Database Users

[DISCUSSION] Back button to touch gesture

Any way to simulate back button function with a touchscreen gesture?
Every time I use the back button i get the feeling next time won't work
Sent from my ROOTED X10i using XDA App

i feel the same :s

I was thinking the same. Even a software key would be nice.

maybe would be a nice idea to implement it by using the light sensor would be easy i think

I'll take anything that gets me off the back button ^^
Sent from my ROOTED X10i using XDA App

100 views and no ones got any ideas?

thor2002ro said:
Every time I use the back button i get the feeling next time won't work
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Click to collapse
What do you mean you get the feeling 'next time won't work' ? Does the key feel flimsy or something?

This would involve very serious Hacking of the Android Framework, which is not doable ATM

synlar said:
What do you mean you get the feeling 'next time won't work' ? Does the key feel flimsy or something?
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Click to collapse
no ... its psychological... , I mean what will we do if in a couple of months the button doesn't work any more? the phone becomes unusable... that doesn't sound really good...
sim-value said:
This would involve very serious Hacking of the Android Framework, which is not doable ATM
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Click to collapse
you mean we cant simulate a lousy button press? or call the back function from a application?

I agree with "thor2002ro" it's wil be fantastic to have "application" to simulate back button function with a touchscreen gesture ( and i think this button he should be visible always on the screen)
PS. sorry for my English

I don't understand why? don't we have a hardware back button?

dan-htc-touch said:
I don't understand why? don't we have a hardware back button?
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Of course we have hardware button , but like wrote "thor2002ro " ..every time I use the back button i get the feeling next time won't work ( I now it's stupid feeling )
regards

dan-htc-touch said:
I don't understand why? don't we have a hardware back button?
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Click to collapse
they mean to say - by the prolonged use of the back button, if, in the near future, it dosnt work anymore, then it will be really difficult to use the phone.

main problem hardware buttons can break down really fast..... even faster if SE cheaped out on the button hardware parts(hopping this is not the case...)
and i cant believe its that hard to call the back button function... or if we cant call the function we should be able to simulate a press from /dev....hopping the buttons are "mounted" there

Remember the good old days when phones only had hardware buttons... you could bang on them all day, and never worry about the idea that they might not work all of a sudden...
Now with a touch phone, it just seems that hardware buttons just seem breakable...
Don't get me wrong - I feel exactly the same way, but I just keep reminding myself of the good old days...
Also, try something like AppSwipe - you can close programs with a gesture...
Now is it just me here that thinks the home key is strong enough to last me for ever, but only has a bad feeling about the back key...?

ya but in the old days phones wore cheap and the hardware buttons wore not that good as you say .... i got an old htc vox and couple of buttons i have to bang them with a hammer for them to work .... and the vox isn't that old really 2007 if i remember correctly,
if something like that wore to happen to x10 it will be hell....

Sticking on the topic... I've been doing some tries with Tasker, it allows you tu make gestures based on accelerometers... you can close some programs, lunch some execs, go home... but i didn't see any action for go back....

The back and menu buttons do feel a little fragile and it doesn't help that my first X10's menu button was a little sunken in and spongy.
The button still worked and I pressed it obsessively about 1 million times and it didn't get any worse, but it was a little annoying.
The replacement I got is a lot better but i'm always weary pressing it.
The home/middle button feels solid though.

Mod. edit: not dev related, moved to general
...and maybe later to t&a

i was hopping a dev will help us

Hardware buttons

Having installed android just recently on my hd2, I started to use my hardware buttons more often. Now, whenever I push the windows-flag-button on the far left (still the button but close to its left rim), then the home-button is pushed too. Is this a general flaw of the hardware buttons or is it just my hd2. I would love to see some response, in order to see whether it makes any sense to send it in or to just live with it.
Thanks in advance!!

