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I'm hoping to get some help from a developer to make two apps that I can't find anything like on the market. I have no clue what's involved, but if nothing else, maybe someone can shed some light on how hard these would e to make - or actually make them
- App 1 is just a simple app to replicate the function of the home button. IE, you run the app, you go to your home screen. That's it.
- App 2 is an app to go to your last task. The idea is to be able to simple toggle between two apps. Program might need some sort of ignore list (like ignoring itself!).
Reason - I'm using Gesture Launcher (http://www.appbrain.com/app/gesture-launcher/com.reeyees.gesturelauncher) and am getting used to going to the floating hand instead of the home button. I'd like to be able to do everything from there.
So, ideally, I would like to program a gesture to go home instead of hitting the home button, and program a gesture to go to last app instead of last app.
Thanks in advance!
the first one..
http://db.tt/kcYl8Oy
Jordan5222 said:
the first one..
http://db.tt/kcYl8Oy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that was fast, tyvm. Is this something you just wrote, or xists somewhere where I failed to find it via google/appbrain?
edit - just tried it out, works perfectly!
I've writed it. It's pretty easy.
For the second one sorry but today i don't have so much time and i have to think about it.
So you want an app that just takes you to the last open app or an app that opens the most recently used tab thing?
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.lulz_industries.lassiecomehome
uploaded in the market, just in case someone want download it and does not want to search the url in the forum.
For the second one just hold down the home button. The apps there are listed in order of latest opened.
Jordan5222 said:
I've writed it. It's pretty easy.
For the second one sorry but today i don't have so much time and i have to think about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought about looking into the language (I program in VB6), but figured there were fees & stuff - wasn't worth it just to have my name in the market
generalamerica said:
So you want an app that just takes you to the last open app or an app that opens the most recently used tab thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An app that takes you to the last open app (and ignore itself). For example, in the morning I load up Waze (a map/traffic program) and Astro player for listening to podcasts. Would like to be able to gesture to move back & forth between them.
Another example - I'm .. reading a book. I gesture to check Twitter, then want to use a gesture to go back to last app (book reader).
It would have to ignore itself (or the app itself would get into a loop or something?), and it would have to ignore the gesture program - and possibly others (ignore home?) - so that one would be harder to do.
As a temp. measure, looking for a program that just pops up the same thing that holding down the home-key would do (show 8 recent apps). That would be better then nothing, but not quite what I would ideally like.
Jordan5222 said:
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.lulz_industries.lassiecomehome
uploaded in the market, just in case someone want download it and does not want to search the url in the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A good idea - never know when someone else might want it, and there's nothing else in the market like it I'm aware of.
-----
Edit - looking into:
QuickSwitch - watching video, looks like designed for a slide out keyboard, but can do hard-keyboard-less. Testing shortly.
and
PreviousApp description says it's activated by Camera long press which wouldn't help.
So you basically want an app that emulates the back arrow key?
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Does More.
generalamerica said:
So you basically want an app that emulates the back arrow key?
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Does More.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish it was that easy.
(example 1) Run Twitter app, launch web link. Click 3 or 4 more links. Want to go back to Twitter? Click back arrow about 5 times. Back arrow has no way to know if you meant back 1 page, or back to previous app. (Similar things happen with many many apps).
(example 2) Run book reader. Run Twitter. Click back arrow to go back to book (works fine). Click back arrow to go back to Twitter (oops, doesn't work).
(in example 2 - would like app to go back & forth between reader & twitter)
Went back & forth with the maker of QuickSwitch (a pretty neat app on it's own) describing what I was looking for. He's looking into it as well
OH - also btw - an all called Clutch Pad does similar things (including a last app), but having a bad time triggering the event regularly. If/when it runs perfectly every time it would handle everything I mentioned! The dev there is also very responsive.
Thanks to all for help - I was hoping this last app thing would be like the home thing that Jordan5222 made - something that a dev would spend 10 minutes making. If it's a big project, it's not that important!
Give a try to this if it's ok. I don't have your launcher so i can't test it.
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Let me know how it work or if I don't have understood well what you want.
Jordan5222 said:
Give a try to this if it's ok. I don't have your launcher so i can't test it.
