Related
Hi everyone,
A friend of mine just got a Palm pre plus. Nice phone, not bad at all. I still prefer my Nexus but one tool really did caught my eye on the Palm.
The multitasking ability is wonderfull on the Pre. the ability to view small windows of every tasks you are running, moving left of right to switch and up to close/kill an app is just plain awesome.
I know jailbroken Iphone can download a similar app through cydia. So if the Iphone can do it, Why can't I find anything alike for Android?
That would be a great app that for sure many would download as it is just nice looking.
thanks a lot for reading.
Aeonys
Aeonys said:
Hi everyone,
A friend of mine just got a Palm pre plus. Nice phone, not bad at all. I still prefer my Nexus but one tool really did caught my eye on the Palm.
The multitasking ability is wonderfull on the Pre. the ability to view small windows of every tasks you are running, moving left of right to switch and up to close/kill an app is just plain awesome.
I know jailbroken Iphone can download a similar app through cydia. So if the Iphone can do it, Why can't I find anything alike for Android?
That would be a great app that for sure many would download as it is just nice looking.
thanks a lot for reading.
Aeonys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would love love love this.
That would be way cool Been wanting something like that for a while now
You mean a task switcher
And yes, would be a nice feature
Aeonys said:
Hi everyone,
A friend of mine just got a Palm pre plus. Nice phone, not bad at all. I still prefer my Nexus but one tool really did caught my eye on the Palm.
The multitasking ability is wonderfull on the Pre. the ability to view small windows of every tasks you are running, moving left of right to switch and up to close/kill an app is just plain awesome.
I know jailbroken Iphone can download a similar app through cydia. So if the Iphone can do it, Why can't I find anything alike for Android?
That would be a great app that for sure many would download as it is just nice looking.
thanks a lot for reading.
Aeonys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can simply long press the home button. It's not all your running tasks, just your six most recently executed applications. It's not nearly as cool of an interface as the Palm Pre may have, but it effectively does the same thing. For killing processes I recommend Advanced Task Manager.
I'm sure we'll have a similar interface on stock Android in future releases. 2.5 perhaps?
@mhaedo:
Thanks for the tip! I tried it and it aint bad.
I already had Commantalb and ES task manager.
Both of them and this trick do partly what I ask (and other too.)
Check out the proswitcher on youtube. I'm sure it ain't too hard to have an app running in the back that shows up like commantab show you the windows let you kill them with a vertical slide, etc.
If I wait for this to happen on android 3.1 I may as well buy an Iphone (oh dear no way!)...
Proswitcher looks fantastic.
Now that we have a phone with some decent power, I'd love to see a graphical task switching app with thumbnails and gestures like this!
Aeonys said:
@mhaedo:
Thanks for the tip! I tried it and it aint bad.
I already had Commantalb and ES task manager.
Both of them and this trick do partly what I ask (and other too.)
Check out the proswitcher on youtube. I'm sure it ain't too hard to have an app running in the back that shows up like commantab show you the windows let you kill them with a vertical slide, etc.
If I wait for this to happen on android 3.1 I may as well buy an Iphone (oh dear no way!)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having used the two multitasking solutions available on cydia (multifl0w and kirkae) I can report that they are buggy at best. In theory it works well but in practice, I often had apps crash when backgrounded (pandora was a fine example of this). The phone was not meant for it and could barely support it.
Using backgrounder alone with pandora worked well most of the time but even then pandora would close.
Personally, I have no real compelling interest in a pre-esque multitasking ability on the n1 but if someone came out with one, I would definitely try it out for no other reason than "why not".
coming from a 3gs and having used mquickdo and kirikae, I also would like to see how the n1 would handle task switching.
yep, backgrounding + task switching via card view on the iphone (specially through kirikae) was nice to have and would like to see how a similar solution would operate on the n1 - which supports unfettered multitasking out of the box.
aside from task switching, i would really like to have a nice way to invoke favorite, instead of recently used apps.
