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[Q] Did notifications actually get worse in Lollipop?

After what I've read about Lollipop so far I'm getting kind of ambivalent about updating. Here are two of my concerns in regards to notifications:
1) Heads-up notifications. Apparently developers are the ones that are now in control of whether notifications are important enough to completely blot out a piece of the top of the screen, including the ability to access the notification tray, until the notification is handled. So whereas before I could remain completely immersed in whatever app and wait until I decide I'm ready to pull down the shade, now I am forcibly blocked from accessing part of the app and user interface until I first interact with the notification. As far as I can tell users are unable to do anything about this intrusion.
2) Silent mode - it sounds like a lot of users are really upset already about this screw-up. The old silent mode allowed alarms through which was just perfect for the use case of alarms. You go to bed and you want your phone to shut up completely until the alarm that is supposed to wake you up. Now apparently the only real silent mode also silences alarms. "Priority mode", the feature that is used for so-called quiet hours, still lets through all sorts of vibrations from apps that many users cannot sleep through.
Are these accurate descriptions of the current state of affairs in Lollipop? If so I think it'll drive me nuts and I won't be able to switch until I can take control of these flaws. And with Xposed unavailable for the foreseeable future it means having to figure out how else to hammer a broken OS into respecting the functionality that used to "just work". Does this bother anyone enough that they'll just avoid upgrading for now?

I don't think so at all, it takes some getting used to because the system is alot more iphone-Esq in nature but it definitely works well. There is alot of few features that just bring the whole system up to date, feels very very modern now. Like when you plug the phone into the charger it tells you how much time is remaining until the phone is full, for instance my phone says 47 minutes until full right now in the charger. It can predict how much battery life remains based on typical usage. Having notifications on the lock screen so you don't have to go through the lock screen and then the pull down menu to see whats going on is very convenient. As far as silent mode goes, there is plenty of settings that allow alarms and events to still work even though calls and messages are silent, I like how they ditched the stereotypical "vibrate" or "silent" modes and went with "all" priority and "none". There are always going to be people that are very resistant to change and claim that its awful, but I feel this was a much needed update to the android system.

Nonetheless if I'm given only the choice now between either intrusive or useless notifications, it's not very appealing.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

but you are given a choice

Spawne32 said:
but you are given a choice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The choice I am looking for is:
1) Completely disable heads-up notifications and keep them all in the notification tray, because if I'm doing something on my device I damn well want to stay in what I'm doing instead of other apps getting to choose if they can block part of my screen.
Can I do this on Lollipop?
2) At night, silence everything, *never* vibrate for anything ever, but allow alarms (and possibly voice calls) to ring.
Can priority mode do this?
From what I am reading, people are complaining that vibrate notifications are still leaking through in priority mode.

Can't say I've noticed any vibrations from apps.

cmstlist said:
The choice I am looking for is:
1) Completely disable heads-up notifications and keep them all in the notification tray, because if I'm doing something on my device I damn well want to stay in what I'm doing instead of other apps getting to choose if they can block part of my screen.
Can I do this on Lollipop?
2) At night, silence everything, *never* vibrate for anything ever, but allow alarms (and possibly voice calls) to ring.
Can priority mode do this?
From what I am reading, people are complaining that vibrate notifications are still leaking through in priority mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use 'None' at night and it stops everything, as designed, but I've not tried an alarm as I have a clock for that. Turning on 'Priority' alerts, but turning calls/messages/Events off, should only allow alarms through but, again, I've not tried this.
As for notifications, I've been watching videos on YouTube full screen and the notification hasn't popped up unless I drag down to view the bar so doesn't seem to be an issue
Best thing to do? Back up your phone, flash 5.0 and if you don't like it go back to 4.4.4 and restore your backup

cmstlist said:
CUT
2) At night, silence everything, *never* vibrate for anything ever, but allow alarms (and possibly voice calls) to ring.
Can priority mode do this?
From what I am reading, people are complaining that vibrate notifications are still leaking through in priority mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS.
Audio management is just a pain in the ass. I got the same need, when I go sleep I don't want ANY sounds from the phone except wake up alarm and calls coming from a whitelist.
Actually this is not possible. If I set interruption mode, it doesn't silence any other sounds (eg: try to put the charger in and you'll hear the sound/vibration), and If I set the completely silent mode it doesn't allow interruptions.
I used to use a third party app named Nights Keeper, it was perfect running on KitKat, but now it is not on Lollipop, as it can't set the phone on totally silent mode except calls from whitelist.
Dunno if it's a bug or a "feature", the fact is that i'm not satisfied with this, and i can't "fix" it with 3rd party apps.

