Hey guys, I have an app out called InvisiBright and I'm looking for your feedback. Here's a brief description:
Use search key hold or status bar shortcuts to activate an invisible overlay above any application. Then, simply swipe anywhere to adjust the brightness quickly. Done! It comes with other goodies like an auto-brightness toggle, a "tilt mode", and home screen shortcuts (for tablets) so....
Check it out!
Video Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at7p-MMaUAE
Pro Version: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.DanGirshovich.T4B
Free Version:https://market.android.com/details?id=com.DanGirshovich.T4BF
All feedback is welcome. Thanks!
What other's think:
XDA Feature: http://www.xda-developers.com/android/invisibright-for-android/
Smoking Android Review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIu9gIS9EkE
Addictive Tips Review: http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...d-swipe-or-tilt-to-control-screen-brightness/
"Tech and Me" top 10 feature!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdQhwF4msSk
Changelog:
3.3:
- Added volume overlay option (requested for modded Nook Color)
- Added option for lefties
- Changed slider height settings
3.2:
- Fixed app stack bug (when the settings open under touch/tilt)
- Misc optimizations
- More refactoring
3.1:
- Basic translucent slider panel option added to Touch Mode (still working on it)
- Added home screen shortcuts (use with Quick Launch or Home2 Shortcut)
- Fixed Tilt Mode flicker on some devices
- Percent notification doesn't linger after ending anymore
- Massive code refactoring/optimizing (prep for open sourcing)
- Cleaned up settings / defaults
Todo:
- Make slide pad prettier (fade animations, rounded corners)
- Switch percent toast for horizontal bar
- Add actual slider with preset level locks
- Fix notification date and add a brightness level indicator.
- correct lefty hint typo
- add shake listener to end tilt mode
- add option to tilt right/left instead
- add advanced setting to set min/max brightness levels (going too low is dangerous on some phones)
- ... idk, you tell me
Suggestions
Dan, thanks for starting the thread! Responsive Devs always get Donations
So, I was blown away to find InvisiBright. I've been using the Curvefish widget (just like, oh, everybody) and a year ago I thought it was hands-down the best. Not any more.
I was searching for something that might be integrated into the Notification Bar. Basically, just pull down the Notification Bar and there's the exact same things from the Curvefish widget; preset levels, toggle for AutoBrightness, and/or a slider.
Your app is a lot better than that. I stumbled across it from your DroidForums post.
Long Press Search should be a much more common feature, for tons of apps. Especially since it's just an option, easily changed, and SOO easy to code!
Good idea including it, and a pretty good Pro upgrade. Lite still works great, Pro is just a bit better.
Here are my suggestions, may or may not be good ideas, or even possible;
Semi-transparent (with user adjustable alpha) overlay on the (right) slider side, when changing the brightness level; then you can tell which part of the screen is Adjust, and which is Confirm
Sliding level indicator, (e.g. 3-px yellow line?) to go along with the Toast of percentage (user selected option, just like the "Show percentage" option)
Preset levels, preferably user-set; possibly snap the slider to the presets. Or maybe Far Right = Slider, Middle = Preset buttons, left = confirm
Shorter Toast duration after left-touching to set the level
Confirmation that the level has been set (but this might be addressed by the disappearing of the semi-transparent slider)
Vertical/horizontal slider option
Toggle for Auto Brightness EDIT: maybe "- Quick toggle back to auto-brightness with menu key" addresses this already... I haven't tried that Pro feature yet...
Common nerd favorites:
Donate, rather than Pro version, and/or
"XDA version"; Paid in the Market, Free here for supporters
Developer forum [x]!
Open Source [_] (but we can't always have everything)
Make one of the changes, and I'll buy the Pro to show support, and encourage you to do the rest!
(All my info is in my sig)
By the way, you are in close competition with Brightness Rocker. It's a pretty clever alternate-use of the otherwise single purpose Vol Up/Down buttons. But you responded faster than Nikhil, and went to XDA, even! And you don't have the conflict with actually changing the Volume in order to adjust brightness. Maybe you could figure out how to intercept the Vol Up/Down keys as a different trigger, since some of us have Long Press Search mapped to Camera, Screenshot, QR Scan, etc.
Thanks again for showing interest in my app! Here's what I think:
ScottHW said:
Semi-transparent (with user adjustable alpha) overlay on the (right) slider side, when changing the brightness level; then you can tell which part of the screen is Adjust, and which is Confirm
Sliding level indicator, (e.g. 3-px yellow line?) to go along with the Toast of percentage (user selected option, just like the "Show percentage" option)
Preset levels, preferably user-set; possibly snap the slider to the presets. Or maybe Far Right = Slider, Middle = Preset buttons, left = confirm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are all great ideas. They all slightly threaten the "invisibleness" of the overlay, but I don't see why they can't be options.