You're gonna end up with like....8 million cards when you want to switch.
aleitry said:
coming from a 3gs and having used mquickdo and kirikae, I also would like to see how the n1 would handle task switching.
yep, backgrounding + task switching via card view on the iphone (specially through kirikae) was nice to have and would like to see how a similar solution would operate on the n1 - which supports unfettered multitasking out of the box.
aside from task switching, i would really like to have a nice way to invoke favorite, instead of recently used apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you want to use a set of favourites, why not just make the "home" desktop where you keep your favourites? Seems to satisfy that ask, no?
deprecate said:
if you want to use a set of favourites, why not just make the "home" desktop where you keep your favourites? Seems to satisfy that ask, no?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stop being so logical.
aleitry said:
i would really like to have a nice way to invoke favorite, instead of recently used apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can create a folder on your home screen, name it favorites, then dump shortcuts of all your favorite, top 5 or top 10 apps in there.
legitimate suggestions and really i'm in no way being critical about current support for folders or shortcuts. pre like task switching or swipe-to-invoke features would be cool - but not necessary. bottom line - my n1 runs circles around my 3gs - without jbreaking.
deprecate said:
Having used the two multitasking solutions available on cydia (multifl0w and kirkae) I can report that they are buggy at best. In theory it works well but in practice, I often had apps crash when backgrounded (pandora was a fine example of this). The phone was not meant for it and could barely support it.
Using backgrounder alone with pandora worked well most of the time but even then pandora would close.
Personally, I have no real compelling interest in a pre-esque multitasking ability on the n1 but if someone came out with one, I would definitely try it out for no other reason than "why not".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to disagree with you on this Sir. proswitcher and Multiflow are both apps made by some user to compensate a HUGE lack in the Iphone. They are comparable to Cyanogen making multitouch on the Nexus (on the video it was shaky and unprecise at best). Besides, they can hardly work well because of the phone's design (solo tasking).
Now you've got the Nexus: Lots of power, and able to multitask. So with such a device I don't think it would be SOOOOO complicated to actually make a switching feature like it exists with great success on the Palm PRE.
I had to spend quite a long while the first time on my wife's Iphone just to get Proswitcher (unlock/root/blackstuff/cydia/backgrounder/proswitcher/settings) to get this important app: because quite frankly, yes it's buggy but it's awesome to be ABLE to do more than 1 thing at the same time like looking for apps and installing apps for example... My Pal who's got the PRE now has this feature built it. His PRE is nice, no offense, but the Nexus kills it. This feature would be one of the only thing I'm really jealous about.
lol from the dev of ProSwitcher when asked about making a similar app for Android.
chpwn
@xManMythLegend If you send me an Android phone, sure, but I don't own any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
proswitcher is sooo cool its almost sickening! our n1's can run x2 amount of apps as the iphone and yet we only get to switch between the most recent 6?! thats weak! i bet if we keep this thread alive (and on topic) we can see some development. lets see what dev is up to the challenge. i would definitely pay for something like this!
your posts needs some clearing up.
Iman07 said:
our n1's can run x2 amount of apps as the iphone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
N1 can run not just x2 amount of apps as the iphone. More, way more...prob more near 10? 20? obviously depending on the app itself.
Iman07 said:
yet we only get to switch between the most recent 6?! thats weak!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are able to switch between any open apps by loading up the app again from either the drawer or any shortcuts you've made. I understand you may mean by touch holding the home button but tbh its far far easier to press home once and nav to your app, and having it open instantly. Rather than sifting through pages to find it.
m00moo said:
your posts needs some clearing up.
N1 can run not just x2 amount of apps as the iphone. More, way more...prob more near 10? 20? obviously depending on the app itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was basing it solely on the fact that our N1's have twice as much RAM as the iPhone, 512 vs 256 respectively. Of course it depends on size of the app but it wasnt meant to be scrutinized over.
m00moo said:
We are able to switch between any open apps by loading up the app again from either the drawer or any shortcuts you've made. I understand you may mean by touch holding the home button but tbh its far far easier to press home once and nav to your app, and having it open instantly. Rather than sifting through pages to find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I do mean by holding the home button, but I find it more work to have to open the app drawer and sift through my 100 apps, though alphabetical, can be cumbersome. To each his own though.
Still would love to see a more effective and efficient method of switching between apps than the obvious (placing shortcuts on the desktop), sifting through app cards is cooler than sifting through the app drawer. Perhaps if the cards were limited to a certain number so it doesnt get out of hand. Who knows!
EDIT:
Now that I look back at this post I realize that I didn't really explain what I was talking about so I'm going to try to explain a little better.
What I am wondering is if it is possible to make a live wallpaper that would change its background image periodically, like in Windows 7?
I mean if it's possible to make an app that does that for 1.6 versions then that would be cool too, but yes I was just wondering if it is possible.
