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[Q] Increasing screen real estate (changing DPI) on P3113 stock rooted?

Hey guys,
I'm trying (without luck so far) to change the DPI setting on my tablet so that I can have more screen real estate.
I'm running stock (ICS) rooted on my Galaxy Tab 2 7" - this ROM:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1798283
So far, I've tried:
- Editing build.prop myself to change DPI manually
- Using an app from the Play story
- Following the suggestions in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1826067
(no luck at all, because this app doesn't even include the lcd density slider)
In all cases, I either get no result, or I get a black startup screen. After each method/approach, I restore a clean backup from CWM (so the approaches aren't conflicting with each other).
I can't get anything to work. Any suggestions?

Did you try "Rom Toolbox Lite" from the play store. You need root to use it.
Performance > Build.prop Tweaks > LCD density ... pick what you want > Reboot.
Sorry if you tried that already but that's the easiest way to do it as far as i know.

May be because of stock rom try cm10 from www.teamhacksung.org you will not be disappointed i use it now marvellous !!!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Sean_Seany said:
Did you try "Rom Toolbox Lite" from the play store. You need root to use it.
Performance > Build.prop Tweaks > LCD density ... pick what you want > Reboot.
Sorry if you tried that already but that's the easiest way to do it as far as i know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did indeed try that. Unfortunately, the LCD density simply isn't an option under the Build.prop tweaks menu. I'm guessing that this has something to do with the fact that my build.prop actually contains no reference to LCD density. The normal build.prop entry isn't there. I don't understand the nuts and bolts of this well enough to know why, but somehow, the system is getting its LCD density settings from something other than build.prop.
I've truly read every item in build.prop, and nothing appears to be related to LCD density, even by another name. It just doesn't seem to be in there, which is probably why Rom Toolbox Lite is intelligently removing that particular slider option from my view.
Mohamedselim said:
May be because of stock rom try cm10 from www.teamhacksung.org you will not be disappointed i use it now marvellous !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm completely open to going to CM10, but I'll tell you my reservation (and maybe you can tell me if I'm just missing something obvious):
I tried two or three of the CM10 roms yesterday. In all cases, when I booted to my homescreen, it was stuck in landscape mode. It wouldn't rotate into portrait, no matter what I did. I spent hours combing through threads, trying to figure out why one of the most basic aspects of being a tablet (the ability to rotate orientations) was not working. I finally came across a solution that required downloading a new launcher APK. I applied the solution, and it worked. But it felt glitchy, and the whole user experience situation was a bit disappointing. It didn't feel smooth, not that their was intense lag, but there was a noticeable UI performance hit (at least in my own subjective opinion).
It IS sort of killing me that I can't get the DPI to something more reasonable though - so I'm a motivated CM10-er. I just can't deal with a tablet that I'll practically never use in landscape, being stuck in landscape.

Have you tried setting/display/rotation and ticked autorotate,include lock screen and 0,90,180,270 degrees
You could also try Nova or apex launchers or go launcher hd i use it now
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Mohamedselim said:
Have you tried setting/display/rotation and ticked autorotate,include lock screen and 0,90,180,270 degrees
You could also try Nova or apex launchers or go launcher hd i use it now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. I think it's actually a known bug.
I have somewhat mixed emotions about eschewing the bloatware of the stock Samsung experience, only to put on a 3rd party launcher after the fact. But that's a philosophical debate best had elsewhere. I think my issue with CM10 or AOSP right now, is that stuff just doesn't seem to work right on the P3113. I could be wrong - in fact, I very well might be wrong. I'm not necessarily as up to date as someone who has owned this tablet for more than 3 days. But in terms of the 10 or so hours I've spent clunking away at it this weekend, it seems like some really obvious stuff is missing. (rotation, etc).

Launcher not able to launch... Screen DPI

So i was playing around with diffrent DPI, i had it set to 160 and it worked great sure added a bunch of space. Then i went to try what it would look like at 140. Reboot and now the launcher will not startup. =(
So now I am lost in how to try and change the DPI setting or open any other app. I was able to open the browser from the keyboard shortcut and that is how i am posting now.
Any tips other than a full reset. I am running the 9.4.5.26 and am only rooted so far with some build prop edits.