ScottHW said:
Shorter Toast duration after left-touching to set the level
Confirmation that the level has been set (but this might be addressed by the disappearing of the semi-transparent slider)
Vertical/horizontal slider option
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy fixes. I'm on it.
ScottHW said:
"XDA version"; Paid in the Market, Free here for supporters
Open Source [_] (but we can't always have everything)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the XDA version hinge on only members having access to links posted? I'll consider this since I'd love to see the pro version gaining traction (whether or not I get the buck). Also, I'll try to open source it in about 1 month when the semester starts and my free time becomes non-existent
!!!
Wow! Correct answers on every single point!
A lot of XDA devs attach their .apk to a forum thread. I'm pretty sure you have to be a registered Member to download the file. Obviously, that's free and easy, but it's enough barrier that it keeps most of the riffraff out. Right off the top of my head, SetCPU is released like this, you could ask coolbho3000 about how well it works.
If/when you do Open Source it, you'll also need to have a slightly higher level for people to contribute, a $4 Donate app or something.
I can't promise that always works, but some of us will pay for good Devs to do good work.
Awesome app, works great on OG Droid running latest CM7.
Touch screen to launch...?
Other idea (I'm just throwing them out there, this one might be a lot of work)
SwipePad activates from a touch in a particular part of the screen (corner, side, etc.)
https://market.android.com/details?id=mobi.conduction.swipepad.android
Maybe InvisiBright could activate the same way; an option to press and hold for a second in the lower right to launch InvisiBright. In that case, some kind of visible feedback would be more necessary.
It might end up pretty similar to the popular SGS style bar
examples:
Port the Samsung Galaxy S notification bar brightness slider
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=832977
Android Hidden Shortcut: Quickly Adjust Screen Brightness From Notification Bar (Galaxy S specifically, with video)
http://techx64.com/android-hidden-shortcut-quickly-adjust-screen-brightness-from-notification-bar/
I'm not trying to corrupt the "Invisi" nature of this fantastic app, I swear!
Notification Bar
I just noticed that you haven't overridden the Notification Bar when sliding the brightness. If my finger reaches the top of the screen and then slides back down, it will catch and pull down the Notif Bar, rather than lowering the brightness.
Not sure what the best way to address that would be...
ScottHW said:
I just noticed that you haven't overridden the Notification Bar when sliding the brightness. If my finger reaches the top of the screen and then slides back down, it will catch and pull down the Notif Bar, rather than lowering the brightness.
Not sure what the best way to address that would be...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a setting to adjust the buffers for touch mode.You can make the 100 percent spot far from the notification bar to avoid this issue (and your swipe will change the brightness slightly faster to compensate) . I remember adding these because I couldnt figure out how to override the notification bar without hiding it. I'll add it to my list and give it another go. Let me know if the buffers help.
Love it! I bought pro version on market. Keep up the great work.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Wicked app, thanks for posting the pro apk. I liked it so much I bought it on the market.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
ScottHW said:
Maybe InvisiBright could activate the same way; an option to press and hold for a second in the lower right to launch InvisiBright.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use swipepad and think the concept is great. I'll look into how it can be added, but for now you should be able to get a very similar effect with swipepad. Just grab the widget add-on and throw the InvisiBright pro widget onto your pad. I've never tried this, but I don't see why it wouldn't work....
Great app, best brightness control available.
For support bought the 3.0 version in the market.
Harald
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App
Thanks again for the feedback and support. I'm planning on releasing 3.1 here for testing soon. Should have an translucent slide pad and better level indicator
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
This works awesome. Super dim inside, long press search, swipe up, then go about my day walking around. thank you (htc incredible on 2.3.5)
Sent from outer space on OMGB
if taken from the attached file, will it get the update too?
Cool, I was JUST looking for apps to this on my new tablet.. Used to doing it via notification power widget, but using a stock ROM on it.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I realize my tablet doesn't have a dedicated search key.
dannygirsh said:
Thanks again for the feedback and support. I'm planning on releasing 3.1 here for testing soon. Should have an translucent slide pad and better level indicator
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Really a great app. Waiting for the upcoming features. People who have download the attached pro apk will get d update?
Gr8 application Mate ... I use Xperia Arc .. There is no shortcut for search. Can we change the shortcut key?
I've been using this for quite a while now. Got sold by the long press search to activate option. One less toggle widget to add to my home screen. Thank you. Keep up the awesome work.
Briliant!
I'm tired of this autobrightness that makes it so dark when I drive..
Works great..
BTW, can I change the key of making it start? Perhaps short tap on search button? Because the Google voice search is common feature for me rather then the Google search which I never use..