Sorry that I didn't get my thought's across correctly =/
That's not 'live wallpaper', it sounds like you want a program to change the wallpaper periodically.
Check the various wallpaper changers on the market, one of them might support that.
Macrophage001 said:
You know how with Windows 7,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, never used it,
Macrophage001 said:
you can put the wallpaper on the desktop so that it changes from picture to picture?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ll, been able to do that in Linux for years, winblows only just got it?
Macrophage001 said:
I was wondering if someone could make a livewallpaper just like that, that would be awesome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mean a bit like live waterpaper wallpaper only with less imagination?
There already is an app on the market that does exactly that. You specify a folder on your SD and it changes your background periodically. Forgot the name though as I don't use 2.x roms for now. Something with 'background' maybe, but 'live wallpaper' as search term should do the trick.
Edit: Found it http://www.androlib.com/android.application.org-mikeyin-livewallpaper-pEtm.aspx
Firerat said:
ll, been able to do that in Linux for years, winblows only just got it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Windows also could do that for years, using 3rd-party software. Now it's built-in.
Such thing in Linux is also provided by 3rd-party software, isn't it? And to be honest, Linux mainly consists of "3rd-party" software, so that kind of comparisons just doesn't make sense.
Windows 7 for the win
Firerat said:
Nope, never used it,
ll, been able to do that in Linux for years, winblows only just got it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Talk about arrogance. I bet you always say M$, MSFT, Crapple, or AAPL in reference to Microsoft or Apple.
Z҉A҉L҉G҉O̚̕̚ said:
Talk about arrogance. I bet you always say M$, MSFT, Crapple, or AAPL in reference to Microsoft or Apple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree 120%.
ArniPL said:
No. Windows also could do that for years, using 3rd-party software. Now it's built-in.
Such thing in Linux is also provided by 3rd-party software, isn't it? And to be honest, Linux mainly consists of "3rd-party" software, so that kind of comparisons just doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
erm....NO!
windows doing it with 3rd party software doesnt count as it being able to do it for years
this has been available as part of DEFAULT installations with both GNOME and KDE desktop environments for at least 3 years
claiming that linux is all pretty much 3rd party software is a complete misunderstanding of how things are done
eg. gnome stuff is all interconnected - everything built on the same core code and libraries. compiz uses the same libraries and some of its own to do the coolness
To be honest, you can't just look down at Windows because it hasn't been able to do an unimportant feature like this. It is not a crucial feature to have.
i dont use the feature...
what bugs me is that microsoft and apple keep claiming to invent a whole lotta these things....
eg. aero in vista copied compiz, the new horrible task bar copies KDE (not a fan), multiple switchable desktops etc.....
anyway, lets get this back on course.....
i think having a live wallpaper slideshow creator would be a good idea...in my experience with the backgrond switching apps - they use excessive resources...more so than many of the stock live wallpapers do
iWannaBeAdored said:
To be honest, you can't just look down at Windows because it hasn't been able to do an unimportant feature like this. It is not a crucial feature to have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't even use that feature in my Windows 7 or Super OS (Ubuntu derivative) partitions. It just feels more like an annoyance and a waste of CPU power.
At least Windows 7 and Vista have Live Wallpapers aka Windows Dreamscene .
backgrounds
There's a wallpaper app called Backgrounds which has this option. It has lots of FLICKR images and you can set favorites, dl them to the phone, or have them change on a schedule. Free app, and lots of quality images.
Z҉A҉L҉G҉O̚̕̚ said:
Talk about arrogance. I bet you always say M$, MSFT, Crapple, or AAPL in reference to Microsoft or Apple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeap
well, not the apple stuff, just
M$ , Micro$oft , windoze etc
Yeah, and us "Winblows" users make up 89.6% of Operating System use. While Mac users make up 9.57%, and you Linux users make up some .83%.
Well....even though this thread was blown completely off topic over trivial matters, it seems that I did get some useful information
That sounded rather pompous didn't it? lol sorry if it did.
Thanks for the help guys
Wisefire said:
Yeah, and us "Winblows" users make up 89.6% of Operating System use. While Mac users make up 9.57%, and you Linux users make up some .83%.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
true, and to be honest it is probably best kept that way...
well, let most people use Linux without knowing, while they surf the net, play a dvd, or make a phone call ... lol
|>>/dev/null&
Macrophage001 said:
EDIT:
Now that I look back at this post I realize that I didn't really explain what I was talking about so I'm going to try to explain a little better.