And 140 would make the text larger than 160 correct?
I saw someone say they set it to 200, wow that would be some tiny text if i am thinking right.

shermanpat said:
So i was playing around with diffrent DPI, i had it set to 160 and it worked great sure added a bunch of space. Then i went to try what it would look like at 140. Reboot and now the launcher will not startup. =(
So now I am lost in how to try and change the DPI setting or open any other app. I was able to open the browser from the keyboard shortcut and that is how i am posting now.
Any tips other than a full reset. I am running the 9.4.5.26 and am only rooted so far with some build prop edits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install Nova Launcher via the market, it works across all the DPI I've tried.
160 resulted in text which was too small for my eyes, I ended up with 200, so halfway between the original 240 and 160.

First off i would like to say that I should have not been playing around with stuff after a 20 hour work day!
So i soft bricked my device after only having it for 4 days. It will only get to the asus boot screen with the loading circle. I can't really remember what all i did. It is not seen when i do adb devices but the computer does make a connect sound when i plug it in.
Time to do a bunch of searching around to see what i can do, or if any of you can point me in the direction it would be greatly appreciated!

Well I had to do a SD card reinstall of the os firmware. Time to just through all my set up hoops again.
To unlock or not to unlock that is the question...

So what DPI's does the stock launcher work at. I just did 200 and it doesn't run.
(don't mind me i am just talking to the internet out loud)

shermanpat said:
So what DPI's does the stock launcher work at. I just did 200 and it doesn't run.
(don't mind me i am just talking to the internet out loud)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's been said that the stock launcher doesn't work with other dpis. Next time load up an alternate launcher.

shermanpat said:
So what DPI's does the stock launcher work at. I just did 200 and it doesn't run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you still running the stock launcher? Because, if you are, the stock launcher tends to not work once you change the DPI.
You should first have a look at a 3rd party launcher (Go Launcher HD, Nova, etc.)
Change the DPI after setting up one of those launchers and you should be good to go!
(don't mind me i am just talking to the internet out loud)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's okay! I know how frustrating it might be when no-one replies
Luckily, a lot of the members of xda are really helpful and always try their best to spread their knowledge!

When i set the dpi to 160 the stock launcher came up fine on first boot. but then did not work when i set to either 140 or 200. After i did the full reinstall i noticed a few ways that i could have gotten in and changed the build.prop file, but live and learn.
So far from the little i have tried other launchers I over all like the stock one.
Its nice to be able to have an android device that is not my phone that i have to make sure works all the time.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app

Appearance in apps all a bit on the big side!

Hi All I owned a note and note two before thinking I wanted bigger and getting a z ultra.
The ultra turned out to be just too big to be practical so I now have a note 3 and am about to e bay the ultra.
But when I look at them side by side there are a lot of elements of the ultra that look much better than the note three. When they both have the same resolution, I want to make use of that resolution even if the fonts become small.
Particularly chrome seems to show pages much better laid out on the z ultra with much more info on a page. See that attached picture which shows that although the screen on the ultra is bigger it also has smaller fonts to fit way more on the screen.
I have switched the system font to "tiny" and am using nova launcher to fit more on teh desktop.
Any ideas how to get applications to behave in a more tablet like manner on the note three?

If you're rooted, I would suggest changing your Dpi to 360. Hugeeeee improvement for me!

no root and I am not keen to unfortunately. It breaks the barclays bank app and although some people have found a work around it never worked on my note 2 so I went back to stock.
Anything else I can do?

In that case, there isn't much you can do unfortunately as that's the only way to control scaling.

ok, thanks, I will consider it again.
that said if you look at the two screen shots it is not just scaling, the one on the experia z ultra looks like a tablet version of chrome and the one on the note 3 looks more like a mobile version. There is a menu button top right next to the tabs in the experia which isnt there on the note.
maybe that is to do with the soft keys on the xperia
if you change the DPI what does it do? it cant change the real dpi of the screen of course but does it scale absolutely everything to look smaller or bigger?
Do you need software to do it after root?

I have used an app called BuildProp Editor (from play store) to change the dpi of the device to 400 as I feel the stock DPI of 480 makes everything ridiculously big. Of course you need root for it to work, like has been said before.
If you want to activate tablet UI for some applications, what I do is install xposed framework from xda, and then install the App Settings xposed module. That allows you to set individual dpi for apps. You can also activate tablet UI for some apps by using that module.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

