Merged Soft Key + Status Bar on Android 4+? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

The new Android 4+ Soft Keys take up too much screen real estate thus cancelling out the effect of going for a larger display phone.
Unlike the pre 4 Droid which handles the Soft Keys, Clock, Battery, Signal etc all on the single bar thus making use of that big screen.
So im looking at upgrading from a 4.3" HD2 Gingerbread with merged Status Bar + Soft Keys, to a larger 4.55" Xperia T unmerged.
Am I the only one bothered by this?
Is it possible to merge Status Bar + Soft Keys on Android 4+?

If you root it, you can flash a rom with tablet ui enabled, or a Paranoid rom which lets you tweak the dpi of each app individually (search for Paranoid Android on YouTube or something). This, of course, only works if these roms exist for this device
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app

Related

Capacitive buttons in HC

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.
Click to expand...
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.

[Q] CM9 Status Bar Position

Hey guys can someone tell me if its possible to change the position of the status bar in CM9? I often hit the back button while typing. Thank you!
Never tried in cm9, but in cm7 it's settings, cyanogenmod settings, tablet tweaks, uncheck bottom status bar.
Sent from my android touchpad.
There is no option in CM9. There are apps in the market to have soft keys where you want them, but there is no way to hide the bar in CM9. You can make the bar go to the top if you change the dpi to 320, but you lose soft keys all together, and it looks terrible. Because ICS is meant for both phones and tablets I bet it will be easy to swap eventually. Changing the dpi on the first alpha also gave you the extended power menu, but it wasn't until several revisions later the normal dpi got the extended power menu. I just don't think this is high on the list of things to do.
Sent from my Galaxy S II (i777)
No "official" way to hide the bar, un-official you can any of the methods in the discussed rootzwiki "No way to hide the bottom bar in CM9?" thread:
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/15924-no-way-to-hide-the-bottom-bar-in-cm9
Moving the bar to the top requires more than just changing the xml layout. The ICS code assumes that on a tablet the bar should be at the bottom.
Of course it can be changed (layout and code) but it requires some changes which are going to be quite hard just doing smali hacks.

Screen estate of the DNA

One thing I noticed as I used the DNA for quite a while is that most apps use only about 90% of the screen (Excluding the reserved space for the status bar), and the remaining 10% is only featuring the settings button on nothing more but just a black bar at the bottom of the screen.
I do not know if the third party applications are not optimized for the narrow 5 inch display of the DNA, or simply forcefully done so by Sense UI, but dedicating 10% of the screen just for the settings button seems...stupid and wasteful.
It would be more practical to reassign the settings button to the physical task viewer button(Either hold to open settings or click for settings and hold for task viewer) and let the apps take over that wasted space...
It's already being worked on
Sent from my Droid DNA. 1080p never looked so sweet.
I believe this was an option on the One X, but for some reason not on the DNA. Hopefully HTC will send out an update, or if not hopefully devs can work it into custom ROM's.
It's not really a fault of the DNA or it's HD screen. Blame the devs of the apps you're using for not conforming to the new holo standard which gets rid of the menu button. Any phone that only has the 3 buttons (whether physical soft-touch or on screen) (aka all JB phones) will have this problem. It's Jellybean doing it, not Sense.
I do like the idea of modifying the ROM to give alternate access to the menu button, but as widespread JB adoption happens, apps will be updated and these black bars will be gone.
drumz0rz said:
It's not really a fault of the DNA or it's HD screen. Blame the devs of the apps you're using for not conforming to the new holo standard which gets rid of the menu button. Any phone that only has the 3 buttons (whether physical soft-touch or on screen) (aka all JB phones) will have this problem. It's Jellybean doing it, not Sense.
I do like the idea of modifying the ROM to give alternate access to the menu button, but as widespread JB adoption happens, apps will be updated and these black bars will be gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually there is more to it than that. My Galaxy Nexus never had these bars, and it has no menu key. So really, it is the doing of HTC in the build.prop most likely. I've been using it since ICS, so...
Its not like I jumped to new apps when the DNA came out. I am using the same apps as before.
If you have no menu button, and the app itself doesn't provide you a way to access the menu, how do you get to it? I was under the impression that that bar is put there whenever there is no way to access the menu due to app non-compliance with new standards. If your phone has some other way to get to the menu, then the bar shouldn't show.
drumz0rz said:
If you have no menu button, and the app itself doesn't provide you a way to access the menu, how do you get to it? I was under the impression that that bar is put there whenever there is no way to access the menu due to app non-compliance with new standards. If your phone has some other way to get to the menu, then the bar shouldn't show.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The apps use new menus in the top right of three vertical dots, unless they have not been updated (those use the legacy menu). All of the apps I use are updated. The Galaxy Nexus has no menu button. A lot of these apps showing the legacy menus don't even have working legacy menus. For example, Granny Smith has no legacy bar on the Galaxy Nexus but does on the DNA. It doesn't need it either because it has an icon driven menu. The legacy bar enables the sound menu, which is redundant because there is an icon for it.
That is why this is so annoying. HTC needs to fix this, not just app devs.
drumz0rz said:
If you have no menu button, and the app itself doesn't provide you a way to access the menu, how do you get to it? I was under the impression that that bar is put there whenever there is no way to access the menu due to app non-compliance with new standards. If your phone has some other way to get to the menu, then the bar shouldn't show.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If an app didn't have a menu button it would appear on the far right next to the recent button. And disappear when not needed. The nexus used on screen keys so the black bar was always there
____________________________________________________
"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."

