Hello everyone,
Yes I know this is Android we're talking about. The mighty mobile OS. BUT, Ive really missed some tweaks from Cydia.
Activator:
I cant imagine a smartphone without having one. Specially for big screens. I had set my volume down to become as home button and volumn up az showing all open apps. Or double tap on status bar would free the cache.
Only touching (not pressing) the home button, would act like home screen. This meant I have one more step to do things with pressing it or double press.
I could set pressing home button for three times, for next track of music.
Many many actions could led to many many functions. Dk the math and see how many ways you can personalize shortcuts.
SwipeSelection:
I dont use swipe keyboard, in iOS with swipig right or left I would move the curser to right or left so I could correct what I had written. No need to press and move the curser to put it in behind the right word. Only swipe left and right and the correction was as easy as writing.
I even could change the language by swiping up and down on keyboard
BioProtect:
It would give you a toggle, and when on, you could define which apps need to be opened only by your fingerprint. Even after the lock screen fingerprint
SaveGram:
Save instagram photos and videos within the official instagram app. You are browsing instagram and just ctap on save. No other apps. No "only public profiles" as android solution would offer.
No need to say, I had file explorers, themes, lock screen mods, call recorder, etc ...
You cannot imagine how Activator or SwipeSelection can ease your daily experience.
Yes, I have a better phone, better screen better camera better battery life. I know that I was an expert in jailbreaking having 4 generations of JBed iPhones, but honestly, I feel much limited now.
Anyone with same experience here?
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Lol, I own a jailbroken air 2 and I find it more limited then a stock android phone. I will admit tho that there are some tweaks that can't be reproduced on Android. As for activator, you need root and then there's a lot of apps you can use for different gestures and button assignments.
root your phone lmao you cant compare jb iphone to non rooted android. root the s7e if you have an exynos model if not go back to the iPhone
Sent from my SM-G935F using XDA-Developers mobile app
There is a gulf of difference between Jailbreak and non rooted Android. However same can be said Jailbreak vs Root...
The answer lies in the word Root (access ) something that can and will never be done on IOS. Jailbreak yes allows you to tweak but even that has its limits....
With root access you can go a lot deeper such as changing the build prop, and creating scrips like Xposed and beyond...
So just root your S7 and take it from there and if unsure then return to the safety of the iPhone lol
Yep, can't really compare your jailbroken iPhone with Android. The main reason I moved over to Android is because of the limitations in iOS, even if you jailbroke it.
I must admit though, when I did still have an iPhone, SwipeSelection was probably my favourite app.
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... :-(
Love the Vibrant BUT.... The On-Off button is on the right so that when you grab the phone to turn it on or off with your thumb (right handed), your fingers alter the volume buttons on the other side!!! Just because other manufacturers (HTC) have buttons on the top doesn't mean you HAVE to be different (Yes you SAMSUNG)
Also the system buttons on the bottom are FAR too sensitive. Other manufacturers stop using touch buttons because of this years ago.
Also Samsungs android overlay offers no user benefits whatsoever. They could have just offered a new set of widgets and apps with Vanilla android.
BUT NO.... They have to be different .. guess what? All business plans have changed these last couple of years. You do NOT have to be different just for the sake of standing out. I think the Dell Streak is gonna suffer because they are using a propietry charger (Throw all you other ones away and buy Dell's for 30 bucks each!!!!!) I was gonna buy one but now i'm not gonna touch it and support propiatism (made up word).
Calling all cellphone designers.... Please may I be a beta tester for you. I will tell you the truth and give you more feedback (as a heavy user) than any research company.... (Android phones only)
The truth may hurt but you need to hear it.
I can control my fingers individually so that when I grip the phone to hit the power button, I can avoid squeezing the other side of the phone.
Having the button on the side is far better than having it at the top. HTC Evo's tiny button and placement has to be a complete oversight by HTC.
Samsung's TouchWiz 3.0 is pretty nice.
Just because you don't like the Touchwiz interface doesn't mean other people don't like it aswell. I actually enjoy having the default Touchwiz, but I wouldn't mind if it were stock android at all.
just a complainer...IGNORE!
I actually prefer the button on the side. If I use my right hand I can use my thumb and if I use my left hand I can use my index finger
I'm an advanced user
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
simham7537 said:
Calling all cellphone designers.... Please may I be a beta tester for you. I will tell you the truth and give you more feedback (as a heavy user) than any research company.... (Android phones only)
The truth may hurt but you need to hear it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are in no way representative of the user base.
The only complaint I have about the physical design of the phone is, why did they put the antenna at the bottom of the phone? It's easily covered by the hand, which is proven to cause signal degradation.
