[APP][4.2+]Pure Rss - An Offline Rss Reader - Android Apps and Games

Being an avid news reader, I really missed the good old Google reader when it shut down. After that, a couple of services like FlipBoard popped up...but I didn't like the curation done by them. Feedly is an awesome service...but its UI has become really old and no longer interesting.
So, I decided to make an app with everything I wanted in it as a user. I feel like this has come out really well so far and now, I can use some feedback from the XDA community to perfect it.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.udn4hc.purerss
The app doesn't have any ads right now. The Screenshots provided in the listing are a little outdated, but I have created a new promo video. Please access it from the play store, or use this link https://youtu.be/ZjzhKE36OrM
I want to provide Feedly sync functionality in the application...but the Feedly team is currently upgrading their API to v2 and won't give access to new applications in the meanwhile. So, that will be a future upgrade whenever they are ready.
To list out a few features in the app -
- flip scrollng - similar to flipboard
- pager scrolling - similar to feedly
- standard Android scrolling with lists and cards
- Offline access to articles/images
- Custom sync/cleanup intervals
- Alternate Themes - 6 currently, including a dark theme
- Multiple fonts available to choose from
- Material Design
- OPML Import
- And many more
Please go through the app and let me know your feedback

Very nice app. I must say that during use the " please refresh feeds, new stories downloaded" message seems a bit passe. If I'm on the app, isnt it better to just refresh the stories automatically, or have a pull down to refresh action ? Also I have no feeds chosen in some categories , however I still need to go through those empty tabs to reach the next tab. Any option to delete unused tabs ? or maybe reorder them.
Whatever the case you are making the appropriate category of app. So far there has still been no google reader alternative.

Importing OPML file is doing nothing...
Maybe it's due to the categorization that could (and would) be different from the default ones?

Technical said:
Importing OPML file is doing nothing...
Maybe it's due to the categorization that could (and would) be different from the default ones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you open the left slide-in pane and see if your feeds are added? You need to press the refresh button for the app to download articles from the imported feeds. Maybe I need to start refresh automatically after importing the OPML file. Another thing on my mind is to hide the empty category tabs that doesn't have any content(as suggested by the above post).
I will push an update in a couple hours

nirmalv said:
Very nice app. I must say that during use the " please refresh feeds, new stories downloaded" message seems a bit passe. If I'm on the app, isnt it better to just refresh the stories automatically, or have a pull down to refresh action ? Also I have no feeds chosen in some categories , however I still need to go through those empty tabs to reach the next tab. Any option to delete unused tabs ? or maybe reorder them.
Whatever the case you are making the appropriate category of app. So far there has still been no google reader alternative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Automatically refreshing the feeds automatically will make you lose your scroll position etc., if you are in the middle of browsing. I like the idea of pull to refresh though. I will have that in. Thanks!
Hiding the empty category tabs seems to be a good suggestion too.
Thanks for your suggestions They are really helpful!

ch4ndu said:
Can you open the left slide-in pane and see if your feeds are added? You need to press the refresh button for the app to download articles from the imported feeds. Maybe I need to start refresh automatically after importing the OPML file. Another thing on my mind is to hide the empty category tabs that doesn't have any content(as suggested by the above post).
I will push an update in a couple hours
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I've got it. Now I miss:
1. View options, as the feed is shown with a larger picture (thumbnail) that I want. My list become very long...
2. A way to sort the categories (alphabetically, for instance) and, for sure, hide the empty categories.
3. Check duplicate feeds (if any) in different categories.
4. Mark as read until here, till the end, etc.
5. Show feed for just one (or some) URLs within the categories (or, better) allow showing contents with a scrolling menu at left where you could choose which feed you want to read).

Technical said:
Oh, I've got it. Now I miss:
1. View options, as the feed is shown with a larger picture (thumbnail) that I want. My list become very long...
2. A way to sort the categories (alphabetically, for instance) and, for sure, hide the empty categories.
3. Check duplicate feeds (if any) in different categories.
4. Mark as read until here, till the end, etc.
5. Show feed for just one (or some) URLs within the categories (or, better) allow showing contents with a scrolling menu at left where you could choose which feed you want to read).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Glad you found the feeds
Now, let me explain the app and its different "Screens". Firstly, we have home screen, which is visible when you open the app. Then there is a category/topic screen, which is available when you click on topics(Technology, Business etc.,) from the left drawer. Then there is the feed screen, which is available when you expand the topic on left drawer( by clicking on the arrow next to it) and then select the desired feed.
There are multiple views and options available when you are in the category/topic screen and the feed screen. I cannot believe I made it hard for users to get to them The views/layouts are what I am actually proud of about this app! I need to do something to make it easy.
Please refer to the screenshot attached for now or the video that I have provided in the first post.
Only card view and listview can be used in home screen, and I will give an option to toggle between them in the settings. The other views mess with the scrolling on the home screen.
Now to answer your concerns...
1. Will give an option to toggle between list and card for home screen.
2. Sorting/ordering the categories is not available right now. I need to look into that and will get back to you
3. I believe I already do that...but will double check. I check if you have already subscribed to the feed url. I will get back to you on this.
4. That seems like a good option. Will do.
5. I believe that is available from the left drawer. Please let me know if that is not what you specified.
I will post an update tonight addressing these issues(except 2 and 4).
Btw, thanks a lot for taking time to go through this app!

Hi there. All in all a very nice rss. I dare to say the best at the moment while it is new.
A couple of things that could be better. Sync takes too much time. Also the notificatons are not that nessesary. I didnt find the option to remove rss source. Thanks man and keeep up the good work.

icrunchbanger said:
Hi there. All in all a very nice rss. I dare to say the best at the moment while it is new.
A couple of things that could be better. Sync takes too much time. Also the notificatons are not that nessesary. I didnt find the option to remove rss source. Thanks man and keeep up the good work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for trying out the app Am really glad you liked it.
I can give a setting to turn notifications off. Is there a particular notification type that you felt was unnecessary?
You need to go to the Feed screen to remove the source:
Open left drawer> Expand category(Technology, Business, etc,) by clicking on the arrow left of it> Click on feed > Click on the more icon at the top right corner of the screen there> Click actions.
I have an option to unsubscribe there. Please check the youtube video that I have posted in the first post. It has a lot of information
Also, please refer to the screenshot posted in my previous comment here.

Last update comments:
1. In my phone, the list view without pictures still take a lot of space in the screen. I will move the share button to most top right and let the source (feed) name + time use just one line (not spaced). Buttons are also not aligned. Maybe a non-thumbnail view option to avoid the "weird" view with and without thumbnails (picture 1).
2. Swipe left and right in the list view is moving between categories and not bookmarking or deleting (as I've thought reading the settings). Maybe, at least, allow this as keep pressing option over the article list.
3. I miss a full black theme (not just changing the colors).
4. Refreshing is moving the category to "all" feeds and I lost where I was reading.
5. I miss options such "mark as read until here" and "mark as read to the end".
6. I definitively will remove the "title" as categories and move all the quick buttons (share, mark as read, remove, etc.) to there. In the place of "all" categories, a button with a menu.
7. Thanks for the option "leave the app". Other readers, while tapping the return button, just close.
8. A way to sort the categories (or manually or alphabetically).
9. Option to open full article in external browser.
10. Option to choose "default" share option (and not needing to choose the long list all the time).
11. The default view in settings is not changing the "new rss feed" default view. When we add a rss and tap the tool to set the advanced settings, the default view is not the same as I've set for the whole program.
12. Tapping the green mark after adding a rss feed is not unsubscribing and the tool icon does not have an unsubscribe option. If I add a rss feed by accident, I can't remove in the same screen (picture 2).
13. Duplicate rss feeds seems to be allowed (at least, manual one + internal list ones).

