already have it) for it to successfully install.
If the button menu looks tiny, you might want to get the Spare Parts app and check the box for Compatibility Mode (then reboot). This should increase the size.
If you like it, please thank jerryfan2000 (his thread here), as the app is his creation--my contribution in making this mod was an idea and two blank png images.
Is this file the same one as the site in your sig? I'm assuming thats your site b/c it has all of the info from your thread over in General.
But so you know if you change the Theme to Sense you can get the position of the button without having to play with the numbers.
Also on 0 it wasn't on the bottom of the Volume Down button. I'm gonna guess this is b/c your LCD density is 250 and mine is default but just FYI.
ColdH33t said:
Is this file the same one as the site in your sig? I'm assuming thats your site b/c it has all of the info from your thread over in General.
But so you know if you change the Theme to Sense you can get the position of the button without having to play with the numbers.
Also on 0 it wasn't on the bottom of the Volume Down button. I'm gonna guess this is b/c your LCD density is 250 and mine is default but just FYI.
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Click to collapse
Good point on the LCD density - I'll edit.
Yeah, same file as the one on the site.
I am using this now after switching many times. The visible button on Button Savior drove me nuts. The Softkeys button could be made transparent but it kept floating around so I never knew exactly where it was. But I got this one finally to my liking. I left it in the center on the right side. Easy to find in landscape mode because it is next to the hard home button. For portrait mode I put a very tiny piece of black tape next to the edge of the screen. This allows me to feel exactly where the button is. Works perfectly for me now. Thanks.
*settings are at 260 for the slider, LCD Density is set to 204. I used the Sense Theme of Button Saviour Mod to get the numbers to visually line up with the hard home button in landscape mode and to apply the black tape in portrait mode.
Would it be possible to somehow map the hard home button to the "invisible" app to make the menu appear?
I love Button Savior 5, but it would be great if it appears when the hard home key is pressed. Even better if I could set it to bottom center of the screen in portrait!
jleecong said:
Would it be possible to somehow map the hard home button to the "invisible" app to make the menu appear?
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Click to collapse
I don't think u can map Button Savior that way. You can mount Softkeys that way. Leave the Invisible button Savior installed. Also install Softkeys. Set Softkeys as your home launcher. In the Softkeys settings set the home launcher of your choice and set Softkeys to one home tap and your home launcher to double tap. You will also probabily want to "kill" the Soft keys floating button if u are running Button Savior along with it.
The only problem I can think of with that configuration is that when u hit the Button Savior Home button all u will be doing is opening up the Softkeys buttons unless u double tap it. U may want to set the Softkeys button to a double tap and your chosen launcher to a single tap to avoid that redundancy.
How to set trigger button to bottom center of the screen
Can I set the trigger at the bottom center not on left nor right side?
Thanks a lot!
I have searched around and haven't seen anything about this yet...
I use swype primarily and occasionally have to hit the swype button (first one on the bottom row) to correct a word but I fat finger and hit the home button. This is a pain in the butt because when I use handcent in quick reply mode I lose everything that I write. My question is, is there a way to change the amount of time required to hit the home button before it actually goes home...or change the sensitivity maybe so I have to jam it?
Thanks guys
Is there any way to make the overflow menu button show up in applications that support it?
The best I've found is a method called hasPermanentMenuKey() which I think I could force to "return false;". Problem? I don't know where to dive in to the android.view library.
It shows on my Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus, and even HTC One X - but not on my SGS3. I assume because the system detects it has a hardware menu key.
Is there a way to trick/tell/force the showing of the overflow menu button in supported applications?
I don't have a SGS3, but from what I've seen from pics on the interwebs, didn't the SGS3 have a capacitative menu button? AFAIK menu button always triggers overflow menu, or does it?
(sorry for off-topic)
Sony Xperia Play - Tapatalk 2
DanielEGVi said:
I don't have a SGS3, but from what I've seen from pics on the interwebs, didn't the SGS3 have a capacitative menu button? AFAIK menu button always triggers overflow menu, or does it?
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Click to collapse
Yeah, it does, I should probably explain my use case...
Half of the reason is because I want some UI consistency between all my devices, my SGS3 is the only one where almost all apps I use on a regular basis behave differently (and sometimes even look differently) because of this lack of overflow menu button.