After I changed to the "Photon" style and use, I started using the hardware buttons extensively - that was already last summer.
Did never have any issue like you describe. Still everything working perfect for me.

erniepb said:
Having installed android just recently on my hd2, I started to use my hardware buttons more often. Now, whenever I push the windows-flag-button on the far left (still the button but close to its left rim), then the home-button is pushed too. Is this a general flaw of the hardware buttons or is it just my hd2. I would love to see some response, in order to see whether it makes any sense to send it in or to just live with it.
Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue with my HD2 (also using an Android NAND). I believe, that it is a hardware-flaw, and not a ROM-Issue. I just made myself press more on the right of that button (closer to the middle of these two buttons (Flag and Back-button)) , and now it doesn't really bother me anymore.
I hope, I could help.
laerador
BTW: I own a O2 HD2 from Germany. (Might, that this flaw is connected to a specific model)

The hardware buttons begin failing on a lot of hd2s, this is a common problem since android makes you use hardware buttons more. There are several threads about it. Luckily, a dev from this forum created button savior for android, an app that creates soft buttons on the side of your screen that can pull out when you need them. Get Button Savior from the market... a needed app for the hd2 so you don't have to use your hardware buttons so much.

Just in case you don't know: there's a software alternative for hardware buttons on Android, SW Key.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865525
Edit: oops sorry, previous poster also pointed you towards that. Well, here's the link ;-)

try not to use your nail to click on the key,, use the middle of your fingers to push slowly down.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using Tapatalk

is there any work around after a button has failed

marsbar 1 said:
is there any work around after a button has failed
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Click to collapse
Yeah, you read the whole thread
dio62000 said:
Just in case you don't know: there's a software alternative for hardware buttons on Android, SW Key.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865525
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

My HD2 is about year old. I bought it (months 4 ago) with broken digitizer. Replaced it itself. What i finded inside is interesting. Buttons bar have clued some small plastic dots (see on pic). As i understand they fits to keypad excrescent plastic dots (dont have pic). And one of these on buttons bar was gone. I ordered then new button bar and now no more problems with buttons. Before i had too problems when i pushed home button accidently popped up calling or menu (windows logo button pressed).
Hope this helped you find right direction to resolve your problem.

Sorry, maybe the question was phrased incorrectly.
my home button has failed. in ASOP builds my phone boots into safemode.
in Sense builds it doesnt, but my battery ussage in both types of builds is above 50 ma
can I turn off the buttons to sort out the short in the rom.

Thanks for your response!!
I have sent it in for repair and got a 100% cash refund.
Well, let's see what little gadget I can buy for the money ...

Back Button Problem

This might be a relatively small problem but it can be a little annoying. The back button (right side of the menu button) seems to be a little less responsive and 'smaller' than the options button (left side of the menu button).
By smaller I mean I need to click it exactly at the right spot and the button reponsive 'area' seems to be very small compare to option button which seems to take up most of the left side allocated to it.
I am not sure if this is intented or some kind of software/hardware fault?
I read about upgrading touchpad firmware through *#*#2663#*#* but there are reports than this could brake the buttons completly.
If anyone has any information it will be greatly appreciated.
P.S phone is not rooted and I bought it from vodafone Ireland.

there are a few threads on the hardware buttons not working correctly try the search.
I found one about the back button, not a lot of info though.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1057348&highlight=button

I have the same issue but also to another extent. Mine has an issue where sometimes it will double tap when I only press it once. This can get annoying. I do have a screen protector on and I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Same thing happens to me ... but Its kinda rare(I am not using a screen protector). Does anyone know a solution? should updating firmware fix this?
I am thinking about asking for a replacement.

Replace it, same problem with my first unit, 20% of the presses didn't register
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

nomnompie said:
I have the same issue but also to another extent. Mine has an issue where sometimes it will double tap when I only press it once. This can get annoying. I do have a screen protector on and I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it.
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Click to collapse
I thought it was just me with the double tap when i press it once lol. Grrr its annoying man! :[email protected]
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

So the only way to fix it is to replace it?

I would imagine someone can make a mod to the touchkeys for like a certain millisecond delay between presses to fix the double tap. People have patched hardware keyboards for stuff similar to that.
As far as the non-registering presses, that might have something to do with delay too. A smart developer would have to try and look at it though I'm just guessing here.
I haven't noticed the non-registered presses in a while, not sure if it went away with a new kernel or if I just got used to how to press it to make it work. The double tap happens more often to me now lol.

