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List things you wish Android would change (stock) that'll make it perfect...note, nothing about apps or third party skins...I'll start with 3 though I can think of a lot more
1. Better looking notification bar...I like the look of the icons, but the notification bar still has that 1.0 feel to it...not a fan
2. Better looking and more functional media app...and movie player
3. Better looking buttons and selection actions.
(doesn't matter if desired changes are superficial or system deep)
PS. I can't wait until this UI refresh that Gingerbread guarantees...ALSO...
am I the only person who loves when Apple announces new ****, because Android then does better and so on and so forth....the Apple, Android beef should be encouraged by fanboys on all sides...we all benefit greatly.
The dialer needs to be more functional. I cannot afford to scroll down 500 of my contacts to find a name, a simple keypad/numberpad on the contact section would suffice just like it works for sense ui.
mythamp said:
The dialer needs to be more functional. I cannot afford to scroll down 500 of my contacts to find a name, a simple keypad/numberpad on the contact section would suffice just like it works for sense ui.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried google gestures or voice dial? They work great but I dont have enough contacts to justify using them, wish I did but for me its quick to scroll.
Also the tab on the right is handy but im sure youve probably tried these things
mythamp said:
The dialer needs to be more functional. I cannot afford to scroll down 500 of my contacts to find a name, a simple keypad/numberpad on the contact section would suffice just like it works for sense ui.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Dialer One? It is pretty awesome.
But I agree, the default dialer should work a lot better.
To add to the general discussion, I dont think there is much wrong with the media player but I would like the addition of an EQ and the ability to scroll through the playing song with more accuracy - something the iPhone does particularly well.
I also think the market needs massive improvements to make Android truly great. There may be 50,000 apps but when so many are themes and porn, that number becomes meaningless. I would rather there were only a few thousand really good and useful apps instead.
The UI should natively support themes to change icons, colors, etc
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
gllu said:
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When it's something provided only by third-party apps on other phones, I don't think it should be called a "basic feature".
gllu said:
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure recording a call, in America at least, is illegal unless you notify the person being recorded..
Wisefire said:
I'm pretty sure recording a call, in America at least, is illegal unless you notify the person being recorded..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Negative Ghost Rider...
In the US, it is determined by the state that you live in. Many states have what is called "single party" laws, which means that as long as one person is aware the call is being recorded (you), then it's legal.
I cant take my android phone to work. The inability to go to work is easily the largest single weakness of the phone imo. Millions of people need exchange (fully functioning and not through a third party server work around) and to connect to stand alone installations of outlook, often both. It rankles that I am still going to have to buy a winmo phone when when 7 hits to replace my old winmo phone because my 39 mflops N1 is a no go for work.
Decent copy and paste functionality would be nice. yikes even apple gives you that
Sync Tasks with Google Calendar
Sync Sports Calendars
Set "Peak Times" for Google Sync
crachel said:
Sync Tasks with Google Calendar
[*]Sync Sports Calendars
Set "Peak Times" for Google Sync
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i managed to find a workaround for that one, i found an exportable calendar for my local baseball team that did the trick, shows up just fine on my phone, its only googles native sports calendars that dont work in android
I sure would like support for wireless proxy servers, and for the phone to properly pull default gateway information via DHCP like it is supposed to.
gllu said:
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since when is call recording a "basic feature"...wow
As much as I love Android, I think the UI could use a lot of work. It lacks cohesiveness, and can be quite bland.
This guy can change all of that, however: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/palms-matias-duarte-has-joined-google-as-user-experience-direct/
How about these two simple features:
1) Native support for sound profiles. Coming from a blackberry this was shocking.
2) Unified gmail/hosted gmail inbox option. Not everyone would enable it but again a blackberry user is used to getting to all messages in one box. Currently I am constantly changing between 4 accounts in gmail. Super annoying.
Android is the best mobile OS out there but I think it isn't ready to be called perfect.
krabman said:
I cant take my android phone to work. The inability to go to work is easily the largest single weakness of the phone imo. Millions of people need exchange (fully functioning and not through a third party server work around) and to connect to stand alone installations of outlook, often both. It rankles that I am still going to have to buy a winmo phone when when 7 hits to replace my old winmo phone because my 39 mflops N1 is a no go for work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried Touchdown? It's a $20.00 app, and it's one time.
jmbrown32 said:
As much as I love Android, I think the UI could use a lot of work. It lacks cohesiveness, and can be quite bland.
