SoftKeys provides on screen keys for menu/home/back/search for devices that don't have those keys in hardware.
SoftKeys is also available in the Android Market
If you want to make themes for SoftKeys you will need the tools to build apks (eclipse/android sdk/etc) and the template from the git repository.
http://git.hoopajoo.net
Changelog:
2011/01/11 - 3.06 - Fix notification keys, boot straight to launcher on system startup
2011/01/11 - 3.05 - Fix notification softkeys <b>broken release</b>
2011/01/10 - 3.04 - Adds dpad and up to 6 custom keys, ability to put device
to sleep, improved performance for key injection, built in documentation, bugfixes
2010/12/23 - 3.00 - Most of the layout code has been rewritten to allow for theming, couple of bug fixes, SoftKeys is now gpl3
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Old Changelog (I'm too lazy to reorder this newest to oldest):
2010/12/04 - 1.01 - added launcher selector and remembers last launcher
2010/12/04 - 1.02 - added themes layouts from nemith, looks more like his screenshots but the spinner text is still black so the launcher chooser is hard to read, hopefully I'll have some time to fiddle with that soon
2010/12/04 - 1.03 - My fingers are too fat, I made everything in to image buttons and moved the launcher config to a prefs screen, if anyone has nicer icons let me know these are repurposed from generic android icons
2010/12/05 - 1.04 - Added alternate long-press soft home key for secondary launcher like if you want to use the built-in nook home, added configurable options for what to do if you tap or double tap the nook button while in the softkeys screen, long press on menu/back sends an extra back to the app before sending the requested button for apps that bring up pause screens or something when you move them to the background (angry birds, etc)
2010/12/05 - 1.05 - Integrated the dark theme from nemith, you can choose it in prefs now. Added options to disable the "exit" and "configure" buttons. If you disable "configure" you can still get to the preferences using the "menu" button in the notification bar (e.g. the normal menu button)
2010/12/05 - 1.06 - fix broken key handling, menu and back didn't work, don't use 1.05
2010/12/06 - 1.07 - add recent applications to top of the screen since we don't have a long-press-home recent apps dialog, looking in to re-ordering the buttons next
2010/12/07 - 1.08 - This release adds options to re-order the softkeys, insert soft keys in to the notification area, disable the recent apps list, long press the background to configure if you lost the configure button, and some options for changing the background to dim/blurred/none (note: the notification soft keys show up in the notification area, not in the main status bar like the nook menu/back, I can't put things there as an application you would need to modify system jars to get this effect)
2010/12/07 - v1.09 - Default to non-blurred background and added note about slowness, added option to return to softkeys after pressing back button
2010/12/08 - v1.10 - Selecting "SoftKeys" for your single-press home action will make it so if you launch softkeys, it will go to the launcher unless you hit home again, e.g. single-press home to go to launcher anywhere, double-press home to go to softkeys
2010/12/13 - v2.00 - This adds a new service overlay that is displayed above all apps allowing softkeys to be sent without having to mess with the home button. Default home key behavior has changed to be single click home from anywhere goes to your default launcher, double click home to get to the old softkeys interface. I'm still fiddling with service panel layouts and ideas so things will probably change, I just wanted to get some testing with something simple.
2010/12/17 - v2.01 - The service panel can now be dragged around the screen, you can change it from horizontal to vertial by long pressing it, you can adjust the transparency of the panel and the icon size, and also control if it closes after sending key events. If you don't want the dialog background on the panel you can disable it to just have floating buttons. NOTE: the signing certificate has changed to a release cert, you will need to uninstall the old softkeys before installing this one
2010/12/17 - v2.02 - Now you can move the button that brings up softkeys service, slightly better handling for switching horizontal/vertical layout by long press
veeerrry nice man!
Thanks! I agree with you - I didn't want to permanently re-assign the volume buttons, as I use them in some apps.
One request, if possible ) - Is there any way to make it go to launcher pro (or whatever you want as default) when pressing "Home" in the app? Right now, it asks me to "Pick Home" every time.
ddenson said:
Thanks! I agree with you - I didn't want to permanently re-assign the volume buttons, as I use them in some apps.