Technical said:
Last update comments:
1. In my phone, the list view without pictures still take a lot of space in the screen. I will move the share button to most top right and let the source (feed) name + time use just one line (not spaced). Buttons are also not aligned. Maybe a non-thumbnail view option to avoid the "weird" view with and without thumbnails (picture 1).
2. Swipe left and right in the list view is moving between categories and not bookmarking or deleting (as I've thought reading the settings). Maybe, at least, allow this as keep pressing option over the article list.
3. I miss a full black theme (not just changing the colors).
4. Refreshing is moving the category to "all" feeds and I lost where I was reading.
5. I miss options such "mark as read until here" and "mark as read to the end".
6. I definitively will remove the "title" as categories and move all the quick buttons (share, mark as read, remove, etc.) to there. In the place of "all" categories, a button with a menu.
7. Thanks for the option "leave the app". Other readers, while tapping the return button, just close.
8. A way to sort the categories (or manually or alphabetically).
9. Option to open full article in external browser.
10. Option to choose "default" share option (and not needing to choose the long list all the time).
11. The default view in settings is not changing the "new rss feed" default view. When we add a rss and tap the tool to set the advanced settings, the default view is not the same as I've set for the whole program.
12. Tapping the green mark after adding a rss feed is not unsubscribing and the tool icon does not have an unsubscribe option. If I add a rss feed by accident, I can't remove in the same screen (picture 2).
13. Duplicate rss feeds seems to be allowed (at least, manual one + internal list ones).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback. I will fix these defects in a while.
From your comments, I understand that you haven't accessed the Feed screen or the category screen yet. Please open the left slide-in pane and try clicking on a category. Swipe left/right works only in that view. As specified in the settings, that feature is not available on the home screen. You can also access any individual subscribed feed from the left slide-in pane....just expand the category by clicking on the arrow next to it, and click on the feed name.
I am not familiar with the full black theme. Can you point me to an app which has that feature? I need something as a reference.

Technical said:
Last update comments:
1. In my phone, the list view without pictures still take a lot of space in the screen. I will move the share button to most top right and let the source (feed) name + time use just one line (not spaced). Buttons are also not aligned. Maybe a non-thumbnail view option to avoid the "weird" view with and without thumbnails (picture 1).
2. Swipe left and right in the list view is moving between categories and not bookmarking or deleting (as I've thought reading the settings). Maybe, at least, allow this as keep pressing option over the article list.
3. I miss a full black theme (not just changing the colors).
4. Refreshing is moving the category to "all" feeds and I lost where I was reading.
5. I miss options such "mark as read until here" and "mark as read to the end".
6. I definitively will remove the "title" as categories and move all the quick buttons (share, mark as read, remove, etc.) to there. In the place of "all" categories, a button with a menu.
7. Thanks for the option "leave the app". Other readers, while tapping the return button, just close.
8. A way to sort the categories (or manually or alphabetically).
9. Option to open full article in external browser.
10. Option to choose "default" share option (and not needing to choose the long list all the time).
11. The default view in settings is not changing the "new rss feed" default view. When we add a rss and tap the tool to set the advanced settings, the default view is not the same as I've set for the whole program.
12. Tapping the green mark after adding a rss feed is not unsubscribing and the tool icon does not have an unsubscribe option. If I add a rss feed by accident, I can't remove in the same screen (picture 2).
13. Duplicate rss feeds seems to be allowed (at least, manual one + internal list ones).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, thanks a lot for helping me get the app right. You have been really supportive and I really appreciate your help This is what I love the most about xda community!
Now, let me address your concerns one by one.
1. Fixed partially. Share button should not be at the top of the article - that takes up valuable real estate on screen, and for some reason doesn't feel right to me. I aligned the items properly and resized the icon now. Thanks for pointing that out. I will give a setting to choose if you want to load any images in the app at all. CardView is more optimized for scenarios where you don't have an image for the article. ETA before the end of this week.
2. That feature is not available on the home screen. Navigate to any category or feed through the left swipe-in pane and you will see it working. You have many other options there as well, including new layouts/views. Please watch the video that I shared in the opening post.
3. This will be a future update
4. Fixed. I made it so that hitting refresh will keep you on the same tab. The articles will be reloaded though.
5. I will get those options in before the end of this week.
6. I didn't quite follow that. Can you please explain it in detail?
7. Removed. I saw that feature implemented in a couple of famous apps. Thought it would be good to have it here since exiting by mistake will make you lose your scroll position. I will bring that in as a setting in the future.
8. I will get this in before the end of week as well.
9. Done. Please check for the option in settings.
10. That needs some work. I will probably have it in by the end of this week. I am using the default android's share screen and which is supposed to be "smart", as in remembering the most used app/service or contact.
11. That is a feed specific setting, and is only available from the feed screen. To get to that, navigate to the feed from the left drawer! Please watch the video I posted in the opening post to see how to get there.
12. Fixed
13. I fixed it with the previous update. I check if there is any other feed with the exact url in the list of subscribed feeds. An extra slash or a space might break this. I will look into it further.
Check the screenshot I posted below to see a list of available layouts/views from the category or feed screen. Please don't forget to watch the video(mark 1:48). You are missing out on a lot of features present in this app!
The magazine views work really well only when the articles have a decent quality images present. I am working on optimizing them further.
I will post the update out soon to the play store.

