Database Users

[Q] How do you handle not having a menu button?

Many uses I'm missing out on. Example if I'm browsing a site and want to open another window, what do I do?
Or
While in any app how would I access the menu or option settings?

What ROM are you using? If it's stock B&N software, is it rooted?
If you're using CyanogenMod, then you can turn on a set of buttons in the status bar that will replace the missing hardware buttons, much like on a Honeycomb device. It's in the Settings menu under Tablet Tweaks.
If you're using stock, you can install an app called SoftKeys or Button Savior and have it pop up a set of on-screen keys (menu, search, back, home, etc) whenever you press the "n" hardware button. You won't be able to install either unless you've rooted the device first, though.

Two applications: Button Savior or Soft Keys

I'm probably in the minority here, but I'm a big fan of zMooth.

You could also search for Nook Color keysmod and remap one of your volume buttons as Menu.

Keysmod is what works best. You'll have both menu and back buttons that's so convenient especially in landscape. Partner it with recent plus for adjusting volumes in-game and invisibright whenever you can pull up your notification bar.
Sent from my NookColor using xda premium

I use "Virtual Button Bar" in MIUI. it can be set to extend the buttons from a trigger point, or to be permanently extended and float.

[Q] about cm7's status bar

hmm, how 's the way i should ask.....forgive my language not so well......
my problem is: when i full screen for gaming, the cm7's status bar will hide down, and when i want to exit the game but the game dont have exit button. i dont know how to get back the status bar (back) from hidden.......
and every times exit the game i have to press on/off button and release the ram memory by 360* (*a widget from china made anti virus) then the game will erase and exit.

Install a app such a zmooth. It puts a little touchpad at the bottom of your screen, where you can use 3 gestures for home, menu and back. Works in all windows, such as fullscreen games or apps.

Takenover83 said:
Install a app such a zmooth. It puts a little touchpad at the bottom of your screen, where you can use 3 gestures for home, menu and back. Works in all windows, such as fullscreen games or apps.
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thx to you~!!! dude, it's working~

Menu> settings> cyanogenmod settings> tablet tweaks> disable fullscreen
Choose the other softbuttons you want here too, like a home button on the notification bar!
Otherwise, choose power buttons menu and add a back button... Home button is on the power screen by default.

sladehawke said:
Menu> settings> cyanogenmod settings> tablet tweaks> disable fullscreen
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Be aware that disabling fullscreen may cause UI issues on some games and apps where the controls and text get mashed together. Real Racing 2 on mine had the controls and menu selections all mashed up on top of each other until I re-enabled fullscreen.

Another way is to add back button to power button settings
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

I really like this here https://market.android.com/details?id=com.smart.swkey for a few reasons. I can have it almost completely hidden (I watch a lot of videos and want the least amount of distraction) and you can also long press on them (which also works with cm's mods) so if you have the option set to kill foreground app via long pressing back button, it will work with button savoir, another example would be... I have holding menu button hides/shows the status bar via cm settings, that works with button savoir (actually that does not even work with cm's built in soft keys) I'm thinking about buying the license key so i can remove/customize the buttons but I haven't yet. I'm kinda holding out for cm 9/ICS. My experience with the unstable builds are that navigation is very well done and I might not feel the need for any third party navigation method.

foxdog66 said:
I really like this here https://market.android.com/details?id=com.smart.swkey for a few reasons. I can have it almost completely hidden (I watch a lot of videos and want the least amount of distraction) and you can also long press on them (which also works with cm's mods) so if you have the option set to kill foreground app via long pressing back button, it will work with button savoir, another example would be... I have holding menu button hides/shows the status bar via cm settings, that works with button savoir (actually that does not even work with cm's built in soft keys) I'm thinking about buying the license key so i can remove/customize the buttons but I haven't yet. I'm kinda holding out for cm 9/ICS. My experience with the unstable builds are that navigation is very well done and I might not feel the need for any third party navigation method.
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That would be my choice as well yes, I've had it running on my KF since day one. Havn't bought a license key more for the fact that the only time I need it is when I need a back or menu button from within a fullscreen app

[Q] home -> back to ADW?