This guy can change all of that, however: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/palms-matias-duarte-has-joined-google-as-user-experience-direct/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's only as bland as you make it.
Anyone know of an app or hack that will let lock the screen so the touch screen doesn't recognize input so that I could launch netflix or youtube for my 1.5 yo daughter and she can touch it without messing it up?
ikillulots said:
Anyone know of an app or hack that will let lock the screen so the touch screen doesn't recognize input so that I could launch netflix or youtube for my 1.5 yo daughter and she can touch it without messing it up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is an App on the Market called "Screen Tools" which has this function.
It allows you to use your camera button to "disable" the touchscreen. Not sure if this app will work on our Acer tablets, as we have no camera button - but it may be worth a 99cent gamble.
Also, from I have seen with the Netflix app - it does not keep playing in the background or pause when another app takes focus - it just stops the video and dumps you back to the selection screen. Not sure if this is going to be possible
I wonder if this would be better in the development section it would be nice to assign the rotation lock to a screen hold/lock
ikillulots said:
I wonder if this would be better in the development section it would be nice to assign the rotation lock to a screen hold/lock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not a topic for the development section, perhaps in Android General or Android Software and Hacking, as I see this being an application (especially since there is no source available for HC to be modified in such a way as you are hoping, meaning for a ROM developer to make this happen would be kind of far-fetched right now). Certainly it would require root, and most likely it would work as launcher replacement, perhaps requiring a specific gesture to be drawn to unlock the screen. This is a neat idea, not sure if the sdk allows this type of control from a launcher replacement, but perhaps Anderwebs (the developer of ADW) or another launcher master would know if this is possible. They would also be the most likely to implement this type of feature. Perhaps ask a moderator to move this into the Android Software Development and Hacking forum?
Unless you want to completely limit your options be requiring this to use the rotation lock switch, which would make this a device specific request, severely limiting the number of developers (application and os level) who would be able to assist you. I would approach it from a more generic state, make it applicable to all Android devices, and that way I could get more people interested in it and make it happen.
But, don't just go and start a whole bunch of threads, ask a mod to move this thread, change the title of your post to something like : App/Feature Request - Baby Proof (On-Demand Input Locking). That might work. I would stick with gesture based, and make it require a multi-touch gesture, obviously you would make something that your child could not easily imitate as your gesture, to unlock it, there should be an easy way to enter lock mode as well...
just my 2 cents
Just go buy app locker... it will lock everything or specific apps
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
There's an app I use for the same reason, but I don't give the tablet to my youngest in fear of it becoming a Frisbee or drowned in saliva. But my toddlers listen to direction, so this app works.
The FREE app is called "Show Screen Lock." But, because the "Home and Back" button are the means to unlock, if your child hits one of those, it will be unlocked.
Anyway, good luck!
I wish long pressing the volume up button locks and unlocks the screen.
edit:
Nevermind, I overlooked that you wanted to use this while playing media. This app freezes images, so no video plays at the moment. I've emailed the developer a while ago and he said he's working on one specifically for tablets.
Samsung's Touchwiz has this function. If you are playing video you can hit the power/lock button and it will lock it from screen or button presses until you hit the lock button again.
I dont know if there would be a way to extract that part of the UI to move over without porting everything.
I use it all the time with galaxy s phones so my kids can watch shows.
.....
There is also an app called "Kid Zone" by zoodles. It is nice, and free, and can be upgraded to premium. I use it on my phones and tablet and the kids love it. They can draw and do games and learn and I get emails about what they did and uploads in the email of their drawings. The cool thing is you can lock everything so that the only way to exit the app is to draw a "Z"
Its a nice app, and thinking about upgrading to premium with it here soon.
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I used to use toddler lock, but as HC doesnt really have full screen while hiding the buttons the toddler lock doesnt work as well, but still temporarily fun.
Edit: I have recently been trying out HoneyBar for HC Tablets. It hides the bar at the bottom of rooted tablet. Works pretty well, and so far one of the best options I know of.