Happened to me on my first unit, back button was only responding about 50-60% of the time, on the 2nd phone back button was extremely sensitive ( as sensitive as the SAMOLED screen which is a huge plus) 3rd phone seems "normal"

Galaxy S2 back button getting pressed twice on a single press.
When I am in 2nd/3rd level screen of an app, back and menu button lights go off(but screen is on). While pressing back button sometimes it's going back 2 levels with one, single press! As if I have pressed it twice. It doesn't happen always though.
Is there any fix for this?
PS: I am using a screen protector. Will remove it and see if that's the culprit or not.

u shud b thankful mate..my home butoon stopped responding at all

Hi,
Sorry to hear that.
But how did it happen? And how old is your phone? It must be still under warranty. Did you try taking it to the service center?

Back button problem sgs 2
I was also having this annoying problem.....searched over XDA....and found some tricky (fishy) codes for updating touch firmware.....which may end up braking those keys....so i stayed away from those tricks..
i googled again and found one method which finally worked for me
To get sgs2 into sleep use power button...nd for waking up use home (centre) button...this worked for me
SGS 2/XWKF3/CF root

Odp: Back Button Problem
Sorry for digging it up. I have the same issue, sometimes back button is acting like it was tapped twice. Is there any sofware solution instead of replace any parts?
Wysyłane z mojego GT-I9100 za pomocą Tapatalk 2

i had the same promblem and a full wipe did the job

Disable hardware keyboard when locked?

Is there a way to disable the hardware keys apart from the volume keys on the side when the phone is locked? There are some times that i find the screen on when i get it out of my pocket. Plus i turn the screen on by pressing the volume keys in order to use the physical keyboard less.
Currently I'm using the latest Hyperdroid Rom(stock 2.3.4 room. With CM7) and Widgetlock
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App

runningdap said:
Is there a way to disable the hardware keys apart from the volume keys on the side when the phone is locked? There are some times that i find the screen on when i get it out of my pocket. Plus i turn the screen on by pressing the volume keys in order to use the physical keyboard less.
Currently I'm using the latest Hyperdroid Rom(stock 2.3.4 room. With CM7) and Widgetlock
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, you cannot do that as this is the way Android is designed. Its standard to all android phones due to the framework itself. The only thing you might be able to do with apps like 'Widget Locker' is to restrict the the hardware buttons that can wake the phone up. This can be done by turning off 'Easy Wake Mode' in Widget Locker. For example, instead of any hardware button, you can ensure only the power button wakes the device up. You can also set the lockscreen timeout to maybe 5 secs in CM settings, so that even if the device is accidentally woken up in your pocket,it will return to standby after 5 secs. Hope this helps. But i have to say that you have a very good suggestion. It would be really great if Android, CM or any app has this feature. Maybe you might want to suggest this to the CM team?. Im sure they have the means to do it.

Wake up and unlock with one fingerprint

Is there a way to wake up and unlock the phone with a fingerprint scan? Aka without waking up the phone prior to scan to unlock...let's say all in one ?
Gesendet von meinem SM-G935F mit Tapatalk

Do not get the question, I press the home button and it unlocks it pretty much instantly with my fingerprint!
Do you mean without actually pressing the Home Button, well that would mean that the finger print sensor would have to be constantly scanning, think your battery would die pretty quickly

Yes i believe. "Without pressing the home button" is a feature in many phones like Xiaomi. It's a good feature but I think that with this button design it will be a problem. Fingerprint will always looking for a match even when it's being held in your hand.
Yes, without pressing the button should be an option. The button is already capacitive. So, this can be achieved just like the edge screens are sensitive too.

But then the phone is always looking for input, whether scanning for a finger print or looking for capacitive touch on the button. May be ok if the phone is in hand but for me that sort of defeats the purpose as this would be a better feature to unlock if the phone was on the desk.
I am by no means knocking the feature request or OP but personally cannot see much benefit from simply just pressing the button even if it only saves a few % of battery for me...

chippyuk said:
Do not get the question, I press the home button and it unlocks it pretty much instantly with my fingerprint!
Do you mean without actually pressing the Home Button, well that would mean that the finger print sensor would have to be constantly scanning, think your battery would die pretty quickly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the way that other phones work is that they scan for input only when the sensor is touched. So the iphone for example has a capacitive sensor on the finger print reader and knows when to start matching for fingerprints. This means that the phone isn't constantly scanning and doesn't use any more battery than the existing solution.
IMO Samsung probably should have implemented this feature.

