Database Info

[Q] Customizing the notification bar in stock ICS

I have a new Verizon i815 and am trying out the stock firmware since I would like to have GPS/auto-brightness/stability.
Is there a way to customize the notification bar without having a custom rom? Specifically, I wish to:
--Remove the "No SIM Card" notification, wireless network notification and brightness slider
--Remove some of the toggle switches
--Remove the "mini apps" shortcut
I'm hoping someone will come along and say, "Stupid noob, haven't you ever heard of $specialtool?"

I'll answer one of these: Using PimpMyRom, I was able to access my Tab's "hidden menu" and disable the cell radio entirely! It no longer complains about the SIM card... hopefully it will also save some battery.

People running 4.4, what changes have you noticed?

I'm wondering if updating the Droid Maxx and Ultra have given you some of the same features found on Moto Xs running KitKat, such as Moto Skip NFC unlock support, access to updated Motorola apps from the play store, etc.
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Small UI changes. Updated to Droid Zap. Wallpaper no longer shifts when you scroll. Most noticeable or odd the gate. Many more small changes behind the scenes that are not very prominent.
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

The NFC unlock with skip was already part of the November update, IIRC.
The differences that I have noticed:
- when you press the home key while using the stock launcher, it always brings you back to the default home screen, even if the last used home screen was another one. It's almost like you pressed home twice. It's a little annoying.
- if you have two apps that can do something, with nothing set as the default (say, two browsers on the system), the first time a browser link is pressed a list of items is shown, allowing yo to choose one and choose a button that says "Just once" or "Always". That's not new, but what is new is that if you select something and say "Just once", that item will be highlighted the next time you have the same choice.
- there is a full-screen mode for apps that support it. The first time you see it it tells you that you can return to normal with a swipe down from the top.
- if you turn on "tap to focus" in the camera app, there is a new focus/white balance control that you can drag to a focus point and then tap anywhere to take the photo and use that as the focus point (and, as I said, to control exposure/white balance.)
- apparently it supports BT LE devices like the Fitbit, and supports tap to pay for Google Wallet (though I use neither of these so cannot confirm for sure.)
- the status bar remains black and the battery status and time are still blue, with the network icons remaining blue for Google connection and gray for no Google authentication, and they also still show network activity (this is unlike the Moto X.) There is a new location status icon that looks like a white Google Maps place point icon. For some reason the network icons look different to me, but they may be the same.
- there is now an unlabeled icon to clear all notifications in the notification shade, and the settings page icon looks a little different. Also, the settings gear icon looks a little different.
- there is a setting to allow you to set the default messaging app.(settings->more [under "wireless & networks"]->default SMS app)
- there is now a settings->printing setting (I don't think that was there in Jellybean) and I have printed from GMail, Hangouts and Chrome.
There really isn't a whole lot that's different or that looks all that different. (I probably missed some things...)

I only ran JB for a day so I don't really know if this is new, but I've noticed many apps now have the annoying 3-dots menu show up all by itself, occupying as much space as if we had a soft-key nav bar.
Very annoying, wish there was a way to get rid of that.

GnatGoSplat said:
I only ran JB for a day so I don't really know if this is new, but I've noticed many apps now have the annoying 3-dots menu show up all by itself, occupying as much space as if we had a soft-key nav bar.
Very annoying, wish there was a way to get rid of that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Settings...display...use long press for menu
Sent from my KitKat Ultra

Thanks! I never even thought to look there. I'm sooo much happier with it now.

I have an issue where when texting someone and they reply the keyboard disappears. I backup all my stuff and did a factory reset from the recovery menu and it was fine until 2 days ago. I loved JB before this update. The only thing that was better in this update was performance and that's it. There are still a ton of little issues with KitKat vs. JB
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

is Lollipop a step backwards... in some ways it is!!!

Lollipop seems a little quicker and better battery life.
However it seems to me the developers have changed many things just for the sake of it, and many of those old good things are now worse. Many require a lot more clicks to do the same job.
For example, the pull down status bar quick settings isnt as good and isnt customisable like it used to be. and many features are no longer intuitive to open or access them.
Changing txt size in messaging simply by using volume up or down was convienient.
The camera is not as easy to use. Beforehand the video and the photo button were on the main camera screen so you could instantly select one or the other to quickly take a photo or a video. Now you must swipe the screen and then select the video or the camera option and then when the screen refreshes you can then click the button to start recording to take the photo. That can litterally add 5 seconds to the time it takes to get a video going plus you need to concentrate on the camera screen to get the process correct, so you are late capturing the action and cant watch what was going on with whatever it was you wanted to video or take a shot of.
The camera settings are not as customisable as it used to be either and currently you cant even select to store in the external sd card
Phoning and txting is not as easy or simple as it used to be. Eg, in "recents" you used to be able to swipe right to call a contact and swipe left to text. Now to call you tap on them. then have to tap it again to select to call them. And if you want to text you need to tap on the icon next to the name or number and it opens the contact, then you need to select the message icon to txt them. Friggen stupid!
What else am I missing here??? Im probably being a bit picky... but why make it worse!