Related

LectureNotes app

I'm curious about peoples' opinions of the app "LectureNotes" by Acadoid Developer and how it stacks up against the other main players in the active digitizer game. I've only been using my TPT for a few days' worth of note taking and haven't settled on a specific app yet, so I would like to hear thoughts on how you chose your primary note taking app.
i use ezpdf reader usually and just annotate my notes onto the pdf lecture slides.
if i need free form writing, i use free-note as it has keyboard + pen input
or quill if i just need pen input.
personally i haven't tried lecture notes, but it seems like MyScript Notes Mobile preloaded with the TPT
Wow, pretty good app. I didn't know about it. Thanks!
I've been using TPT for about 2 weeks now, and like the OP, I haven't really quite settled on a specific handwriting app..
Key uses for me are:
- taking notes during meetings
- something to help me in my Japanese language study
- some silly doodling/sketching fun
Some apps I've tried:
- Notesmobile
- Antipaper
- Writepad stylus
- Lecture notes
- Asus' supernotes
- Freenote
- Quill
For lecture notes specifically, I like that I can choose checkered pattern for the background and set the pattern size, as that is perfect for writing in Japanese.
But I found that it lags quite a bit when writing, and there isn't an easy way for me to scroll between pages.
So I haven't really been using it much in the past week.
For the moment, I've sort of settled with using a mix of Writepad, Supernote and Antipaper. Sadly, neither Supernote nor Antipaper has stylus only option
Still waiting for the one app that can do it all!
Might never come, but I can always hope, can't I?
I use Lecture Notes and have more or less canned every other note software. Lecture Notes just has way more features that I need. It can export in many ways. It can backup all my notes to dropbox, great support for inserting images and easy to change color, pen thickness etc.
Only think missing is better organization of the notebooks themselves. When that's here, it will be perfect.
It's also by far the most stable of Quill, Notes mobil and asus supernotes.
Personally, I have tried a lot of handwriting notes apps until I cam to this one. At that time this one worked the best overall in my opinion. When I first started using it didn't have everything it has now. But it was already robust and never crashed. I had one issue after a full system crash and reboot that wiped out the content of one notebook. But I simply loaded my backup from the day before without issue and kept rolling.
I have about 15 different notebooks on there now and I use them daily for work notes as I am walk around the office working on equipment or meeting notes.
It doesn't have the handwriting recognition features you find in other apps but I think that is what keyboard are for and I wouldn't write a document up that way anyway.
My good things list.
First, The developer is always adding things per user requests. Options for everything you can think of.
Second, it is being developed directly on the TPT and it seems to be one of the only ones able to be truly palm rejection friendly by only allowing the app to pull input from the pen (Option can be disabled for those that don't have a pen).
Third, and again the endless options... every type of custom settings, scrolling options (one finger, two finger, scroll bars and bar thickness), export options, backup options, sharing options, zoom options, page size - color - patterns, simple drawing tools, cut paste - copy paste, and on and on... every time I turn on the tablet it seems there is anther update to this app.
The dev listens to the feedback and finds ways of making the ideas work. I have submitted several ideas that have become reality.
It isn't free... but I would buy it a second and third time if I could just to support the dev team.
I see a brighter and brighter future of this app.
Hi folks,
I am the author of LectureNotes, I was glad to read that the app is useful for you. Sorry for joining this forum and this thread so late, but I learned only very recently that there are couple of forum threads related to LectureNotes.
Note that I uploaded v1.12.2 today with a couple of minor additions, the most important one probably being the possibility to choose the directory where the app stores your notebooks.
Best regards,
Markus
acadoid said:
Hi folks,
I am the author of LectureNotes, I was glad to read that the app is useful for you. Sorry for joining this forum and this thread so late, but I learned only very recently that there are couple of forum threads related to LectureNotes.
Note that I uploaded v1.12.2 today with a couple of minor additions, the most important one probably being the possibility to choose the directory where the app stores your notebooks.
Best regards,
Markus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using the trial version, but i am already convinced of buying the full version. I have a suggestion to make :
The software really needs a laso eraser it will make it more feature-full
Dear trt44,
LectureNotes has a `lasso´ eraser, moving the eraser in a closed path so that start and end point are close deletes the interior.
Best regards,
Markus
Perfect, i just tried the laso eraser and it works like a charm, so i bought the software .
I have another suggestion : The software lacks the ability to draw basic shapes (rectangles, circles, lines...), and from my humble point of view, basic shapes are very important for fast and accurate drawing when taking notes.
Many thanks for purchasing the app.
The app contains simple drawing primitives, they are part of the pencil toolbox (as long as you do not disable this in the settings). Choose `Show pencil toolbox´ in the pencil menu to get the toolbox displayed, click-and-hold to move it around. A single click on one of the standard or custom pencils chooses the pencil and a double-click on one of the custom pencils opens the `Custom pencil settings´ dialog; a click on one of the drawing tools activates the drawing tool, another click inactivates it.
OK, thank you, i will try it once i get home.
acadoid said:
Many thanks for purchasing the app.
The app contains simple drawing primitives, they are part of the pencil toolbox (as long as you do not disable this in the settings). Choose `Show pencil toolbox´ in the pencil menu to get the toolbox displayed, click-and-hold to move it around. A single click on one of the standard or custom pencils chooses the pencil and a double-click on one of the custom pencils opens the `Custom pencil settings´ dialog; a click on one of the drawing tools activates the drawing tool, another click inactivates it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, so far this is the best note taking application for android platform, it works exactly the way it should. But the UI is a bit ugly frankly you should work it more. A software like yours deserve a sexy fantastic UI :
- Attractive icons cause the actual ones looks dead to me, note Books icons for example looks horrible
- The ability to go forward and back in pages using forward and back buttons (more convenient sometimes instead of just scrolling or doing a notebook overview and select the page from there)
- Notebook overview should have an icon in the top tools bar for easy access
One last thing, when you use palm heuristic there is no way to zoom but using the zoom function in the menu witch have a fixed zoom ratio, i suggest to add a zoom slider in the top tools bar where you can specify how much you want to zoom when using (or not) palm heuristic.
Thank you for the fantastic software and keep the good work on .
Many thanks for your kind comments. I certainly agree that the icons can be improved, but I am not an artist and I do my best.
The app allows to go forward and backward page-wise by using `One page forward` or `One page backward´ in the hand menu; alternatively, to move quickly through your notebook without changing mode or switching to notebook overview, switch on `Permanently display scroll bars´ in the settings and drag on the scroll bars (the bar thickness can be increased in the settings).
`Notebook overview´ is just two clicks away in all modes (one click on main menu and one click on the item), I do not think that it is worthwhile to add an extra icon.
When using the heuristic palm rejection, one or two fingers gestures for scrolling and zooming are restricted to the hand mode, but being in this mode you can scroll and zoom continuously. Besides that, there is a zoom slider at the left side, you can change zoom by dragging it (the bar thickness can also be increased in the settings).
Just wanted to say hello to you Markus and thank you for your amazing app.
I am loving your app more and more. I appreciate your email correspondence about features I asked about. It truly puts you and your application above the rest.
Cheers.
I just uploaded v1.13 into Google Play. The major new feature is to allow folders of notebooks (and folders of folders of notebooks, etc.), but I also added LectureNotes as an image receiver (so that the app shows up when you share an image) and fixed a bug that could cause the app to crash when using a template for a new notebook.
To allow folders affects all parts of the app (notebooks board, notebook content view, notebook overview, notebook index, notebooks board index, ...). I carefully double- and triple-checked all features and things should work as before. Please drop an email to me in case you noticed something unexpected and I will do my very best to fix it quickly.
Best regards,
Markus
Sweet, I requested this feature cause of large number of notes
Works good, but maybe change the icon of folders so they stand out more from the regular.
acadoid said:
I just uploaded v1.13 into Google Play. The major new feature is to allow folders of notebooks (and folders of folders of notebooks, etc.), but I also added LectureNotes as an image receiver (so that the app shows up when you share an image) and fixed a bug that could cause the app to crash when using a template for a new notebook.
To allow folders affects all parts of the app (notebooks board, notebook content view, notebook overview, notebook index, notebooks board index, ...). I carefully double- and triple-checked all features and things should work as before. Please drop an email to me in case you noticed something unexpected and I will do my very best to fix it quickly.
Best regards,
Markus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a wonderful feature Markus that I didn't realize I needed until just recently. Love it I like the idea of changing the icon on the folders so they stand out more. I also love the new storage location setting, it eases my mind to know it is on my external_sd.
Also, I dunno if I am just being dense, but I cannot seem to figure out the navigation menu when enabled in settings. Within settings, under Settings > Menu > Enable app's launcher icon menu and it says it provides a navigation menu at the app's launcher icon. I've always assumed this was an extra navigation menu in the top left corner, but cannot seem to ever be able to use it.
Any thoughts?
I am glad to hear that you like the new feature.
In case you switch on the menu at the app's launcher icon, you should see a menu when clicking on the icon in the left upper corner (in difference to the case when this option is off, then you get a message that there is no functionality assigned, with the exception of notebook content view where the changed pages are flushed to the file system). What happens in your case? Does the icon highlight when you click on it?
acadoid said:
I am glad to hear that you like the new feature.
In case you switch on the menu at the app's launcher icon, you should see a menu when clicking on the icon in the left upper corner (in difference to the case when this option is off, then you get a message that there is no functionality assigned, with the exception of notebook content view where the changed pages are flushed to the file system). What happens in your case? Does the icon highlight when you click on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't seem to do anything when I click on it, with either my finger or with the pen. And it doesn't seem to matter if I have it enabled or not. Neither scenario causes the icon to do anything. It doesn't highlight or say/do anything. It also does not matter what screen I am at, the icon never does anything. Whether I am within a notebook, folder or at the notebooks board screen. Odd.
Would this have anything to do with that I am running ICS?

