Related
So with all this talk about Hero's ability to multitask I just wanted to ask how people leverage this ability.
Unless I'm missing something if I want to go from a browser session to my playing music app I have to go via the home screen. Similarly if I want to switch from say Google Maps to Google Mail then I need to go via the home screen and the app's icon.
This is no different to how the iPhone handles things except that the apps on the Hero continue to run in the background.
Am I missing some technique for 'TAB'ing' between running apps? Palm's Pre has got the 'cards' and the floaty shortcut menu thing.
To be honest if there is no ability to switch DIRECTLY to a running app from another running app then the whole multitasking thing is a bit pointless (Widgets not withstanding)
I'm new to Android so I'm hoping that I'm just missing something.
I have a G1 but if you hold down the home key you can switch between running apps and I imagine that works as well on the hero.
Also, you can use an app such as "task switcher" or "bar control" found in the android market to switch between applications without having to go through the home screen with a few more options than the home key thing.
HTH
Holding down the home key only displays 6 recently opened apps not ones that are running. Thats what it does on the Hero anyway. It also brings you back to the home screen and out of whatever app you were in when you held it down.
It seems that the Palm Pre is currently the only handset that truly enables multitasking app switching.
I'm somewhat disappointed in the Hero in this regard.
To be fair, the whole concept of multitasking doesn't really address in what way you would be switching from app to app. The major thing is the ability of the phone to keep two, three or ten apps running at the same time, doing their stuff in the background. This is what the iPhone doesn't have and Android does. This is the "competitive edge".
If you install "Advanced Task Manager", it will put itself in the notification drawer for two-click activation. I think I'd enable it, if there was a setting to make all apps behave this way. A sort of "show all running apps in the notification drawer" feature (or the apps I select).
Notice you can switch to all running apps from Advanced Task Manager, but that makes for a total of four clicks, moving from one app to another. It's a bit cumbersome.
Pressing and holding Home should IMHO bring up the recent apps list to allow switching WITHOUT returning Home first.
Maybe a bug or a bad decision UI wise.
@joemax
That would sort me out. Having it behave like that would be really useful.
Commantalb looked promising in the Market - very nice effect when bringing apps list up too
BUT, it cannot be envoked unless you press and hold HOME and then select Commantalb.
If it were a background process that changed the default HOME button behaviour - to launch itself, it would be very cool.
ShiroEd said:
To be honest if there is no ability to switch DIRECTLY to a running app from another running app then the whole multitasking thing is a bit pointless (Widgets not withstanding)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok -here's a real world example.
I use MyTracks when out walking. Since the Hero can multitask, I can start MyTracks recording, then as I'm walking do anything else with my phone that I want and not be artificially limited to a select few apps. This is something that I do regularly.
From my perspective, the lack of a true task switcher is largely immaterial to me, but the fact that the apps are still running, even when not active, is.
Regards,
Dave
joemax said:
Pressing and holding Home should IMHO bring up the recent apps list to allow switching WITHOUT returning Home first.
Maybe a bug or a bad decision UI wise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can happily report that this is exactly what it does with the new ROM. Yipee!!
It does indeed
Posted as such on another thread.
The new firmware is very good IMHO.
ShiroEd said:
I can happily report that this is exactly what it does with the new ROM. Yipee!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GOD ALLMIGHTY IN THE HEAVEN!!! THERE IS STILL A GOD!!!
I didn't know this untill now... and it god damn works... WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
We love you HTC...
Oh damn... a double post... :-(
I'm hoping to get some help from a developer to make two apps that I can't find anything like on the market. I have no clue what's involved, but if nothing else, maybe someone can shed some light on how hard these would e to make - or actually make them
- App 1 is just a simple app to replicate the function of the home button. IE, you run the app, you go to your home screen. That's it.
- App 2 is an app to go to your last task. The idea is to be able to simple toggle between two apps. Program might need some sort of ignore list (like ignoring itself!).
Reason - I'm using Gesture Launcher (http://www.appbrain.com/app/gesture-launcher/com.reeyees.gesturelauncher) and am getting used to going to the floating hand instead of the home button. I'd like to be able to do everything from there.
So, ideally, I would like to program a gesture to go home instead of hitting the home button, and program a gesture to go to last app instead of last app.
Thanks in advance!
the first one..
http://db.tt/kcYl8Oy
Jordan5222 said:
the first one..
http://db.tt/kcYl8Oy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that was fast, tyvm. Is this something you just wrote, or xists somewhere where I failed to find it via google/appbrain?
edit - just tried it out, works perfectly!
