Database Users

Shortcut for "Settings"

does anyone know how to make a shortcut for "settings"? or what code of the link to call it?

With Battery Pack Pro, if I want to add a shortcut, I hold the stylus to a blank area of the 'Today' screen and get the prompt to "add icon"; the options given by the program include 'settings' for About, Backlight, Beam, Bluetooth, Buttons, Certificates......all the way to X-Button. Makes it very easy. I really like Battery Pack Pro and highly recommend it.
Examples:
Settings-About
Settings-Backlight
Settings-Beam
Setting-Bluetooth
and so on, and so forth

this has been done before... there is a threa with a downloadable zip with all the commonly usedssettings. in fact i have the shortcuts installed on my device as we speak.
just do a seaech.....

mr_yellow said:
this has been done before... there is a threa with a downloadable zip with all the commonly usedssettings. in fact i have the shortcuts installed on my device as we speak.
just do a seaech.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do me a FAVOUR, GIMME a link..;p
or goddamn keyword.

the zip file is in saman's new menu thread. search using the words "saman", "shortcut" and "settings"... it's two posts before nothin's.
you use it in conjunction with wm5newmenu.

ty........

Problem creating "create contact" shortcut on LPP

I'm trying to create a swipe gesture in Launcher Pro Plus to create a new Contact entry. I've specified the action as follows:
action: android.intent.action.INSERT
data: content://contacts/people
But when I add it, Launcher Pro crashes ("the application has stopped unexpectedly").
Can anyone help?

Legit download or a crack?
I did on it on my LP and works perfect,

It's a legit copy

I also have Go Contacts installed - could that be causing the problem?

That could be, I don't have third party contatc listing I will give it a try and see

How are you actually doing it?
I go to lp dock and hold till I get the lauch swype action then I choose shortcut, and get list I choose contacts and then choose my contact
I realize your making a swipe gesture ha! Hmmm ill try now that way

[WebTop]-[How To] Create shortcuts to custom phone actions on Webtop

I looked around and couldn't find a detailed guide on how to do this so I figured it out and decided to share..
Prerequisites:
Working Webtop
XFCE Desktop
or
AWN Manager
aLogcat > https://market.android.com/details?id=org.jtb.alogcat&hl=en
This is a simple proccess which will require you to use aLogcat to get the activity name of the item you want to launch and then simply make a new shortcut item on your launcher.
Getting our activity name:
Launch aLogcat
Hit the menu button on your phone
Select Filter
type "activityMan"
leave the option for regular expression unchecked
--Now that your application is logging and filtered you will see a window with alot of text. This is where we will be searching.
hit your menu button again
Select Clear
Now hit your home button and navigate to the icon you would like to be able to directly launch from your webtop and click it.
Go back to aLogcat
Hit the menu button on your phone.
Choose the pause option from ALogcat
***Now were going to search for the string we need to tell activity manager which activity to launch**
Look through your log for something that looks like this: "com.p1.chompsms/.activities.ConversationList" (this one will launch ChompSMS)
In my case the entire line looked like this: /ActivityManager( 1700): Starting: Intent { act=android.intent.action.MAIN cat=[android.intent.category.LAUNCHER] flg=0x10200000 cmp=com.p1.chompsms/.activities.MainActivity bnds=[5,343][115,483] } from pid 3088
copy the string that comes after "cmp=" (bolded above)
Creating the shortcut
Depending on which interface you are using this will differ slightly:
For AWN Manager
Open AWN Manager
Choose Launchers
Click Add
Set your name description and Icon
For Command add the following: androidlauncher --action "android.intent.action.MAIN" --cmp "<TEXT THAT YOU COPIED ABOVE>"
For XFCE
Right click on the task bar.
Choose "Customize Panels"
Next to where it says Panel 1 hit the + button to create a new Panel.
**Select the new panel and edit its options**
Set it to Normal Width | Fixed position | And then select the position where you would like to see it on your screen.
Change icon size to suit your taste. (Tip, if you would like to use the icon for the application an easy way to get it is to Google "AppName icon" and then use Google's image search. Choose an icon that's somewhere near 96*96 (you can sort by size), save it and select it from the menu.
Now that we have created a shortcut / panel
Right click the new panel / Icon
Add new Items
Launcher
Set your name description and Icon
For Command add the following: androidlauncher --action "android.intent.action.MAIN" --cmp "<TEXT THAT YOU COPIED ABOVE>"
you now have a working shortcut that will pull up the app or activity in "Mobile view" on your webtop!
Yay.
If anyone knows any more tricks with this please let me know! I have been wondering if it is possible to tell the app to come up in full screen.
** if this helped you please remember to hit the thanks button (help a guy boost his newb cred) **

