Database Users

[Q] Who uses the Genius button?

I had a MyTouch 3G never used the search button EVER for the 8+ months I had it. Now when I got the MyTouch4G I have yet to use the genius button except to try it out.
Does anyone use the button regularly or is it a gimmick that the phone really didn't need?

Jeffmeister said:
I had a MyTouch 3G never used the search button EVER for the 8+ months I had it. Now when I got the MyTouch4G I have yet to use the genius button except to try it out.
Does anyone use the button regularly or is it a gimmick that the phone really didn't need?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from what i heard once you start using it, it comes in handy :/ i havent used it myself though

I never used the search button on my myTouch3G but I find the genius button pretty dang handy and use it. Don't know what the huge complaint is about. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I find it amazing, I go hands free all day, its like having a secretary in your pocket .
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

It's way better than I thought it would be. In the browser and want to turn the WiFi on? Push the Genius button and say "Turn WiFi on". Bang, it turns on. No need to go into settings. Same for bluetooth and GPS. Want to open an app? For the sake of example, push the Genius button and say "Show me Angry Birds". Bam, you're flinging and busting in seconds. The Genius button can do a lot more than the few little examples we've already seen. So handy.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

I tried to give the genius button a go. Every time I click on it I have to wait for it to sync my contacts. Takes to long for me, maybe there is a setting I missed. Been using Vlingo. Now that is an awesome app.

I thought it was a gimmick, but I use hands free mode every day! I love being able to hold text conversations without having to even look at my phone.
Also, since I learned I can open any app with it, I've been using it more.
I had played with the genius button on my gf's myTouch Slide and wasn't impressed, but the new version on the MT4G is sweet! You should give it a shot.
BTW, as far as activating your contacts every time you open it. Hit menu while you are in the genius app, go to phonebook updates, configure and select manual. That way it will never do that again. You just have to remember to update it whenever you add a new contact.

i used the search button on my n1 a lot, and the genius button just takes it to another level

CyberStorm98 said:
I thought it was a gimmick, but I use hands free mode every day! I love being able to hold text conversations without having to even look at my phone.
Also, since I learned I can open any app with it, I've been using it more.
I had played with the genius button on my gf's myTouch Slide and wasn't impressed, but the new version on the MT4G is sweet! You should give it a shot.
BTW, as far as activating your contacts every time you open it. Hit menu while you are in the genius app, go to phonebook updates, configure and select manual. That way it will never do that again. You just have to remember to update it whenever you add a new contact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This basically sums up my thoughts exactly. Once I started messing with it, I found the feature to be really useful. Using it in the car through a bluetooth headset is the best since I don't have to worry about texting while driving.

how do you actually get it to send a text through the genius button, i can get it to put in the recipients name and message but i actually have to press send, and cool didnt know it could do all the other functions like opening up apps and turning on wifi

You can tell it to turn on the flashlight too.

JagLau said:
It's way better than I thought it would be. In the browser and want to turn the WiFi on? Push the Genius button and say "Turn WiFi on". Bang, it turns on. No need to go into settings. Same for bluetooth and GPS. Want to open an app? For the sake of example, push the Genius button and say "Show me Angry Birds". Bam, you're flinging and busting in seconds. The Genius button can do a lot more than the few little examples we've already seen. So handy.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Way cool! didn't know that! Just tried it...nice

Listen, fellas. Look at the 4 options on the screen when pressing Genius and just try to memorize them. Then, say 'more options' for the next 4 options and memorize them. Those 8 options make for a very powerful set of options. For instance, you can change to handsfree mode, in which case all calls and messages are read aloud. Very cool. Can Vlingo do all this, or even Google Search? It seems Genius is very integrated into the system.