I always recommend that one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.antonc.phone_schedule
Works like charm for the father of 2 year old - mute from 21 to 6:40 am, all alarms always on proper volume.

unster said:
I always recommend that one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.antonc.phone_schedule
Works like charm for the father of 2 year old - mute from 21 to 6:40 am, all alarms always on proper volume.
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Click to collapse
does it work properly on Lollipop?
'cause this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nightskeeper&hl=en is supposed to do the same, but it actually doesn't works with L

I think so. Just tested it briefly and seems to work on me.

just to say that i've created a new Enhancement request here: if this means something for you here having the same needs of me, please partecipate.
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=79334&colspec=ID Type Status Owner Summary Stars

I've noticed some issues with notifications in lollipop aswell.
Most disturbing is that notifications just pop up as icon in the status bar, except the app is heads up supported (like hangouts) than you get the heads up notification of course.
Before you had at least something like a banner. Even if it was only one line, at least you knew from whom your eg. message or email was and the subject or the first words.
It's seriously just the icon now
That devs have to implement things like buttons or a textbox is obvious, but just the text???
Come on google...

In regards to that app - I have read that when pre Lollipop apps try to put the device into Silent mode, instead it goes into Priority mode. Including Tasker. This may explain observations noted upthread.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

With HeadsOff lollipop heads-up notifications can now be disabled!
No root needed.
You can also restore the ticker text in the statusbar!
Give it a try:
Download from Playstore
XDA thread

[Q] Touchwiz style in-call notification menu thingy...

In touchwiz, during a call, there is a drop-down notification item that allows you to handle some call functions such as ending, muting, or returning to the call screen. This was very functional for work as I am often away from the call screen during a call, and also need to quickly mute as well.
Our default dialer (not even sure it's the dialer that handles this functionality), allows for hanging up and returning to the call screen from the menu, but not muting. Anyone know if there's a way to add this? I tried finding a screenshot of how this is done in touchwiz, but couldn't.
Thanks in advance!

I'm struggling with whether to sell this phone, or the Note 3. This functionality would tilt the scale towards the OPO.

undrwater said:
I'm struggling with whether to sell this phone, or the Note 3. This functionality would tilt the scale towards the OPO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone simply doesn't have that functionality. There's the possiblity that there's an Xposed module that might do it, but considering that Xposed isn't compatible with Lollipop that's probably irrelevant.

Just wanted to bump this as we have a new version of Cynogen. Still a pertinent question for me.

Gear S2 Vibrating & Notification Issues.

Anyone else not getting the vibration when a notification comes in on the gear S2? Mine won't vibrate all the time. At first I had always on screen set to on and I never got a notification. I shut it off and started getting them. Now I'm not getting just the vibration. But if I swipe to the side the notifications are there. Non Samsung phone. 
It seems like the watch when the screen is off goes into a sleep mode and doesnt wake up for the notification. What gives?
See my google+ post https://plus.google.com/communities/111224177903657805607

Had two random reboots today and the screen froze up as well. This POS is going back to best buy. Samsung cant get there **** together.

Always on mode doesnt work at all. Watch goes to sleep it seems and doesnt wake up with notifications. This is overall junk.

I had the exact same issue. The vibration issue coupled with a battery that went from 100% to 0% in less than 5 hours, normal use.
I have 12 days to return. I hope Samsung pushes an update within 12 days. I really like the hardware and UI, but it's just so damn buggy.

I have no such issues you guys are describing. I have a black S2. It's paired to a Galaxy S6 Edge.
Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

If I don't have the always on clock showing on the watch I will not get any notification. Using it with a One Plus 2. If the screen is on I will get nothing. The screen has to be off and in the always on mode or else it doesnt work. I just got a email and my watch did ****. I hate this ****ing ****.

maybe a little of topic but cause its about vibration i thought i could post here
i have no issue with my watch not vibrating at least not as far as i know.
i was just wondering if i can change vibration patterns. i know i can change the strength but the quick 3 times vibration is a bit annoying. i would like to change it so something else.
also the vibration on AW was better in my opinion because it resembled the pattern that was set on the phone for that specific notification

The only thing you can change about vibration, in addition to off/weak/strong, is long buzz or not.

Wait .. is the gear s2 screen supposed to turn on and show a preview of the notification when you get one?
My s2 has simply been vibrating when a notification comes in and there is no change on the screen. I thought that was normal and also thought it was a silly way to design it
If i get a notification right now, I need to wake up the watch, swipe to the left screen and then click it to show details - a lot of moves

You have to set that in the settings.

FitzAusTex said:
The only thing you can change about vibration, in addition to off/weak/strong, is long buzz or not.
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Click to collapse
yeah that's right isn't it. i got the same settings. hopefully there will be more options in a future update

My S2 will vibrate and light up (turned that on in settings) for incoming Texts and Phone Calls every time.
BUT for all other notifications it will not. When I get Google Now alerts or score updates from the ESPN app nothing happens. I am using the Modern face with one of the complications set to Notifications, and that will show me that I do have notifications but what use is that? Unless I look at the watch face to see the time I will never know I received these notifications. If I get a notifications I would like for it to alert me with a vibration. Every time, of all apps I choose.
Does this with a Sony Z3 Compact as well as a Xiaomi Mi4c both running 5.1.1.