What I am wondering is if it is possible to make a live wallpaper that would change its background image periodically, like in Windows 7?
I mean if it's possible to make an app that does that for 1.6 versions then that would be cool too, but yes I was just wondering if it is possible.
Sorry that I didn't get my thought's across correctly =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-batterypoweredgames-livewaterpaper-pEwj.aspx
^^^^ from the third post does what you want,
well ok it adds a water ripple effect
and the little OS war to the side, everyone has either given an example of something close, or suggested you look on the market.
People understood you the first time
stick 'wallpaper' into the market and ignore the pr0n
I would like to to change the task switcher (what pops up when you hold "home") to behave similar to the "home screen switcher". To get an idea of what I mean, think the "cards" view of running apps from WebOS, but in a hexagon. With some obvious differences.
NOTE: By "home screen switcher" I mean the animation you see when that occurs when you "un-pinch to zoom out" on any of the 7 home screens, allowing you to select one (in Senses UI for 2.1). NOT the application of similar name.
Basically replace the homescreens with snapshots of 6 running apps.
If you get what I am talking about, and you know anything about the logistics of making it happen, I would appreciate you input. I don't know the first thing about developing, but I'm thinking about starting this as a learning project. I'm not asking anyone to do it, just let me know how feasible it is, and steer me down the right path. I know this is a development thing, but I spend all my time in this section of the forums, and I wanted ask the devs here first. I've been here a bit and never even opened a thread, so please don't crucify me.
If you ARE interested beyond that, PM me. I came up with this while celebrating 420, and while I was in a creative state of mind I typed up an EXTREMELY in-depth description of how it would ideally behave.
Well, I guess no one is interested. But I've started looking at it, but I'm stuck
running logcat I see this when I "zoom out"
I/ActivityManager( 81): Starting activity: Intent { act=android.intent.action.MAIN cat=[android.intent.category.HOME] flg=0x10200000 cmp=com.htc.launcher/.Launcher }
W/Rosie_3D( 159): onWorkspaceStopScroll , CurrentScreen = 3, mIsAnimation = false, mStopAnimation = false
W/Rosie_3D( 159): TIME_SHOW_CURRECT_PAGE , CurrentScreen = 3
and nothing when I hold home to make the stock "open app switcher" pop up.
For starters, anyone know if either of these fuctions are part of an .apk? If not, anything would help.
palm web os
now you know what would be sick, if someone ported web os but for the hero, but kinda like an htc version of web os but still had the same exact feature as the palm pre, i own one, i think it would be sick, if im not mistaken doing something like that would be illegal..........
i had a palm pre so i have alot of ideas i can bring to the table.
what i think you should do is this
have a notication up that with the program name
slide down and click it
when clicked all your running apps will pop up in a "card-view"
then you can hold for 2 secs to close or touch to open up...
i believe that's the fastest way to get your apps and open and/or kill them
holding the home key takes to long to pop up but that can be another way to do it.
This would be awesome
Demoyo23 said:
now you know what would be sick, if someone ported web os but for the hero, but kinda like an htc version of web os but still had the same exact feature as the palm pre, i own one, i think it would be sick, if im not mistaken doing something like that would be illegal..........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah hp & palm would make you pull this.
this is why i wanted htc to buy palm, i really wanted webos on a htc phone, maybe even port it to a android phone.
its already been done on the iphone, hp and palm wouldnt make you pull crap lol..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=671147
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snXCC9mTvI4 < Iphone video
Have you tried appswipe?
I am no dev either but considering webos is built on linux I would image the right genius (or collaboration of geniuses) could probably pull this off
DirtyShroomz said:
Have you tried appswipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this app takes it out me mouth it just needs to be more tweaked for speed and alittle bit more funtional.
XxsydenxX said:
its already been done on the iphone, hp and palm wouldnt make you pull crap lol..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=671147
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snXCC9mTvI4 < Iphone video
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
holy ****, i wish we had a palm theme that was that functional.