I've writed it. It's pretty easy.
For the second one sorry but today i don't have so much time and i have to think about it.
So you want an app that just takes you to the last open app or an app that opens the most recently used tab thing?
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.lulz_industries.lassiecomehome
uploaded in the market, just in case someone want download it and does not want to search the url in the forum.
For the second one just hold down the home button. The apps there are listed in order of latest opened.
Jordan5222 said:
I've writed it. It's pretty easy.
For the second one sorry but today i don't have so much time and i have to think about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought about looking into the language (I program in VB6), but figured there were fees & stuff - wasn't worth it just to have my name in the market
generalamerica said:
So you want an app that just takes you to the last open app or an app that opens the most recently used tab thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An app that takes you to the last open app (and ignore itself). For example, in the morning I load up Waze (a map/traffic program) and Astro player for listening to podcasts. Would like to be able to gesture to move back & forth between them.
Another example - I'm .. reading a book. I gesture to check Twitter, then want to use a gesture to go back to last app (book reader).
It would have to ignore itself (or the app itself would get into a loop or something?), and it would have to ignore the gesture program - and possibly others (ignore home?) - so that one would be harder to do.
As a temp. measure, looking for a program that just pops up the same thing that holding down the home-key would do (show 8 recent apps). That would be better then nothing, but not quite what I would ideally like.
Jordan5222 said:
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.lulz_industries.lassiecomehome
uploaded in the market, just in case someone want download it and does not want to search the url in the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A good idea - never know when someone else might want it, and there's nothing else in the market like it I'm aware of.
-----
Edit - looking into:
QuickSwitch - watching video, looks like designed for a slide out keyboard, but can do hard-keyboard-less. Testing shortly.
and
PreviousApp description says it's activated by Camera long press which wouldn't help.
So you basically want an app that emulates the back arrow key?
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Does More.
generalamerica said:
So you basically want an app that emulates the back arrow key?
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Does More.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish it was that easy.
(example 1) Run Twitter app, launch web link. Click 3 or 4 more links. Want to go back to Twitter? Click back arrow about 5 times. Back arrow has no way to know if you meant back 1 page, or back to previous app. (Similar things happen with many many apps).
(example 2) Run book reader. Run Twitter. Click back arrow to go back to book (works fine). Click back arrow to go back to Twitter (oops, doesn't work).
(in example 2 - would like app to go back & forth between reader & twitter)
Went back & forth with the maker of QuickSwitch (a pretty neat app on it's own) describing what I was looking for. He's looking into it as well
OH - also btw - an all called Clutch Pad does similar things (including a last app), but having a bad time triggering the event regularly. If/when it runs perfectly every time it would handle everything I mentioned! The dev there is also very responsive.
Thanks to all for help - I was hoping this last app thing would be like the home thing that Jordan5222 made - something that a dev would spend 10 minutes making. If it's a big project, it's not that important!
Give a try to this if it's ok. I don't have your launcher so i can't test it.
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Let me know how it work or if I don't have understood well what you want.
Jordan5222 said:
Give a try to this if it's ok. I don't have your launcher so i can't test it.
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Let me know how it work or if I don't have understood well what you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading now.
Installed... loading app list in program.. hmm, not working on Gesture Launcher.
I tried to load up Twitter, then load up NewsRob (rss reader). Then I ran the program from GL. GL shows it found the app & ran it, but nothing happened.
To test it further, I re-ran Twitter & Newsrob. Then using the hold-down-home, I ran your app over & over again. This correctly switched between Twitter & Newsrob.
Do you have Gesture Editor as an ignored-app (ie, if I launch your app from GL, it doesn't go to the last app - which is GL) ?
I'll gladly pay for your license for the GL if you'd like to try it yourself. I'm getting kinda curious if this is do-able at this point, since I think these 2 apps can be used for many different alternate launchers (like GL, Clutch Pad, Swipe Pad [actually, this last app would be fricking amazing in Swipe Pad])
polstein said:
Downloading now.
Installed... loading app list in program.. hmm, not working on Gesture Launcher.
I tried to load up Twitter, then load up NewsRob (rss reader). Then I ran the program from GL. GL shows it found the app & ran it, but nothing happened.
To test it further, I re-ran Twitter & Newsrob. Then using the hold-down-home, I ran your app over & over again. This correctly switched between Twitter & Newsrob.
