7720 Marketplace changes - Windows Phone 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So far, I love almost everything about Mango. But there's one thing that's pissing me off. It used to be that you could start a download and just keep right on browsing. I found this VASTLY superior to the experience of the marketplace on iPhone, where you choose an app to install and it dumps out of the market.
Unfortunately, the new Marketplace on WP7 does exactly what the iPhone app store does now, and it sucks. SUCKS! Is there any way to revert it to the old behavior? Of all the features to parrot from iOS, this was the worst!

I think there's no way to revert the old function in Mango. But I think you just have to hit "back" one time to go back to the market? I will try it
Edit: Hitting "back" one time works fine for me In my opinion it's not really annoying.

Yes, back button is a quick workaround. I was annoyed also, but as I don't install a lot of apps at once, this is only annoying at the first configuration.
iOS has back button?
It annoys me a lot more the dissapear of the "tabs" button in the web browser than this.

Just hit the back arrow, it's not that big of a deal.

I'm not sure if iOS / iPhone has got a back button
Wait?! On NoDo there was a button for the "tabs", right? And now we have to slide up the menu and click on it. Am I right?

No, of course no iOS devices have a back button, that's common knowledge. This IS a big deal though, when you factor in that Zune STILL can't simply backup your apps for easy reinstall, making it a giant hassle to get all your apps back. Now it's made worse because you have to back straight up again. Still not as bad as iOS, but definitely a step in the WRONG direction.
I agree about the tabs in IE; the new way to get to them is lame.

I must say I don't tend to install 10 apps at a time, so pressing back if i need to add a second one is not an issue at all.
In other words I think this is a step in the right direction
Personal choice I guess ... but imho nothing to start an entire thread on ..

jasongw said:
No, of course no iOS devices have a back button, that's common knowledge. This IS a big deal though, when you factor in that Zune STILL can't simply backup your apps for easy reinstall, making it a giant hassle to get all your apps back. Now it's made worse because you have to back straight up again. Still not as bad as iOS, but definitely a step in the WRONG direction.
I agree about the tabs in IE; the new way to get to them is lame.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install your app via Zune, it'll automaically installed when you reflashed / hard reset your phone.

Nope, not a single app I'd installed from Zune automatically reinstalled. On top of that, if you *didn't* install it from Zune to begin with, you can't install it from Zune at all--EVER. It's locked out. No choice but to do it from the phone ad infinitum.
So far I'm loving 95% of Mango, but it's not without its missteps, unfortunately. I agree it's not usually a HUGE deal to have to press the back button, but it's still a step in the wrong direction. Android marketplace has it right, and Windows Phone marketplace used to.

There's another thing which is absolutely broken. You can't reinstall anything from Zune. If you try, it will tell you it's already installed and the install button is greyed out.
People have different tastes, I get it. You might say the back button is a big plus in usability compared to ios.
But I think on ios they rarely screw this kind of functionality.

maybe they haven't update their zune or marketplace according to mango.

I read an article from Microsoft about this before, if i recall correctly, the reason why it dumps you to the application list is to show you where you can find your app once it was installed.
People were not aware of where their app was located once they hit install in the Marketplace. You hit install, the progress bar appears, and then once its done, the app simply disappears with no indication as to where it went. People were confused by this behavior. By visually showing people that their app was being installed into the application list, they now know exactly where to find their app, and they can also launch the app once it is done installing/downloading. Same thing with games, people were not finding the game they installed, so now it shows you that its in the Games hub.
In my opinion, this method is more intuitive. An option to disable it would be nice, because I know where my apps are going, but I think for most people, this method makes more sense and is more fluid.
The upside is that you can simply press back to get back to the marketplace. Another positive is the fact that you can now launch your app immediately as it finishes, instead of having to back out all the way start screen, then swiping to the right. I'm sure most people install apps one at a time, rather than a whole bunch at once, so in the long run, this method makes much more sense.