Move status bar

Anyone know how to split the status bar and the soft keys on a crappy rebranded tablet? It runs 4.1 but the notifications, volume buttons and soft keys overlap each other making it look an eye sore. I have taken a look in the framework-res.apk and systemui.apk but can not find anything. What I want to do is split the two a bit like the nexus 7, so that the status bar is at the top and the soft buttons are at the bottom.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Amazing_Antony said:
Anyone know how to split the status bar and the soft keys on a crappy rebranded tablet? It runs 4.1 but the notifications, volume buttons and soft keys overlap each other making it look an eye sore. I have taken a look in the framework-res.apk and systemui.apk but can not find anything. What I want to do is split the two a bit like the nexus 7, so that the status bar is at the top and the soft buttons are at the bottom.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to root it, and change a line in build.prop (located in /system/build.prop)
change "ro.sf.lcd_density=x" change x to 213 and you will get the same experience as on the Nexus 7

Remapping screen back/home buttons to the HW buttons

The only reason I want to upgrade from an S3 right now, to either the S4 or the G2, is due to the larger screen size. The N3 is a little big so it seems these two are the only logical options.
I upgraded from the Galaxy nexus to the S3 purely due to the fact that it did not WASTE screen real-estate on black and white static icons. Frankly that is the absolute stupidest use of the screen there is. Samsung has it right by continuing to keep the buttons off screen.
So, the only way the G2 fits the bill (for probably many people) is if one of the following two solutions can exist:
1. The nav bar is totally transparent. The buttons still register when you tap there, but when browsing or watching video, the frame or text completely spills behind the buttons as if they don't actually take up space. Still not ideal.
2. The buttons are taken off screen fully and remapped to the rear HW keys. One volume key can be the back button, and the other can be the home button, etc. To change the volume, you gotta drag the software slider. Not a problem. I believe there are many button remapping apps in the market. Anyone tried this?
Is there an app to do these things? Can this feature be built into a ROM? For solution number 1, the nav bar can be hidden using a feature like PA has, and an app can just have a virtual transparent button floating where the original ones were. This app might also just exist in the android market.
Can we work on getting the entire screen area useful on this large phone?
k00zk0 said:
The only reason I want to upgrade from an S3 right now, to either the S4 or the G2, is due to the larger screen size. The N3 is a little big so it seems these two are the only logical options.
I upgraded from the Galaxy nexus to the S3 purely due to the fact that it did not WASTE screen real-estate on black and white static icons. Frankly that is the absolute stupidest use of the screen there is. Samsung has it right by continuing to keep the buttons off screen.
So, the only way the G2 fits the bill (for probably many people) is if one of the following two solutions can exist:
1. The nav bar is totally transparent. The buttons still register when you tap there, but when browsing or watching video, the frame or text completely spills behind the buttons as if they don't actually take up space. Still not ideal.
2. The buttons are taken off screen fully and remapped to the rear HW keys. One volume key can be the back button, and the other can be the home button, etc. To change the volume, you gotta drag the software slider. Not a problem. I believe there are many button remapping apps in the market. Anyone tried this?
Is there an app to do these things? Can this feature be built into a ROM? For solution number 1, the nav bar can be hidden using a feature like PA has, and an app can just have a virtual transparent button floating where the original ones were. This app might also just exist in the android market.
Can we work on getting the entire screen area useful on this large phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same mentality as you before deciding on the G2. There is a solution.
You will have to ROOT first.
GMD Auto hide app. This app will completely hide the software keys. They only appear when you swipe up from the very bottom of the screen.. or just tap the very bottom of the screen. You chose that in settings. The software keys can be made transparent as well.
Im currently using the app and love it. Works perfectly.
Without root... i dont think there is a solution.
I just use the navbar mod that shrinks the navbar down to either half or a third of the size. That way they take up hardly any screen at all.
Sent from my LG-D802 using xda app-developers app
o0adam0o said:
I had the same mentality as you before deciding on the G2. There is a solution.
You will have to ROOT first.
GMD Auto hide app. This app will completely hide the software keys. They only appear when you swipe up from the very bottom of the screen.. or just tap the very bottom of the screen. You chose that in settings. The software keys can be made transparent as well.
Im currently using the app and love it. Works perfectly.
