I think it was an excellent idea for Google to push for the elimination of the menu button. It makes sense and encourages developers to unambiguously put the rest of their program's menu options in the app itself, easily accessed. On the other hand, having a dedicated key for app switching seems kind of unnecessary. The Windows Phone layout makes sense to me. The search button seems like a good idea. The only problem is, on WP, the search key is always bound to the Bing web search.
I think Google could use this sort of layout better. Keep back and home, of course, but let users access the recent apps list by double-tapping the home key. Google Now Voice could be accessed by holding down home. Swap the app switch key for search, and default that to in-app search, which would be pretty useful for quite a few apps. Double-tapping (or long-tapping, I suppose) the search key could bring the user to the android universal search, and let them search through their phone and Google for general search terms, as well as the Play Store for apps that aren't currently on the phone.
Or, hell, just let users remap the keys to their heart's content right out of the box. Customization is why we went Android, isn't it?
Protogon said:
I think it was an excellent idea for Google to push for the elimination of the menu button. It makes sense and encourages developers to unambiguously put the rest of their program's menu options in the app itself, easily accessed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except . . . . that it doesn't really encourage them to. Too many app developers still haven't done it. And when they do, its always in a different place, which is counter-intuitive.
redpoint73 said:
Except . . . . that it doesn't really encourage them to. Too many app developers still haven't done it. And when they do, its always in a different place, which is counter-intuitive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of devs haven't updated their apps in a while, yes, but the ones that adhere to Holo guidelines always have the overflow menu at the top or bottom right. The icon is also universal, so it really isn't that hard to find.
Plus, just how many ICS-style three-button (or touchscreen only) devices are there out there right now?
personally i would prefer they ditch the multitask button and bring back the menu button as some of my apps now are losing screen realestate to the menu button being at the bottom part of screen. they could have easily just made a long press of the home screen open the multitask, and a double press of home key to open up the multiple launcher option.
blessedswine said:
personally i would prefer they ditch the multitask button and bring back the menu button as some of my apps now are losing screen realestate to the menu button being at the bottom part of screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, I use the Menu button more than multitask. But I know that some people are just the opposite. The implementation on 2.23, where you can pick from different button mappings (with long press mapping also going to either multitask or menu), is the way to go IMO.
As far as the search button, I hardly ever used it on my old Desire Z.
You already have a dedicated search button. Hold down the Home button and talk to it. On Jellybean, you access Search by swiping up from the bottom bezel of the device, and the Google Now search page opens.
Letting users remap keys out of the box isn't the answer either, because everyone complains about OS fragmentation. Now that Google is taking steps to combat that, people are again complaining. You can't please everyone all the time.
nooomoto said:
Letting users remap keys out of the box isn't the answer either, because everyone complains about OS fragmentation. . . . You can't please everyone all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A simple remap option in settings to me does not constitute fragmentation. The OS does not have to be 100% identical between all devices. Giving the user the option to select the key mapping gives the best chance of actually pleasing the most people (if not everyone).
redpoint73 said:
A simple remap option in settings to me does not constitute fragmentation. The OS does not have to be 100% identical between all devices. Giving the user the option to select the key mapping gives the best chance of actually pleasing the most people (if not everyone).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True I should have worded that better. However, even if Google did implement the ability to remap the keys in stock android, you can be sure some if not all of the manufacturers would disable it to prevent the mass market consumers from screwing up their devices and making warranty claims.
Everyone has a different opinion on how the hardware keys should be oriented, and Google is trying to simplify an OS that a lot of people claim is too complicated for them. Throwing in the ability to remap keys is going backward, not forward in terms of simplifying it for the average user.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Related
problem: the little zoom control that appears in the browser, maps, and photos applications sucks. there needs to be an easier way to zoom.
solution: you don't need to the adjust the ringer volume that often, so those + and - buttons go to waste. they would be much more useful as zoom buttons while in the browser, maps, and photos apps. in other apps, and on the home screen, they should still function as ringer volume buttons.
is there a way to intercept those button presses and pass them to other apps as zoom commands? i'm sure this is possible in an application you're developing yourself, but is it possible to make other applications respond to the volume buttons? if anyone can point me to the right APIs, i'll develop a utility to make this work.
thoughts?
