My experience with CM10 so far XD (and maybe a feature wishlist) - Galaxy S II General

First of all, how awesome is this forum !!!
I consider myself a pretty "upright" forum user as in I usually read the pinned, "read this first", Q&A, and search before I make new posts. Whenever I come upon people who don't do that, I kinda frown to my computer screen but beyond that seems like nothing much can be done? The "Here are the similar threads we found:" section is just pure brilliance.
Sorry about the rambling but I will start with a tiny background story first.
So once upon a time, I got warned thru my gmail that my account apparently was "compromised". After I did some preliminary verification to make sure they are not spams, I decided to try the google "2-step verification" process. And I bet most of you knew what comes next: I keep getting bad password popups. After some hours of frustrating struggle, I fixed my gmail on my phone. But Gtalk would not let me do that 1-time psasword verification thing, and thus my play store won't work. (God really who designed them to be linked!? I did not launch Gtalk once in my life.) Before this happened, I was happy with my stock launcher from Samsung and always have the "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" motto. In the end, I decided it is "certified broken" and I thought this might be a good time to look into upgrading to Jelly Bean.
hm.. i think i'm making this post unnecessary long so I will just cut through the chase. I never thought "stock" stuff would come in any quality. But amazingly in my first day experience of CM10, I am already missing a bunch of features that I used to take for granted. I have no desire to go back to the last launcher (as this in theory should be a step up overall, i believe). So if anyone have tips for me to how to get these features back, I would very much like some pointers! Thanks in advance.
Just some clarification in case this matter: I bought my phone unlocked in Hong Kong. So there is no service-provider-associated stuff that came with the stock launcher I got.
EDIT: I used the 11-02 nightly build of CM10 and its corresponding Gapp package.
1) Contact list
+ Improved: To my amaze, my chinese contacts got sorted by their pronunciation in english! The original stock launcher lumped all of them in the end of the list.
- What I missed: Slide left on names will message the contact and slide right will call them.
# What I tried: Of course my first solution is to search on App store to find a replacement. For some reasons, only two (with good rating) showed up. Did the search got dumber? Or it got smarter but just not doing what I want?
Go Contacts: I think i remember trying it and personally not a big fan of the GO packages. I didn't give it a second try.
Contants+ with a penguin icon: There's a function that lets you "Hold" on a contact to call them. This is very much inferior to the slidings : ( I need recommendations for contact list app.
2) App drawer
+ I like how the widgets got attached to the horizontal pages. Much nicer option than Homescreen-> menu and keep scrolling through the 1x4 area LOL. I love widgets and I have a lot of them. Yes it was painful.
- You can't custom organize the drawer. You can sort by Name or Install Date and that's it. I used to organize them by functionality. I have over 160 apps on my phone. I don't use all of them all the time but I would say I use close to 70% of them at least once in a while. So while my homescreen is really reserved for Widgets, App drawer is where I launch my less-used apps. I really like the "menu -> edit" function in my old launcher. I can create new page, move the apps around and even uninstall the app right there (with a minus sign on the top right corner of the app icon. Yes I didn't use to understand why one would even need uninstaller app from the store). Please don't hate me if you really just rather sort by Name.
# Funny the problem this time is not about how I can't find a suitable app from the play store to do a better job with the drawer. It's that I CAN'T move the original app drawer icon of the launcher from the bottom middle area. I imagine there's probably a way to replace it but it's obviously not a readily available option or I am missing something.
3) Task manager?
+ I think it's just recent launched apps (or apps in the background) now. It's in a way good that it goes beyond the last 6. Not that I find that old limit bothering really.
- Where's my task manager? I'm a bit OCD when it comes to ram usage and processes/services. Oh how i missed the Hold home button -> recent app screen with a task manager button -> Kill all task. LOL It's not much but it shows just enough: total ram usage, running apps, processes, and even storage space. Scratch that, it's actually very much.
# Right now I am resort to Auto Memory Manager with a blue fish icon. It's sufficient. But I can't access it anywhere.
4) Misc. stuff that I missed and would like help to find them. Note: these have nothing to do with the launcher.
- I used to have this "Windy Weather" live wall paper (or what i believed it was called). There were some wind turbines running on a grass field. It reflects the current weather. I scour the store and I couldn't find anything remotely like that besides having to go back to the GO family or you have to pay. I know it's not recommended but I tried titanium back up to restore it from my old system - no luck.
- Ap news widget. The widget was 2x4. It does not refreshes on its own and only do so with a tiny refresh button on the bottom right corner. It cycles through headlines with pictures that fully stretches the whole 2x4 window (beautifully). Can't find it in the store.
- Pinch on the home screen zooms out and gives you a quick view of all 7(now 5, but I can live with that) pages of home screen.
- That's all for now. I think I am still missing a few things I wanted to mention but I forgot what they are at the moment
anyway, sorry about some of the ranting. Here are some features i like:
+ File Manager is awesome.
+ Camera is great as well. And I love the quick browse gallery. It's weird that the actual gallery don't even have to pinch function while they put it here.
+ The pull down menu is clean. I kinda missed the "auto-rotation" quick set. But it's minor. I usually don't allow auto rotation anyway. I also like the setting button in there. But I used it so much I have to put a short cut on the home screen anyway.
+ The animation when you turn off the screen is COOL
+ The lock screen which gives you direct access to the camera is very convenient as well.