The antenna is at the bottom of the phone because it is mandated that it be placed at the bottom to move radiation away from your brain.
Still, that's not the issue. Many phones have their radios placed there, and do not suffer from the same reception issues the Vibrant appears to be experiencing.
Not all phones are created equal.
Even though the antenna is on the bottom of the phone, and bars are going down.. it doesn't really affect the speeds or drop your calls. Not sure whats up with that but I don't really care if the bars go down as long as nothing else is affected.
And TouchWiz can be replaced with alternative launchers available on the market. Everything will be great when ROMs will be created for this phone, which shouldn't be too far away considering how easy it was to root.
Jon C said:
The antenna is at the bottom of the phone because it is mandated that it be placed at the bottom to move radiation away from your brain.
Still, that's not the issue. Many phones have their radios placed there, and do not suffer from the same reception issues the Vibrant appears to be experiencing.
Not all phones are created equal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Mandated" Where did you get this nonsense? LOL @ The. Can we try yours and a few others?
simham7537 said:
Love the Vibrant BUT.... The On-Off button is on the right so that when you grab the phone to turn it on or off with your thumb (right handed), your fingers alter the volume buttons on the other side!!! Just because other manufacturers (HTC) have buttons on the top doesn't mean you HAVE to be different (Yes you SAMSUNG)
Also the system buttons on the bottom are FAR too sensitive. Other manufacturers stop using touch buttons because of this years ago.
Also Samsungs android overlay offers no user benefits whatsoever. They could have just offered a new set of widgets and apps with Vanilla android.
BUT NO.... They have to be different .. guess what? All business plans have changed these last couple of years. You do NOT have to be different just for the sake of standing out. I think the Dell Streak is gonna suffer because they are using a propietry charger (Throw all you other ones away and buy Dell's for 30 bucks each!!!!!) I was gonna buy one but now i'm not gonna touch it and support propiatism (made up word).
Calling all cellphone designers.... Please may I be a beta tester for you. I will tell you the truth and give you more feedback (as a heavy user) than any research company.... (Android phones only)
The truth may hurt but you need to hear it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. The power button
Personally I use a case on mine and I don't have any issues with accidentally pushing the power button. I also happen to like it on the right side now that I've used the phone for a litte while. It makes unlocking/turning on the screen much easier than if the button was on top.
2. Touchwiz
Some people like it, some people don't. For the most part, the only thing people are whining about is the application launcher which looks too much like the iPhone. The solution? Use Launcherpro, ADW.Launcher or whatever home replacement you like. You have options!
As for the other nicities of Touchwiz. I happen to like having easy access to the radios from the notification bar. I also like being able to adjust screen brightness by simply sliding my finger on the notification bar. Genius! I also like how you can slide to text or call on the contacts page. The unlock screen and the integration of the default music player is very nice into the lock screen is very nice. I also like the puzzle pieces that appear for missed calls, texts, emails.
In short, I like everything about touchwiz except the launcher which I replaced with Launcher Pro. I'd rather have this setup than if it came with SenseUI. This is my opinion of course, but I think Samsung did a pretty good job.
You can always get 3rd party apps for widgets and the launcher. You can't really replicate the other features I mentioned from what I've seen.
3. The buttons
Other manufacturers stopped using touch buttons? Really?
The Evo 4G, Nexus One, Droid Incredible all use capacitative buttons as well. I wouldn't mind a physical home button.
To each his own. Enjoy the phone or get something else. You have options!
PS: Just remember even though you have options, no other phone will have the Super AMOLED screen.
Now that I've been using the phone a while, here are the things I've found to be the biggest annoyances (in order of how much it bothers me):
1. The e-mail app can't display HTML mail. Also, it has problems making complicated URLs, ones with & or = in them, clickable links. Finally, it doesn't appear to have any copy & paste funcionality.
2. Can't change the default calendar for new appointments.
3. The Facebook calendar sync adds my Facebook calendar items to my Exchange calendar. This isn't great, but what's worse is that it adds the items multiple times, once for each sync, and also puts them at the wrong times, always Pacific Time instead of Eastern Time.
4. The Voicemail number is locked to T-Mobile's designated number. I would like to change it to my Google Voice number so that I can use the speed dial "1" or voicemail tab in the dialer. This is more fore my wife than me, but since she annoys me about it, it in essence annoys me.
5. Battery life... I use my phone heavily, so this is too be expected, but I wish there was an extended battery available.
6. Volume... The max call volume is too low. It's okay most of the time, but if I'm in a noisy area, I have a hard time hearing it. Also, the max volume throught the headphones is too low.
