Database Users

[Q] How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?

How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?
I have an elderly relative who has never used any Android device, or much technology at all to be honest besides old feature phones and television boxes, and we shall soon be purchasing her a Google Nexus 7. We settled on this idea after noticing that the 8GB Nexus 7 model is only £159 GBP, which isn't much more than the Kindle Touch and also offers a slightly larger screen. I am looking to make the experience personal and also easy for her.
Since I am going to use a custom launcher to prevent access to the app menu and simplify the user experience by showing her only the apps she will need to use (preventing access to the settings will prevent her accidentally deleting things), I am looking for a widget which will allow me to add my own custom text set to a custom size to the home screen. With this, I'll separate up the few apps she plans on using. Any recommendations for such an application?
Since this person does not have full function of a second arm, are there any applications which make one-handed operation easier on the tablet's 7 inch display?
Is there a widget which will allow me to add "picture frames" to the home screen? I could put some pictures of the family in these, which will add a nice personal touch.
Are there any keyboards which are good for one-handed use? Please do not say Swype.

Any suggestions to any of my issues I face? Also, any general app recommendations are welcome, but keep in mind who this tablet is for when making suggestions. For example, no messenger apps.

No ideas to any of those applications/features I'm looking to implement?

Twenty minutes before the first bump and between the first and second - get a bit of patience! People aren't lurking on forums waiting to jump on your every post...
1. Yes - Minimalistic Text and others
3. Yes - search Play store for "picture widget"
4. Why not Swype? What makes it unsuitable (that'll make it easier for others to make suggestions.

Swype probably requires two-handing on a device this big.
Honestly, any keyboard that works well with one hand, will also reconfigure so much that you'll essentially have to relearn it.
Messagease and 8pen are good with one hand, but they obviously don't look anything like qwerty. And one-hand typing is really only feasible with phones anyway.
Best bet is just to use voice recognition and hope it really is as up to snuff.

You're probably not going to like my answer, but I tried this (also with a person who had use of only one arm) and it didn't work. I mounted it to a table on a movable arm to make it easy to use.
Beyond the shaking hands and weak eyes, the biggest problem is understanding the UI. To you and I it's not complicated, but we grew up with computers. That's not any sort of judgment; the guy was capable of using a windows XP computer (very very slowly), it's just that switching to a new IU is much more confusing to the older brain than for a younger brain. They just don't have the filters to pick out the important information from the screen quickly, and every step requires conscious thought. This can be very tiring for an older person, and--at least in my experience--older people don't have a lot of tolerance for frustration.
I don't want you to be discouraged by this; I spent weeks on this (and several hundred dollars) and ended up getting him a small laptop on which I installed a simplification program that allowed only basic email and internet. But your relative may be more savvy, have better coordination, or just more interest in making it work. Here's what I'd suggest:
1) "minimalist text" can be customized to put static text on the screen. You'll have to play with it a bit.
2) There's no applications I can think of that make it easier, but I'd suggest giving her some system to mount it where she can both see and reach it. Have her sit as she would when she wanted to use it (chair, table, bed) and figure out how she can use it with her arm resting on something.
3) I think the picture frames widget is included in stock android. I'd strongly suggest against using anything other than a solid-colored background though. Again, it's difficult for an older brain to parse large amounts of information, and older eyes to see past the contrasts. I'm sure there's some way to have a rotating photo widget on some part of the screen in the market though.
4) Swiftkey. It's a bit advanced, but has one major advantage: predictive text. She can enter a few letters and the software will come up with a few words. Often it will get the intended word within a few letters, which can save a lot of inputs. That said, I think the stock android keyboard in JB has this functionality too, so you might hold off and try that.
A few other suggestions:
1) Get a launcher that can be cut down to just one screen. ADW EX does this. And get rid of the elastic screens (allows it to stay static). You said you already have a custom launcher in mind; which one were you thinking of?
2) When AOKP gets their hands on this, they'll allow you to add and change buttons to the notification bar. Get rid of the long-presses, maybe even get rid of everything but the home and back button.
3) Forget the speech recognition stuff. Old voices are not easy to understand for anyone, much less a computer, and convincing an older person to speak slowly and annunciate is not easy. Also, the first time it doesn't work you'll have a very frustrated relative to deal with...
4) Keep it simple. The first time you show her how to use it pick one thing (probably email or video chat) and show her how to do just that. If you take just one suggestion from me it's this. Add something next time, once she gets how to do email or video chat (test her first). Seriously, everyone will end up happier as a result.
OK, good luck! Hope it works better for you than it did for me!