There is no sammy like app with swipe unfortunately.(edit :didnt know ex dialer has it sry_
Try apex launcher,nova launcher,adw ex launcher(i prefer this at the moment,pletora of settings)
autorotation ,play with toggle settings in system settings menu.
Don't bother with ram,free ram is wasted ram.
That windmill wallpaper i think go has something similar to it but i dont use it as it is a huge battery hogger .I just use a plain wallpaper.
I suggest u stay playing a bit with the lockscreen/system settings

Hi, i use ex dialer and it have slide right to call and slide left to sms.
Cheers!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

For dialer I recommend Dialer Ex from Play. I also missed the swipe to call & message function from Sammy roms. This app does it(it also has other great features like theme support etc.!)
Sent from my premium potato

1) ExDialer. You will never look back. You can customize it to your taste and it has the features you ask.
2) You need to use another launcher for that, but in my case I got accustomed to search for apps instead of looking for icons. It's easier and can be done from everywhere in your launcher if you click and hold the Menu key. You can also have folders in the Home screen, that's also a nice way to organize. Why I ended doing this? Because other launchers have too many options.
3) You shouldn't care about running apps. You can kill them by pressing Menu key on the Home and selecting manage apps. There, in "Running" you have the apps that are currently working on the background, the memory they use and you can eventually kill them. I'm against that unless you have an issue with an app (like Media Scanner going rogue).
4) GO Weather. You can download it from the web if it's not on the store and side-load it. But I have it available. I can't help you with the news widget as I never found one useful enough to my usage patterns. I don't think the default launcher can show you all Home screens at once.

Thanks for all the help guys. You are quick to reply : )

android manages ram efficiently u dont need to free ram if u still want to have a kill apps button on recent apps its part of aokp and if u want to have it on cm10 try pacman rom

Related

Anyone tried Pontui ?

