menu soft key? - Nexus 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

is there anyway to do this? why isnt there a menu key!

There is......It's the button on the right. They did away with search button not the menu button, is this your first Android?

Logan_M said:
There is......It's the button on the right. They did away with search button not the menu button, is this your first Android?
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no its not my first android lol , the one on the right? that brings up a long list of junk, not the regular menus (recent apps) i guess? al my other android devices, Droid, Droid2, and Bionic, all had menu buttons available any time for settings, i was wondering if there was a way to do this, as they have on the nexus phones, (yes i tried flashing it, dont do it was a bad idea.)

anyone else? the soft key on the right is the square with another behind it... brings up recent apps

It's a good idea to read up on the new version of android before posting topics to which the answer is a single google search away.
Android 3.0 did away with the menu button. now it only shows up when needed for an older app. new apps have a dedicated menu button in their UI.
you can access the settings through the notification drop down.

You must be coming off an old version of Android. The button you are looking for will be 3 little dots to the right of the square on square button. It will only appear if the app needs it. http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/01/say-goodbye-to-menu-button.html

neok44 said:
It's a good idea to read up on the new version of android before posting topics to which the answer is a single google search away.
Android 3.0 did away with the menu button. now it only shows up when needed for an older app. new apps have a dedicated menu button in their UI.
you can access the settings through the notification drop down.
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Could not have said it any better.

Instead there is a contextual menu key (either top or bottom right for some reason) of 3 dots. Does that not work for you?
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

Related

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.

[Q] No menu-button?

Hey,
I would like to know how the menu button works on this phone when there ..is no (only back, home and "apps" button)?
Because it is defenitely needed.
Thanks
menu button are always shown inside the apps
rest0ck said:
Hey,
I would like to know how the menu button works on this phone when there ..is no (only back, home and "apps" button)?
Because it is defenitely needed.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea usually the app itself has the menu button built into it. Or sometimes it's the rom depending on which one it is.
with on-screen buttons you can customize the navigation bar to your liking rather than needing to conform to hardware buttons.
im a big fan of mechanical buttons, but if youre giving me touch buttons let me customize them.. which is what googles doing with the nexus line
Google got rid of the menu button a long time ago. There is no such thing as "menu" in Android 4.0 and later. The three dots in the action bar is called action overflow.
Don’t call it a menu
Not only should your apps stop relying on the hardware Menu button, but you should stop thinking about your activities using a “menu button” at all. Your activities should provide buttons for important user actions directly in the action bar (or elsewhere on screen). Those that can’t fit in the action bar end up in the action overflow.
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http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/01/say-goodbye-to-menu-button.html
rmkilc said:
Google got rid of the menu button a long time ago. There is no such thing as "menu" in Android 4.0 and later. The three dots in the action bar is called action overflow.
http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/01/say-goodbye-to-menu-button.html
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Click to collapse
i can use my menu button
Okay, I didn't knew that ..sounds good, thanks
mazdarati2 said:
i can use my menu button
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You didn't read the article.
rmkilc said:
You didn't read the article.
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Click to collapse
i did

[Q] Remap "Recent Apps" softkey button

Is there any way to remap the function of "RecentApps" soft key to "Menu" function?
I almost do not use "RecentApps" and I find the necessity of manual search of "settings" button in each app quite distracting.
I have Xperia Ray smartphone and it has Back button, Home button (long press on this button launches RecentApps and not the useless Google circle pane, like in Nexus, which is not even customizable) and Menu button, which I use VERY often.
In my opinion - this scheme is the most convenient and I'd like to get it in Nexus 7.
Does anybody have an idea how it could be implemented?
metaxaos said:
Is there any way to remap the function of "RecentApps" soft key to "Menu" function?
I almost do not use "RecentApps" and I find the necessity of manual search of "settings" button in each app quite distracting.
I have Xperia Ray smartphone and it has Back button, Home button (long press on this button launches RecentApps and not the useless Google circle pane, like in Nexus, which is not even customizable) and Menu button, which I use VERY often.
In my opinion - this scheme is the most convenient and I'd like to get it in Nexus 7.
Does anybody have an idea how it could be implemented?
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Click to collapse
Where 'menu' key is applicable, three dots show on the right low corner. If these dots don't appear, I don't think 'menu' key would bring you anywhere anyway (or those three dot's appear anywhere else, like in one of top corners, and pressing menu key would open the menu from those dots anyway, so you'd have to move your fingers a lot)
I have xperia as well (Arc S), and as much as I had to get used to it from beginning, I understand why the choice of these buttons (not every app uses the menu key, so it would be useless in such cases).
I don't know how else are you going to switch apps then, click back every time?
issak42 said:
Where 'menu' key is applicable, three dots show on the right low corner. If these dots don't appear, I don't think 'menu' key would bring you anywhere anyway (or those three dot's appear anywhere else, like in one of top corners, and pressing menu key would open the menu from those dots anyway, so you'd have to move your fingers a lot)
I have xperia as well (Arc S), and as much as I had to get used to it from beginning, I understand why the choice of these buttons (not every app uses the menu key, so it would be useless in such cases).
I don't know how else are you going to switch apps then, click back every time?
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It would be really good if it was always true. Unfortunately, it's not. For example, there is a FBReader app, where you could hide all the status and toolbars and where you just cannot get into menu without separate button. Besides it's always better to have one familiar key than to look for GUI shortcut in each app.
To switch between apps - long press on Home key. It's not so frequently used feature to have a special button for that. IMHO.
Anyway, does anyone know anything about some solution?

