Database Info

[REQ] Tweaks to remove Arrow Keys from Keyboard

Hi guys, I am not sure if many of you have this problem, but the arrow keys on the bottom row is really a pain, as it is just below the space bar.
More often than not, when I try to tap the space bar, I tend to accidentally hit the arrow keys below it, causing T9 to change to an alternate word.
This has been very annoying to me. I have done some search and found quite a few complains from the others as well regarding this issue.
I personally find no use for the keys to be there. and I believe same goes to most of you HD2 users.
Can I please ask for some help from the expert around to create a tweak or maybe some step by step guide to remove the arrow keys from the bottom row of the keyboard, making the keyboard shorter.
This is something that I believe will help many of us out there. thanks for viewing.
Your help will be appreciated!
PS: I have tried finger keyboard, but it still have the arrow keys, and i am having some problem with the suggesting contact names. I really hope some one could just remove the arrow keys from the original keyboard, as it is really good aside from the arrow keys being there. Thanks Again!

leejiahui said:
hi guys, i am not sure if many of you have this problem, but the arrow keys on the bottom row is really a pain, as it is just below the space bar.
More often than not, when i try to tap the space bar, i tend to accidentally hit the arrow keys below it, causing t9 to change to an alternate word.
This has been very annoying to me. I have done some search and found quite a few complains from the others as well regarding this issue.
I personally find no use for the keys to be there. And i believe same goes to most of you hd2 users.
Can i please ask for some help from the expert around to create a tweak or maybe some step by step guide to remove the arrow keys from the bottom row of the keyboard, making the keyboard shorter.
This is something that i believe will help many of us out there. Thanks for viewing.
Your help will be appreciated!
Ps: I have tried finger keyboard, but it still have the arrow keys, and i am having some problem with the suggesting contact names. I really hope some one could just remove the arrow keys from the original keyboard, as it is really good aside from the arrow keys being there. Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
amen too that!

I would also like to see this happen.

me also

Maybe something like the HD Mini, it has a button to switch between having the arrows and disabling them.

chrisrj28 said:
Maybe something like the HD Mini, it has a button to switch between having the arrows and disabling them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ya maybe someone can port the hd mini keyboard for hd2

nirvanax said:
ya maybe someone can port the hd mini keyboard for hd2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This would have the added bonus of freeing up more screen real estate. Or bigger buttons would be nice.

I would also love to see this happen.

The simple solution is for some third-party developer to design an alternative VK that finally utilizes the upgraded screen real-estate.
Android has tons of different keyboard layouts... developers just need to jump on-board with Windows Mobile.

Reignzone said:
The simple solution is for some third-party developer to design an alternative VK that finally utilizes the upgraded screen real-estate.
Android has tons of different keyboard layouts... developers just need to jump on-board with Windows Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate the arrows as well... We need a project to start working on this

Hi me again. So has any expert programmer out there could please please help us out???
any guidelines would be good. Thanks!!

Search for Nikoan89 wvga keyboard v2.2. That has the function with arrows you want.. Its an old feature btw..

Correction. version 1 see to be better... Pressthe arrow button and magic happen on top of the kb..

Hi, Nikoan keyboard seems to be ideal, however after installing his WVGA cab, my HD2 wouldnt boot and was always stuck at the white screen with the HTC words. At 1 point I tot i have bricked my phone... coz i wasnt able to sync and re flash my rom. However i got it fixed in the end.

i too am looking for something like this as well as modifying the landscape SIP to put the cursor keys on the left side of the KB.
why?
cuz i have small hands/thumbs. if the cursors were on the left, there would be equal reach to the keyboard on both sides, unlike now where the right side is twice the length than the left due to the strip of hardware keys adding to the length of reach.
if someone could reorganize the stock (HTC) keyboard cursors:
1. in portrait: remove the row of cursors or place them along the TOP edge of the keyboard.
2. in landscape: move the column of cursors from the right to the left of the keyboard.
SPB and Resco charge $20-25 for their keyboard solutions. after trying both, i think they both suck and i'm glad i trialed them first.
therefore, i'm willing to pay/donate $25 to the first person who can meet both of my requested modifications without bugs.

I personally prefer those arrow keys to be there. Only because I find it annoying that when I type, and make a mistake, putting my blinking cursor-line right after the mistake only to hit backspace to delete the mistake, is annoying.
I just typed a mu|stake. ARGH! (Must put cursor between U and S in order to edit it. - Always a hit/miss)
Any tips?

[Q] File-system Access/Ripping Apps

Has anyone got a method for accessing the file-system of a Focus? Or possibly have a method for ripping the built-in apps off the phone? I want to replace the default icons of some of the standard apps. Specifically i want to change the look of the Map icon to a map of my city. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Also, I modified some of the Homebrew App icons and splash screens to feel a little more Metro-ey. If this pisses someone off, please let me know and I'll remove them. I've done a few more that I didnt upload if anyone wants more.

good job!