http://pointui.com/Home.aspx
Its free and looks pretty cool... gonna install it when i get home (no cables here) if anyone has a play before the end of the day i'd appreciate opinions before i do the deed myself!
mark
Well, i gave it a try yesterday on my WM5 wizard.
Its overall look and feel is really quite impressive. All the animations are unbelivably smooth, even without any overclocking. The app is finger-friendly, but i dislike list scrolling method they used - it's not like the one in fTouchflo, or iContact, where you scroll the list as if it was a physical object and moves in sync with the finger sweeping the screen, but instead the list moves in the direction of the sweep: if you put your finger on the screen and move it down a bit, the list will start scrolling down at constant speed. if you move finger farther down, it will accelerate and again keep constant speed if finger is still. if you move finger up, it will slow down, move it u even farther, ant the list will reverse direction and scroll up. It's not very intuitive, not to mention that it's really hard to use to precisely scroll long lists. If they changed this one thing, the overall fell of the program would improve significantly.
Beside that UI is clean and well designed, gives you quick access to start menu, settings (control panel, wifi, BT, GSM module, sound volume), tasks, calendar, appointments and clock, it also has some customizable menus for accessing frequently used software.
The downside is that it replaces your Today screen, so you won't be able to use your favorite Today plugins.
Overall, it's worth a try, especially for a user who just wants a phone with a simple, yet really good-looking interface. More advanced users who like to be able to customize everything might find this a bit limiting.
Overall, the program really has huge potential, and let's not forget that it's just the first public version. It will certainly improve over time. I'd recommend giving it a try, just be aware that there are some uninstallation issues read the tread on pointUI forums for more info, or if you have something like SPB backup or other software that does FULL device backup, use it and if something goes wrong, simply HR the device.
By the way:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=355961&page=5
Given it a try, and was impressed by the smooth flowing interactive menu's. But I find its quicker and easier to use SPB Shell (yes it looks basic in comparison but its straight forward and easily customised) and have therefore unistalled the software. However do not be put off by my comments, give it a go.
tange.
prior to my phone breaking (http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=284 solutions on a postcard please) i used this UI for a few days and throught it was pretty cool. theres deffo a learning curve as some of the apps are located in strange places but overall i was very happy with it.
Impressive, but very bad support for non-English OS.
Give it time. Its a brand new and revolutionary program and those guys are doin it all in their free time so you got to give them time.
I'm running this on my wizard, Tried it and I liked it enough that I won't leave it alone.
Runs fast on my wizard, thumb approved, things are organized a little funny but after a day of using it everything is cool, I haven't looked yet but I would like to custom the 4 icons that lauch programs and some things are linked incorrectly but overall i'm impressed with the program out of box and I hope development keeps up.
i just wanted to ask
does the weather application on PointUI cost... if so.. .does any1 no how much
thanks in advance
weather is free
i think they get their weather info from yahoo/weather channel, free
PontUI
Been using this for 3 days now and I love it. This and pocketCM with a the pontUI skin is amazing. Also the Iphone a like skin works well.
The main screen is great with the middle ribbon allowing really smooth action to access Analogue clock, digital clock, Calender, Tasks, Local weather and appointments.
Main screen top contains from left to right; Lock, signal meter Carrier info, Volume, Battery and Cog (settings).
You can lock the device on lock icon, hit the signal icon and the screen flip animates to show all connections settings (Flight mode, phone status wifi things like that) Hit the Speaker Icaon and you can adjust phone and speaker volumes as well as mute. hit the battery icon (which show bat level) and you can see battery life and go to power settings and backlight settings (well I can't but hey it's a beta) Hit the Cog and too many settings to list but among them is update feature so you can get the latest version straight to your device, you can also exit PontUI Home from here.
You have four icon down the bottom of the main screen which are, left to right; phone icon for call history list, tap it then swipe right on a name to call or sms them. Envelope icon press this to go to your email account (can choose which one through new registry string) next is SMS icon tap it to go to standard SMS app. Then last is the WM Icon, tap to go to windows media player (can choose which one through new registry string).
There is also a bar with an arrow down the bottom which you tap this then gives you four options; New, from which you can create new Email, SMS, MMS, Appointment, task, document or spreadsheet.
Favourites which shows all apps in the start menu folder. Applications which allows to to smoothly scroll through all installed apps and Currently running which does what it says on the tin.
As this App evolves i'm sure these menus will become nicely configurable.
I 'm really loving this App and it's only BETA. I'm running HTC Trinity (orange M700) and it's just sooo smooth. I tried Freestyl, which is good and I've been following, but when I tried this, I was blown away.
It's kind of nice to have an App that seems to integerate well with the phone rather than being a kind of clucky overlay that you can tell isn't meant to be there.
I urge you all to try it and see what you think.
Cheers all.
Logicalstep
loving it
What i think they can improve are:
1 make the hardware buttons to work, now i can't take a picture, record any sound, or change the volume with the h-buttons.
2 a contacts app will be nice and as well a favorite contacts like the htc home
3 a way to close app on the currently running menu
4 a little bigger back button or more to the left cause when i try to pres the back button with the tumb i usually had to try 2 or 3 times couse is really near to the border.
finaly a way to select favorite app that don’t depend of the start menu
don’t get me wrong i think that app is amazing but this 5 thing will make it perfect to me
I am loving Pointui!

