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All,
I currently own a stock RC30 UK T-Mobile Dream phone. I have come to terms with the fact that I dont have root access (yet) and have purchased a new ADP1, which hopefully will arrive next year.
When it does finally arrive I plan to make a generic build of RC30/RC8 firmware without all the T-Mobile junk in the ROM (web'n'walk etc) and no default APN's/MMS/etc. I have read through the re-packing sections etc and it seems possible to do without a lot of effort.
My question is; would this be something that other users would be interested in using? If so would you like to see it posted on these forums? Also, please post any comments with any functionality you would like to see added (default apps etc).
i think if you can incorporate new features into the rom such as auto rotate browser or any other tweaks to improve the G1, I'd think it'll be extremely popular. Case in point custom cooked Windows Mobile roms on this forum.
default apps is probably a hit or miss situation. I would stick to the only essentials (ie: Klaxon for alarm clock).
Good idea. We need to start building custom ROM's like all the other WM phones... Here's how I would go about building an Android ROM:
1. Start off with a generic build of android from source. Obviously include all the drivers for the dream.
2. Make a nice, clean skin. If you have knowledge of C/Java, don't be afraid to mess with visual structure of the platform,.
3. Add all the proprietary Google APK's (GMail, Calender, Amazon MP3 etc).
4. Add some 3rd party APK's based on user popularity. (Steel, Power Manager, Locale etc)
5. Add some hacks that require root (auto-rotate, improved tethering functionality)
Yes this will be very interested. All i need is to get bloody root!!! Soon though. Theres alot of smart cookies here
And rework the basic features such as sms's mms's picture viewer. contacts section ( add more input data points. like WM offers )
i guess as any rom you will never please everybody but i agree with "Datruesurfer" steel is a great app.
Onscreen keyboard like in steel or such its not to big and small. but a system wide onscreen keyboard. working in a very dirty industry the onscreen keyboard comes in.
Some other programs i find invaluable and should be an option in the default Android or i at least i really thinks so. are Smspopup, Missed call, Dgaway,Dgprefs, Rings Extender.
Power Manager as well is a good program to help better manage the battery and default network settings.
if there is a way to rework those and remove the default browser and add such options into the android rom itself i would be very pleased.
I'm interested to know how many people would like to see a WisBar Advance Desktop build for Android. Just let me know. Thanks!
+1
I think WAD was a very cool launcher in WMobile
Fantastic loved it on win mob
Sent from my Pulse Mini using Tapatalk
I loved wisbar!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
Well, so far it's looking like there's at least a little interest. I'll get started.
Count me in a interested. Never ran wm without it!
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Its funny that you mention it. I just visited the wisbar forums thinking there may be something about it coming to android. Before switching to android I had purchased and used Wisbar and WAD. As good as WAD for WM was, it just never really worked perfectly. And thats only because of the limitation of WM and the hardware not WAD itself.
I think android is the perfect platform that would be ready to embrace WAD. I will be looking forward to using it in the future I think WAD for android will be what the long term goals of WAD for WM had striven for.
I'm glad that you finally decide to make an android version of WAD2(I've ask for that a long time ago in your forum).
I hope that this best wm UI will come on android devices very soon.
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I use WAD (now 2) since a long time. I could not do without it. It is the only reason to stay at WM6.x.
If there would bei WAD2 for Android, it would be great and I think I would change over to Android too
Interestng...I also used WAD when I had a PPC device. I would be interested too.
I would be interested too... On WinMo Wisbar Advanced Desktop was amazing!
Thank you everyone for your interest. I've been doing some thinking about this as it will be a major step for me as I've been a long-time supporter of Windows Mobile (I've been around since PPC2000).
Given how powerful Android is, I can only think of one UI limitation at the moment: since there's no taskbar with an ever-present start menu, I'll have to make the app-drawer/launcher available on every page. At least, that's probably the best way to go right now unless someone has a different opinion/preference.
Another thing I was thinkg about: do you want a variable number of pages (being added through Menu > Add Page) or should I add a preference like some other launchers have to specify the number of pages?
These are very good news.
