Keyboard tweaking? - HTC One S

Hi,
I'm not allowed to ask questions in the general Android section yet, but I have a fairly general question:
I've never really used the 'normal' emoticons when texting, usually opting for x), ^_^, >_<, etc
On the stock S1 Android ROM, the keyboard has built in smileys, but there a huge waste of space to me, and the new three-tier layout really kills typing some of the one's I like out. Is there any way to exchange the smiles for my own?
And while I'm asking the impossible of consumer software, is there a way to get rid of the stupid pictures that replace text emoticons? It bugs me when that happens, because the connotation is totally screwed up, and it just makes texting skillfully more difficult.

Related

[Q] How do I customise a preference to display a time picker widget through XML

Hey guys!
Firstly I'd like to say that I have only been working on Android for about a week now, so I guess you can consider me a newb! Therefore I apologise in advance if the solution is overly simple, but I can assure you that I have done my research before posting here, and haven't found an appropriate solution as of yet (or maybe I have and don't fully realise it!). Nonetheless, having lots of fun and just want to solve this problem and learn, so here goes...
The Application
The application I am developing is essentially a reminder service, and I am currently working on the preferences screen.
The Problem
I would like the user to be able to specifiy a time when he/she will be reminded daily. I want this selection to be done via the preferences screen. This is how my preferences screen looks so far...
[http]://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3129/preferencesm.png
My Question
Ideally, whenever the user selects the "Alarm Time" preference, I would like the following to appear
[http]://img580.imageshack.us/img580/2366/timepickerwidget.png
My question is, what is the best way to create this? I really want to keep all the visual aspects of the application using only XML, therefore I don't want a Java solution. Is this possible or am I completely off track? Other potential solutions I have heard of are using themes, alert dialogs and extending preference classes etc. Maybe some of these are correct, but I am unsure.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Q] How Do I Get A Keyboard Made? Is There A "Requests" Area?

Just as the title says. I have not found a keyboard that does what I want it to do (Google searching shows other people have not either). I don't know how to write programs or modify them, but some people obviously do. How would I go about getting a keyboard made by a devoper/programmer/whatever that I (and I assume many others) would use?
Specifics will be discussed only with people who are SERIOUS and can help, but basically I want to replicate the Blackberry keyboard capabilities on an Android phone.
~T.J.
EDIT: Sorry mods, this was meant for Q&A, not general...
Go to a site like freelancer.com ad put an ad to hire Android developers.

Accessibility / Explore by touch

Explore by touch...
I`m posting in the hope HTC or somebody notices this. The Explore-by-touch does not work with hardly anything.
My partner had a stroke when she was 21 leaving her blind, and she presently uses Apple / Voiceover.
She really likes all the excellent stuff that Android can do, and even basic tts / navigate by touch is lacking...
We need something that is actually useable on a daily basis...
This (the explore by touch) could really steal some Apple customers if it could get to work properly.
Works kind-of with some launchers, but for blind / low vision users, they face having to spend a further £60 to use "Mobile Accessibility" which I believe is extortionate. These creators of Mobile Accessibility seem to have blind people by the b*llocks forcing them to pay this to use the features of their phone. I apologise for this rant, but Talkback and Explore by touch seems so promising for everyone who cannot / will not pay for "mobile accessibility".
Yes I have tested pretty much everything...
Talkback
Mobile Accessibility - very good but the £60-gun-held-to-your-head isn`t fair on blind people... Why so expensive? The phone is already expensive enough?
Speil
Different launchers...
So I guess I`m making a plea...
Please make Android more accessible. The first people that truely puts some R&D into this and get it working without raping blind people`s asses financially could be tapping on a goldmine through sheer amount of users.
Or the launcher developers... Could a special free/paid app launcher that uses the explore-by-touch feature 100% be developed? I can gladly test any program that anyone could recommend.
Any help would be excellent. If anyone knows any program or launcher that I may have missed that could do the job, let me know!
Failing that, hopefully HTC Sense will support Explore by touch (Sense 3.5 & 3.6 doesn`t, which defeats the object of having Explore by touch in ICS)
Rant over. Phew!
Good evening.
I understand the situation and disabled users should have the ability to expereince android how it should be experienced but im afraid this section is just not the place for this kind of post, this is a developers section where developers share their creations, ideally you should have posted in general section where you might have gotten some responses. a mod will probably move this for you.