I would say, a very simple background. No live wallpapers. A Big clock widget,
Get her a Bluetooth Keyboard, there is no sense in trying to force an older person to use a touch screen, that requires near perfect fingers. A normal keyboard is something she most likely has seen and used before. So it will feel normal.
A Widget for changing volume. Something with like a large Plus and Minus sign, and a big percent so she can easily see how loud it is.

Brad387 said:
How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?
I have an elderly relative who has never used any Android device, or much technology at all to be honest besides old feature phones and television boxes, and we shall soon be purchasing her a Google Nexus 7. We settled on this idea after noticing that the 8GB Nexus 7 model is only £159 GBP, which isn't much more than the Kindle Touch and also offers a slightly larger screen. I am looking to make the experience personal and also easy for her.
Since I am going to use a custom launcher to prevent access to the app menu and simplify the user experience by showing her only the apps she will need to use (preventing access to the settings will prevent her accidentally deleting things), I am looking for a widget which will allow me to add my own custom text set to a custom size to the home screen. With this, I'll separate up the few apps she plans on using. Any recommendations for such an application?
Since this person does not have full function of a second arm, are there any applications which make one-handed operation easier on the tablet's 7 inch display?
Is there a widget which will allow me to add "picture frames" to the home screen? I could put some pictures of the family in these, which will add a nice personal touch.
Are there any keyboards which are good for one-handed use? Please do not say Swype.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad387 said:
Any suggestions to any of my issues I face? Also, any general app recommendations are welcome, but keep in mind who this tablet is for when making suggestions. For example, no messenger apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad387 said:
No ideas to any of those applications/features I'm looking to implement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol man, RELAX. Bumping your thread like that is terrible forum etiquette.

I'd refer to your own thread that you opened not long before this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1757848
Aps at startup
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

This might dumb the phone by a lot but: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.kunes.android.launcher.activity&hl=en
Here's a photo widget app that people seem to like though : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thinkjava.androidphotowidgetfree
If you can wait for further development.. flashing MIUI seems to attract a lot of newer android users due to the similarities with iOS. If not you can always get the MIUI style launcher.

Thanks. I will likely use Nova Launcher to keep the amount of screens to a minimum.

darkamikaze said:
This might dumb the phone by a lot but: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.kunes.android.launcher.activity&hl=en
Here's a photo widget app that people seem to like though : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thinkjava.androidphotowidgetfree
If you can wait for further development.. flashing MIUI seems to attract a lot of newer android users due to the similarities with iOS. If not you can always get the MIUI style launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

blackhand1001 said:
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fascinating. But this isn't for you; it's for an older person.
OP, the folks pointing out that it's bad forum etiquette to create multiple threads and bump them are right. And considering the time folks put into answering your question, it wouldn't hurt to respond and click the "thanks" button.

thebobp said:
Swype probably requires two-handing on a device this big.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand how you would use Swype with two hands even if you wanted to. Swyping requires one continuous swipe with one finger across all of the letters that spell out your word, and besides the actual act of swyping, I don't understand how using it would be any different from using one finger to type on a non-Swype keyboard.

blackhand1001 said:
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry that you don't know much about MIUI. It's the easiest ROM that I have used and now have it on my Infuse and Nook Color.
I am 66yo and like very simple and clean screens that are easy to use. The attached s/s's are from a 7" Nook Color screen.
1. Home screen.
2. Favorites expanded
3. 2nd Page....only have 2 pages...show all my apps in folders...no app drawer.
4. Reading folder opened
EDIT: You can set up as many or as few folders as you need and name them anything you choose.