I have not tried app swipe. And im not the genius trying to port webOS, although that would be awesome. I'm really just looking to modify/ reverse engineer a little.
teddypepper52 said:
I have not tried app swipe. And im not the genius trying to port webOS, although that would be awesome. I'm really just looking to modify/ reverse engineer a little.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
app swipe sucks, i just tried it, nothing like webos cards.
fixxxer2008 said:
app swipe sucks, i just tried it, nothing like webos cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not close but show running and recent. Useful until you guys work your magic
fixxxer2008 said:
app swipe sucks, i just tried it, nothing like webos cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TaskOS is the only thing close to web os cards
teddypepper52 said:
I would like to to change the task switcher (what pops up when you hold "home") to behave similar to the "home screen switcher". To get an idea of what I mean, think the "cards" view of running apps from WebOS, but in a hexagon. With some obvious differences.
NOTE: By "home screen switcher" I mean the animation you see when that occurs when you "un-pinch to zoom out" on any of the 7 home screens, allowing you to select one (in Senses UI for 2.1). NOT the application of similar name.
Basically replace the homescreens with snapshots of 6 running apps.
If you get what I am talking about, and you know anything about the logistics of making it happen, I would appreciate you input. I don't know the first thing about developing, but I'm thinking about starting this as a learning project. I'm not asking anyone to do it, just let me know how feasible it is, and steer me down the right path. I know this is a development thing, but I spend all my time in this section of the forums, and I wanted ask the devs here first. I've been here a bit and never even opened a thread, so please don't crucify me.
If you ARE interested beyond that, PM me. I came up with this while celebrating 420, and while I was in a creative state of mind I typed up an EXTREMELY in-depth description of how it would ideally behave.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kinda exists already its called task OS in the market
Btw with appswipe you can flick to kill too
XxsydenxX said:
TaskOS is the only thing close to web os cards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
too bad it's painfully slow to the point it almost locked up my hero.
fixxxer2008 said:
too bad it's painfully slow to the point it almost locked up my hero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's rather zippy on my hero o.o.
downloading now to see how it is.
Longtime WinMo user (now with TP2). Just bought each kid an Android phone.
Been using XDA for a long time to modify my WinMo, add apps, etc...
Not familiar with the Android OS lingo and need to bone up so I can hook my kids up with some cool stuff
Did SEARCH but didn't find specific thread to read. Little help?
DLTempler said:
Longtime WinMo user (now with TP2). Just bought each kid an Android phone.
Been using XDA for a long time to modify my WinMo, add apps, etc...
Not familiar with the Android OS lingo and need to bone up so I can hook my kids up with some cool stuff
Did SEARCH but didn't find specific thread to read. Little help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well..
With android (especially with HTC Sense, HTC's UI) you can add plenty of little things to customize your phone. From the top
You can move application icons from page to page on the homescreen along with widgets. to add an application to the homescreen you can open the app drawer/list and longpress it and drag it to the homescreen. Once on the homescreen you can move it around.
Along with Apps you can add widgets to the homescreen, a widget is an app that runs in the homescreen it can do things like display a news ticker, enable/disable settings (power control widget), and other things like play music and search boxes. these can be very useful for getting a quick glance at information without opening up the app.
To change the background you can longpress the homescreen and select wallpapers.
If your phone supports it you can use live wallpapers, search for them on the market or on XDA.
One tip is dont install lots of apps! dont go and download every app you see it will slow down your phone, also dont use task managers as it messes with android native application closing process.
Also the biggest customization of all if your phone is rooted (IE: full permissions and access to the system) and has a hacked bootloader you can load custom roms that are themed or have a big performance boost.
Best of luck!
If you have any questions PM me and I will be glad to help!
Thanks
I spent the weekend tearing through other forums
Found a program called Sideload Wonder Machine that allows apk files to be put into the Aria without having to "root" the phone or otherwise dcik around with it. Worked pretty good after I found the USB Driver to sync it up with my laptop. that was a bit of a process in and of itself.
At the end of the day (weekend) I didn't really find too much to load into the phone that was not already available at the droid market. Swype, yes, but not for this phone. Loaded F-Secure anti-theft too but that, too, is not for this phone.
I am not sure how business savvy these droids can be but they are cool. Kids love them. The UI operates much like the iPhone and much less like WinMo.
I'll keep dciking around with it and see what happens. Thanks again.
DLTempler said:
Thanks
I spent the weekend tearing through other forums
Found a program called Sideload Wonder Machine that allows apk files to be put into the Aria without having to "root" the phone or otherwise dcik around with it. Worked pretty good after I found the USB Driver to sync it up with my laptop. that was a bit of a process in and of itself.