Hi. Here's the deal...my elderly parents are travelling this winter in another country. International roaming is expensive, as is international travel, and we're looking for as many ways as we can to save money. One of the ways we've considered to deal with both of these problems is to buy a sim card where they are at, rather than bringing their phone from home and paying outrageous international roaming charges. This is where Hero comes in...I have an unlocked HTC Hero that I could let them use. The problem is, they are intimidated by technology, and having a capable phone with lots of features is overwhelming to them. I was wondering if there's a way I can lock the phone down so it goes to the dialer and nowhere else. No lock screen, no email, no Android market, no text messages sent or received, none of that, just the dialer to make and receive calls. Ideally, I'd like to be able to return it to normal functionality when I get it back, but if this is a one-way thing, that's OK, too. It is currently running Elelinux-7.1-Hero-v3.6-Light.
I apologize profusely if this is a silly question...I'm new at all of this.
Tired_ said:
Hi. Here's the deal...my elderly parents are travelling this winter in another country. International roaming is expensive, as is international travel, and we're looking for as many ways as we can to save money. One of the ways we've considered to deal with both of these problems is to buy a sim card where they are at, rather than bringing their phone from home and paying outrageous international roaming charges. This is where Hero comes in...I have an unlocked HTC Hero that I could let them use. The problem is, they are intimidated by technology, and having a capable phone with lots of features is overwhelming to them. I was wondering if there's a way I can lock the phone down so it goes to the dialer and nowhere else. No lock screen, no email, no Android market, no text messages sent or received, none of that, just the dialer to make and receive calls. Ideally, I'd like to be able to return it to normal functionality when I get it back, but if this is a one-way thing, that's OK, too. It is currently running Elelinux-7.1-Hero-v3.6-Light.
I apologize profusely if this is a silly question...I'm new at all of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's kind of easy what you want...but not every thing can be erased
1ownload eles ROM
2. Open the archive with WinRar or other app that you use
3. Go to /system/apps and you will find all the app there with the extension .apk
4. Delete what you think that they won't use (but be very careful): for example market.apk (you said that they don't need it)
4. Close the program and you will see that the rom is more lighter
5. Flash the rom
6. Enjoy
For the part with the lock screen i don't think i can help you...
Hope you get work done
Stefan
The lock screen part is really the important part. The other apps can still be installed, just abstracted away from my parent's eyes, if they're locked into the dialer. I guess I wasn't clear enough when I described what I was looking for. I want to make it so that the dialer program is the only program accessible to the user...when they press the home button, I want it to go to the dialer rather than to a launcher. When the screen goes off due to inactivity, I want it to go to the dialer right away when any button is pressed rather than showing a lock screen. On iPhone (sorry, it's a platform I'm more familiar with), there's a jailbreak app called IncarcerApp that can do this...is there anything similar for Hero?
Lockscreen
Hi there! If you want to get rid of the lock screen what you can do is go into settings on the phone then Cyanogen mod settings then tablet tweaks and in there, there is a tick box or similar that you can press to disable the lock screen!
Hope that Helped
Thanks for the tip, PP337, but that's still not what I am looking for. I did some Googling last night, and I found a lot of developers refer to what I am looking for as 'Kiosk Mode'. Unfortunately, everything I found on that is in the context of creating a new app, rather than using an existing one.
I'm obviously not making myself clear enough, but I'm not sure how I can phrase it more clearly. I really hope we won't have to go buy a junky SIMlocked Nokia phone that we'll have to throw out in three months when they come home.
i can't understand one think....why is it so hard to unlock a phone??? especially when it's so simple...
Stefan
Unlocking a phone is indeed simple, for you and I. But for an elderly person, particularly one who is unfamiliar with technology, being confronted with a screen full of app icons can be intimidating. I tried to get my mom to use the Android phone as it is, and she is terrified of breaking something or doing something wrong, to the point where she won't use it for those fears.
I have to say, I hadn't expected it would be this difficult to make this 'open platform' do what I want it to. If it were iPhone, I'd be done by now. Disappointing.
Could you not just remove all the homescreen icons? Can't remember which launcher comes with that ROM, but if you install launcher pro for example, you can remove all the icons even the dock. You can then choose to have just one homescreen and just the dialer icon. Or you could leave it blank to just select the dialer button to make calls. Then disable the lock screen as described above. Would that be ok for them ?
Tired_ said:
I have to say, I hadn't expected it would be this difficult to make this 'open platform' do what I want it to. If it were iPhone, I'd be done by now. Disappointing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how old are your parents that you say that they "can't unlock" a phone... Both my parents use android on their phones and don't have any problems....