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Let me know how it work or if I don't have understood well what you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading now.
Installed... loading app list in program.. hmm, not working on Gesture Launcher.
I tried to load up Twitter, then load up NewsRob (rss reader). Then I ran the program from GL. GL shows it found the app & ran it, but nothing happened.
To test it further, I re-ran Twitter & Newsrob. Then using the hold-down-home, I ran your app over & over again. This correctly switched between Twitter & Newsrob.
Do you have Gesture Editor as an ignored-app (ie, if I launch your app from GL, it doesn't go to the last app - which is GL) ?
I'll gladly pay for your license for the GL if you'd like to try it yourself. I'm getting kinda curious if this is do-able at this point, since I think these 2 apps can be used for many different alternate launchers (like GL, Clutch Pad, Swipe Pad [actually, this last app would be fricking amazing in Swipe Pad])
polstein said:
Downloading now.
Installed... loading app list in program.. hmm, not working on Gesture Launcher.
I tried to load up Twitter, then load up NewsRob (rss reader). Then I ran the program from GL. GL shows it found the app & ran it, but nothing happened.
To test it further, I re-ran Twitter & Newsrob. Then using the hold-down-home, I ran your app over & over again. This correctly switched between Twitter & Newsrob.
Do you have Gesture Editor as an ignored-app (ie, if I launch your app from GL, it doesn't go to the last app - which is GL) ?
I'll gladly pay for your license for the GL if you'd like to try it yourself. I'm getting kinda curious if this is do-able at this point, since I think these 2 apps can be used for many different alternate launchers (like GL, Clutch Pad, Swipe Pad [actually, this last app would be fricking amazing in Swipe Pad])
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't understand how many tasks i have to go back without using your launcher. i have only gesture search.
i don't guarantee that will work with the launcher but i can at least try.
i don't know the others launcher, are they similar?
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EDIT
Just in case.. give a try to this, maybe it will work in gesture launcher
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Jordan5222 said:
i don't understand how many tasks i have to go back without using your launcher. i have only gesture search.
i don't guarantee that will work with the launcher but i can at least try.
i don't know the others launcher, are they similar?
-----------------------
EDIT
Just in case.. give a try to this, maybe it will work in gesture launcher
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading new version now.
The other launchers are similar - you can try SwipePad for free from the market. SwipePad gives you some hot points - you click on them and 12 favorite apps/shortcuts appear (so it's drag from corner to shortcut to launch it). I've actually read in the SP thread about people asking to make the bottom 3 apps the most recent ones.
The 1st version of Back 2 Home works *perfectly* with Slide Pad. I'll have to play tomorrow with it, the home program & SwipePad (played a bit in the car on the way home) - but it worked very, very well !
2nd version of Back 2 Task seems to work about the same. Works well with SwipePad, not at all with Gesture Launcher. Works with press & hold of home button. What's the difference between the versions?
I'll actually have to think a bit of which launcher makes more sense. Gesture Launcher allows unlimited programs & shortcuts (limited by memory really), but is slower. Slide Pad allows 12, but is quicker. Both do Shortcuts (like a Folder Organizer folder) & Applications. GL seems to have a problem with Sense's Mail app (it gets stuck there).
With you app (currently) working perfectly in SwipePad, (and the home app too) it's a big ++ for SwipePad. I'll search for the thread of Slide Pad and ask them to test out the Home app & both versions of the Last app & see if we can get some other people in on this.
Either way, you might want to publish the 1st version of Back to the Task on the market as well for people that can't otherwise get to it.
...and once again, thanks for your work!
Edit - I noticed that sometimes I called it "Slide Pad", and sometimes "Swipe Pad" - the free one I'm talking about is SwipePad Beta - sorry, getting mixed up in all the names!
Edit 2 - In the name of the warped: Currently playing with a combination of SwipePad & Gesture Launcher. My 3x4 grid that I'll be experimenting with tomorrow is:
sms/mail/contact group manager
ireader/camera/quick settings
internet/newsrob/tweetcaster premium
gesture launcher/lassie come home/back to the task
I have Swipe shortcuts to my most common apps used. I have Swipe set to use bottom corners, so BTTT is at a very quick position, as is home. I can use Gesture Launcher to access the other programs (including Gestures to get to my 5 Folder Organizer folders).