At the end of the day (weekend) I didn't really find too much to load into the phone that was not already available at the droid market. Swype, yes, but not for this phone. Loaded F-Secure anti-theft too but that, too, is not for this phone.
I am not sure how business savvy these droids can be but they are cool. Kids love them. The UI operates much like the iPhone and much less like WinMo.
I'll keep dciking around with it and see what happens. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can be quite business oriented (IE: Exchange, Calendars, Productivity Apps) If you want help PM me
Cheers,
Cap'n Krtek
Captainkrtek said:
They can be quite business oriented (IE: Exchange, Calendars, Productivity Apps) If you want help PM me
Cheers,
Cap'n Krtek
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree dont let the inteface fool you, android works as a tool just as well as winmo if not better
I've used an Android tablet for about a year now, and although I've put in a lot of time to make it useful and controllable, it still has a lot of troubling mysteries. I have a few questions for developer types that hopefully will help shed some light on things:
1. Why don't applications feature a "Close" button? In both Windows and GNU/Linux with a GUI, you get a neat little "X" at the top right of the window. Usually, when you click this, the application terminates. Is that so much to ask for on Android? The means of closing apps on Android seem to be entirely up to the devs and there doesn't appear to be a standard way at all. Some of the apps I've used on Android don't have any way to close them whatsoever, with the exception of killing them from a task manager or the "Manage Apps" section of settings.
2. Why do many of these programs suddenly and mysteriously start running entirely on their own? It's terribly frustrating for me to kill an app and in a half an hour find it there on the task manager list again, running without my having asked for it to do so. Where is this controlled? If there is some sort of task scheduler making this happen, why can't I easily see a list of scheduled tasks and choose which ones to run or not to run?
3. For programs that *are* running in the background (the ones I *want* to have running), why is it that they usually don't have some sort of taskbar icon to indicate at a glance that they are still running?
4. Why can't I see everything that's loading when the tablet starts? I guess I'm asking to see a logcat screen instead of a splash screen. GNU/Linux distros don't usually hide everything from the end user, so why isn't it optional on an Android tablet? Even in custom ROMS all I get are neat looking splash screens, not a terminal interface on boot.
5. Why doesn't a decent firewall application yet exist for Android? All I seem to be able to find are really coarse ones like Droidwall, where it's an all or nothing proposition (allow/block). I'd like to be able to control protocols, ports, zones and individual IP addresses and ranges like a good firewall on Windows or GNU/Linux allows. I am constantly under suspicion that someone is doing something on my tablet without my even being aware of it.
6. Why are permissions for applications so difficult to control? Maybe I don't want some stupid game getting a look at my contacts list. I realize I can just uninstall the game, but so many apps seem to tap into stuff that they shouldn't be allowed to, I feel like some sort of permissions control should be a default standard thing in Android. Instead all there seems to be are a couple of apps on the market that may or may not work.
7. Do any of you developers feel dissatisfied about the state of Android, and does Google take your feedback seriously?
8. Are there any forks of the Android OS that don't rely on Google for anything? I'm not 100 percent sure about the difference between a GNU and an Apache license. How much of the OS is closed-source? Is it enough to prevent a true, fully open-sourced Android-based OS from being made?
Sorry if any of these questions sound stupid, but even though Android is supposed to be more open than iOS, it's still not open enough for my tastes. I actually feel safer using Windows than Android, and that's just not how it should be. Am I alone in this feeling?
Ok. I would honestly say you should have gone with a Windows tablet if you want all those... It's not a computer. It's a mobile device running a mobile os. It's not gonna be a full blown computer.
McMick said:
I've used an Android tablet for about a year now, and although I've put in a lot of time to make it useful and controllable, it still has a lot of troubling mysteries. I have a few questions for developer types that hopefully will help shed some light on things:
1. Why don't applications feature a "Close" button? In both Windows and GNU/Linux with a GUI, you get a neat little "X" at the top right of the window. Usually, when you click this, the application terminates. Is that so much to ask for on Android? The means of closing apps on Android seem to be entirely up to the devs and there doesn't appear to be a standard way at all. Some of the apps I've used on Android don't have any way to close them whatsoever, with the exception of killing them from a task manager or the "Manage Apps" section of settings.
