Database Users

Quick keys to home??

I tried to figure out a way to make a quick key (or even 2 of them) as a shortcut back to the default launcher screen. I thought i would get it using launcher pro but i still couldnt figure out a way to do it. If any body knows how or if im just missing the obvious please let me know b\c that would be ideal for the way i use the phone/keypad combo. thanks, veritas

Why not just hit the home key on the screen?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

veritasaequita said:
I tried to figure out a way to make a quick key (or even 2 of them) as a shortcut back to the default launcher screen. I thought i would get it using launcher pro but i still couldnt figure out a way to do it. If any body knows how or if im just missing the obvious please let me know b\c that would be ideal for the way i use the phone/keypad combo. thanks, veritas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Under quick keys go to Activities. Select the LauncherPro drop down and select the first under under launcherPro, which is com.fede.launcher.Launcher. Then your done. =)

I swore the bottom left most button is a home key. Mabe just my model

Mog said:
I swore the bottom left most button is a home key. Mabe just my model
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Click to collapse
Yeah, but that's another 2 inches of thumb travel. Totally not worth it!

I used Anycut to set the two quick keys on the right to Home / Browser.
To do this, install Anycut and select it when assigning the short cut. Next, select Activities and start scrolling until you find what you're looking for.

Handling the genius button press

We need to figure out a way to customize the genius button. It would be a great service to everyone, especially if it doesn't require root.
I looked at logCat, and I see that the button fires up the following intent:
Code:
{ flg=0x10000000 cmp=com.nuance.android.vsuite.vsuiteapp/.VSuiteStartSession }
I'm not quite sure how to create an intent handler for something that doesn't have an action or a category. I even created a test app that matches the intent above exactly, but only the stock genius app launches, and I'm not given an option to choose my default handler for the action. I don't think there is a key handler to intercept either. Any ideas

You know, I was thinking about this all morning (eventhough I don't have the device). Back in the day we remapped functions for certain keys (as g1 didn not have search key of any kind). Can someone go into /system/usr and look what's in there? I believe we are looking for keylayout folder. In that folder we should have some .kl files. They named different from device to device (using Cliq now and they are all named MorrisonXXXXX.kl). Look through those files and find genious button function. From there it should be very easy to change it to google search (or voice search) but substituting the function and pushing the file back in its location. I would have no problem doing it but as I said, I don't own the device myself.
Couple more option (highly unlikely to work):
Clear defaults in Genious app
Freeze Genious app
I don't see those working but who knows... we may be able to assign new default after doing this.

kl files
Here are the files from /system/usr/keylayout
Looks like the correct entry is in glacier-keypad.kl, but it is mapped to a "search" function.
Not sure it will help, but I'd love to see search there instead.

I don't mind the genius button, it actually works fairly well the more you use it. However, I don't like that it disables the search button.
It should be single press for search, long press for genius.
That would be perfect.

rjgii said:
Here are the files from /system/usr/keylayout
Looks like the correct entry is in glacier-keypad.kl, but it is mapped to a "search" function.
Not sure it will help, but I'd love to see search there instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I'm at work so I can't really do anything with this but I will look into into it later, when I get home. You are correct, it's in the glacier-keypad.kl. Unfortunately, it's set to the same thing as regular search i.e. In G1 we used to set it to SEARCH as well but it would bring up regular search.
I will try to PM GeniusDog (the guy who figured out how to remap keys) when I get home to see if he can give me some insight on this.
Did anyone try to freeze (disable) Genious app to see if it releases G key to regular search?
We should also contact ChiefzReloaded, he would know how to do it since they put CM on Slide which did have Genious on it to begin with.

Ok, so I guess this is a little different then the Slide. Slides G key was mapped to FUNC_4. Our G key already mapped to SEARCH, its just that Genious overtakes it. I twitted Eugene_73 to see if he could help, he was the brain behind Slide's development in this area.