ElahC said:
Just because you don't like the Touchwiz interface doesn't mean other people don't like it aswell. I actually enjoy having the default Touchwiz, but I wouldn't mind if it were stock android at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the touchwiz as well. Take the calendar for example, miles ahead of Androids calendar.
simham7537 said:
Love the Vibrant BUT.... The On-Off button is on the right so that when you grab the phone to turn it on or off with your thumb (right handed), your fingers alter the volume buttons on the other side!!! Just because other manufacturers (HTC) have buttons on the top doesn't mean you HAVE to be different (Yes you SAMSUNG)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this is happening to you, you are gripping the phone far too hard to push the power button.
Also the system buttons on the bottom are FAR too sensitive. Other manufacturers stop using touch buttons because of this years ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep your fingers away from the system buttons.
Also Samsungs android overlay offers no user benefits whatsoever. They could have just offered a new set of widgets and apps with Vanilla android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every android phone has a ****ty overlay (except the Nexus One), so this isn't just an issue with Samsung.
BUT NO.... They have to be different .. guess what? All business plans have changed these last couple of years. You do NOT have to be different just for the sake of standing out. I think the Dell Streak is gonna suffer because they are using a propietry charger (Throw all you other ones away and buy Dell's for 30 bucks each!!!!!) I was gonna buy one but now i'm not gonna touch it and support propiatism (made up word).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being different is what gets attention, and when you are trying to make money, you want to get attention to your products and company.
Yogi76 said:
4. The Voicemail number is locked to T-Mobile's designated number. I would like to change it to my Google Voice number so that I can use the speed dial "1" or voicemail tab in the dialer. This is more fore my wife than me, but since she annoys me about it, it in essence annoys me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're wife could always just change speed dial "2" to her google voice number, and when she calls that it will take her to her google voicemail.
My biggest actual usability issue with Nexus 7 is the home icons. It's too easy to swipe them during game play, especially annoying when you are trying to keep the kids busy. I'd like a mod with 2 options:
1. Drag it to the top (or the side?)
2. Even better, Make it go away until the table is "sleeped" and restarted.
Is there an simple option/rom that does these 2 simple things without tons of stuff I don't care about (that affect updates, etc)? If not, which mods do you recommend and feel good about that can at least do this?
Thanks
I'm not understanding what you're asking. How can you swipe away home screen icons when you are playing a game that takes up the whole screen? Using an alternate launcher from the market, like Apex launcher, will allow you to lock the desktop so that no changes can be made until you unlock it again.
When I play a full screen game I don't want to have any OS home/etc icons that can be swiped accidently. I just want to have to exit through a menu, or sleep the device (tap the power button) and wake it up again so the icons return (since not all games have an exit feature). Locking my home screen or desktop does me no good when I am in a game. I'll give apex a try, but it looks to me like it doesn't do what I want. I'm satisfied with the stock environment except for the one issue I describe. How many times have you accidently left a game?
easily_confused said:
When I play a full screen game I don't want to have any OS home/etc icons that can be swiped accidently. I just want to have to exit through a menu, or sleep the device (tap the power button) and wake it up again so the icons return (since not all games have an exit feature). Locking my home screen or desktop does me no good when I am in a game. I'll give apex a try, but it looks to me like it doesn't do what I want. I'm satisfied with the stock environment except for the one issue I describe. How many times have you accidently left a game?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say the best way to do what you're trying to do is to flash Paranoid Android or another ROM that offers what is called "expanded desktop mode".
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1800268
Basically "expanded desktop mode" is exactly what you are asking for. When you briefly hold down the power button in Paranoid Android (and this works in any app) a menu pops up that allows you to select "expanded desktop mode" which makes the navigation bar disappear. The navigation bar will reappear when you briefly hold down the power button again and select "expanded desktop mode again".
This feature may be part of other ROMs based on cyanogenmod but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe another member with more knowledge can weigh in on this.
Sent from my Paranoid Nexus 7
I used paranoid android on my htc sensation. It is a cool Rom with a lot of features!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Extended Desktop Mode will certainly do the job. But, I don't really want a major desktop redo (I know, that attitude isn't in the spirit of the great things the developers do here). Is there anyway to just install an extended desktop app?
It doesn't even need to be an extended desktop (the screen space isn't a big issue), Just a disabled home bar would do the trick.
Anyway to make a rom with just that feature? (I have some programming skills) Not sure where to start though. Just trying for a minimalist solution.
Thanks for helping. It's really appreciated. I learn a little more every day about what is happening here.
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.
Hi!
I'd like to know if anybody actually uses Samsung's features in order to help using the phone with one hand?
