Database Users

Scrolling through Contacts - Inconsistent Feature?

Ok.....here is one for the gurus.
A while ago, by accident, I came across what I suspect is a feature in scrolling through Contacts which I could not replicate for the life of me.
Basically, when opening Contacts using the scroll wheel, I somehow managed to get a large icon appearing on the screen & I could then scroll through the individual letters of the alphabet. When I closed Contacts & re-opened it, I couldn't replicate it.
After playing around with it today, I got a step closer but buggered if I can make this feature stick permanently. May be it requires a registry hack.
To see what I mean:
1) Tap Contacts.
2) Scroll up or down until the text field is cleared.
3) Tap Menu -> Options -> Ok.
4) Now scroll up or down.
5) Goto 2
Another user over at Whirlpool Forums found the following method:
"The closest that I can think of is open contacts list, press and hold the down button on the 4 way direction pad, the large alphabet will show up after a second or two. Not very useful to me though..."
What I would like to see is that feature invoked permanently so that I can access Contacts from the Start menu using the scroll wheel & then being able to scroll through the alphabet.
I stumbled across this in the original ROM (shipped with Australian D810) but am currently using 1.23.707.6.
Ideas anyone?

I was wondering if this was possible as well. I hope there is a way to do this because this seems more useful to me when navigating the phone in portrait mode.

maybe its a bug, it happens when you open the contacts app, set focus on the search area, remove and restore focus on the app and press up or down.
this also works:
open contacts app
tap search area
press windows key twice( open and close start menu )
press down or up

I don't think it's a bug!
The way it works on my device is:
Place the focus anywhere in the Contacts list or Select box
Hold the Down or Up direction keys
After 2 screens of scrolling, the Large Letter scroller starts
Release when you reach the letter you want.

It is not a bug. It works on my Wizard, that if I were to press and hold my d-pad (no, I dont' have a wheel) long enough, the big letters will appear. So, in a scroll wheel case, I think probably you will need to scroll it fast enough/long/consistent enough for it to appear?

Apoc said:
set focus on the search area,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Apoc - I think you're onto something there regarding focus.
NeilM said:
I don't think it's a bug!
The way it works on my device is:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Irrespective of how you open Contacts & where the focus is, pressing & holding the up or down key on the direction pad will bring up the alphabet icon after 1 - 2 secs. My aim is to wholly & soley use the scroll wheel to open & search Contacts using the alphabet icon without touching the directional keypad whatsoever - only the scroll wheel.
hanmin said:
It is not a bug. It works on my Wizard, that if I were to press and hold my d-pad (no, I dont' have a wheel)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May not be a bug on the Wizard, but potentially is on the Trinity/D810 utilizing the scroll wheel.
Apoc's comment re: focus had me perform some more testing & managed to get a step closer. Depending on how you close Contacts will determine whether you can open Contacts & scroll (using the wheel) through the alphabet successfully.
It seems that Contacts needs to be running in the background as a "running program" & is achieved by closing it using the side "OK" button after having put the focus in the search field using the scroll wheel. Will also work tapping the X to close unless you have configured X to actually close running programs.
To start off:-
1) Press side ok button to open Start menu.
2) Scroll to Contacts & depress.
3) Scroll up to set focus in search field.
4) Press side ok to close Contacts (actually closes as a running program).
5) Press side ok to open Start menu.
6) Scroll to Contacts & depress.
7) Now scroll through alphabet - Woohoo!
8) Scroll back to search field to set focus.
9) Goto 4
As long as Contacts runs in the background as a running program I can replicate this repeatedly, but once its closed fully, it seems that focus is returned to the first entry in Contacts rather than the search field hence preventing me from scrolling the alphabet when re-opening.
So, is this a bug or an inelegantly implemented feature?
[Edit] Perhaps a registry hack could set the focus on the search field rather than the first entry in the list. If that is at all possible & works then it definitely becomes a handy feature.