2. Why do many of these programs suddenly and mysteriously start running entirely on their own? It's terribly frustrating for me to kill an app and in a half an hour find it there on the task manager list again, running without my having asked for it to do so. Where is this controlled? If there is some sort of task scheduler making this happen, why can't I easily see a list of scheduled tasks and choose which ones to run or not to run?
3. For programs that *are* running in the background (the ones I *want* to have running), why is it that they usually don't have some sort of taskbar icon to indicate at a glance that they are still running?
4. Why can't I see everything that's loading when the tablet starts? I guess I'm asking to see a logcat screen instead of a splash screen. GNU/Linux distros don't usually hide everything from the end user, so why isn't it optional on an Android tablet? Even in custom ROMS all I get are neat looking splash screens, not a terminal interface on boot.
5. Why doesn't a decent firewall application yet exist for Android? All I seem to be able to find are really coarse ones like Droidwall, where it's an all or nothing proposition (allow/block). I'd like to be able to control protocols, ports, zones and individual IP addresses and ranges like a good firewall on Windows or GNU/Linux allows. I am constantly under suspicion that someone is doing something on my tablet without my even being aware of it.
6. Why are permissions for applications so difficult to control? Maybe I don't want some stupid game getting a look at my contacts list. I realize I can just uninstall the game, but so many apps seem to tap into stuff that they shouldn't be allowed to, I feel like some sort of permissions control should be a default standard thing in Android. Instead all there seems to be are a couple of apps on the market that may or may not work.
7. Do any of you developers feel dissatisfied about the state of Android, and does Google take your feedback seriously?
8. Are there any forks of the Android OS that don't rely on Google for anything? I'm not 100 percent sure about the difference between a GNU and an Apache license. How much of the OS is closed-source? Is it enough to prevent a true, fully open-sourced Android-based OS from being made?
Sorry if any of these questions sound stupid, but even though Android is supposed to be more open than iOS, it's still not open enough for my tastes. I actually feel safer using Windows than Android, and that's just not how it should be. Am I alone in this feeling?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Well, its a mobile OS and it would be rather annoying to have a close button on every (even most) apps. No mobile OS has had a close button
2. That's an app problem, the developer either wanted the app to do that for some function, or they made some mistake in creating causing that to happen.
3. There would be too many apps, and I doubt people want extra notifications in the status bar just informing them what's running. For example, my friends Stratosphere has a status notif whenever WiFi is connected, and it annoys the crap out of me whenever I use it.
4. Probably, because people don't care... remember Android (like WP and iOS) are supposed to appeal to consumers as a phone for "facebook, games, and internet," and if the splashscreen/bootanimation was a logcat, people would just go "wut?" Also, as smartphones get faster and faster, so does bootup time. And there wouldn't be enough time to read what's on the logcat before it fully boots and you're at the lockscreen
5. Ask the devs.
6. Once again, dev thing. They are entitled to putting whatever permission they want, and Google isn't going to stop them. Just think about it though, most people don't care about permissions. iOS doesn't display them (even though they are there) and people download apps like there's no tomorrow anyway.
7. I read somewhere that the main designer of Android was "40% complete" at ICS. It gets me excited at what's next to come, since 4.0+ is already pretty amazing.
8. I'm too retarded to understand this question
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
As gagdude said for 1-7.
8. There's the Chinese Aliyun OS which looks and feels a lot like Android but doesn't rely on Google - but I would't try it. You could try Ubuntu Linux if your device supports it.
Android needs to be like apple with updates time to close source this already and just have one phone already
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Reopened, but if it gets unproviding and or heads Off Topic, well then I will readdress this thread.....
Thank you and you can Thank user: Syncopath
gagdude said:
No mobile OS has had a close button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong, PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years on my HTC Wallaby, had a close button for every application.
@McMick, many of your points struck a chord with me and I have often asked myself the same things since migrating to Android from Pocket PC 2002 on my HTC Wallaby. Certainly points 1, 3, 7 and 8.
Since I jumped from PPC 2002 to Android 2.3.6 I've had the same thoughts. And I was for instance surprised to see that only now (Galaxy Note 2) are the very first steps being taken towards multiple windows.
I agree with point 4 too. On a PC (Linux or Windows) you can choose whether you see what's starting (BIOS and OS boot) or prefer a reassuring animation.
5. I have Avast!Mobile Security which has what is reckoned to be one of the best firewalls for Android, but even that only has, as you say, block or allow (individually for WiFi, 3G and mobile network).