Android tips and tricks (new)

Avoid task killers
It is best to avoid task killers such as Advanced Task Killer. Android is designed to automatically pre-load certain applications, even if you don't load them yourself. If it starts to run low on memory, it will smartly unload the oldest running apps automatically.
Manually killing tasks will only mean they get loaded in memory again. Task killers can make the phone slow, laggy, or drain battery life more quickly.
Bookmark a contact on your homescreen
To bookmark a contact on your homescreen, long press on the home screen background and select Shortcuts. Then select Direct dial.
If you call someone regularly this can be useful as you will have a shortcut to them handily placed on your homescreen
Bookmark a web page on your homescreen
To bookmark a website on your homescreen, go into your browser and find the bookmark of the page you want to create a shortcut for.
Then long press on the bookmark and select Add Shortcut to Home.
If you regularly visit certain websites, this can be handy as you will have a shortcut to the site on your homescreen.
Create folders to tidy your Apps
If you find yourself with too many Apps on the homescreen, then you can create folders to organise them.
To start, simply press and hold on an App and drag it over the top of another App. The App should change colour/shape. Then release your finger and the two Apps will be combined into a folder.
You can then drag more Apps into this folder using the same process.
To give your folder a label, simply long press on the folder and you will be able to enter a name.
Double tap for a full stop (period)
While typing emails or notes, you can simply tap the space key twice and the phone will insert a full stop / period
Install new keyboard to improve accuracy
The standard Android keyboard is good, but not great. There are many third party keyboards available which will improve your typing speed and accuracy.
Go to the Android Market and search for 'Keyboard' to see some great alternatives, many of which are more accurate and make typing much easier.
A good one is GoKeyboard.
If you see a warning saying the keyboard will collect all information (including credit cards) just ignore this. This is just a security feature that Android shows for every third-party keyboard that you install.
Accents and special characters
If you want to type non-English letters (eg those with an accent), long-press on the relevant letter. A list of options will appear for you to select.
Access the scientific calculator
To access the scientific calculator, rotate the phone to landscape mode.
The calculator will change to a scientific one
Add email or phone number from text
To add an email or phone number to your contacts from a text message, you can long-press on the email / phone number. Then select Add to contacts
Add widget to the homescreen
To add a widget, go to the homescreen and press the Apps icon (the circle with 6 dots). Then you will see a list of your Apps with the word Apps and Widgets at the top. Press Widgets, then you will be presented with a list of available widgets.
To add a widget, press and hold on it and then position it where you want
Android Easter egg
There is an Easter egg hidden in the Android operating system. To see it, go to your Homescreen, then press Menu - Settings - About phone.
Then tap on the Android version option 5 times and you will get a surprise.
Sometimes it doesn't work, so try a couple of times. By the way don't expect to see an actual Easter Egg. That is just the name given to things hidden inside software or operating systems.
Auto focus the camera
When taking photos or videos, tap the screen where you want to focus on. The phone will automatically adjust the settings to improve the image or video
Bring up more predicted words
If you have word prediction enabled while you are typing, you can long press the middle word that is suggested. This will bring up a menu allowing you to select various other suggested words.
Browse websites in full-screen mode
If you want to browse in full screen mode, without the URL bar at the top of the browser, then you can enable this..
Open the standard browser and press Menu - Settings - Labs. Then put a check mark under Full Screen .
To get access to the browser options (that are now invisible), there is now a neat hidden menu. Slide your finger in from the left or right of the screen. A circular menu will appear with various options.
Capture a still shot while recording video
To capture a still shot while recording a video, simply tap the screen while you are recording.
This will save a still image.
Change keyboards
To change keyboards (if you have additional keyboards installed), you can switch between them by pressing the small keyboard symbol in the top left of your screen. You will need to be in keyboard input mode (i.e. typing something) for this to work.
Note: you need to have more than one keyboard installed for this to work
Change quick response texts
The phone has the ability to send quick response text messages if your phone is ringing but you can't answer it.
To change these, go to your Dialer App - Settings - Quick responses. You can only have 4 of them and you may need to edit existing ones.
Change the backlight screen timeout
To change the backlight screen timeout, go to Settings - Display - Screen. Then choose the screen time out duration.
You can also tell the phone screen to always stay lit when it is plugged in via USB. Go to Settings - Developer Options. Then check Stay Awake.
Change the screen brightness
To change the screen brightness, start from the Homescreen and press Menu - Settings - Display - Brightness.
Then choose the desired brightness setting. You can also select Automatic brightness to let the phone decide for you.
If you have auto-brightness enabled, you can also press, hold and slide the top notification bar left and right. The brightness will increase and decrease accordingly.
Check phone status and battery usage
To find out information about Signal Strength, Network Information, Remaining Battery Time and Battery Usage (by Application), go to your Homescreen - Menu - Settings - About Phone.
Check the firmware version
To check your firmware version, start from the Homescreen and press Menu - Settings - About Phone- software version
This should list your Android version, Build number and Model Number.
Copy files between your phone and PC using WiFi
To copy files between your phone and PC, go to the Android Play Market and download an app called AirDroid.
This is an extremely useful App that connects your phone to your PC wirelessly, allowing you to move files and many, many other things.
Copying iTunes songs to Android
If you have decided to ditch your iPhone in favour of Android, then there is a simple way to take your iTunes music, playlists and album art with you.
Simply go the Android Marketplace and download a Free App called Easy Phone Tunes. You will also need the computer version of the software, so go to http://easyphonetunes.com and download it from there.
Then, when that is done, turn your phone into a USB storage device (this will vary from device to device, but instructions are on the website).
Once your phone is connected to your computer, open the computer version of the software and select your device from the Easy Phone Tunes list. Then follow the instructions to Sync your media
Create folders in your Quick Launch bar
If you have used up all of your Quick Launch spaces, then there is a trick.
Once it is full, press and drag an App from the homescreen and move it over the top of an App in the Quick Launch area. Then release your finger. This will create a folder containing the original App plus the new one. This is a great way to have access to regularly used App
Create shortcut to websites on your home screen
To create a shortcut to a website on your homescreen, go to your browser bookmarks.
Then long press on a site and select Add shortcut to Home
Customise your favourites tray
At the bottom of each homescreen is your favourites tray, which consists of 5 icons. You can customise it by adding icons to the tray. If it's full however, you will first need to remove some.
To remove an icon, simply press and hold an icon. Then drag it to your desktop.
Then to add a new one, simply drag an icon from your homescreen to the favourites tray.
Enable / disable vibrate / haptic feedback when you type
To disable / enable vibrate (also called haptic feedback) when you type or press the screen, go to Settings - Language & input - Settings.
Then uncheck Vibrate on keypress.
Enable sideload of Apps
If you want to install Apps outside of the Android Market (called sideloading), then go to Settings - Security - Unknown sources.
Note: use at your own risk.
Help, I have forgotten my unlock pattern
If you have forgotten your custom unlock pattern, then don't panic.
After 5 unsuccessful tries a button should appear saying 'Forgot pattern'. Press this and you will be asked to enter your Gmail username/password.
The phone will then ask for a new unlock pattern. If you don't have a Gmail account, then you might have to either call your carrier or factory reset your phone.
Hide folders or files
If you want to hide folders or files from being index or displayed, simple put a . (full stop / period) before the file or folder name.
Make volume / music louder
WARNING: Making your volume or music louder can damage your hearing.
Most phones have their volumes limited by local laws to protect our hearing. There is a way to boost your volume however. Go to the Android Market and download an App called Volume+ (Sound Boost). There is also a free version called Volume+ Free.
You will need to root your phone for this App to work.
Make your phone run faster
Here are the top 5 tips to make your phone run faster:
1) Use only essential widgets on your homescreen - each widget consumes memory and processing power which can slow your down your phone.
2) Uninstall apps that you don't use - after awhile your phone can get cluttered as some Apps are designed to always run in the background. If you rarely use an App, then uninstall it to free up memory and CPU resource.
3) Install Apps to your phone memory - if you have an SDCard, always install Apps to the phone memory, which can be accessed faster. If you have Apps on the SDCard, then move them back to the phone memory with an App called Move2SD available from the Play Market.
4) Use Static rather than Live wallpapers - Live wallpapers consume processing power and memory. Unless you really must have them, uninstall them.
5) Kill tasks occasionally - Some Apps will run in the background indefinitely unless you kill them. Most of them won't cause a problem, but it pays to check your running tasks from time to time. Hold down your Home key and check the Task Manager.
One last thing: Don't use Task Killers. Android manages tasks very well and Task Killers just make your phone unstable and can slow it down further
note this guide is mainy to help the people who didnt recieved a manual instructions booklet along with their phone like my country(INDIA)
SUPPORT THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER'S IF YOU LIKE THE GAME / APP BUY IT
Wow thanks! Im gonna uninstall my task killer now.
Good job! Some of this are well known but many aren't so it should be sticky subject for all who are coming into Android from wherever hey are coming.
The taskkiller part should be put in red
Another one: manage your contacts in gmail. It is bscked up accesible from anywhere and so convenient. Much easier to edit from the computer after all.
Sent from my GT-I9100T using XDA
Awesome thread op. Thank you very much!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
The calculator one only applies to the HTC calculator. In the AOSP on you swipe to the right to access advanced functions.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using xda premium
nejc121 said:
The calculator one only applies to the HTC calculator. In the AOSP on you swipe to the right to access advanced functions.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes i have htc one v soo made a compilation of what has been known to me and what is facts
if anyone with new tips pls post here soo tht i can add to the op to help others
and also a request pls statehow to take screen shots on your device's because it's different on each device
dont just say thanks hit thanks if i helped
a true lfc supporter
and a former symbian lover
sent from my awesome HTC One V running rc 2.0 by CKPV5 -using xda premium
SUPPORT THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER'S IF YOU LIKE THE GAME / APP BUY IT
Thanks paarthdesai. Did not know about the 'double spacebar to get a period'.
Another software to connect to computer is 'Software Data Cable'.
---------- Post added at 12:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 PM ----------
Is there a way to save the dictionary on the sdcard and restore after full wipe/flashing custom rom?
the guide which I look for..sometimes I tend to forget small things and this guide could recall back
paarthdesai said:
yes i have htc one v soo made a compilation of what has been known to me and what is facts
if anyone with new tips pls post here soo tht i can add to the op to help others
and also a request pls statehow to take screen shots on your device's because it's different on each device
dont just say thanks hit thanks if i helped
a true lfc supporter
and a former symbian lover
sent from my awesome HTC One V running rc 2.0 by CKPV5 -using xda premium
SUPPORT THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER'S IF YOU LIKE THE GAME / APP BUY IT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock ICS screenshot is Vol- and power.
I think some HTC phones have home and power
Sent from my Ainol Novo7 Elf using xda premium
k1p2n3g4 said:
Thanks paarthdesai. Did not know about the 'double spacebar to get a period'.
Another software to connect to computer is 'Software Data Cable'.
---------- Post added at 12:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 PM ----------
Is there a way to save the dictionary on the sdcard and restore after full wipe/flashing custom rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
backup the dictionary app via titanium backup app+ data
that should work
dont just say thanks hit thanks if i helped
a true lfc supporter
and a former symbian lover
sent from my awesome HTC One V running rc 2.0 by CKPV5 -using xda premium
SUPPORT THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER'S IF YOU LIKE THE GAME / APP BUY IT
Very nice tips. Add one more, use Greenify App which silently hibernate your apps. It can save much battery and memory. A must have app.
Thanks
Handy tips
Thanks for the handy tips. Didn't know you could double tap for a full stop.
Should also include a homescreen icon for some websites. =]
Thanks! That task killer thing is really interesting!