I did experiment briefly with putting a Favorite Folder Organizer folder in the bottom left, but Back to the Task had similar problems as Gesture Launcher with it (it kept puling up the folder as a task).
Lessee. Direct SwipePad for most common apps. SwipePad into 20 or so memorized apps in Gesture Launcher. SwipePad into GestureLauncher (shapes are 1-5) to get to my Apps/Games/Internet/Multimedia/Tools Folder Organizer stuff - sounds good to me
polstein said:
Downloading new version now.
The other launchers are similar - you can try SwipePad for free from the market. SwipePad gives you some hot points - you click on them and 12 favorite apps/shortcuts appear (so it's drag from corner to shortcut to launch it). I've actually read in the SP thread about people asking to make the bottom 3 apps the most recent ones.
The 1st version of Back 2 Home works *perfectly* with Slide Pad. I'll have to play tomorrow with it, the home program & SwipePad (played a bit in the car on the way home) - but it worked very, very well !
2nd version of Back 2 Task seems to work about the same. Works well with SwipePad, not at all with Gesture Launcher. Works with press & hold of home button. What's the difference between the versions?
I'll actually have to think a bit of which launcher makes more sense. Gesture Launcher allows unlimited programs & shortcuts (limited by memory really), but is slower. Slide Pad allows 12, but is quicker. Both do Shortcuts (like a Folder Organizer folder) & Applications. GL seems to have a problem with Sense's Mail app (it gets stuck there).
With you app (currently) working perfectly in SwipePad, (and the home app too) it's a big ++ for SwipePad. I'll search for the thread of Slide Pad and ask them to test out the Home app & both versions of the Last app & see if we can get some other people in on this.
Either way, you might want to publish the 1st version of Back to the Task on the market as well for people that can't otherwise get to it.
...and once again, thanks for your work!
Edit - I noticed that sometimes I called it "Slide Pad", and sometimes "Swipe Pad" - the free one I'm talking about is SwipePad Beta - sorry, getting mixed up in all the names!
Edit 2 - In the name of the warped: Currently playing with a combination of SwipePad & Gesture Launcher. My 3x4 grid that I'll be experimenting with tomorrow is:
sms/mail/contact group manager
ireader/camera/quick settings
internet/newsrob/tweetcaster premium
gesture launcher/lassie come home/back to the task
I have Swipe shortcuts to my most common apps used. I have Swipe set to use bottom corners, so BTTT is at a very quick position, as is home. I can use Gesture Launcher to access the other programs (including Gestures to get to my 5 Folder Organizer folders).
I did experiment briefly with putting a Favorite Folder Organizer folder in the bottom left, but Back to the Task had similar problems as Gesture Launcher with it (it kept puling up the folder as a task).
Lessee. Direct SwipePad for most common apps. SwipePad into 20 or so memorized apps in Gesture Launcher. SwipePad into GestureLauncher (shapes are 1-5) to get to my Apps/Games/Internet/Multimedia/Tools Folder Organizer stuff - sounds good to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, what works better? 1st version or 2nd version? so i can restore it eventually and re upload.
From tomorrow i have more time so i can try with launchers.. We use the phone in a different way, i've never use these launchers, i have many icons on the home screen.
Jordan5222 said:
ok, what works better? 1st version or 2nd version? so i can restore it eventually and re upload.
From tomorrow i have more time so i can try with launchers.. We use the phone in a different way, i've never use these launchers, i have many icons on the home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to play with version 1 for a day, then uninstall and try 2 to know for sure. Limited (under 5 minute) testing - they seem to be the same.
I was thinking about an exclusion list/ignore list - problem is, I'm not sure where you would build it unless you (in theory) had 2 apps: The one that did last app, and a separate config app.
This morning, I did hit some force closes on the app (it gave me a FC, then oddly worked anyway). I wound up rebooting my phone & haven't hit any yet.
Also, while it's only been a couple of hours, this entire layout thingy I'm doing seems very promising. Like you, I was just using 12 icons on my today screen, backed with Launcher Pro (5 dock icons are all Folder Organizer shortcuts). While it works, it never felt that smooth.