scott2ride said:
Lollipop seems a little quicker and better battery life.
However it seems to me the developers have changed many things just for the sake of it, and many of those old good things are now worse. Many require a lot more clicks to do the same job.
For example, the pull down status bar quick settings isnt as good and isnt customisable like it used to be. and many features are no longer intuitive to open or access them.
Changing txt size in messaging simply by using volume up or down was convienient.
The camera is not as easy to use. Beforehand the video and the photo button were on the main camera screen so you could instantly select one or the other to quickly take a photo or a video. Now you must swipe the screen and then select the video or the camera option and then when the screen refreshes you can then click the button to start recording to take the photo. That can litterally add 5 seconds to the time it takes to get a video going plus you need to concentrate on the camera screen to get the process correct, so you are late capturing the action and cant watch what was going on with whatever it was you wanted to video or take a shot of.
The camera settings are not as customisable as it used to be either and currently you cant even select to store in the external sd card
Phoning and txting is not as easy or simple as it used to be. Eg, in "recents" you used to be able to swipe right to call a contact and swipe left to text. Now to call you tap on them. then have to tap it again to select to call them. And if you want to text you need to tap on the icon next to the name or number and it opens the contact, then you need to select the message icon to txt them. Friggen stupid!
What else am I missing here??? Im probably being a bit picky... but why make it worse!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lolipop Touchwiz or Stock Android ?
I think u r talking about Touchwiz am i right?
If that's the case.
They actually improved performance. (because of art actually) i also actually like the design of Lolipop touchwiz, making it more lively. but it depends on the people. i dont really care about the old setting. i only care battery and performance.
as i am a 9505 user, i cannot really tell the difference between 4.4.2 KK and 5.0.1 Lollipop Touchwiz as i only tested the LEAK version of it.

I think he's talking about GPE roms. As I'm sure that touchwiz lollipop ui looks a lot like kitkat ui of the s5.
If you do a google image search for touchwiz lollipop you will see that there isn't much difference in the ui except for the looks and a few small aditions.
The OnePlus One camera app, that comes as a choice when you install Danvdh's GPE rom, has the photo and video button on the main screen. Also has the option to change save location.
The CM messenger app, that also comes as a choice in Danvdh's GPE rom and comes stock on CM roms, has the ability to pinch zoom in or out.
I don't know how the kitkat GPE roms were.
But I agree with some of what he said. Activating mobile data isn't as simple as pulling down the status bar and tapping on the icon. Now you have to pull it down, tap the icon and then tap the small dot to turn it on.
And when you restrict background there is a stupid persistent notification. So you'll have to restrict background data on a per app basis to not have that notification. This is not really convenient.
Then the battery saver mode turns the status bar orange. Why would it do that? There is another stupid persistent notification telling me that battery saver is on. I don't need a orange status bar. And I doubt that orange is more battery friendly than black.

GDReaper said:
I think he's talking about GPE roms. As I'm sure that touchwiz lollipop ui looks a lot like kitkat ui of the s5.
If you do a google image search for touchwiz lollipop you will see that there isn't much difference in the ui except for the looks and a few small aditions.
The OnePlus One camera app, that comes as a choice when you install Danvdh's GPE rom, has the photo and video button on the main screen. Also has the option to change save location.
The CM messenger app, that also comes as a choice in Danvdh's GPE rom and comes stock on CM roms, has the ability to pinch zoom in or out.
I don't know how the kitkat GPE roms were.
But I agree with some of what he said. Activating mobile data isn't as simple as pulling down the status bar and tapping on the icon. Now you have to pull it down, tap the icon and then tap the small dot to turn it on.
And when you restrict background there is a stupid persistent notification. So you'll have to restrict background data on a per app basis to not have that notification. This is not really convenient.
Then the battery saver mode turns the status bar orange. Why would it do that? There is another stupid persistent notification telling me that battery saver is on. I don't need a orange status bar. And I doubt that orange is more battery friendly than black.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well i couldn't swipe from the right to make phone calls or swipe left to text someone in recents.... (Or i just didn't noticed it....which also i know that feature is in touchwiz)
But the thing is that KK was more easier to use specially on GpE or CM based roms, and a lot faster specially carbon rom. (That's for me) and save more battery because of the Holo Dark theme.
But as i said. I like the Design of lolipop, so i'm going to stick with it. I'm on Cm12 right now where i dont need to press Twice on the wifi to turn it on,just the icon. But data turning is the same.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Free mobile app