Thanks for this. You probably saved me a lot of time because I was going to try to figure out how to do this.
Have all the apps on the phone worked without problems?
Also, does the Entertainment App work thru XFCE Desktop without the Awn dock?

blingmaster said:
Thanks for this. You probably saved me a lot of time because I was going to try to figure out how to do this.
Have all the apps on the phone worked without problems?
Also, does the Entertainment App work thru XFCE Desktop without the Awn dock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tested enough to say whether everything works or not. I also haven't eve used the entertainment center . This was one of the primary reasons why I was frustrated with the original webtop. They gave use the ability to launch only a couple of their apps rather than just creating a mechanism for us to select apps for shortcuts. This is something I may look into developing in the future.

Awesome work! I was just going to look at this today after looking at XFCE menu editing yesterday and BAM you already did it!
Too bad I broke my webtop somehow and had to start over this morning. I'm getting so practiced I could do it in my sleep!
Upon further thinking, you could probably just create a .desktop file like the other ones have and then it would automagically get put in the XFCE menu. Then it could be scripted and added into webtopscripts or something.

stewartsoda said:
Awesome work! I was just going to look at this today after looking at XFCE menu editing yesterday and BAM you already did it!
Too bad I broke my webtop somehow and had to start over this morning. I'm getting so practiced I could do it in my sleep!
Upon further thinking, you could probably just create a .desktop file like the other ones have and then it would automagically get put in the XFCE menu. Then it could be scripted and added into webtopscripts or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last night was my first night with a working webtop, being able to quickly launch ChompSMS , or pandora on my mobile view was top priority for me. Now that I have that mostly handled I guess I need to move on to learning XFCE tweaks. I'm really glad this helped, I was really surprised that this wasn't already hashed out and detailed, but I was glad to finally be able to contribute something over here!

Hi nineismine,
Mind to provide me a little bit of extra info on the below? Thank you in advance.
(1) How to "remove" the pre-installed short-cut apps in mobile view? For example the "Messaging". I rather prefer to replace this with the "Text Messaging" by following your tutorial.
(2) How to "remove" the pre-installed short-cut apps in webtop view? For example, mine Atrix is Asia Retail version and it build-in with the "Motorola Video" app-tray which I have no idea how to "remove" it.
I herewith attached the screenshot on my stock webtop for your reference (the stock webtop do support screenshot feature and I learn this from this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17093665&postcount=3)
Edited:
I found my solution by installing the webtop2SD. My issue solved. Thanks.

"n" button hacking

I've seen miscellaneous info around on the common task of repurposing the "n" button. I'd like to see a concise rundown of ways to hack it.
The "n" button is a scancode 102 that normally gets mapped to keycode 3 with /system/usr/keylayout/gpio-keys.kl
Keycode 3 in intercepted by the interceptKeyTi method of PhoneWindowManager in /system/framework/android.policy.jar
Keycode 3 is handled directly without using any intents.
It's not easy to hack a key to give an intent. You have CALL_BUTTTON, CAMERA_BUTTON & MEDIA_BUTTON. I haven't managed to catch them. The easy one to hack is SEARCH_LONG_PRESS.
You can easily change gpio-keys.kl to key 102 SEARCH
A normal press will bring up the default Nook search. A long press will generate an intent. All you have to do is insert another intent filter in your favorite app.
Code:
<intent-filter>
<action android:name="android.intent.action.SEARCH_LONG_PRESS" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
</intent-filter>
I have this running on my ADW Launcher and I uninstalled Button Savior.
Personally, I prefer hacking to installing yet another app just to do one thing. I would like to come up with a solution for a dedicated action for the "n" key.
Any thoughts?

If you use NookTouchTools this allows you to remap the buttons/quicknav etc without all the hassle.

GabrialDestruir said:
... without all the hassle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'd really like to learn things, not just load another app.
So how exactly do the Tools work? Do they need to have another process just to listen for a keycode and translate it to an intent?

