Database Users

How to assign new buttons?

I'd like to be able to hold a button (other than Button 5) and have it execute a command/program. Can it be done?
ie. Hold OK button to launch X program? I've googled with no luck.

Search the forums. There is a thread by Sleuth255 (?) with the title PTT Function Hacked or something similar.

I found that thread. But it's doing what my TyTN does anyways... allows you to hold the button 5 and launch. I need that function for the other buttons as well.... unless I'm missing something.

i use ae button plus for this.
its free on a trial with a popup on phone phone startup, or $7 to unlock.
its FANTASTIC. interface isn't overly intuative to setup, but basicly you can have
1 click, 2 click, 3 clicks and press to hold on *all* the hardware buttons do different things.
its also got a reasonalbe app switcher built in, and way to turn the screen off and lock the keys if you want your media to keep playing when the phone in in a lower power state. *(not sure how much this saves in terms of power, but the key lock is why i use it)
For example,
my internet button (up and right of screen) is now set to
1 click - Load IE,
2 click - Load MusicID (listens to any song being played and then tells you the artist and track)
3 click - Load tomtom (usfull so i can switch between messages/phone calls and tomtom when driving quickly.
press and hold - turn off screen and lock keys for media playback.
Wish it was more popular i think its a fantastic application! you should give it ago.

as an aside note, i think there is a reg hack to do the press and hold on other buttons, but honestly do your self a favour and try
http://ae.inc.ru/aebplus.php
(website looks Naff!!! but good app)

Thank you. Exactly what I need. Cheers.

Suggestions for possible Apps for the Developers out there

Hey guys, so I have been using my tp2 for a couple months now and I have noticed some things that could have some kind of App development. I have no idea where to begin with Developing apps and all of that tech stuff, so I'll put my ideas out there. If these things do exist please inform me, thanks
1. Customization of the Mute Key on the back - Personally I have never once touched this button because I dont use the speakerphone that often. My dad on the other hand uses his speakerphone many times throughout the day, but he has still no need for the mute button. Which leads to my ideas of being able to customize it for a push and/or push and hold functionality.
2. A keyboard that is just a D-pad. I tried the "G-pad" app which is supposed to enable to g-sensor to be used for scrolling, but I haven't been able to figure out how to use it properly. I also tried the ZoomAdds scrolling with the Zoom Bar, this is alright, however it doesn't always work for some reason.
3. Im not sure if this one is an app, or just a functionality of the Energy Rom, but i downloaded some apps from the Marketplace and the majority of them dont sort out into the folders in the Energy rom (such as Games, Tools, etc.) Is there an app for this or you can control it from the the settings in the energy rom or something? I didnt install the energy rom on my phone, which is why I know like nothing about it.

I use Keyboard controller for your #1 problem there. I hold my mute button to toggle Wifi on and off.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=554240

rorytmeadows said:
I use Keyboard controller for your #1 problem there. I hold my mute button to toggle Wifi on and off.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=554240
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also use rory's suggestion for problem #2 if you want...just map a directional arrow to a long-press of each of the 4 front hardware buttons, in whichever arrangement feels best for you (up/left/right/down, left/up/down/right, whatever)

sirphunkee said:
You can also use rory's suggestion for problem #2 if you want...just map a directional arrow to a long-press of each of the 4 front hardware buttons, in whichever arrangement feels best for you (up/left/right/down, left/up/down/right, whatever)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely. I also have mapped my 4 front buttons to various things...
double press back arrow = CleanRAM
triple press back arrow = Resco File Explorer
long press back arrow = YoMoMedia
triple press home = rotate screen
long press home = iGO8

Im just curious, what is the timeout on the double and triple presses? Like what if i was in a list and i had down set to a single press of the home key, and i pressed it a couple times, and I activated the double press function?

khoyifish said:
Im just curious, what is the timeout on the double and triple presses? Like what if i was in a list and i had down set to a single press of the home key, and i pressed it a couple times, and I activated the double press function?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's pretty reasonable. I was scared of the same thing, but it has never done something I didn't want it to do.