The plus is that you don't have any extra apps in memory, so it's pretty fast. And when you go to your home screen to launch an app, you can see other widgets (weather, maybe a to-do list..etc).
On the flip side, I was getting annoyed at being in a program, hitting home, hitting a folder, then running the app. At this rate, my home button won't last much longer! I don't like most recent apps since they apps aren't always in the same spot. I don't want to have to stare at my screen & look for a specific icon to run a program.
So in short, it just feels like android could do better. My current solution is defiantly over-complicated.. but so far working for me (with your help!).
SwipePad is free - if you are really curious, download a copy and give it at least a day to play with. Try putting your last app on one of the bottom corners & experiment a bit. Heck, for all I know, in a couple days I'll toss this idea out & go back to where you are now myself.
EDIT: Found out that SwipePad works on lock screen (or does on Widget Locker, which I use). So I removed all sliders from Widget Locker and now using SwipePad as my hidden unlocker. SwipePad to Back to the Task does the same thing as a normal unlock - goes to the last app running before Widget Locker
I have installed Swipepad beta. Bttt does not work. Later when i return home i try to fix it. Interesting way to use the phone and navigate trough the various things you're doing.
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EDIT
Just fixed...
can you try with swipepad? http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Is this the correct behaviour that it's expected to have?
Jordan5222 said:
I have installed Swipepad beta. Bttt does not work. Later when i return home i try to fix it. Interesting way to use the phone and navigate trough the various things you're doing.
---------------------------------------
EDIT
can you try with swipepad? http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Is this the correct behaviour that it's expected to have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using Swipe Pad for a few days, and BTTT is behaving mostly correct. It's a real fast way to jump to the last task. Only problem I hit is when the last app is Gesture Launcher or a Folder Organizer folder (which register as the last "app").
polstein said:
I've been using Swipe Pad for a few days, and BTTT is behaving mostly correct. It's a real fast way to jump to the last task. Only problem I hit is when the last app is Gesture Launcher or a Folder Organizer folder (which register as the last "app").
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the problem is exactly that. Different launchers and apps behave in different ways and we need to go back in different ways
Jordan5222 said:
the problem is exactly that. Different launchers and apps behave in different ways and we need to go back in different ways
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I had a feeling when I first posted that the last app wasn't a simple thing.
Still, I think the way it works is fine for what I need. If you really want to make it into something more professional, the only way I can see doing it would be to implement some sort of "ignore apps on this list."
If your Last App ignored Home/Widget Locker/Gesture Launcher/Folder Organizer/Swipe Pad it would be perfect.
For a quick app made for 1 user (anyone else using it that isn't posting?) - it's fine the way it is (and one again, thanks for the apps!)
I think it would be bada** if someone implemented the browser circle control (the one where you drag your thumb or finger in from the edge) into a rom, for use throughout the whole system. Granted, it might only be useful for the back, menu, and home buttons, but am i the only one that thinks this would be awesome? instead of having to reach over and hit back every time, you could just slide your thumb in..I know that sounds incredibly lazy, but oh well..i still think it would be cool....i would use that rom just for this feature...Is it possible?
It can be done by loading a module, but someone need to code it.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Wave launcher?
no wave launcher allows you to put certain apps in it like the palm pre. i'm looking to have that circle of controls in the browser be universal...for instance, when i am on the xda app, i keep sliding my thumb in to go back, but its not there...
I bought my transformer today after seeing this 'circle' functionality in a review, but can'tfind it?
You have to enable it in the browser settings.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Since I had no idea what it was I went looking and I just found it.
In the browser go to settings then to labs then turn on quick controls.
I am assuming this is it. I turned it back off instantly but maybe you will like it better than me.
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+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.