The Google Experience Launcher is working fine so far with 4.4.2 on ATT

So far running the Knoxraid 4.4.2 build I was able to install GEL and the Google Search update with no issues.
From this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2506829
Just thought I'd point that out. The only two things that have come up so far:
The wallpaper and switching over to the Google Now screen initially glitched. There were artifacts when I switched over to the Google Now panel and when I switched back there was a long line of Google Hangout icons down the left-hand side. When I switched wallpapers to a custom wallpaper both things went away.
I also noticed that with GEL the DPI is just ridiculous at the stock setting. REALLY big icons. Novelty size. So I ran Texdroider DPI and scaled DPI down repeatedly by between 40 and 80, and at about 420 I hit a sweet spot that brought things back to around the icon size of Touchwiz Launcher. I like things a lot smaller so I kept scaling down and found another sweet spot at 260 where the icons and text are small enough to not annoy me but are also readable. I'll post screenshots when I sort that out but I would say on GEL 260 brings the icons to about the scale you might be familiar with in Nova Launcher?
[EDIT]
I did in the end go for Nova Launcher but for a really unrelated reason. I like having a lot of items on my dock and I don't like having the application / widgets bar button dead center. I'm picky like that. But all in all it worked fine, the only thing I noticed that was somewhat annoying was the lower DPI meant that the recent applications from long-pressing home broke. I switched to Switchr and am insanely happy. Then I went and froze about a 80% of the stuff I never use, which probably will break my settings all to hell because I froze a bunch of the printer stuff, a bunch of the camera stuff, etc... But I'm willing to live with force-closes and crashes if it means getting rid of excess weight.
Besides, I use third--party apps for notetaking, camera, etc... So I actually doubt I'll see a lot of problems. The note 3 is a great phone but man it comes with a lot of stuff jammed into it.

BewareAlbatross said:
So far running the Knoxraid 4.4.2 build I was able to install GEL and the Google Search update with no issues.
From this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2506829
Just thought I'd point that out. The only two things that have come up so far:
The wallpaper and switching over to the Google Now screen initially glitched. There were artifacts when I switched over to the Google Now panel and when I switched back there was a long line of Google Hangout icons down the left-hand side. When I switched wallpapers to a custom wallpaper both things went away.
I also noticed that with GEL the DPI is just ridiculous at the stock setting. REALLY big icons. Novelty size. So I ran Texdroider DPI and scaled DPI down repeatedly by between 40 and 80, and at about 420 I hit a sweet spot that brought things back to around the icon size of Touchwiz Launcher. I like things a lot smaller so I kept scaling down and found another sweet spot at 260 where the icons and text are small enough to not annoy me but are also readable. I'll post screenshots when I sort that out but I would say on GEL 260 brings the icons to about the scale you might be familiar with in Nova Launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After dropping the DPI, did you have the disappearing icon/folder issue, where the furthest right icon or folder in the dock would disappear after a reboot? I've noticed it usually starts happening when the DPI drops low enough that there are 7 dock slots instead of the 5 at normal DPI.

With the default launcher yep. With GEL I didn't see that happen. Hmm. Definitely had problems with Touchwiz.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

BewareAlbatross said:
With the default launcher yep. With GEL I didn't see that happen. Hmm. Definitely had problems with Touchwiz.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...might have to give GEL another shot then. Thanks.
Edit: Nope...rightmost dock icon still disappears after a reboot at both 260 and 330 DPI. Wish Google would update Search and fix that already.

I in the end still went with Nova but I definitely miss having the Google Now integration. That is such a slick feature IMHO.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

BewareAlbatross said:
I in the end still went with Nova but I definitely miss having the Google Now integration. That is such a slick feature IMHO.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. That's really the only reason I want to run GEL.

blackroseMD1 said:
Hmm...might have to give GEL another shot then. Thanks.
Edit: Nope...rightmost dock icon still disappears after a reboot at both 260 and 330 DPI. Wish Google would update Search and fix that already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same issued running GEL on my Nexus 7. Talk about a gimped update for that device. Google really dropped the ball with Kit Kat. Only giving certain features to certain devices.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Running GEL on X-Note 7 at 360 dpi. No longer having the icon drop issue since going with X-Note. Dropped all the time on stock att rom though at same dpi.
Switched to X-Note due to crazy gps problems.

Today's Google Search update fixed the disappearing icon/folder issue, added another column to the GEL homescreen, and added a splash screen at first launch that says "Google Now Launcher".

blackroseMD1 said:
Today's Google Search update fixed the disappearing icon/folder issue, added another column to the GEL homescreen, and added a splash screen at first launch that says "Google Now Launcher".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noted the update but didn't follow up and check it out. Let me go take a look, that sounds promising!

