Database Users

Tips & Tricks for Arc

Collective thread of tips & tricks for the Xperia Arc.
I want to start by sharing two small tips that I like.
1) When you push the hardware menu button a little longer, the keyboard with Google search function appears.
2) Pinch on the home screen and widget overview shows up.
Index of other tips from forum members in the thread (thank you guys):
- Go to dialer and dial *#*#7378423#*#* for the service menu.
- The newer firmware version (4.0.A.2.368) shows whether bootloader can be unlocked or not (under configuration in service menu).
- During the incoming call alert, you can silence the phone by pressing any of the volume buttons. You'll still have the option to accept or reject the call.
- Double click on the headset's button to go to to the next song. Triple click to go back to the previous one.
- You can get a slightly larger field of vision in the video camera if you disable the image stabilizer.
- Long press the back button in default browser to access the browsing history.
- Sony Panorama Beta now works on unrooted Arc too. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14976061#post14976061
- Go to setting > about phone > keep pressing android version many times > Zombie artwork appears.
- Go to gallery-> Put 2 fingers on a folder and hold-> Now pinch out-> You will now see all the pics under that folder.
- You can change the position of the icons in the camera interface by holding and dragging them.

Hold the hardware Home button and a list of Recent apps appears.

hush66 said:
Hold the hardware Home button and a list of Recent apps appears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a standard for any Android phone.

datagubben said:
When you push the hardware menu button a little longer, the keyboard with Google search function appears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm? doesn't work for me... only the last used apps appear :/

You're pressing the Home button. Hold the 3rd button i.e. the menu button

Go to dialer and dial *#*#7378423#*#* for the service menu...

mitsosoft said:
Go to dialer and dial *#*#7378423#*#* for the service menu...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The newer firmware version (4.0.A.2.368) shows whether bootloader can be unlocked or not (under configuration)

I have the Xperia Neo, but this must work the same with the Arc:
- Double click on the headset's button to go to to the next song. Triple click to go back to the previous one.
- You can get a slightly larger field of vision in the video camera if you disable the image stabilizer.
- Keep checking on the PlayNow store once in a while. Occasionally, some paid stuff in the Market gets added for free.
- During the incoming call alert, you can silence the phone by pressing any of the volume buttons. You'll still have the option to accept or reject the call.

- Clean temp data/cache from apps, especially Browser
- Forget task killers
- Use SE data monitor (Marketplace)

Long press the back button in default browser to access the browsing history

Is it possible to increase volume in the musicplayer via the secret menus ?

rikken said:
Is it possible to increase volume in the musicplayer via the secret menus ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid not.

doministry said:
- Clean temp data/cache from apps, especially Browser
- Forget task killers
- Use SE data monitor (Marketplace)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree!
Use Go Luncher if you badly need Task Killer.
Use Mobo Player, it does better on HDMI.

Task killers are fine. Some programs do stop reappearing, some don't, that's because some inbuilt feature/service demands them back. If you are rooted, they seem to work better.

Hi,
Is there a way to change the colour of the events in the agenda since 4.x.x.x.x firmware. All events are pink now...
Thanks!

Change you browser to Miren

Sony Panorama Beta now works on unrooted Arc too.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14976061#post14976061

Go to setting > about phone > keep pressing android version > ART
Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk

007Arc said:
Go to setting > about phone > keep pressing android version > ART
Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha, wat was that?
sent via rooted Xperia aRc

xperiax10.awesome said:
haha, wat was that?
sent via rooted Xperia aRc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zombie attack!
Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk

How do I create a settings icon on the desktop?

I want to create a settings shortcut that goes to the settings menu, but whenever I try to, it navigates to the actual settings and forces me to choose a sub-setting.

kelper0 said:
I want to create a settings shortcut that goes to the settings menu, but whenever I try to, it navigates to the actual settings and forces me to choose a sub-setting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go into the app drawer, long press on settings and drag it to the homescreen? Or long press on the homescreen, add an app and add the settings app? You're going to add>shortcut>settings shortcut which requires a specific setting. You need the actual settings program.

It depends on your home launcher. I know with adw pro all I do is tap and hold on empty space on home screen. Then select create custom activity and choose from there. But what you wanna look for in your home screen is to add an activity. Activities are sub classes of programs. So you would pick the settings app then select the activity of said app which you want.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

kelper0 said:
I want to create a settings shortcut that goes to the settings menu, but whenever I try to, it navigates to the actual settings and forces me to choose a sub-setting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nigeldg said:
Go into the app drawer, long press on settings and drag it to the homescreen? Or long press on the homescreen, add an app and add the settings app? You're going to add>shortcut>settings shortcut which requires a specific setting. You need the actual settings program.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, to add the settings app to the homescreen you drag it out from the app drawer.