Dual Sim Functionality Issues / Rant

I'm currently using dual sims with AT&T and T-Mobile on my Z5 Dual. However, like many before have noticed, I am irritated by the fact that I can't set one SIM as default line for voice to dial automatically instead of prompting me each time. This minor annoyance intrudes into google now because I cant "voice dial" because the sim/line selection has to be pressed in order for the call to be placed. Lastly, does the regular Z5 has the big ugly Sim Card 1 Icon in the status bar? Mine has both, it takes up a ton of space and its irritatingly ugly. Come on Sony!

crazeazn said:
I'm currently using dual sims with AT&T and T-Mobile on my Z5 Dual. However, like many before have noticed, I am irritated by the fact that I can't set one SIM as default line for voice to dial automatically instead of prompting me each time. This minor annoyance intrudes into google now because I cant "voice dial" because the sim/line selection has to be pressed in order for the call to be placed. Lastly, does the regular Z5 has the big ugly Sim Card 1 Icon in the status bar? Mine has both, it takes up a ton of space and its irritatingly ugly. Come on Sony!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xposed can remove the SIM icon.
A different dialer can fix default line, from what I understand (don't make voice calls so I don't have that problem lol)
Sent from my E6683 using Tapatalk

_Dennis_ said:
Xposed can remove the SIM icon.
A different dialer can fix default line, from what I understand (don't make voice calls so I don't have that problem lol)
Sent from my E6683 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd rather not unlock bl/root on a new phone so soon! The icon thing I can deal with the but dialer thing is super annoying. I'd rather not use an aftermarket dialer. On other sony dual sim phones the option exists!

crazeazn said:
I'd rather not unlock bl/root on a new phone so soon! The icon thing I can deal with the but dialer thing is super annoying. I'd rather not use an aftermarket dialer. On other sony dual sim phones the option exists!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem for me. I haven't found a way to hide the 2 monstruous SIM icons.
The only way my phone makes my calls with sim 1 without asking me is when i call someone from my car. Opel bluetooth controller uses by default sim 1. Only solution so far is aftermarket dialer.
Let's hope they add a few options in LL update.

I use true phone dialer, you Can set a Sim by défaut. It's the only way for the moment

crazeazn said:
Lastly, does the regular Z5 has the big ugly Sim Card 1 Icon in the status bar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, no SIM icon on single SIM Z5 (E6653).
Any chance that SIM icon display is configurable in Settings - Display - System icons, i.e. the same place you configure icons for battery/time/Bluetooth, etc.?

so a quick update: I upgraded to MM. Now there is an option to select which line to have as the default voice line! Also if you do the system UI tweak you can get SIM2 to dissapear. SIM1 still shows though, better than nothing!

Unwanted notification icon of mobile data connection on HTC E8

Hi everyone!
I just bought a new HTC E8 Dual Sim from Hong Kong, which arrived already rooted and almost clean from manufacturer apps. However, I am going crazy over a notification icon that is completely useless.
Every time my phone connects to mobile data, a strange notification would appear, showing two arrows, one black and one white, pointing one up and one down, on the top left corner. This notification is pointless, as I can see the device is connected by looking at the right side of the status bar, right next to the signal bars where a nice H+ is displayed. This notification only shows CONNECTED if looked while the screen is locked.
Unfortunately I can't post screenshot as this is my first thread, if someone knows how I can attach screenshots, please let me know.
Apparently this notification is generated by the app PHONE, whose notifications cannot be disabled (the checkbox is greyed out into the normal settings pane) and cannot be frozen using Link2SD (otherwise both SIMS stop working the device ceases to work as a phone).
If I force stop the app the icon would disappear straight away, but would reappear again at the following mobile data connection, just as nothing happened.
I've tried to download XPOSED ADDITIONS to see if I could get some more tools to work on it, but it seems not to work on this device; if I tap on it, an error message prompts saying "The XposedAdditions System Service is currently not enabled" and some other stuff I couldn't get rid of.
Can someone help me remove that notification?
Thanks guys!
Mike