I use it all the time when I'm driving.. the hands free mode is awesome.. now only if there was a app that can drive my car to work in the morning while i sit back and chill.. this phone would be awesomer !! but till this magic app comes available then the phone is just awesome.

iGoOsE76 said:
I use it all the time when I'm driving.. the hands free mode is awesome.. now only if there was a app that can drive my car to work in the morning while i sit back and chill.. this phone would be awesomer !! but till this magic app comes available then the phone is just awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw the widget for "hands free mode", when i turned it on it just gives me a notification that its on but im not too sure how to use it... mind explaning?
I figured it would be that you could just talk without hiting the G button but that doesnt seem to be right... thanks...
btw your sig is getting a bit long maybe its time you stop upgrading before you take out a whole thread with that thing lol

Used the widget and turn it on and have someone text you and the rest will promp you. Try it out its pretty handy
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

CyberStorm98 said:
I love being able to hold text conversations without having to even look at my phone.
Also, since I learned I can open any app with it, I've been using it more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh damn, I didn't know we could do that! I'll have to start using my GB more often!

Genius button is going to come in handy this winter when I have gloves on outside waiting for the train. Can do stuff you'd otherwise need touch screen for like launching apps, changing settings. (Espresso doesn't let you use optical trackpad to select icons on home screens, tho LauncherPro does.)

CyberStorm98 said:
I thought it was a gimmick, but I use hands free mode every day! I love being able to hold text conversations without having to even look at my phone.
Also, since I learned I can open any app with it, I've been using it more.
I had played with the genius button on my gf's myTouch Slide and wasn't impressed, but the new version on the MT4G is sweet! You should give it a shot.
BTW, as far as activating your contacts every time you open it. Hit menu while you are in the genius app, go to phonebook updates, configure and select manual. That way it will never do that again. You just have to remember to update it whenever you add a new contact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for the tip on manual contact voice activation. Didn't think to hit menu in the Genius app.

Launching apps via search -- N1 fine, Atrix fails

I have a lot of apps installed, and while Go Launcher does indeed allow me to add more icons than the MotoBlur launcher, sometimes I need that odd app that I haven't pinned to the home screen.
Google Search -- the app itself, that launches through the search button when you're at the home screen -- allows searching for installed apps and launching them directly, as long as you type the first few letters of the program.
I got used to this on my old Nexus One, especially with CM7, which allowed me to long press the Search button and it would launch GSearch no matter where I was. After finding a way to do this via a third party helper utility on the Atri, I can launch Search via a long press, but the app search itself works about 1/3 of the time. Most of the time it returns nothing.
I may be in the minority of users who use search to launch apps, but when I have around 150 installed apps, it's a pain to have to look through the launcher every time you need a particular app.
On Froyo, the app search feature was also buggy, and was hoping they would fix it by now, but on GB it's the same story.
Anyone experience this as well?

Click the search button then the top left icon and on the top right click on the preference button ..make sure app search is checked.
Works fine for me. Give me an app that doesn't work for you and I'll be glad to try it.
Xda app via atrix

I've enabled it, disabled web and contacts search, so app search results should be the only thing coming up.
What I mean is not that a particular app doesn't come up, but rather that the search functionality stops working all together. As in, no matter what I type, nothing is returned in the search results. I can't figure what triggers this. I just rebooted the phone and it's working fine, and as I continue using the phone, it will stop working.
At the end of the day, it's just a nuisance that can be worked around, but it was a neat little shortcut I got used to.

i have about 75 or so apps installed, so i kinda know your pain. but, the search feature has always worked for me in the past, currently using ninja speed freak 0.4.5 with Faux's kernel.
do you have any mods/roms installed on your Atrix?

Deblured by freezing some Motorola processes and of course rooted. Nothing else, and like I said, it works, but only some of the time.
I would suggest checking it after it's been a while since last reboot to see if you can reproduce the problem.
This happened in Froyo as well, and on my previous Atrix, so it's definitely reproducible between phones and different OS versions.

Well. At least you can use the app groupings!
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

I also had such issue till now. just now i tried going to the setting of search and unselected selected apps and google search. it now work.. may be the setting got refreshed.. u may try this..

Works completely fine for me. Could be something your freezing that makes it buggy? Or maybe GoLauncher?

ive always had the same issue, on stock, roms, whatever i'm running. I would search for an app, and the only thing that would show up is the term i typed in with a magnifying glass (signifying searching the web). I'd go into search settings and make sure APPs are checked... then i search again, and the apps show up!
I find I have to constantly go into search settings and then press back for applications to show up. it's annoying. It ends up working though, but why can't it work the first time?