Do you have Gesture Editor as an ignored-app (ie, if I launch your app from GL, it doesn't go to the last app - which is GL) ?
I'll gladly pay for your license for the GL if you'd like to try it yourself. I'm getting kinda curious if this is do-able at this point, since I think these 2 apps can be used for many different alternate launchers (like GL, Clutch Pad, Swipe Pad [actually, this last app would be fricking amazing in Swipe Pad])
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't understand how many tasks i have to go back without using your launcher. i have only gesture search.
i don't guarantee that will work with the launcher but i can at least try.
i don't know the others launcher, are they similar?
-----------------------
EDIT
Just in case.. give a try to this, maybe it will work in gesture launcher
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Jordan5222 said:
i don't understand how many tasks i have to go back without using your launcher. i have only gesture search.
i don't guarantee that will work with the launcher but i can at least try.
i don't know the others launcher, are they similar?
-----------------------
EDIT
Just in case.. give a try to this, maybe it will work in gesture launcher
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading new version now.
The other launchers are similar - you can try SwipePad for free from the market. SwipePad gives you some hot points - you click on them and 12 favorite apps/shortcuts appear (so it's drag from corner to shortcut to launch it). I've actually read in the SP thread about people asking to make the bottom 3 apps the most recent ones.
The 1st version of Back 2 Home works *perfectly* with Slide Pad. I'll have to play tomorrow with it, the home program & SwipePad (played a bit in the car on the way home) - but it worked very, very well !
2nd version of Back 2 Task seems to work about the same. Works well with SwipePad, not at all with Gesture Launcher. Works with press & hold of home button. What's the difference between the versions?
I'll actually have to think a bit of which launcher makes more sense. Gesture Launcher allows unlimited programs & shortcuts (limited by memory really), but is slower. Slide Pad allows 12, but is quicker. Both do Shortcuts (like a Folder Organizer folder) & Applications. GL seems to have a problem with Sense's Mail app (it gets stuck there).
With you app (currently) working perfectly in SwipePad, (and the home app too) it's a big ++ for SwipePad. I'll search for the thread of Slide Pad and ask them to test out the Home app & both versions of the Last app & see if we can get some other people in on this.
Either way, you might want to publish the 1st version of Back to the Task on the market as well for people that can't otherwise get to it.
...and once again, thanks for your work!
Edit - I noticed that sometimes I called it "Slide Pad", and sometimes "Swipe Pad" - the free one I'm talking about is SwipePad Beta - sorry, getting mixed up in all the names!
Edit 2 - In the name of the warped: Currently playing with a combination of SwipePad & Gesture Launcher. My 3x4 grid that I'll be experimenting with tomorrow is:
sms/mail/contact group manager
ireader/camera/quick settings
internet/newsrob/tweetcaster premium
gesture launcher/lassie come home/back to the task
I have Swipe shortcuts to my most common apps used. I have Swipe set to use bottom corners, so BTTT is at a very quick position, as is home. I can use Gesture Launcher to access the other programs (including Gestures to get to my 5 Folder Organizer folders).
I did experiment briefly with putting a Favorite Folder Organizer folder in the bottom left, but Back to the Task had similar problems as Gesture Launcher with it (it kept puling up the folder as a task).
Lessee. Direct SwipePad for most common apps. SwipePad into 20 or so memorized apps in Gesture Launcher. SwipePad into GestureLauncher (shapes are 1-5) to get to my Apps/Games/Internet/Multimedia/Tools Folder Organizer stuff - sounds good to me
polstein said:
Downloading new version now.
The other launchers are similar - you can try SwipePad for free from the market. SwipePad gives you some hot points - you click on them and 12 favorite apps/shortcuts appear (so it's drag from corner to shortcut to launch it). I've actually read in the SP thread about people asking to make the bottom 3 apps the most recent ones.
The 1st version of Back 2 Home works *perfectly* with Slide Pad. I'll have to play tomorrow with it, the home program & SwipePad (played a bit in the car on the way home) - but it worked very, very well !
2nd version of Back 2 Task seems to work about the same. Works well with SwipePad, not at all with Gesture Launcher. Works with press & hold of home button. What's the difference between the versions?
I'll actually have to think a bit of which launcher makes more sense. Gesture Launcher allows unlimited programs & shortcuts (limited by memory really), but is slower. Slide Pad allows 12, but is quicker. Both do Shortcuts (like a Folder Organizer folder) & Applications. GL seems to have a problem with Sense's Mail app (it gets stuck there).