andycted said:
There's another thing which is absolutely broken. You can't reinstall anything from Zune. If you try, it will tell you it's already installed and the install button is greyed out.
People have different tastes, I get it. You might say the back button is a big plus in usability compared to ios.
But I think on ios they rarely screw this kind of functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The back button is a HUGE deal and makes an incredible difference over any iDevice. I'm all about different tastes, of course. I completely agree that the Zune software's ability to reinstall apps is completely, totally, 100% BROKEN. However, that's not an iOS advantage, that's an iTunes advantage (and let's face it, iTunes has so few of them, LOL) and I'd never go back to the crapware that is iOS now that I've enjoyed WP7 and especially Mango.
But that said, yes, there is still work to be done. I'd hoped mango would fix everything, but alas it's failed to do so. I must give it credit, though--it fixes *almost* everything

prjkthack said:
I read an article from Microsoft about this before, if i recall correctly, the reason why it dumps you to the application list is to show you where you can find your app once it was installed.
People were not aware of where their app was located once they hit install in the Marketplace. You hit install, the progress bar appears, and then once its done, the app simply disappears with no indication as to where it went. People were confused by this behavior. By visually showing people that their app was being installed into the application list, they now know exactly where to find their app, and they can also launch the app once it is done installing/downloading. Same thing with games, people were not finding the game they installed, so now it shows you that its in the Games hub.
In my opinion, this method is more intuitive. An option to disable it would be nice, because I know where my apps are going, but I think for most people, this method makes more sense and is more fluid.
The upside is that you can simply press back to get back to the marketplace. Another positive is the fact that you can now launch your app immediately as it finishes, instead of having to back out all the way start screen, then swiping to the right. I'm sure most people install apps one at a time, rather than a whole bunch at once, so in the long run, this method makes much more sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get where you're going, but I humbly disagree. it would be better to prompt the user once an app finishes installing: "Would you like to see where we've installed your app?" Let's face it: if you can't figure out that your app is in the *alphabetical list* of APPS, maybe you shouldn't be using a smartphone at all

jasongw said:
I get where you're going, but I humbly disagree. it would be better to prompt the user once an app finishes installing: "Would you like to see where we've installed your app?" Let's face it: if you can't figure out that your app is in the *alphabetical list* of APPS, maybe you shouldn't be using a smartphone at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well now that is a more annoying solution. That last thing I want is another prompt asking me another question. The old way or the new way is much better than having to go through another prompt. That breaks the fluid flow of the app installation process. The less prompts, the better.
Not to mention, the new method feels more complete. Like a full circle. Find an app -> choose to install it -> see download/installation progress and where its located -> launch and go.
Though I do agree that if you can't find where your apps are to begin with, you've got some issues there, but one of the points of Windows Phone 7 was to be a friendlier and more intuitive phone, and this only reinforces that thinking.

jasongw said:
I get where you're going, but I humbly disagree. it would be better to prompt the user once an app finishes installing: "Would you like to see where we've installed your app?" Let's face it: if you can't figure out that your app is in the *alphabetical list* of APPS, maybe you shouldn't be using a smartphone at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A prompt will be completelly awful, the current behaviour is very intuitive for all users, but Microsoft usually add things for power users like a lot of key combinations and stuff, so I feel that in this case they are missing like a "Install in background" option if you hold your finger over the install button, or the application, or in a menu.
Also about the tab switch in IE, I also feel that a 2 finger swipe is REQUIRED to switch tabs. WP7 barely uses finger gestures, and in this case flip a tab is a 3-step action...

eried said:
A prompt will be completelly awful, the current behaviour is very intuitive for all users, but Microsoft usually add things for power users like a lot of key combinations and stuff, so I feel that in this case they are missing like a "Install in background" option if you hold your finger over the install button, or the application, or in a menu.
Also about the tab switch in IE, I also feel that a 2 finger swipe is REQUIRED to switch tabs. WP7 barely uses finger gestures, and in this case flip a tab is a 3-step action...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A prompt might not work, it was just a thought. However, having an option in settings to be able to choose the preferred behavior would be ideal.

prjkthack said:
I read an article from Microsoft about this before, if i recall correctly, the reason why it dumps you to the application list is to show you where you can find your app once it was installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This actually makes sense. I did have this exact problem in NoDo, where I wasn't sure if an app had downloaded, or where it could be located. Dumping the user into the application list is not a problem when the system has a "back" button.

two finger swiping to change tabs would be awesome. Even pinch zooming right out like with the pictures.

jasongw said:
No, of course no iOS devices have a back button, that's common knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe for you as you had an iDevice before. But why should I know this? I don't care about iDevices
The methods mentioned in this thread sound great I'd like to be asked whether to use a "tabs" button or the "two finger swipe". An option in the settings would be perfect.
And I also like how an app is installed
But the best solutions are to provide options so that the user can choose his favourite way

Related

Multitasking question?????