After using the Fire TV for a while I figured I would share my most inportant app. Its an app that I never really cared about using on other devices, but could not live without it on the Fire TV. Dock4Droid is awesome on the fire TV. Not only does it make multitasking funtional, but it gives you the ability to uninstall apps from anywhere. If you have an app open, just click the gear and the app info will popup and let you uninstall it. So you can uninstall several apps withing seconds without having to go all the to the actuall setting menu. If you have the app store apk that shows all your apps on the home screen you can simply open the app, hit the gear, delete the app, delete cache/data, and move on to another app. You can keep apps and shortcuts permanantly on the dock, so if you wanna do a fast reboot from anywhere, you can. It makes using multiple apps super fast. I have mine set to open apps with two finger so all I have to do is just put the cursor near the app and let go of the mouse button and it opens. I do not use the dock background, cause it looks horrible, but the color mist background looks great, and can be set to any color. The only problem is that it causes an artifact along the top and left side when the cusor passes over, but I have found that all apps that can be opened from an activation area do the same on the fire TV. Sidebar, Fancy Switcher etc all cause the same square artifact. Anyway, just thought I would share incase someone was looking for something to make their Fire TV a little easier to navigate through. Feel free to share other apps that are important to use on the Fire TV. No games or entertainment apps, just apps that make using the Fire TV easier or better.
porkenhimer said:
After using the Fire TV for a while I figured I would share my most inportant app. Its an app that I never really cared about using on other devices, but could not live without it on the Fire TV. Dock4Droid is awesome on the fire TV. Not only does it make multitasking funtional, but it gives you the ability to uninstall apps from anywhere. If you have an app open, just click the gear and the app info will popup and let you uninstall it. So you can uninstall several apps withing seconds without having to go all the to the actuall setting menu. If you have the app store apk that shows all your apps on the home screen you can simply open the app, hit the gear, delete the app, delete cache/data, and move on to another app. You can keep apps and shortcuts permanantly on the dock, so if you wanna do a fast reboot from anywhere, you can. It makes using multiple apps super fast. I have mine set to open apps with two finger so all I have to do is just put the cursor near the app and let go of the mouse button and it opens. I do not use the dock background, cause it looks horrible, but the color mist background looks great, and can be set to any color. The only problem is that it causes an artifact along the top and left side when the cusor passes over, but I have found that all apps that can be opened from an activation area do the same on the fire TV. Sidebar, Fancy Switcher etc all cause the same square artifact. Anyway, just thought I would share incase someone was looking for something to make their Fire TV a little easier to navigate through. Feel free to share other apps that are important to use on the Fire TV. No games or entertainment apps, just apps that make using the Fire TV easier or better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice find, porkenhimer. What are you using for a mouse? I own Dock4Droid, used it on my Samsung tablet for quite a while.
Would it work on the Fire stick?
Thanks.
I am actually using an offbrand keyboard with touchpad that I got new on ebay for around $5. To be honest this cheap ugly keyboard/touchpad has worked better than anything else I have used on the fire TV. This $5 keyboard has more features and runs better than my $50 dollar keyboard. Not bad for a cheap chinese made keyboard. I use it exclusively for the Fire TV now and it combined with Dock4Droid make my Fire TV amazing. I rarely use the remote unless I am using Kodi. With Dock4Droid I can just go from app to app without ever needing to go to the homescreen too ofton. Plus I can force close apps from anywhere with Dock4Droid, so if an app is acting up there is no need to go all the way to the manage apps screen I can just close it instantly with Dock4Droid. I can be watching something in Kodi and need to look something up on google, I just popup Dock4Droid and open the browser while Kodi still plays in the baackgroud for me to listen, which is nice., cause I do not have to use the home button. I am pretty sure it will work on the stick too.
porkenhimer said:
I am actually using an offbrand keyboard with touchpad that I got new on ebay for around $5. To be honest this cheap ugly keyboard/touchpad has worked better than anything else I have used on the fire TV. This $5 keyboard has more features and runs better than my $50 dollar keyboard. Not bad for a cheap chinese made keyboard. I use it exclusively for the Fire TV now and it combined with Dock4Droid make my Fire TV amazing. I rarely use the remote unless I am using Kodi. With Dock4Droid I can just go from app to app without ever needing to go to the homescreen too ofton. Plus I can force close apps from anywhere with Dock4Droid, so if an app is acting up there is no need to go all the way to the manage apps screen I can just close it instantly with Dock4Droid. I can be watching something in Kodi and need to look something up on google, I just popup Dock4Droid and open the browser while Kodi still plays in the baackgroud for me to listen, which is nice., cause I do not have to use the home button. I am pretty sure it will work on the stick too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, porkenhimer, I really appreciate it.