With you app (currently) working perfectly in SwipePad, (and the home app too) it's a big ++ for SwipePad. I'll search for the thread of Slide Pad and ask them to test out the Home app & both versions of the Last app & see if we can get some other people in on this.
Either way, you might want to publish the 1st version of Back to the Task on the market as well for people that can't otherwise get to it.
...and once again, thanks for your work!
Edit - I noticed that sometimes I called it "Slide Pad", and sometimes "Swipe Pad" - the free one I'm talking about is SwipePad Beta - sorry, getting mixed up in all the names!
Edit 2 - In the name of the warped: Currently playing with a combination of SwipePad & Gesture Launcher. My 3x4 grid that I'll be experimenting with tomorrow is:
sms/mail/contact group manager
ireader/camera/quick settings
internet/newsrob/tweetcaster premium
gesture launcher/lassie come home/back to the task
I have Swipe shortcuts to my most common apps used. I have Swipe set to use bottom corners, so BTTT is at a very quick position, as is home. I can use Gesture Launcher to access the other programs (including Gestures to get to my 5 Folder Organizer folders).
I did experiment briefly with putting a Favorite Folder Organizer folder in the bottom left, but Back to the Task had similar problems as Gesture Launcher with it (it kept puling up the folder as a task).
Lessee. Direct SwipePad for most common apps. SwipePad into 20 or so memorized apps in Gesture Launcher. SwipePad into GestureLauncher (shapes are 1-5) to get to my Apps/Games/Internet/Multimedia/Tools Folder Organizer stuff - sounds good to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, what works better? 1st version or 2nd version? so i can restore it eventually and re upload.
From tomorrow i have more time so i can try with launchers.. We use the phone in a different way, i've never use these launchers, i have many icons on the home screen.
Jordan5222 said:
ok, what works better? 1st version or 2nd version? so i can restore it eventually and re upload.
From tomorrow i have more time so i can try with launchers.. We use the phone in a different way, i've never use these launchers, i have many icons on the home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to play with version 1 for a day, then uninstall and try 2 to know for sure. Limited (under 5 minute) testing - they seem to be the same.
I was thinking about an exclusion list/ignore list - problem is, I'm not sure where you would build it unless you (in theory) had 2 apps: The one that did last app, and a separate config app.
This morning, I did hit some force closes on the app (it gave me a FC, then oddly worked anyway). I wound up rebooting my phone & haven't hit any yet.
Also, while it's only been a couple of hours, this entire layout thingy I'm doing seems very promising. Like you, I was just using 12 icons on my today screen, backed with Launcher Pro (5 dock icons are all Folder Organizer shortcuts). While it works, it never felt that smooth.
The plus is that you don't have any extra apps in memory, so it's pretty fast. And when you go to your home screen to launch an app, you can see other widgets (weather, maybe a to-do list..etc).
On the flip side, I was getting annoyed at being in a program, hitting home, hitting a folder, then running the app. At this rate, my home button won't last much longer! I don't like most recent apps since they apps aren't always in the same spot. I don't want to have to stare at my screen & look for a specific icon to run a program.
So in short, it just feels like android could do better. My current solution is defiantly over-complicated.. but so far working for me (with your help!).
SwipePad is free - if you are really curious, download a copy and give it at least a day to play with. Try putting your last app on one of the bottom corners & experiment a bit. Heck, for all I know, in a couple days I'll toss this idea out & go back to where you are now myself.
EDIT: Found out that SwipePad works on lock screen (or does on Widget Locker, which I use). So I removed all sliders from Widget Locker and now using SwipePad as my hidden unlocker. SwipePad to Back to the Task does the same thing as a normal unlock - goes to the last app running before Widget Locker
I have installed Swipepad beta. Bttt does not work. Later when i return home i try to fix it. Interesting way to use the phone and navigate trough the various things you're doing.
---------------------------------------
EDIT
Just fixed...
can you try with swipepad? http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Is this the correct behaviour that it's expected to have?
Jordan5222 said:
I have installed Swipepad beta. Bttt does not work. Later when i return home i try to fix it. Interesting way to use the phone and navigate trough the various things you're doing.
---------------------------------------
EDIT
can you try with swipepad? http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Is this the correct behaviour that it's expected to have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using Swipe Pad for a few days, and BTTT is behaving mostly correct. It's a real fast way to jump to the last task. Only problem I hit is when the last app is Gesture Launcher or a Folder Organizer folder (which register as the last "app").
polstein said:
I've been using Swipe Pad for a few days, and BTTT is behaving mostly correct. It's a real fast way to jump to the last task. Only problem I hit is when the last app is Gesture Launcher or a Folder Organizer folder (which register as the last "app").