le_lutin said:
I think the way that other phones work is that they scan for input only when the sensor is touched. So the iphone for example has a capacitive sensor on the finger print reader and knows when to start matching for fingerprints. This means that the phone isn't constantly scanning and doesn't use any more battery than the existing solution.
IMO Samsung probably should have implemented this feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well on my iPhone 6s and all the previous ones I have had, I still have to press the home button for it to scan the finger if the screen is off, I cannot simply touch it to unlock. Once the phone is on then yes, the button is sensitive to touch, for example double touch to shrink the screen etc... Either way the phone has to constantly monitor for capacitive input even when it is off right, there must be some battery sacrifice for that. Of course it will use more battery than the existing solution as it will constantly be looking for capacitive touch input
Adding to this though, I would like the capacitive side of the home button to be available when the screen is on...

Probably not precisely what you're looking for, but search in settings for "Easy screen turn on" - under Personal -> Accessibilty -> "Dexterity and Interaction" on my device.
Enabling this will allow you to wake up the screen based upon a gesture, and then you can use fingerprint to unlock without actually pressing any hard buttons.

Ok thnx a lot guys
Gesendet von meinem SM-G935F mit Tapatalk

This is some lazy stuff man. Trying to avoid a having to press a button that you're already touching? To save what, a couple milliseconds?

munnarg said:
This is some lazy stuff man. Trying to avoid a having to press a button that you're already touching? To save what, a couple milliseconds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the purpose is to preserve the life of the button itself because the home ans power buttons are the 2 that fails most often over the life of the device. Of course you wouldn't need to worry if you're someone who swaps phones often but some people use their devices for many years and would like to avoid issues with it if possible.

Exactly!
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tiskewlio said:
I think the purpose is to preserve the life of the button itself because the home ans power buttons are the 2 that fails most often over the life of the device. Of course you wouldn't need to worry if you're someone who swaps phones often but some people use their devices for many years and would like to avoid issues with it if possible.
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Click to collapse
I did adore this on my iPhone 5s, I am not sure if I would want it on a Edge right now, I am kind of looking for the place to hold the phone anyway, so another capacitive place would not help

tiskewlio said:
I think the purpose is to preserve the life of the button itself because the home ans power buttons are the 2 that fails most often over the life of the device. Of course you wouldn't need to worry if you're someone who swaps phones often but some people use their devices for many years and would like to avoid issues with it if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently had to break out an old GS3 phone to use when my primary one died. It was used for more than two years and the home button still works fine. Wearing out the home button isn't a concern of mine.

tiskewlio said:
I think the purpose is to preserve the life of the button itself because the home ans power buttons are the 2 that fails most often over the life of the device. Of course you wouldn't need to worry if you're someone who swaps phones often but some people use their devices for many years and would like to avoid issues with it if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest samsung home button very seldom spoil. You don't hear cases of it. From my own experience my s2 lasted over 3 years the phone itself died even though the home button was still perfect. My note 3 is 2.5 yrs now. Home button still perform like day 1. I am pretty sure samsung home button will outlast the phone life.

not available on either my old iphone or my new samsung
yeh i find the fact that you cant just use your fingerprint for unlocking really ****ty. maybe someone'll do an app.

oli_28 said:
I did adore this on my iPhone 5s, I am not sure if I would want it on a Edge right now, I am kind of looking for the place to hold the phone anyway, so another capacitive place would not help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get this work on the iPhone? Is it a setting as I have always had to press the button to turn on the screen before it recognises the fingerprint.

chippyuk said:
How did you get this work on the iPhone? Is it a setting as I have always had to press the button to turn on the screen before it recognises the fingerprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OT: Jailbreak + 'VirtualHome', its actually a fully capacitive home button, I liked it very much..

oli_28 said:
OT: Jailbreak + 'VirtualHome', its actually a fully capacitive home button, I liked it very much..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, so not delivered functionality!
Did some digging as well and apparently it is not a capacitive button as it does not have capacitive points on it, it simply gives the impression of being similar to capacitive due to the circuit between it and the outer ring. If it was capacitive we would have seen swipe gestures added to it under Jailbreak tweaks...

No app yet for unlock the phone without press home button?

_u2pop_ said:
No app yet for unlock the phone without press home button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to Settings / Accessibility / Dexterity and interaction / Easy screen turn on.
But I find it easier to press the home button and then leave my finger on it to unlock, rather than having to do two separate actions (wave then fingerprint).