Switching between apps? Multitasking?

So with all this talk about Hero's ability to multitask I just wanted to ask how people leverage this ability.
Unless I'm missing something if I want to go from a browser session to my playing music app I have to go via the home screen. Similarly if I want to switch from say Google Maps to Google Mail then I need to go via the home screen and the app's icon.
This is no different to how the iPhone handles things except that the apps on the Hero continue to run in the background.
Am I missing some technique for 'TAB'ing' between running apps? Palm's Pre has got the 'cards' and the floaty shortcut menu thing.
To be honest if there is no ability to switch DIRECTLY to a running app from another running app then the whole multitasking thing is a bit pointless (Widgets not withstanding)
I'm new to Android so I'm hoping that I'm just missing something.
I have a G1 but if you hold down the home key you can switch between running apps and I imagine that works as well on the hero.
Also, you can use an app such as "task switcher" or "bar control" found in the android market to switch between applications without having to go through the home screen with a few more options than the home key thing.
HTH
Holding down the home key only displays 6 recently opened apps not ones that are running. Thats what it does on the Hero anyway. It also brings you back to the home screen and out of whatever app you were in when you held it down.
It seems that the Palm Pre is currently the only handset that truly enables multitasking app switching.
I'm somewhat disappointed in the Hero in this regard.
To be fair, the whole concept of multitasking doesn't really address in what way you would be switching from app to app. The major thing is the ability of the phone to keep two, three or ten apps running at the same time, doing their stuff in the background. This is what the iPhone doesn't have and Android does. This is the "competitive edge".
If you install "Advanced Task Manager", it will put itself in the notification drawer for two-click activation. I think I'd enable it, if there was a setting to make all apps behave this way. A sort of "show all running apps in the notification drawer" feature (or the apps I select).
Notice you can switch to all running apps from Advanced Task Manager, but that makes for a total of four clicks, moving from one app to another. It's a bit cumbersome.
Pressing and holding Home should IMHO bring up the recent apps list to allow switching WITHOUT returning Home first.
Maybe a bug or a bad decision UI wise.
@joemax
That would sort me out. Having it behave like that would be really useful.
Commantalb looked promising in the Market - very nice effect when bringing apps list up too
BUT, it cannot be envoked unless you press and hold HOME and then select Commantalb.
If it were a background process that changed the default HOME button behaviour - to launch itself, it would be very cool.
ShiroEd said:
To be honest if there is no ability to switch DIRECTLY to a running app from another running app then the whole multitasking thing is a bit pointless (Widgets not withstanding)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok -here's a real world example.
I use MyTracks when out walking. Since the Hero can multitask, I can start MyTracks recording, then as I'm walking do anything else with my phone that I want and not be artificially limited to a select few apps. This is something that I do regularly.
From my perspective, the lack of a true task switcher is largely immaterial to me, but the fact that the apps are still running, even when not active, is.
Regards,
Dave
joemax said:
Pressing and holding Home should IMHO bring up the recent apps list to allow switching WITHOUT returning Home first.
Maybe a bug or a bad decision UI wise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can happily report that this is exactly what it does with the new ROM. Yipee!!
It does indeed
Posted as such on another thread.
The new firmware is very good IMHO.
ShiroEd said:
I can happily report that this is exactly what it does with the new ROM. Yipee!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GOD ALLMIGHTY IN THE HEAVEN!!! THERE IS STILL A GOD!!!
I didn't know this untill now... and it god damn works... WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
We love you HTC...
Oh damn... a double post... :-(

Three more sub-Homescreens on my Hero!!! YEP, count-um TEN Homescreens!