I just got an NST today and rooted it with the clockwork mod method. So far things are working pretty well, with one major setback: I am having trouble getting back to the ADW. I selected ADW as the default home, but the nook button -> home still takes me to the original home screen, and the menu bar at the top only shows menu & back buttons. So once I open an app, I have no way to launch anything else (besides rebooting, which will bring me back to ADW).
Any help would be greatly appreciated, and I apologise if this has been answered elsewhere, but I couldn't track it down...
Thanks!

Oh, also, I lose the navigation buttons when I go into of the nook interface/reader/settings etc.
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app

B&N modified Eclair co-opts the Home key.
You need to either install Button Saviour (which gives you a constant selection of micro buttons on the edge)
or install one of the mods here that will hack the "n" button.
I use a modified /system/framework/android.policy.jar but I'm trying to clean up the mod.

Thanks, button savior did the job. Actually, I had already installed it with the CWM flashes, but I just hadn't figured out how to activate it; I'd noticed the little icon on the side of the screen, but hadn't actually managed to click it!

An alternative to Button Savior is to launch NookTouch Tools and use it to customize the B&N QuickLaunch menu via the B&N Buttons option to open your launcher of choice instead of one of the standard B&N apps. I find the side buttons for BS, Virtual Button Bar or similar programs always seem to be too small to press when I want them, yet get in the way when I don't. The QuickLaunch menu also won't get closed accidentally.
I've over-ridden all of the standard app selections and don't actually see the B&N apps anymore unless I deliberately launch one.

Hmm, that sounds ideal, but I can't seem to find an apk anywhere, can you link me? The root process installed nookcolor tools, which doesn't seem to have that option.
Thanks!
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app

Nook Touch Tools is by XorZone.
Be sure to check the Show extra action buttons in recent dialog option to get the Home, Menu, Back, Search and Orientation options when you long-press the 'n' button, and you can completely eliminate the need for Button Savior.

Just got it up and running, that makes for a much more comfortable configuration. Thanks again!
Sent from my NOOK using xda app-developers app

Menu Remap Mod?

On my Evo LTE running CM10 the recent apps button on short press opens settings and long press opens recent apps. I like this function vs having to have a shortcut on the desktop or getting to it from notifications. On most newer phones/tablets running ICS/JB there are mods that remap this function but I've not seen this anywhere for the Nexus. I"m running stock but rooted and would prefer to stay that way if i can. Does anyone either know how to do it or if there's a mod floating around that i was unable to find using "search"?

I would also love to customize what app is opened when sliding up from the soft keys, if that's related.

Pezo said:
I would also love to customize what app is opened when sliding up from the soft keys, if that's related.
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No that's not exactly what i'm talking about but i would like to do that as well. If i understand correctly if you hold any of the software key/button (IE back, home, or recent apps) and slide your finger up there is a dotted circle with google search button at the top. If i could place the settings app there that would get me by. As for now when i hit the recent apps button i would prefer that to be the settings button or being able to long press the button to open settings. I think what i want is a limitation of the launcher but who knows. Anyone who does have any idea how to do this please let me know. I did attempt to edit the keys file in system/usr/keylayout by trying to add an extra key for settings but it didn't work.

Multitask button on Nav Bar

Looked around and didn't see this being brought up. Is there away to out the multitasking app instead of the menu button and bring back the 3 dot menu button back in apps? Hate freaking menu buttons and having to long press the home.
I remember figuring out a way to add software nav buttons on an S4 manually by editing some lines in the system but since the soft nav bar is already present I don't think that would work. Any ideas? Thanks.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4

Root, and there's a few nav bar replacements in the play store that autohide as well.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4

saywhat4118 said:
Looked around and didn't see this being brought up. Is there away to out the multitasking app instead of the menu button and bring back the 3 dot menu button back in apps? Hate freaking menu buttons and having to long press the home.
I remember figuring out a way to add software nav buttons on an S4 manually by editing some lines in the system but since the soft nav bar is already present I don't think that would work. Any ideas? Thanks.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4
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I'm with you, I think its stupid to have a dedicated menu button when android already has this covered.
The apps the poster above is speaking of does not fix this issue as it also hides the buttons, which is just dumb. Just be patient, I'm sure we will have a fix soon!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