JerqFas said:
Has anyone got a method for accessing the file-system of a Focus? Or possibly have a method for ripping the built-in apps off the phone? I want to replace the default icons of some of the standard apps. Specifically i want to change the look of the Map icon to a map of my city. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Also, I modified some of the Homebrew App icons and splash screens to feel a little more Metro-ey. If this pisses someone off, please let me know and I'll remove them. I've done a few more that I didnt upload if anyone wants more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st party apps will be a problem I think and not possible on the samsung device so far I believe....
However for 3rd party apps its no problem. You can download the xaps with desktop marketplace dan than just drop the images in the xap. I did this with a few apps who had butt-ugly icons. I just cant stand the look of some of these icons especially not when they are trying to add 3d affects and shining stuff to it

I'm glad to know i'm not the only one. 3D icons don't always look good. Remember a few yers ago when everything had to be glass?

I never got into Pokemon, perhaps because I was a little too old when it came out, but there are two pokemons that I think are awesome. One is Snorlax and the other is your avatar. I won a large stuffed Polywhirl at a fair (my girlfriend at the time was a whiz at skee-ball). Thumbs up to you, sir.

JerqFas said:
Has anyone got a method for accessing the file-system of a Focus? Or possibly have a method for ripping the built-in apps off the phone? I want to replace the default icons of some of the standard apps. Specifically i want to change the look of the Map icon to a map of my city. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Also, I modified some of the Homebrew App icons and splash screens to feel a little more Metro-ey. If this pisses someone off, please let me know and I'll remove them. I've done a few more that I didnt upload if anyone wants more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice!
I hate those 3d and shiny icons too. However (for the only program that I use, Wifi settings one) I would rather prefer a big "wireless signal" graph like the one near the wp7 clock that the complex but still better than the original, metro wifi icon you added.
PS: The wifi application shows the old icon in the program list

eried said:
Very nice!
I hate those 3d and shiny icons too. However (for the only program that I use, Wifi settings one) I would rather prefer a big "wireless signal" graph like the one near the wp7 clock that the complex but still better than the original, metro wifi icon you added.
PS: The wifi application shows the old icon in the program list
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this Eried!

jasontac said:
Try this Eried!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Much better! but can you tweak just a little bit the icon:
-rotate it -45 degrees
-last small piece is a circle but the sides of the circle are inside the icon
-same image for the small icon
hehe! blended 100% in our phones!

yes will try do that for ya!

Fixed the small icon and threw in a few optional icons like fades bars. Let me know what you think.

Very nice! thanks you both!
I actually unpinned the original wifi app because the icon, but now it's back to my main menu tiles

JerqFas said:
Fixed the small icon and threw in a few optional icons like fades bars. Let me know what you think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very good

[Q] Keyboard dock customizations

Anyone know how to do the following:
1. Change the color of the mouse pointer. I can only see it if the screen brightness is turned all the way up.
2. Is there way to map a key to the recent programs screen?
3. Is there anyway to "Alt+Tab" through open programs? I know the concept of open programs is different than in Windows but even a single key to cycle through would be awesome.
Thanks

as of right now, no no and no.
sorry.
You could possibly change the mouse pointer color if you root and could find the image extract it, edit it and then replace it, but as far as i know no one has tried.
there is noway to remap keys so for now you have to actually touch the screen for this. and yes i find it annoying too.
honeycomb dosn't support a function like that. maybe ice cream this fall.

Apps and recent apps are two glaring omissions to the keyboard considering all the crap shortcut keys I'll most likely never go near. A long press on the home key would be nice to bring up recent apps. Control x/c/p would be nice shortcuts as well.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

dbpaddler said:
Control x/c/p would be nice shortcuts as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know Ctrl+p works. Does ctrl+c/x not work?

wvga to qhd upscale

Dear,
is there any app or something which upscale apps, which are greated for wvga-screens, to qhd, to make them fill the screen?
Many thanks in advance.
Best regards
Mario

Download Spare Parts. And then in the app, untick Compatibility Mode
Swyped from my HTC Sensation

Many thanks!
Sounds great, but doesn´t work for my.
WVGA-resolution apps still not fit the screen. ;(

Reclick and then unclick compatibility mode and then restart the device. Some apps have better results than others, though.

Works now, many many thanks!
It's great!
But,
all the qhd-stuff will displayed in maximum resolution, rather than in wvga and scaled up, right?

Is it possible to upscale iGo this way also or we should wait for the official release (which won't be any soon)?

markoko1 said:
Is it possible to upscale iGo this way also or we should wait for the official release (which won't be any soon)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need a qHD skin. Check this post.