I can't wait to be able to use WAD again. I just hope that HTC Tattoo will be supported.
As for pages, I prefer the way of wm WAD2(pages added via menu).
So, I'm thinking about approaching this from a different direction than I did with Windows Mobile.
The first major change is I'm thinking about using a scripting language to describe how things are laid out and how they behave rather than just dragging and dropping items. The reason is two-fold:
1) This will give the script designer more control about how things look and how they work.
2) We won't run into the problem of shortcuts that open apps and widgets that are not installed on someone else's device (a major shortcoming of WAD2's).
So, the language would say something like: create a folder at x, y. This "button" will open it and this button will close it. You would also be able to specify an area where shortcuts could be added, such as "create a shortcut grid at x, y", but you would not be able to specify the shortcuts (this would be left up to the user who is using your theme).
One downside of this is that the layouts would have to be created on the desktop and then uploaded to your phone.
The other downside is that this would severely hamper the ability to launch specific apps using scripts. But, this is really a limitation of Android itself as, unlike Windows Mobile, not every device comes with the same core set of apps. And, for the apps that are included in most devices (such as the calendar), the intents to launch them may vary depending on the OS version (i.e. the calendar changed in between Eclair and Froyo).
I'm just brainstorming here. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to let me know. Right now I'm in the planning stages to see how close I can keep it to Windows Mobile, but at the same time implement new technologies in order to make it the most robust launcher around.
hells yeah man!!! i used it on my tilt for a while.....i think its ironic how similar android really is to winmo...just more refined but very similar in the idea
I found this thread quite late but i can just say +1. =)
I would really like to see Wisbar Adv Desktop on Android. Hope you are making good progress
I just finished asking your to offer support for android on your forums.
Feel free to plus one over too, guys.
http://forum.lakeridgesoftware.com/showthread.php?p=106717#post106717
See it for the first time. +100000
I used to love making themes!!
Sent from my X10i
Awesome. Back in the days WAD was one of the best applications for WM, I've always been impressed by how much one could do with it.
I like the idea of creating themes on the desktop and then uploading them to the phone, because creating themes has always been kind of difficult and work-intensive.
You can map the app drawer to the home button or you might even be able to implement the ability to create shortcuts that open the app drawer.
Concerning the number of homescreens, I think Menu > Add Page is a bit more convenient and less likely to mess things up (since removing non-empty home screens could create issues, as it did with some launchers).
chmckay said:
Thank you everyone for your interest. I've been doing some thinking about this as it will be a major step for me as I've been a long-time supporter of Windows Mobile (I've been around since PPC2000).
Given how powerful Android is, I can only think of one UI limitation at the moment: since there's no taskbar with an ever-present start menu, I'll have to make the app-drawer/launcher available on every page. At least, that's probably the best way to go right now unless someone has a different opinion/preference.
Another thing I was thinkg about: do you want a variable number of pages (being added through Menu > Add Page) or should I add a preference like some other launchers have to specify the number of pages?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just stumbled over this.... is it for real?
WAS with all the functionality will be ported over to Android? This will be the killer app taking all other launchers / home screen apps out of biz.
I am here to betatest!
chmckay said:
So, I'm thinking about approaching this from a different direction than I did with Windows Mobile.
The first major change is I'm thinking about using a scripting language to describe how things are laid out and how they behave rather than just dragging and dropping items. The reason is two-fold:
1) This will give the script designer more control about how things look and how they work.
2) We won't run into the problem of shortcuts that open apps and widgets that are not installed on someone else's device (a major shortcoming of WAD2's).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully you can get the HTC Sense Widgets to work as well at least on HTC devices where this should not be a violation of copyright laws. I will gladly offer to borrow you a european HTC Desire for testing purposes if that is of any help.
I second your notiong of requiring a script language, but of course it would take one that is not laid out for programmers but also still understandable for regular designers. Search around here in the Forum for SlickUI and KiteUI, both which are still deep in the "maybe wel will do this stage" for some decent ideas on how people imagine their ideal design, and therefore gfgiving you an idea how much flexibility your framework needs.
