to make the entire phone more one-hand-friendly, is there any way to reduce the useable (usable) screen size of the entire UI? preferably temporarily through some easy toggle?
I enabled on screen buttons which eats up about half an inch or so on the bottom of the screen. There is a tutorial somewhere on here. As far as a quick toggle I don't know. I'm on beans 10 and had to change a few things in a couple files. It does bump the keyboard farther up which makes it much easier to type on.
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aerandoron said:
to make the entire phone more one-hand-friendly, is there any way to reduce the useable (usable) screen size of the entire UI? preferably temporarily through some easy toggle?
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Under Settings -> Personal there is One-handed Operation. I don't think it does what you're describing, but I think it shifts certain elements like the keyboard to one side to make it easier to use with one hand. Might at least help some.
One other thing with the on screen buttons, they become functional with the s-pen. I like them for that reason alone.
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Get LMT launcher and a flygrip and you'll be one handing it like a boss.
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Might want to also consider what is going to happen to the screen over the long term if you are keeping static images on it.
Alot of people like the on screen buttons because it works with the spen but I prefer LMT
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1330150
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
My biggest problem is hitting the Nav buttons with one hand and this helps. It also doesn't take away from the screen like the soft button option. Works with spen as well.
Related
At first I thought having the Navigation controls in AOKP enabled was pretty damn cool but I have to admit, even at their smallest height (dp), I still prefer to have the capacitive. I simply hate losing ANY screen real estate. Just wanted to get some other opinions. I know there's a way to get them to temporarily hide but it didn't seem to work as flawlessly as I was hoping...
I still use the cap buttons - although I turned off the backlighting.
Capacitive. It doesn't make sense to use on screen buttons unless the phone was designed for it.
I switch back and forth because I like the one-click option for my recent apps with the on-screen buttons as opposed to the long-press with the capacitive ones. But I do like the capacitive buttons more because they don't take up any screen real estate.
When I get a phone that doesn't trade screen area for functionality that's already present, (or close enough) I'll let you know. Until then, I'll be rockin' my capacitive buttons.
I prefer capacitive. It seems redundant having two sets of buttons that do the same thing right on top of each other!
Cap buttons. The nav bar takes away screen real state.
mgd76 said:
When I get a phone that doesn't trade screen area for functionality that's already present, (or close enough) I'll let you know. Until then, I'll be rockin' my capacitive buttons.
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Couldnt agree more. I tried the navigation buttons and was really surprised how much it bothered me that I was missing that little bit of room on the screen.
cap button , no use wasting screen real estate , have never used them . Even when cap buttons were not working i was using LMT
mgd76 said:
When I get a phone that doesn't trade screen area for functionality that's already present, (or close enough) I'll let you know. Until then, I'll be rockin' my capacitive buttons.
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+1
I'll happily use on screen buttons when the bezel is smaller than capacitive buttons.
Look at the ONE X (why they didn't just do 4 buttons and have menu I don't get), its the same physical size as the galaxy nexus, with a bigger screen, and still fit buttons in the bezel. So you actually use the whole screen, until HTC's shortsightenedness of no menu key catches up. Not to derail the thread, but I think that is a huge oversight. To have a foot in both camps: capacituve and on screen buttons.
Sent from my Galaxy S II (i777)
Cap buttons all the way but from what i can tell from supposed looks of sgs 3 most phones will probably do away with cap buttons once ics is the norm on all new phones
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I like em both.. prefer cap buttons because of the native search button.. almost a must for me. Nice shortcut!
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cap most definitely. I really dont like that nav bar at all.
I hate the cap buttons but losing screen space is worse to me right now
Cap buttons. The way it was designed.
Looking over your shoulder...
Cap.
/thread
Glad I didn't create a poll... haha
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Seriously, there was a thread not long ago about disabling the cap buttons completely so you could use the on-screen buttons...I read that thread and was like, wtf? Why would you waste screen space on buttons when the phone already has them in hardware? Doesn't make any sense to me, but to each his own I guess.
Appearance wise the nav bar is much nicer. Usefulness is also greater with the nav bar because you can customize it. But because we already have cap buttons it just feels like a waste. At the end of the day i'd probably prefer a gnexus setup
Capacitive...unless they were not there at all.
Is there a way to adjust the pens sensitivity to when the screen sees the pen? Like to only when the pen is on the screen as opposed to 1/8 away from the screen. Sorry if this has been addressed before but search didn't turn up anything..thanks for any help!
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There is an app called touch screen tune in the market that lets you change touch sensitivity and minimum movement with your fingers, and spen sensitivity. The free app is useless as it reverts back to the original settings every time your phone goes to sleep. So the developer is asking for a $5 donation, and normally i never consider buying from someone with such business practices. But i emailed the developer and he was extremely quick to get back to me to answer questions and such, and the app itself is well worth the $5. My typing speed has increased and my spen is surgically accurate.
Hope that helps
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Monday, August 20, 2012
XDA Members:
I am testing the water to guage the level of interest in potentially developing a special Galaxy S III case which conceals the capacitive and home buttons of the device for use with ROMs that have had the on-screen navigation buttons enabled. In essence, this case would perform a compound function. First, and most obvious, the case will protect the device from scuffs, scratches, and drops. Second, and much less obvious, the case will conceal the capacitive and home buttons on the bottom of the Galaxy S III. The purpose of this is to give devices with on-screen buttons enabled a seamless and cohesive appearance (Much like the sleek and seamless appearance of the Galaxy Nexus). As things currently stand, enabling on-screen buttons on the Galaxy S III gives the screen a much more AOSP-like appearance. However, even though the screen has a sleek, AOSP-like appearance, the device itself looks a little confusing. Even if you go through the trouble of completely disabling the device's physical/capacitive navigation buttons, they're still there just looking like a group of confused geeks at a bar trying to work up the guts to go buy a girl a drink. They look "out of place." With this proposed case, the physical/capacitive navigation buttons would no longer be an issue.
