Related
One thing that annoyed me deeply under Gingerbread was the fact that I would carefully arrange my apps icons along the apps pages, as I needed them to be, only to find out, a couple of days later, that the system "rearranged" some of them by its own will.
I struggled with this a bit and then just gave up thinking that the move to Honeycomb would solve the problem.
It didn't!...I am having the exact same problem with this new 7.7
Is there a solution to this?
It is kind of critical that icons stay where we want them to when their number starts to proliferate...This is exactly the kind of thing that can give Android a bad name, in what respects to user-friendliness......I don't think iOs suffers from a shortcoming as basic as this one...
XK
Are you using a different launcher or still TouchWiz? If you aren't try any of the better known launchers (i'm using Go Launcher HD).
miiike said:
Are you using a different launcher or still TouchWiz? If you aren't try any of the better known launchers (i'm using Go Launcher HD).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am staying with TW until ICS comes around...I intend to change it afterwards.
Am I to understand that this specific problem is "launcher-dependent" ?
Thanks!
XK
In my experience, the icon self-rearrangement happened when I go to the "My apps" or "Frequent" pages. In other words, as long as I remain in the "All" page, the icons seem to stay without this self-arrangement.
I use a program called appzorter for this. It works well in keeping the TW launcher and my sanity.
robroy90 said:
I use a program called appzorter for this. It works well in keeping the TW launcher and my sanity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah...Thanks!
I'll give it a try.
XK
XDAKhan said:
I am staying with TW until ICS comes around...I intend to change it afterwards.
Am I to understand that this specific problem is "launcher-dependent" ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what i've noticed. The app drawer is part of the launcher, so it would reason why I haven't seen it happen in the other launchers i've tried (I also noticed this in TouchWiz with the Tab 7 Plus I tried before going to the 7.7).
If you are willing to switch to a different launcher after ICS, I strongly suggest you try before hand. If nothing else, it doesn't hurt to try, they can be easily removed.
robroy90 said:
I use a program called appzorter for this. It works well in keeping the TW launcher and my sanity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Under description, it says "Honeycomb devices are not supported yet."
ikeny said:
Under description, it says "Honeycomb devices are not supported yet."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it seems to work ok, under HC...
It sorts out the apps in alphabetical order and further allows to group them into separate "System" and "Installed" groups, if wanted.
For the moment, it will do...
(Thanks Robroy90!)
XK
There came a point for me where the app drawer was not useful due to all my apps. Instead I use folder organizer and put my apps in specific folders.
Originally i put those folders on my desktop/docks but realized they were redundant after i added them to a SwipePad panel.
Now my desktops and docks are less cluttered and i only need to swipe in from the side of the screen to get instant access to my apps organized in those folders. I ignore my drawer now.
Hey guys how are you all?? ... hope you are fine..
hey i need to know if is there any app which can launch others app's activities... i had recently installed CM9 on my defy+ and i found the lock screen options has a very amaizng cool option which can lunch any app from any of its activities.... so i can start for example facebook directly from my profile view activity... is there anyway to run such activities directly from a console.. comand line or any app which does the same out of CM9???
thnks it would be very cool :victory:
Questions go in the Q&A section
What do you mean by "console"? A Terminal?
Anyway, I have Apex launcher on my device and there it's possible to place shortcuts to specific activities on homescreen.
E.g. I have a shortcut pointing directly to the tethering settings activity.
yodawg said:
What do you mean by "console"? A Terminal?
Anyway, I have Apex launcher on my device and there it's possible to place shortcuts to specific activities on homescreen.
E.g. I have a shortcut pointing directly to the tethering settings activity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes exacly!! a terminal!!! ... i just didn't know how to call that and yeahhh you got what i mean! only with Apex Launcher ohh interesting at least people can install it without need to flash other room... well it helps i gonna download!! you know such functions allow us to do a bunch of things... such as create multiple account on app which isn't possible create more than one.. or even use apps which needs to be registered thanks man
Milewsky said:
yes exacly!! a terminal!!! ... i just didn't know how to call that and yeahhh you got what i mean!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Console" is also right, I just wasn't sure if you _really_ meant that
only with Apex Launcher ohh interesting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it's also possible with other Apps/Launchers but I don't know... (maybe search/google will bring you further results)
at least people can install it without need to flash other room
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
... well it helps i gonna download!! you know such functions allow us to do a bunch of things... such as create multiple account on app which isn't possible create more than one.. or even use apps which needs to be registered thanks man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm I don't think that this is possible (but you simply gonna try that)... for me it's more like a 'shortcut' to save you time that you normally spend tapping on your screen.