Thanks a lot

Doesnt the Zoombar program allow you to use the slider as a dpad now?

Aaron McCarthy said:
Doesnt the Zoombar program allow you to use the slider as a dpad now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quite possibly...it's been a while since I've used it and I can't remember for sure

[Q] Anyone Else Prefer Physical Home Button Versus Virtual?

I prefer waking my phone by pressing the physical home button rather than using the side power button. Since the note has a larger foot print it's easier to reach the home button.
Also given Amoled's flaws, static images such as the notification bar and virtual on screen buttons would prematurely cause screen burn out which leads to ghosting. I've had the notification/status bar destroy my galaxy S screen.
Am I the only one that likes physical home button?

inurb said:
I prefer waking my phone by pressing the physical home button rather than using the side power button. Since the note has a larger foot print it's easier to reach the home button.
Also given Amoled's flaws, static images such as the notification bar and virtual on screen buttons would prematurely cause screen burn out which leads to ghosting. I've had the notification/status bar destroy my galaxy S screen.
Am I the only one that likes physical home button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nopes You are not...I too like waking it up via the Home button....

I also prefer the physical home button compared to the capacitive touch buttons. This device is my first international phone that I have used and I like it a lot better than any carrier's version I've ever used.

I'd rater it was capacitive like menu and back buttons. Would make the design look so much better.
Can't say that i like software keys though - i always turn them off.

Given I'm the only one who voted Virtual so far; I better post my rationale to see if I am sensible or really need to get my head checked.
First; why I like the physical button; no accidental press and good demarcation of where the back and menu buttons are (and the home of course ) I tend to wake the phone using the side lock button, because my thumb is on the side already, when I pull the phone out of my pocket (right handed) but I grant that when my phone is on the table, its much easier with the home button.
On the other hand I would prefer it if the home button was the capacitive icon like the menu and back buttons. Advantages of this to me would be that it would distance Samsung from the iPhone-like single button front but mainly because I like the modern feel when I used a Galaxy Nexus. There is something to be said for the 'light touch' approach to using phones. I Swype the screen with a light touch, tap icons and links lightly, back-button lightly. Then *crunch* the home button goes. I know its a really weird niggle to make but it is just personal preference.
edit: Reading some of the posts which were made while I was composing this short essay, I think I may have misunderstood 'virtual button'.

Yep same here prefer sometimes it saves me when screen is stuck
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Physical for me as well. And I use Screen Off and Lock in the notification bar to, well, switch the screen off and lock the phone. Using the power button is soooo 2010.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

I never use the home button to wake the phone (well maybe that's because I only discovered that it can be used instead of the power button after having the note for like a month lol)

I've not had a virtual unit to compare against, but I could see some problems having a virtual home key.
So, I voted physical.

My opinion goes like this:
99/100 - Xperia X10 buttons (slim, long, elegant, easy to press. Proper positioning of Back, Home, Menu buttons).
80/100 - NOTE's physical buttons (though the Back and Menu buttons should trade places. Accidental capacitive presses occur when passing the phone to others).
60/100 - On-Screen buttons (ICS/JB).
What I would like for NOTE-2:
On-screen buttons:
-Then device can be smaller.
-Device looks better/styling.
-S PEN will work with it.
-We can customize it with different functions, colours, glows, animations, gestures, app shortcuts.

Kangal said:
My opinion goes like this:
99/100 - Xperia X10 buttons (slim, long, elegant, easy to press. Proper positioning of Back, Home, Menu buttons).
80/100 - NOTE's physical buttons (though the Back and Menu buttons should trade places. Accidental capacitive presses occur when passing the phone to others).
60/100 - On-Screen buttons (ICS/JB).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 totally agree!
PS. The X10 buttons were great, too bad the phone sucked.
PPS. I really hope phone manufacturers keep disregarding the ics/jb onscreen buttons. It just looks fancy but is way less functional.