Or just use Kcin launcher that works just the same but is fully customizable
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I just use it with Xposed GEL settings you can change the icons size both in the home screen and app drawer as well as the number of columns and rows for both including the hot seat.. I put the launcher apk inside the /system/priv-app to avoid any issues before installing the ROM.
When I installed it as an app I kept getting FC's but who knows...just IMO no problems since.

Making your S6 as "vanilla" android as possible....

Not getting my S6 until Monday, but two of the first things I plan on doing are installing the Google Now Launcher, and the Google Keyboard. As a long time Nexus user, hopefully this will get me as close to that vanilla android feel as possible.
So my question is...has anyone installed those apps? How is it running? Anything else you can do to make it as vanilla feeling as possible?

the problem with the google launcher is the samsung icons stay, you have to wait for a lollipop theme to be available on the gs6 theme store

I use nova launcher and a LP icon pack. i also set the animations in nova to be LP and the google now search as LP style

tlxxxsracer said:
I use nova launcher and a LP icon pack. i also set the animations in nova to be LP and the google now search as LP style
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my other thought. Haven't used Nova Launcher in a while...but might be using now just for the lollipop icons. Looks like lollipop icons comes baked into nova launcher now, awesome.
How about Google Now? Would be awesome to get it via swipe to the left in nova...but doesn't look like that's possible. Any suggestions for that?

nathan118 said:
That was my other thought. Haven't used Nova Launcher in a while...but might be using now just for the lollipop icons. Looks like lollipop icons comes baked into nova launcher now, awesome.
How about Google Now? Would be awesome to get it via swipe to the left in nova...but doesn't look like that's possible. Any suggestions for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually use the stock LP icons in nova. Looks fine for me. I dont use google now because the lack of customization, the icons/drawer are too big.
Heres my homepage

tlxxxsracer said:
I actually use the stock LP icons in nova. Looks fine for me. I dont use google now because the lack of customization, the icons/drawer are too big.
Heres my homepage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks good. Any good ways to mess with the pulldown and quick settings? Seems like the notification shade and settings pages are the only thing that will be "touchwiz" at that point.

nathan118 said:
Looks good. Any good ways to mess with the pulldown and quick settings? Seems like the notification shade and settings pages are the only thing that will be "touchwiz" at that point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No way to mess with the look of them, thatd be related to rooting/roms/mods
I did remove any quick setting toggles so there would only be 5 that i use regularly

tlxxxsracer said:
No way to mess with the look of them, thatd be related to rooting/roms/mods
I did remove any quick setting toggles so there would only be 5 that i use regularly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can live with that. Does the built in themes affect the look though? Can set a different theme to mess with the shade, and then use Nova.

nathan118 said:
I can live with that. Does the built in themes affect the look though? Can set a different theme to mess with the shade, and then use Nova.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm waiting for other themes so i can find one I like. But I would imagine the system themes from samsung would affect the look of everything else, and then the launcher would be overtop and be the "visual" styling for stock android
One thing I'm missing is the priority setting for notifications. Stock android you could set volume profile to priority and get only calls/texts from starred/priority contacts. Then could also set an auto time interval

tlxxxsracer said:
I'm waiting for other themes so i can find one I like. But I would imagine the system themes from samsung would affect the look of everything else, and then the launcher would be overtop and be the "visual" styling for stock android
One thing I'm missing is the priority setting for notifications. Stock android you could set volume profile to priority and get only calls/texts from starred/priority contacts. Then could also set an auto time interval
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully the built-in themer will get a lot of support so we have a lot of choices.
Samsung has some built in do not disturb stuff though right? On my nexus 5 I use "Nights keeper" at night so I get phone calls, but everything else is silent. Can set whitelists and everything.

The google keyboard is a touch laggy at times on the GS6 for me, specifically when swipe/slide typing. So are third party launchers. It's very small though. Some won't notice it I bet

nathan118 said:
I can live with that. Does the built in themes affect the look though? Can set a different theme to mess with the shade, and then use Nova.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The themes do change the shade, and practically every other aspect of the look, except the icons as mentioned, if you're using other than stock launcher.
I am using the latest nova launcher.
nathan118 said:
Hopefully the built-in themer will get a lot of support so we have a lot of choices.
Samsung has some built in do not disturb stuff though right? On my nexus 5 I use "Nights keeper" at night so I get phone calls, but everything else is silent. Can set whitelists and everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel pretty confident that this will take off and be Hugh...Plus for the themers it probably will make their work easier since it will probably come with some sort of themer package. This is one of the best parts of the phone is the ability to make it look different!
Sent from my SM-G900T using AllianceR(●)m