This is not a bug, its a function of windows mobile. It works the same way that an iPod does.

jlagden said:
This is not a bug, its a function of windows mobile. It works the same way that an iPod does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you not mean that it is a WM function that could be improved? The way I see it, depending on the method used to open Contacts depends whether one sees it as a function or not.
Unfortunately I don't have an iPod to compare with.

thunderbird1 said:
Do you not mean that it is a WM function that could be improved? The way I see it, depending on the method used to open Contacts depends whether one sees it as a function or not.
Unfortunately I don't have an iPod to compare with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what more would you want it to do? it saves you time scrolling from a to z.

jlagden said:
what more would you want it to do? it saves you time scrolling from a to z.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What saves time? Either I'm missing the point or you have mis-interpreted mine.

you can also use your keyboard and select the arrow up / down key for a few seconds to trigger the alphabet search (big letters).

andason said:
you can also use your keyboard and select the arrow up / down key for a few seconds to trigger the alphabet search (big letters).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers for that, but I've already noted that in my earlier posts.

thunderbird1 said:
What saves time? Either I'm missing the point or you have mis-interpreted mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are suggesting that it is a function that could be improved, but I don't see what gain you would get. This function is also present in an old WM2003 device that I have, so it clearly isn’t new.
If you want it to initiate instantly when you use the scroll wheel, you are only going to jump to the first contact in each alphabetical section. This is great if you only have one contact per alphabet letter, but if like most people you have multiple contacts in each section you will still have to do an additional scroll to select the contact.
The time saving is due to the jumping quickly to each alphabet section.

Multi-tasking interface improvement

I was just reading about webOS and how good its interface is when dealing with multi-tasking and I realised how poor androids multi-tasking interface is. The only way I know to switch between running apps is to hold home button for a few seconds...
I personally think this can be improved by having thumbnails of open apps popup when the home button is single pressed on a home screen. Just as at the moment previews of all the home screens popup I think this should be switched with open app previews. I rarely ever use the home screen preview thing so i think its wasted, but I definitely would use app selector if little thumbnails showed.
Anybody have any thoughts on this? Im not a developer so I have no idea if this is possible but I think it would be a good feature to add and improve android. Do any devs think they can implement this??

Moved to general as not ROM development.
This would be a feature for a launcher app, so might be worth suggesting to someone like Fede who develops Launcher Pro, or cyanogenmod people that make ADW?

yes you are right. thanks. I was too lazy to find the relevant section to post under. will try contacting anderweb. or fede.

There are a couple of apps which overlays a screen on top of the current app you are in by tapping home twice, you can then open apps/access widgets without having to go back to homescreen first.
Currently im using 'smart taskbar', you can set the activation mode to be (1) tapping on a half-circle spot on either side of your screen or (2) swiping from one side to another. You can then open from a list of 5 'pinned' apps or choose from the mini apps drawer below, or click a tab called 'running' which seems the same as the current holding on home button behavior.

check out power strip. allows you to get a popup window where ever you are by doubble tapping home button (ore long press search button). there you can have quick access to widgets, shortcuts etc. really cool.

smiskkissen said:
check out power strip. allows you to get a popup window where ever you are by doubble tapping home button (ore long press search button). there you can have quick access to widgets, shortcuts etc. really cool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just downloaded both power strip and the one mentioned above. Will try them both out and report back on whether its what i was suggesting. Thanks for your suggestions.

The, Does anyone know how to ........... Thread.

The, Does anyone know how to [insert subject here ] Thread.​
Hi folks, since Win 8 is starting to get a bit more popular with the locals and there are already dozens of posts on similar things I figured id start a new one that we can use for general help related questions so we don't bog down the board too much, perhaps it wont work or is a waste of time, Ill try keep on top of all the questions and answers and will stick a link to the person who answers the question first so they can get the credit
This isn't a place to get in to the right or wrongs of Windows 8, there are already a couple of other threads for that.
Nope, this is a place to ask; How do to do something, Where to find something, can we do this that or the other, that kind of thing
Remember if someone helps you out don't forget the thanks button! It costs you nothing an gives them a wee pat on the back for their trouble, To find the original author please visit the links if they are available , they may have more detailed info and screen shots to help you.
If this gets bigger ill try and divide it in to sections or group similar questions together.
Q1, How to change the volume on the music app?
A, You cant currently change the volume independent from the system volume
Here and Here
Q2, Where can I find my start Menu? and Do I need to pin shortcuts everywhere?
A, All your legacy start menu entries can be found by right clicking in a non-tiled area and pressing All Apps, you don't need to pin any of the internally used Start Menu folders to your taskbar or such.
Here
Q3, How do I shut down my Computer?
A, Shutdown is found by pressing either WIN+I or by holding your mouse in the upper or lower right hand corner of the screen, then pressing settings on the Charm Bar. Click power and choose what you want.
Here
Q4, Where can I find the old run / search command box?
A,You can open the run window by pressing WIN+R or by holding your mouse in the lower-left corner of the screen and right clicking, then click Run. Search can be found on the Charm bar on the right side, by simply typing in the relevant screen or by pressing WIN+F for files or WIN+Q for apps, WIN+W for settings
Here
Q5, Where can I find the control panel settings and other power user commands?
5.You can also open Control Panel by right clicking the Start Hot-Corner overlay and clicking Control Panel. (This is the Desktop version of Control Panel, not the PC Settings app accessible in the Settings Menu on the Charms bar.)
Here
Q6, Were are all the settings for my apps, I cant find any way of changing things in my apps?
A, Many of the settings within metro and for metro apps can be found by opening the Charm Bar on the right hand side by moving your mouse to the top or bottom right corner of the screen. Some settings and options can also be found in the options bar at the bottom by right clicking on any blank space within Metro or a Metro app.
Here