Here is xbmc13.2 beta 1 compiled to work as an android launcher. Just a couple tweaks from stock including..
Thanks to mejdam for testing the proceedure for me..
Modified manifest to act as Android Launcher
remote sends keypress set as default
tweaked advancedsettings.xml
xbmchub/xunity/mashup sources included
http://www.datafilehost.com/d/69c415f3
To get this going without xposed modules follow these steps....
(You will loose access to the firetv launcher and amazon prime videos/store)
PREP
You will want to sideload an app that can freeze apk's ie appfreezer or titanium backup.
You will probably want to get anything you want from the amazon store (ie the firetv netflix app).
You will want to sideload an android app manager (as you will loose the ability to uninstall apps from the firetv launcher), and sideload the google playstore so you can easily install apps.
1)Sideload the xbmc from this thread
2)Launch you apk freezer app and freeze the firetv launcher (depending on your app it may be listed as KFTV Launcher)
3)Press the home key on your firetv remote. Select XBMC and always from the popup, and let XBMC load its first run.
4)Reboot Firetv.
If you want the box to show the kewl slideshow screensaver and goto sleep as before then under XBMC settings/system/Powersaving set timer to 20 minutes and function to Quit. With these settings as long as a video is not playing or paused xbmc will shutdown in 20 mins and the amazon slideshow screensaver will come up and the box will eventually sleep like normal.
Pressing home on firetv remote will wake it up.
Is there anyway you can just upload the tweaked xbmc apk without the launcher modifications.
You don't have to use the launcher option.. As a matter of fact it will be disabled if you are running the kftv launcher. So go ahead and use this one.
mastafunk said:
3)Press the home key on your firetv remote. Select XBMC and always from the popup, and let XBMC load its first run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, this will really help me. I always knew the chooser was there, but after hours of debugging I was still never able to figure out what is preventing it from opening. This is good to know that I can force it this way, to try to figure out whats preventing it from opening in the normal case where the launcher isn't frozen.
The launcher itself is preventing it and other things as well like input method swapping etc.. Mejdam inadvertantly found it getting the ouya store to work..
mastafunk said:
The launcher itself is preventing it and other things as well like input method swapping etc.. Mejdam inadvertantly found it getting the ouya store to work..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i even created a video showing how i freeze kftv launcher. Thanks for the xbmc mod. Anyway you can mod the latest SPMC version into a launcher? thats my prefered xbmc version.
Sure give me a link
mastafunk said:
Sure give me a link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://filez.semperpax.com/5r4ln85l
mejdam said:
http://filez.semperpax.com/5r4ln85l
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this.. http://www.datafilehost.com/d/51e1e636
mastafunk said:
Try this.. http://www.datafilehost.com/d/51e1e636
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you, i'll test it once i get home.
Did you get that one to work?
mastafunk said:
Did you get that one to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
totally did, thank you. no more need for autopilot on my ouyas. for the fire i'll keep my tvlauncher.
No prob glad it worked..
mejdam said:
totally did, thank you. no more need for autopilot on my ouyas. for the fire i'll keep my tvlauncher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want you can add them both to the sticky.. Better chance to keep links alive.
mastafunk said:
If you want you can add them both to the sticky.. Better chance to keep links alive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to what sticky?
mejdam said:
to what sticky?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=51586184
My bad thought it was a sticky .. It was at the too for so long.. It should be..
Messed UP!!!!
ok so i froze kftv, but my niece tripped the circuit breaker and the aftv restarted before i could choose the xbmc launcher...now when the aftv turns on it hangs at the amazon logo because it can't get to the launcher. solutions??
1) adb unstinall app freezer? can anyone help with command lines for that?
any other solutions would be greatly appreciated... thanks so much
ok so i froze kftv, but my niece tripped the circuit breaker and the aftv restarted before i could choose the xbmc launcher...now when the aftv turns on it hangs at the amazon logo because it can't get to the launcher. solutions??
1) adb unstinall app freezer? can anyone help with command lines for that?
any other solutions would be greatly appreciated... thanks so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off dont be scared.. This is recocverable rather easy. Your going to need to do a factory reset. You can find the instructions on the firetv thread at xda.. It basically require you attach a keyboard and press Ctrl + prtscrn + I repeatedly during boot till you get a recovery screen. Then press home on the keyboard. From that menu select factory reset.