I have a question, why is it that the only way to return to an app suspended state is via the multitasking card view? I mean, it should be like ios that whenever an app is in memory, if you open that app i will take you to the saved state.
Currently if i exit an app via the windows key, then try to reopen said app from the app list it will open like it was the first time...
ronclone said:
I have a question, why is it that the only way to return to an app suspended state is via the multitasking card view? I mean, it should be like ios that whenever an app is in memory, if you open that app i will take you to the saved state.
Currently if i exit an app via the windows key, then try to reopen said app from the app list it will open like it was the first time...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,this is a design inconsistency.I have mentioned in another thread...if you use windows button to exit an app,then the next time you open it,you will need to relaunh the app again. Unless,you long pres back button in order to let the app go into multitask mode. Then you only press windows button. If not, the system won't memorize the app. Windows button is simply cancel everything off.
This situation same goes to the live tiles, if you use windows button to exit an app,the live tiles will never update. However, if you use back button,the live tiles will be updated,you can try this by using network dashboard or any live tiles apps.
Please fix the Windows/home button command and functionality,it is just a shame....
To me it seems like the multi-task is more of a recent memory than a multi-task. For example, if i'm in a game of angry birds, regardless of what way i use to get back to the home page, when I get back into the game via the multi-task menu.. it relaunches the app and puts me at the home page.
what gives?
cgibsong002 said:
To me it seems like the multi-task is more of a recent memory than a multi-task. For example, if i'm in a game of angry birds, regardless of what way i use to get back to the home page, when I get back into the game via the multi-task menu.. it relaunches the app and puts me at the home page.
what gives?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea with angry birds,but other games yes...even if you long press the back button,it will just relaunch the game,maybe they haven't update the app to mango compatible.
However, IMHO, Microsoft really have to fix the windows/home button command ot functionality,to make it adapt to the fast app switching,multitask/resume and the live tiles.
Yes... Angry birds has not been updated...
And it just seems weird to me that an app thats saved in memory have to start again... I would think its not that hard to fix this....
Ok.. update on my own thoughts. Maybe I'm thinking of something different than you guys, but here's what I found.
I remembered the game 'Penguins' updated right after mango. I tried this out with that game. In the middle of a game, I can pause, hit the windows button, do whatever I want on the phone, then using the multitask menu go back into the game, and I'm back in the game at the pause screen. Alternatively, I can hit the windows button without even pausing it, and I can later resume the game. It appears there's no issue with the software, it's just a matter of how the programmers write the apps. Again, I could be missing the idea here, but I think this is what you guys were talking about
I find holding the back button to he much more efficient than going to the home screen into a grid of icons to find and launch the app again. another ridiculous multitasking complaint brought to u by yours truly.
elcapo24682 said:
I find holding the back button to he much more efficient than going to the home screen into a grid of icons to find and launch the app again. another ridiculous multitasking complaint brought to u by yours truly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats wrong with you,buddy? please edit your post,ridiculous complaint???OP never complaints about anything,it is clearly a question and a discussion here.
Furthermore,in regard to the ways you provided is not a good way in some manners. For example, if I'm checking my tweets and then i press home button and go out,make some calls texts and calendar. Then,i think it better for me to go back the app by access it from the app list or tiles. Therefore, back button is simply useless in this case.
You shouldn't be surprised. That's just eric12341 using a fake name to try to sneak around his account suspension.
RoboDad said:
You shouldn't be surprised. That's just eric12341 using a fake name to try to sneak around his account suspension.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I know, I have read some posts at the Nokia device specs out thread talking about this guy.
Troll almost everywhere.
sylau90 said:
Whats wrong with you,buddy? please edit your post,ridiculous complaint???OP never complaints about anything,it is clearly a question and a discussion here.
Furthermore,in regard to the ways you provided is not a good way in some manners. For example, if I'm checking my tweets and then i press home button and go out,make some calls texts and calendar. Then,i think it better for me to go back the app by access it from the app list or tiles. Therefore, back button is simply useless in this case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check tweets from the Me tile, it's really fast. its impossible for an app to remember the last state it was in unless u have a bg agent. its not that hard to use the back button. first people complain /criticize for no multitasking now there's complain/criticize over how its implemented. get a grip.
I agree with the OP. It sucks so bad. I'm no troll, but it takes me much longer to hold the back button and find the instance instead just press windows and first tile.
I'm not even mentioning the problems I'm having with my keyboard auto hiding while i'm typing, and the problem with auto correction in third party apps. Whenever I have an special character, it doesnt overwrite the whole word to correct it. "blahblaç" turns into "blahblaçblahblah". Genious.
Oh, and yeah, you cant use toast notifications! If you use it to redirect to your whatsapp message, it will reload the whole app instead resuming it.
Whats the point of implementing multitasking and turning it so ****ing difficult to use?
Whatsapp toast notification reloading the whole app is true. And it makes no sense to me.
BTW i love wp7, so im not hating at all... Its just that this problem seems soo easy to fix, its just silly.
ronclone said:
Whatsapp toast notification reloading the whole app is true. And it makes no sense to me.
BTW i love wp7, so im not hating at all... Its just that this problem seems soo easy to fix, its just silly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess we are alone with this. No one seems to care about how MS implemented it. As long they can use it somehow.