Do you want an additional 'THREE' customizable homescreens on your Hero? Well, there's an 'app' for that! HA!
First, I'm not sure if doing this has any bugs or inherent problems, and I am not responsible for any problems you may encounter doing this! BUT, I haven't experienced any so far myself.
Anyway, I stumbled onto this by using the Home Switcher app. When I saw how it launched the original Android Home app, that gave me an IDEA.
Using an application called 'Bar Control', I setup a Taskbar ICON to launch the native Android 'Home' application which, if you ask me, 'extends' the Hero with an additional three homescreens. I simply pull down the Taskbar and tap Home to launch the original Android Home app which gives me access to three more homescreens. AND, a simple tap of the Home button takes me back to HTC Sense.
So, I now have TEN (10) homescreens!!!!! These additional native Android homescreens are where I put some Android widgets (non HTC Sense widgets of course). And get this, the two Sprint widgets, NFL Mobile Live and Sprint TV, are available too! The Hero uses the same Wallpaper for both HTC Sense and Home, but it unlocks the native Android wallpaper gallery too.
Steps I did:
1. Downloaded Bar Control from the Market.
2. Launched Bar Control and waited for it to scan all the programs.
3. Scrolled down to the app called, 'Home' and selected it.
4. Selected an ICON of choice. (I used the same home ICON)
5. Pulled down my Notification Bar, tapped 'Home, and WALLA!
Simply hit the Home button to return to HTC Sense.
Note: To get rid of this Home ICON in the Notification Bar, simply perform the first three steps above again which will remove it.
OK, now can anyone tell me of a simple shortcut app that can be set to launch the native Android Home app without having to go through the Taskbar via the Bar Control app in my example above?
So, I believe this is the GREATEST HERO HACK so far!
When two unused screens just aren't enough lol, nice find.
Not really an hack if you ask me... why don't you install a few extra homescreen replacement apps (like openhome) so you'll even have more homescreens
this is not a hack at all. installing apps and using them as intended is as far away from a hack as could be. please change the title, this is so lame...
btw, i would love to have my homescreens scrolling "round", meaning if i swipe screen #7 (the most right one) to the left i want to go to screen #1 (the most left one). anybody know if this is possible?
kendong2 said:
btw, i would love to have my homescreens scrolling "round", meaning if i swipe screen #7 (the most right one) to the left i want to go to screen #1 (the most left one). anybody know if this is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to know this as well, I sort of wonder why htc didn't design it like that.
DaWeav said:
5. Pulled down my Notification Bar, tapped 'Home, and WALLA!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[PEDANTRY-MODE]
It's "Voila" not "Walla"!
[/PEDANTRY-MODE]
Sorry, couldn't resist - to me, it's like fingernails on a black board!
Regards,
Dave
lol, the same happens when you install any theme app such as open home, dxtop, etc...
What happens is, the default for the home button is cleared of it's default (HTC Sense) giving you the option which home screen you want to fire up after holding down the home button.
You could probably just clear the default yourself in App settings, limiting the need for another app all together.
Downloading a home screen app equals hacking your phone?
give him a Break it was his first post.He was over zealous on his find..LOL
well atleast he let us know about his find.sum peeps probably wouldnt had even shared..thx DaWeav
Yup, just to elaborate on what N0J mentioned:
menu/settings/applications/manage applications/HTC Sense
tap "Clear defaults"
Now, every time you push your "Home" button you will be presented with the options "Home" and "HTC Sense." As long as you don't check the default box you will always have a two-touch access to either interface.
Alternatively, for those that prefer vanilla Android to Sense, check the default box and hit "Home." Your phone will no longer load the Sense UI. This can be reversed by going to Home in manage applications (above) and again clearing defaults.
cgraunke said:
Yup, just to elaborate on what N0J mentioned:
menu/settings/applications/manage applications/HTC Sense
tap "Clear defaults"
Now, every time you push your "Home" button you will be presented with the options "Home" and "HTC Sense." As long as you don't check the default box you will always have a two-touch access to either interface.
Alternatively, for those that prefer vanilla Android to Sense, check the default box and hit "Home." Your phone will no longer load the Sense UI. This can be reversed by going to Home in manage applications (above) and again clearing defaults.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said and thanks for the detailing the steps out for me!
Dang. I thought this was actually going to be some useful information that could lead me to getting rid of the 4 unused homescreens
This isn't a hack and not much of a discovery but if it makes you happy...
Would be kind of cool if Sense had 10 screens of its own.
nice find! But yes, 7 home screens is a little much. until we find some better widgets.
kendong2 said:
this is not a hack at all. installing apps and using them as intended is as far away from a hack as could be. please change the title, this is so lame...
btw, i would love to have my homescreens scrolling "round", meaning if i swipe screen #7 (the most right one) to the left i want to go to screen #1 (the most left one). anybody know if this is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GDE Home Screen does this
edit: by the way this is a dumb "hack"
I'm assuming this works for vanilla android as well? One of the most annoying things about my Moment that my Hero does is only having 3 screens.
Does anyone know how to REMOVE any of the homescreens from sense?
My hero is so slow!
I really hope that as part of an update to Sense that they make it so you can have any number of screens so long as it's 2X+1. (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
Personally, I only really use 5, so I would just drop the last 2 screens and have the little indicator get a tiny bit larger.