Now, those of you who find this interesting should note two things. First, this project is a concept only at this point. There are no drawings, mockups, or prototypes. Second, if we are to proceed with this and begin developing a case, it will take a lot of work and all interested parties will be expected to contribute.
So, if any of you are still interested, please feel free to chime in and let me know what you think.
Thank you,
Ed (Mister_Mxyzptlk)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Premium HD app
Anyone?
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The physical home button looks sexy on GS3 though a bit annoying having to press it each time. Don't you think is a bit odd to cover it up.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
If you're not using it, not at all. An unused button isn't sexy. It's pointless. So if you've enabled on-screen buttons in your ROM, this case will cover and conceal your physical nav buttons since they're not being used.
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I personally don't see the point in going out of your way to disable the functionality of buttons that are *already* there and then take up precious screen real estate to add them there instead.
Having a tactile home button is nice since you can feel where it is and when you're pressing it. The other capacitive buttons work just fine too.
factor27 said:
I personally don't see the point in going out of your way to disable the functionality of buttons that are *already* there and then take up precious screen real estate to add them there instead.
Having a tactile home button is nice since you can feel where it is and when you're pressing it. The other capacitive buttons work just fine too.
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I wouldn't call anything about the Samsung button scheme "just fine". Why the hell do I have to hold my home button for three seconds to access my recent apps when Android has supported a dedicated app switcher button since HC? If anything, it's archaic. I don't like the idea of losing screen real estate either, but I want a "pure" AOSP experience.
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Posted in Apps section, but I thought I would throw this on General do get the people that might not go over there.
I've had this phone for about 2 weeks, not counting the one week....never mind.
I literally got a huge cramp...I think it's tendonitis, in my main phone hand, from trying to contort to this phone. I am a fervant one-handed user, and I've finally got my phone to a place where I can do about 90% of what I need to do....One of the main apps I utilized is Virtual Button Bar StoreLInk or another softbutton app.. It's basically a set of soft buttons accessible via a small screen overlay on the edge of your screen.
It changes the way I set up my phone because my hand basically stays in one position. So I keep my home clustered.
It works for great for me...but it's going to take a while to get rid of this tendonitis. I'll report back.
Update: I'm now recommending button savior ...
More control...more options....I actually use both.....I have one set one each side so I can have thimbfriendly control for both hands
Swipepad is better in my opinion and it's free.
Edit: Never mind. This has way more functionality. I still would choose Swipepad though, but hitting back isn't a problem for me because I hold my phone with my right hand.
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Its TwiX said:
Swipepad is better in my opinion and it's free.
Edit: Never mind. This has way more functionality. I still would choose Swipepad though, but hitting back isn't a problem for me because I hold my phone with my right hand.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium HD app
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swipepad is good. Great way to have everything on your homescreen hidden.
I don't see how pressing the home button a few times every once in a while could give you anything as "serious" as tendonitis, seeing as the majority of smartphones had physical buttons until around 2011, and when you compare the big easy-to-press Galaxy Note button to the tiny, hard buttons of the Droid X, I don't see how anyone could be complaining, and you wouldn't catch me dead sacrificing one millimeter of this glorious HD screen for anything that can be accomplished by the fabulous buttons protruding the edge of my display.
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Am I the only one who wants on screen buttons over the hardware ones? If I knew how to do it I would, but it seems like it should be a simple tweak, has anyone done this yet?
rhettnis said:
Am I the only one who wants on screen buttons over the hardware ones? If I knew how to do it I would, but it seems like it should be a simple tweak, has anyone done this yet?
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Maybe an app can do the task. As far as using the AOSP flavor of buttons? Won't happen. Sense framework won't allow it, pretty much. Same reason why we can't use the crt animation.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I like the hardware buttons...on screen is cool but take to much space on your screen.
Sent from my HTC DROID DNA.
Seems redundant and ununnecessary when you have hardware buttons already.
Itzvik said:
I like the hardware buttons...on screen is cool but take to much space on your screen.
Sent from my HTC DROID DNA.
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the 5" screen is huge, and can sometimes make using it with one hand a little hard. The on screen keys disappear when they need to, like looking at pictures or watching videos, other than that, its just like using a 4.7" screen or something around that. When using the phone with one hand it can be a little difficult to stretch your thumb all the way down to the hardware buttons without having to readjust how your are hold the phone in your hand, they are badly placed on the bottom like that.
rhettnis said:
the 5" screen is huge, and can sometimes make using it with one hand a little hard. The on screen keys disappear when they need to, like looking at pictures or watching videos, other than that, its just like using a 4.7" screen or something around that. When using the phone with one hand it can be a little difficult to stretch your thumb all the way down to the hardware buttons without having to readjust how your are hold the phone in your hand, they are badly placed on the bottom like that.
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Either you have small hands or are holding your phone weird. I have average size hands and I can reach the hw buttons and the whole screen except like a quarter of an inch at the top left without readjusting my hand.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
Bigandrewgold said:
Either you have small hands or are holding your phone weird. I have average size hands and I can reach the hw buttons and the whole screen except like a quarter of an inch at the top left without readjusting my hand.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
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nope, regular hands, its just the phone is so tall that its sometimes a pain with how they placed the buttons at the absolute bottom of the phone.