Windows Phone Mango Close Tabs?

Ok so with mango if you HOLD the back button you will see a bunch of different tabs and stuff that are open.Is there any way to close them?
Instead of using the windows button to quit an app, just hit the back button until the menu. Mash on the back button while you're on main menu to exit out of all of them.
iEatRappers said:
Ok so with mango if you HOLD the back button you will see a bunch of different tabs and stuff that are open.Is there any way to close them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was wondering too. I was trying to swipe apps up and down to have them closed. Instead looks like clicking on the back button is only solution and it's very inconvenient since might require more than one click to leave the app. I don't know if this is licencing issue but Microsoft should do something about this, like adding small x or something at least.
Yeah it seems the only way to close them is by hitting the back button. I would also very much like a small "x" to close programs, or swipe them away or something. It'd feel a lot better (especially when programs such as games have the little "Resuming.." thing, I find that annoying when trying to close).
asdfvtn said:
Yeah it seems the only way to close them is by hitting the back button. I would also very much like a small "x" to close programs, or swipe them away or something. It'd feel a lot better (especially when programs such as games have the little "Resuming.." thing, I find that annoying when trying to close).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm as long as you see the "Resuming..." you don't have to worry about battery, RAM or cpu consumption. Just leave it "open" cuz it's actually not running it's tombstoned (that's why resumin is necessary and a lot of games need to load their stuff again).
But with the mango multitasking I'd love to see it, too.
Let's vote for it:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...8-close-apps-running-in-background-?ref=title
Mango doesn't really have multitasking. Unless you have Jaxbot's no-dehydration hack enabled (which works on NoDo as well; it has nothing to do with Mango), even a Mango app is using no active resources (CPU, sensors, etc.) while in the background. It does hold onto RAM, but if the OS needs more RAM for the foreground processes, it will just tombstone the backgrounded apps, freeing their RAM.
Let's say that again, for clarity:
If an app isn't in the foreground on WP7, Mango or otherwise, it is using no performance resources and consuming no battery.
OK, now that I've gotten that out of the way... I agree that it's occasionally annoying to fully back out of an app. For example, backing out of Puzzle Quest requires a lot of steps before you get to the "are you sure you want to exit?" screen. Pre-Mango apps that don't resume isntantly are also annoying to "back" into.
So... I agree with your rquest, but NOT for the reasons implied by @chabun. Just wanted to clear that up...
---------- Post added at 04:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 PM ----------
Oh, as for closing browser tabs: open the web browser (in any way, including backing into it), and then expand the App Bar menu and select the Tabs option. I'm extremely annoyed that MS made Tabs so much harder to get to in Mango, but it's still there and you can still close them directly.
I'd like to close tabs in the multitask switcher simply because it only allows the last 5 apps to be resumed, and I often hit the limit. I don't want to waste slots with tabs that I don't need, e.g. settings.
Just hit Back instead of Start for things like settings. For that specific case, it's probably faster than opening the task switcher and hitting an X. It would be nice to have another method, I agree, but it is already possible to close apps.