If its helpful to anyone, holding down the menu button will bring out search keyboard. I really wish the would give us a option to chose from the voicesearch ¦,/
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

borodin1 said:
Ok, so I guess this is a little different then the Slide. Slides G key was mapped to FUNC_4. Our G key already mapped to SEARCH, its just that Genious overtakes it. I twitted Eugene_73 to see if he could help, he was the brain behind Slide's development in this area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...what about mapping it to a function key (like on the G2) and then assign whatever action we want to that function key? I will try that out as soon as I get some free time.

Alright, so I tried modifying the key layout file on my G2 (vision-keypad.kl) just to test the process and I am not allowed to make any changes. Just get a "Read-only file system" response. I'm sure it would be the same for the MT4G. Anyone have ideas on what else to try? I really want to find a solution without rooting, but any solution would be a good start.

root
We have root now, so we should be able to modify the key mapping files.
If I find any time today I'll give it a shot.

rjgii said:
We have root now, so we should be able to modify the key mapping files.
If I find any time today I'll give it a shot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great. You will probably have to remount the system partition like this before you can write to it:
su
mount -o remount, rw /system

Oh how I hate that genius button..I would absolutely donate immediately for an app to remap it to search. That would be amazing.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

Did anyone try to uninstall (disable) Genious app yet? Since the G key mapped to SEARCH already, this may release it to actuall Google search.... just thinking out loud

I froze it last night. No response from the G button after that.

21productionz said:
I froze it last night. No response from the G button after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL...
They really mean "you" in the commercials!
You gotta customize everything..
Sent From The Moon... With a HTC Glacier

I updated my voice search in the market when I first got the phone, and for a time when I pushed the button is would actually give me the option to choose what app handled the action and I could choose voice search. However, after one time choosing the Genius button it never asked again. I wonder if there would be a way to continuously clear the Default so that it always asked.

borodin1 said:
Did anyone try to uninstall (disable) Genious app yet? Since the G key mapped to SEARCH already, this may release it to actuall Google search.... just thinking out loud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disabled dragon dictation and genius, and after holding the button for a couple seconds, my phone crashed and rebooted. Multiple taps on the button seemed to do the same thing. Leaving dragon dictation enabled and genius disabled seemed to be less prone to crashing.

This has been solved in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=836702

[Q] Is there any way to bring up the Softkeyboard with a softkey?

Hi everybody,
Does anyone know a Method to bring up the softkeyboard with a longpress on the back key? Normally it would be done by longpressing the menukey, since the gs2 doesn't have one i'd love to bring up the keyboard, for eexample with a long press on the back key.
Thanks for some answers
DDeluxe

+1
I'd like to hide it. Do a web search and follow a link. Then get annoyed at how small the window is
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

ddeluxe said:
Hi everybody,
Does anyone know a Method to bring up the softkeyboard with a longpress on the back key? Normally it would be done by longpressing the menukey, since the gs2 doesn't have one i'd love to bring up the keyboard, for eexample with a long press on the back key.
Thanks for some answers
DDeluxe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your phone doesn't have the menu key? How is that possible. Also it should bring up the soft keyboard I think.

RogerPodacter said:
Your phone doesn't have the menu key? How is that possible. Also it should bring up the soft keyboard I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he meant long pressing menu brings up search because there is no dedicated search button.
I'd be interested in a solution for this as well.
I'm inclined to think there is a way to make long press back bring up the KB for rooted devices only, and might already exist from SGS1 complaints. Samsung took a page from Apple, by which I mean they made a form over function compromise.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

slice77 said:
I think he meant long pressing menu brings up search because there is no dedicated search button.
I'd be interested in a solution for this as well.
I'm inclined to think there is a way to make long press back bring up the KB for rooted devices only, and might already exist from SGS1 complaints. Samsung took a page from Apple, by which I mean they made a form over function compromise.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't get how they made a form over function compromise like you said.
Unless I am missing something, I am assuming there is a field to type in whenever someone needs the keyboard. so what exactly would be the need for a long press on the back button, if you can just touch the field which brings the keyboard up?
Can someone explain to me if I missed something?

Sorry i ment that the galaxy s 2 doesnt have a dedicated searchbutton. Samsung decided to use a longpress on the menubutton as the searchbutton, so you cannot bring up the keyboard with the longpress menubutton. Sorry for the confusion!
And now an explenation for the question "why would you need it?":
If I want to play a HTML5 or a flash game within the Browser, where a keyboard (or only the arrowkeys) is needed, i can't bring it up without the "longpress menukbutton"...