dparrothead1 said:
Sorry that you don't know much about MIUI. It's the easiest ROM that I have used and now have it on my Infuse and Nook Color.
I am 66yo and like very simple and clean screens that are easy to use. The attached s/s's are from a 7" Nook Color screen.
1. Home screen.
2. Favorites expanded
3. 2nd Page....only have 2 pages...show all my apps in folders...no app drawer.
4. Reading folder opened
EDIT: You can set up as many or as few folders as you need and name them anything you choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used miui on several devices. I just find it clunky. I like having an alphabetically sorted app drawer.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I'm working on the same issue for my mom, who just turned 86.
I downloaded Minimalistic Text for her, but I had assumed it would be simple to set up - it isn't.
Am I correct that it's very limited as to what it can display? It appears to be able to display the time, date, temp, and then a few other things not important to your typical 86 year old, such as battery level, cpu speed, etc.
I had hoped I would be able to have it launch apps, so I could for instance, have it show "Email", Facebook", etc.
Older people have difficulty remembering the names of apps sometimes. "K9" for instance, would not mean email to my mom.
Something that would allow you to make app icons larger might help. But I had high hopes for Minimalist Text!
Btw, we did a four way hangout with her yesterday. She has beginning Alzheimer's, but she loves technology!
Edit: I see in the OP's other thread someone mentioned Simple Text . Can that be used on a stock N7? Must I use a different launcher?

I Want To Change My Hovering Pen Icon, Any Idea?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 default hovering pen icon is just a tiny little dot...
But I wish it could be changed to another shape like cursor on PC destop...
Pls help me.
Thank you.

Hmm, in LectureNotes you can select the size of the hover so it shouldn't be impossible to change in other apps as well like a launcher.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

hmm, that would be pretty cool if you could do that.

Screencast
Axel_ said:
Hmm, in LectureNotes you can select the size of the hover so it shouldn't be impossible to change in other apps as well like a launcher.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it does in LectureNotes.
I currently working with Screencast creating math tutorial and post it on youtube. But I think the student would be confuse if they couldn't see the hover. There is a problem when recording on LectureNote, it's lagging (paused somehow). So I chose S-Note (built-in app on galaxy note 10.1), my problem is just the tiny hover. There is no hover setting in S-Note

The pen pointer has changed in the 4.1.1 (something) rom I'm using on my n8010, it's a small light blue ring with a hole in the center that matches the s pen's tip. I find that it's nicer than the dot, but I didn't see any new options to change the icon. It would be great to have some more customization, especially for using drawing apps.

arbantas said:
Yeah, it does in LectureNotes.
I currently working with Screencast creating math tutorial and post it on youtube. But I think the student would be confuse if they couldn't see the hover. There is a problem when recording on LectureNote, it's lagging (paused somehow). So I chose S-Note (built-in app on galaxy note 10.1), my problem is just the tiny hover. There is no hover setting in S-Note
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see your problem. I use YouTube lectures from Kahn academy and similar videos all the time, some have a pointer and even though I prefer that most videos doesn't and it's usually no problems if the teacher is switching colors and tell where he's writing. Some courses are better than others, math is imo pretty straightforward compared to other classes where you have to make and edit large flowcharts etc. But that of course depending on what level of math we're talking about.
A way around your problem would be not to use any recording tool but to actually record the screen itself. Ie, just like you take a screenshot but like a video instead. This however, usually requires root and that might not be something you want to if it's not your tablet. I also think there are programs to record your voice simultaneously too, something I don't think SNote is doing.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

App recommendations?

Hi All,
Many of you are coming from the likes of the Note 2 (or even the original Note) but I'm sure there's plenty like me that are new to the phablet scene and definitely new to the S-Pen scene. So it seems appropriate to start a thread asking people - what apps do you recommend to use with your shiny new device? Going beyond the usual recommended android apps, what ones do you feel really make use of the Note's features (such as the pen, or the massive screen or whatever).
Please, suggest away!