This watch is a bust because I tested mine with my moto 360 2nd gen. The Gear S2 didnt get all notification if the screen was off. If it was showing the always on clock it would vib and show. Samsung needs to fix this ASAP. This is a watch that needs to tell me every notification I want.

Have you tried a Light or Factory reset of your S2? That fixed it for me, that or reinstalling the Gear app. I did both so, can't actually confirm which did it. Not having any problems getting all notifications.

I think you need and easy button, or try setting,if you can't find it , I can't help you

I have two of these and both do the same. Won't get notifications if the screen is off and not showing the always on clock. Using it with a note 5.

i have another issue. dont know it its the watch or the gear manager app. i wont get notifications for specific apps. the checkmark in the gear app wont stick. e.g. the greader app. also there are not all apps found in the gear manager app. does anyone know why thats so. for example the chrome app does not show in in notifications in the gear app.

FitzAusTex said:
Have you tried a Light or Factory reset of your S2? That fixed it for me, that or reinstalling the Gear app. I did both so, can't actually confirm which did it. Not having any problems getting all notifications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,
I have done both as well as switched phones and started from scratch. No notification vibration for anything but Text's and Phone Calls.

Is there a solution for this, or does my watch have to go back to the store. I'm "upgrading" from a pebble, but if I can't get a vibration to notify me of a new email, then it's a non-starter. It seems to me that I get vibrations for notifications on apps that were set up by default. But I'm not getting vibrations on any additional (third party) apps. I use e-notify and aquamail, none of these vibrate on notification. I saw on another forum that the phone must be set to vibrate for it to work, but I've tried this, and still nothing.

Is there a program that will allow me to get reminders? I use Touchdown as my regular calendar and I think I can use my Samsung calendar just for reminders but can't get S Voice to work from the GS2. Google Reminders is the best thing going. Of course, I can't feel the viberation but...

Possible to switch the position of Answer and Decline buttons for incoming calls?

I moved to the Galaxy S8+ from a Droid Turbo and on the S8+ the Answer and Decline swiping areas are opposite to the ones on the Turbo. I've dug through Settings haven't found anything related to actually changing the position of those buttons. I also don't want to install any themes or icon packs to change it as I like the stock look, so if that's the only option to get it changed I'll just live with it and get used to the different placement! I almost decline every call I want to take and almost answer every call I want to decline, so hopefully my fingers will figure it out soon enough.
Thank you for any input on this in advance!

Hi, you can use physical buttons to end a call
This is in settings / accessibility / answering and ending calls/...
It's better than nothing.

jidamo said:
Hi, you can use physical buttons to end a call
This is in settings / accessibility / answering and ending calls/...
It's better than nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have thought about that as well, but more than half the time I'm on the phone I use it in speakerphone mode and I hit the power button to turn the screen off. But maybe I'll enable the volume up key to do the job of answering at least.

Ok, otherwise you'll end up getting used to it as you say.
Good luck.

Question Frustrated with Google dialer

I don't know about you guys, but the Google dialer is one of the worst human factors designs with the latest iteration.
A right-handed person typically puts the phone up to the right side of their face and the cheek, even with the sensor to turn off the screen on, hits the mute button to mute the phone.
This is extremely frustrating. What does everyone else think about the dialer? What do you guys use? Workarounds?

simple workaround, don't touch the phone to your face

rester555 said:
I don't know about you guys, but the Google dialer is one of the worst human factors designs with the latest iteration.
A right-handed person typically puts the phone up to the right side of their face and the cheek, even with the sensor to turn off the screen on, hits the mute button to mute the phone.
This is extremely frustrating. What does everyone else think about the dialer? What do you guys use? Workarounds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use the Google Dialer, have in the past, but found this dialer months ago and even paid for the ad-free version. Lots of features in the settings.
[App][4.0+] True Phone - Best Dialer & Contact manager replacement
[App][4.0+] True Phone Dialer & Contacts & Call Recorder True Phone has arrived to replace your stock dialer and contact manager and bring your dialing experience to the next level! It's the only one dialer app with full contact management...
forum.xda-developers.com

spookytay said:
simple workaround, don't touch the phone to your face
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take it under advisement. But my face looks like this... View attachment 5773213

It's not just the dialer but also contacts inside the dialer is not of the best design imho. Coming from a Samsung Note 20 Ultra I thought I would love the original Android feel but I do miss some of the improvements Samsung made from an ergonomic point of view. I do like the aesthetics of the p7p very much.