Re-program Recent Apps Key?

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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't wait. I was spoiled by the super developers for Tbolt.

Thoughts about HTC One hardware keys

I've just read/watched the Engadget review.
I'm sold on the device. My concern is around the hardware keys. I much prefer hardware keys to software keys because the SW keys eat up so much of the on-screen real estate, and they also push the keyboard higher and make it harder to reach.
That being said, it seems by dropping the menu key, HTC has taken a step backwards after they mapped the legacy menu key to the HW menu key in recent versions of the One X / X+ build in Sense 4+. From what I've read, the legacy menu is back.
This is *bad* and has me thinking about another direction (although there doesn't seem to be a great device like the One - don't think the S4 will be anything interesting unless they've been setting up a smokescreen!).
I run an alternative launcher because I dislike Sense (other than the Camera!), but it won't solve the missing HW key / legacy menu.
Thoughts?

The two button layout doesn't bother me too much. I removed the soft keys on my Nexus 4 and use PIE so if I can function without any buttons, I'm sure I'll live with two. As for the legacy menu thing, that's an odd on HTC's part. Granted, apps should be updated to have proper menu button support, but it's something I can live with.

The removal of long press back remapping was/is probably a bug, I'm sure it will be back

idk about everyone else but i will root and flash my device just like every other phone ive had. with that we will be able to do almost what we want personalization wise. how long will we have to wait is the question.

eg1122 said:
The removal of long press back remapping was/is probably a bug, I'm sure it will be back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I heard about this early on but it's not being mentioned in reviews. If nothing else HTC will cave to peer pressure like in the HOX. Long press on back is a passable solution - particularly if we can also get the in-app menu button too.
Otherwise the other idea being thrown about (by non technical people) is if the kernel can be modded to recognise the HTC logo as a button - given that the touch panel should extend over that as well. No idea how possible this is and I presume it couldn't be done until kernel source is out.
M.

Only two buttons doesn't bother me either, i only have one on my iphone!

I'm actually cool with just 2 button too. I rarely use my menu button on my mt4g. I do everything with just the home button and back button. Also rather have capacitive buttons instead of hard buttons.
Sent from my HTC myTouch 4g using xda premium

I use the multitasking and menu options quite a bit, thus my concern

I also use the menu button quite a bit.
I am sure once we get used to it, it will be like anything else and heck, we might even like it more. Who knows till we get to play withem...
Sent from a galaxy far away!

Is it possible to activate soft buttons by editing build.prop on HTC Sense roms ?

CreepyDroid said:
Is it possible to activate soft buttons by editing build.prop on HTC Sense roms ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess. It's possible on TouchWiz, so I guess you can add a line in the build.prop in Sense too.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

My main goal would be to deactivate the hardware buttons and go completely nexus wise.
| Back - Home - Recent (small menu button when needed) |
Are stock on screen buttons smart enough to activate the additional menu button when needed?
Also... can long press software home button activate google now?

mickliq said:
I use the multitasking and menu options quite a bit, thus my concern
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So do I but a long press of the button to bring up the multi tasking menu is hardly a dealbreaker for me. Could prove to be annoying though. Time will tell I guess!
Sent from my XT925 using xda premium

^ I don't mind long-press for multi-tasking (it's what I am using today); the issue is that you can't have home, multi-tasking, Google Now and Legacy menu all on one key! I've been seeing some comments about long-press back used but the legacy menu really needs to be a single-press.

Dun recall where i read it, but the home key on double tap brings up multi tasker and on long press can b configured for google now or menu key. Thats acceptable to me.
I do prefer the 3 keys on my hox, but i realize that htc had to make a compromise to accomodate the logo. The logo could not have been placed elsewhere on the front without adding to the height of the phone.
In the end, its not a big issie and we will get used to it. Moving from 4 keys on dhd to 3 on the hox wasnt pleasing to me in the beginning, but adapted soon.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

i think its great, i never used the other two buttons anyway.