So in the interest of kick starting this off heres my Question
Does anyone know if theres a way to change the volume within the music app?, I cant see it in audio mixer either so have I missed something?

Scroll to the right of your screen and open the settings wheel, from there is a system volume slider.
The following isn't a question but a possible answer for a future question:
To run a program as administrator you must search for the program via metro and then right click it and the option will be there.

NastyNasdaq said:
Scroll to the right of your screen and open the settings wheel, from there is a system volume slider.
The following isn't a question but a possible answer for a future question:
To run a program as administrator you must search for the program via metro and then right click it and the option will be there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah but that changes the overall system volume, so yes it does work, but it effects everything, its also a backwards way of doing it, (action>click>click>adjust) Seems a tad long winded for a simple up down volume command,
thanks for your reply and tip

dazza9075 said:
So in the interest of kick starting this off heres my Question
Does anyone know if theres a way to change the volume within the music app?, I cant see it in audio mixer either so have I missed something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NastyNasdaq said:
Scroll to the right of your screen and open the settings wheel, from there is a system volume slider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what dazza wants to have is a volume seperatly for the music app and at the moment this is not built in. You have to use the system volume (like Nasdaq said or just in case you have volume +/- on your keyboard with these).
I'm not quiet sure if in any metro app out there today you can change the volume (except some that are playing i.e. youtube videos, cause the youtube player can do that).

dazza9075 said:
ah but that changes the overall system volume, so yes it does work, but it effects everything, its also a backwards way of doing it, (action>click>click>adjust) Seems a tad long winded for a simple up down volume command,
thanks for your reply and tip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. Its the only way I know about adjusting the volume at the moment.

NastyNasdaq said:
To run a program as administrator you must search for the program via metro and then right click it and the option will be there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's on your desktop or if your feeling complicated, you can always right click the program's executable and press Run As Administrator. Or if your scrolling through the Start Menu entries using the tip below, you can right click and the option will be there too
For future references: (I'll be updating this post with more.)
All your legacy start menu entries can be found by right clicking in a non-tiled area and pressing All Apps.
As per previous versions of Windows, all your start menu groups and shortcuts can be found on the previously mentioned All Apps page. (Your start menu is still there, you don't need to pin any of the internally used Start Menu folders to your taskbar or such.)
Shutdown is found by pressing either WIN+I or by holding your mouse in the upper-right hand corner of the screen, then pressing settings on the Charm Bar. Click power and choose what you want.
You can open the run window by pressing WIN+R or by holding your mouse in the lower-left corner of the screen and right clicking, then click Run.
You can also open Control Panel by right clicking the Start Hot-Corner overlay and clicking Control Panel. (This is the Desktop version of Control Panel, not the PC Settings app accessible in the Settings Menu on the Charms bar.)
EDIT: If you want, I can make a screenshot that shows what I mean for others.
BTW, This thread should be stickied once we get enough information. I think it's a good idea. Also I think Metro Apps are exempt from the mixer. So I'm not sure that there is a way to change the volume in any of them unless the App gives it's own soft-volume control.