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the problem is exactly that. Different launchers and apps behave in different ways and we need to go back in different ways
Jordan5222 said:
the problem is exactly that. Different launchers and apps behave in different ways and we need to go back in different ways
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I had a feeling when I first posted that the last app wasn't a simple thing.
Still, I think the way it works is fine for what I need. If you really want to make it into something more professional, the only way I can see doing it would be to implement some sort of "ignore apps on this list."
If your Last App ignored Home/Widget Locker/Gesture Launcher/Folder Organizer/Swipe Pad it would be perfect.
For a quick app made for 1 user (anyone else using it that isn't posting?) - it's fine the way it is (and one again, thanks for the apps!)
I've noticed that after pressing the home button and swiping between menues there is a VERY SMALL, yet noticeable lag. Sometimes the clock/weather widget reloads. It was like this out of the box the first day. Then you start swiping between homescreens and its gone and everything is smooth as butter literally.
I saw this in one of the review videos too. Hopefully a software update addresses this. Somewhat annoying as the phone has 2GB of memory.
MattMJB0188 said:
I've noticed that after pressing the home button and swiping between menues there is a VERY SMALL, yet noticeable lag. Sometimes the clock/weather widget reloads. It was like this out of the box the first day. Then you start swiping between homescreens and its gone and everything is smooth as butter literally.
I saw this in one of the review videos too. Hopefully a software update addresses this. Somewhat annoying as the phone has 2GB of memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here... Swiping the home screen is smooth but returning to the home screen via the home button causes a 1 second delay...
I have also noticed the clock / weather widget refreshes when returning to home screen from apps at times...
Overall it's not big deal and I am sure it will be fixed in the next update...
yes~!!! this is one of the annoying parts of this phone.
it isn't performance related either. in nova launcher i have it set that pressing home when at the default screen brings up the app drawer. doing so causes the same fraction-of-a-second delay. but pressing the actual app drawer button on the screen is immediate. something in the Android software is causing this delay between button-push and action.
Thought it was just me.
I'm going to root it and flash ultimatum. Hopefully it gets rid of it.
sent from my GALAXY SIII
Thanks guys. Glad to see its not just my phone. Its by no means bad, just annoying. The home button needs to be more responsive. Hopefully in a software update. If this is all we have to worry about then I'm good.
Yea. Same goes for me, tried both apex and nova just to test if the lag depends on the launcher. I'm on apex now though, a bit less laggy than nova.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Nova with fancy widgets (sense style clock) and voice disabled not really seeing any lag.
There is a setting you can turn off to fix this home button delay actually.
What you do is
1. Go to apps
2. Find "S-Voice" and open it
3. Hit settings button
4. In settings there is a option for "Launch S Voice" near the top of the settings.
5. Click the box to stop it from launching S-Voice when you hit the home button.
6. Now the home button works very quickly, no more second delay.
extreme11191986 said:
There is a setting you can turn off to fix this home button delay actually.
What you do is
1. Go to apps
2. Find "S-Voice" and open it
3. Hit settings button
4. In settings there is a option for "Launch S Voice" near the top of the settings.
5. Click the box to stop it from launching S-Voice when you hit the home button.
6. Now the home button works very quickly, no more second delay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That made a difference!!! Thanks.
extreme11191986 said:
there is a setting you can turn off to fix this home button delay actually.
What you do is
1. Go to apps
2. Find "s-voice" and open it
3. Hit settings button
4. In settings there is a option for "launch s voice" near the top of the settings.
5. Click the box to stop it from launching s-voice when you hit the home button.
6. Now the home button works very quickly, no more second delay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you
you are awesome.
The delay is there because if you double tap the home button it brings up SVoice, so it gives a small Window waiting for the second press before going to the home screen.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA
There is still a lag after unchecking the S Voice launch option. I hope this can be fixed.
I wonder if the Exynos version has any noticeable lag or delay?
