On-screen buttons - Xperia Z3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all,
I'm a new Z3 owner, coming from a HTC M7. This is my first time with on-screen buttons and unfortunately, am not liking them so far. It's fine on the home screen, because they're transparent. But when in an app, the black bar takes up valuable screen space. Hate it. Any way to make them transparent everywhere or just hide them and bring them back with a swipe?? Why isn't this programmed in there already!?!?
Thanks in advanced.

Joshnor713 said:
Hi all,
I'm a new Z3 owner, coming from a HTC M7. This is my first time with on-screen buttons and unfortunately, am not liking them so far. It's fine on the home screen, because they're transparent. But when in an app, the black bar takes up valuable screen space. Hate it. Any way to make them transparent everywhere or just hide them and bring them back with a swipe?? Why isn't this programmed in there already!?!?
Thanks in advanced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can hide them on the G3, but I dont think thats possible on the Z3. Flashing a ROM with support for this should fix the issue.

Not possible without flashing a custom ROM, unfortunately there aren't many custom ROMs available yet and you will lose a lot of features (as well as permanently reducing your camera's performance) if you go this route.
Try and get used to them, they are designed so that each app can take advantage of them differently.
Browsing through your images or playing a game, watching videos using the Play Movies or VLC app all make them disappear automatically as you describe.

There are several apps on in the Play store that will force immersive mode without root, just search "immersive mode". I have used the one by "Pieter Pareit" and it works quite well on most apps. If these darn app developers would start supporting immersive mode this would not be an issue. Better yet, it would be nice if Google had an option to select apps you want to run in immersive mode (like G2/G3).

Related

[REQ] Notification Bar Recent Apps

I just saw a video on some tech blog about the Desire HD ROM. One of the neat new features is how it dedicates the top of the notification pulldown space to showing recent apps (sort of how holding the home button does)
Right now I am using Smart Bar because my N1 is acting screwy and sometimes holding the home button doesn't register. What I like about the Desire version is that it just has all of the apps displayed there and you can just pick the app and click it and you don't have to go through extra steps. I have tried around 5 apps with the same function and none of them seemed as nice as the one from the Desire HD Sense.
Is there any app that can replicate this or will it require flashing another rom? I'm a real n00b and I have no idea how the API works with regards to it.
Thanks in advance
+1 on that!
I agree too! I've been looking everywhere. It would be awesome if it can be integrated into some of the great roms out there like Cyanogenmod.

Note pro 12.2 is it worth Rooting?