Thanks man

Keyboard dock

I know there have been a couple of posts dotted around asking about the keyboard dock but I've seen nothing definitive.
I have the dock and it worked great with Honeycomb. I neglected to think about how it would work with a custom ROM before flashing one.
I've gone for the CM9 ROM and although generally typing on the keyboard works it is far less functional. The majority of the (very useful) hotkeys don't work.
Including:
Home
On screen KB up/down
Menu
Play/Pause Media
Makes the whole thing far less useful :-(
I'm interested in if anyone knows anything I can do to make this better on CM9 or even if it's likely to work better with any different ICS ROM?

Yes, the keyboard dock hotkeys don't work, all except the back key. But even more annoying it is that the software keyboard shows up and it shouldn't.

karnka said:
I know there have been a couple of posts dotted around asking about the keyboard dock but I've seen nothing definitive.
I have the dock and it worked great with Honeycomb. I neglected to think about how it would work with a custom ROM before flashing one.
I've gone for the CM9 ROM and although generally typing on the keyboard works it is far less functional. The majority of the (very useful) hotkeys don't work.
Including:
Home
On screen KB up/down
Menu
Play/Pause Media
Makes the whole thing far less useful :-(
I'm interested in if anyone knows anything I can do to make this better on CM9 or even if it's likely to work better with any different ICS ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not have a genuine Samsung keyboard (yet) but you should be able to map home, menu and the media buttons with my app: http://www.apedroid.com/android-applications/external-keyboard-helper
You can also specify up to 16 apps and create shortcuts for them. For example you could start the browser with Alt+B and Gmail with Alt+G if you want to.

Yep
I remember that happening occasionally before but it's constant now and even more inconvenient without the convenient hotkey to hide it.
Can I assume this is pretty constant regardless of the ROM used?

karnka said:
Yep
I remember that happening occasionally before but it's constant now and even more inconvenient without the convenient hotkey to hide it.
Can I assume this is pretty constant regardless of the ROM used?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I think so unless it is a HC rom based on a stock ROM.
I'll fix some of it in the CM9 port once I recieve my BT keyboad case and have something to test with. If you just want to get rid of the on-screen keyboard you can use my free app that does that and nothing more: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apedroid.hwkeyboardhelperfree
If you want full control you need my paid app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apedroid.hwkeyboardhelper
Free demo: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apedroid.hwkeyboardhelperdemo

Thanks for the advice. Your app looks really helpful.
I've no problem buying the pro version but want to have a play with the demo one a little more first.
I'm having slight issues trying to map a few things:
App switching: can map keys to this but doesn't seem to do anything
"Internet" / "Mail" - these two keys aren't picked up by the mapping config as they immediately jump away launching the browser (I'd love to remap to chrome) or asking me whether i want Gmail or Mail (and not remembering my selection)
I've mapped home (hooray!) but although it takes you back to the launcher it doesn't necessarily take you back to the default screen as the onscreen home button does (that's a really small issue!)
Any thoughts about those?
On the subject of the demo version of the app... Is the only thing that's different between that and the pro version that the spacebar is mapped to: _This_is_a_demo_version!_?

karnka said:
Thanks for the advice. Your app looks really helpful.
I've no problem buying the pro version but want to have a play with the demo one a little more first.
I'm having slight issues trying to map a few things:
App switching: can map keys to this but doesn't seem to do anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with keycodes is that some are handled erlier in the input queue before I can process it in my app. App switcher and Home is two examples. I managed to do a workaround for Home but I have not yet found a way to bring up the app appswitcher programatically.
"Internet" / "Mail" - these two keys aren't picked up by the mapping config as they immediately jump away launching the browser (I'd love to remap to chrome) or asking me whether i want Gmail or Mail (and not remembering my selection)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same reason here. Android propably picks up and processes these before the app get a chance and therefor the scancode is never passed on. However, when I get my BT keyboard dock I can investigate this more.
I've mapped home (hooray!) but although it takes you back to the launcher it doesn't necessarily take you back to the default screen as the onscreen home button does (that's a really small issue!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is due to the nature of the workaround. I just launch the launcher which gives almost the same effect as when the system processes the Home keycode (apart for the difference you noticed)
Any thoughts about those?
On the subject of the demo version of the app... Is the only thing that's different between that and the pro version that the spacebar is mapped to: _This_is_a_demo_version!_?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The versions are identical apart from the space button and some strings (demo vs pro, buy vs rate) so you can test out everything before buying.
You really should try the application shortcuts. Choose apps for A0 to AF and enter A0 to AF instead of characters when doing a custom layout. You could put the Email app on Alt+E and Gmail on Alt+G etc... Setting it up could be bit more userfriendly but once you figure it out it is not that hard to do.

Have got the pro version now and the overall effect is not much worse than the keyboard was under honeycomb so thanks very much.
Have setup a few short cuts (chrome and Gmail) and mapped them to some of the otherwise non-working function keys so that's great too.