[Qeustion] Notification Bar Functionality

Question for the Devs,
I have one thing that bugs me about Android: taking a ton of steps to get to places, so I had an idea, but I'm not sure if it's possible. It's a two - parter:
1) Is it possible, to put into the notification area a scrollable list of your currently running applications, or possible your most used apps? Kinda like holding down home, but it's not the same.
2) I had a program on my jailbroken iCrap back in the day: sbsettings. LOVED this program, gave me quick access to just about anything. It's kinda like the power widget, but it was accessible from sliding your finger accross the top of the screen from anywhere. Imagine having the power control widget in your notification area.
Are the two above possible, or are there limitations to what the notification bar can do. Obviously, I'd want it so that if I hit "clear" they'd still remain there. Also, I don't want just a link poining me somewhere else, I want the action to occur right from the notification screen:
I searched and searched but cannot find. Have I missed something?
Sorry if this is in the wrong thread, but I figured it does have to do with development, so there ya go... Thanks in advance!
For #2 use smartbar with quick settings checked in settings for notification. It might also have #1 but I don't really poke too much around in the settings.
I use Quick Settings, which will put a notification in the pull down task bar and you have access to a number of system settings.
jkAppSwitchEX works great as a sort of AltTab type thing and you can pin it to a long press of the search button. It also can be used as a task killer and can have a list of your favorite/most used apps for easy launch (and has a recent apps list). Plus, it can put a notification in the pull down task bar. There's also a free version on the market which just shows running apps.
I also believe Folder Organizer will put apps in the task bar, I have the lite version which doesn't do that (I don't think), but I don't really need it for that, so the lite version is fine for my needs.
I've also tried SmartBar, and it does have that functionality of swiping the screen and having access to programs, etc. But it wasn't what I had been looking for when I tested it, but worth checking out.
*off topic a bit*
Sorry but it's not Qeustion it is Question
Has anyone found a way to add the power control toggles to the notification screen as seen on the Galaxy S?
if your rooted cyanogen mod have the settings in the notification like the galaxy s or you can use a app call quickdesk you can launch quickdesk by long pressing the search button or double tap the home button in any program it has this thing call quick pannel that shows you your recently used apps and the apps thats running its really slick you can also swype up on any running apps to close them. theres also another app call itchingthumb that basically do the same thing but i like the simplicity of quickdesk more you should check them out. Theres also another app call smart task bar that can also do those thing it as the most options all you have to do is swype your finger at the side of your phone to launch it. Feel free to ask me any questions about them and I'll try to answer them. Oh yeah theres another one call power strip.
I found this thread and applied the mod to the HD ROM that I'm using, it works well.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=838013