Dblfstr said:
Yes, to add the settings app to the homescreen you drag it out from the app drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think, from reading the OP, they are trying to access a sub setting directly from the home screen.

elesbb said:
I think, from reading the OP, they are trying to access a sub setting directly from the home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah it's the opposite, he's being forced to access a sub-setting when he just wants to launch general settings

elesbb said:
I think, from reading the OP, they are trying to access a sub setting directly from the home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nigeldg said:
Nah it's the opposite, he's being forced to access a sub-setting when he just wants to launch general settings
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
His problem is he is being forced to select a sub-setting, which he does not want. He just wants a link to the settings app - from there he can access all the sub-settings.
Either way though, all options are now listed for him.

recent apps button to menu button?

Just was wondering if there is still a way to access the menu with the button or anyway to change that?
I use the menu feature much more frequently then recent apps on my device.
If that can't be changed that might make it harder for me to use.
Not a deal breaker from me buying it but can be annoying.

Long press the Recent apps can open Menu

Okay.
Good to know.
Thank you for sharing.
I feel less bothered by that now.

isnt there any way to change it back to normal ???? its really annoying to long press eveytime !!

Wish I could change it. Been searching with no positive results
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

You'll need root, then install xposed framework followed by gravitybox... a search on xda will explain these things If you need help

leoaudio13 said:
Long press the Recent apps can open Menu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not the menu button.
I am also wanting to go back to the old layout and get rid of the stupid app switcher.

JoJo2211 said:
That is not the menu button.
I am also wanting to go back to the old layout and get rid of the stupid app switcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy a S4 and yes, long press task for menu

How To: Use Tasker to assign flashlight toggle to Active Key on S7 Active

Quick how to for any other S7 Active owners who like me were disappointed that the Active Key could not be used as a dedicated flashlight button.
I used the Tasker app with the free App Factory plugin to create an app that toggles the flashlight state.
1. Open Tasker and create a new task (I called mine Flashlight Toggle)
2. Click the Add action button (the + at the bottom) and the Select Action Category window will pop up
3. Type Torch into the filter at the bottom of the Select Action Category window
4. In the Action Edit screen select Toggle from the dropdown in Set
5. Press back to return to the Task Edit screen
6. In the lower right press and hold the icon button and assign the task an icon
7. Press back to return to main Tasker screen - press and hold on the Flashlight Toggle task (or whatever you called it) task to highlight it
8. Select Export from the menu button in the upper right and export as an app.
8a. You may need to install the apk you just created manually depending on permssion settings with tasker (thanks for heads up 78c10)
9. Now open Settings and Navigate to the Active Key settings
10. You should have an app named Flashlight Toggle that you can now assign to the Active Key
Congratulations, you now have a dedicated flashlight button on your S7 Active.

I don't mean to sound critical, so please forgive me, but wouldn't it have been easier to download a flashlight app, and set it to the button?

I personally can't believe you didn't get more feedback on this. What a beautiful, elegant solution.
I was shocked to find that there was no option available to bind a long press of the action key to flashlight, how stupid. You fixed it, and you fixed it in a beautiful way! Thanks.

@Chr0nos77 I had done this previously, but was plagued with either apps that would then open and not turn off the torch by holding it, or having ads emblazoned across my device.
Smooth solution. The only thing that differed from the instructions is that after I exported the app, I had to install it before I could use it. So, I guess don't miss out on that step.
For some reason, I had to factory reset my phone to get the app factory to install. Oh well.

Only problem I'm having with this is that even though I have the app in my whitelist, if the phone is in deep doze the button does not reliably launch the flashlight. Have to press unlock button first then the active key. Still good but would be good if I could somehow force it to work with aggressive doze.

Is there a way to set the flashlight to full brightness? When you turn on the flashlight in the notification panel, it's only set to 30% of it's brightness, but when you open the Activity Zone, you can turn it all the way up to 100%, is there some way to make the 100% setting standard?

Hello. Tasker cannot support Torch in Android 5.0.1. Is there some other way to do it?

akran said:
Hello. Tasker cannot support Torch in Android 5.0.1. Is there some other way to do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure in 5.0.1 - I used this with my S7A which was Android 6 out of the box.

gotta say.. works VERY well

Thank you for this, I've been looking for a way to be able to skip tracks with the active key and found a way to do it using the same logic you described here (made an app for next track and on for previous). If anyone is interested let me know and I'll put instructions for how I did it.