Things that should really be in the to-do-list: radial icon menus. That means you assign say 6-8 icons to a WAD icon placed on the homescreen, upon tapping this the home screen blurs and the assigned icons circle around the pushed icon. This is a terrific way to organize similar apps IMO, much better looking than the folder blocks we have gotten used to.
WAD actually was one reason I found it very hard to aprt with my WM phone. Thie level of adustability had not been reached before. People who do not know what the heck I am creaming my pants about should use google image search for "wisbar advance desktop". It was a pure naked framework, allowing beasically every freedom any designer could wish / hope for.
Anotherr important thing to note is the touch features which have come quite a long way since WM6.5. You would need to extend the framework in order to allow rotating dials for menu control, swipe movements for changing screen left to right and vice versa.
If you could actually manage to pull the old stunt where you made an app run constantly on a "homescreen" it would be awesome. Imagine 3-5-7-whatnot screen with widgets laid out side by side, but a simple upward stroke brings you into the already preloaded browser (from which you return with the back key into the regular homescreen).
God, I am bursting with ideas.
As I said, I will beat test all days long if you need someone.
So, the language would say something like: create a folder at x, y. This "button" will open it and this button will close it. You would also be able to specify an area where shortcuts could be added, such as "create a shortcut grid at x, y", but you would not be able to specify the shortcuts (this would be left up to the user who is using your theme).
One downside of this is that the layouts would have to be created on the desktop and then uploaded to your phone.
The other downside is that this would severely hamper the ability to launch specific apps using scripts. But, this is really a limitation of Android itself as, unlike Windows Mobile, not every device comes with the same core set of apps. And, for the apps that are included in most devices (such as the calendar), the intents to launch them may vary depending on the OS version (i.e. the calendar changed in between Eclair and Froyo).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just brainstorming here. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to let me know. Right now I'm in the planning stages to see how close I can keep it to Windows Mobile, but at the same time implement new technologies in order to make it the most robust launcher around.[/QUOTE]
#Pinch to zoom and similar gestures will go a long way in allowing to extend the possibilites and ways the users can interact with the interface. Instead of an always visible appdrawer you could just use a gesture predefined that will launch the app drawer
Should we make a thread where all former WAD users and upcoming UI design freaks post their wishlists?
Hi,
I already read about the option to remap some keys by editing the keyboard layout file. Is it also possible to switch between keyboard layouts as you type (using a hotkey) - e.g. I need to be able to quickly change between Cyrilic and Latin keyboards.
Thanks.
I think you're talking about hardware keyboard.... But keyboard apps like swiftkey allow for 3 allow for 3 languages simultaneously.
Sent from my ICS Splashed MT4GS using xda premium
Oops haha double post
Hi indeed, I was talking about the hardware keyboard, if it is not possible to use both cyrillic & latin keys and quickly switch between them, this would decrease the benefit of the keyboard for me and I might decide to go with a non qwerty phone in the end.
Thanks for you insight though.
nickexel said:
Hi indeed, I was talking about the hardware keyboard, if it is not possible to use both cyrillic & latin keys and quickly switch between them, this would decrease the benefit of the keyboard for me and I might decide to go with a non qwerty phone in the end.
Thanks for you insight though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In this dev thread: Hardware Key Mapping | Flashable zips & Requests
...user Paitor has come up with and explained how to implement swedish language support for the hardware keyboard.
Given what Paitor has figured out how to do, it is absolutely within our ability to sit down and make exactly what you are asking.
All it takes is someone willing to sit down and invest the time into actually making it happen.
I would volunteer, but I have a lot on my plate already and realistically it's just not feasable for me to do this and keep up with my other projects on this device.
I will however be willing to take a finished keymapping and turn it into a flashable zip file and update the first posting of the key mapping thread with the result.
(and I always credit the author both in the installer package and thread post)
We still have to write in hardware keyboard language support for other languages, and I invite anyone else who wants to use alternative languages to read that thread and see about putting some time into helping us make that available for everyone. What you want to do is not exactly a small project, but pushing what we know to the next level is the reason for XDA's existence.