I have been using the device for a while right now and I saw a lot of topic about people talking about rooting the device. the question is, is it worth rooting? I don't actually see the need for that. So, if anyone can point out some major reason for rooting for me please?
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk
I rooted mine only because I couldn't write to extSD as I bought it for reading eBooks which would be stored in extSD. I also freeze indexservice which drained the battery. Adaway is also another good reason to root.
woowdy said:
I have been using the device for a while right now and I saw a lot of topic about people talking about rooting the device. the question is, is it worth rooting? I don't actually see the need for that. So, if anyone can point out some major reason for rooting for me please?
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's totally subjective; if you don't see a need then don't worry about it. Sites like this though exist in part because there are many who do have a need/desire to take things further than stock is able to go.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".
Every reason listed below is why I need root on my VZW Tablet.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".[/QUOTE]
I rooted it to use adaway, xposed with wanam xposed module and to uninstall bloatware.
Don't forget about changing to what we're font you want.
Really, if you live to tinker, you have to root. If you are just a user (nothing wrong with that) then rooting may not mean anything to you.
tdetroit said:
Every reason listed below is why I need root on my VZW Tablet.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[/QUOTE]
Are there any functions that would be lost by rooting, for example the ability to use screen mirroring?
muzzy996 said:
It's totally subjective; if you don't see a need then don't worry about it. Sites like this though exist in part because there are many who do have a need/desire to take things further than stock is able to go.
Reason's for me to root include:
Freezing of stock applications I don't want loading at any time (stock browser, stock email, e-meeting, web-ex, group play, knox, magazine widgets, stock music app, netflix, ny times, remote pc, screen saver, side-sync are all frozen using titanium backup on my device).
Installing Xposed Framework to customize the tablet - disabled youtube ads, customized multi-window menus, per application display density/resolution control for greater leverage of screen real estate, status bar tweaks and notification tweaks to name a few)
Full greenify support through Xposed framework - ability to hybernate applications to keep memory use low and maximize battery life.
Button savior application - ability to quickly access home/back/menu buttons from the side of the tablet in landscape instead of having to use the built in capacitive ones.
Titanium backup - ability to keep a backup of my last couple of versions of each application so that should an app update produce results that i don't like I can easily revert to an older version.
As has been stated, allowing for write access to external microSD.
Just a few tweaks I've added to my tablet. I continue to experiment with xposed modules as time goes on. All subjective "needs".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the list, didn`t knew TB could freeze programs so just snatched up the pro :victory:
Okay.. Can I borrow this thread a bit?
Can you change overall colour theme of NP? I have thought of buying one (LTE Model) and I just hate how it looks when settings, "drop down" notification bar etc.. are on white background. Is it possible change those to black like all AMOLED phones / tablets have?
Thanks.
Spere said:
Okay.. Can I borrow this thread a bit?
Can you change overall colour theme of NP? I have thought of buying one (LTE Model) and I just hate how it looks when settings, "drop down" notification bar etc.. are on white background. Is it possible change those to black like all AMOLED phones / tablets have?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. With xposed framework you can install wanam module to ATTEMPT to do it. I say attempt because try as I might I could not change the color of the volume slider background. I posted a screenshot of my issue in the wanam thread but am not sure if it will be addressed in an update soon as I am not sure the developer has the means to look into it. We shall see, it's not like that module is updated frequently since it takes a lot of effort to find the settings in various versions of roms. If I had one complaint about the note pro it would be that the quick settings tiles and notification pull down is far too wasteful of screen real estate to the point that it's shameful. Tiles are huge on it and with the sliders extended one has to scroll frequently in landscape mode.
Spere said:
Okay.. Can I borrow this thread a bit?
Can you change overall colour theme of NP? I have thought of buying one (LTE Model) and I just hate how it looks when settings, "drop down" notification bar etc.. are on white background. Is it possible change those to black like all AMOLED phones / tablets have?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really, but with rooting, you will be able to install themes. There is currently one very interesting theme available for the Note 10.1, I am hoping a port may eventually become available for our device. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2687087
While the theme is "busy" compared to the Pro's generic white everywhere idea, it does harken back to the early days of Android hacking and the interesting icons which appeared. I'd probably give it a go on my Pro if it became available.
I too would like to theme my tablet. I like the look of some experia stuff quite a lot.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 01:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------
muzzy996 said:
Nope. With xposed framework you can install wanam module to ATTEMPT to do it. I say attempt because try as I might I could not change the color of the volume slider background. I posted a screenshot of my issue in the wanam thread but am not sure if it will be addressed in an update soon as I am not sure the developer has the means to look into it. We shall see, it's not like that module is updated frequently since it takes a lot of effort to find the settings in various versions of roms. If I had one complaint about the note pro it would be that the quick settings tiles and notification pull down is far too wasteful of screen real estate to the point that it's shameful. Tiles are huge on it and with the sliders extended one has to scroll frequently in landscape mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tried to force it into tablet mode? I used to get a dropdown bar like the one on the note pro if I lowered my dpi on my note 2. Just in the middle. If you lowered it far enough and used a patch ui.apk you could get a tablet style menu bar on the note 2 (man I miss that)
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Hide Softkeys?