Renate NST said:
Well, I'd really like to learn things, not just load another app.
So how exactly do the Tools work? Do they need to have another process just to listen for a keycode and translate it to an intent?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It uses modification of various .jar files
XorZone said:
* Patched android.policy.jar:
*** Injected home button code from AOSP, with configuration check between goto home and b&n quicknav toggle
*** Fixed recent apps dialog with configuration check to launch recent apps dialog or configured app launch
* Patched services.jar
*** "Reading now" button check for configured launch value (possible values: Home, Back, Menu, Search, Long Search, Custom App, B&N default)
*** All quicknav buttons configurable and will load icons (once, onCreate) possible values same as above.
* ActivityPicker - B&N removed default activity (usually in Settings.apk) to serve ACTION_PICK_ACTIVITY requests, so I added it back to the app and now able to add shortcuts/edit doc shortcuts in Launcher Pro...
* Configuration - All above configurable values stored in Settings.System so both system jars and Conf app can access it.
* Clear dalvik-cache button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks, Gabrial. I had read through this entire thread before and it had left me confused. 10 pages of talking about changing the UI and not a single screenshot? I'm still not sure how an activity picker or a recent apps dialog looks like. Heck, I'm not even sure what additional things you get in Settings. Is there even a tree list of what people should have?
Yes, I do have a penchant for doing things the hard way. I like things lean and mean. If I knew how to inject code into jars I would just have fixed android.policy.jar and left it at that. My main need was a way to globally get back to my launcher desktop without onscreen controls (like Button Savior).

Renate NST said:
Thanks, Gabrial. I had read through this entire thread before and it had left me confused. 10 pages of talking about changing the UI and not a single screenshot? I'm still not sure how an activity picker or a recent apps dialog looks like. Heck, I'm not even sure what additional things you get in Settings. Is there even a tree list of what people should have?
Yes, I do have a penchant for doing things the hard way. I like things lean and mean. If I knew how to inject code into jars I would just have fixed android.policy.jar and left it at that. My main need was a way to globally get back to my launcher desktop without onscreen controls (like Button Savior).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said
I'd try to ask Nook Color forums too...

Well, I finally learned how to hack compiled Java code.
Now, I've got a simple press the "n" and it goes directly to your desktop.
It required just a bit of editing of android.policy.jar
Why would anyone want "QuickNav"?
It's not part of Android anywhere, it's just something B&N put in.

Sometimes I use library...

brendan10211 said:
Sometimes I use library...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can drag the stock Library icon onto your desktop.
You can even put the stock Home or Shop there also.

I also use it to force refresh, but XorZone just made that soo

Renate NST said:
Well, I finally learned how to hack compiled Java code.
Now, I've got a simple press the "n" and it goes directly to your desktop.
It required just a bit of editing of android.policy.jar
Why would anyone want "QuickNav"?
It's not part of Android anywhere, it's just something B&N put in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I, same as you, like to modify my Nook as little as possible. In case of a future software upgrade, I would like to know what to change back before applying it.
Of course, I know I can just save the partitions (internal disk) and restore it as needed, but I would like to not need to do this.
Right now, I modified the gpio file for Search and created my own Launcher (base on Home Sample code in Android SDK).
Still, I don't like the need for Long Press on Search.
Could you please post the links which shows how to hack the android.policy.jar?
Maybe, if I don't ask too much, your edits to it?
Thanks!

Renate NST said:
[...] Why would anyone want "QuickNav"?
It's not part of Android anywhere, it's just something B&N put in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mainly because I don't like every device looking like an iPhone wannabe with a grid of icons. I like the reader focus with apps secondary. I do wish the QuickNav could be fully customized, including icons, easily.

bobstro said:
Mainly because I don't like every device looking like an iPhone wannabe with a grid of icons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm, Ok. Still, I don't like having to do three taps to do a non-book activity.
"n", then [launcher select] gets me anywhere.
The "currently reading" icon gets me back to my book.
I'm not fond of icons at all and have considered a list-oriented launcher,
but the fact remains that visually locking onto an icon is quicker.
That's why the QuickNav has icons on it.

