It has been confirmed now.
I was wondering how on-screen buttons are supposed to work alongside capacitive/physical buttons on the note?
... and other discussions.
I'm sure Samsung will touch wiz the onscreen buttons right out of the ROM...
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
It's possible to remove onscreen buttons with default launcher.
If a device has physical buttons the on-screen buttons will not be used by ICS. This has been covered many times in reviews and direct statements from Google.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
galaxytab1 said:
It has been confirmed now.
I was wondering how on-screen buttons are supposed to work alongside capacitive/physical buttons on the note?
... and other discussions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was confirmed a week ago.....
xAnimal5 said:
It was confirmed a week ago.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When i say now, it was setting up the context for further discussion and not breaking the news.
there is one on screen button i want them to keep in - the multitask button. that button would save me from having to use a task switcher app, and makes app/ram management a lot easier.
one thing i am curious about though, since ICS features the ability to freeze apps integrated into it, is it possible to freeze touchwiz and revert to generic ICS? (im a bit of a nubb as to the complexities of android).
Souai said:
there is one on screen button i want them to keep in - the multitask button. that button would save me from having to use a task switcher app, and makes app/ram management a lot easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you know this and just don't think it's enough, but have you tried using the already built in multi tasking feature? Just long press the home button and a menu with shortcuts to your six most recent apps will appear. Here you can also enter the task manager to shut down apps and clear RAM
Sent via Tapatalk on my Galaxy Note
Forget about that, touchwiz is full intigrated into the android framework. You cant even boot without it.
Send from my Galaxy Note
BaconDanny said:
Maybe you know this and just don't think it's enough, but have you tried using the already built in multi tasking feature? Just long press the home button and a menu with shortcuts to your six most recent apps will appear. Here you can also enter the task manager to shut down apps and clear RAM
Sent via Tapatalk on my Galaxy Note
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know about long press home, but that only shows recent apps, it doesnt tell you which ones are still open and which ones are closed. id rather have something that tells me which ones are running, rather than which ones ive used recently which may or may not still be running.
on my old n900, there was a visual task switcher built into the UI. tap the button, and it shows all active windows. you can see a preview of what each one is doing (including seeing a video play in realtime) and you can close each one directly from this screen, no need to go into a menu or three just to find out which ones are open and which ones are closed.
there was a visual task switcher on android that was similar, but it only runs on android up to froyo. the next best thing ive used on android is the smart task switcher, but it doesnt help that the only button i can assign it to on the galaxy note is the home key. on my atrix, i had it assigned to the search key. it also doesnt do previews like the n900, but it does tell you how much free ram you have.
call me picky, but from my experience, multitasking is one thing that nokia does better than android, even though nokia lacks a dual core device. hopefully the task switcher in ICS changes that.
Souai said:
i know about long press home, but that only shows recent apps, it doesnt tell you which ones are still open and which ones are closed. id rather have something that tells me which ones are running, rather than which ones ive used recently which may or may not still be running.
on my old n900, there was a visual task switcher built into the UI. tap the button, and it shows all active windows. you can see a preview of what each one is doing (including seeing a video play in realtime) and you can close each one directly from this screen, no need to go into a menu or three just to find out which ones are open and which ones are closed.
there was a visual task switcher on android that was similar, but it only runs on android up to froyo. the next best thing ive used on android is the smart task switcher, but it doesnt help that the only button i can assign it to on the galaxy note is the home key. on my atrix, i had it assigned to the search key. it also doesnt do previews like the n900, but it does tell you how much free ram you have.
call me picky, but from my experience, multitasking is one thing that nokia does better than android, even though nokia lacks a dual core device. hopefully the task switcher in ICS changes that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
webos also has good multitasking.
You guys don't think Samsung will just place the multi task app for that?