Ben74 said:
problem: the little zoom control that appears in the browser, maps, and photos applications sucks. there needs to be an easier way to zoom.
solution: you don't need to the adjust the ringer volume that often, so those + and - buttons go to waste. they would be much more useful as zoom buttons while in the browser, maps, and photos apps. in other apps, and on the home screen, they should still function as ringer volume buttons.
is there a way to intercept those button presses and pass them to other apps as zoom commands? i'm sure this is possible in an application you're developing yourself, but is it possible to make other applications respond to the volume buttons? if anyone can point me to the right APIs, i'll develop a utility to make this work.
thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If my memory serves me correctly, every app can extend into every OTHER app. However, I don't know if this means a background app (your button control) can take over button presses while in a foreground app (the browser).
I'll stick my head into the APIs and see what I can come up with.
This is actually I really good idea. I hope this is possible, and I hope you find some good news in the APIs snoslicer8
Calling WebView and overriding its OnKeyListener method to react properly to KEYCODE_VOLUME_DOWN and KEYCODE_VOLUME_UP could do it. There's probably a more elegant way to do it by hooking the key but nothing I can find in the managed sdk.
I think given enough time and developers someone will come out with a more extended version of the Android Browser.
I hope so, I'm not diggin this one much, it does "fit to page" pretty good. BUT...
The windowing thing is a turd, maybe a list you could popup with a key combo, id like to have more control over where downloads end up.
Maybe a small group of very small buttons ie: stop, reload, bring up an addy bar, bookmarks with folders, I imported my bookmarks maybe close to 500-1k organized in folders, I got them all in one huge list.
This is needed in bookmarks and tons of other apps with lists. When I push "d" take me to the begining of the bmarks that start with the letter D, the contacts app needs this badly, it would help in the debachle called a "main menu pull up", I think its an OS thing not an app thing. Lots of fones, pda do this so it's not impossible, its just one of those things goog either left for the 3rdParty devs or a future update, what ever the case, with 400 contacts and 600+ bookmarks I need it real bad
I use the app task switcher to seamlessly switch between my apps to take advantage of androids amazing multitasking, however being a N1 user (obviosly) i cannot set any shortcuts using keys such as holding down Search+5 etc.
Which brings me to the point of this thread, could anyone of you amazing devs out there build an app (X) that functions like so;
1. Launch the app X and assign ANY installed application to the rollerball
2. Long press on the rollerball on any screen e.g. while browsing
3. The assigned application launches and comes to the forground e.g. task switcher
I would do this myself but i have NO idea how to do anything like this. But being very fond of the xda community i am hoping someone out their can help me out. Please PM me if you think you can help.
Thanks
bratfink said:
I use the app task switcher to seamlessly switch between my apps to take advantage of androids amazing multitasking, however being a N1 user (obviosly) i cannot set any shortcuts using keys such as holding down Search+5 etc.
Which brings me to the point of this thread, could anyone of you amazing devs out there build an app (X) that functions like so;
1. Launch the app X and assign ANY installed application to the rollerball
2. Long press on the rollerball on any screen e.g. while browsing
3. The assigned application launches and comes to the forground e.g. task switcher
I would do this myself but i have NO idea how to do anything like this. But being very fond of the xda community i am hoping someone out their can help me out. Please PM me if you think you can help.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you're describing sounds like what happens when you hold down or long press the home button
Yes..
Yes what i am describing does sound like what happens when you press on the home button however i do not intend for the 'Rollerball Launcher' to be used with just task managers if it can launch 'any installed application' as i mentioned in the OP it could be used as e.g. a dedicatd camera button, which i am sure people would find very useful. It seems to me although looking very nice the rollerball lacks function. Dont you agree?
i use it for selecting fine text and to take the picture with the camera.
I suppose some people might like to be able to program a special function to it though.
Hello everyone,
I went recently to a device and more specifically to a wp7 7 omnia,
I created this video concept on the management of a multitasking wp7 keeping the style of the loose tiles without too many effects, such as MS has created a minimalist.
It works like this:
holding down the "back" button for 1-2 seconds, under a bar will appear with your open applications represented with the same tiles, dragging down the application quits, while clicking on it opens the'applicazione selected.
What do you think?
I like the idea of dragging down to close the program
Just very nice concept, yes.
Thats very good!
Multitasking (or should I say 'appswitching') on iOS is, imo, worse than that on Android and winmo.
On iOS, hate how you have to first double click the home button, then hold on one of the background-running apps on the taskbar until it gives you the option to close it. I liked iOS before that implememntation, because the 'taskbar' just easily gets filled up with apps.
