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."
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I was thinking, for AOSP ICS roms, either an apk could be created, or flashed into roms, that repurposes the menu button as the task switcher button, like on the Galaxy Nexus (Prime). Since the menu "button" is essentially in the app itself, the menu capacitive button becomes superfluous. Also, I've never had a phone or rom where holding down the home button acts as quick as just pressing the TS button on the Nexus Prime.
So, instead of the following buttons:
Home/Menu/Back/Search
We would have:
Home/Task Switcher/Back/Search
I like the idea of making it an app, as some would want to leave the buttons the way they are, whereas others might think this is a good idea. I hope the Cyanogen considers this, and puts this in their "Cyanogen Settings" section.
Here are a couple of threads that talk about the same thing, albiet in different phone forums.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1347998
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1315075
Maybe you could use the bottons as quick launch icons. Allow the user to pick apps that the buttons would launch.
i think thats a great idea. i felt the same way when i read the features of ics
it doesnt seem impossible. cm7 already has the option to set program shortcuts for long pressing the the menu or home buttons, etc
Why the menu Button why not the usual home button. Instead of replacing the menu function why not replace the small icons with the ICS running apps manager.
Home & Task Manager/Menu/Back/Search
scientist343 said:
Maybe you could use the bottons as quick launch icons. Allow the user to pick apps that the buttons would launch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what I was thinking. Instead of having my 4 most used apps on the bottom of my home screen (Handcent, Facebook, gmail, market) that would be pretty sick to have the captivate button as quick launch buttons for those apps.
Support TrevE! Fah Q CIQ!!
I like the favorite apps at the bottom, id keep that, and even the home and menu and search the way they are, but id want my back button to bring up the multitasker menu when longpressing
Sent from my PG06100
I would say the search button. I never use it and ICS has a dedicated search bar. But yes I agree, now with ICS my next phone will have on screen controls. It looks so nice!
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Personally, I think I'd rather have the screen real estate without the buttons moved to the screen, especially since we have the buttons anyway. That said, I'd be interested to see what could be done with a gesture area down there. Just so long as the on screen buttons are an option that can be turned off returning the capacitive button function.
Guys - We will have no "on-screen" buttons like the Galaxy Nexus does, ICS will use hardware buttons if they are present. So no, you will not have your 4 most used apps, you will have Home|Menu|Back|Search.
Have a good day.
moosh3 said:
Guys - We will have no "on-screen" buttons like the Galaxy Nexus does, ICS will use hardware buttons if they are present. So no, you will not have your 4 most used apps, you will have Home|Menu|Back|Search.
Have a good day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^his larger, bold text, has hurt my feelings and trampled on my dreams. I kid, I kid. I like the hardware buttons anyway, the onscreen buttons for nexus ics would take up more room anyway. I got a taste of that using the ics launcher on the market.
moosh3 said:
Guys - We will have no "on-screen" buttons like the Galaxy Nexus does, ICS will use hardware buttons if they are present. So no, you will not have your 4 most used apps, you will have Home|Menu|Back|Search.
Have a good day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you read the thread? This isn't about "on-screen" buttons. It is about changing the purpose of the existing capacitive buttons to somewhat mirror the functionality of the on-screen buttons on the Galaxy Nexus.
moosh3 said:
Guys - We will have no "on-screen" buttons like the Galaxy Nexus does, ICS will use hardware buttons if they are present. So no, you will not have your 4 most used apps, you will have Home|Menu|Back|Search.
Have a good day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stick with singing Mr. Bieber, trying to sound smart isn't your thing
Support TrevE! Fah Q CIQ!!
Hi guys I'm from the UK and will probably be getting this phone when they release it as the htc deluxe or whatever over here.
On my one x, I can change functionality of the recent apps button to act as the menu button, getting rid of the ugly black bar at the bottom of the screen. I was watching a video review of the DNA, and it looks like this has been removed?