Long press the home button and that should bring up the new ics app mananger. I think that would be the most logical route for them.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Souai said:
i know about long press home, but that only shows recent apps, it doesnt tell you which ones are still open and which ones are closed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm confused... besides the recent apps, there's a task manager button there that does show only the open apps. Or is it just the fact that it's an extra button press?
The task manager shows the apps that are running. The pop-up (long press) is recently opened apps/fast task switcher. If you for example open the XDA app and exit from it, it will still be in the recently opened/fast switcher pop-up.
The videos I've seen of ICS running with Touchwiz has you just hold down the Home button to bring up the new multi-tasking app switcher menu or whatever you want to call it.
LordManhattan said:
The task manager shows the apps that are running...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, and isn't that what they were asking for?
I answered your question.
"I'm confused... besides the recent apps, there's a task manager button there that does show only the open apps. Or is it just the fact that it's an extra button press?"
LordManhattan said:
I answered your question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, no, I'm still confused about what everyone's issue is.
You said:
The pop-up (long press) is recently opened apps/fast task switcher. If you for example open the XDA app and exit from it, it will still be in the recently opened/fast switcher pop-up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that. But as I said in my original message:
besides the recent apps, there's a task manager button there that does show only the open apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you click that task manager button, it takes you to a screen that shows only the running apps, and lets you switch between them. Isn't that what people are wanting to do?
NV30 said:
It's possible to remove onscreen buttons with default launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
should be and hope ne
dscline said:
I'm confused... besides the recent apps, there's a task manager button there that does show only the open apps. Or is it just the fact that it's an extra button press?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you cant access the task manager in android from every screen, you need to go through a few screens to get to it. on ICS and on my nokia n900, you could get to it at the push of a button, makes multitasking much much easier and much much faster. faster is always better, just like if samsung's custom browser for the note used tabs like dolphin and firefox instead of the new window thing, im sure people would love it more.
Related
So with all this talk about Hero's ability to multitask I just wanted to ask how people leverage this ability.
Unless I'm missing something if I want to go from a browser session to my playing music app I have to go via the home screen. Similarly if I want to switch from say Google Maps to Google Mail then I need to go via the home screen and the app's icon.
This is no different to how the iPhone handles things except that the apps on the Hero continue to run in the background.
Am I missing some technique for 'TAB'ing' between running apps? Palm's Pre has got the 'cards' and the floaty shortcut menu thing.
To be honest if there is no ability to switch DIRECTLY to a running app from another running app then the whole multitasking thing is a bit pointless (Widgets not withstanding)
I'm new to Android so I'm hoping that I'm just missing something.
I have a G1 but if you hold down the home key you can switch between running apps and I imagine that works as well on the hero.
Also, you can use an app such as "task switcher" or "bar control" found in the android market to switch between applications without having to go through the home screen with a few more options than the home key thing.
HTH
Holding down the home key only displays 6 recently opened apps not ones that are running. Thats what it does on the Hero anyway. It also brings you back to the home screen and out of whatever app you were in when you held it down.
It seems that the Palm Pre is currently the only handset that truly enables multitasking app switching.
I'm somewhat disappointed in the Hero in this regard.
To be fair, the whole concept of multitasking doesn't really address in what way you would be switching from app to app. The major thing is the ability of the phone to keep two, three or ten apps running at the same time, doing their stuff in the background. This is what the iPhone doesn't have and Android does. This is the "competitive edge".
If you install "Advanced Task Manager", it will put itself in the notification drawer for two-click activation. I think I'd enable it, if there was a setting to make all apps behave this way. A sort of "show all running apps in the notification drawer" feature (or the apps I select).
Notice you can switch to all running apps from Advanced Task Manager, but that makes for a total of four clicks, moving from one app to another. It's a bit cumbersome.
Pressing and holding Home should IMHO bring up the recent apps list to allow switching WITHOUT returning Home first.
Maybe a bug or a bad decision UI wise.
@joemax
That would sort me out. Having it behave like that would be really useful.