miniminus said:
gotta say.. works VERY well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kuaka said:
Quick how to for any other S7 Active owners who like me were disappointed that the Active Key could not be used as a dedicated flashlight button.
I used the Tasker app with the free App Factory plugin to create an app that toggles the flashlight state.
1. Open Tasker and create a new task (I called mine Flashlight Toggle)
2. Click the Add action button (the + at the bottom) and the Select Action Category window will pop up
3. Type Torch into the filter at the bottom of the Select Action Category window
4. In the Action Edit screen select Toggle from the dropdown in Set
5. Press back to return to the Task Edit screen
6. In the lower right press and hold the icon button and assign the task an icon
7. Press back to return to main Tasker screen - press and hold on the Flashlight Toggle task (or whatever you called it) task to highlight it
8. Select Export from the menu button in the upper right and export as an app.
8a. You may need to install the apk you just created manually depending on permssion settings with tasker (thanks for heads up 78c10)
9. Now open Settings and Navigate to the Active Key settings
10. You should have an app named Flashlight Toggle that you can now assign to the Active Key
Congratulations, you now have a dedicated flashlight button on your S7 Active.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bandario said:
I personally can't believe you didn't get more feedback on this. What a beautiful, elegant solution.
I was shocked to find that there was no option available to bind a long press of the action key to flashlight, how stupid. You fixed it, and you fixed it in a beautiful way! Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
78c10 said:
@Chr0nos77 I had done this previously, but was plagued with either apps that would then open and not turn off the torch by holding it, or having ads emblazoned across my device.
Smooth solution. The only thing that differed from the instructions is that after I exported the app, I had to install it before I could use it. So, I guess don't miss out on that step.
For some reason, I had to factory reset my phone to get the app factory to install. Oh well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can anyone give me the apk that the app creator made?

muneebrocks said:
can anyone give me the apk that the app creator made?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes!
Here is a link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw15QUNVlpHoMjdqdWVJbXh2YjA
All credits to Kuaka! Thanks for this nice tweak!

Arteush said:
Yes!
Here is a link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw15QUNVlpHoMjdqdWVJbXh2YjA
All credits to Kuaka! Thanks for this nice tweak!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you so much

i made a bixbybutton app using this method,
to enable our activity button, to be a bixby button
(i included it into the Ufrim modder

Is it possible to use this Tasker and create mobile data button/apk to toggle on/off data for Oreo?

dedicha said:
Is it possible to use this Tasker and create mobile data button/apk to toggle on/off data for Oreo?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.xda-developers.com/how-...ttings-tile-toggle-on-samsung-galaxy-devices/

patzyalex said:
https://www.xda-developers.com/how-...ttings-tile-toggle-on-samsung-galaxy-devices/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, not working on my phone, maybe because of oreo update.

dedicha said:
Unfortunately, not working on my phone, maybe because of oreo update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does work on Oreo and not only for me, other users report it as well.

patzyalex said:
It does work on Oreo and not only for me, other users report it as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried it, it just reordered the position of the icons, no mobile data toggle
Finally, success!
I read another command in the posts, that did the job!
Just put that command in the adb shell:
settings put secure sysui_qs_tiles "$(settings get secure sysui_qs_tiles),MobileData,Hotspot"
I have no idea why the first one did not do it and what exactly is the difference, but this command did it !

I DLed this
https://apkpure.com/flashlight-toggle-simple-and-minimalist/com.nomadicratio.flashlighttoggle
its quick... a bit of a screen white for a split second but then it turns on and off just fine

Navigation Buttons Mod?

Call me a bit old fashioned, but I have a specific set of "keybinds" that I always work to achieve one way or another on my android devices.
The "Menu" button of old is more important to me than a "Recents" button - really just hoping to achieve inverted behavior of the square button: short press for menu, long press for recents.
Long pressing the "Back" button should kill the foreground app.
Any other bind to quickly toggle the torch light.
Using the menus in OxygenOS, I can't seem to achieve this. Any suggestions or secrets I've yet to find out about?

In Oxygen os you can set LONG PRESS RECENT BUTTON to perform MENU Action. I use it all the time.
About long press back button to kill app, I think this feature was removed in PIE.
Me too was looking for it but didn't find a solution.
Anyway I quickly realized that I don't need it. Op6t can keep a lot of app in memory so there's no need to kill.
When i want to kill one or all i use Recents.
Not a big deal for me.

Yep that's how I'm using everything now. It gets the job done, though I find myself reverting to old habits absent-mindedly. I'm sure I'll be perfectly adapted in a matter of days.

bigcc32 said:
Call me a bit old fashioned, but I have a specific set of "keybinds" that I always work to achieve one way or another on my android devices.
The "Menu" button of old is more important to me than a "Recents" button - really just hoping to achieve inverted behavior of the square button: short press for menu, long press for recents.
Long pressing the "Back" button should kill the foreground app.
Any other bind to quickly toggle the torch light.
Using the menus in OxygenOS, I can't seem to achieve this. Any suggestions or secrets I've yet to find out about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.paphonb.systemuituner

dannejanne said:
Try this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.paphonb.systemuituner
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Permissions granted using root. It won't get past the compatibility check (The screen says "If you don't see anything your device is incompatible," and I certainly dont see anything). Thanks for the suggestion, though.

bigcc32 said:
Permissions granted using root. It won't get past the compatibility check (The screen says "If you don't see anything your device is incompatible," and I certainly dont see anything). Thanks for the suggestion, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can be granted access with ADB (PC). It should work I've had it work even on LG phones and such.

dannejanne said:
It can be granted access with ADB (PC). It should work I've had it work even on LG phones and such.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the permissions are the problem. The app doesn't complain about that, it just doesn't do anything to the nav bar during setup, and according to the app that's indicative of incompatibility.