I can't figure out how to get to the configuration options. I'm only able to get to the screen to turn it on and off.
Just go to manage all apps and open Dock4Droid.
I can open it but there is only around 4 options. I can't find any of the configuration options as shown in the YouTube video. There's a part at the bottom that shows Launchers, but it's empty.
Jedis said:
I can open it but there is only around 4 options. I can't find any of the configuration options as shown in the YouTube video. There's a part at the bottom that shows Launchers, but it's empty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check your inbox on here, cause I sent instructions to you.
I gave it a try. I guess if you are using a keyboard with mouse mode all the time it is handy. It would be more useful if the app bar would stay active after being clicked. I can only figure out how to select an item from the bar by keeping the mouse button pushed and scrolling around to highlight the app icon and letting go.
Unless I missed a setting somewhere ... I dont see how to be able to use the app without using both hands and multi-touch.
mscroggi said:
I gave it a try. I guess if you are using a keyboard with mouse mode all the time it is handy. It would be more useful if the app bar would stay active after being clicked. I can only figure out how to select an item from the bar by keeping the mouse button pushed and scrolling around to highlight the app icon and letting go.
Unless I missed a setting somewhere ... I dont see how to be able to use the app without using both hands and multi-touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have it set to open apps with a finger up swipe then all you have to do is put the cursor anywhere in the area of an app that shows the label and let go of the mouse button. You do not really need to do a finger up swipe to open apps, just put the cursor in any apps area and let go of the button. The app that shows a label will be the app that opens. Also to get the dock to stay on screen all you have to do is set it to open apps with one click or two clicks and when you activate Dock4Droid it willl stay up til you click once or twice on the app. Some other settings I have set is making the icons 12pix, cause the icons become sharper the smaller they are. I also have my activation area set to the bottom at 100% with the smallest width and invisible, cause that way it does not interfere with anything else on the screen. All I have to do is put my cursor in the bottom right corner and press the mouse and it activates.
porkenhimer said:
If you have it set to open apps with a finger up swipe then all you have to do is put the cursor anywhere in the area of an app that shows the label and let go of the mouse button. You do not really need to do a finger up swipe to open apps, just put the cursor in any apps area and let go of the button. The app that shows a label will be the app that opens. Also to get the dock to stay on screen all you have to do is set it to open apps with one click or two clicks and when you activate Dock4Droid it willl stay up til you click once or twice on the app. Some other settings I have set is making the icons 12pix, cause the icons become sharper the smaller they are. I also have my activation area set to the bottom at 100% with the smallest width and invisible, cause that way it does not interfere with anything else on the screen. All I have to do is put my cursor in the bottom right corner and press the mouse and it activates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm Are you running this on a stick? I finally got it to basicallly work.. I was never able to get the bar to show without clicking the mouse and moving the cursor at the same time. My issues had to do with which keyboard I was using .. There were a bunch of settings I could not get to. I could scroll down a poage.. but no further... doing alt->down would bounce me to the bottom page, but I was never able to get to the pages inbetween. My ipazzport has a <<<<>>>>> bar on the touchpad that would let me get to the settings between the top page and the bottom page.. I was able to get some things set and then go back to my other keyboard. My normal keyboard mini BT keyboard has mouse buttons on the left and right side.. which makes the multi touch thing fairly easy. I will play with it and see how I like it over time.. On the surface, I think maybe the firedtv app might be a better fit for me.. as I dont always use the keyboard.
Jacksmyname said:
Nice find, porkenhimer. What are you using for a mouse? I own Dock4Droid, used it on my Samsung tablet for quite a while.