Commantalb looked promising in the Market - very nice effect when bringing apps list up too
BUT, it cannot be envoked unless you press and hold HOME and then select Commantalb.
If it were a background process that changed the default HOME button behaviour - to launch itself, it would be very cool.
ShiroEd said:
To be honest if there is no ability to switch DIRECTLY to a running app from another running app then the whole multitasking thing is a bit pointless (Widgets not withstanding)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok -here's a real world example.
I use MyTracks when out walking. Since the Hero can multitask, I can start MyTracks recording, then as I'm walking do anything else with my phone that I want and not be artificially limited to a select few apps. This is something that I do regularly.
From my perspective, the lack of a true task switcher is largely immaterial to me, but the fact that the apps are still running, even when not active, is.
Regards,
Dave
joemax said:
Pressing and holding Home should IMHO bring up the recent apps list to allow switching WITHOUT returning Home first.
Maybe a bug or a bad decision UI wise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can happily report that this is exactly what it does with the new ROM. Yipee!!
It does indeed
Posted as such on another thread.
The new firmware is very good IMHO.
ShiroEd said:
I can happily report that this is exactly what it does with the new ROM. Yipee!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GOD ALLMIGHTY IN THE HEAVEN!!! THERE IS STILL A GOD!!!
I didn't know this untill now... and it god damn works... WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
We love you HTC...
Oh damn... a double post... :-(
I have searched around the net and watched almost all youtube videos about the HD2. I still need to know about how the phone handles multitasking... I am quite sure it does multitask though..
Android: Long press on the home-menu button to bring up latest apps. + Task manager apps to kill running apps.
Nokia/Maemo: Big element of core design. Screen with live feed windows. Each window can be shot down seperatly.
iPhone: No multitasking
HD2: ?? Anything like a task manager here??
kasperknop said:
I have searched around the net and watched almost all youtube videos about the HD2. I still need to know about how the phone handles multitasking... I am quite sure it does multitask though..
Android: Long press on the home-menu button to bring up latest apps. + Task manager apps to kill running apps.
Nokia/Maemo: Big element of core design. Screen with live feed windows. Each window can be shot down seperatly.
iPhone: No multitasking
HD2: ?? Anything like a task manager here??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats a stupid question all ppc's can multitask, infact win mob comes with its own task/processes manager lol
mancsoulja said:
thats a stupid question all ppc's can multitask, infact win mob comes with its own task/processes manager lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no such thing as a stupid question.
In this case there's only a "narrowminded, pissed off and angry with his live"-kinda question.
<3
I still need to know about how the phone handles multitasking... I am quite sure it does multitask though..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I saw it a week ago, the presenter pressed a small button on right side of the screen while in home display to bring up the list of applications running. So in a sense, quite similar to N900, except that it was a list, not thumbnails.
What I would be interested to know if there's a way to remap a hardware key to bring up the task manager. Personally I would think this would be more useful for me that the start-key.
fouro said:
When I saw it a week ago, the presenter pressed a small button on right side of the screen while in home display to bring up the list of applications running. So in a sense, quite similar to N900, except that it was a list, not thumbnails.
What I would be interested to know if there's a way to remap a hardware key to bring up the task manager. Personally I would think this would be more useful for me that the start-key.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a few other nice solutions:
WkTask shows the running apps as small icons on the taskbar - kinda like in Windows on the desktop computer. By tapping on the icons, you can easily switch between different runningapps with as outreturning to the homescreen in between. Its freeware, although donations are surely appreciated by the creator...
AEButtonsPlus can display a listf running apps following a hardware button press, so you can switch by tapping on a listed item.
dnt forget we can use the xperia panels now, that works as a nice visual task manager
Thanks, those solutions look quite interesting and probably will be what I'm looking for. I'll have to give them a try when I'll get the device.