LG, Huawei and a couple other companies have this feature baked into their take on Android, allowing you to hide softkeys on a per app basis. Anyone figured out a way to hide them on the Idol 3?
JJ2525 said:
LG, Huawei and a couple other companies have this feature baked into their take on Android, allowing you to hide softkeys on a per app basis. Anyone figured out a way to hide them on the Idol 3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think to hide the navigation bar you need root but I'm not sure. Have you tried doing a google search for "Hide Android navigation bar"? There's app on the play store but again they may need root and root has not yet been achieved.
Shodan5150 said:
I think to hide the navigation bar you need root but I'm not sure. Have you tried doing a google search for "Hide Android navigation bar"? There's app on the play store but again they may need root and root has not yet been achieved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an app in the Play Store, It works without root , and actually is not bad. The free version does not allow per-app setting. I tested it for a little while, and then uninstalled. I think I will keep the nav bar - since it hides or becomes transparent in videos and photos anyway. The browser is the only odd case - and I will live with it for now - actually the back button may come handy !
stl1859 said:
There is an app in the Play Store, It works without root , and actually is not bad. The free version does not allow per-app setting. I tested it for a little while, and then uninstalled. I think I will keep the nav bar - since it hides or becomes transparent in videos and photos anyway. The browser is the only odd case - and I will live with it for now - actually the back button may come handy !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I used GMD Auto Hide with the Z3 Compact and it worked flawlessly, but it doesn't seem to be too effective with my Idol. The time the softkeys bother me is during games that don't automatically put the screen into immersive mode, so not only do I usually accidentally touch one of the softkeys but it's also wasted screen real estate during gaming.
No one is currently working on this? This is surprising since soft keys are one of the most annoying things about the Idol 3. I'll hit up GMD Auto Hide Soft Keys developer and see what they can do to make this work for us!
Has anyone found a solution for this yet? I returned the phone after only a few hours because of this flaw. Extremely annoying feature. Takes a big
screen phone and makes it small again.
With root and xposed you can use the module "Hideable Nav Bar".
Gesendet von meinem 6039Y
You can try any cm version for our phone and it has this option you need embedded in the system under the name of expanded desktop in display settings.