handy note and handy scanner dude

I would of said sketchbook, however they have nicely included that with the device now! It's a brilliant app for getting your artist on!
I'd also suggest emulators for games as the big screen is certainly easier than the smaller devices out there! Drastic DS emulator has arrived on the play store recently.. It's abut £5 but imo worth its price tag, it allows you to play Nintendo DS games (Roms) really fluid and of course with the s-pen!! ! If you was a fan of the old Zelda games etc this gives you a change to play catch ups wit the latest outings of Link.
Netflix
SwiftKey - Brilliant keyboard replacement that I feel that corrects a lot more reliable than stock.
Spotify - Free 48 Hour trial of millions of music tracks (You can keep creating a trial account, in theory not actually pay.. But you'll end up in love with your play list you've mashed together and just pay the sub (what happened to me).
Go Sms pro - again a nicer more configurable Sms /mms replacement of stock app. Also includes a go Sms to go Sms feature where you can send pics, doodles, recordings, videos to anyone with gosms installed for free.
If you live in the UK *** 0800 wizard. Allows you to dial 0800/0844 numbers using your network minutes.
Order and chaos - MMO game, works really well with the big screen and adreno 330... Similar to world of war craft.
Es file Explorer - allows you to browse the memory on your phone/SD card memory a lot easier.
Be great if people added their favourite apps into this thread... Nothing beats a good app download session
:thumbup:
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

Some nice apps there, thanks Ry2mkk!

Drastic is an amazing DS emulator. Has fast forward feature for all you poké masters.
I second SwiftKey as well.
Firefox works nicely. Can download add-ons like adblock.
I prefer nova launcher and Hd widgets
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app

TouchWiz 4.3 on a Tablet is a Screw Job

How do I know? I just played with the 4.4 skin at best buy on the Pro models. They seemed to have fixed nearly every design issue I had with 4.3 on my 2014. It really feels like a tablet skin instead of a phone skin. I'm glad Samsung fixed it but why do such a terrible job in the first place? Was my $600 not worth their time?
Incredibly excited for 4.4 update. It will be like getting a brand new device! I really hope they have some kind of option to remap the menu button to a task switching button. That would be the ultimate.

Two words:
Nova. Launcher.

I checked the pro series 4.4 skins in best buy too. Although the skin seems to be more tablet oriented, the TouchWiz lag still exists. The device was still not snappy enough

Agree... Nova launcher fixes everything. Buy it once and you'll have it on every device you own.

Just bought Nova With the $25 credit they gave me to the google play store. I've Used the free version for ages. Finally broke down and bought the pro.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

jherring002 said:
Just bought Nova With the $25 credit they gave me to the google play store. I've Used the free version for ages. Finally broke down and bought the pro.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha you literally just inspired me to do the same. Had the 25.00 credit and then some from the Google survey app. In case anyone didn't know download the Google survey app and get free Google play credits. Totally worth it.

RussellEstridge25 said:
Haha you literally just inspired me to do the same. Had the 25.00 credit and then some from the Google survey app. In case anyone didn't know download the Google survey app and get free Google play credits. Totally worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're Welcome =)
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

jherring002 said:
You're Welcome =)
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha ty!

Stocklone said:
How do I know? I just played with the 4.4 skin at best buy on the Pro models. They seemed to have fixed nearly every design issue I had with 4.3 on my 2014. It really feels like a tablet skin instead of a phone skin. I'm glad Samsung fixed it but why do such a terrible job in the first place? Was my $600 not worth their time?
Incredibly excited for 4.4 update. It will be like getting a brand new device! I really hope they have some kind of option to remap the menu button to a task switching button. That would be the ultimate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I played with a N12 at BB and came away with a different opinion. Most of the differences between it and the N10.1-14 were pretty minor and aesthetic. M-UX is of course new but did you look at the number and type of widgets available? Pretty sparse. What used to be My Magazine is now broken up so each category in what was the "News" section are now individual widgets. There's no Facebook for the Social widget either just like My Magazine. There's e-mail, calendar, and all the S Apps like Hub, Apps, WatchOn etc. There's Hancom widgets but we're probably not getting it (unless you side load it as explained in the apps section of the forum). Not much else. And at CES there were mini tiles shown that acted like shortcuts to a bunch of common/popular apps; gone. Unless Samsung's got big future plans for stocking M-UX with widgets and shortcuts I'd be fine without having a mandatory page of it on my home screen.
In terms of TW (now "classic") the settings menus and some others have been freshened and the notification panel drop down has been reformatted/resized so it's more appropriate for a tablet. There are more Pen Window apps and the way you launch multitasking's been revised to "swipe from the side" which now conflicts with other apps (EG: Astro) that also swipe from the side. You can now also cascade (overlay) Multi View windows which was a N10.1-12 feature that got left out of the N10.1-14 launch ROM.
What other major changes or differences did you notice that I missed?
As for Samsung's interpretation of 4.4 over 4.3 I've been using an "official" AT&T 4.4 ROM for about a month on my N3. The only functional changes are the location and wireless control panels have been re-worked so they are much clearer and easier to interpret and the lock screen has a "one app" option that's set to camera by default but can be changed to any app. It can also be set to "4.3 style" which I chose because there are more options including launching five apps from the lock screen. The notification bar icons are white (wow! ), there's a new slightly revised default system font, and there are some minor UI graphic changes. You have to look pretty hard to see the differences between 4.3 and 4.4 as designed by Samsung. The biggest difference I've seen is my battery life went up and the N3 which was already fluid on 4.3 became more so. Having played with M-UX and come away meh, performance improvements are what I'm looking forward to most in our update. That along with some of the cleaned up menus and new Multi View functionality.