Heres some pics so you know what were on about
1) xperia panels (You can get that free here)
2) Htc Task Manager (You Get That with every htc device)
3) Showcase (You also can get that free here)
3) Showcase (You also can get that free here)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just found the Showcase myself too. It seems really brilliant application.. simple and finger friendly.
Just need to figure out how I can remap a hardware button (like start button) to start this instead. But as far as I understand, that shouldn't be big issue.
But I guess that should be what I was after with this: easily accessable task manager so I can switch applications quick.
fouro said:
I just found the Showcase myself too. It seems really brilliant application.. simple and finger friendly.
Just need to figure out how I can remap a hardware button (like start button) to start this instead. But as far as I understand, that shouldn't be big issue.
But I guess that should be what I was after with this: easily accessable task manager so I can switch applications quick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Showcases default setting is set to open when you press and hold the start button
Showcases default setting is set to open when you press and hold the start button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now if I only could get it without holding it, but just pressing...
But thanks, that alone should be enough too. And I'll probably manage to find out how to modify it before I'll get my phone, if it's possible.
fouro said:
Now if I only could get it without holding it, but just pressing...
But thanks, that alone should be enough too. And I'll probably manage to find out how to modify it before I'll get my phone, if it's possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you set it to just a press, how would you get to the start menu lol
if you set it to just a press, how would you get to the start menu lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I've understood correct, it should be accessible through home-screen, just pressing the start from top-left corner? This should be enough for me if I have 9 shortcuts in home screen anyway. Probably don't need that fast access to rest of aplications.
Just a personal preference, but I'd like to be able to access task manager fast. Just so I can juggle between browser, ssh terminal (irssi) etc easily.Currently with my Nokia E71 I can access it by pressing home-button for a second and would prefer a dedicated button for this.
fouro said:
If I've understood correct, it should be accessible through home-screen, just pressing the start from top-left corner? This should be enough for me if I have 9 shortcuts in home screen anyway. Probably don't need that fast access to rest of aplications.
Just a personal preference, but I'd like to be able to access task manager fast. Just so I can juggle between browser, ssh terminal (irssi) etc easily.Currently with my Nokia E71 I can access it by pressing home-button for a second and would prefer a dedicated button for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not on the newer windows mobile 6.5.1 roms, microsoft moved the start button from the top to the bottom, suppose to make it more like windows by the way you can set showcase up so it opens if you tap the top right hand corner where the clock is
mancsoulja said:
Showcases default setting is set to open when you press and hold the start button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does not work this way on the HD2, and also a no-go with pressing and holding the Windows hardware button.
erdoke said:
Does not work this way on the HD2, and also a no-go with pressing and holding the Windows hardware button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How come it's a no-go to do that?XD
kasperknop said:
How come it's a no-go to do that?XD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, X button enhancement does not work perfectly. On the capacitive screen I can't slide my finger to the left to activate different functions of Showcase. Only the one to the right can be used. It works fine when operating through a PC with Remote Controller, so I am sure this is due to the different screen technology.
erdoke said:
Also, X button enhancement does not work perfectly. On the capacitive screen I can't slide my finger to the left to activate different functions of Showcase. Only the one to the right can be used. It works fine when operating through a PC with Remote Controller, so I am sure this is due to the different screen technology.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, for some reason HD2 renders the X button enhancement useless. So, is there actually any way to access Showcase (or any similar task manager for that matter) by long pressing any of the hard keys? I really wish there was more convenient ways to switch between applications.
Kinda funny how Apple's ineptitude has people thinking, all over again, asif Multitasking is something special.
Any windows version since way back when does multitasking.
You know what the funny part is, the iPhone can actually multi task, but Apple won't allow it for some reason Steve Jobs' mind spewed out and only he can understand.
JanSchotsmans said:
You know what the funny part is, the iPhone can actually multi task, but Apple won't allow it for some reason Steve Jobs' mind spewed out and only he can understand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can activate it later and sell a new wave of $600 phones.