Would it work on the Fire stick?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check out the FAVI Wireless Keyboard/Touchpad! This thing is great. I think someone posted a thread on it. Great reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/FAVI-FE02RF-BL-Wireless-Keyboard-SmartStick/dp/B0090BTY8Y
mscroggi said:
Hmm Are you running this on a stick? I finally got it to basicallly work.. I was never able to get the bar to show without clicking the mouse and moving the cursor at the same time. My issues had to do with which keyboard I was using .. There were a bunch of settings I could not get to. I could scroll down a poage.. but no further... doing alt->down would bounce me to the bottom page, but I was never able to get to the pages inbetween. My ipazzport has a <<<<>>>>> bar on the touchpad that would let me get to the settings between the top page and the bottom page.. I was able to get some things set and then go back to my other keyboard. My normal keyboard mini BT keyboard has mouse buttons on the left and right side.. which makes the multi touch thing fairly easy. I will play with it and see how I like it over time.. On the surface, I think maybe the firedtv app might be a better fit for me.. as I dont always use the keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you have to do is hold the mouse button down while moving your finger up or down on the touchpad to move from the bottom or top of the screen. Also, there is a setting to make apps open with one or two clicks, if you set them to open with one or two clicks then you only have to click the activation area and the dock will popup and stay up til you click an app once or twice.
As we wait for the list of officially supported apps to grow, I am hoping this can be a place to list (side-loaded) apps that are known to work well on the Nvidia Shield Android TV. The couple apps that I have side-loaded don't really work (Google Photos) with only the controller. I would love to hear what others have tried.
What apps have you side-loaded and use with success?
I've replaced the Leanback Launcher with Nova Launcher (version 3.3 as it works better with the controller than 4.0). With a little configuration you can get it to look and work really well on the Shield.
Nova lets you create shortcuts to any activity on the system, so you can still put shortcuts to Android TV-specific apps on the homescreen. You can also add a shortcut to the Leanback Launcher activity to get back to the main Android TV interface if needed. Or, you can set it up so that pressing the home button while in Nova Launcher takes you back to Leanback Launcher (so, press home button once for Nova, home button twice for Leanback). I can post a tutorial on how to set this up if anyone's interested.
I'm also using a Bluetooth mouse with my Shield, but since Android TV has no on-screen navbar, Simple Control works very well for adding back/home navigation buttons. (You have to activate it through the Android TV accessibility settings, as running the app directly doesn't seem to work correctly for setting it up)
WIth these two apps installed, running sideloaded apps on the Shield becomes a much more pleasant experience
i am trying to connect the console to my pc with es file explorer ... but ES file explorer is not finding anything when scanning the network
on my other android box .. it found it and i was able to use it ..
any ideas ?
Connect to pc with es file explorer
wwatfa said:
i am trying to connect the console to my pc with es file explorer ... but ES file explorer is not finding anything when scanning the network
on my other android box .. it found it and i was able to use it ..
any ideas ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had the same scan issue with my shield tv (after update) using es.
Resolved the issue by manually inputting ip and windows log in.
Love it.
farmerbb said:
I've replaced the Leanback Launcher with Nova Launcher (version 3.3 as it works better with the controller than 4.0). With a little configuration you can get it to look and work really well on the Shield.
Nova lets you create shortcuts to any activity on the system, so you can still put shortcuts to Android TV-specific apps on the homescreen. You can also add a shortcut to the Leanback Launcher activity to get back to the main Android TV interface if needed. Or, you can set it up so that pressing the home button while in Nova Launcher takes you back to Leanback Launcher (so, press home button once for Nova, home button twice for Leanback). I can post a tutorial on how to set this up if anyone's interested.
I'm also using a Bluetooth mouse with my Shield, but since Android TV has no on-screen navbar, Simple Control works very well for adding back/home navigation buttons. (You have to activate it through the Android TV accessibility settings, as running the app directly doesn't seem to work correctly for setting it up)
WIth these two apps installed, running sideloaded apps on the Shield becomes a much more pleasant experience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying this out right now, it's working great. Can you post the tutorial on how to set up the home button for both launchers, that would make this shield nearly perfect. Thanks!
akuma148 said:
I'm trying this out right now, it's working great. Can you post the tutorial on how to set up the home button for both launchers, that would make this shield nearly perfect. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, go to Nova Settings > Gestures and Buttons > Home Button, then in the "Choose action" dialog, go to the Shortcuts tab and choose Activities. Then scroll down to Leanback Launcher, press that and then press Home Screen.