I'm driving ATM but will post the link to that thread if you can't find it when I get back.
Sorry this happened to ya but didn't think I needed to add DONT UNPLUG YOYR FIRETV DURING THIS PROCESS to these or any other instructions.
Let me know how it goes. I was in that same spot a few time while working on it and have recovered fine each time.
mastafunk said:
First off dont be scared.. This is recocverable rather easy. Your going to need to do a factory reset. You can find the instructions on the firetv thread at xda.. It basically require you attach a keyboard and press Ctrl + prtscrn + I repeatedly during boot till you get a recovery screen. Then press home on the keyboard. From that menu select factory reset.
I'm driving ATM but will post the link to that thread if you can't find it when I get back.
Sorry this happened to ya but didn't think I needed to add DONT UNPLUG YOYR FIRETV DURING THIS PROCESS to these or any other instructions.
Let me know how it goes. I was in that same spot a few time while working on it and have recovered fine each time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Please post link when you have time. I'm actually going to baby sit instead of play with firetv and watch the niece. Lol. I can't believe I couldn't adb uninstall. Disappointed.
Yep adb doesn't come up.. When your in this state. I'll post the link in just a bit.
Has anyone seen this before or more importantly tried it on these head units?
Looks really good
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.autolauncher.motorcar
pants001 said:
Has anyone seen this before or more importantly tried it on these head units?
Looks really good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for removing bad link.
No one?....I might bite the bullet and buy it.
I'm assuming if no good i can just uninstall
pants001 said:
No one?....I might bite the bullet and buy it.
I'm assuming if no good i can just uninstall
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a trial version of it. Just look at the devs other apps.
Geekybiker said:
There is a trial version of it. Just look at the devs other apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed it yesterday to give it a go. Really nice clean interface, im liking it a lot.
Some benefits.
Simple interface, clean...Shows speed and time and shortcuts to some apps (I only use music, digital radio and spotify so this is perfect for me)
Installs as an App and you can start it from shortcut, once happy you can have it start automatically on boot as your default launcher.
Has in built screen dimming which works (All other auto dimmers have never worked for me)
3 different launcher themes, im using the one in the photo.
Easy to remove if not happy
pants001 said:
I installed it yesterday to give it a go. Really nice clean interface, im liking it a lot.
Some benefits.
Simple interface, clean...Shows speed and time and shortcuts to some apps (I only use music, digital radio and spotify so this is perfect for me)
Installs as an App and you can start it from shortcut, once happy you can have it start automatically on boot as your default launcher.
Has in built screen dimming which works (All other auto dimmers have never worked for me)
3 different launcher themes, im using the one in the photo.
Easy to remove if not happy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it work with your hard buttons?
Geekybiker said:
Does it work with your hard buttons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes all hard buttons function the same, Back exits apps and Home takes you back to desktop.
Really its just a choice of 3 new launchers in an App rather than playing around with system files
This looks really clean!
I gave it a shot on mine. Looks really nice. I wish the app buttons were a bit larger though. Looks much more like a OEM type interface.
Geekybiker said:
I gave it a shot on mine. Looks really nice. I wish the app buttons were a bit larger though. Looks much more like a OEM type interface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ye thats what i thought, looks similar to WinCE radio launchers
One thing i found to be a pain was that android by default, launches apps you had previously running (Which includes this Launcher)
So its already loaded when your device boots up, but as you open up your music, the Self boot of the app kicks in as well and you go back to desktop.
Im sure easy to get over somehow
So you have it set to autoplay off usb? Mine was playing the music as soon as it booted. If you disable the autoplay it doesn't launch the music app on startup.
I have it and love it! Originally downloaded it because it uses power amp as the default music player, I downloaded pro because with pro I can make it as my default home screen launcher. I've been very pleased with the results so far. And I've been running its for about a month.
Does it help with the ridiculous connectivity issues that I experience with AA? (i.e is it more reliable?)
jonboyuk said:
Does it help with the ridiculous connectivity issues that I experience with AA? (i.e is it more reliable?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, a 1 device solution is generally always more reliable than a 2 device.