Remember when they released video? It was very exciting for a lot of people. I recall video recording the festivities on my three year old Windows Mobile phone at the time.
Hi there,
wondering if there is a way to get the back-button finishing the app.
When i'm at contacts or writing an sms or surfing, i want to go back to desktop as fast as possible...but when i'm at contact/details, i have to press the back button 5-6 times to go back trough all the previous screen.
Is there a way/hack/app telling the back-button (have to be a hardware button) to end the tasks completly when holding it, for example?
THX THX
Press the home button? That will take you back to the desktop.
If you need to you can then use task manager to end the task.
Would be nice to see a hack/fix to add the back button to kill functionality though
IakobosJ said:
Press the home button? That will take you back to the desktop.
If you need to you can then use task manager to end the task.
Would be nice to see a hack/fix to add the back button to kill functionality though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I miss this from my oxygen rom'd desire
Pkplonker said:
I miss this from my oxygen rom'd desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's already in in MIUI and most probably will be also in CM7.
well the back button does kill apps.
if you start, say, the browser and press the home button, then enter task manager, the browser will still run. if you start the browser and press the back button and open the task manager, it will show that the browser is not running anymore (actually, the browser was a bad example, since after a little bit of browsing you'd have to push the back button quite a lot since its primary function is to go back). the same goes for many more apps, whatsapp, facebook, twitter, angry birds...
Pkplonker said:
I miss this from my oxygen rom'd desire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
me too. adamG has apparently got a SGS2 though
Thinking about it, I would also like this functionality although it isn't so urgent for me. If more people show interest maybe I'll attempt it as my first android app For such a simple app my opinion is that it should be free and not packed with admob spam, but if another dev wants to attempt it that's their choice I guess.
My thoughts:
It should be quick to develop a simple app providing this functionality. Just have it bind to an event which fires when the back button is pressed long, and have it kill the app whichever is first in the foreground window Z-order (I'm fairly new to the Android API, so I use Win32 API terminology here for example only). The only complexity may be to make the event bound globally (in all apps), as opposed to only bound in the app itself - hopefully that doesn't require root! I guess it should be a background service which runs on boot, and perhaps a very simple gui app to control that service (in fact would there be anything to configure at all? What do you think?).
sl9 said:
Thinking about it, I would also like this functionality although it isn't so urgent for me. If more people show interest maybe I'll attempt it as my first android app For such a simple app my opinion is that it should be free and not packed with admob spam, but if another dev wants to attempt it that's their choice I guess.
My thoughts:
It should be quick to develop a simple app providing this functionality. Just have it bind to an event which fires when the back button is pressed long, and have it kill the app whichever is first in the foreground window Z-order (I'm fairly new to the Android API, so I use Win32 API terminology here for example only). The only complexity may be to make the event bound globally (in all apps), as opposed to only bound in the app itself - hopefully that doesn't require root! I guess it should be a background service which runs on boot, and perhaps a very simple gui app to control that service (in fact would there be anything to configure at all? What do you think?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would need to be in the framework of the rom, I think
Chef_Tony said:
well the back button does kill apps.
if you start, say, the browser and press the home button, then enter task manager, the browser will still run. if you start the browser and press the back button and open the task manager, it will show that the browser is not running anymore (actually, the browser was a bad example, since after a little bit of browsing you'd have to push the back button quite a lot since its primary function is to go back). the same goes for many more apps, whatsapp, facebook, twitter, angry birds...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it does, but you have to press and press and press...would be cool, if you can "hold down" the button for a sec and it will end the task.
Example...when i'm at handsentSMS > SMS > keyboard open...