I actually completely disabled S-Voice and see no lag
Menu > Settings > Application Manager > All > S-Voice > Disable
stevieraveon said:
I actually completely disabled S-Voice and see no lag
Menu > Settings > Application Manager > All > S-Voice > Disable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
If I wanted to be a "talking to your cell phone like its a person" douche I would have bought an iPhone. Keep your dignity and just type in whatever you're trying to do, it will probably take less time then getting the voice recognition to get it right
TW is pretty weak for a launcher though.. I put on my ol' trusty ADW launcher and no lag to be seen there..
altitude909 said:
+1
If I wanted to be a "talking to your cell phone like its a person" douche I would have bought an iPhone. Keep your dignity and just type in whatever you're trying to do, it will probably take less time then getting the voice recognition to get it right
TW is pretty weak for a launcher though.. I put on my ol' trusty ADW launcher and no lag to be seen there..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one and only thing I ever use android's voice recognition for -- and you don't even need S-Voice for this -- is setting alarms, because it's quicker than doing it manually and very accurate.
e.g.: "set alarm forty five minutes"
lol, didn't yall watch any reviews on Youtube? They stated there's a slight delay because it's waiting for a second press for S-Voice. I thought everyone knew that.
Not when pressing the home. When swiping through home screens. There is a slight delay. Its Ever so noticeable. More so when having a few widgets on the home screen.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
cmjkxa said:
Not when pressing the home. When swiping through home screens. There is a slight delay. Its Ever so noticeable. More so when having a few widgets on the home screen.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. It's only brief, then everything is smooth is butter.
Well, I have 3 home screens so I don't really care. I had 2 on my SGS2.
Devoting a soft key exclusively to recent apps seems ridiculous to me. Is it a Motoblur thing or stock ICS?
Is there an app that will allow an unrooted user to program a shortcut to the key that is of some use? Maybe on long press?
I installed Google Launcher and noticed that accidentally hitting that key shows recent apps but then takes you out of Go Launcher and back to Motoblur. Any way to avoid that?
That's pure ICS, not Moto. Actually was there in honeycomb too. I never understood removing the search key and menu key to put in the far less used recent apps. If there is a mod out there to convert it's function to a menu button I'd be on it too.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Any shortcut would be preferable. I thought it would be a nice button to open phone dialer or dolphin browser.
I'm really surprised you guys don't find it useful. There's plenty of times where I'd rather have that button than hit the home button and go back to the home screen or hold the home button for a second or more to get that popup on my Nexus S.
I find that I'm swapping back between texting, web browsing, the music player / pandora and facebook quite often
snowmanwithahat said:
I'm really surprised you guys don't find it useful. There's plenty of times where I'd rather have that button than hit the home button and go back to the home screen or hold the home button for a second or more to get that popup on my Nexus S.
I find that I'm swapping back between texting, web browsing, the music player / pandora and facebook quite often
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I agree as well. Not to mention, the menu and search are legacy buttons. People need to let them die and embrace the design direction Android is moving forward in...but I guess old habits die hard (and painfully). Why so much resistance towards the death of the menu button?
UserDemos said:
Thank you, I agree as well. Not to mention, the menu and search are legacy buttons. People need to let them die and embrace the design direction Android is moving forward in...but I guess old habits die hard (and painfully). Why so much resistance towards the death of the menu button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I can definitely do without the menu button since every new app has been building it into the application. It's a button that I'd hardly hit while interacting with most applications.
I do miss the contextual search though. I got used to tapping the search button in Contacts or Chrome and searching within that context. Only searching globally when I was at the home screen. Well now with the changes (at least to the Nexus S) the search button brings up Google Now and there's no in-app search unless they specifically build in a button. Most have done that now, so it's not really a problem, just a habit that I got into.
I understand it's benefits but those apps I use quite often you speak of are already shortcuts on my home page. Using the recent apps button adds another key press to open it. I've only used it when I can't remember the name of an app I recently installed.
For me personally, useable? Yes. Useful? Not really. Especially when it gets bogged down with tons of recent apps and my finger already knows where the shortcuts are.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Hey look I'm the OP and said nothing about making it a menu button. What I want is a programmable button to do what I want and you could have one to do what YOU want. Now you tell me NOOOO.., I should embrace the direction of Android. That sounds suspiciously like Apple philosophy.
I never have had any use for a recent apps button and still don't. I don't care what apps I have used recently. Since there is a key there I would like it to be useful. Personally, I would like short press to be Opera and long press to be Dolphin. Now shall I look forward to be scolded for not embracing Chrome? I thought the whole point of Android was personal choice. Android users don't have to be sheeple imo.
Zodwraith said:
I understand it's benefits but those apps I use quite often you speak of are already shortcuts on my home page. Using the recent apps button adds another key press to open it. I've only used it when I can't remember the name of an app I recently installed.