Renate NST said:
Mmm, Ok. Still, I don't like having to do three taps to do a non-book activity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are only a few apps I use regularly on the NST, so I've just remapped the QuickNav buttons using Xor's NookTouch Tools to launch them directly: Library, maildroid, astrid tasks, calendar pad and dropsync. I find it quicker than pulling up a full launcher.
It's definitely a personal preference thing. I rather like that the NST isn't trying to be an iDevice. There's a minimalist 'Zen' to it I like.
I know you don't like additional software, but you can take it a step further using Folder Organizer. I set it to show items in the Notification menu, then show the "Starred items" and "Applications" menus in the Notification menu. You can launch apps and submenus this way, and also shortcuts, which can be handy to have 2 clicks away.
"n", then [launcher select] gets me anywhere.
The "currently reading" icon gets me back to my book.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, it's:
"n" then run my top 5 most often used apps directly from QuickNav (2 taps)
or tap Notification->app for regularly used (still 2 taps)
or at worst, Notification->Menu->app for stuff I don't use regularly (3 taps)
This give me progressively more focused listof apps. At no point do I have to go through a launcher, thus avoiding the dreaded iPhone-wannabe look. I never use a launcher except for maintenance tasks.
I'm not fond of icons at all and have considered a list-oriented launcher, but the fact remains that visually locking onto an icon is quicker. That's why the QuickNav has icons on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Folder Organizer does essentially what you've described. You can change the folder display to show:
icons with text
icons only
list with icon and text
list with text only.
I don't recall which features are available in the free version, but I like to toss a few bucks to developers when I can, so happily paid the few bucks for the full version.
Unfortunately, NookTouch Tools only allows you to set the 'n' key to show QuickNav or not. If it allowed setting it to launch a shortcut, you could pull up a nice targeted list of apps directly, thus bypassing the 5 item limit of QuickNav.

bobstro said:
Unfortunately, NookTouch Tools only allows you to set the 'n' key to show QuickNav or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although I have no experience with any of the Tools, I presume that they
(like my mod) just generate an android.intent.category.HOME/android.intent.action.MAIN
Most "home-based" apps should already have this as a filtered intent.
You should be able to easily select one of them as the default.
Using specific "shortcuts" defeats the purpose of the Android intents system.

Renate NST said:
[...] Using specific "shortcuts" defeats the purpose of the Android intents system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it have to be one or the other exclusively? For a basic launcher, pulling up the main app is sufficient. Other programs, such as Folder Organizer, provide shortcuts to user-defined categories, so I could have a subset of all available apps appear rather than a full launcher. Various readers provide shortcuts to books, and so on. Sometimes you don't want/need the full program.

Looks like they have the new Nook 1.1.5 OSS released: http://images.barnesandnoble.com/PResources/download/Nook/source-code/nook2_1-1-5.tgz
The "n" button is used turn the light on and off I think with long presses.
I pre-ordered mine already so will see when it arrives how it works.

The NSTG turns 10! Time for a makeover.

The impetus for my project was the purchase of a (surprise!) late production line NSTG with a flawless light-dispersing layer. And I thought...this deserves a rethink. Thanks to @Renate for help with the status bar background color and clock color. The rest is a combination of DesktopVisualizer, Simi Folder, Tasker apps (only 2), Minimalistic Text, a little judicious wallpaper design, and fooling with the framework-res.apk.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Features:
-glowlight instruction banner removed from screensaver image
-status bar background changed to white
-modernized "now reading", "back", and "menu" buttons
-date/greeting widget (updates automatically)
-weather widget (3 hr updates from data scraped at 3 am)
-"Now Reading" bookcover widget with reader "badge"
----image is automatic for non-DRM epubs, requires one button press for others
----image (whether automatic or manual) is possible to set as screensaver
----image is "smart", duplicating function of "reading now" button, and knowing which reader to open for which book (button also is now "smart")
-icons in dock are Simi folder shortcuts (except for drawer icon) and open groups of apps (stock reader, Kindle, EBookDroid, as an example)
-QuickTiles fully integrated
Edit: the current version now also supports PerfectViewer as a reader option
More screenshots below.
(YouTube insisted on muting the short segment featuring Ella Fitzgerald, if you can believe it...)
"How-to" guide begins in post #11