On-screen or capacitive. Tactile feedback reminds me of wear anf tear. On the Note, I unlock exclusively using the home key
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

I prefer physical Home button of Note / GS2. It is easier to wake up the phone. But compared to other Android which have capactivie Home, I tend to press physical Home less frequently, but instead press capaitive Back couple of times to come back to home. When I must press Home for task switching or when I have browsed several pages in browser, I press Home. So my take is - I like physical Home to wake up but would have preferred capacitive Home to go to home screen.

Kangal said:
What I would like for NOTE-2:
On-screen buttons:
-Then device can be smaller.
-Device looks better/styling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? Device can be smaller?! You know that the result would be a smaller screen, right? In fact, if you want the same (usable) screen size, the device has to have the exact same size, even with CB.
I´m really enjoying my hardware buttons and I really hope that samsung will never ever abandon them.
- Wakeup with home key
- NO IN-BURNS!!!
- brighter lightning, even when screen is in energy saving mode
- partwise usable for other functions (see hyperX camera mod)

It is as simple as this....
YOU PREFER YOUR GIRLFRIEND/WIFE TO BE "PHYSICAL" OR "VIRTUAL" ????
The answer to this is as easy as the answer to that

Rulinglionadi said:
It is as simple as this....
YOU PREFER YOUR GIRLFRIEND/WIFE TO BE "PHYSICAL" OR "VIRTUAL" ????
The answer to this is as easy as the answer to that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:-D great analogy
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium HD app

brooon said:
Huh? Device can be smaller?! You know that the result would be a smaller screen, right? In fact, if you want the same (usable) screen size, the device has to have the exact same size, even with CB.
I´m really enjoying my hardware buttons and I really hope that samsung will never ever abandon them.
- Wakeup with home key
- NO IN-BURNS!!!
- brighter lightning, even when screen is in energy saving mode
- partwise usable for other functions (see hyperX camera mod)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's my reasons why NOTE 2 should get On-Screen buttons:
1) Position the Power button on top. Make it large. Make it clicky.
There you go, its easy to Wake phone again : )
2) The Burn-In is associated with the screen tech, not the buttons themselves.
This point is quite redundant/pointless. In fact the issue affected a tiny portion of Gnex users and the in-burn was associated with the entire screen NOT exclusive to the navigation buttons.
3) You do have a point. But changing the buttons to a white silhouette will make it bright and stand out. You then have the option of making it Grey so its easier on the eyes in the dark. Or red to save power. You can also set a "screen on time" for the Navigation buttons for how illuminated they are for what duration. And more options when in power mode. The possibility of tons of options makes this a positive thing, not a negative thing.
4) hyperX MOD is for the Volume Rocker not the Home/Back/Menu keys. Its still possible to have hyperX and On-screen buttons. What you will miss out on though is BLED: flashing of capacitive buttons when Notification arrives.
Solution: Notification light! (a la Gnex)
I'd like to make another suggestion: Curved Glass.
That way it molds around your face and bum cheeks. Feels a little more balanced in the hand. What do you think?

Was the N4 bottom nav designed by a lefty?

Just got the N4 yesterday and love it but for one really irksome thing -- that the back button, which I use a lot, is on the left while the "running apps" button, which I don't, is on the right. It's a big phone so having stuff as near as possible to the bottom right-hand corner is key to one-handed operation (for righties, of course). So when I'm using Google Reader, the back button is at bottom left, and the "Up to category list" button is at top left. Really slows things down.
Am I the only one annoyed by this? Is there a fix short of a new ROM?

A rom may allow you to swap the buttons around. It doesnt bother me I hold my phone in my left hand a lot.

That was a big reason why I decided to root and go to an AOKP rom. Back button on the right side now and I'm so much happier.

It bothered me at first when moving from a Galaxy S (back on right side) to the Galaxy Nexus (back on left side). Got used to it after about a month though.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Never noticed! But I prefer to get rid of them for the screen real estate.

It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
However, I'm strongly against the removal of the Search button that started in 3.x. I used Search for many apps, and it was an amazing shortcut. Fullscreen browser? Press search and you got access to the URL bar. Looking for a contact? Search button. Want to do a search in a file explorer? There's a familiar button for that. Recents should have stayed as a long press of the Home button.