Don't want to be rude or things like that but it's easy on android...
Stefan
stefpaul said:
how old are your parents that you say that they "can't unlock" a phone... Both my parents use android on their phones and don't have any problems....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
She's 72, and in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He's 70 and has a severe learning disability.
I tried the suggestion someone posted about LauncherPro with only one icon. She accidentally long-pressed an empty space and the menu came up and she didn't know what to do. I was able to tell her what to do because I am here now, but if that had happened when I wasn't around she wouldn't have been able to cope at all, for fear it was dialing some 1-900 number or doing something else she didn't want. I'm shocked that it isn't possible to lock Hero into a single app, but it seems it simply isn't. Thanks anyways for all your help.
Tired_ said:
She's 72, and in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He's 70 and has a severe learning disability.
I tried the suggestion someone posted about LauncherPro with only one icon. She accidentally long-pressed an empty space and the menu came up and she didn't know what to do. I was able to tell her what to do because I am here now, but if that had happened when I wasn't around she wouldn't have been able to cope at all, for fear it was dialing some 1-900 number or doing something else she didn't want. I'm shocked that it isn't possible to lock Hero into a single app, but it seems it simply isn't. Thanks anyways for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are they traveling alone? That sounds like something you should worry about more then just having a phone for them
You could use adw and lock the desktop by pressing menu and choosing 'lock desktop'. That would prevent any accidental menus popping up. You could also hide the status bar from adw settings and disable the lockscreen from cm tweaks menu. You could also download a dialer widget (https://market.android.com/details?id=dialer.impact) and set that as a widget on a single homescreen and lock the desktop on adw launcher.
Hope that helped
Car Home may help
Got my U8 today and here's my initial impression:
Plus - 1. Immediately went to English, no Chinese. EZ setup. 2. Several choices for watch faces. Several choices for menu icons. Some are color and big. 3. Love the vibration for notification. 4. Speaker while on phone good. 5. Phone pick up works good.
Cons - 1. Washes out in sunlight bad. That's a show stopper for me. 2. Have to turn off phone Bluetooth and use handset for a private call. Switch is in my phone app and simple but still. 3. I use Touchdown for email and it doesn't notify on the watch. Working on that. 4. Band seems a bit 'soft', not hard rubber.
Added Con - Not having the watch face constantly lit is driving me nuts!
rogerperk said:
Got my U8 today and here's my initial impression:
Plus - 1. Immediately went to English, no Chinese. EZ setup. 2. Several choices for watch faces. Several choices for menu icons. Some are color and big. 3. Love the vibration for notification. 4. Speaker while on phone good. 5. Phone pick up works good.
Cons - 1. Washes out in sunlight bad. That's a show stopper for me. 2. Have to turn off phone Bluetooth and use handset for a private call. Switch is in my phone app and simple but still. 3. I use Touchdown for email and it doesn't notify on the watch. Working on that. 4. Band seems a bit 'soft', not hard rubber.
Added Con - Not having the watch face constantly lit is driving me nuts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi rogerperk,
Some image to your statement is very much appreciate.
Thanks
I was just looking at one of these on ebay today. Are you able to reply to text messages through it? Does it have voice input as well as a keyboard?
Artimis said:
I was just looking at one of these on ebay today. Are you able to reply to text messages through it? Does it have voice input as well as a keyboard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought a Pebble. Regardless of whether the U8 has voice input or not if I can't see the face they it's useless to me. And outside that is the case. If that doesn't matter then I'd be willing to sell you mine for a cheaper price than you'll get on line. Wore it a total of 2 days.
rogerperk said:
I bought a Pebble. Regardless of whether the U8 has voice input or not if I can't see the face they it's useless to me. And outside that is the case. If that doesn't matter then I'd be willing to sell you mine for a cheaper price than you'll get on line. Wore it a total of 2 days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but I'll pass. I'm going to stick with my MotoActv for now unless I can pick up a cheap Galaxy Gear or either the LG G-watch or Moto360 convinces me when released.
Artimis said:
Thanks but I'll pass. I'm going to stick with my MotoActv for now unless I can pick up a cheap Galaxy Gear or either the LG G-watch or Moto360 convinces me when released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL good choice! The longer I have my Pebble the better I like it.