WHOA !!! Seriously ?
hahahahahaha ... LOVE IT !!!
What is this ? ... a concept yet to be realised or an actual working 'Neu Home' for our awesome little NSTG's ?

aiamuzz said:
WHOA !!! Seriously ?
hahahahahaha ... LOVE IT !!!
What is this ? ... a concept yet to be realised or an actual working 'Neu Home' for our awesome little NSTG's ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a real thing. I've been using it for a few weeks, tracking down small issues. Think I've got them all. But...it's just ADW launcher dressed up with some nice features. The underlying B&N system remains.

nmyshkin said:
It's a real thing. I've been using it for a few weeks, tracking down small issues. Think I've got them all. But...it's just ADW launcher dressed up with some nice features. The underlying B&N system remains.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent ... where is my Nook Manager SD Card !!!
When are you planning to release it for the public with the instructions set ? ... Look forward to it.
An NSTG specific ADW launcher ... Fantastic !!!

aiamuzz said:
When are you planning to release it for the public with the instructions set ? ... Look forward to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm....not sure. I actually have not tried applying this to a second device. I'm sure I can do it, but there are a lot of moving parts. I need to try and simplify the process. I didn't actually think anyone else would be interested!
Probably some kind of of gradually increasing functions, like just the status bar change (easy). That's just an update of the framework-res.apk using CWM. Then add in the smart "reading now" button (without the bookcover widget). That's just a pair of apps in which I can disable all the widget stuff.
That, I think, would be doable by anyone. The rest really is window dressing. It suits me, but not all the elements may suit others. I need to look at the portability of the widgets. If that were possible it would simplify things a lot.
Edit: Well, some good news for a change. The widgets can be "exported" in a file and then read into a different device. So for people who want to duplicate any of the widgets they see on my screen (or use them as starting points), the path is smoother.
Anyway, that's my next "job".

Really good stuff. Wish I had another NST to experiment on, it's crazy what you can still do with them.

nmyshkin said:
The impetus for my project was the purchase of a (surprise!) late production line NSTG with a flawless light-dispersing layer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey ... is there anyway to know if my NSTG is from a late production line ?

jun127 said:
Really good stuff. Wish I had another NST to experiment on, it's crazy what you can still do with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now i am getting impatient ... hope you are able to toss in a easy tutorial for us to try this !!!

aiamuzz said:
Hey ... is there anyway to know if my NSTG is from a late production line ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to my knowledge. I've only ever read about the change in background color and beefing up of the dispersing layer in one place. They could have made it up, but there is no doubt about background "white" when I line up an NST, my new NSTG, and my older NSTG. There's a clear progression to a darker background.
Now there could simply be something wrong with my old NSTG that makes the background so dingy, but I don't think so.

aiamuzz said:
now i am getting impatient ... hope you are able to toss in a easy tutorial for us to try this !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't guarantee "easy", but it will be my usual "overly detailed"