Seems to me that something so basic should not be so buggy by version 2.3.4 of an OS. Maybe once we get CM7 it won't be a problem anymore, based on my experience with it on my n1.

s1mpd1ddy said:
ive always had the same issue, on stock, roms, whatever i'm running. I would search for an app, and the only thing that would show up is the term i typed in with a magnifying glass (signifying searching the web). I'd go into search settings and make sure APPs are checked... then i search again, and the apps show up!
I find I have to constantly go into search settings and then press back for applications to show up. it's annoying. It ends up working though, but why can't it work the first time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to go to setting everytime just type the app name expand search icon and tap on app your app will show in search result works for me
Sent from my unlocked rooted and 2.3.4 Atrix using tapatalk

Hem, that does work, thank you. It's still annoying that searching "all" doesn't work, but the "apps" sub category does, but I'll just have to get used to it till they get it working correctly.

Works just fine for me, 4.5.91 installed ota (rooted w/ preinstall, no bl unlock)

hem.acharya said:
You don't need to go to setting everytime just type the app name expand search icon and tap on app your app will show in search result works for me
Sent from my unlocked rooted and 2.3.4 Atrix using tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol it works! but damn it should be the FIRST thing that shows up! instead of having to go thru all the other options

Anyone using Google's new buggy Navigation app?

The original Navigation (The blue arrow) app was awesome. It had live traffic updates and would re-route automatically and never dropped signal!
Now Google forced this new app on us, Navigation is no more but has now merged into Google Maps (it's a good thing but it's in beta)
Why the hell would I want to use a beta app?
BUGS ENCOUNTERED:
- If you manually press the power button to turn off the screen (whilst using the navigation), the route guidance will reset back to 'Select Destination' when you turn the screen back on!
That's so annoying and dangerous for me especially when you're on the motorway doing 70mph!!!
- Once you enter your destination and select 'Start' on the bottom right, there's a 50% chance the app will force the shutdown of the app.
This has happened often to me 50/50. Worst thing about it is, you can't just re-open the app or disable/enable GPS to fix this bug, you have to reboot your bloody phone!
- Map Orientation view messes up
Even though the original Navigation app had this bug, it was not as common as it is now. Also, there's a bigger delay in automated view change (when you turn direction, etc) This causes problems which forces you to zoom out of the route guide just to see ahead because the app is so stupidly slow to change direction at your pace.
- Stupid places of interest that you don't give a @~!* about!
Why can't I choose what I want to see on my map! I don't care about the best bars and shops in town when I'm on a mission!

Orientation bug is the worst and most annoying for me. Its never the constant behind the back POV... which is ANNOYING!
However, when I press the power button (while in navigation) so I can turn off the screen, and subsequently turn back on the screen, Maps FCs. Always. Once again, ANNOYING.
I felt like Google took 2 steps forward and 3 steps back with this one (while trying to hard to compete with Apple Maps).

Powering off the screen whilst navigating doesn't FC for me, but when I turn the screen back on, I have to click on maps to get navigation back, annoying
Sent via TCP/IP

So I guess all you guys have provided feedback to Google?!........

slaphead20 said:
So I guess all you guys have provided feedback to Google?!........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did, I told them to give me back the old version and go beta test it on people who actually want to beta test it..

Remove new version and search for the old apk and don't update it .
jje

MazingerZed said:
I did, I told them to give me back the old version and go beta test it on people who actually want to beta test it..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's very helpful feedback. They can take that right there and use it to improve the app. Not that stuff in the first post. That's useless information. Nope. The most useful information you can give them is a good whinge and a demand the old stuff back. Pfft, feedback, what's that?