Without root... i dont think there is a solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used the Xposed Module - Ultimate Dynamic Navbar (available on play store). Looked to have more customization options than GMD (can have up to 7 buttons on the nav bar, for example, and more options for configuring long press of the buttons). But anyway, overall concept is the same as GMD.
And so far, i am loving it. Nice to have the full screen real estate at all times.
And root is so damn easy on this phone.
Big Boy Laroux said:
I've used the Xposed Module - Ultimate Dynamic Navbar (available on play store). Looked to have more customization options than GMD (can have up to 7 buttons on the nav bar, for example, and more options for configuring long press of the buttons). But anyway, overall concept is the same as GMD.
And so far, i am loving it. Nice to have the full screen real estate at all times.
And root is so damn easy on this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I considered Xposed as well... but i thought that method just let you adjust/resize and theme the soft buttons.. but i wanted to completley hide them and have them reappear with a touch/swipe of my finger and then go away again. Xposed can do that as well? I just took a quick glance at the thread and figured it couldnt.
o0adam0o said:
I considered Xposed as well... but i thought that method just let you adjust/resize and theme the soft buttons.. but i wanted to completley hide them and have them reappear with a touch/swipe of my finger and then go away again. Xposed can do that as well? I just took a quick glance at the thread and figured it couldnt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The xposed module Ultimate Dynamic Navbar can do all that.
it's on play store, but i just found it here on XDA. Note to self - remember to ALWAYS check xda first before you pay! although, i like the app so far, so it's worth the money.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2270198
EDIT : One note - on the G2, I've found you have to use another Xposed module (like g2 xposed or gravity box) to hide the stock nav bar first. At least right now.
I'm already using G2 xposed to remove the volume slider in drop-down, and for transparent status bar, so I already had it to make this change.
I love the software buttons because you can customize them and have various animations and actions. I agree with the wasted space but I root and download "tex_Droider" from the Play Store and change the DPI down from 480 to 400. This will make everything smaller and more roomier... including the Nav Bar.
Then I downloaded Flashify and TWRP Custom recovery. Flashed with Flashify.
I downloaded a Smaller Nav Mod. I used the "Medium" size since I already lowered the DPI. You can use the small size too if you want it really small. Boom.
I've played with hiding the navbar and using gestures and also that PA mod. I dunno just doesn't work for me. I use those buttons a lot and adding a swipe each time is a pain. Personally I wouldn't mind just having a transparent bar across ALL apps.
With ya player911, wound just using small nav bar. Wish I could add a couple more apps to the stock home swipe out.
With the G nexus I've tried making the nav bar about half. It worked except for the occasional mis-tap. Still it was annoying to have it cover up screen - on top of all of these options, can the nav bar be made transparent? I figure apps would have a hard time realizing what's going on so a solution would go something along the lines of first removing the nav bar to make every app draw full screen, and then adding a module that would create false transparent buttons simply overlaying the screen content at all times, rather than having a swipe or some other gesture pull the nav bar up or down. The false buttons could be in the very corners of the screen so as to not likely cover anything up.
The thing I like about the S3/4 is in dark conditions where you are being more tactile with the phone/case (I turn my softkey backlight off totally) your thumb rests on the edge of the case and rolls over to tap the softkey. It wouldn't be an issue to get used to the position of this virtual softkey by adopting the same behavior, it's just a matter of whether an app exists that will draw repositionable virtual transparent mappable "area" on the screen that would correspond to a button.
Don't think you're going to find one. Every app/game is different, so who is to say that where you place your "always there" transparent buttons won't interfere with an actual area you need to tap inside an app, game, etc. Even in the corners.
I would again suggest trying the auto-hide mods mentioned above. They do exactly what you are describing with the overlay, except you have to swipe or tap to bring it up.
Swiping is really not that big a deal. Ultimate dynamic navbar gives you the ability to swipe right to a button, so your finger never has to come off the screen. It's very fluid.
You could also try PIE. But what I like about the auto hide nav bar mods is that you can set the nav bar to toggle, so it stays up if you need to press nav bar buttons a bunch of times in a row. With PIE (at least when I last used it), you have to swipe for every button press.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using xda app-developers app

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