(And it also has no use if I'm not in home screen.)
Thanks.
Yarden
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
I prefer android apps that use the lower portion of the screen more than the top, due to how I hold the phone. Also right side is better than left.
Finding the right app is very difficult due to 9/10 apps having most buttons on top. I keep wondering why you can't just move the toolbar control down to the bottom.... seems simple enough, Maybe there's a way to hack this? It should be simple enough to move the toolbar but if there's a dropdown menu, it gets more complicated. Maybe overlay configured to mirror another part of the screen, that would repeat taps to the original location....
Resizing the whole screen is one solution. There's Touchwiz for S5, OneHanded (Galaxy Note) and One-Hand Mode Xposed Mod which are pretty good but I just want to reach higher sometimes. A super quick way to enable/disable the screen sizer might work. Is there a gesture program that responds to gestures based on length of swipe and location? Maybe auto-return to full screen after 3s of inactivity? Is there something like this that will let you move the whole screen without resizing?
If you have found any great apps with bottom toolbars, please post links. Or if there's a good thread about this
The tool bar is called an ActionBar, moving the actionbar to the bottom is virtually impossible or as Google says a No No. We don't know why. But there is a split actionbar option, where you can add actions to the bottom of the screen.
You may be able to add actions to the bottom if you completely remove the actionbar (by using a theme that has no action bar) and then coding a fake one and merging it to the lower part of the layout.
Though you can't really do this to applications that have already been made unless you have the source code.
So I suggest. Get a smaller phone? Most large phones nowadays require two hand use.
Just tried this and, while there are some tricks, it works pretty good. I know have a watch face with just about everything I want on it that looks like I want it to look. Took some experimentation but that was fun. If you know what you want and can't find it anywhere else, give this a try. And I still haven't figured out all it can do. Working on that.
Just designed a watch face that shows an analog between 0500 and 1000 then a digital for the night. Day shows battery %, day/date, and steps. Lots of fun!
AND!! Here's Here's how I got the Layer effect - two watchfaces for different times of the day - using GWD. Tricky but not hard:
- Select a Background from the menu on the left. It appears in the work area.
- Select the one entry you have under Timeline in the bottom left of the space showing your Backgrounds. Then go to Properties in the upper right and rename it Layer 1. Not necessary but I found this easier to work with. Everything you put on this layer will appear above this label.
- Select what components you want on this layer. I wanted a Night and Day face so I use Layer 1 as my night and put a digital face on it. Add complications as needed. They will all appear above the Layer 1 label on your Timeline block on the lower left. When done you will select the time frame they will NOT be visible. For me that's from 6 am to 10 pm.
- To highlight the chosen INVISIBLE times, select a start time from the light grey area on right. Say I want my digital watch to NOT show from 6 am - 10 pm (time shows in the scale on top of the grey area). - -- Put your cursor over the 6am block on any of the visible lines and hold the left button on your mouse down. Scroll around to select the time you want Layer 1 to be invisible. They will appear in green when selected. Now hold the right button down over one of the green squares and select Remove from the menu. This is tricky because the program doesn't always work right. You may need to try several times to get it the way you want it. Play with it. This will Remove that time frame from when this particular face will be visible. You can move the veritcle line on the Timeline around to make your face viable. Now start your second layer.
- Select another Background and label it Layer 2. It will appear over Layer 1 and hide what you have place on there but there will be a white outline for the items you've put on layer one, so keep that in mind. - Now put your desired items on this face as you did Layer 1. I chose an analog face.
- Once you've done that select the time this face will be INVISIBLE as you did Layer 1. I wanted this to be invisible during the times Layer 1 WAS visible so I selected 10 pm - 6 am and Removed that.
Another thing you can do is use the same background for each layer. Simply do NOT select the Layer 1 label on the timeline and it will appear all the time. Only the components will change.
- When this is done test it using the Run button on the task bar at the top of the screen. This brings up a test area that shows your face. Under Condition there is a sliding time adjustment so you can see what appears as what times. Use this to make sure everything shows when it should according to time.
- Satisfied? The build your face using the Build button on the task bar (2 down from Run), save, and you are good to go.
The program will ask you if you want to Save or get a certificate and such. I you don't want to put it on the Market don't worry about it. You can now load directly from the program to your watch. Or you can upload it to the Market to sell or share.
Enjoy! Any questions just give me a shout.
I made a couple of videos and posted them to youtube 4 days ago on this if watching a video is easier for some people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Wk4QFDeWc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPG0ebVLCT0
Hobson318 said:
I made a couple of videos and posted them to youtube 4 days ago on this if watching a video is easier for some people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Wk4QFDeWc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPG0ebVLCT0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great idea! While it's mostly pretty intuitive I did struggle on some of the things I wanted to do.