Guys, it's this simple
Settings/application manager/maps/uninstall updates.......navigation comes back as separate app
So simple

MazingerZed said:
I did, I told them to give me back the old version and go beta test it on people who actually want to beta test it..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
slaphead20 said:
Guys, it's this simple
Settings/application manager/maps/uninstall updates.......navigation comes back as separate app
So simple
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But Slappy, do you really think someone who gave this as feedback on how to improve the app has the intelligence to know that?
Also the app will have passed Google's in house testing, they however don't have every single Android device, and every single stock and custom rom in existence therefore there could be device specific problems, have you asked people using other devices if they see the same problems?
After a large scale update most apps have teething problems, but they will fix them very soon.

slaphead20 said:
Guys, it's this simple
Settings/application manager/maps/uninstall updates.......navigation comes back as separate app
So simple
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's how I did it. Then used Titanium backup to detach maps from the market. No more updates
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

Lost menu button

When I first started my tab4, there was notifications popping up all over that I was oking. One of them had something to do with the menu button being switched to a task manager instead of settings. Is there a way to get the settings back when you pressed the menu button? Thanks

Just hold the recent apps button and it will activate quick settings like it does on other devices
Sent from my SM-T230NU using XDA Free mobile app

troy5890 said:
Just hold the recent apps button and it will activate quick settings like it does on other devices
Sent from my SM-T230NU using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^not very helpful^
root>download and install xposed framework> install XButton Actions app
i had to do this on my note edge. i hate the recent apps button nonsense

troy5890 said:
Just hold the recent apps button and it will activate quick settings like it does on other devices
Sent from my SM-T230NU using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cvaria said:
^not very helpful^
root>download and install xposed framework> install XButton Actions app
i had to do this on my note edge. i hate the recent apps button nonsense
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correction. Perfectly helpful answer. troy is correct. On stock rom recents long press
does as stated.
m

RTFP. OP asked how to switch back. Not for a band-aid solution. Xbutton allows OP to configure all buttons to the way they were before the eecent changes.

cvaria said:
RTFP. OP asked how to switch back. Not for a band-aid solution. Xbutton allows OP to configure all buttons to the way they were before the eecent changes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is the band-aid solution.
It adds an unecessary/additional layer to what should be handled by the in house functions of the stock rom.
Which can be corrected by a factory reset.
M

Not a dispute, argue with yourself

cvaria said:
Not a dispute, argue with yourself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a dispute or argument, just a point of clarification.
m

I had a hard time getting use to holding down the recent button to get a menu option. You will get use to it.
Sent from my SM-T230NU using XDA Free mobile app

moonbutt74 said:
Not a dispute or argument, just a point of clarification.
m
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, it's not a clarification. he asked how to switch it back. you didn't answer that question. you, instead, proposed an alternative. that, sir, is a clarification.
rtfp, then read your own.

cvaria said:
no, it's not a clarification. he asked how to switch it back. you didn't answer that question. you, instead, proposed an alternative. that, sir, is a clarification.
rtfp, then read your own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my initial response was to troy's post and your response.
troy presented an accurate piece of information in what he hope to be a helpful solution to the OP's
dilemma.
You're response was to dismiss an accurate piece of information and instead assert the supremacy of your
own preference. While your solution is equally helpful, the dismissal of the previous user's suggestion as if it
were incorrect has the affect of perpetutaing misinformation, not to mention the disrespectful treatment of the
user.
I assume by rtfp you mean to say read the ****ing post, if your continued representation of yourself via your previous posts
is accurate. This is your burden, good journey. I merely sought to correct an erronious assertion, however unintentional.
m

i see you are having problems. This not about supremacy or associated rubbish. Ist about anwsering the question that was asked. I'm not trying to me a jerk but, i'm being a jerk.
hllywd said:
When I first started my tab4, there was notifications popping up all over that I was oking. One of them had something to do with the menu button being switched to a task manager instead of settings. Is there a way to get the ***settings back when you pressed the menu button? ****Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The long press option was offered. That is an alternative.
What aren't you getting? I had the same issue and corrected it.
Some are okay with the long press, not all. I am one who was not going to settle for that stupid ish. So i searched xda and the web and came up with xbutton. It allowed me to fully set everything up the way it was prior to the recent button bs.
Home: short press = HOME
long press = recents
Recent: short press = menu
Long press = google search/now
Back: left alone
I'm sure theres another to do this by editing a file. I 75% sure thats all xbutton is doing.
I get what you are saying but it is not the fix, it's the alternate forced on all of us.