Hung0702 said:
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
However, I'm strongly against the removal of the Search button that started in 3.x. I used Search for many apps, and it was an amazing shortcut. Fullscreen browser? Press search and you got access to the URL bar. Looking for a contact? Search button. Want to do a search in a file explorer? There's a familiar button for that. Recents should have stayed as a long press of the Home button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree with long press on home as recents. Many android noobs didn't even know there was a a "alt tab" in Android until they've heard it from someone or was told by someone.
It's more intuitive when theres a recents button. As far as search, it's supposed to be on the top right of an app same with the legacy menu. On contacts, its on the bottom left.

IMO they should go back to the 4 capacitive buttons. Menu, Home, Back, Search. There was NOTHING wrong with this setup. Search was arguably the weakest one but with Google now, I'd say it's just as important as the rest of them. I get the fact that not all apps will have Menu, but Home and Back are just about universal, and Menu is used quite a bit too. The capacitive buttons free up screen real-estate too. I don't like styling things just for style's sake.

se1000 said:
IMO they should go back to the 4 capacitive buttons. Menu, Home, Back, Search. There was NOTHING wrong with this setup. Search was arguably the weakest one but with Google now, I'd say it's just as important as the rest of them. I get the fact that not all apps will have Menu, but Home and Back are just about universal, and Menu is used quite a bit too. The capacitive buttons free up screen real-estate too. I don't like styling things just for style's sake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the app's fault for not implementing the menu button on their app, regardless you have the legacy menu button the bottom right.
If you don't like it then install a custom ROM and change the navigation bar to your liking. It's simple as that, no reason to debate about this and how it should be on stock android.

zephiK said:
That's the app's fault for not implementing the menu button on their app, regardless you have the legacy menu button the bottom right.
If you don't like it then install a custom ROM and change the navigation bar to your liking. It's simple as that, no reason to debate about this and how it should be on stock android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have, and I like my current setup (Menu, Home, Back). I'm just saying that I'd rather have the 4 capacitive buttons back.

zephiK said:
I disagree with long press on home as recents. Many android noobs didn't even know there was a a "alt tab" in Android until they've heard it from someone or was told by someone.
It's more intuitive when theres a recents button. As far as search, it's supposed to be on the top right of an app same with the legacy menu. On contacts, its on the bottom left.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If only recents was actually comparable to Windows' Alt+tab. As it is, recents is no more useful to me than it was in Gingerbread

The best button choice for me would have been, in the order, BACK, HOME, MENU. You need to go to settings? Just press the "menu" button. Need to open recent apps? Just press and hold the "home" button. Simple as that.
It was all so much more consistent when the menu button was integrated in the system. Now you have to go and look for it in a place that differs from app to app... jeez, I feel like I'm holding an iPhone.
No menu and a dedicated, invasive multitasking app is a double step backwards for me.

SkippyFlipjack said:
Just got the N4 yesterday and love it but for one really irksome thing -- that the back button, which I use a lot, is on the left while the "running apps" button, which I don't, is on the right. It's a big phone so having stuff as near as possible to the bottom right-hand corner is key to one-handed operation (for righties, of course). So when I'm using Google Reader, the back button is at bottom left, and the "Up to category list" button is at top left. Really slows things down.
Am I the only one annoyed by this? Is there a fix short of a new ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's how us lefty's feel living in a right handed world
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Hung0702 said:
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that design-wise it makes sense; the aesthete in me would take issue with a left-facing arrow button sitting on the right side, which sort of looks like it's telling you to press the button in the middle. I just think that these larger phones should design where possible for one-handed operation (and have a lefty mode too!)
note: by 'one-handed operation' no, I don't mean I'm watching porn

Disable Home-Button if soft-pressed

I don't know why Samsung made the onscreen home button working even if you don't press it and just touch it. So is it possible to "disable" the home-button when I just touch it and make it only work if I press it hard so it gives the force feedback?