One request, if possible ) - Is there any way to make it go to launcher pro (or whatever you want as default) when pressing "Home" in the app? Right now, it asks me to "Pick Home" every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never personally use the "home" button, I use the quick drawer thing in the notification bar, so I don't really use a launcher. I could probably quickly add a button just for an alternate home or use last home I guess/choose new home I guess. I'll see what I can do. I've also though about adding arrow soft keys, for using in like connectbot, is there any interest in that?
There are also other minor irritating things, like apps that exit when they are not in focus will not work with this hack. For example, monkey kick (a game my son loves to play) will exit if it's not in focus so it never receives the soft keys. I suppose it doesn't matter though since it doesn't use the screen completely anyway, so he just gets to play on my old g1
bpk said:
I never personally use the "home" button, I use the quick drawer thing in the notification bar, so I don't really use a launcher. I could probably quickly add a button just for an alternate home or use last home I guess/choose new home I guess. I'll see what I can do. I've also though about adding arrow soft keys, for using in like connectbot, is there any interest in that?
There are also other minor irritating things, like apps that exit when they are not in focus will not work with this hack. For example, monkey kick (a game my son loves to play) will exit if it's not in focus so it never receives the soft keys. I suppose it doesn't matter though since it doesn't use the screen completely anyway, so he just gets to play on my old g1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again. Using the last home would be great, if that's possible. I don't personally have any use for additional buttons, but maybe someone else can comment? Rgds.
Awesome.
Code would be cool it would be nice to have them popup at the bottom of the screen like when you press the menu button in an app.
Also to take a screen shot you hold the 'n' button and tap the Vol - button. If you have as much trouble as I did with this method, you can also install drocap2 (root required) which does nice job.
awesome app. its perfect! great replacement until someone does the sidebar buttons like the ones available for the archos
nice work... now if you can make this pop up on the bottom of the screen with a black background like the archos tablets it would be awesome...
thank you, this is a great work around
I put the source up at
http: // git.hoopajoo.net
(take out the spaces I can't post links apparently)
That page has a list of my public git urls available, the last one is SoftKeys
if anyone wants to check it out, I'm currently looking at remembering the last launcher picked and defaulting to that for people that use launchers.
-- the rest of this is just for people looking in to the source, to provide some background to why I did it this way and alternate ideas I had --
If any devs look at it I thought I'd post some of my reasons for doing it this way:
1) I looked at creating a custom init service bound to a keycode at first, this would have made it so you didn't need superuser but would have required modifying your ramdisk. Even just making a daemon and communicating through some kind of pipe would require modifying the ramdisk to get it in init. In the end I abandoned the idea because it seemed easier for most normal people to just install an apk.
2) I looked at binding this to the camera button and remapping it in the keylayout, that would preserve the default home screen selections, but would require modifying a file in your /system/ so people would need to adb their stuff. Again I thought an apk would be easier and adding in shell commands would just complicate things for people and I'm not very good at support
3) I spent a LOT of time looking through git repos from aosp to find out if there was some way to bind to the long-press home and take over the recent apps list, since it doesn't even work. This would preserve your home settings and not even remove an existing function. After several hours grepping through the core.git stuff I decided this was just easier to do. If figured good enough is usually good enough. Though if someone can figure this out it would be sweet.
4) I really was hoping that we could just pull whatever archos is doing since that seems ideal, completely soft buttons. However after downloading the aos firmware I found it was encrypted and apparently currently can only be decrypted by the devices using the public key stored on them somewhere and I'm not aware of anyone having dumped their system images yet.
Also I've been looking through the superuser source to see how they handle the popups, they do a good job of not killing the running app and being all around unobtrusive, doing it their way for the popup buttons would be really sweet since it never seems to break the currently running app.
Great except one thing!
I have LauncherPro so when I click the home button, it always gives me a choice between LauncherPro and the original home. Can you make it so I can set a default? I want to just go straight to launcher pro then I select home.
Pinesal said:
Great except one thing!
I have LauncherPro so when I click the home button, it always gives me a choice between LauncherPro and the original home. Can you make it so I can set a default? I want to just go straight to launcher pro then I select home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thread is one page long and your question was already discussed.
One page was too much reading?
How about double click home button for menu and hold the button for back? Just my 2 cents.
I have taken the source code and modified it to a be a row across the bottom of the screen, I think this looks a little bit better
Note the bar at the bottom of both. Ignore that ghosting on the second image.