The other half is because I hate physical buttons and I remapped my sometimes-less-used Menu key to the physical button on the SGS3, and would like it if I could avoid the physical button *most* of the time by just using in-app menu buttons (if I ever figure out how to force them on).
If someone can figure this out and/or help me figure it out I will gladly donate to them. I want this feature badly.
burningembers said:
Yeah, it does, I should probably explain my use case...
Half of the reason is because I want some UI consistency between all my devices, my SGS3 is the only one where almost all apps I use on a regular basis behave differently (and sometimes even look differently) because of this lack of overflow menu button.
The other half is because I hate physical buttons and I remapped my sometimes-less-used Menu key to the physical button on the SGS3, and would like it if I could avoid the physical button *most* of the time by just using in-app menu buttons (if I ever figure out how to force them on).
If someone can figure this out and/or help me figure it out I will gladly donate to them. I want this feature badly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh now I get it, I guess I would also do the same in my apps for the sake of consistency. I don't know much about it, so I can't help much
Anyway, good luck on finding an answer
Sony Xperia Play - Tapatalk 2
*bump*
Donating money to someone who can give me a solid lead on how to accomplish this, bigger donation for getting it done.
Nova launcher has a feature that lets you remap the long-press of the menu button to do among a number of things, one of which is bringing up the multi-task menu. Anyone know how to make this happen without using this launcher. I've tried editing the file in key_layout but it didn't do anything.
Same type of issue here. (first time post / newb by the way). I'm looking to use a long press of the Back key to act as an alternate home key (but would accept long press of menu key as well). I've tried Nova Launcher, and it can be configured for a long-press of the menu key to go to the "default" screen, which is kind of like having a home key, but it doesn't work unless you are on the 1st level screens (for example it doesn't work if you are using an application, this it is not truly a home key). I've never rooted before and am worried about trying it on my brand new S3 and what it means to warranty. Thus was hoping to find a way to get what I want without rooting, but something tells me I won't be able to. Also, I really didn't want to change to a special launcher like Nova yet, I just want a capacitive home key option. I don't like physical click keys plus my home key is harder to reach now with the case that I have. Not sure what to do next. Willing to consider rooting if it the process can be made fairly idiot proof. BTW I'm on Sprint which is not the exact phone as yours.
zzzzonk said:
Same type of issue here. (first time post / newb by the way). I'm looking to use a long press of the Back key to act as an alternate home key (but would accept long press of menu key as well). I've tried Nova Launcher, and it can be configured for a long-press of the menu key to go to the "default" screen, which is kind of like having a home key, but it doesn't work unless you are on the 1st level screens (for example it doesn't work if you are using an application, this it is not truly a home key). I've never rooted before and am worried about trying it on my brand new S3 and what it means to warranty. Thus was hoping to find a way to get what I want without rooting, but something tells me I won't be able to. Also, I really didn't want to change to a special launcher like Nova yet, I just want a capacitive home key option. I don't like physical click keys plus my home key is harder to reach now with the case that I have. Not sure what to do next. Willing to consider rooting if it the process can be made fairly idiot proof. BTW I'm on Sprint which is not the exact phone as yours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting is fairly idiot proof on the International SGS3 but you may well have major problems if you are in the wrong forum and flash the wrong firmware for a different model phone like the USA models .
jje
JJEgan said:
Rooting is fairly idiot proof on the International SGS3 but you may well have major problems if you are in the wrong forum and flash the wrong firmware for a different model phone like the USA models .
jje
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Click to collapse
Thanks, appreciate that. I figured as much, but thought the ideas would be similar
Actually what I think would be a more ideal button arrangement for me would be as follows (since my goal is to have a capacitive home key)
1) short-press Menu button would function exactly the same as the physical Home button
2) long-press Menu button would function as the Menu
3) short-press Back would function as Back
4) long-press Back button would bring up a Search screen (kind of like long-press Menu does presently)
I for one am glad that Samsung kept some buttons (like the menu button), instead of going to the true 100% ICS experience.
Maybe I'll switch completely over to the Sprint Galaxy S3 forum in order to avoid any confusion.
cm10 has implemented the button remap feature. now you can easily change the menu button long press to recent apps in cm10
bala_gamer said:
cm10 has implemented the button remap feature. now you can easily change the menu button long press to recent apps in cm10
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Really? Where is it?
Brettbesa said:
Really? Where is it?
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Click to collapse
It comes with cm10
《tapatalked from galaxy s3》