ShadowEO said:
If it's on your desktop or if your feeling complicated, you can always right click the program's executable and press Run As Administrator. Or if your scrolling through the Start Menu entries using the tip below, you can right click and the option will be there too
For future references: (I'll be updating this post with more.)
All your legacy start menu entries can be found by right clicking in a non-tiled area and pressing All Apps.
As per previous versions of Windows, all your start menu groups and shortcuts can be found on the previously mentioned All Apps page. (Your start menu is still there, you don't need to pin any of the internally used Start Menu folders to your taskbar or such.)
Shutdown is found by pressing either WIN+I or by holding your mouse in the upper-right hand corner of the screen, then pressing settings on the Charm Bar. Click power and choose what you want.
You can open the run window by pressing WIN+R or by holding your mouse in the lower-left corner of the screen and right clicking, then click Run.
You can also open Control Panel by right clicking the Start Hot-Corner overlay and clicking Control Panel. (This is the Desktop version of Control Panel, not the PC Settings app accessible in the Settings Menu on the Charms bar.)
EDIT: If you want, I can make a screenshot that shows what I mean for others.
BTW, This thread should be stickied once we get enough information. I think it's a good idea. Also I think Metro Apps are exempt from the mixer. So I'm not sure that there is a way to change the volume in any of them unless the App gives it's own soft-volume control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also in all Metro apps:
Right click in dead space (empty) and a menu will post at the bottom of the app with options/buttons. Right click again to dismiss if not needed.
Moving mouse to upper right in all metro apps just as on START will bring up the settings and preferences for each. This will contain some common preference options too.
Moving the mouse to the left side will bring up the task bar to close apps and for switching.
All WIN-(key) shortcuts still work as before, as some listed above.
Same with command line as well. (admins and power users =])

ShadowEO said:
If it's on your desktop or if your feeling complicated, you can always right click the program's executable and press Run As Administrator. Or if your scrolling through the Start Menu entries using the tip below, you can right click and the option will be there too
For future references: (I'll be updating this post with more.)
All your legacy start menu entries can be found by right clicking in a non-tiled area and pressing All Apps.
As per previous versions of Windows, all your start menu groups and shortcuts can be found on the previously mentioned All Apps page. (Your start menu is still there, you don't need to pin any of the internally used Start Menu folders to your taskbar or such.)
Shutdown is found by pressing either WIN+I or by holding your mouse in the upper-right hand corner of the screen, then pressing settings on the Charm Bar. Click power and choose what you want.
You can open the run window by pressing WIN+R or by holding your mouse in the lower-left corner of the screen and right clicking, then click Run.
You can also open Control Panel by right clicking the Start Hot-Corner overlay and clicking Control Panel. (This is the Desktop version of Control Panel, not the PC Settings app accessible in the Settings Menu on the Charms bar.)
EDIT: If you want, I can make a screenshot that shows what I mean for others.
BTW, This thread should be stickied once we get enough information. I think it's a good idea. Also I think Metro Apps are exempt from the mixer. So I'm not sure that there is a way to change the volume in any of them unless the App gives it's own soft-volume control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
feel free to put screen shots up, ive linked in to your posts so if you want to provide supporting information then all the better ill not put them in the first post tho to keep it simple.

How do you pin apps to desktop taskbar?

OptimusLove said:
How do you pin apps to desktop taskbar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right click app >pin to taskbar.

Does anyone know how to show up the Media Apps controls in desktop mode without pressing the media keys? When the media app plays music (and consumes around of 300MB RAM btw.) and you are in the desktop view you can press the volume keys on your keyboard to bring up a mini player that shows the current track and allows to play/skip/rewind/etc.. Is there a mouse way (or keyboard shortcut) to bring this up without the media keys?

mcosmin222 said:
right click app >pin to taskbar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but that doesn't allow you to pin "apps" specifically metro apps, it just lets you pin desktop programs.

dazza9075 said:
but that doesn't allow you to pin "apps" specifically metro apps, it just lets you pin desktop programs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far I know it's not possible to pin metro apps to the desktop taskbar.
ChrisKringel said:
Does anyone know how to show up the Media Apps controls in desktop mode without pressing the media keys? When the media app plays music (and consumes around of 300MB RAM btw.) and you are in the desktop view you can press the volume keys on your keyboard to bring up a mini player that shows the current track and allows to play/skip/rewind/etc.. Is there a mouse way (or keyboard shortcut) to bring this up without the media keys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would be interesting to know if there's a way, but I haven't found one (and doubt there's one ^^ )

dazza9075 said:
but that doesn't allow you to pin "apps" specifically metro apps, it just lets you pin desktop programs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, didn't know you were asking about "specific" metro apps.
So far, this isn't supported. YET. Remember this is still beta. The problem will probably be fixed in the future.