Jemand222 said:
I don't know why Samsung made the onscreen home button working even if you don't press it and just touch it. So is it possible to "disable" the home-button when I just touch it and make it only work if I press it hard so it gives the force feedback?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can increase the sensativity of the hard press so it always acts as a press so you know
Go to settings - display - nav buttons and move the slider to more sensative

ElBeaner said:
You can increase the sensativity of the hard press so it always acts as a press so you know
Go to settings - display - nav buttons and move the slider to more sensative
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's only for a hard press, so when locked, or in full screen for example. I don't think we can disable soft presses generally yet.

ElBeaner: Thanks for your help but thats not what I wanted.
I thought that there is no normal touch on the home button when all the reports came about the new force touch button. I was expecting that Samsung replaced the old button with the force feedback one. But they just added normal on screen buttons like they are on 100s of other android phones. And I really don't see no need for the force feedback button because all it does you can also do with touching the button and not pressing it.
It would be great if Samsung changes the behaviour so that only a real press on the home button is working and not the touch.

Wait so you want the on screen button to only work when its pressed hard? :silly:

peachpuff said:
Wait so you want the on screen button to only work when its pressed hard? :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I would actually prefer it if that was an option.

Skander1998 said:
Yes, I would actually prefer it if that was an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And what phones have soft buttons that only work as hard buttons? Zero, stick to phones with physical buttons instead rather than hoping for an imaginary feature.

Actually I like the idea of pressure on the button as an option. We know it could be done if programmed right as the ability is right there, pressure sensitivity is built in under the screen.

This would be such a great idea. One of the reasons I hate onscreen buttons so much is that it's so easy to accidentally miss the space bar and tap the home button instead.

peachpuff said:
Wait so you want the on screen button to only work when its pressed hard? :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Silly indeed

I'd actually prefer this too. It's weird that their whole promotion was around a pressure sensitive home button, but the way they set it up, it literally has no purpose.

Moostafa29 said:
I'd actually prefer this too. It's weird that their whole promotion was around a pressure sensitive home button, but the way they set it up, it literally has no purpose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can press it to wake the phone up, you can press it to go home if you're watching a full screen movie or playing a game and the onscreen buttons aren't shown... ya i guess it's useless.

Interesting topic. So why has Samsung included a hard press home button? It doesn't​ do anything.

i would also prefer this , im in the same boat , useing messages app , and having the floating buttons show up is anoying

I'm pretty sure this is how the iPhone 7 home button works. It is not a physical button but a pressure sensitive area where the button used to be. Different actions for different amounts of pressure.

It would be great to have the whole display everytime and if you need the back button and the task manager button you could swipe them up (like on fullscreen apps) and you have always the sensitive home button. That would be 1cm more screen and no accidental clicks on the home button.
I guess that it has a reason why Samsung built a button but doesn't use it for real. And I found one possible reason: If you touch the display above the button and slide your finger to the center of the button you can't press it. You have to hit the button directly to press it.

ex-28 said:
i would also prefer this , im in the same boat , useing messages app , and having the floating buttons show up is anoying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its been like this since forever on any nexus/pixel devices, get used to it.

peachpuff said:
And what phones have soft buttons that only work as hard buttons? Zero, stick to phones with physical buttons instead rather than hoping for an imaginary feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with the original poster. With the soft touch intact, what is the purpose of the hard press? You can't get to a hard touch without a soft touch so it is pointless, also, I use immersive mode so if I swipe up the nav bar, invariably it's from the centre so I accidentally trigger the home key.

mydan said:
I agree with the original poster. With the soft touch intact, what is the purpose of the hard press? You can't get to a hard touch without a soft touch so it is pointless, also, I use immersive mode so if I swipe up the nav bar, invariably it's from the centre so I accidentally trigger the home key.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard press (3D touch) is to make you always able to go home even when navbar is not present,
As for the rest of situation, soft press is more than enough to serve the function
So I dont really think enable only the hard press is actually a good idea.

otonieru said:
Hard press (3D touch) is to make you always able to go home even when navbar is not present,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you... why can't people understand this?