Can anyone confirm if this option has been put back in?
it isn't HTC that made this descision it is Google.. they got rid of the back button for the recents button in ICS... I havent looked back since ICS... I love my recents button for quick swapping between apps... but I'm sure if you want once the developers get into the device they will allow custom button mappings. maybe not to the extent of the nexus line where you can map widgets to the button but it should easily be the menu button
Actually its the same as the one x it just wasn't enabled in the settings on the DNA in the video.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
i can confirm that in the current stock buid, the option to remap buttons has been taken out, and from what i understand it was vzw descision not htc
easy fix on custom roms to remap it
Engadget's review stated this option was removed.
Do people miss having a back button when web browsing? Since there isn't even a menu button, I assume people use some kind of swiping on the screen? Unless the back button and address and such always are shown on screen....
two_cents said:
it isn't HTC that made this descision it is Google.. they got rid of the back button for the recents button in ICS... I havent looked back since ICS... I love my recents button for quick swapping between apps... but I'm sure if you want once the developers get into the device they will allow custom button mappings. maybe not to the extent of the nexus line where you can map widgets to the button but it should easily be the menu button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flaring afro said:
Engadget's review stated this option was removed.
Do people miss having a back button when web browsing? Since there isn't even a menu button, I assume people use some kind of swiping on the screen? Unless the back button and address and such always are shown on screen....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is a back button, just no menu button, which cases that horrible 3 dot bar to show up in some apps
Hmmm so hopefully this will appear on the unbranded European/global versions. Verizon took it out? I thought we had it bad over here for crapware on branded phones, but to take it back out is just mind boggling.
Thanks all. I guess I'll just have to wait and see when it launches here.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Yeah i agree. I have the same option on the evo lte. This phone is prolly no different. The one x,xt,evo lte,dna all will run the same stuff basically id say. Only difference is the x plus and dna have jelly bean version where the one x and evo lte have ice cream but the rumour is we get updated this week as well.
sent from my Evo 4g LTE
Is it just me or is it kind of annoying that because they left out the menu button from the phone they now need to show it at the bottom of the screen for apps that depend on it being part of the phone??
Kinda seems like the iPhone 4 to 5 issue where the app only takes up part of the screen and the bottom is left to show that stupid menu line...
Couldn't that have made it horizontal instead of vertiacal to take up less space and make it more appealing???
/rant off
With custom roms there may be a fix to that. I also think it's annoying but don't worry soon enough it will be fixed depending on what Rom you put on your one. Hope this helps
Sent from my HTC One using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2
Anyone having difficulty moving the camera app from the bottom row of apps? Every time i go to move it, just copies it instead.
iplayforkeeps said:
Anyone having difficulty moving the camera app from the bottom row of apps? Every time i go to move it, just copies it instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to have the app draw open and move it there and you should be good to go.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
iplayforkeeps said:
Anyone having difficulty moving the camera app from the bottom row of apps? Every time i go to move it, just copies it instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ready for a bit of an annoyance? You have to do it from the App Drawer. Even more annoying? You have to move it out before you move another one in, otherwise you get a folder and you have to open the folder to remove the original (in other words it doesn't swap the icons, just creates a folder with both)..
Also - it is a bit annoying not having a menu button. Modaco's framework will allow you to long press back (or double press, don't know for sure) for menu. There's also work being done on a custom kernel which makes the HTC area on the capacitive button sensor another button for menu. There's also this (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2191626) which was done for another base (doesn't work on ours, changes some other things in Settings that shouldn't be changed and didn't seem to enable to setting - which leads me to believe ATT went further out of their way to remove it then some others), but I'm looking into the changes that were made to bring it to our base too. (unfortunately simply toggling the method always on didn't worked as I'd hoped, but suspected)
I've already shared a build.prop modified to remove the 3 dot menu bar, but this leaves you without a menu in some apps which is a little annoying. Hopefully I'll get long press back for menu figured out though for att's stock rom.. if it's uber important to you, most of the int'l roms already have this incorporated
Thanks for the information on how to remove the app from the bottom menu bar. I never use text messaging, so was quite annoyed by how it was always stuck in there. I put Viber in place of Text message app.
The lack of menu button and wasting more space on the screen for that function does annoy me too. They should have just make that HTC logo a soft button. I don't think they can add another button on HTC logo with a software though.
There's already a custom kernel available that has madebthe HTC logo a third button
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
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.
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.
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