If anyone is good at graphics I can use some images to create a fancier looking bottom bar.
kabi said:
How about double click home button for menu and hold the button for back? Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am going to play to play with doing stuff like this. For example. Press Home for the menu. Press Home again to make the meny disappear. Double tap home for menu. Long Press for back.
I think next on my plate is setting a default launcher application to use when you hit the soft Home button.
Here is the github respository for anyone interested: https://github.com/bennetb01/SoftKeys
I can't get this to install. The first one instaled fine but when I kick this off it says it will replace the first version then "application not installed" should I remove the first one manually?
Great work BTW. Thanks
lovelacer said:
I can't get this to install. The first one instaled fine but when I kick this off it says it will replace the first version then "application not installed" should I remove the first one manually?
Great work BTW. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can uninstall the first one via the following:
Code:
adb uninstall net.hoopajoo.android.SoftKeys
Install the second one normally via:
Code:
adb install SoftKeys.apk
Interestingly enough the adb uninstall command resulted in a failure as well. I just uninstalled via long press at my app screen and was able to install via root explorer on the nook.
Thanks for the help though.
I do like those buttons, I'm not much for making things look nice, typically I just do back end stuff. If you want to rebase against head and post your git repo I'll merge those changes in to main.
I started using launcher pro and realized it does suck way too much to have to select your launcher every time. It's just 1 button press but I'm too lazy.
And for people re-installing, from adb you have to do:
adb install -r <APK>
Also to remove packages I use appremover, or you can use astro file manager with the package manager under the menu.
nemith said:
I have taken the source code and modified it to a be a row across the bottom of the screen, I think this looks a little bit better
Note the bar at the bottom of both. Ignore that ghosting on the second image.
If anyone is good at graphics I can use some images to create a fancier looking bottom bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for this, sir.
About those images: what size do ya need? i can do them right now.
-K
I didn't want to start a new thread for this piece of information, so this looks like a good place to discuss it. My wife noticed that you can always access the back button by swiping from right to left across the notification toolbar. This worked on her non-root NC as well as my rooted one. Pretty cool!
Hi, I would like to know how I can toggle Recent App of ICS. It can be shown by long clicking on the home button. The one that has preview because I don't like to be pressing so much my home button as I am noticing improper responses from it. Is there a way to put this as an icon or widget on the homescreen? Thx
Anyone? Tried apps like button savior, etc. But it shows their built-in recent apps instead of the firmware's or samsung's.
BUMP
I know this post is old, but Im trying to figure a way too without using an app or service BUMP\
I found what I was looking for in app LMT using the "invisible swipe gestures" set to top center of screen so that swiping top left is notifications, top right is quick settings, and top center opens recents. This is for anyone who might be searching and happen to land on this dead thread. Any other particular method of shortcut will work if you set it to Activities>SystemUI>Overview.recents is the path to this.
sent from the tapatalk app on my S3 running whatever rom Im running this week
I use GMD Gestures, because my sensitive buttons aren't working. Before, I used CM official inbuilt option that you can change the option sensitive (or back) button for recent Apps. Can really recommend that. Greetings.
Hi,
I'm looking for a way to create a shortcut enabling me to put my smartphone to sleep simply by tapping on it. The reason I want to do that is because I don't really like the idea of pulling down a pull-down bar and tapping on the icon there. I would also like to avoid pressing the ON/OFF physical button to prevent it from breaking or getting loose.
I was wondering if there's an app that can do that or some system tweak maybe? I found a couple of apps, such as AnyCut and QuickShortcutMaker, but neither of them lists a system event like that, i.e. hibernation. I'm also aware of the Greenify + Nova/Apex launcher trick, but that involves installing a new launcher and a new app, which is not something I really want.
Please, note that I'm not looking for any third party solution, such as a widget or an app, either. All I want is a shortcut on my home screen, that's it.
Thanks!
I f*&#ing hate this stock rom! If anyone could tell me how, or if there is a way by disabling a service, to stop the google search popping up when you swipe past the home button or hold it for a second. Aargh!
Install Google Now Launcher or Nova.
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
I have the pro version of nova installed. This has no options to disable this feature
Install Tasker for example. Then if You swipe the home button the popup will show with apps to choose - then choose Tasker (use always) that could do just nothing.