For me personally, useable? Yes. Useful? Not really. Especially when it gets bogged down with tons of recent apps and my finger already knows where the shortcuts are.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've got to admit though that closing applications by swiping them "off" at that quick switch menu is kind of nice. I like that a little bit better for closing off high RAM applications quickly compared to the CM method of holding "back". Then again, I'll admit it's a very rare thing where I want to kill more than one application at once haha
Sorry, no I don't admit it. (not for me anyway) Never have done it. Never will. I prefer not to force close apps. I let Android handle it.
Dolphin and Opera are in a folder on my desktop so it takes two keypresses to access them while that utterly useless recent apps key sits there doing nothing. In fact it does harm if I am using another launcher and hit it by accident.
There was an app I used to use that allowed you to program the search key (which I also never used) and double tap of home key (which normally produced something else I never used). I think it is called Home to Shortcut. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated to use the recent apps key.
I also think Moto should have made the navigation bar transparent so we could see the entire screen like Nexus. I hope somebody figures out a way to do that too.
Give it time for custom roms and you will be able to do loads of stuff with that bar, including changing the icons and uses. Aokp is great for that.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
I don't think swiping from the recent apps menu is an FC function. Just a history. To check it I FC'd a bunch of stuff from the proper menu and opened the recent apps. Sure enough everything is still there. Clicked on one of the apps and sure enough it had to start up.
I generally don't use app killers but there are always rogue apps that will give you problems. Netflix is a bad one for me where I'll watch an episode and when it's over Netflix develops Alzheimer's whether there are more episodes. Does the same on the Roku and tablet so I'm sure it's a Netflix thing. The only way to slap sense into their servers is an FC and restart.
Sent from my Droid RAZR HD MAXX using the XDA Developer App
robstunner said:
Give it time for custom roms and you will be able to do loads of stuff with that bar, including changing the icons and uses. Aokp is great for that.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't wait. I was spoiled by the super developers for Tbolt.
First of all, how awesome is this forum !!!
I consider myself a pretty "upright" forum user as in I usually read the pinned, "read this first", Q&A, and search before I make new posts. Whenever I come upon people who don't do that, I kinda frown to my computer screen but beyond that seems like nothing much can be done? The "Here are the similar threads we found:" section is just pure brilliance.
Sorry about the rambling but I will start with a tiny background story first.
So once upon a time, I got warned thru my gmail that my account apparently was "compromised". After I did some preliminary verification to make sure they are not spams, I decided to try the google "2-step verification" process. And I bet most of you knew what comes next: I keep getting bad password popups. After some hours of frustrating struggle, I fixed my gmail on my phone. But Gtalk would not let me do that 1-time psasword verification thing, and thus my play store won't work. (God really who designed them to be linked!? I did not launch Gtalk once in my life.) Before this happened, I was happy with my stock launcher from Samsung and always have the "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" motto. In the end, I decided it is "certified broken" and I thought this might be a good time to look into upgrading to Jelly Bean.
hm.. i think i'm making this post unnecessary long so I will just cut through the chase. I never thought "stock" stuff would come in any quality. But amazingly in my first day experience of CM10, I am already missing a bunch of features that I used to take for granted. I have no desire to go back to the last launcher (as this in theory should be a step up overall, i believe). So if anyone have tips for me to how to get these features back, I would very much like some pointers! Thanks in advance.
Just some clarification in case this matter: I bought my phone unlocked in Hong Kong. So there is no service-provider-associated stuff that came with the stock launcher I got.
EDIT: I used the 11-02 nightly build of CM10 and its corresponding Gapp package.
1) Contact list
+ Improved: To my amaze, my chinese contacts got sorted by their pronunciation in english! The original stock launcher lumped all of them in the end of the list.
- What I missed: Slide left on names will message the contact and slide right will call them.
# What I tried: Of course my first solution is to search on App store to find a replacement. For some reasons, only two (with good rating) showed up. Did the search got dumber? Or it got smarter but just not doing what I want?
Go Contacts: I think i remember trying it and personally not a big fan of the GO packages. I didn't give it a second try.
Contants+ with a penguin icon: There's a function that lets you "Hold" on a contact to call them. This is very much inferior to the slidings : ( I need recommendations for contact list app.
2) App drawer
+ I like how the widgets got attached to the horizontal pages. Much nicer option than Homescreen-> menu and keep scrolling through the 1x4 area LOL. I love widgets and I have a lot of them. Yes it was painful.