I once made a cool complicated animation, with many objects appearing and disappearing during the different time periods and battery levels.
But it was so big, that editing it was going extra slow....
I guess, for more complicated watch faces, GWD is not enough. For some crazy animated, complicated watch faces the native app is better.
VIVES_Matt said:
I once made a cool complicated animation, with many objects appearing and disappearing during the different time periods and battery levels.
But it was so big, that editing it was going extra slow....
I guess, for more complicated watch faces, GWD is not enough. For some crazy animated, complicated watch faces the native app is better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea. It's my first time doing any of this. All I wanted was a couple of useful watch faces and I got that. I think anything more complicated will have to wait a bit in my case.
Instantly jot down stuff by doodling on your lock screen without even looking!
Have you ever found yourself fumbling over the little keyboard to quickly write something while on the go?
Have you ever wanted to hastily jot down something, so you won't forget it, but had trouble finding the "right" app?
Ever disturbed the natural flow of a conversation to note down a date, phone number or an address?
If yes, then JOTTER is here to solve all your problems!
Jotter works like a real-life notepad where you can instantly ‘jot’ down anything by doodling with your fingers. It sits on the top of your lock screen so when you press the power button, you can take notes right then and there! No need to browse the app drawer and no need to carefully type using little keyboard. Just scribble on the screen and double-tap to save it. This can even be done without looking!
You can personalize the Jotter notepad by changing the pen color and the ‘slide to unlock’ bar color. This means that you can even take ‘secret notes’ by setting these colors to completely black. This way, you can jot down anything in front of anyone and nobody will notice what you have been jotting.
Jotter can be used in many situations. Some example use-cases are listed below:
• You are talking with someone and want to note down an important date or information without disturbing the conversation flow.
• You are on the go and see something which you need to write down for reminder.
• You are at workplace and have to note a non-permanent, unpreserved piece of information e.g. a code, number, etc.
• Someone is dictating you his phone number or address.
• You meet someone and want to write down his name.
• You hear a unique word or phrase or product name and want to jot it down.
How to use it:
When you enable the app using the Switch, then every time you try to unlock your device using the power button, Jotter will appear on top of your lock screen.
You can write notes there with your finger. Press twice (double tap) on a written note to save it. To view saved notes, slide up the screen from the ‘Slide to unlock’ bar present at the bottom of the screen. You can dismiss the Jotter notepad by using the ‘Slide to unlock’ bar.
In order to have a completely ‘secret’ and inconspicuous notepad, you can customize the colors to black or other dark colors. (Remember that the ‘Slide to unlock’ bar will still be there but will become invisible so do it with caution).
Note: This is not a replacement for your lock screen and will sit on top of your default lock screen.
See it in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPnEu9Qv0TA
Download Jotter from Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appsbyusman.jotter
I really urge the xda users to try out this app because this is not like other conventional notepads. I have based the development of this app on my actual real life scenarios and I personally find it helpful at my workplace.
Is there a way to get the camera to scan for qr codes, like iPhone and Pixel phones?
The best I've managed is to take a phone and view it in the gallery - the menu on the bottom right, after a moment (10 seconds?), adds an option to 'Scan QR code in image'. That's really not good enough, imo. I don't want to have to take a photo at all, let alone use gallery to decode it.
I pushed quite hard to get Google to add the feature to their camera (after Apple added it). They've had it in their 'lens' thing for a while, but you have to be online for that, which precludes scanning for wifi credentials. So, I was pleased to see it on my pixel, eventually...and disappointed that Huawei don't have it on their camera, even though qr codes are prolific in China (though, admittedly, they are WeChat ones, so are essentially broken).
FWIW, I've now found qr-code scanners in many places, though not built into the camera like it is on the Pixel or iPhone's camera.
1. It is in the Huawei Assistent as 'Scan - Hivision'
2. From the lock screen (press the button once), swipe up from the bottom and it is on the row of icons (the right hand one on mine - but perhaps they are configurable).
3. From the home screen, swipe down in the middle, and the search screen appears - on the right of the search field there's an icon for the qr scanner
4. From the camera app, on the top left is an icon for the qr scanner
5. From settings, click your HUAWEI ID (the top most item in settings), and the qr-code is on the top right.
The icon looks like a globe with the corners of a square around it, like a view finder on the world (see below), except with 5), where it's a dash ('-') with corners (I guess '-' is indicating only a qr-code, while the globe indicates some other scanning functions).
So, yeah, they have them all over the place, though I think it is essentially the same scanner and part of the Hivision package/app/whatever. Yes, it does work offline too (useful for scanning wifi qr codes).