Unbutton it.

The three "software" buttons in Android 4.0 seem a bit of residual lameness.
This doesn't really reflect how most of us interact... not every function or app needs a "back" button, nor a "recent apps." And nothing should appear on the screen that is not necessary. It is a waste of real estate, makes our phones bigger than they need to be, and complicates the interface.
If I have been using a calculator, go to my browser, then want to go back to my calculator (or vice versa, or anything similar) my brain doesn't say "recent app;" it says "calculator." Deciding whether to hit "recent apps/calculator," or just just hitting "home/calculator" introduces multiple pathways and a certain friction into the decision process.
Home button -- yeah, you bet. Always have to be able to come home, if only to start over. But two clicks -- "Home/calculator" every time, habitual, instant and automatic is preferable to two clicks after having to make a choice between two or more options "Home or Recent apps?" "Yeah I used it" "Recent apps/calculator."
Matter of legacy, I suppose, maybe a matter of choice. Never had an iPhone, waiting to decide between another Nexus or the Razer ... I need Verizon. Plenty of room for a difference of opinion.
You know there is a thread about this covered already right?
You could have easily searched and posted this on this thread without having to create this. Moderators should move this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1104451
I disagree ...
I don't really think they are the same topic. I am trying to highlight how we interact with Android, not so much whether the buttons themselves should be easy to use with gloves on. But maybe I didn't follow it far enough ...

[Q] Some Stupid Questions/Gripes About Android OS

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.
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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

[App][4.3+] Sesame Lock Screen / App Switcher: quick launch everything!