So, short answer is yes, what you are asking for is completely possible - you can make a key map file that has all of the keys in the languages you would want.
This is XDA, where you can get exactly what you need right down to the last little detail - if you want to put the time into making it happen. We'll be glad to help out where we can along the way.
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Edit:
If I were to tackle this project - this would be my approach:
Some apps, like Drocap2 or soundhound, pop up in the list when you have the Genius key remapped to 'search' and long press it. If there is nothing else that utilizes this shortcut function it will default to the only app that does ( in the case of a stock installation or on my ROM, voice search ).
So what I would do is write in each hardware keyboard layout that I wanted, then design an app that utilizes that Genius shortcut function to run - and the sole purpose of the app would be to switch between hardware keyboard layouts.
To me, that seems like the most elegant and refined approach to your problem without making one monstrously cumbersome key-mapping.
You could just press the Genius button to access the app wherever you happened to be, and then have it just show a menu as an overlay to swap between whatever keymappings you wrote in.
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My time is being invested in my ROM - then once that's set to my satisfaction, on to kernel work on overclock/undervolt leading into GPU work in conjunction with TV-out, and then on to bluetooth work for controller support on a Sense device.
These are big projects and very time consuming undertakings, so as you can see a project like this keylayout issue is a long time coming before I can get to it - but i'm happy to help where I can for anyone who wants to dive in and do.
Figured i'd throw out what my approach would be to give someone an idea on where to start - and while certainly not the only solution, is something to consider.
I think I have very good news for you!
There's a keyboard called "AnySoftKeyboard" (search for it in the Market and click Dev Website if you want more info) which supports hard kbd mapping (and switching bet layouts by pressing Alt + Space), they have a Russian language pack (Cyrillic & Phonetic), and it is all free.
I have never used it, but remembered coming accross it a while back and decided to check it out for you.
Hope it works
Hey guys, thanks for your replies!
I will definitely check this application - i am not sure it supports all hardware keyboards in general (or just the g1/droid as written in the description), but I will give it a try if I get this phone
And yes, I will gladly help in creating a layout for a Bulgarian keyboard. Unfortunately I cannot create an application for switching between the layouts myself, as I am not a developer.
thanks again.
AnySoft does work
Got my phone and installed AnySoftKeyboard. It does allow for switching bet layouts on the MT4Gs, but does seem a bit quirky so far... (that's with Hebrew & English, you might want to experiment yourself)
Do any one has found a way to get the froyo (spell check for second language feature ?)
Or a way to change the spell checking from whatever language is in settings without having to go settings --> input --> spell check --> navigate trough list of languages ?
I tough of adding 140k french words and 100k Spanish words to the custom dict using UDM app but didn't work... the spell checker insist in using its own dict and ignore my custom.
This problem is magnified with the use of the bloody dock keyboard which was the single reason i bought the TF700 (which is on ebay for sale ATM)
I remember the times when Linux meant freedom and flexibility... JB is an Ugly unfinished IOs rip off (and that's in a good day)
Nazeroth said:
Do any one has found a way to get the froyo (spell check for second language feature ?)
Or a way to change the spell checking from whatever language is in settings without having to go settings --> input --> spell check --> navigate trough list of languages ?
I tough of adding 140k french words and 100k Spanish words to the custom dict using UDM app but didn't work... the spell checker insist in using its own dict and ignore my custom.
This problem is magnified with the use of the bloody dock keyboard which was the single reason i bought the TF700 (which is on ebay for sale ATM)
I remember the times when Linux meant freedom and flexibility... JB is an Ugly unfinished IOs rip off (and that's in a good day)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem your encountering is not a "JB" issue. Rather, it is the fact that the TF700 (and ASUS in general) uses a proprietary subsystem called XT9 (produced by a company called 'Nuance'). For this reason, we cannot create new keyboard layouts nor add more languages. I've been investigating this in my spare time and, though there are some hacks you can do for some modified functionality, the extent you are wanting requires information that is just not available.
Hope this at least gives you a better idea of what the problem is.
Alien, thanks for your reply,
Maybe some of my problems come from the TF but the second language spell check is a feature last since ICS, that was the reason I sold my SG3 after three days.