Now if You swipe home button only white circle would appear - that would do nothing.
I should have pointed out that my intention is to stop this circle popping up, so i can use the slimpie controls and disable the navbar completely. I am afraid I am struggling to come to terms with just how limited a stock rom is. Sure I can get root via the sony dev website but at this point I think all the fancy algorithms for camera performance would be removed, as well as throttling for thermal control.
When you Google Search, you find https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hk.sld.SwipeLaunchDisabler
The Irony
I'm using this app to fast lock the screen when I swipe up the home button
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.katecca.screenofflock
otherwise you can use this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dynamicg.homebuttonlauncher
to have more options respect to open google search
Just FYI:
- This is called "Swype up for Google Now" in old Nexus manuals.
- Now in Android 6.0 is replaced for "Google Now on tap".
I don't really know how to disable it.... Maybe trying another Launcher.
Thanks for your input. however the home button launcher will not achieve my goal, and the swipelauncher disabler is comically pointless! It is less a disable function, more so it just doesn't launch my browser, choosing instead to flash the screen at me! It is clear that I will not be sated until custom roms come about with some CM or AOSP goodness. Please hurry devs, I want to love this phone...
I'm a bit late to the party and I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but I've just been disabling some apps on my z5c and one of them was the Google Now app (I think it was called). Because the bubble popping up was from the Google now app, it has stopped appearing ever since. Hope to have helped.
Disable the Google App
Yep remove Google Now or I just tried this and works well (you cannot prevent the animation that will still persists, but the action gets revoked the way you have requested.)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AdrianCampos.swipeuputility
I have an idea
You can try installing some launchers (like Niagara for example)
And then set it to launch the app launcher automatically when opening the dual screen. Hope it works for you
Just gave it a shot. It does work as far as the launcher opening on the left screen, but pressing home on the left side takes you back to launcher 2.
This means you'd have to turn off the screen and turn it back on or close and open the case and reunlock the phone to get it to open.
Great idea though, I thought it would force it open on the main screen, but nope!
rainbowtuba said:
Just gave it a shot. It does work as far as the launcher opening on the left screen, but pressing home on the left side takes you back to launcher 2.
This means you'd have to turn off the screen and turn it back on or close and open the case and reunlock the phone to get it to open.
Great idea though, I thought it would force it open on the main screen, but nope!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some launchers work like opening an app. Niagara is one of them. You can make a shortcut for it, in floating bar?
I use Nova Launcher on the main display and quickly 3-finger swipe apps to the Dual Screen if needed. My Dual Screen homescreen only has widgets on them., I don't use the launcher on it.
Could you use launcher hijack to make it work? Like the Kindle Fires solution for the stock launcher replacement, that opens the launcher of choice upon pressing the home button?
Yeedatoy said:
Could you use launcher hijack to make it work? Like the Kindle Fires solution for the stock launcher replacement, that opens the launcher of choice upon pressing the home button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launcher Hijack does not work, I just tried it.
I use Microsoft's launcher. And usually Swiftkeys. You would think with Duo coming out in a year these products would support this phone. I'm a little disappointed they don't yet.
I found a slightly quirky but reliable method to do this. See my attachments, same launcher on both screens. The one with the notification bar is the main screen, one without is dual screen.
It works with home launchers with a way to get to their home screen via shortcuts. I use nova
Instructions:
0. Make sure you have navigation bar selected instead of gestures in phone settings>display>navigation bar
1. Install App Cloner (the real one, not on Google Play) and make yourself a duplicate of nova or etc.
2. Backup your current launcher settings
3. Open and restore from backup on the second copy of your launcher
4. Install Pie Control from Google Play or etc
5. You can setup pie control as you like. You'll likely have the home button setup as one of your gestures. But this home button will only of course open a single launcher, you can't change it to use a different launcher on each screen. So, add another gesture that you'll use for the second screen.
6. On your selected gesture, set what it does to shortcut>nova (it will be the second nova on the list)>default page (this is the main home screen of your launcher).
7. To get to your launcher on the second screen, just tap your second screen, then do your gesture you set to the shortcut on your main screen. You'll see your fave launcher open on the second screen.
I know this isn't ideal, but it works great for me and if there's still anybody out there looking for this, here you go.