I'm a bit confused by this app. Can someone help please? I bought a car with AndroidAuto built in and I made the assumption (probably wrongly) that this is a replacement launcher for my car dash. But - I'm not sure how to get it to mirror into my vehicle. Do I need AA installed, or do I use Mirror Link? Confused!
Hard Buttons
How did you connect the head unit to your hard button controls?
How to add activity shortcuts to Car Launcher app?
How to deactivate speed in statusbar?
I used the Trial for about 5 minutes before I purchased the full version. This is exactly what I needed Now, Unfortunately im going to have to purchase poweramp i think
Using it for a few weeks now. Very happy with it.
Welcome to FTVLaunchX – a simple helper application to allow custom launchers on Amazon Fire TV devices – no root required!
It is inspired by the famous LauncherHijack of @BaronKiko and tries to overcome several issues relating to it:
- Reliably intercepts any & all presses of the home button
- Starts the selected launcher on boot
- Starts the selected launcher when waking up from sleep
- Fixes the ominous missing-cursor bug in Silk
- etc.
Please find a thorough description, installation instructions as well as the source code over here:
https://github.com/codefaktor/FTVLaunchX
Get the APK: FTVLaunchX-1.0.1
EDIT: uploaded new release 1.0.1!
If you want to say Thank You or fund further development, then feel free to drop me buck or two, see https://github.com/codefaktor/FTVLaunchX#Donations
Please report back if you did test on your devices (so far tested on Fire TV Stick 2nd Gen & Fire TV Stick 4K) – I will watch this thread for any issues and/or feature requests.
Thanks for this. Works with no issues and really well on my Fires TV Stick 4K.
When I press home it opens my launcher quickly (TV Launcher 3).
When I wake the device from sleep I do see the amazon launcher for a split second (literally a quick flash).
When I reboot it takes 20-30 seconds to automatically start my launcher.
This could be because it is giving way to IP Vanish which is set to launch on startup.
As soon as IP Vanish launches, I press the back key or the home key and my launcher immediately loads.
Love your work.
Also there is another way of returning to the default Amazon Launcher. Maybe you already know it
Use the Alexa Remote (Voice) and say "Home" or "Settings".
Thanks again.
Flakie said:
When I press home it opens my launcher quickly (TV Launcher 3).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it should be a tiny bit quicker and what's more important: way more reliable! Except for the split-second when coming out of sleep I never see the Amazon launcher anymore (I also use TVLauncher 3).
Flakie said:
When I wake the device from sleep I do see the amazon launcher for a split second (literally a quick flash).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aye, this is to be expected but should really just be a fraction of a second.
Flakie said:
When I reboot it takes 20-30 seconds to automatically start my launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aye, I know - it's because I let the system decide on when to launch it. As you said, there may be other things also being launched and so it has not the top priority. Maybe I'll experiment with raising the priority of FTVLaunchX but I wanted to stay on the safe side for the 1.0 release.
Flakie said:
As soon as IP Vanish launches, I press the back key or the home key and my launcher immediately loads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can also press the home key as soon as the Amazon launcher comes up and it should work - it's just the auto-start method which takes its time...
Flakie said:
Also there is another way of returning to the default Amazon Launcher. Maybe you already know it Use the Alexa Remote (Voice) and say "Home" or "Settings".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha, I totally forgot about that one – I'll add this to the docs, thank you!
Oh, and just to clarify: do you think that we should also try to catch that and start the custom launcher when hearing "Home"? This may not be possible and IMHO it's way better to leave that as a valid exit method to get back to the original Amazon launcher...
Oh, and a big thank you for testing and replying!
Thank you so much! I finally have my cursor back in the Silk Browser because of this!
JUSTINMARMER said:
Thank you so much! I finally have my cursor back in the Silk Browser because of this!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad that it works for you and you like it The main reason why I was creating it was this pesty cursor bug...
Oh, on what kind of device are you using it? Am looking for someone to test it on a Fire TV Cube with Fire OS 7 / Android 9...
Got any images we can use for an article?
MishaalRahman said:
Got any images we can use for an article?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is an icon and a banner:
https://github.com/codefaktor/FTVLa...p/src/main/res/mipmap-xxxhdpi/ic_launcher.png
https://github.com/codefaktor/FTVLaunchX/blob/develop/app/src/main/res/drawable/banner.png
Can render them at any size if you need larger variants;
Or if you need a screenshot then voila: https://imgur.com/a/UethyYm
TheRealQubix said:
Glad that it works for you and you like it The main reason why I was creating it was this pesty cursor bug...