Pressing BACK > close keyboard
Pressing BACK > closing SMS windows
Pressing BACK > closing handsentSMS
3 times pressing this button after every SMS suxx...sorry
Yeah i can press the HomeButton, but then its in my mind, that the app is running in background...isnt that bad at android-OS-structure, but its a bad feeling to me...
yes that's true. i was reading over your original post again and the first time through i must have overread the part where you named sms and the browser as examples. you are right, in that case, it does not work very well. an alternative way is to hold the home button, then press task manager and kill the app instantly. but that takes even longer. i guess your best option is to actually let it run in the background, if you want to get out of it fast.
pulser_g2 said:
It would need to be in the framework of the rom, I think
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspected this may be the case, really hope it isn't but I understand the Android security model needs to enforce a certain level of isolation for each app in the VM I'll do some further reading of the documentation to find out for sure, since a simple non-root APK providing this functionality for users would be very welcome.
I'm too used to other less-secure API's (Win32) in which any app could basically do whatever it wanted to other apps and the OS; I guess thats why virus authors love Windows so much
yeah just for anyone not totally in the know, there is a difference in android between pressing the BACK button and HOME button to leave an app. using the back button to leave an app and go back to the home screen basically "kills" the app. it puts it in a state where it can readily be killed by the OS in an instant.
when just pressing HOME to leave an app, the app is technically backgrounded. the OS will keep it around longer or in a different fashion.
so backing out of apps with the back button is always the way to "exit" any app.
Really missing a function like press and hold the Home button to see previous used apps to switch to.... I'm running with GoLauncherEX but it apparently doesn't have that ability.
Any easy way or app that can and still work with GoLauncher.
I would consider another Launcher but I've not tried any others.
Market search for taskswitcher by shisho. Worked great for me. I use Adw but should work with any launcher including stock.
One home tap for switcher, two for real home.
Thanks that works fine.
Another option is SwipePad with the Tasking add-on. Hold for a split-second at the corner or edge of the screen of your choice and then drag towards the center of the screen and a task switcher will pop up. Move to the task of your choice and let go to switch to it. You can switch really quick once you get the hang of it.
boomn said:
Another option is SwipePad with the Tasking add-on. Hold for a split-second at the corner or edge of the screen of your choice and then drag towards the center of the screen and a task switcher will pop up. Move to the task of your choice and let go to switch to it. You can switch really quick once you get the hang of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that's a freaking amazing app. I paid for the recent tasks addon (since I think that's necessary for multitasking).
Thanks!
I think SwipePad is one of those "best kept secret" apps. I've been using it since it was released and cannot use an Android phone without it. It was the first app I downloaded from the market after rooting. Glad to see it gaining popularity though.
[email protected] said:
Market search for taskswitcher by shisho. Worked great for me. I use Adw but should work with any launcher including stock.
One home tap for switcher, two for real home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This solution is working nice for me.
I installed swipe pad and tasker but I cant figure out how to make my recent apps menu come up when I swipe. Can someone help me?
teookie said:
I installed swipe pad and tasker but I cant figure out how to make my recent apps menu come up when I swipe. Can someone help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got SwipePad with Tasker as well and it seems the only way you can do it is to put a shortcut to Tasker in one of the boxes, swipe to it, and THEN it pulls up a menu of your recent apps. I ended up getting a refund for it because that's not what I wanted - I was hoping it would automatically populate the tiles with my recent apps instead of adding an extra step.
I'll have to try some of the other solutions mentioned in this thread.
Open the settings for SwipePad and then go to the Hotspots tab where you choose which spot activates the normal swipepad. Click on a different hotspot and "recent tasks" will show up as an option. Once set up it does work like what you were hoping
Just to clarify for anyone else reading, the add-on required is "Tasking: SwipePad add-on", not to be confused with the unrelated "Tasker" app for scripting and automation
boomn said:
Open the settings for SwipePad and then go to the Hotspots tab where you choose which spot activates the normal swipepad. Click on a different hotspot and "recent tasks" will show up as an option. Once set up it does work like what you were hoping
Just to clarify for anyone else reading, the add-on required is "Tasking: SwipePad add-on", not to be confused with the unrelated "Tasker" app for scripting and automation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, can't believe I missed that! I'll have to give it another shot.