I use a qwerty layout on all my hardware and my Desire HD2 for example is set to English and second language French.
I still miss spanish but it being my mother language i tend not make many mistakes on it.
There is a Bug report for Android about it http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=22707
The problem is that they split the system Spell checker and now we realy a lot on the keyboard used and its suggestions, evidently that magnifies the problem on a Docked Asus TF but it is general to Android.
I think sadly that this is going the wrong way, like the bar not being hidable, or the gmail app not allowing to remove the conversation view... Google is trying to force on users theyir way of what is better for you just as Apple does.
even more Sadly Ubuntu and Unity are taking the same path. (I.E Unity top bar cant be hidden, at least they had the tought of putting it on top, as on android every time i try the OSK on the asus instead of space i hit the bar andallmywordslooklikethis)).
Nazeroth said:
Alien, thanks for your reply,
Maybe some of my problems come from the TF but the second language spell check is a feature last since ICS, that was the reason I sold my SG3 after three days.
I use a qwerty layout on all my hardware and my Desire HD2 for example is set to English and second language French.
I still miss spanish but it being my mother language i tend not make many mistakes on it.
There is a Bug report for Android about it http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=22707
The problem is that they split the system Spell checker and now we realy a lot on the keyboard used and its suggestions, evidently that magnifies the problem on a Docked Asus TF but it is general to Android.
I think sadly that this is going the wrong way, like the bar not being hidable, or the gmail app not allowing to remove the conversation view... Google is trying to force on users theyir way of what is better for you just as Apple does.
even more Sadly Ubuntu and Unity are taking the same path. (I.E Unity top bar cant be hidden, at least they had the tought of putting it on top, as on android every time i try the OSK on the asus instead of space i hit the bar andallmywordslooklikethis)).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand your meaning as I am multilingual myself and Android isn't as versatile as I would like. I'm merely saying that everything that is entered via the dock on your TF700 is handled by the subsystem and not by Android directly. Anything that is entered via "ASUS Keyboard" is available for spell-check in the keyboard language that is selected. Just try opening SuperNote and typing in something like "Eu sou um americano Je suis un américain Yo soy un americano Ich bin eine Amerikaner" then setup your ASUS Keyboard for French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. While in Supernote, press Left-Control+Left-Shift to bring up the keyboard list, and select a different language. When you change the contents (like add a space at the end) you can see it reparse everything and highlight words that are not known in the selected keyboard language. It's not 100% perfect but it should at least give you a bit of flexibility.
Edit: For clarification, no I don't speak/write in French, German, or Spanish. They were just thrown in for elaborating the test.
Thanks Alien, didn't knew about the CTRL ALT thing, however I did the rational thing... Sold the Asus and got an Ipad after all i only need to do note taking on the go, boor reader and emails and sadly the bloody ipad handles those very well...
BTW: I had removed Super notes after it crashed on me and made me loose a lot of text i had entered, i was using another note app free from the market that did less but did well.
I dont know if im getting older or what but my frustration trying to get the most of my screen while reading books and coherent margins and stuff while my wife laugthed at me reading the same book from her ipad got to me.
Now trying to jailbreak the thing so i can brick it lol...
PS: With a BT apple KB, command space swaps the language im writing in seamless like with the on screen keyboard and the spell check works, thou auto caps not...
I've tried dozens of keyboards but always end up landing on Perfect Keyboard Pro as my default. Its T9 key and voice key are appropriately placed, and its basic, yet customizable layout is superb!
There is but one little annoyance. It seems to come preloaded with dictionary words that I can't delete.
For example, if I type the word after, then AfterDawn pops up as a suggested word (as much as I like AfterDawn, I just don't type it enough for it to be in my dictionary). Another example would be if I type the word only, I get Molybdenum as a suggestion (I had to look that word up).
These suggestions are not in the stock dictionary, and don't pop up as suggestions in any other keyboard I install, so it must be exclusive to PKP.
Tried emailing you at [email protected] but no response, has anybody had any luck with this app's user dictionary?