[REF] *Surface Hints, Tips and Registry Tweaks* - Last updated January 24th.

I started a huge thread on hints and tips for the HTC Leo (see my signature) so I thought now that I have a Surface tablet I would do the same. It is early days yet but I will update the thread as I discover more so if you have tips please share. Some tips I have discovered myself and others I have found on the internet. I am in no way claiming credit for all. I just want to put all advice in one thread. These tips should also apply to other Windows 8 tablets and not just the Surface. In some cases they even apply to Windows 8 for PC. BTW, I typed this whole thread on Surface using Touch Cover
1. How to Select a File or Photo.
Simply use a downwards flick gesture on multiple photos or files to select them. Flicking upwards also works. You can share multiple selections.
2. How to Take Screenshots
Press the capacitive home button and the downwards volume button at the same time. The screen momentarily dims. Screenshots are saved to a Screenshot album in Photos app.
3. How to Allow Video, Music and Photo Apps to See Media Stored on your MicroSD Card
At the moment you can only store and browse media files using file explorer. Those media files do not show up in their appropriate apps. This is what you need to do. Go to search and type “Disk Management”. The entry in Settings will show “Create and format hard disk partitions”. This is Disk Management. Click it. You will see that your microSD card has already been assigned a drive letter. Right-click your “Removable” drive and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths for <drive letter>…” Once the card has already been inserted and assigned a drive letter, you cannot simply click “Change…” here (the option you need will be grayed out). So you have to click “Remove”. Now the only option you have is “Add…”. Click it and you will see “Mount in the following empty NTFS folder:” Create a folder in your Users directory or in C:. For instance, C:\Users\username\microSD. Select that folder. You are now able to treat your microSD like any other folder in Windows 8, including adding to Libraries like Pictures, Video and Music etc. You can now open File Explorer and right-click the Pictures, Video and Music Libraries in the left hand Navigation Pane, select Properties, then Add and select the folder you just mounted in your microSD in. Now when you go into the Photos, Videos or Music apps in Surface you will be able to see your media files you added to your microSD card.
4. Update your Office 2013 Preview to Office 2013 Final
Search for "Windows Update" and then choose “Install optional updates” instead of Windows Update from the search results (under Settings). This will display the Windows Update control panel. Now, either check for updates or tap the link that says updates are available. In the resulting list, you’ll see “Update for Microsoft Office Home & Student 2012 RT Preview.” Select it and install that and whatever other updates are available. After a reboot, you can access your updated Office Home & Student 2013 RT apps, which drop the Preview branding and have some new features, including the Ribbon Display Options feature.
5. How to Enable Rotation Lock
Open the Charms menu and tap on Settings. Tap on the screen icon near bottom right. Above the brightness bar is the rotation lock icon. Tap to toggle on and off.
6. Enable Virtual Reality Mode in Panorama Photos in Travel App
Tap on the compass/GR round icon when viewing a panorama photo to be able to see around the photo by moving and tilting your Surface.
7. Unlock Without Swiping
Instead of Swiping up the lockscreen image to unlock, just tap space bar on your keyboard. You can also wake up your Surface from sleeping by tapping any key on the keyboard.
8. Keep Photos Private and From Appearing in Photo App Library
In Desktop mode, open file explorer and move any photos you want to prevent showing in the Pictures Library in the Photo App to a new folder. Right click that new folder and click on Properties and then Advanced. Uncheck "Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed...". You can even mark the folder and contents hidden if you wish. To see changes you may need to rebuild your index from scratch if you had already opened the Photo app and saw those photos. To rebuild the index, go to Control Panel and click on Indexing Options, then Advanced and then Rebuild. Will take a while to rebuild.
9. Speed Up Web Browsing by Blocking Advertisements
Open Desktop Internet Explorer and go into Internet Options. Click on the Programs tab and then on Manage Add-Ons. Click on Tracking Protection and then Get a Tracking Protection List Online. Add a couple from the list, such as EasyList and Fanboy. Save and exit.
10. Make your Surface Desktop Wallpaper Match your Modern UI Experience
At the moment your Desktop wallpaper does not match your new Start Screen theme and style. Follow the instructions in the link at the end to make the overall experience 'consistent'. You should disable syncing of Desktop Personalisation in PC Settings if you create a similar wallpaper for your Desktop PC as it will have a different screen resolution to your Surface tablet and you don't want your PC wallpaper syncing to your Surface Desktop and vice versa. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1963066
11. List of Keyboard Shortcuts
http://tech2.in.com/features/software/tips-and-tricks-windows-8-shortcuts-cheatsheet/551452
12. Access your Last Photo and Camera Roll Photos Direct from Camera App
In Camera app, after taking a photo or video, swipe the screen to the right to see your most recent capture. You can continue scrolling to see more photos/videos. Also, pinch to zoom out from viewfinder screen to see a smaller view more easy to navigate.
13. Enable Hidden Start Screen Animation
When you first boot into the Start screen after a fresh install, you get a lovely animation of all the tiles and text flying into view. To enable this again to occur each time you enter your Start screen, execute the following registry tweak. Type Regedit in Search and launch it. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Grid and create a new DWORD: Launcher_SessionLoginAnimation_OnShow and set its value to 1. To disable the animation if you don't like it set the value to 0.
14. Boost Speaker Volume
Surface's volume is quite low. Go to Control Panel, then Sound, then click on Speakers, then Properties, then Enhancements and check Loudness Equalisation and Virtual Surround too if you wish. Apply changes.
15. Pinch to Zoom Out to See More Content
If you execute the pinch gesture in the following apps, you will see more content or shortcuts: People, Bing, Store, Photos, Camera, Weather, Travel, News, Sports, Finance and Reader.
16. Recover More Space After Refreshing Your Surface
When you refresh your Surface via PC settings, a folder called Windows.old is created in your C: Drive. This can be a huge folder in size as it contains previous files. You can delete this folder and reclaim some storage space as follows: Search for "Tools" and click on "Administrative Tools" in the Setting results. Next click on Disk Clean-up and after loading click on Clean Up System Files. Make sure Windows.old is checked and click ok.
17. Reposition the Virtual Keyboard in Desktop Mode
Tap on the small icon to the left of the X icon at the top right corner of the keyboard to manually reposition it. To dock the keyboard again tap on the X button. Only works in Desktop mode.
18. Enable Swiping Gestures to Advance Forwards or Backwards in Metro Internet Explorer
You can swipe the screen left or right to advance forwards or backwards by enabling Flip Ahead in Internet Options. Don't swipe from the bezel, but anywhere within the screen.
19. Check Settings for Every App/Page you are Viewing
This may sound obvious but via the Charms menu, click on settings to see if there are additional options for the app you are viewing. Do this also again in the same app if you are on a different page. You will be surprised at what additional new options you may encounter. Spend some time to do this for all your apps.
20. Enable Matrix White on Black Theme
Change the entire look of your UI to a funky Hi Tec white text on black background. Go to PC Settings via Charm and tap on Ease of Access. Turn on High Contrast mode to see the effect. Turn off to return to normal UI.
21. Access to 780 Emoticons Built Into the Keyboard
More of did you know than a tip. The keyboard has 780 emoticons (yes I counted them) split into seven categories. Just tap the smiley face key and then the ➡ key above the &123 key, to scroll through them. The bottom row of emoticons has the different categories to choose from.