Anyone know if pressing the Metro App Bar "Uninstall" button uninstalls non-metro programs if you press it on one?
Also if your in a metro app while Music is doing it's thing and you open the app bar, there's music controls there too.
Sent from my LG-LS670 using XDA

ShadowEO said:
Anyone know if pressing the Metro App Bar "Uninstall" button uninstalls non-metro programs if you press it on one?
Also if your in a metro app while Music is doing it's thing and you open the app bar, there's music controls there too.
Sent from my LG-LS670 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uninstall button on a non-metro program seems to bring up add remove programs

[Q] Shortcut for lock screen?

On my NST Glowlight, I have a case that is beautiful but unfortunately covers the back power button (Verso Prologue Antique Tan, currently a steal on Amazon at $10). When I close the cover, it bumps things on the screen and either opens random books (in ReLaunch) or loses my place (in Coolreader). Does anyone know of a simple app that triggers the screen lock so I can map it to a hardware button? I set a "Lock Screen" shortcut in ReLaunch but at least half the time it doesn't work (instead, it asks if I want to power off). Thoughts?

Install Button Savior and tap its on-screen power button.

cowbutt said:
Install Button Savior and tap its on-screen power button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO Button Savior is an eyesore and I can already duplicate all of its functions with hardware button mappings. I want to be able to map power to a hardware button, which I know I can do if I have an app shortcut of some sort.

OK, I found my own solution and it works well enough that I thought I'd share.
I found a whole bunch of screen lock apps but they all require Android 2.2 or later.
Thinking outside the box, I instead downloaded a simple app called "White Screen Flashlight" and mapped it to my n button. Now if I push n the screen goes completely blank and doesn't register touch input, so it's safe. I have the added benefit that if anyone swipes my Nook and wants to see what I am reading, they get a boring empty screen when they turn it on. Sleep mode kicks in as normal.

Alternatively, use http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1848962 to set a Lock PIN. I combine this with a Tasker rule that disables the PIN if I'm connected to a 'friendly' WiFi network (i.e. my home WLAN) and re-enables it when I disconnect.

cowbutt said:
Alternatively, use http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1848962 to set a Lock PIN. I combine this with a Tasker rule that disables the PIN if I'm connected to a 'friendly' WiFi network (i.e. my home WLAN) and re-enables it when I disconnect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a great idea! I previously set a lock on my Nook ST (pre-Glowlight), but this time I'm simply keeping it disconnected from Google and any sensitive information. There's a bar on the screensaver that gives "please return to..." information. I figure if someone steals it, they won't get access to anything but some books, and if it's lost, a kindly soul may return it.

How to open comics PDF in full screen?

So, I have some cimics books and all of them have these margins around, so it's very hard to read on this small screen. So I used Acrobar to crop this margins, but the Nook still shows them. Or at least it does not show the PDF in fullscreen. How to show it in fullscreen?

ebookdroid pdf reader
ebookdroid (it's a pdf reader) has an autocrop feature to render PDFs without those margins, it's hiding somewhere in the settings, I found it very useful for reading pdf and djvu on my nook

Do you remember where it is hidden? Cause I can't find it on my Nook.

I installed it, but that's not very good solution, cause it doesn't flip pages with buttons, it's scrolls them. Not very good thing. But thanks.

Nabukodonosor said:
I installed it, but that's not very good solution, cause it doesn't flip pages with buttons, it's scrolls them. Not very good thing. But thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a setting for that too: All Settings -> Taps, Swipes... -> Animate Scrolling.

Buttons still does not work. I still have to scroll the pages.

Nabukodonosor said:
Buttons still does not work. I still have to scroll the pages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, that's another thing, there are lots of options in the "configure keys" settings, but I don't if any of them work with the nook's hardware keys if you don't remap them to something more conventional. perhaps the "158" and "139" options would work with the lower keys.
I have the right side keys remapped to DPAD_UP and DPAD_DOWN so they work in any pretty much every application, and the left keys remapped to DPAD_LEFT and DPAD_RIGHT which works in the amazon kindle app.

nivieru said:
Oh, that's another thing, there are lots of options in the "configure keys" settings, but I don't if any of them work with the nook's hardware keys if you don't remap them to something more conventional. perhaps the "158" and "139" options would work with the lower keys.
I have the right side keys remapped to DPAD_UP and DPAD_DOWN so they work in any pretty much every application, and the left keys remapped to DPAD_LEFT and DPAD_RIGHT which works in the amazon kindle app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found the solution to flip it page by page, but damn, this is still to small for comics. I have to buy some 10" ebook reader, or at least 8". I don't know if there are any existing out there.