How-to
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for anything odd you do to your NST/G. Make a backup.
"My habits protect my life, but they would assassinate you."--Mark Twain
For this reason my original instructions were very incremental and complex. I now think that was a bad idea.
I recently discovered a way to create CWM flashable zips of installed and configured apps. I thought this might vastly simplify recreating the "new UI" look. I think I was right. I also decided that it was better to install everything at first and then subtract (uninstall) stuff that you don't want, seeing as how there are so many moving pieces and lots of dependencies. You can decide if I was right.
STAGING
Note: you need a good file manager app on your device and may also need some kind of working gallery app (like QuickPic), depending on whether the activity picker recognizes your file manager app fully. I was able to get along with ES File Explorer.
1. Make a CWM card (https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...od-based-recovery-fixed-backup-issue.1360994/), using either of the two SD card versions.
2. Download framework_newUI_CWM.zip and NST_newUI_CWM.zip. Copy these files onto the CWM card you have made.
Spoiler: What's in the zips?
framework_newUI_CWM.zip
/system/framework/framework-res.apk
/system/framework/services.jar
/system/framework/com.google.android.maps.jar
/system/etc/permissions/com.google.android.maps.xml
/data/local/fb2png
Changes to the framework-res.apk were needed to change the status bar to white and update the icons. This version also includes a few minor changes to address problems with invisible text in some apps. An update to services.jar was needed to change the clock to black text. This version of services.jar contains the patches needed for NookTouch ModManager. If you don't run NTMM, the patches are ignored. The two small "maps" files are dependencies for Tasker and any apps created with Tasker (such as NST UI, SetCover, NSTWeather and QuickTiles). These files don't do anything but if you ever want to install any of the other apps I have created with Tasker, their presence will save you a step.
The small binary file fb2png is a replacement for the malfunctioning /system/bin/screenshot. It converts the contents of the frame buffer into a graphics file with png format.
NST_newUI_CWM.zip
ADW Launcher (configured)
DesktopVisualizer
SimiFolder (sample folder configured)
Wallpaper Chooser
NST UI (dependency on MinimalisticText)
MinimalisticText (widgets pre-configured)
RotationLocker
QuickTiles (dependency on RotationLocker)
NSTWeather Widget (dependency on MinimalisticText)
So, it's pretty complicated and that's why I think this CWM method is best. In particular, MinimalisticText is difficult to install properly on the NST/G. Even following my own instructions it's hit-or-miss. This way you have a working version install with no effort. You can eventually uninstall things you are not going to use. Look for those tips in the instructions.
3. Download folders.zip. Inside the zip are two folders, media and sdcard. Copy the contents of the "media" folder to /media on your NST/G. If there is not already a "screensavers" folder in /media, create one and inside that create the folder "CurrentBookCover".
Next, copy the contents of the "sdcard" folder to /sdcard on your NST/G. If there is not already a "Pictures" folder in /sdcard, create one and inside that create the folder "Screenshots".
You now have everything you need to reproduce the UI shown in the first post.
INSTALLATION
1. Make a backup of your NST/G. Everything you are going to do is reversible, but it would be so much easier to just restore a backup if you decide you don't like the result.
2. Power down, remove your regular sdcard and replace it with the CWM card. Power up. Wait for CWM to pass the splash screen and display the first menu.
If you're not familiar with CWM, movement in the menu and item selection are controlled by hardware buttons:
upper left: previous menu, upper right: up, lower right: down, "n" button: select.
a. move down the menu to "install zip from sdcard". Press "n"
b. press "n" again ("choose zip from sdcard")
c. move to framework_newUI_CWM.zip and press "n"
d. move either up or down to confirm the file you want to flash and press "n"
Spoiler: I only want the updated Status Bar!!!
skip e,f,g and after the reboot is complete, delete all the "folder" content from both /media and /sdcard
e. again, select "choose zip from sdcard" (press "n")
f. move to NST_newUI_CWM.zip and press "n"
g. move either up or down to confirm the file you want to flash and press "n"
The screen gets a little mushed up with the menu after two flashes, but all you need is to get back to the beginning.
h. go back (upper left button) until the first item in the menu is "reboot system now"
i. remove the CWM sdcard and replace it with your usual sdcard, then press "n"
Chug, chug, chug... Boot may take a little longer because of replacing the framework-res.apk, but be patient.
THE DETAILS
1. Change Wallpaper (may have to do it twice for it to take effect). Tap on the Wallpaper Chooser app and navigate through the tiny print to /media/Wallpaper. There are three files. You want "NST UI Background_p.png". The other two files are for a smoother transition to landscape mode (handled by QuickTiles). If you never use your device in landscape mode you can design your own wallpaper to suit without making a version for landscape. The Wallpaper Changer app is sort of funky, but it gets the job done. If you have my Nook Settings app, there is a wallpaper setting under "Display", so you could delete Wallpaper Changer in that case.