22. Make Web Links Always Open Up in IE for Desktop Instead of the IE App
Search apps for inetcpl.cpl and hit enter. This is IE options. Click on the Programs tab and change the "Choose how you open links" option to Always in Internet Explorer on the Desktop.
23. How to Find All Apps in Store - Even Unlisted Ones
In the Store, enter the character * and search. You will see every single app for your country and if you sort by newest, you see a lot more new apps compared to the normal way of browsing in the store. As of writing this, there are 6525 apps listed for the UK. Also you can show even more apps by going to the Store's settings, choosing Preferences and turning off "Make it easier to find apps in my preferred language". With it on and searching for * there are 6525 apps. With it turned off there are 7799 apps. A big difference. A most excellent tip!
24. Enable Alternative Virtual Keyboard
Via the Charm menu, go to PC Settings and then Ease of Access. Change "Pressing Windows + Volume Up will turn on" On-Screen Keyboard. Now when you press the Windows key and Volume Up key, up will pop a very small keyboard. Worry not, you can resize it by dragging the bottom border down and the side borders across. You can resize it to the full width and height of the default virtual keyboard. As big as you want. The size is remembered after closing the keyboard by tapping X. Another feature is this keyboard has predictive text with word suggestions popping above the keyboard - something the default keyboard does not do. You can customise the keyboard via the options key near the lower right corner.
25. Enable Full Screen Browsing in Desktop Internet Explorer
On a normal keyboard you can enable full screen web browsing by pressing F11, however the on screen virtual keyboard and the touch keyboard do not have the F keys. Worry not. Launch the alternative keyboard (tip 24 above) and press the Fn key (Function Key) in the lower left corner and all F1-F12 keys appear on the top row. Press F11 for full screen web browsing. To turn off full screen browsing launch the alternative keyboard again and press F11 or use the trackpad on the Touch Cover to move the mouse to the top of the screen to get access to the navigation icons.
26. Tips on Saving Battery
By default, Bluetooth is turned on but if you don't really use it often, turn it off to save battery. Go to Change PC Settings and then Wireless and turn it off there. Also you can turn off live tiles which need to connect to the web such as news tiles. Finally, prevent some apps running in the background by removing them from the lock screen.
27. Change Volume on Screen by Touch
When you press the Volume Keys on the side of your Surface, a small volume graphic appears on screen at the top left corner. As well as continuing to press the Volume Keys to change the volume, you can also place your finger on the graphic and slide the bar up or down.
28. See the Time from Within Any App
Want to know what time it is at any moment? Use your right thumb to slide the Charm bar into view just enough to pop up the time in the lower left corner and immediately swipe your thumb to the right to close the Charm bar and time. You should do this gesture without releasing contact of the screen. A quick in and out thumb swipe is enough.
29. Get to Task Manager Quickly
By pressing the Windows key and Power button at the same time you get to a screen were you can Lock, Switch User, Sign Out or Use the Task Manager.
30. Kickstand Works in Portrait Mode
Should you need to display your Surface in portrait mode, then open the kickstand and stand it up. The kickstand keeps it upright also. Great if you are displaying a slideshow of portrait photos.
31. Disable Logging
Generally logging can cause some sluggishness at times because log files are constantly accessed and written to. You can turn these off if you wish. Search for gpedit.msc and launch it. Navigate to User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and then select Windows Error Reporting in the left column of the Group Policy editor. Double-click Disable Logging in the Settings section of the Group Policy editor. Select Enable and then click OK to save the changes. Do the same for Disable Windows Error Reporting.
32. How to Move a Tile to a New Group Very Quickly
When you install a new app, it automatically gets added to the end of your tiles on the right. If you have several groups full of lots of tiles it can be quite a chore to drag to a group near the beginning. A quicker way to do this is to drag the tile to the bottom of the screen. Automatically all the grouped tiles zoom out and now you can move it to any group you like whereupon the tiles get zoomed in again.
33. Security Wallpaper Idea
What happens if you were to lose your Surface? How would anyone know who to return it to if they can't get past your password/pin code screen to browse your Me tile in Contacts? In Photoshop, add a text line to a wallpaper you want to use on your Surface's lock screen. Position the text near the bottom right corner and have it say something like: "If you find this tablet, please contact (phone number) to return it to it's owner and claim a reward for doing so." Then upload it to your tablet and apply it to your lock screen.
34. Multi Select Emails
You can multi select emails by swiping sideways the email header in the list. Swipe either left or right. You can move, mark as read or mark as unread.
35. Enable Flash for Specific Websites
Microsoft only allows certain websites to play flash content. These sites are listed in a 'whitelist'. You can edit the whitelist to include other sites of your choice. Click on the link and follow the instructions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1961793
36. Reclaim Storage Space
You can reclaim additional space by deleting unwanted files. Go to the Control panel, delete temporary files and history. Also go to General section in PC Settings and then to Available Storage. You can view app sizes to delete unwanted pre installed apps like finance or sports.
37. Touchpad Supports Gestures
Two finger scrolling is possible on the keyboard's touchpad. You can bring up the menu from the bottom and scroll horizontally through your tiles and photos. Also double tapping is enabled too!
38. Use Home and End Keys to Navigate Quicker
To quickly go to one end of long list of tiles to other, use PgUp and PgDn keys to scroll by pages of tiles as opposed to columns of tiles.
39. Switch Between Running Apps Using Keyboard Shortcuts
On your keyboard, press the Windows and Tab keys to switch between apps. You can also use the Alt and Tab keys too!
40. Sync Multiple Google Calendars
Having more than one Google Calendar is now possible on the Surface. Follow the instructions here: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/sync-multiple-google-calendars-windows/
41. Map Network Skydrive Folder in Surface
Here is a way to get access to your Skydrive files without having to navigate back and forth through the Skydrive app. You can now access the folder via file explorer in Desktop mode. Follow the instructions in the link: http://rashedtalukder.com/how-to-map-skydrive-folder-on-windows-rt-desktop-mode/
42. Increase Internet Explorer Performance
Follow the tweaks here to speed up your web browsing: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1998414
43. Sharing a Volume Out from the Surface
Windows RT supports file sharing (server-side), but it's hidden and disabled by default. Search for 'Services' from your Start screen. Find 'Server' in the list. Right click or tap and hold and choose properties. Change the Startup type to Automatic and you can create and share a folder like normal. Note: this might impact battery life.
44. How to Backup Recovery Partition to USB Flash Drive
Follow the instructions in the link to backup your Recovery Partition which may be useful if you want to delete that partition from the Surface. Don't delete it though until you have researched properly: http://www.shinysurface.com/2012/11/13/how-to-backup-the-surfaces-recovery-partition-to-a-usb-flash-drive/
45. How to Boot from USB Flash Drive
If you need to boot from a USB flash drive simply shut down your Surface, plug in your USB flash drive and hold down the volume button as you press the power button.
46. View Change Log of App Updates
The only way to view the change log of an app update before installing it is to deselect all the apps that want to update and select any one app. A 'View Details' button appears at the bottom which you can tap to see the details. Repeat for the other apps to be updated.