I have never had an issue with this. It doesn't matter which side of my face I put the phone up to, the proximity sensor stops me from hitting any buttons.
Also, I thought most right-handed people put their phone to the left side of their face like I do so they have their right hand free to do other things lol. I even put my phone in my left pocket.
I do agree about the contacts in the dialer though. Never been a fan of it. At least Google has smart dialing for contacts in the dialer though so I never have to actually use the contacts section.

EtherealRemnant said:
I have never had an issue with this. It doesn't matter which side of my face I put the phone up to, the proximity sensor stops me from hitting any buttons.
Also, I thought most right-handed people put their phone to the left side of their face like I do so they have their right hand free to do other things lol. I even put my phone in my left pocket.
I do agree about the contacts in the dialer though. Never been a fan of it. At least Google has smart dialing for contacts in the dialer though so I never have to actually use the contacts section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An interesting phenomena.. How many people use which hand when calling. But yes, I should probably not put the phone to my face, also when I squash the phone into my neck and shoulder when I have to use both hands, the mic get's smooshed and people can't hear me. I just have a terrible face

rester555 said:
An interesting phenomena.. How many people use which hand when calling. But yes, I should probably not put the phone to my face, also when I squash the phone into my neck and shoulder when I have to use both hands, the mic get's smooshed and people can't hear me. I just have a terrible face
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Click to collapse
Honestly sounds more like you have a terrible proximity sensor. Mine is so sensitive that it drives me nuts sometimes. Like the other day I was on a call and put it on speaker so I could answer some text messages and trying to swipe down the notification panel with my index finger was just turning the screen off so I had to actually angle it down and to the left to get the drawer open.

I'm right handed and I use my left hand to make a phone call...

+1 on the the right handed people holding phone in left to dial with the right hand.

I'm righthanded and use my right hand to hold and dial the phone.

Lughnasadh said:
I'm righthanded and use my right hand to hold and dial the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the club brother. It feels so weird in my left hand to make a call.

I am predominantly left handed in that i write and throw left handed but use both hands and either ear to make calls, thanks to the world being right handed i am comfy using either hand for most things and i havent noticed a problem when on a call and i swap sides regularly thought a call.

The other features i miss in pixel after coming from OnePlus -
- allow to dial a number from second sim card. I know I can switch the sim after dialing a number but that is a bit frustrating if you don't want to share both your numbers and dialled the number by mistake from the sim you intend not to
- i miss the native video call from my native network provider which was so easy and independent of any additional app. I wish Google could bring it back and not force to use duo for video calls.

don_pablo007 said:
allow to dial a number from second sim card. I know I can switch the sim after dialing a number but that is a bit frustrating if you don't want to share both your numbers and dialled the number by mistake from the sim you intend not to
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean you can do this but it's going to prompt you before every call to choose what SIM to use.

Here is my case
Im right handed but use my phone mostly by my left hand single hand. Actually it feels un natrual for me to use my right hand and the phone.
As for the dialer, my god its so lacking. Im also a "true phone" user for many many years. But here are some things im facing.
1. If i use true phone then i loose on call screening feature that the stock dialer offers.
2. Ability to select which sim to use when dialing
3. Ability to use same sim to call back. Lets say if i receive a call on sim 1, when i dial back to should automatically use that same sim to call back.
On my oneplus 7 pro i ran both that stock dialer and "true phone" side by side which doubled up the features for me. Currently if i set the stock dialer as default dialer then "true phone" doesnt open and vice versa.
Also maybe its a bug in "true phone" but lets say if its set as the default dialer, when i want to do call forwarding, the true phone only takes me to the system forwarding menu but i cant know which sim it is since im running 2 sims.
And finally the t9 search, " true phone" is miles ahead.
What a dilemma

rester555 said:
I don't know about you guys, but the Google dialer is one of the worst human factors designs with the latest iteration.
A right-handed person typically puts the phone up to the right side of their face and the cheek, even with the sensor to turn off the screen on, hits the mute button to mute the phone.
This is extremely frustrating. What does everyone else think about the dialer? What do you guys use? Workarounds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue. looking for a salution

Besides the design flaws, the dialer stopped working mostly since the December update. Most annoying is that it no longer shows when a call comes in. And it's still a phone right? So this is one of the things, if not the first, that should just work!
Clearing cache and data doesn't help. Will be downgrading the phone app to the November version.

Huh ? I use it on my right cheek as well, never accidentally mute the call tho. Although i always awarely give gap between cheek and screen, because i have oily skin, and hate the need to wipe my screen after each call.

Google contacted me after I made some serious complaints about the dialer and other bugs. Said 'they will be working on this, thanks'. I installed Simple Dialer from Simple Mobile Tools, paid .79 cents to give it normal colors and my phone now works like a phone...