Just got mine today
Hey Roger,
Been following another thread ("Elegance U8") and now this one since ordering mine off Ebay a week ago. Got it in the mail today, and I can see your points for both pro and con.
Here are my questions, if anyone knows. (yet)
I remember seeing what the actual phone OS is called somewhere, but can't find it now. EDIT: It's called "Nucleus." Have found some info and a sample download online. Might try and see if I can learn how to develop for it.Though the device plays nice with Android and ios, it's actually neither of those things. If someone knows what the name of it is, is it possible to find a tutorial on coding it somewhere?
The initial reason I ask is:
Not waiting for the manufacturer to patch the "shut off screen" function. I'd like to see if I can figure out how to do this myself, and
Enabling texting. Rather than a traditional keyboard, am thinking a sliding alphabet. A - slide to B - slide to C, etc. A pain in the butt, but probably less so than trying to use a keyboard. Picture the "carousel" from the Kindle Fire series, but with letters / numbers / symbols. Also, as suggested earlier in this thread texting with use of the mic, if possible.
Not saying I'd be able to do any of this, but I have limited experience doing some dev work in Android (through Unity) and am wondering if it's possible to self teach this OS, figuring that we quite probably won't see a lot of feature updates from whoever the manufacturer is of this product.
Thanks, and God bless.
If you do develop, please keep us updated. i like the watch but would love to be able to reply to messages. let me know if i can help any also in the development
Does anyone have the latest firmware for the smart watch?
Mine is: M28_KHR.FN1.V04
Regards.
Conect, was wondering if you'd gotten anywhere with OS development for this watch?
Is this the one you got,this is the one i have but the icons and analog faces are different... ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311154443880?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Conect11 said:
Hey Roger,
Been following another thread ("Elegance U8") and now this one since ordering mine off Ebay a week ago. Got it in the mail today, and I can see your points for both pro and con.
Here are my questions, if anyone knows. (yet)
I remember seeing what the actual phone OS is called somewhere, but can't find it now. EDIT: It's called "Nucleus." Have found some info and a sample download online. Might try and see if I can learn how to develop for it.Though the device plays nice with Android and ios, it's actually neither of those things. If someone knows what the name of it is, is it possible to find a tutorial on coding it somewhere?
The initial reason I ask is:
Not waiting for the manufacturer to patch the "shut off screen" function. I'd like to see if I can figure out how to do this myself, and
Enabling texting. Rather than a traditional keyboard, am thinking a sliding alphabet. A - slide to B - slide to C, etc. A pain in the butt, but probably less so than trying to use a keyboard. Picture the "carousel" from the Kindle Fire series, but with letters / numbers / symbols. Also, as suggested earlier in this thread texting with use of the mic, if possible.
Not saying I'd be able to do any of this, but I have limited experience doing some dev work in Android (through Unity) and am wondering if it's possible to self teach this OS, figuring that we quite probably won't see a lot of feature updates from whoever the manufacturer is of this product.
Thanks, and God bless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had my watch for about a week now, and I gotta say, for the price, it's pretty killer! I wish there was more development for it besides distributing firmware and flash tools.
I've noticed that when you activate Google Voice search and texting with the watch connected, it uses the watch mic to pick up your voice. I was thinking it might be cool to find a way to trigger voice search and voice texting from the watch, since you can already use it for voice input as long as you trigger the feature on your phone. Have you made any progress on trying to develop for the u8?
Also, I believe I read that they're going to release an SDK for MediaTek devices, such as this watch. Might be interesting to see if anything comes of that.
Wish there was a way to add a count down timer to this watch. It needs to have the timer with a start/stop button on the screen as well a reset button for the timer. so If I set it to 30secons, when I hit the reset after the 30s is up it will reset it back to 30secs again.
I need to root my phone so I can turn off a few notifications that I do not want to transmit.
driver instalation problem
helo,
maybe in wrong thread, but if anyone could help i would be grateful. my windows 8 dont recognise u8 watch, and i cant install provided drivers for vista. i'm stuck, and i would like to instal firmware, but without watch been recognised its not posible. thanx
Is there a way to make the U8 vibrate when you receive a text message or have a phone call?
I was wondering if anyone has found a way to get different faces on this watch. I believe mine may be a clone.
I've had my Essential Phone for about three days and I've got mixed feelings about it. This is my escape from the Samsung ecosystem, and I love love love the fact that it isn't bogged down with bloat. Generally, the PH-1 does everything faster than any phone I've ever owned, even the much lauded iPhone. But there's a number of functionalities I'd like to get.