47. Share Selected Text from a Website
When you are on a website and want to share the page, you don't have to share the whole page in a link. You can highlight to select words on a website and when you share it by swiping the charm bar into view, only the selected words will be shared.
48. See Estimated Data Usage of your Wi-Fi Connection
You can see how many megabytes/gigs of data has been transferred via Wi-Fi on your Surface. Tap on Settings in the Charm bar, and then tap on your active Wi-Fi SSID name. IN the Networks list, tap and HOLD on your active Wi-Fi name and from the pop up menu choose 'Show estimated data usage'. It will show for example: Estimated usage 5.71gb since 1 day ago. Just tap on your W-iFi name next time to see the latest data usage.
49. Make your Desktop Explorer User Interface More Touch Friendly
Search for 'Display' via the Charms bar. In Settings results, tap on the blue monitor icon result. Everything is at 100% default size for text. Tap on Medium at 125% and hit apply to make everything in Explorer mode that much easier to read and touch. Make sure to set zoom level in both Internet Explorers back to 100% though.
50. Make your Keyboard Touchpad Scroll in the correct Direction
At the moment, when you scroll via the touchpad, the screen moves in the opposite direction to where your fingers move. Now you can reverse the direction thanks to a registry tweak here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2007987
51. Disable Animation on Opening Apps
If you find the flipping animation annoying when launching an app you can disable it as follows. In Charms menu search for "Performance" and tap on "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" in Settings results. In the Visual Effects tab, uncheck 'Animate windows when minimising and maximising'. This gives an instantaneous launch. To disable the animated live tiles, uncheck also the 'Animate controls and elements inside windows' box. To revert back to the animations, just check the boxes again.
52. Install Apps Direct to SD Card
By default only media files can be installed to the SD cards and apps are installed to internal memory. If you have a 32gig tablet, you will realise internal memory is precious and limited. Free up internal memory by changing the location of where apps are installed. Run Regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx and change the location path of the PackageRoot key from C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsApps to say D:\WindowsApps (where D: is the drive letter of your SD card and WindowsApps is the name of a folder you created in your SD card). You may need to change permissions on the Appx registry folder so that you can edit the key. You can also change the app repository to another directory by changing the PackageRepository key in a similar manner.
53. Install Apps from Other Countries
Do you want Flixster installed but you're annoyed that it only shows on the US store? Wish you could download it? Now you can and any other FREE app (can't buy apps from other countries, only free apps). Search for 'Region' via Charm menu and tap on the results in Settings category. Tap on the Location tab and change your Home Location to any country you want. Now you can navigate the store app for that particular country and download any free apps you like the look of. Change back to your original country when you had enough. Incidentally, Flixster works perfectly well with UK location and cinemas so not sure why its not in the UK Store.
54. Speed Up Scrolling by Reducing Friction
Launch the Registry Editor and navigate to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Wisp\Touch and change the Friction value from 32 to 0. Reboot to see change. If you feel the screen sensitivity is too fast now, change the value to say 16 or any number up to 64. 64 means high friction. 0 means low friction.
55. Stream Media Files From Your Surface to Non Windows Certified DLNA TVs
If you have a TV set which has DLNA media streaming feature, but it is not a Windows?Microsoft Certified TV (check in Devices in PC Settings), you will not be able to stream/share media files from within certain apps. However, you can stream them through Windows Explorer using the 'Play To' feature. Find your media files you want to stream in your Pictures, Music and Videos folders. Tap on the file to select it but not launch it. Tap on the Play tab in the Ribbon UI at the top of the screen. Finally tap on the Play To button and select your TV which should now be active. Make sure to turn on network discovery in the Network and Sharing Center in Control Panel, if this is not working for you.
*January 24th Update: Added entries 54 - 55.
*January 22nd Update: Added entry 53.
*January 3rd Update: Added entries 51-.52. Updated entry 26.
*December 6th Update: Added entries 47-.50
*November 22nd Update: Added entries 34-46.
*November 10th Update: Updated entry 23 and added entries 30-33.
*November 9th Update: Added entries 24-29.
Reserved.
Second Reserve.
Final Reserve.
Good summary. First one to figure out how to get a fourth row of live tiles gets a cookie.
Also, how do we replace pinned IE tiles with something a little nicer?
I've been spending all my free time trying to figure out the fourth row, and reversing scroll direction on the touchpad.
I feel ya.
As for the IE tiles, I suppose you could just create new .png files and replace the current for whichever you want:
c:\users\profile\appdata\local\microsoft\internet explorer\pin-xxxxxxxx\
I haven't tried it but, looking in there it seems like it might work.
tboy2000 said:
7. Unlock Without Swiping
Instead of Swiping up the lockscreen image to unlock, just tap space bar on your keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also press the space bar to wake the device. You don't have to press the capacitive windows button, or the lock/wake button.
MrGreencastle said:
You can also press the space bar to wake the device. You don't have to press the capacitive windows button, or the lock/wake button.
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It's actually any key, or the touch pad.
tboy2000 said:
12. Optimise your Surface
Once in a while execute the following: Search for "Defrag" in Settings and click on Defragment and Optimise your Drives. Click on C: drive and then click Optimise.
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WTF?! Have you heard about NAND?
Useless guy said:
WTF?! Have you heard about NAND?
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I second this, you could actually do harm as well you do not need to optimize/defrag Anne or any type of solid state.
Useless guy said:
WTF?! Have you heard about NAND?
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From what I read the Optimise feature was different to defragging. However, I will substitute that entry to be safe. Thanks!
Replaced Tip 12 with: Access your Last Photo and Camera Roll Photos Direct from Camera App.
I believe I read on Anandtech that the Optimize function actually does a manual TRIM, if it's detected as an SSD.
jhoff80 said:
I believe I read on Anandtech that the Optimize function actually does a manual TRIM, if it's detected as an SSD.
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It does. I did it and it said it was trimming
guitar1969 said:
It does. I did it and it said it was trimming
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So is trimming ok? Shall I add the entry back in?
it should be okay, but windows also manages it on its own, so there shouldn't be too much need for manual use
Three more added. 21-23.
adiliyo said:
it should be okay, but windows also manages it on its own, so there shouldn't be too much need for manual use
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On my windows 7 desktop my pc trims my ssd when the pc is in a standby mode. Wonder if surface does something similar
tboy2000 said:
23. How to Find All Apps in Store - Even Unlisted Ones
In the Store, enter the character * and search. You will see every single app for your country and if you sort by newest, you see a lot more new apps compared to the normal way of browsing in the store. As of writing this, there are 4984 apps listed for the UK. A most excellent tip!
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This is nice, but holy crapware....I found it quite pointless to browse through this list.
another tip if op wants to add is how to force sufrace into recovery.
plug in a usb keyboard, hold SHIFT, click power-. restart. Ta-da blue recovery screen.