Corners problem
I installed Swipe Pad and wondered... where have you been for all of my Fire life? Am surprised amazon hasn't absorbed them into their product since it is so easy and simple to jump.
Altho, I did have problems configuring the corners (might be the custom home bar down there), but configuring lower left panel for tasks didn't seem to have any problem.
BTW, what a great premise - give basic app for free, sell the advanced.
[Edit: Before you jump on this, I'm now having crashing of SwipePad when trying to get it to launch market or other shortcuts. Will contact developers and see if this is imminently fixable.]
[email protected] said:
Market search for taskswitcher by shisho. Worked great for me. I use Adw but should work with any launcher including stock.
One home tap for switcher, two for real home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you configure double home taps for ADW home screen?
You can also install button savior if you're rooted your Fire. It can come in handy for some full screen apps that rely on the non-existent hard buttons also. You just long press on the button savior home icon and you'll get the little icon list of recent apps. I have mine setup with a slight delay before it invokes but it defaults to instant on.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
Smart Taskbar
I tried swipepad and didn't find it easy to set up and use on the KF. I also didn't want to pay for the extra add-ons without being totally sure I liked it. Found smart taskbar and I've been really happy with it. Easier to pull up than swipepad and has recent tasks built in. I recommend it.
SenorDeuce said:
I tried swipepad and didn't find it easy to set up and use on the KF. I also didn't want to pay for the extra add-ons without being totally sure I liked it. Found smart taskbar and I've been really happy with it. Easier to pull up than swipepad and has recent tasks built in. I recommend it.
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Remember that with paid apps, you can try them out and get a refund if you uninstall within 15 minutes. But if you don't like how Swipepad works then having the Tasking addon won't be worth it.
ags29 said:
I think SwipePad is one of those "best kept secret" apps. I've been using it since it was released and cannot use an Android phone without it. It was the first app I downloaded from the market after rooting. Glad to see it gaining popularity though.
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Can you use Swipepad w/o rooting?
Well you need to get it from the Android market (which requires root to install), but I guess you can also sideload it. The app itself doesn't require root access.
bsoplinger said:
You can also install button savior if you're rooted your Fire. It can come in handy for some full screen apps that rely on the non-existent hard buttons also. You just long press on the button savior home icon and you'll get the little icon list of recent apps. I have mine setup with a slight delay before it invokes but it defaults to instant on.
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+1 on Button Savior... a nice out-of-the-way solution for the long press home feature.
Naturally some helpful soul here on XDA pointed me to this app and it works like a charm.
Devoting a soft key exclusively to recent apps seems ridiculous to me. Is it a Motoblur thing or stock ICS?
Is there an app that will allow an unrooted user to program a shortcut to the key that is of some use? Maybe on long press?
I installed Google Launcher and noticed that accidentally hitting that key shows recent apps but then takes you out of Go Launcher and back to Motoblur. Any way to avoid that?
That's pure ICS, not Moto. Actually was there in honeycomb too. I never understood removing the search key and menu key to put in the far less used recent apps. If there is a mod out there to convert it's function to a menu button I'd be on it too.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Any shortcut would be preferable. I thought it would be a nice button to open phone dialer or dolphin browser.
I'm really surprised you guys don't find it useful. There's plenty of times where I'd rather have that button than hit the home button and go back to the home screen or hold the home button for a second or more to get that popup on my Nexus S.
I find that I'm swapping back between texting, web browsing, the music player / pandora and facebook quite often
snowmanwithahat said:
I'm really surprised you guys don't find it useful. There's plenty of times where I'd rather have that button than hit the home button and go back to the home screen or hold the home button for a second or more to get that popup on my Nexus S.
I find that I'm swapping back between texting, web browsing, the music player / pandora and facebook quite often
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Thank you, I agree as well. Not to mention, the menu and search are legacy buttons. People need to let them die and embrace the design direction Android is moving forward in...but I guess old habits die hard (and painfully). Why so much resistance towards the death of the menu button?