I myself make only use of the (not convincingly thought through) gesture which allows me to shrink the screen.
The assistant menu:
quite customisable, but much too big and slow for my taste.
Side key panel:
the other way round, quite comfortable to use, but nearly no customisation at all.
All in all I'd say lots of options, but not really thought through. What do you think?
Like you, I find the side key panel quite useful- eliminates the thumb stretching for the "back" button.
One handed input is also turned on & is mildly helpful for the dialer. Seemed to help a bit with continuous input on the keyboard as well, but ended up switching back to the stock Google keyboard I've grown so accustomed to.
Long pressing the recents key to bring up menus is also nice, though not specific to the Note 4.
Sometimes I use the shrink screen function that's when I'm to lazy to move my other hand haha
Sent from my SM-N910F using XDA Free mobile app
It's not just laziness. Sometimes you really need to do other things with your other hand (old school multi-tasking).
Holmegaard said:
Like you, I find the side key panel quite useful- eliminates the thumb stretching for the "back" button.
One handed input is also turned on & is mildly helpful for the dialer. Seemed to help a bit with continuous input on the keyboard as well, but ended up switching back to the stock Google keyboard I've grown so accustomed to.
Long pressing the recents key to bring up menus is also nice, though not specific to the Note 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with everything you said. Still: I'm not too convinced from what the side key panel offers. If you could customise the side key panel the same way as the assistant menu, I'd totally go for it.
macmobile said:
I agree with everything you said. Still: I'm not too convinced from what the side key panel offers. If you could customise the side key panel the same way as the assistant menu, I'd totally go for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I seem to remember that there should be an app that mimics the one you can find in Ios. Anyway, there are several very good apps I use for 'one handed mode':
- button savior non root (you can find in in the google play store) which gives you back, home, recent, screen lock and lets you start both the dialer and the camera;
- lmt launcher (see at xda) which works very well if you are rooted and lacks some little features if you are not. You just have to remove tue superuser permission from the manifest file (which you can do with apk permission remover) and turn on accessibility and it'll work almost as a charm. I mean, it does not only allow you to mimic the hardware keys, it can start any app and any activity which does not require root. If you are rooted, it can do virtually anything;
- as a good replacement of lmt launcher, you can test pie control by Coolace (always in the google play store).
I mostly keep the note 4 in my left hand (though I am right handed) just because my 2 years experience with the note 2 has got me accustomed to writing with my right hand, while keeping the smartphone with the left one... so that I currently feel uncomfortable while holding the note with my dominant hand So, I feel the need to have virtual keys on the right side, since reaching the back button on the right side is not so easy (though my hands are normally sized) and the above mentioned apps are the most useful I have found.
Funny, you actually named some very important apps I already use on my phone except for the lmt launcher. Could be that I thought there isn't anything to gain from if you're not rooted. Going to give it a try though. Thank you! Still I don't get it, why Samsung's Touchwiz doesn't offer better solutions? They could do it so easily.
No doubt macmobile, some customization options would be nice. The big phone trend isn't going away, so I'm hoping that more options for easing one-handed use are in the pipeline. Samsung would do well to lead the way, given their investment in the "phablet" space.
macmobile said:
Funny, you actually named some very important apps I already use on my phone except for the lmt launcher. Could be that I thought there isn't anything to gain from if you're not rooted. Going to give it a try though. Thank you! Still I don't get it, why Samsung's Touchwiz doesn't offer better solutions? They could do it so easily.
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I rooted every single phone or tablet before buying a Note 4 and now, though I miss the fun of flashing rom and mods, I think this phone has too many sensors which wouldn't be supported by an AOSP rom, while custom touchwiz roms aren't worth for me to give up to knox. Not much for the warranty loss, but more for the loss of the knox enviroment itself. So, since I don't want to root, I have got to look for work-arounds and I think there are many good apps.
Back on topic, imho Samsung has so far designed the best implementation for one hand usage, though it could be better. If you look at the nexus 6, it's just a big phone and the Iphone itself is just a (good) 5.5" phone which doesn't pay particular attention to single hand usage.
I agree with you both that phablets are very likely here to stay and that the current UI for single hand usage is at very early stage.
I just received the Note 4 with lollipop pre installed.
The one-handed operation (that I was using woth my note 3) has disappeared from settings!!!!!
WHY????
how to get it back?
Settings/Display and Wallpaper/One-handed operation
Samsung screwed one thing about One handed operation: there is no separate setting for dialing keyboard and QWERTY keyboard, just like it was on my previous Note II.
I wish I could set smaller dialpad, but retain full QWERTY, which is not the option any more.
When set one handed operation ON, samsung keyboard is just too small to me.