6. The trouble with limiting permissions for apps is that if they can't get the access they want, they won't work. Personally I use the app Privacy Blocker which works around that by feeding the apps you choose not to allow to snoop nonsense information.
However it's not enough just to stand on the sidelines and issue one's wishes to "the developers". The point and the spirit of XDA-developers is that we can all start modifying things if we want to. So instead of saying "Why can't I" the thing to do is to start reading and learning and seeing if you might not after all just be able to ... do something yourself when it comes to your device.
Every Android developer does what appeals to them, which is why there is such a wonderful diversity of ROMs and apps for Android, particularly here on XDA.
So get stuck in and start trying to change things on your own device for a start. On point 5 for instance, you do see a logcat screen when you boot into recovery mode, so perhaps there's a way to display that when booting. If you do get started on modifications in the directions you indicate, I shall certainly follow progress with interest.
Thanks to BigJoe2675.
syncopath said:
Wrong, PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years on my HTC Wallaby,
However it's not enough just to stand on the sidelines and issue one's wishes to "the developers". The point and the spirit of XDA-developers is that we can all start modifying things if we want to. So instead of saying "Why can't I" the thing to do is to start reading and learning and seeing if you might not after all just be able to ... do something yourself when it comes to your device.
Every Android developer does what appeals to them, which is why there is such a wonderful diversity of ROMs and apps for Android, particularly here on XDA.
So get stuck in and start trying to change things on your own device for a start. On point 5 for instance, you do see a logcat screen when you boot into recovery mode, so perhaps there's a way to display that when booting. If you do get started on modifications in the directions you indicate, I shall certainly follow progress with interest.
Thanks to BigJoe2675.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
---------------------------
PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years :crying::crying: sorry for this....
syncopath said:
Wrong, PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years on my HTC Wallaby, had a close button for every application.
@McMick, many of your points struck a chord with me and I have often asked myself the same things since migrating to Android from Pocket PC 2002 on my HTC Wallaby. Certainly points 1, 3, 7 and 8.
Since I jumped from PPC 2002 to Android 2.3.6 I've had the same thoughts. And I was for instance surprised to see that only now (Galaxy Note 2) are the very first steps being taken towards multiple windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, but I wasn't born in 2002.
Lol jk I was, but I wasn't "born" to technology back then. I got my first phone only 3 years ago or so... and that just makes it seem that close buttons are now obsolete (on Mobile OSes, at least
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
gagdude said:
OK, but I wasn't born in 2002.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL as I believe they say these days. I forgive you instantly! I am amazed by your over 1000 posts in about 4 months.
McMick said:
4. Why can't I see everything that's loading when the tablet starts? I guess I'm asking to see a logcat screen instead of a splash screen. GNU/Linux distros don't usually hide everything from the end user, so why isn't it optional on an Android tablet? Even in custom ROMS all I get are neat looking splash screens, not a terminal interface on boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app [root] live logcat by the one and only Chainfire [/hyperbole] should fix this. There are free and paid versions. Something to check out if you're rooted. Please let us know of the results. Added on edit: from Google Play.
syncopath said:
LOL as I believe they say these days. I forgive you instantly! I am amazed by your over 1000 posts in about 4 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no that just means I'm a loser and I spend too much time on xda
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
@bigjoe,
bigjoe2675 said:
PocketPC 2002, which I used for 10 years :crying::crying: sorry for this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't quite understand this message, probably due to my inability to correctly interpret emoticons (reverse autism?). Anyway, thanks for re-opening this one because I
think what is being discussed here is worthwhile. Given the pressure of spammer-threat I think the OP should respond soon (or anyone else). Otherwise it will be understandable if you close the thread if you prefer.
bigjoe2675 said:
Reopened, but if it gets unproviding and or heads Off Topic, well then I will readdress this thread.....
Thank you and you can Thank user:
Syncopath
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I understand your priorities as moderator. This is of course a thread near the "top" of XDA and as such will far more readily attract spammers and other lowlife than further down in the more comfortable device threads where I am more used to posting. So you will want to quickly close any thread that seems to be becoming stale. Right?
@gagdude
gagdude said:
Oh no that just means I'm a loser and I spend too much time on xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so, over 200 thanks didn't come from nowhere!
This is off subject having prob w/ no boot sound for boot anim
Sent from my Huawei-H867G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app