[APP][4.4+]Swiftly Switch - Make Smartphone One-handed Again

Note: the app is not under active development anymore.
Hi everyone
Do you feel difficult using your phone with one hand, do you want to experience the true multitasking on mobile? If the answer is yes then Swiftly Switch is for you. This handy tool helps you switch between recent apps, favorite apps, access navigation bar, control panel and contacts quickly by one hand from edge screen.
Features:
App switcher: switch between recent, last app, favorite app just by one gesture
Navigation: easily acces home button, back button and notification from edge screen
Control: on/off wifi, bluetooth, rotation, screen brightness, volume,... within one gesture
Shortcut: support wide range of shortcuts (include tasker’s action)
Direct call/sms: the fastest way to make phone call/sms to your favorite contact
Unobtrusive: design as pie control pattern, it only appears when you want to
No adds, no internet permission.
FREE, no ads, no internet access, no root require
Super fast, light weight and battery friendly.
Plenty of customization.
Here the video:
Please Rate this app on Play store, thanks so much!
If you have suggestion or feedback,please let me know.
Please join this community then folow the link in the sticky post to help me test new feature, thanks!
Some issues:
Accessibility service can cause lag on some device when use Chrome, this happen to all application that use accessibility service as you can see in this thread . If the lag is too extreme please disable the Swiftly switch accessibilty service, all feature still available except the navigation (home, back).
If you return to home screen and then launch an app, it won't be launched until about 5 seconds after going home. This is beacause Android do not let any service launch apps before 5 seconds has pass from return to home screen.
Sorry
I just edit the post
What effect do you expect on battery life?
harryspar said:
What effect do you expect on battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bealive it can't effect battery life enough to concern. Actually it just draw 1 (or 2) transparent rectangle on top screen then leave it alone until user swipe from it.
Thanks for your question, I just look at it after your question. Luckly I can't find Swiftly switch in my phone's battery report:
Have you try it yet, please share your thought about that
thuongthoi056 said:
I bealive it can't effect battery life enough to concern. Actually it just draw 1 (or 2) transparent rectangle on top screen then leave it alone until user swipe from it.
Thanks for your question, I just look at it after your question. Luckly I can't find Swiftly switch in my phone's battery report:
Have you try it yet, please share your thought about that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hay quá Thường Thôi 056
Nothing as swift as Force Touch Detector,
you touch, it register as touch,
you force it, it register as custom action to trigger app multitask.
Will it ever work with running apps like switchr used to ?
davexd97 said:
Will it ever work with running apps like switchr used to ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it show list of 6 recent app and let you switch between them.
You can try it
Thank you for the good app! I noticed several features (out their absence), which hold me on Switchr instead moving to your app.
1. I could put Switchr a not higher, 1/3 from the top of my phone. Your app is possible to put only in the center. It's impossible to lift it a bit higher saving the length of a sensitive zone. That is a problem.
2. I have root and prefer to kill app from the switchr if it misbehaves. With your app I cannot.
3. In switchr I could see actively running apps and recent apps which are not longer in the memory. With your app I cannot see it.
Unlike Switchr your app is quicker, more responsive. I like it. And your idea with favorites is really great. Thank you for the good job and your hard work!
thuongthoi056 said:
Yes, it show list of 6 recent app and let you switch between them.
You can try it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't meant recent apps. On switchr it would show running apps (not recent apps) and we were able to close them too, but the developer said he couldn't do it on android versions after kitkat
davexd97 said:
I didn't meant recent apps. On switchr it would show running apps (not recent apps) and we were able to close them too, but the developer said he couldn't do it on android versions after kitkat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best way is to implement this opportunity and to explain users in settings under what conditions these features work (root, OS version, XPosed Unrestricted Task module).
ZeroPDA said:
Thank you for the good app! I noticed several features (out their absence), which hold me on Switchr instead moving to your app.
1. I could put Switchr a not higher, 1/3 from the top of my phone. Your app is possible to put only in the center. It's impossible to lift it a bit higher saving the length of a sensitive zone. That is a problem.
2. I have root and prefer to kill app from the switchr if it misbehaves. With your app I cannot.
3. In switchr I could see actively running apps and recent apps which are not longer in the memory. With your app I cannot see it.
Unlike Switchr your app is quicker, more responsive. I like it. And your idea with favorites is really great. Thank you for the good job and your hard work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your feedback. I primarily make this app for non root user, as this app growing I will consider add more function for root user.
About position of the edge you can set to Right-top or Left-top in each edge setting so you can save the centre zone.
davexd97 said:
I didn't meant recent apps. On switchr it would show running apps (not recent apps) and we were able to close them too, but the developer said he couldn't do it on android versions after kitkat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, maybe this function need root right, I will search about this later.
Hi. Why do you need access to usage stats? Swipepad is a similar app that I use and it doesn't need this permission
andy_d0 said:
Hi. Why do you need access to usage stats? Swipepad is a similar app that I use and it doesn't need this permission
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this app work on Lolipop and above? As I know from lolipop I can't use the same code to get recent app like befor, and that why swichr can't get recent app unless you have Xposed module UnrestictedGetTasks.
I have a nexus 6p and before that Note 4 - neither of which were rooted. So 6 and 5.1.1
With that said, it was just a launcher and didnt access recent apps. I guess you need if for that?
andy_d0 said:
I have a nexus 6p and before that Note 4 - neither of which were rooted. So 6 and 5.1.1
With that said, it was just a launcher and didnt access recent apps. I guess you need if for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, as I know, from lolipop, I need Usage stat to access recent apps.
My app use that permission only for that, as you can see, it doesn't ask for any internet permission.
Some bugs
Hey love the app.
But noticed a couple of bugs on my Note 4. The show notification does not bring down the notification shade. And back sometimes does not come up. It takes multiple tries it seems like I have to push my finger off the target area to get a haptic feedback and for the back command to register.
Continue the great work.
Nice! Just installed it
lollipop here, it got stuck for me and I had to restart couldnt click any app or dismiss it
Seems like a great idea for large screen phones too where its hard to use with one hand. Will give it a go on my Nexus 6P and report back!