I don't even know anymore what touchwiz looks like even though i have a samsung smartphone and the note 10.1 so many great launchers around.
I'm still looking forward to 4.4 because of the redesigned settings and notification. And hopefully bug fixes. And i think it would be the first time i actually have the most recent android version on one of my devices...

stm8 said:
Two words:
Nova. Launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't give a flying crap about the launcher. I use Action Launcher. I left Nova a long time ago. Don't miss it one bit.
The task switching actually being at the bottom instead of the middle of the screen and the notification drawer not being a phone one anymore plus it having multiple sliders instead of one giant huge slider show Samsung put a lot more thought into 4.4.
Those two things drove me nuts. Anytime I have to use a phone app on a tablet I die a little on the inside.
I also like the icons in 4.4 way better than 4.3.

BarryH_GEG said:
I played with a N12 at BB and came away with a different opinion. Most of the differences between it and the N10.1-14 were pretty minor and aesthetic. M-UX is of course new but did you look at the number and type of widgets available? Pretty sparse. What used to be My Magazine is now broken up so each category in what was the "News" section are now individual widgets. There's no Facebook for the Social widget either just like My Magazine. There's e-mail, calendar, and all the S Apps like Hub, Apps, WatchOn etc. There's Hancom widgets but we're probably not getting it (unless you side load it as explained in the apps section of the forum). Not much else. And at CES there were mini tiles shown that acted like shortcuts to a bunch of common/popular apps; gone. Unless Samsung's got big future plans for stocking M-UX with widgets and shortcuts I'd be fine without having a mandatory page of it on my home screen.
In terms of TW (now "classic") the settings menus and some others have been freshened and the notification panel drop down has been reformatted/resized so it's more appropriate for a tablet. There are more Pen Window apps and the way you launch multitasking's been revised to "swipe from the side" which now conflicts with other apps (EG: Astro) that also swipe from the side. You can now also cascade (overlay) Multi View windows which was a N10.1-12 feature that got left out of the N10.1-14 launch ROM.
What other major changes or differences did you notice that I missed?
As for Samsung's interpretation of 4.4 over 4.3 I've been using an "official" AT&T 4.4 ROM for about a month on my N3. The only functional changes are the location and wireless control panels have been re-worked so they are much clearer and easier to interpret and the lock screen has a "one app" option that's set to camera by default but can be changed to any app. It can also be set to "4.3 style" which I chose because there are more options including launching five apps from the lock screen. The notification bar icons are white (wow! ), there's a new slightly revised default system font, and there are some minor UI graphic changes. You have to look pretty hard to see the differences between 4.3 and 4.4 as designed by Samsung. The biggest difference I've seen is my battery life went up and the N3 which was already fluid on 4.3 became more so. Having played with M-UX and come away meh, performance improvements are what I'm looking forward to most in our update. That along with some of the cleaned up menus and new Multi View functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't get a chance to play with the multi-tasking tab. So what side do you swipe from? Please tell me it's not the left where every single side menu is?
I hate nearly every Samsung app and use none of their widgets. I buy the Note for the S Pen which I use with non-Samsung apps. I'm just incredibly tired of using a 10.1" phone so hell yeah I'm excited about 4.4. It looks like your priorities are quite a bit different than mine so it makes sense your take away is different than mine.