- You can't custom organize the drawer. You can sort by Name or Install Date and that's it. I used to organize them by functionality. I have over 160 apps on my phone. I don't use all of them all the time but I would say I use close to 70% of them at least once in a while. So while my homescreen is really reserved for Widgets, App drawer is where I launch my less-used apps. I really like the "menu -> edit" function in my old launcher. I can create new page, move the apps around and even uninstall the app right there (with a minus sign on the top right corner of the app icon. Yes I didn't use to understand why one would even need uninstaller app from the store). Please don't hate me if you really just rather sort by Name.
# Funny the problem this time is not about how I can't find a suitable app from the play store to do a better job with the drawer. It's that I CAN'T move the original app drawer icon of the launcher from the bottom middle area. I imagine there's probably a way to replace it but it's obviously not a readily available option or I am missing something.
3) Task manager?
+ I think it's just recent launched apps (or apps in the background) now. It's in a way good that it goes beyond the last 6. Not that I find that old limit bothering really.
- Where's my task manager? I'm a bit OCD when it comes to ram usage and processes/services. Oh how i missed the Hold home button -> recent app screen with a task manager button -> Kill all task. LOL It's not much but it shows just enough: total ram usage, running apps, processes, and even storage space. Scratch that, it's actually very much.
# Right now I am resort to Auto Memory Manager with a blue fish icon. It's sufficient. But I can't access it anywhere.
4) Misc. stuff that I missed and would like help to find them. Note: these have nothing to do with the launcher.
- I used to have this "Windy Weather" live wall paper (or what i believed it was called). There were some wind turbines running on a grass field. It reflects the current weather. I scour the store and I couldn't find anything remotely like that besides having to go back to the GO family or you have to pay. I know it's not recommended but I tried titanium back up to restore it from my old system - no luck.
- Ap news widget. The widget was 2x4. It does not refreshes on its own and only do so with a tiny refresh button on the bottom right corner. It cycles through headlines with pictures that fully stretches the whole 2x4 window (beautifully). Can't find it in the store.
- Pinch on the home screen zooms out and gives you a quick view of all 7(now 5, but I can live with that) pages of home screen.
- That's all for now. I think I am still missing a few things I wanted to mention but I forgot what they are at the moment
anyway, sorry about some of the ranting. Here are some features i like:
+ File Manager is awesome.
+ Camera is great as well. And I love the quick browse gallery. It's weird that the actual gallery don't even have to pinch function while they put it here.
+ The pull down menu is clean. I kinda missed the "auto-rotation" quick set. But it's minor. I usually don't allow auto rotation anyway. I also like the setting button in there. But I used it so much I have to put a short cut on the home screen anyway.
+ The animation when you turn off the screen is COOL
+ The lock screen which gives you direct access to the camera is very convenient as well.
There is no sammy like app with swipe unfortunately.(edit :didnt know ex dialer has it sry_
Try apex launcher,nova launcher,adw ex launcher(i prefer this at the moment,pletora of settings)
autorotation ,play with toggle settings in system settings menu.
Don't bother with ram,free ram is wasted ram.
That windmill wallpaper i think go has something similar to it but i dont use it as it is a huge battery hogger .I just use a plain wallpaper.
I suggest u stay playing a bit with the lockscreen/system settings
Hi, i use ex dialer and it have slide right to call and slide left to sms.
Cheers!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
For dialer I recommend Dialer Ex from Play. I also missed the swipe to call & message function from Sammy roms. This app does it(it also has other great features like theme support etc.!)
Sent from my premium potato
1) ExDialer. You will never look back. You can customize it to your taste and it has the features you ask.
2) You need to use another launcher for that, but in my case I got accustomed to search for apps instead of looking for icons. It's easier and can be done from everywhere in your launcher if you click and hold the Menu key. You can also have folders in the Home screen, that's also a nice way to organize. Why I ended doing this? Because other launchers have too many options.
3) You shouldn't care about running apps. You can kill them by pressing Menu key on the Home and selecting manage apps. There, in "Running" you have the apps that are currently working on the background, the memory they use and you can eventually kill them. I'm against that unless you have an issue with an app (like Media Scanner going rogue).
4) GO Weather. You can download it from the web if it's not on the store and side-load it. But I have it available. I can't help you with the news widget as I never found one useful enough to my usage patterns. I don't think the default launcher can show you all Home screens at once.
Thanks for all the help guys. You are quick to reply : )
android manages ram efficiently u dont need to free ram if u still want to have a kill apps button on recent apps its part of aokp and if u want to have it on cm10 try pacman rom