Was the N4 bottom nav designed by a lefty?

Just got the N4 yesterday and love it but for one really irksome thing -- that the back button, which I use a lot, is on the left while the "running apps" button, which I don't, is on the right. It's a big phone so having stuff as near as possible to the bottom right-hand corner is key to one-handed operation (for righties, of course). So when I'm using Google Reader, the back button is at bottom left, and the "Up to category list" button is at top left. Really slows things down.
Am I the only one annoyed by this? Is there a fix short of a new ROM?
A rom may allow you to swap the buttons around. It doesnt bother me I hold my phone in my left hand a lot.
That was a big reason why I decided to root and go to an AOKP rom. Back button on the right side now and I'm so much happier.
It bothered me at first when moving from a Galaxy S (back on right side) to the Galaxy Nexus (back on left side). Got used to it after about a month though.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Never noticed! But I prefer to get rid of them for the screen real estate.
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
However, I'm strongly against the removal of the Search button that started in 3.x. I used Search for many apps, and it was an amazing shortcut. Fullscreen browser? Press search and you got access to the URL bar. Looking for a contact? Search button. Want to do a search in a file explorer? There's a familiar button for that. Recents should have stayed as a long press of the Home button.
Hung0702 said:
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
However, I'm strongly against the removal of the Search button that started in 3.x. I used Search for many apps, and it was an amazing shortcut. Fullscreen browser? Press search and you got access to the URL bar. Looking for a contact? Search button. Want to do a search in a file explorer? There's a familiar button for that. Recents should have stayed as a long press of the Home button.
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I disagree with long press on home as recents. Many android noobs didn't even know there was a a "alt tab" in Android until they've heard it from someone or was told by someone.
It's more intuitive when theres a recents button. As far as search, it's supposed to be on the top right of an app same with the legacy menu. On contacts, its on the bottom left.
IMO they should go back to the 4 capacitive buttons. Menu, Home, Back, Search. There was NOTHING wrong with this setup. Search was arguably the weakest one but with Google now, I'd say it's just as important as the rest of them. I get the fact that not all apps will have Menu, but Home and Back are just about universal, and Menu is used quite a bit too. The capacitive buttons free up screen real-estate too. I don't like styling things just for style's sake.
se1000 said:
IMO they should go back to the 4 capacitive buttons. Menu, Home, Back, Search. There was NOTHING wrong with this setup. Search was arguably the weakest one but with Google now, I'd say it's just as important as the rest of them. I get the fact that not all apps will have Menu, but Home and Back are just about universal, and Menu is used quite a bit too. The capacitive buttons free up screen real-estate too. I don't like styling things just for style's sake.
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That's the app's fault for not implementing the menu button on their app, regardless you have the legacy menu button the bottom right.
If you don't like it then install a custom ROM and change the navigation bar to your liking. It's simple as that, no reason to debate about this and how it should be on stock android.
zephiK said:
That's the app's fault for not implementing the menu button on their app, regardless you have the legacy menu button the bottom right.
If you don't like it then install a custom ROM and change the navigation bar to your liking. It's simple as that, no reason to debate about this and how it should be on stock android.
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I have, and I like my current setup (Menu, Home, Back). I'm just saying that I'd rather have the 4 capacitive buttons back.
zephiK said:
I disagree with long press on home as recents. Many android noobs didn't even know there was a a "alt tab" in Android until they've heard it from someone or was told by someone.
It's more intuitive when theres a recents button. As far as search, it's supposed to be on the top right of an app same with the legacy menu. On contacts, its on the bottom left.
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If only recents was actually comparable to Windows' Alt+tab. As it is, recents is no more useful to me than it was in Gingerbread
The best button choice for me would have been, in the order, BACK, HOME, MENU. You need to go to settings? Just press the "menu" button. Need to open recent apps? Just press and hold the "home" button. Simple as that.
It was all so much more consistent when the menu button was integrated in the system. Now you have to go and look for it in a place that differs from app to app... jeez, I feel like I'm holding an iPhone.
No menu and a dedicated, invasive multitasking app is a double step backwards for me.
SkippyFlipjack said:
Just got the N4 yesterday and love it but for one really irksome thing -- that the back button, which I use a lot, is on the left while the "running apps" button, which I don't, is on the right. It's a big phone so having stuff as near as possible to the bottom right-hand corner is key to one-handed operation (for righties, of course). So when I'm using Google Reader, the back button is at bottom left, and the "Up to category list" button is at top left. Really slows things down.
Am I the only one annoyed by this? Is there a fix short of a new ROM?
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Click to collapse
That's how us lefty's feel living in a right handed world
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Hung0702 said:
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
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Click to collapse
I agree that design-wise it makes sense; the aesthete in me would take issue with a left-facing arrow button sitting on the right side, which sort of looks like it's telling you to press the button in the middle. I just think that these larger phones should design where possible for one-handed operation (and have a lefty mode too!)
note: by 'one-handed operation' no, I don't mean I'm watching porn

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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Click to collapse
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!

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