Stocklone said:
Didn't get a chance to play with the multi-tasking tab. So what side do you swipe from? Please tell me it's not the left where every single side menu is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's how it works now. If it's like the current set up you can, when it's open, drag it from side-to-side if you want.
Here's the Tab|Pro 10.1 manual. I'd imagine everything in it will be similar to what we're getting. Jury's still out on how Samsung's going to deal with the "menu" vs. "tasks" capacitive button issue. A pic of the soon to be released VZW N10.1-14 still shows our menu button so it wouldn't appear Samsung's planning any physical changes for the N10.1-14 down the road. So we'll either have a capacitive button that says one thing and does another (menu=tasks) or the s/w for the N10.1-14 will be adjusted to still support the menu button. Even though Google's killed the menu button in 4.4 Samsung's revived it because it still works the exact same way on the N3 4.4 ROM.
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/c...axy_Tab_PRO_KK_English_User_Manual_NAE_F2.pdf
I'm just incredibly tired of using a 10.1" phone so hell yeah I'm excited about 4.4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google's the one to blame for the phone UI. The unified UI works fine on a 7-8" display that's primarily used in portrait mode but looks goofy on anything larger. Like this...
The Nexus 10's not a hell of a lot better than the N10.1-14. The only glaring blunder on Samsung's part was the full-screen notification panel but other than that there's not a big difference UI treatment wise between the Nexus 10 and N10.1-14.
It looks like your priorities are quite a bit different than mine so it makes sense your take away is different than mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kind of polar opposites. I use pretty much all the features (that work well) in TW and have most stock Google apps disabled in settings. We totally agree about S Pen being the purchase driver for a Note though.

I'm running Buzz launcher, it's good on battery life and smooth, apex is good as well, a new update will be coming out in a few months for 4.4 let's hope they give us the new pro features when it comes out. I would also like to go back to the virtual buttons like the last model, I keep hitting the back and menu button in portrait.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Curtis_HTC said:
I'm running Buzz launcher, it's good on battery life and smooth, apex is good as well, a new update will be coming out in a few months for 4.4 let's hope they give us the new pro features when it comes out. I would also like to go back to the virtual buttons like the last model, I keep hitting the back and menu button in portrait.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I keep hitting the back button in portrait too. But I doubt virtual buttons are coming to this tablet.
Make sure to watch the sunset at least once a day

RussellEstridge25 said:
Agree... Nova launcher fixes everything. Buy it once and you'll have it on every device you own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have it on all my Android devices. Note 2014 rocks with it.

Nova + spen is king!! I have nova on everything I use. I have put slide from the side apps on before but I always forget that I have them. I bought the note 2014 for the spen and snote (I format a basic chart for personal training sessions to fill out) and when I get my 12.2 it will be that much better. I would prefer to have the old notification bar in the bottom corner though :/ I used to use that mod on my note 2 and I loved it!!!!
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

what features are you using with nova prime over nova free? i have about $75 in google credits but just can't bring myself to spending the $4 or whatever it is for prime...it seems like the free version has everything i need...i don't use gestures or care to increase icon size or have folders in the app drawer...i'm curious to find out, thanks!

maximus96 said:
what features are you using with nova prime over nova free? i have about $75 in google credits but just can't bring myself to spending the $4 or whatever it is for prime...it seems like the free version has everything i need...i don't use gestures or care to increase icon size or have folders in the app drawer...i'm curious to find out, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My favorite thing to with Nova+ is get rid of the app drawer shortcut and make the home button open up the app drawer. Not sure if that is a plus feature or not.

Hide On Screen Nav Buttons

One of the software features that isn't getting much press but one that I'm hugely looking forward to is the ability to hide the On Screen Nav Buttons on an app by app basis.
I've never been 100% behind Google's decision to advocate the On Screen Nav Buttons. A huge waste of screen real estate sitting there doing nothing while you read/play etc. The expectation was that developers would choose to hide them when they weren't needed but that never really happened. Some developers got behind the idea (thanks!) but even Google has inconsistent behavior when dealing with them.
Now we can choose to display them or not on an app by app basis. A swipe up from the bottom of the screen displays them again.
There are a number of delightful touches like this one on the G3.
Great work LG.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

I agree. Even though it's easy enough to root the phone and force immersive mode, I applaud LG for implementing something that should be on every applicable Android phone, yet isn't. I'm very much looking forward to the phone becoming available, whenever that may be.