Time to change things up

One of the problems I have with today's texting apps is that they are all essentially the same. Sure emoticons and group conversations are fun, but there is limited flexibility with what you can and can not do. For example, why can't we customize text layouts, embed youtube videos into our conversations, etc.
I came up with a solution by creating a basic, elementary texting app without any of the perks. What I want to do is get as much feed back as possible to build out the texting app that people want to use. Once users see that we take their ideas and implement them into the app, they will be more excited to share it with their friends.
So if anyone is interested in creating their own app, download Skoop Messenger in google play and let me know what you think. Check out the Skoop Messenger Facebook page for details.
Not sure I understand what you are proposing
that isn't already handled by email and/or IM?
looks a lot like the other sms/text apps out there already. not sure whats different.
There's a very good reason that they're all essentially the same and that's because of the age old saying -
If it's not broke, don't fix it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With generic things like texting, the majority of people don't like change. Texting on phones is nice and simple and if too many features are added, texting will become much harder work than it needs to be.
Sent from Sony Xperia S using XDA Premium
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I would like to see a talk to text app that actually works good, with the option to talk letters instead of words, another option would be like Xbox 360 where you can leave a voice message or video message, all in the same app, Maybe a way to customize and use a graphic signature instead of a text signature. Changing font of texts or colors, stuff like that I can see being used. Maybe having some music in the background when you are reading or have a text message open. A translater built in to the app, so if someone sends you a message in Chinese, you can press a button and the text then converts in english. Just throwing some ideas out there.
I don't buy into that " if it a broke dont fix it" Where would we be today if we did not constantly look to improve things? Probably in a cave beating each other over the heads with clubs and worshipping fire. This thread was started becuase someone asked for ideas on improving text messaging and all the responses have been anti-productive. Use your imagination people.
Dad D O said:
I don't buy into that " if it a broke dont fix it" Where would we be today if we did not constantly look to improve things? Probably in a cave beating each other over the heads with clubs and worshipping fire. This thread was started becuase someone asked for ideas on improving text messaging and all the responses have been anti-productive. Use your imagination people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine wasn't anti-productive. It was truthful.
Off-topic - Even if we were still cave people, would that really be a problem? Of course not, because we'd be used to that. Yeah, mankind strides to improve things, but at lot of the time, the situation with this thread included, it's not needed.
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Check out this [GUIDE] How to be a New User (and not a noob)
Relax guys.
I have to agree with both. If it's not broken in any way, why fix it - it might cause problems there weren't there in the first place. The main reason something is popiular is because it works. But then again, there's always room for improvement/innovation, right? I mean, that's how we got our devices now.
On topic: i can't find the app.
Sorry for butting in. It's just my opinion.
KidCarter93 said:
Mine wasn't anti-productive. It was truthful.
Off-topic - Even if we were still cave people, would that really be a problem? Of course not, because we'd be used to that. Yeah, mankind strides to improve things, but at lot of the time, the situation with this thread included, it's not needed.
Sent from Sony Xperia S using XDA Premium
Join my threads here and here.
Check out this [GUIDE] How to be a New User (and not a noob)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not in our nature to be satisfied with something just because it works, lol. Did not meen to take this thread in a different direction just wanted see some creativity. :angel:

Custom/reliable rom/operating system

So I am going to post this here, because the development section is ferboten to people trying to offer useful suggestions. Geez, I hope this is the right section.
Let me set it up. ANDROID IS BASED ON THE LINUX KERNEL. Everything, and I mean everything after that fact becomes android and bloat. Given this as the basis of all things android, I have a simple set of guidelines that should be used to create a solid, reliable, bullet proof operating system for devices able to use the android operating system.
#1. Create the kernel boot section of the basic platform that supports the very basic hardware features, including touch screen, radios, power/charging/battery management, wifi, bluetooth, nearfield, audio, microphone, s-pen,etc. Basics only. Root access is standard and can be turnd on/off just like developwer functions. No special tricks or addon hoops to jump through.
#2 At this point STOP. Every single process or service to be run on the device from this point forward should be able to be individually selectable - or not. Yes, I understand that individual services or apps may have dependancies to other processes and that thouse need to be functional in order for a particular app to work. That is why, each additional service or app must list the dependencies and in the selection process, the installion will be required to verify you have the proper services installed and functioning, if not to list them and allow you to make the decision to proceed. Viola, we have NO MORE BLOAT WARE.
#3 Make selecting additional services/apps selection process a menu driven, tag selectable process. Make the unselection process smart to verify and identify the other apps dependant on the item you are killing/removing.
#4 Allow a built in snapshot option to capture the entire system as you have customized it for yourself and allow it to be backed up to external memory with the ability to bring it back, AT WILL. With no big hassles.
Those 4 items are a good start. By themselves alone, it would put all of us in the drivers seat of controlling and living with our devices.
I am aware that such a system is not for everyone. It does require some basic technical understanding of the process. But for the vast majority of users, I am certain, that an a la carte system is far superior to the bloated monstrosities being forced down our devices.
I would appreciate any refinements to my suggestions.
The silence is deafening. It has been days. Kind of says something, don't you think?
I am so very happy (not) that these boards a compartmentalized to the point where you can't get through.
Pretty much a waste of my valuable time, especially considering the fact that if my suggestions where applied, people would be clamoring for an installation with those features. I guess there is not much true "developer" in xdadevelopers anymore.
Funny guys, with the pay to remove ads spam here. Really? Why? For what.
I leave here disappointed. Not angry. Just sad.
I'm not a developer so I have nothing valuable to contribute to your suggestions in your original post but I can offer an observation regarding your perception of the level of contribution to your thread and that is the fact that is particular area of the forums probably isn't the ideal spot to have a discussion such as this. You figured that out already so sure you can call me Capt. Obvious if you wish but I'm just pointing out that yes the forums are compartmentalized (as you've stated) in such a way that development for each device is separated out. This development is centered around AOSP based ROMs or "stock" ROMs (using manufacturer released source) so if you're looking to have higher level discussions about what AOSP should look like then deep down at this device specific level probably isn't where you want to be. So there's that . . . then there's the fact that for this particular device you can basically hear a pin drop in the sub-forums as it is since nothing much is going on by way of development.
Where specifically such a discussion would see more input I'm not sure, perhaps the main general discussion section?
Thank you for your sobering reply. I get frustrated. Already had my post bounced out of "wrong" forum while trying to speak directly to "developers" (i wanted air quotes because the term does not accuratly describe its target) So I tried this. The note pro 12.0 is still the best hardware giving the ipad a run for its money. The problem its monkeyshines kiddie software running it, or not running, or barely running it. ANDROID, indian word for crappy wannabe software, developed by clueless kids.
Again, thanks for the gentle nudge. I appreciate someone willing to conduct a conversation
Are you looking for an Ubuntu or SUSE type of setup?
I think what you are looking for is similar to apt-get type of installs, I could be wrong of course. This might be helpful for many "users". I think one of the barriers is that there are slight differences between the models of tablets, and creating the logic to put in for the sub-dependencies might prove problematic. You might get more answers to this possibility by asking one of the developers directly and sharing with them. Not a developer myself.

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