UserDemos said:
Thank you, I agree as well. Not to mention, the menu and search are legacy buttons. People need to let them die and embrace the design direction Android is moving forward in...but I guess old habits die hard (and painfully). Why so much resistance towards the death of the menu button?
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Yeah, I can definitely do without the menu button since every new app has been building it into the application. It's a button that I'd hardly hit while interacting with most applications.
I do miss the contextual search though. I got used to tapping the search button in Contacts or Chrome and searching within that context. Only searching globally when I was at the home screen. Well now with the changes (at least to the Nexus S) the search button brings up Google Now and there's no in-app search unless they specifically build in a button. Most have done that now, so it's not really a problem, just a habit that I got into.
I understand it's benefits but those apps I use quite often you speak of are already shortcuts on my home page. Using the recent apps button adds another key press to open it. I've only used it when I can't remember the name of an app I recently installed.
For me personally, useable? Yes. Useful? Not really. Especially when it gets bogged down with tons of recent apps and my finger already knows where the shortcuts are.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Hey look I'm the OP and said nothing about making it a menu button. What I want is a programmable button to do what I want and you could have one to do what YOU want. Now you tell me NOOOO.., I should embrace the direction of Android. That sounds suspiciously like Apple philosophy.
I never have had any use for a recent apps button and still don't. I don't care what apps I have used recently. Since there is a key there I would like it to be useful. Personally, I would like short press to be Opera and long press to be Dolphin. Now shall I look forward to be scolded for not embracing Chrome? I thought the whole point of Android was personal choice. Android users don't have to be sheeple imo.
Zodwraith said:
I understand it's benefits but those apps I use quite often you speak of are already shortcuts on my home page. Using the recent apps button adds another key press to open it. I've only used it when I can't remember the name of an app I recently installed.
For me personally, useable? Yes. Useful? Not really. Especially when it gets bogged down with tons of recent apps and my finger already knows where the shortcuts are.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
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You've got to admit though that closing applications by swiping them "off" at that quick switch menu is kind of nice. I like that a little bit better for closing off high RAM applications quickly compared to the CM method of holding "back". Then again, I'll admit it's a very rare thing where I want to kill more than one application at once haha
Sorry, no I don't admit it. (not for me anyway) Never have done it. Never will. I prefer not to force close apps. I let Android handle it.
Dolphin and Opera are in a folder on my desktop so it takes two keypresses to access them while that utterly useless recent apps key sits there doing nothing. In fact it does harm if I am using another launcher and hit it by accident.
There was an app I used to use that allowed you to program the search key (which I also never used) and double tap of home key (which normally produced something else I never used). I think it is called Home to Shortcut. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated to use the recent apps key.
I also think Moto should have made the navigation bar transparent so we could see the entire screen like Nexus. I hope somebody figures out a way to do that too.
Give it time for custom roms and you will be able to do loads of stuff with that bar, including changing the icons and uses. Aokp is great for that.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
I don't think swiping from the recent apps menu is an FC function. Just a history. To check it I FC'd a bunch of stuff from the proper menu and opened the recent apps. Sure enough everything is still there. Clicked on one of the apps and sure enough it had to start up.
I generally don't use app killers but there are always rogue apps that will give you problems. Netflix is a bad one for me where I'll watch an episode and when it's over Netflix develops Alzheimer's whether there are more episodes. Does the same on the Roku and tablet so I'm sure it's a Netflix thing. The only way to slap sense into their servers is an FC and restart.
Sent from my Droid RAZR HD MAXX using the XDA Developer App
robstunner said:
Give it time for custom roms and you will be able to do loads of stuff with that bar, including changing the icons and uses. Aokp is great for that.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
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I can't wait. I was spoiled by the super developers for Tbolt.