Features of Nougat

Android 7.0 Nougat is rolling out now, starting (as usual) with Nexus devices and eventually moving on to other phones. The new OS is loaded with new features and refinements, each one improving upon the overall Android experience. Some changes, such as bundled notifications, are quite obvious. Then there are the less visible changes, such as a new multitasking shortcut. Follow along as we take a look at what’s new in Google’s latest mobile OS.
Daydreams become screen savers
With Google repurposing Daydream as the namesake for its VR platform, a new name was needed for the previous Daydream feature. That new name is Screen Saver, which makes so much more sense than Daydream did in its previous incarnation. Android screen savers still work in the same fashion as they always have.
Quicker multi-tasking
You can now double-tap the recent apps button to quickly switch between your two most recently used apps. For example, say you’re in Gmail but need to look something up in Chrome to include in an email. You can open Chrome, find and copy a link, then double-tap the recent apps button and your device will switch back to Gmail.
Use two apps at same time
Samsung users have long had access to using apps in a split-screen mode. With Nougat, Google is officially adding support for multi-window support to all Android devices running Android 7.0. To activate multi-window mode, long-press on the recent apps button. Whichever app you’re currently using will go to the top of the screen (on a phone, or to the left on a tablet), with a list of recent apps shown along the bottom. Select the second app you want to use from the list. Drag the divider to resize the app windows, or to maximize either of the active apps.
View two Chrome tabs
It took Apple an entire year to introduce split-screen tab viewing in Safari for iPad users, but Google did it at the same time it introduced multi-window to Android. When using Chrome in multi-window mode, tap on the Menu button and select they super handy option of “Move to other window.” It’s fully acceptable to point and laugh at iOS users if you feel the need.
Drag and drop text, images when in multi-window mode
When using two apps at the same time, you can drag-and-drop text between the two windows. Highlight the text, then long-press on it until the text begins to float. Drag it to a text field in another window, and let go. The same goes for sharing images between two apps, assuming they’ve been updated for the latest of Google’s wares. Magical, right?
Finally, the lock screen gets a wallpaper of its own
It only took way too many years, but the day has finally come: You can now set a wallpaper specific to your home screen, and a different one for your lock screen. The process to accomplish the once unthinkable feat hasn’t changed much—after selecting an image to set as a wallpaper, you’re shown a new prompt to select where the image will live.
Clear all recent apps
Google added a Clear All button to the recent apps list, only it’s a bit hidden. Instead of placing it at the bottom of your screen when viewing your recent apps, you need to scroll to the top of the list where you’ll find the handy Clear All text. Tap on it, and all apps are closed out. When you’ve closed all your recent apps, a new icon is displayed letting you know there are no recent items.
Where did that APK come from?
Android Nougat will now keep track of where an app was installed from. Open Settings then Apps and tap on any listed application. Scroll to the bottom of the page, where you’ll see the source of the app’s installation. For example, if it was installed from the Play Store it will say as much. If it’s something you side loaded, it will state something along the lines of “Installed from Package Installer.”
New installer animation
Speaking of installing applications outside of the Play Store, you’ll find a fancy new installer animation when sideloading an APK. It’s a subtle change that won’t have a dramatic impact on your day-to-day use, but it’s not a bad looking change either. Who doesn’t like seeing the Android bot whenever possible?
Bundled notifications
Have you ever posted something on Facebook, only to have your notification tray blown up with alerts of likes and comments? Me neither, but for those who have you’re going to love bundled notifications. Once an app updates for Android Nougat, it can opt to have all of its notifications bundled into one alert. Slide down on the respective notification to reveal the rest of your alerts for that particular app.
Reply with speed
You can now reply to messages from apps like Facebook Messenger, Hangouts, or Messenger directly from the notification. Of course, this means you can hold a conversation without having to bounce between a messaging app and another app. It’s important to note, this isn’t limited to messaging apps. Twitter apps, for example, could add the ability to reply to mentions
Notification importance setting
You can now set the importance level of an app’s notifications to fit your specific use of that app, including allowing an app to ignore your DND settings. With a long-press on a notification, you can view the current importance level. Tap on More Settings where you can turn off the default automatic setting, and adjust its interruption level. As you move the slider, a brief explanation will detail each alert type.
Data saver
Tired of paying for data overages? When using an Android Nougat device, you can enable Data Saver to restrict specific apps from using data in the background. Under the Data Usage menu, open Data Saver and turn it on. You can then go through a list of apps installed on your device, and enable background data for each one you want. Otherwise, apps will only gain access to a cellular data connection when you’re actively using it.
Quicker quick settings
When swiping from the top of the screen with one finger, you will see a row of quick setting shortcuts just above any pending notifications. Tap on an icon to enable or disable features such as Wi-Fi, open Battery settings, or turn on the Flashlight. It displays the first 5 items in your quick settings, so if you reorder those, you'll change what appears here.
Tiles are so in right now
You can now add multiple Quick Setting options to your device by viewing your Quick Settings panel and tapping Edit. You can still tap on tiles to edit a setting or interact with it. Alternatively, you can still long-press on a tile to disable or enable a feature if applicable. Third-party developers now create apps that live only within a Quick Settings tile.
Easier Settings app navigation
When navigating through the Settings app, now you can quickly hop between various sections using the hamburger menu on the left side of your screen (or by dragging in from the left edge). Settings are broken down into the same categories as the main list, but using the slide-out menu eliminates the need to tap the back button, scroll, then select another setting category.
Suggested settings
When you open the Settings app your device will offer some recommendations for various settings and features you should set up. For example, upon initial setup Settings recommended I set up Screen lock, add en email account, set up “OK Google” commands, and change the wallpaper. Tapping on a suggestion will open the proper settings pane or app. Alternatively, you can tap on the overflow menu to hide an item from the list.
New Emojis
Android Nougat includes the latest and greatest Emoji approved by the powers that be, including bacon! Beyond the latest and greatest emoji baked right in to Android, you’ll also notice Google has reworked most of the emoji included on its mobile devices. Smiley faces now have a more human look and feel to them.
Cancel button for app downloads
Ever start to update or download apps from the Play Store, only to remember you’re on a cellular connection or your battery is about to die? You can now cancel downloads directly from the download notification, instead of having to tap through each item in the Play Store. Slide down the notification, tap cancel and your data bucket is safe.
Keyboard shortcut helper
Using a physical keyboard with a tablet like the Pixel C adds a level of convenience and mobile computing appeal to the tablet. However, learning and remembering each apps’ keyboard shortcuts can be a chore. With Nougat, you can press Search + / to view a list of shortcuts for the app you’re currently using.
Thanks for reading #Nougat
Thread closed.
The Flash
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Notification shade sync button missing, help! (and other tips)

S8+ on AT&T. Slightly annoyed I have no "Sync" button on the shade/button options.
My buddy has same phone with Sprint and he has the Sync button. Is it just me? I can't find a place that I could loose that (or get it back)!
Side/positive note: You can increase the grid size on the drop down:
Pull shade down fully
Top right 3 dot menu choose Button Grid
Three options: 3x3, 4x3, 5x3
Second good news (new to me):
They must have released a 3rd party API or something for devs to add a button to the notification area. When I was in the 'Button Order" area, I noticed my Podcast Addict app had an "Update" button. Fantastic!
Anyone have others they can suggest or of interest?
Thanks
Try following this guide and adding "Sync" to the list instead.
https://www.xda-developers.com/thre...ickbaity-tricks-for-your-new-galaxy-s8-or-s8/
The tile thing is a Nougat feature. If you're a fan of Tasker, there's all kinds of stuff you can do with it, as well as support by multiple other apps.
Finally had time to get this set up, definitely a pro tip and THANKS SO MUCH.
Here's the rub, the toggle for data sync is not 'Sync'. It just didn't work to add the name. I had my buddy do an export of his list and found it to be this:
custom(com.android.settings/com.samsung.android.settings.qstile.SecAccountTiles)
Adding this to my string (warning you have to re-import them all) gave me my Sync button
Bravo!

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