Pie controls

Okay so I was very afraid of having a larger screened phone because I truly don't like to use two hands with my phone 90% of the time. So I've been using pie controls for years and I have to say I've really really found that using them has made my 7pro AMAZING but large screen much easier to use for switching apps or toggling wifi/data or any other settings. Truly I know it's like Samsung edge drawer or whatever it's called but honestly it's better. Instant access to atleast 20 apps without having to go back to home screen than back to the app drawer or folder and select the app. IMO one of the best "mods" or apps for a larger phone with so much ram for multitasking. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jun.ace.piecontrol
I was using Pie control for a long time and finally switched to this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ivianuu.pie
looks much nicer and has many options
MJFox78 said:
I was using Pie control for a long time and finally switched to this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ivianuu.pie
looks much nicer and has many options
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I shall check into that one for sure. Seems like the one that used to be called into a rom I use to use on my gs3.
MJFox78 said:
I was using Pie control for a long time and finally switched to this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ivianuu.pie
looks much nicer and has many options
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow i love it
Is there a way to hide pie icon in the status bar ?
If no I will deal with it
CodeBreaker13 said:
Is there a way to hide pie icon in the status bar ?
If no I will deal with it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
swipe right on the notification, tap on the cogwheel and disable notifications for the app
Do any of you have following problem with pie control : in full screen apps like camera, video, even picture or games I cannot see pie when I swipe, I feel it vibrates no I cannot see it and what it's the worst part if I'm in camera for example and "blindly" (as I cannot see it) use for example back function it works but then app I non responsive (it works but doesn't see my touches) and I need to "blindly" use pie control to switch to home/other app and go back. Then it works again until I use pie control again, it it annoying... It only behaves like that if I have navigation gestures activated (to hide the navbar), wieh navbar on it works ok but the whole point is to not have it and use full screen experience...
spawnn617 said:
Do any of you have following problem with pie control : in full screen apps like camera, video, even picture or games I cannot see pie when I swipe, I feel it vibrates no I cannot see it and what it's the worst part if I'm in camera for example and "blindly" (as I cannot see it) use for example back function it works but then app I non responsive (it works but doesn't see my touches) and I need to "blindly" use pie control to switch to home/other app and go back. Then it works again until I use pie control again, it it annoying... It only behaves like that if I have navigation gestures activated (to hide the navbar), wieh navbar on it works ok but the whole point is to not have it and use full screen experience...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Pie control with navigation gestures activated too and I don't have this problem
MJFox78 said:
I'm using Pie control with navigation gestures activated too and I don't have this problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I had this problem with app from the first post, just tested the one from your link and so far it works fine in all apps
Ya'll should try Leedroid's Shortcutter, been using since first initial release. App drawer(you select) can open from the right left and now from bottom.
MJFox78 said:
I was using Pie control for a long time and finally switched to this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ivianuu.pie
looks much nicer and has many options
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been using this apk since nexus 6p. It's absolutely amazing.
On Samsung this what I use. It blows Edge away.
Uses almost no battery, freeware, no ads or crap.
One Hand Operation + - Apps on Google Play
Use your device easily with only one hand !
play.google.com
blackhawk said:
On Samsung this what I use. It blows Edge away.
Uses almost no battery, freeware, no ads or crap.
One Hand Operation + - Apps on Google Play
Use your device easily with only one hand !
play.google.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately the awesome aspects of that where it users no battery and all that jazz is because it is built into your OS. There are a few mod apps like that in the "Good Lock" family that actually are pretty nice on Samsung. They do us no good over here though.
whoamanwtf said:
Unfortunately the awesome aspects of that where it users no battery and all that jazz is because it is built into your OS. There are a few mod apps like that in the "Good Lock" family that actually are pretty nice on Samsung. They do us no good over here though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edge* isn't that awesome and definitely uses more battery than One Handed Operation plus**, however the latter may be compatible only with Samsung phones.
One of the biggest reasons to choose Samsung is it's none root customization. The best ones come from the Galaxy Store. Hundreds of free themes, icon packs, AODs, and much more.
No other brand comes close.
*I use it for cut/paste management only. Other apps like One Handed Operation plus is superior in every way to Egde.
**not a native apk but one of the best 3rd party apks for the 10+ Rock solid stable.

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