2. Initialize NST UI by tapping on the icon. You are taken back to the home screen and get an SU permission prompt.
3. Use NTMM to assign NST UI to the status bar "reading now" button.
Spoiler: I only use the stock reader!!
In that case you do not need to assign the NST UI app to the "reading now" button. Everything else will function fine.
Also assign ADW Launcher to the "n" button.
Note: if you are not familiar with ADW Launcher, the three dots at the upper right corner of the app drawer screen are your friend. The first option allows you to hide apps from the drawer, the second to create additional tabs if you want to group apps. And it's a convenient place to access the App Manager.
4. Add BookCover widget (DesktopVisualizer), scale and position.
a. Long press on the home screen somewhere blank. You will see a dialog. Tap as needed to get to "Widgets."
b. Select a 4x4 Desktop Visualizer widget.
c. A place-holder for the widget appears somewhere on the home screen. Long-press until you can drag the image down to below "Now Reading". Then tap on it.
d. Tap on "Select Icon" (this will be the book cover image). Tap on "Image File". You'll see a selection of possible apps that might open such a file. In my case that was ES File Explorer. If nothing shows up that will allow you to navigate to /media/NowReading/NSTcover.png or select from a variety of images (with a gallery app like QuickPic) you will need to install something.
e. Tap on "Select Action". You will see options. We want to launch an app.
Note: if you would rather not have the book cover image repeat the function of the "reading now" button, select "None". In that case tapping on the book cover image will have no effect.
Select NST UI. This makes the widget active as a "button" which will open the "Now Reading" book.
f. To complete the setup of the widget, trash the Label and select "None" for the Touch Effect color. Then tap on OK.
g. You are now back on the home screen:
Long-press on the widget until you see the dialog open and select "Resize":
The best option for me was to move the bottom handle down a little. This gave an image that seemed to fit in the space and had the right aspect ratio. Compare with the screenshot in the first post. Of course you can position and size the image any way you want if you are developing your own design. When you select a book to read this temporary image will be replaced.
5. Getting a custom version of the SetCover app.
Spoiler: Why does this have to be so complicated????
I've really tried everything to simplify this but I've come up with nothing. The issue is with the appWidgetID and the manager hidden somewhere on the device. In order to manipulate the book cover widget via Tasker the widget ID# is required. This is no problem but there is no way to use a variable to carry this information. And...Desktop Visualizer seems to almost pick a random number for its widgets so there is no dependable way to know what your individual widget ID# for the book cover image will be until you create the widget. Desktop Visualizer has the "ability" to clear the widget from memory if you delete it (from the App Manager) but it only resets the ID# back to the value it started with (whatever it was) and that not 100% of the time (a reboot helps).
What this means is that each version of SetCover has to be custom made for your particular widget ID#. This is not a difficult thing for me to do--just a few changes in the code for your ID#--and I am happy to do it. But it does mean that if you accidentally delete the book cover widget, you may not be able to make a new one with the same ID# and thus will need a new version of the app.
a. Use a file manager to navigate to /data/data/jp.co.bii.androi.app.dskvzr/files.
Inside that folder there should be one file representing the book cover widget. The file name will be something like "conf_1.dat". Your widget ID# is the numeric part of the file name (so, "1", in the example shown). PM me with your widget ID# and I will send you a custom version of SetCover.
b. Install the app and initialize it by tapping on the icon. You are returned to the home screen and an SU permission prompt is generated. It also takes a screenshot (think of it as a test drive...).
c. Use NTMM to assign SetCover to the hardware button of your choice (for manual cover capture). Remember, automatic cover images are only generated for non-DRM epub files. Everything else requires one button press when the cover is displayed on the screen.
5. Create additional SimiFolders and arrange dock icons
Spoiler: I do not want SimiFolders. I am going to use single app icons!!!
Uninstall the SimiFolder app. If the sample SimiFolder icon (the "books") does not disappear from the dock area of the home screen, double-tap on it until the dialog appears and choose "Remove". Remember that ADW Launcher allows you to use custom icons on the home screen, so even if you use single app icons you can still customize for an overall uniform effect if you want. To change the icon, double-tap on an app icon and choose "edit" from the dialog that appears.
I've provided one sample SimiFolder (the "books") so that setup of additional folders is simplified (if you like my choices...). Here's how to make additional ones.
a. Tap on the SimiFolder icon in the app drawer. Just a useful tidbit before we go on: the "Applications" section lists your apps, as you might guess. But there is an option in there for changing the app icon. I did this with the stock Library app in the sample "Reader" folder. So, tap on "Folder" and then "Add Folder". Give the folder a name and select the type of folder ("Combined").