cvaria said:
i see you are having problems. This not about supremacy or associated rubbish.
The long press option was offered. That is an alternative. What aren't you getting? I had the same issue and corrected it. Some are okay with the long press, not all. I am one who was not going to dettle for that. So i searched xda and the web and came up with xbutton. It allowed me to fully set everything up the way it was prior to the recent button bs.
I get what you are saying but it is not the fix, it's the alternate forced on all of us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On that point we agree. What would be nice is a standalone version of the pie menu. Without all the suspect googlalia.
I think it's my tendency to favor solutions that don't eat up any more of the limited ram on the mid range to low end devices.
m

There's LMT but, it requires root

Remove the bleepin Google Assistant from the 6P

It was with great horror that I discovered that Google is now forcing the effin' Google Assistant down our throats. Home long press now launches this abomination of an app. Quickly figured out how to disable the crapware, but nowong press of home does nothing. So Google, of you are reading this....
I DON'T WANT TO BE TALKING TO MY PHONE ALL THE TIME, I HAVE A LIFE AND PEOPLE TO TALK TO.
Is there a way to recover the old functionality? I want long press to launch the old style Google app. If no, what is the version of the last update that does not include this POS software? I had not updated for a while and now this...
Apologies for fuming, it is just so freaking invasive on Google's part to ot even ask if I want to opt in.
PS setting ro.opa.eligible_device=false does NOT do the trick. Grrrr, this is getting more annoying by the minute

Someone on Reddit says you can change your language to US Virgin Islands to get the old now on tap back if that's what you're wanting. I haven't tried this myself though.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus6P/comments/5y578g/psa_if_you_found_old_now_on_tap_more_helpful_than/
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA Labs

swallowingled said:
Someone on Reddit says you can change your language to US Virgin Islands to get the old now on tap back if that's what you're wanting. I haven't tried this myself though.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus6P/comments/5y578g/psa_if_you_found_old_now_on_tap_more_helpful_than/
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this works, the original source may be here
https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ndroid-device-switch-back-google-now-0174676/
Unfortunately editing the build.prop does not seem to do the trick for me. I have to wonder how long before Google screws up that workaround.
I am curious, is there ANYONE out there who wants to ALWAYS talk to their phone and have the phone talk to them. Say you are in the middle of a meeting and want to quickly check on something. What is Google thinking? Or am I missing something?

GroovyGeek said:
Yes, this works, the original source may be here
https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ndroid-device-switch-back-google-now-0174676/
Unfortunately editing the build.prop does not seem to do the trick for me. I have to wonder how long before Google screws up that workaround.
I am curious, is there ANYONE out there who wants to ALWAYS talk to their phone and have the phone talk to them. Say you are in the middle of a meeting and want to quickly check on something. What is Google thinking? Or am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can still type in searches using the Google search bar without talking. I prefer Google Assistant to the old functionality but I guess everyone uses their phone differently. Most people likely consider GA an enhancement rather than an intrusion like you do. Many people were unhappy that it was only offered officially on the Pixel but you can't please everybody.

All you have to do is turn GA off within settings.

boxcar8028 said:
All you have to do is turn GA off within settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly this is not true. When you disable it in settings and long press home it pops up and says, Google Assistant is currently disabled, would you like to enable it? Options for yes or no. Yes pops up with assistant and no just disabled the window with no further actions. It doesn't revert to the old now on tap functionality.

i want to delete Google Assistant permanently, any clue ?

I'm surprised this thread doesn't have more attention. Before I had assistant I was trying to get it early on my device but now I am trying to go back to now on tap just because of the ease of use and time it takes to get to google.
The best workaround I found was this SwipeUp utility app. You can press and hold either your home button or fingerprint scanner to open straight to the Google app instead of the popup assistant (which is basically a blank screen until you say something or press on the keyboard symbol to type a search) it works really well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AdrianCampos.swipeuputility

No solution's to this yet? This is absurd.

@tolol @applePhx in this thread someone recommends deleting the Google Home App folder from /system using twrp to get completely rid of Google Assistant. Haven't tested it though