1.) File Management: I thought this was part of the Android OS. Apparently not? I would like to find a file management app that gives me Windows-like control and navigation.
2.) Camera: The PH-1's native camera app might be good someday. For now it sucks. I'd heard you could "just get the Google Pixel Camera" and everyone made it sound super easy. Well ... I did go out and find the Nougat version Google Pixel Camera APK. I installed it. It crashes instantly upon opening and never works. I'd love to know what went wrong there.
3.) Keyboard: Okay, sometimes Samsung just does it better. Their keyboard app was perfect and I'd gotten used to the layout. Now I'm wishing I could have my Samsung keyboard back. The Google one sucks, truth be told. Most keyboard apps you find searching Google Play are all about being pretty or fancy or whatever. I just want the same simple functionality back: All letters and numbers on the same screen and the most common special characters as alternate long-press options on that same page. Decent intelligent autocomplete. Larger buttons. Extensions such as .com when they make sense and not when they don't.
I'd also like to get any and every recommendation for apps. Is there any point in rooting the PH-1? That sort of thing.
Thanks in advance!
BonkersTheClown said:
I've had my Essential Phone for about three days and I've got mixed feelings about it. This is my escape from the Samsung ecosystem, and I love love love the fact that it isn't bogged down with bloat. Generally, the PH-1 does everything faster than any phone I've ever owned, even the much lauded iPhone. But there's a number of functionalities I'd like to get.
1.) File Management: I thought this was part of the Android OS. Apparently not? I would like to find a file management app that gives me Windows-like control and navigation.
2.) Camera: The PH-1's native camera app might be good someday. For now it sucks. I'd heard you could "just get the Google Pixel Camera" and everyone made it sound super easy. Well ... I did go out and find the Nougat version Google Pixel Camera APK. I installed it. It crashes instantly upon opening and never works. I'd love to know what went wrong there.
3.) Keyboard: Okay, sometimes Samsung just does it better. Their keyboard app was perfect and I'd gotten used to the layout. Now I'm wishing I could have my Samsung keyboard back. The Google one sucks, truth be told. Most keyboard apps you find searching Google Play are all about being pretty or fancy or whatever. I just want the same simple functionality back: All letters and numbers on the same screen and the most common special characters as alternate long-press options on that same page. Decent intelligent autocomplete. Larger buttons. Extensions such as .com when they make sense and not when they don't.
I'd also like to get any and every recommendation for apps. Is there any point in rooting the PH-1? That sort of thing.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can set up the Google keyboard to display letters and numbers as well as symbols on long press. It's in the keyboard settings in your phone settings but isn't turned on by default. I don't know why. I turned it on and now it's usable. Go to phone settings, language&input, virtual keyboard, Gboard and preferences. Enable show numbers and long press symbols
Also I use file explorer from play store
barleysoda said:
You can set up the Google keyboard to display letters and numbers as well as symbols on long press. It's in the keyboard settings in your phone settings but isn't turned on by default. I don't know why. I turned it on and now it's usable. Go to phone settings, language&input, virtual keyboard, Gboard and preferences. Enable show numbers and long press symbols
Also I use file explorer from play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer the SwiftKey Beta keyboard, been using it for years.
barleysoda said:
You can set up the Google keyboard to display letters and numbers as well as symbols on long press. It's in the keyboard settings in your phone settings but isn't turned on by default. I don't know why. I turned it on and now it's usable. Go to phone settings, language&input, virtual keyboard, Gboard and preferences. Enable show numbers and long press symbols
Also I use file explorer from play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the timely response. Yeah, got the Gboard sorted. Weird how you have to look to find settings and minor tweaks like that. Oddly found that I prefer ASUS file manager. Strange that the Android OS doesn't have file management built in. Is there a way to enable full control of my PH-1 files and folders from my PC?
Next problem: Sounds. Once again, Samsung made it all so much easier. Need to sort out how to specify sounds for specific apps. For example, if I get a text message, I am used to setting one sound just for that and different sounds for other specific events. What I am seeing here is ringtones, media and notifications. And quite annoyingly, EVERY APP seems to be enabled to span notifications by default. Apparently,you have to block each one individually. It's also be nice to set my phone to silent easily but on a timer so I don't forget to turn it back on. Used to just pull down top of the screen and tap the icon to silence. Had an app to turn it back on on a timer called Shush, but it didn't work reliably.