On Winmo, once you tap the taskbar drop down menu and the list of background running apps appear, you have an x right next to it already. Alot more efficient.
Nice Concept :] I would like that too
Too much like iOS. I am sure MS can come up with the nicer way.
digger1985 said:
Too much like iOS. I am sure MS can come up with the nicer way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, It is good, it doesn't interrupt your work and it's easy to use.
spippo said:
Hello everyone,
I went recently to a device and more specifically to a wp7 7 omnia,
I created this video concept on the management of a multitasking wp7 keeping the style of the loose tiles without too many effects, such as MS has created a minimalist.
It works like this:
holding down the "back" button for 1-2 seconds, under a bar will appear with your open applications represented with the same tiles, dragging down the application quits, while clicking on it opens the'applicazione selected.
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it would be perfect if M$ do it like This way propose it to Redmond company
hd2leo_fusion said:
it would be perfect if M$ do it like This way propose it to Redmond company
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? M$? 1995 called and want their meme back!!
As someone in the UI design field, non obvious actions are actually bad design. Holding down a button for 2 seconds is not obvious, a simpler more intuitive solution would be to have an arrow (or icon) at the bottom to do the same.
Like the bars at the bottom tho, and the dragging down thing (also non obvious)
pillsburydoughman said:
As someone in the UI design field, non obvious actions are actually bad design. Holding down a button for 2 seconds is not obvious, a simpler more intuitive solution would be to have an arrow (or icon) at the bottom to do the same.
Like the bars at the bottom tho, and the dragging down thing (also non obvious)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so holding down the home button to voice command is also bad design???
You would prefer more icons on screen to do what a hard button can accomplish?
thank you all!
If you give the other suggestions I can make another video concept and maybe send it to Microsoft like an idea! What do you think?
I looks very nice, but the icons are too big.
pillsburydoughman said:
As someone in the UI design field, non obvious actions are actually bad design. Holding down a button for 2 seconds is not obvious, a simpler more intuitive solution would be to have an arrow (or icon) at the bottom to do the same.
Like the bars at the bottom tho, and the dragging down thing (also non obvious)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
holding down the start key for voice controls isn't obvious to users as well...unless they mistakingly do it, or read the booklet! Its fine! Humans are smarter than you think.
Seriously, this is almost exactly how iOS's appswitching works. And it's not a bad thing.
But probably Microsoft wouldn't use that layout for obviously reasons.
Android switcher sux. I would like to see something as easy as iOS. This one is nice, though smaller icons would be better
What a nonsense. Don't forget in WP7 navigation looks like this:
- Open software1
- Navigate to software page1.
- Navigate to software page2.
- Press Win
- Open software2
- Navigate to software page1.
So, after last step, let's assume i switch app to software1, then press back 2 times, and after that if i press back one more time, where i will go?
In Android, if you press 'Back' several times it just takes you to Home launcher. Do the same here.
Good
my congratulations to spippo, this is the first video that I see on a WP7 multitaskink...
I hope that Microsoft may look and begin to think on it!!!!
I love your idea but i think, that multi tasking should look like the Zune HD's pin/history section where you swipe to the right and that pane come up.
Barbbachello said:
I like the idea of dragging down to close the program
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works in WebOS and Blackberry Tablet OS because those systems use a gesture to "minimize" the application to a card that can be swiped up to be closed. WP7 doesn't do this. Apps are full screen. If I'm in Twitter, 50 results down in my feed; you want me to go all the way to the top so that I can drag the program down to close it? How exactly will I drag this program down to close it? What's wrong with an X in the upper right corner to close it, or simply backing out of it?
I think pre-emptive Multitasking has its usage, especially for stock applications. But I think the need for them in third party applications is limited to some pretty obvious use cases and Microsoft should be uber strict when it comes to allowing applications to do it.
Tombstoning + Push Notifications should be the de facto standard for third party applications, IMO.
Mods, would it be OK to maintain a "wish list" for mods or additions here in the Dev forums so that chefs / developers can take ideas and cuss from there. Kind of like a "meter" to see what the biggest (software) issues of the users with the device are?
If thats not desired here in this subforum please move or delete this.
My first suggestion would be the "Three dot menu fix" already out for the One X by blubbers. The new buttons on the lower end of the screen take some using to. I still miss the menu and search key.
Ideally it would be awesome to get the entire three key panel hacked to allow multi-custom presses. Such as:
Left "<" Press once for back, press and hold for task switcher
Middle Home button: Once for homescreen, double tap for Apps drawer?