Howdy. My friend Steve and I made Sesame so we wouldn’t have to swipe around looking for things anymore.
It puts your favorite apps in a ranked list on the lock screen along with a keyboard that can filter to pretty much anything in 1 or 2 touches. What’s cool about Sesame is that it learns from your behavior and makes new shortcuts deep into native apps.
This thing is like a power tool for Android. It takes some getting used to but it’s worth it.​
Shortcuts it makes today
All your apps (ranked by how often you use them)
All contacts w/ 1 touch to text, call, or email (WhatsApp too!)
Websites you visit (but not when browsing incognito)
Music library and new stuff you listen to (Spotify only atm but expanding soon)
You can Quick Search: Maps, Waze, Netflix, Spotify, Google Music, Chrome, Play Store, Yelp and YouTube
It makes shortcuts back to your searches
Hangouts conversations, including groups
Alarms you set
Uber/Lyft see live ride options w/ ETA & Surge Pricing
Smart Keyboard
The keyboard is designed to pull things up fast. It’s not swipe, it’s faster. You don’t need to type full words. It understands shorthand, so if I want to play music by Ratatat I can type ’S’ for Spotify then ‘R’ and 'Spotify: Ratatat' will come right up. It also learns from your choices so next time only ’S’ might get the job done.
Lock Screen and/or App Switcher
The Lock Screen version displays your notifications and keeps your existing security 100% intact. Note: some device types see display issues when transitioning from Sesame to the system lock screen. If that happens, you can still use it as an app switcher.
There’s no registration and none of the data leaves your device.
It’s still got some rough edges. If you do try it, give it a shot for a few days. Our test users said it took some getting used to but they’d never go back now. We try to get out 2-3 new versions a week. So please give feedback, we want to make it better!
It’s free in the play store, check it out!
Will take it for a spin and give feedback later. thanks.
Hey, I'm Steve. I'm the developer working on this. Happy to answer any questions on how this works.
Hope you like it!
GerManiac said:
Will take it for a spin and give feedback later. thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How'd it go?
We pushed a new update. Version 0.5.16 now makes Reddit shortcuts and has an improved keyboard.
This post didn't exactly catch fire irl like it did in my dreams but if you've tried it and want to give feedback, we're definitely listening. Cheers.
Pwallius said:
How'd it go?
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Click to collapse
So far so good. I think it's a great idea, and you made the idea into a fantastic app, but I for myself noticed that I hardly launch apps or anything from the lock screen, since I automatically unlock my phone with the fingerprint.
GerManiac said:
So far so good. I think it's a great idea, and you made the idea into a fantastic app, but I for myself noticed that I hardly launch apps or anything from the lock screen, since I automatically unlock my phone with the fingerprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if you could launch it by swiping from the edge of the screen? I'm thinking the upper right edge is easily reachable and out of the way. You could swipe and pull down to pull Sesame up right away.
Lots of people just aren't interested in changing their lock screen but I do think there's some potential here. Thanks!
Pwallius said:
What if you could launch it by swiping from the edge of the screen? I'm thinking the upper right edge is easily reachable and out of the way. You could swipe and pull down to pull Sesame up right away.
Lots of people just aren't interested in changing their lock screen but I do think there's some potential here. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds good, however, maybe you could give the option to choose from where to swipe, upper right is for me a no go, since I've got a six inch Huawei Mate 8, it would still be reachable but not convenient.
GerManiac said:
That sounds good, however, maybe you could give the option to choose from where to swipe, upper right is for me a no go, since I've got a six inch Huawei Mate 8, it would still be reachable but not convenient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Roger. That can be done.
I think we're going to try to make the Lock Screen pretty first. Something like this.
There are lock screen apps w/ 50MM users that are basically rotating pretty pictures. They get around all the lock screen compatibility problems by building their own security then having the user turn off the system one. This isn't 100% secure, which is why we didn't go that way. But it'd keep out anyone except a motivated hacker. And if the system security is OFF we can build a seamless experience. So maybe that'd open Sesame up to a wider audience. It'd be totally optional, you could still keep the system security if you wanted.
Thanks for the feedback. It def moves our thinking. Let me know if there's anything else we can improve.
Pwallius said:
Roger. That can be done.
I think we're going to try to make the Lock Screen pretty first. Something like this.
There are lock screen apps w/ 50MM users that are basically rotating pretty pictures. They get around all the lock screen compatibility problems by building their own security then having the user turn off the system one. This isn't 100% secure, which is why we didn't go that way. But it'd keep out anyone except a motivated hacker. And if the system security is OFF we can build a seamless experience. So maybe that'd open Sesame up to a wider audience. It'd be totally optional, you could still keep the system security if you wanted.
Thanks for the feedback. It def moves our thinking. Let me know if there's anything else we can improve.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I understand, but you are right you are not going to get the audience you want.
Take for example hilocker I've been watching the locker growing but then it grew slower and slower. however it was not only the app which wasn't always running smoothly, but also the little to non response of the dev.
The features however integrated are great.
Giving the user the option to decide to keep security or to have a better experience at the cost of some security, is a good idea.
GerManiac said:
Yes, I understand, but you are right you are not going to get the audience you want.
Take for example hilocker I've been watching the locker growing but then it grew slower and slower. however it was not only the app which wasn't always running smoothly, but also the little to non response of the dev.
The features however integrated are great.
Giving the user the option to decide to keep security or to have a better experience at the cost of some security, is a good idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. We've got a few cards try to play. Let me know if some insight hits you about this conundrum. Thanks for the legit feedback.
I'll let you know when the next version is out.
No posts in close to three years. Did everyone stop using this? What are you using instead? The googl app?
user2837 said:
No posts in close to three years. Did everyone stop using this? What are you using instead? The googl app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just started using it on my NexS and it's very good. I've always liked these types of apps having used Fastkey Launcher and Launchboard previously. This is much better and very customizable. I use it as a widget and not the lockscreen.

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