Finally, to keep things simple for now, you can skip all the tedious configuration by choosing to "Copy settings from Folder". In this case, the sample "Readers" folder I provided. Save before going on.
b. To add apps to the new folder, tap on it and then on "Add".
This takes you to a screen with all your apps. Check the ones you want. You can choose to order the apps manually or let the app arrange them ("Sorting", back on the previous screen).
c. To get the new SimiFolder to appear on the home screen (in the dock) you need to use DesktopVisualizer. Long-press on an empty area of the home screen to bring up the ADW dialog:
Use the dialog options that follow to navigate to /media/Icons and select the icon of your choice (you can add/design your own, of course).
You would choose your own folder, of course. Then you are back to the home screen and you can drag your new SimiFolder shortcut down to the dock and arrange as you like.
6. Add Greeting widget (MinimalisticText)
Spoiler: I do not want the Greeting widget!!!
This requires a special version of the NST UI app with the widget control parts removed. Uninstall the existing NST UI app and install NST UI_no_widget. Initialize the app by tapping on the icon and grant SuperUser permission. If you also do not want the Weather widget, you can uninstall MinimalisticText and delete /sdcard/Fonts as well as /sdcard/MinimalisticTextPreferences
a. Long-press on the home screen somewhere and add a Widget. You want MinimalisticText 5x1 Horizontal. This takes you to the app itself where you enter the name for the widget. Use the name as shown.
b. Scroll to the very end of Settings until you see Save/Restore. Choose "Restore" and select "Greeting". This reads in the widget as I have created it so you don't have to go through all the setup.
c. DO NOT USE either the back arrow or back button at this point!! You'll have to start all over again. Instead, scroll back through Settings to find "Custom Layout". You can now see the "innards" of the widget. You want the last item which will allow you to type in your name.
d. NOW use the back button (status bar) twice to dismiss the keyboard and close the editing screen. To save any changes to a widget of any kind, ALWAYS use the menu button (status bar) followed by a tap on "OK" at the bottom. MinimalisticText closes and you are back at the home screen.
e. Resize and position as before with the book cover image (see post #1). For me, pulling down on the bottom a little put the widget in the correct vertical position.
7. Add Weather widget (MinimalisticText)
Spoiler: I do not want the Weather widget!!!
Uninstall the NST Weather app. Delete the NSTWeather folder from your sdcard. From /sdcard/Fonts folder, delete weathericons.ttf
If you want to have the Weather widget, you will need to get a free API from Open Weather Maps. For more information, see the original app post. You don't need to go through the whole widget-building process. Once you have the API and your geocoordinates, tap on the app icon and fill in the Settings information. The rest is more or less automatic. You will receive a notification when the data has been processed and the app is "widget-ready". Then you follow the procedure for the Greeting widget (the size is Horizontal 4x2), but name it "Weather" and read in the configuration for that widget. There's nothing else to do but position the widget properly on the home screen. If your location is not showing up correctly for some reason, you can go into the widget settings (Layout>CustomLayout) and replace the Location variable with static text. Message me for additional help.
8. Configure QuickTiles
Spoiler: I do not want QuickTiles!!!
Be aware that if you ever use your device in landscape mode the static elements of the home screen wallpaper provided will be improperly positioned. This special version of QuickTiles (2.3) contains sufficient code to swap wallpapers during screen orientation changes. If that's not an issue for you, uninstall the QuickTiles app and delete /sdcard/Qtiles. If you never use your device in landscape (or always change from within an app like EBookDroid or PerfectViewer) you can also uninstall RotationLocker.
Tap on the app icon to initialize. By default, only the WiFi tile is set. You should read more about how the app works and how to set up additional tiles in the original app post. Some functions may require the presence of additional apps. RotationLocker is a dependency so whether you actually use that particular tile, the app must remain installed if you want to run QuickTiles.
Just in case...
If you have deleted some apps and later change your mind, it would be a shame to have to go back to the CWM zip and flash all over again. For that reason I've posted copies (or links to copies) of the main "optional" apps. Note that MinimalisticText comes as a CWM-flashable zip because it is so difficult to get a working install by just installing the app.
Desktop Visualizer
Minimalistic Text
Simi Folder
QuickTiles 2.3 (custom for this UI)

@nmyshkin ... thanks for the instruction set ...
nmyshkin said:
I can't guarantee "easy", but it will be my usual "overly detailed"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agreed ... your instruction sets are comprehensive and detailed !!!
quite a bit of understanding and tinkering needed ... will try and get back i i like it ... currently my NSTG is an a state of ZEN ... thanks to your masterpiece of the RN button with my custom menu ... Its like i've already achived nirvana ... my mind is ONE with this current version(only cos of your RN Menu app) !!!