Right key: Tap once for old school menu, double tap for quick-search launch
Maybe even triple uses are possible later on, such as press and hold, with either hard coded functions or customizable functions.
---
Second Idea:
In standby mode when playing music the side volume rockers modify volume which is nice. Maybe it is possible to modify / enhance the behavior to do a previous / next track skip by pushing and holding the upper / lower vol key, while maintaining the volume adjustments on short presses.
I know this is probably quite far off as the development is just kicking into gear, but a collection of such ideas might be a nice thing to have, although it might be the wrong subforum for such a collection.
Thanks for your attention
have a look at the virtuous rom, it already features some of the changes you want...
Quote: "Remaped buttons (Long press Home -> Recent apps, Recent apps -> Menu) (Thanks lyapota)"
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/20859-rommar-24villes-seriesvirtuous-one-s-v120/
Another one might be to allow the 4 shortcuts on the lockscreen to be different from the ones in the dock. I know I don't always want them to be the same. This was one of the better features of sense 3 which has been lost.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA
Number 1 this is the wrong section to post it in should have been posted at "One S General" and it's not a good way to start off the phone by requesting things.
Thread moved to general... this is a wish list... not development
And I would add that wishlists are so specific to each person, maybe you should create a poll or something to see which general wishes people have so that a ROM can be made to satisfy as many people as possible...
I like that idea! Would it get rid of the big black bar with the 3 buttons coming up on some games? Hate that so much!
EDIT: Having had a look at that new ROM looks nice. Going to have to learn how to do it at lunch!
Does anyone know how the virtuous is getting on?
The phones rooted now anyone busted the uptake kitchen yet? Or tried sys tune. Not even got my phone yet lol
I think in regards to mods...toolsets wont take long to appear the biggest question is will asop ever arrive I know quite a few devs have gone to the x...
Forgot to ask...anyone tried changing dpi yet?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
The virtuous team is over at rootzwiki
I have AOKP Milestone 6 installed and I love how it looks, especially the Hide Notification Bar option because it makes my TF feel more like a netbook when I have it docked. The only problem is that the long press shortcuts don't work on the keyboard (ex. long pressing the home key doesn't give me the recent apps menu, it just brings me to the home screen).
I was wondering if there was a way to re-map some of the shortcut keys in the top row (bluetooth toggle, camera, internet, etc...) to my own custom actions such as launching the recent apps menu, killing a window and bringing up the notification bar. I know it's possible to do this in Linux since I just did it for a remote that I use with XBMC (the remote emulates a keyboard), I just didn't know if they feature is extended to Android or not.
Sent from my TF101 using Tapatalk 2
its possible but not easy. Some things can be remapped in the users/ect files such as ausec.(c something) but other more complex things like recent apps have to be done in framework-res.apk as far as i remember
Check out /system/usr/keylayout/asusec.kl.
I'm not sure if you can map keys to specific things like killing a window or bringing up the notification bar. However, recent apps is accessible through alt+tab (try it!) and so you may want to swap the Search and Alt keys.
EDIT: Some useful key names to look for and replace:
ALT_LEFT: left alt
ALT_RIGHT: right alt
SEARCH: search key
FORWARD_DEL: delete, as opposed to backspace. not mapped to anything by default
ESCAPE: escape key. I have this bound to the wifi key because I always accidentally hit it, and sometimes escape is useful in terminals or remote desktop
mjlim said:
Check out /system/usr/keylayout/asusec.kl.
I'm not sure if you can map keys to specific things like killing a window or bringing up the notification bar. However, recent apps is accessible through alt+tab (try it!) and so you may want to swap the Search and Alt keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats right usr/keylayout not user/ect don't know what i was thinking there. I know there is a way to exchange the stupid alt-tab icon recent apps to the cards recent apps but i don't have time to do that right now. I was also going to work on getting a guide set up on how to remap everything because it seems to be a pretty common desire.
Edit:
Found it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1450138
Thanks for the info guys, I'll give it a try! I definitely think I'm going to stick with AOKP for a while since it seems to give me the best experience since I've had my TF (over a year).
alt tab
brando56894 said:
Thanks for the info guys, I'll give it a try! I definitely think I'm going to stick with AOKP for a while since it seems to give me the best experience since I've had my TF (over a year).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have anyone result at this field ?
Is it possible to disable ALT-TAB (that switch android apps)?
I need this combination bee free for RDP.