Had another "damn I love this phone" moment yesterday when I realized that I can actually just uninstall my longtime nemesis, Google Music.
BonkersTheClown said:
Thanks for the timely response. Yeah, got the Gboard sorted. Weird how you have to look to find settings and minor tweaks like that. Oddly found that I prefer ASUS file manager. Strange that the Android OS doesn't have file management built in. Is there a way to enable full control of my PH-1 files and folders from my PC?
Next problem: Sounds. Once again, Samsung made it all so much easier. Need to sort out how to specify sounds for specific apps. For example, if I get a text message, I am used to setting one sound just for that and different sounds for other specific events. What I am seeing here is ringtones, media and notifications. And quite annoyingly, EVERY APP seems to be enabled to span notifications by default. Apparently,you have to block each one individually. It's also be nice to set my phone to silent easily but on a timer so I don't forget to turn it back on. Used to just pull down top of the screen and tap the icon to silence. Had an app to turn it back on on a timer called Shush, but it didn't work reliably.
Had another "damn I love this phone" moment yesterday when I realized that I can actually just uninstall my longtime nemesis, Google Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the msgs app, you can set the notification sound for that.
For the timed silence, when you pull down the notification bar, you will see the do not disturb icon. A circle with a stroke through it. When you turn that on, you can set a duration for it.
I use Ex File Explorer on my phone and I use the blackberry keyboard.
There is another thread on this forum that's dedicated to the Google cam port where you can get the APK.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
BonkersTheClown said:
1.) File Management: I thought this was part of the Android OS. Apparently not? I would like to find a file management app that gives me Windows-like control and navigation.
2.) Camera: The PH-1's native camera app might be good someday. For now it sucks. I'd heard you could "just get the Google Pixel Camera" and everyone made it sound super easy. Well ... I did go out and find the Nougat version Google Pixel Camera APK. I installed it. It crashes instantly upon opening and never works. I'd love to know what went wrong there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If you search on the play store, there are a bunch of free file managers for download. There's a bunch of them, pick one that fits your style
2. Did you get the ported one? Havent tried it but I don't think the actual pixel camera apk will work on any phone. Check out the most recent port in this thread
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/themes/google-camera-port-t3665197/page4
flakko86 said:
1. If you search on the play store, there are a bunch of free file managers for download. There's a bunch of them, pick one that fits your style
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got that part sorted. As a pure Android noob, I was surprised the OS doesn't have one built in.
2. Did you get the ported one? Havent tried it but I don't think the actual pixel camera apk will work on any phone. Check out the most recent port in this thread
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/themes/google-camera-port-t3665197/page4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am pretty sure I got the right one, but I'll try the one you linked along with the instructions. We'll see how it goes.
Okay I have downloaded the APK, how do you access changelog and make the prescribed settings changes?
BonkersTheClown said:
Got that part sorted. As a pure Android noob, I was surprised the OS doesn't have one built in.
I am pretty sure I got the right one, but I'll try the one you linked along with the instructions. We'll see how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock Explorer:
Settings - Storage - Explore
onenexus said:
Stock Explorer:
Settings - Storage - Explore
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Click to collapse
Yeah true, found that before. It's a lot of steps. I wanted and got something to stick on my home screen that gets me there in a single tap.
BonkersTheClown said:
Okay I have downloaded the APK, how do you access changelog and make the prescribed settings changes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While you're in the app, tap the 3 horizontal lines on the top right corner of the screen. That should take you to the settings menu
More fun stuff. I would have thought that this would be simple. I dumped Google Music because quite frankly it sucks and I have always hated it. Shopped around and found a music player that I liked: Pi Music Player. Now when I try to play music via voice command via Google Assistant, it doesn't know what app to use. I'm offered the choice between Google Play and YouTube. I have looked and looked, but haven't found steps for changing the GA default music app to Pi Music Player - at least no steps that actually work. Another one of those, "this should seriously be easier than this" things.
Also, on my old Samsung phone, I was able to get the home button working in Google Chrome. Frankly, I'd rather use Brave as I prefer to not spend my bandwidth on letting Google spy on me. Same is true in Brave and Chrome: No home button possible.
Thanks so much for the help!