Though a nice effort by LG, there are a lot of games that use up motions for movement. Anyone into game emulators will especially have issues. Not to mention not all apps work with it, including web browsers.
I prefer my S4 having buttons at the bottom. The irony is the G3 5.5" display is the same size as the 5" display S4 for some apps and navigation.
Still, LGs effort is MUCH better than nothing.

rushless said:
Though a nice effort by LG, there are a lot of games that use up motions for movement. Anyone into game emulators will especially have issues. Not to mention not all apps work with it, including web browsers.
I prefer my S4 having buttons at the bottom. The irony is the G3 5.5" display is the same size as the 5" display S4 for some apps and navigation.
Still, LGs effort is MUCH better than nothing.
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Browsers do work with it. I say 'browsers' but I can only confirm Chrome and the stock browser.
In the instances that it might cause a problem for things like emulators then just don't include them in the list. It's an opt-in feature on an app per app basis. Best of both worlds really.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app

this work on all apps? if so great, can't wait for mine... now if only they made Qslide works on all apps too!

rushless said:
Though a nice effort by LG, there are a lot of games that use up motions for movement. Anyone into game emulators will especially have issues. Not to mention not all apps work with it, including web browsers.
I prefer my S4 having buttons at the bottom. The irony is the G3 5.5" display is the same size as the 5" display S4 for some apps and navigation.
Still, LGs effort is MUCH better than nothing.
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seems to work perfectly with chrome and stock browser and pretty much any app that i select on my phone. I have to say LG really listens to people and implement their suggestions on their devices. I hate wasting screen real estate especially when i'm playing games or watching a video in an app that can't force the nav bar to minimize. LG solved this problem.

not all apps, I guess
nap007 said:
this work on all apps? if so great, can't wait for mine... now if only they made Qslide works on all apps too!
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I do not think this cool feature will work on all apps.

This sounds a very good feature and something that everyone should be doing, the thing is though I haven't seen this mentioned in any reviews I've seen or read and that's quite alot! As mentioned I'd prefer hard buttons ala Samsung phones but because they've dropped FM Radio I wont be buying one of those any time soon.
Does anyone know if there's the one handed mode from the G Pro 2 that shrinks the whole screen down to a size of your choice? Again was featured and mentioned in G Pro 2 reviews but is not something I've heard about on the G3

phillio said:
This sounds a very good feature and something that everyone should be doing, the thing is though I haven't seen this mentioned in any reviews I've seen or read and that's quite alot! As mentioned I'd prefer hard buttons ala Samsung phones but because they've dropped FM Radio I wont be buying one of those any time soon.
Does anyone know if there's the one handed mode from the G Pro 2 that shrinks the whole screen down to a size of your choice? Again was featured and mentioned in G Pro 2 reviews but is not something I've heard about on the G3
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Just YouTube DetroitBORG's Unboxing and Review for a demonstration of the Nav Button hiding and a demo of the One Handed Operation solution LG have implemented. It's a fantastic review showing loads of cool stuff!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app

It's a nice feature for sure, but gets old after awhile. I hate constantly having to swipe up to bring them up to hit the back button. It's cool on some apps, then others it's not. For whatever reason I can't get it to go away in YouTube. This is on 4.4.2 on a g flex though.
Sent from my LG-D959 using Tapatalk

JesseMT4G said:
It's a nice feature for sure, but gets old after awhile. I hate constantly having to swipe up to bring them up to hit the back button. It's cool on some apps, then others it's not. For whatever reason I can't get it to go away in YouTube. This is on 4.4.2 on a g flex though.
Sent from my LG-D959 using Tapatalk
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It's a shame there is no pie like control system in the stock rom but it's a lot better than other stock roms where you can do absolutely nothing with the on screen buttons.

It's nice to use for certain apps such as a news app or game where you don't need buttons. Other then that out doors get annoying to swipe up, but I'm glad LG included it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Is it possible to change the nav button icons to look like HTC One M8 without root?
I saw somewhere you can change app icons without root too?

TheKrow said:
Is it possible to change the nav button icons to look like HTC One M8 without root?
I saw somewhere you can change app icons without root too?
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Not on the G3 using the stock Optimus launcher.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app