Oh, on what kind of device are you using it? Am looking for someone to test it on a Fire TV Cube with Fire OS 7 / Android 9...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish I could help. I'm running several Fire Sticks. All v2 and 4k. No cubes.
TheRealQubix said:
Oh, and just to clarify: do you think that we should also try to catch that and start the custom launcher when hearing "Home"? This may not be possible and IMHO it's way better to leave that as a valid exit method to get back to the original Amazon launcher...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, I prefer it going back to the Amazon Launcher.
I have done a few installs of these and for the users it is the easiest way they can get there. The less complexity for them, the better
Flakie said:
Personally, I prefer it going back to the Amazon Launcher.
I have done a few installs of these and for the users it is the easiest way they can get there. The less complexity for them, the better
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my thought too!
TheRealQubix said:
Glad that it works for you and you like it The main reason why I was creating it was this pesty cursor bug...
Oh, on what kind of device are you using it? Am looking for someone to test it on a Fire TV Cube with Fire OS 7 / Android 9...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried it on my Nvidia Shield 2017 model and it works great. The only thing I see wrong if you want to call it wrong is, When booting it boots to the android tv screen for about 5-10 seconds but then goes to my Halauncher. Home button works great everytime. If you don't mind I will post it on the Shield tv section or you can. It would be easier for some people that don't understand adb. Great job!!!!
brick00444 said:
I just tried it on my Nvidia Shield 2017 model and it works great. The only thing I see wrong if you want to call it wrong is, When booting it boots to the android tv screen for about 5-10 seconds but then goes to my Halauncher. Home button works great everytime. If you don't mind I will post it on the Shield tv section or you can. It would be easier for some people that don't understand adb. Great job!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know that it works on that device too – feel free to post it over there! (Since I don't have any experience with the Shields it's probably better since you can include some relevant instructions...)
Oh, and regarding the "bug": this is more or less by design but as I said in another reply above: I might try to experiment to make this a bit faster by raising the boot priority; something for the next release
TheRealQubix said:
Good to know that it works on that device too – feel free to post it over there! (Since I don't have any experience with the Shields it's probably better since you can include some relevant instructions...)
Oh, and regarding the "bug": this is more or less by design but as I said in another reply above: I might try to experiment to make this a bit faster by raising the boot priority; something for the next release
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again, great job.
brick00444 said:
The only thing I see wrong if you want to call it wrong is, When booting it boots to the android tv screen for about 5-10 seconds but then goes to my Halauncher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I've raised the boot priority to the maximum... find the 1.0.1-dev APK as an attachment.
Let me know if that reacts any faster for you on boots (though a couple seconds will probably be normal, I guess; it all depends on what other things are installed etc.).
Ping to @Flakie too.
I'm getting voiceover on official Hulu app on my v2 stick.
What launcher are available for TV stick? Any Android TV launcher?
JUSTINMARMER said:
I'm getting voiceover on official Hulu app on my v2 stick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's because Hulu (and some other apps) added some weird code in one of their releases, please try the following:
Settings > Accessibility and make sure that VoiceView AND Screen Magnifier are turned off, the latter one being really important!
You can also hold Back+Menu (toggles voice view) and Back+FastForward (toggles screen magnifier) for two seconds.
If that doesn't work then head into Hulu and turn off app sounds under your profile settings.
If it is still on then go to your apps list in Settings, find the Hulu app, clear its cache AND data, force stop it and then relaunch the app. You will have to sign in again but that should really do the trick.
Please report back!
MrKaon said:
What launcher are available for TV stick? Any Android TV launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can find some links on the GitHub page of FTVLaunchX but there are quite a few others like AppStarter, HALauncher, ATV Launcher Pro or even Kodi itself...
My favourite is TVLauncher 3 but everybody will have a different taste... you can find some of them on Aptoide, but most need to be downloaded somewhere else.
thanks for this ive got it on my 4k stick using ATV launcher and looks mighty fine !
From the description looks good. Immediately uninstalled Hijack and installed FTVLauncherX. First tried adb install -g, but adb said -g is an unknown option, so installed it directly from a dir on the stick, granted the permission via adb. Now when my Firestick 2nd starts it does start with the native Amazon Home Launcher and stays there. It switches to my launcher only when pushing the home button. I use ATV Launcher Pro.