With this set up, the first press of the home button launches Nova Launcher, the second press will launch Leanback Launcher.
Thanks, home button is working great for both.
farmerbb said:
I've replaced the Leanback Launcher with Nova Launcher (version 3.3 as it works better with the controller than 4.0). With a little configuration you can get it to look and work really well on the Shield.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I get my nviida shield android tv box in two weeks and am keen to try something like this too...
Is installing nova as simple as sideloading it and then choosing it as default home? Does that work? Does it mess up anything else, like the hardware game controller or voice commands etc?
Thanks, Mark.
fredphoesh said:
Hi
I get my nviida shield android tv box in two weeks and am keen to try something like this too...
Is installing nova as simple as sideloading it and then choosing it as default home? Does that work? Does it mess up anything else, like the hardware game controller or voice commands etc?
Thanks, Mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, just sideload the apk, then next time you press the home button it will ask you to choose which launcher you want to set as default. Yes you can still use the controller and voice commands, nothing changes there.
farmerbb said:
Yep, just sideload the apk, then next time you press the home button it will ask you to choose which launcher you want to set as default. Yes you can still use the controller and voice commands, nothing changes there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah great, that is exactly what I will do then...
Actually I love Nova, but for TV I prefer SquareHome... it is a bit clunky to customise, but it's pretty good for TV as you can have huge tiles to click on and each tile can be a folder for categories of apps and clicking on these folders, the screen slides over to reveal the contents of the folder. Nice animation. Pity it has some unfinished issues with customisation, but still my TV interface of choice.
Amazon instant, showbox and dolphin browser using chainfire's sideload launcher to run them from the main home ui. The only thing is that you need to use a mouse to navigate all these apps. Logitecs unifying receiver is plug n play.
I'm in Australia and I've managed to get this little micro usb DVB-t tv tuner working. (fits perfectly in the back micro usb slot)
https://www.elgato.com/en/eyetv/eyetv-micro
Just plugged it in and installed the app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elgato.eyetv.micro&hl=en
Had to install the app on my phone first then back it up with https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.app.managerfree&hl=en to get the apk then side loaded it through esfile explorer.
works ok and it gets all the free to air stations here in Oz..
A good place to start with this is the thread in the Nexus Player forum.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-player/general/list-apps-nexus-player-t2947707
dlusica said:
Had the same scan issue with my shield tv (after update) using es.
Resolved the issue by manually inputting ip and windows log in.
Love it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In es file explorer, I can see samba shares if I add them manually but I can't write to the server, and the shield absolutely refuses to open the ftp server on my pc, can't even add manually with port and ip. I've resorted to using chrome to download from my ftp nightmarish man.
I just side loaded RetroArch and it worked well, the controller configurations in game a little off though.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
tooandrew said:
In es file explorer, I can see samba shares if I add them manually but I can't write to the server, and the shield absolutely refuses to open the ftp server on my pc, can't even add manually with port and ip. I've resorted to using chrome to download from my ftp nightmarish man.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've found xplore to be a good file explorer app for samba shares, be sure to enable lan in both views for convenience.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
How do you do the setup so that the one press or two press goes to either launchers?
Edit: sorry I see where you explained it already. Thanks again.
Is there any way to set up the same type of double tab home gesture within square home so I can get back to lean back launcher. I've got it loaded but can't seen to find a way. Really like the ability to switch back and forth like Nova.
I would love to figure out how to do the following. I cut and pasted from farmerbb's post.
"Nova lets you create shortcuts to any activity on the system, so you can still put shortcuts to Android TV-specific apps on the home screen.”
I use Nova Prime on my Nexus 6 so am somewhat familiar with it. Had no trouble setting it up so one touch of the home button brings me to Nova and second to Leanback. I can also have an Android TV-specific app open with a double tap of a mouse button. It’s set up now so a double tap of the mouse while in Nova opens the Android TV-specific Settings app.
I can’t figure out how to add an Android TV-specific app to the Nova desk top.
Please Help!
anyone have the most up to date TWC TV apk working? im trying to get 4.1.1.16 to not check for HDMI but i can't quite get it figured out.