This may be my only gripe about this phone, I have tried several of the options, but you have to hide it or tour home screen icons in the dock get lost.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4

While using the Note 2 I was able to go to the (root) system file and mess with the nav bar. Im going to play with this in a few. I'll report back.

jmill75 said:
While using the Note 2 I was able to go to the (root) system file and mess with the nav bar. Im going to play with this in a few. I'll report back.
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With the S4 I was able to manually add the On screen nav buttons with a line of code. Default android soft buttons are back home and multitask LG edited that to the menu button which is annoying. Let me know what you find. I'm going to try some stuff my self
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4

While I would like to have a dedicated multitasking button, I don't think the menu button is a waste or stupid. There are still numerous apps that don't adhere to Google's new rules for a software menu button and they result in a black bar on the screen. LG dodged this by adding a dedicated software menu button. If you want to see how annoying it is, just pick up an HTC One (or DNA, or One X) and it will make more sense. What they did is emulate the Optimus G Pro (and Samsung's Touchwiz) with software buttons to give the same feel (hold home for multitasking, back and menu). I see why they did it. But yeah, it would be nice if they'd add an option for a multitasking button as either a fourth option or in place of the menu. It would certainly make more sense than the notification shade toggle.

greyhulk said:
While I would like to have a dedicated multitasking button, I don't think the menu button is a waste or stupid. There are still numerous apps that don't adhere to Google's new rules for a software menu button and they result in a black bar on the screen. LG dodged this by adding a dedicated software menu button. If you want to see how annoying it is, just pick up an HTC One (or DNA, or One X) and it will make more sense. What they did is emulate the Optimus G Pro (and Samsung's Touchwiz) with software buttons to give the same feel (hold home for multitasking, back and menu). I see why they did it. But yeah, it would be nice if they'd add an option for a multitasking button as either a fourth option or in place of the menu. It would certainly make more sense than the notification shade toggle.
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The main reason I did not get the One was because of the stupid buttons. First not on screen and second only 2 buttons.
I do think it will only be a matter of time until someone makes a zip to add the recent button back. Wish I knew how

saywhat4118 said:
Looked around and didn't see this being brought up. Is there away to out the multitasking app instead of the menu button and bring back the 3 dot menu button back in apps? Hate freaking menu buttons and having to long press the home.
I remember figuring out a way to add software nav buttons on an S4 manually by editing some lines in the system but since the soft nav bar is already present I don't think that would work. Any ideas? Thanks.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
So my solution to this after 2 days of fiddling with the phone and trying EVERYTHING actually turned out for the better. The setup I have is using GMD gesture control for my buttons and auto hide navbar to have the navbar gone. This app let's you slide certain regions of the screen and trigger different conditions. I have no buttons at all on my screen and have slide functions that work perfect exactly where the Normal buttons would go. Slide up on the left is menu, slide in middle is home, and slide in right is recent apps. My back button is set by my thumb and it works out much better than I could have hoped.

kurofox23? said:
So my solution to this after 2 days of fiddling with the phone and trying EVERYTHING actually turned out for the better. The setup I have is using GMD gesture control for my buttons and auto hide navbar to have the navbar gone. This app let's you slide certain regions of the screen and trigger different conditions. I have no buttons at all on my screen and have slide functions that work perfect exactly where the Normal buttons would go. Slide up on the left is menu, slide in middle is home, and slide in right is recent apps. My back button is set by my thumb and it works out much better than I could have hoped.
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Thanks I'm going to try this.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk 4

Apps that have their own 3-dot menu
Thanks for the research on this topic. Does anyone know if the GMD app allows an app to retain its 3-dot menu functionality? I've encountered several apps that won't work with the G2's menu softkey preventing you from accessing the app's options.
thanks in advance!