Need a Dev! app to go home and app to go to last task!

I'm hoping to get some help from a developer to make two apps that I can't find anything like on the market. I have no clue what's involved, but if nothing else, maybe someone can shed some light on how hard these would e to make - or actually make them
- App 1 is just a simple app to replicate the function of the home button. IE, you run the app, you go to your home screen. That's it.
- App 2 is an app to go to your last task. The idea is to be able to simple toggle between two apps. Program might need some sort of ignore list (like ignoring itself!).
Reason - I'm using Gesture Launcher (http://www.appbrain.com/app/gesture-launcher/com.reeyees.gesturelauncher) and am getting used to going to the floating hand instead of the home button. I'd like to be able to do everything from there.
So, ideally, I would like to program a gesture to go home instead of hitting the home button, and program a gesture to go to last app instead of last app.
Thanks in advance!
the first one..
http://db.tt/kcYl8Oy
Jordan5222 said:
the first one..
http://db.tt/kcYl8Oy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that was fast, tyvm. Is this something you just wrote, or xists somewhere where I failed to find it via google/appbrain?
edit - just tried it out, works perfectly!
I've writed it. It's pretty easy.
For the second one sorry but today i don't have so much time and i have to think about it.
So you want an app that just takes you to the last open app or an app that opens the most recently used tab thing?
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.lulz_industries.lassiecomehome
uploaded in the market, just in case someone want download it and does not want to search the url in the forum.
For the second one just hold down the home button. The apps there are listed in order of latest opened.
Jordan5222 said:
I've writed it. It's pretty easy.
For the second one sorry but today i don't have so much time and i have to think about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought about looking into the language (I program in VB6), but figured there were fees & stuff - wasn't worth it just to have my name in the market
generalamerica said:
So you want an app that just takes you to the last open app or an app that opens the most recently used tab thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An app that takes you to the last open app (and ignore itself). For example, in the morning I load up Waze (a map/traffic program) and Astro player for listening to podcasts. Would like to be able to gesture to move back & forth between them.
Another example - I'm .. reading a book. I gesture to check Twitter, then want to use a gesture to go back to last app (book reader).
It would have to ignore itself (or the app itself would get into a loop or something?), and it would have to ignore the gesture program - and possibly others (ignore home?) - so that one would be harder to do.
As a temp. measure, looking for a program that just pops up the same thing that holding down the home-key would do (show 8 recent apps). That would be better then nothing, but not quite what I would ideally like.
Jordan5222 said:
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.lulz_industries.lassiecomehome
uploaded in the market, just in case someone want download it and does not want to search the url in the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A good idea - never know when someone else might want it, and there's nothing else in the market like it I'm aware of.
-----
Edit - looking into:
QuickSwitch - watching video, looks like designed for a slide out keyboard, but can do hard-keyboard-less. Testing shortly.
and
PreviousApp description says it's activated by Camera long press which wouldn't help.
So you basically want an app that emulates the back arrow key?
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Does More.
generalamerica said:
So you basically want an app that emulates the back arrow key?
Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Does More.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish it was that easy.
(example 1) Run Twitter app, launch web link. Click 3 or 4 more links. Want to go back to Twitter? Click back arrow about 5 times. Back arrow has no way to know if you meant back 1 page, or back to previous app. (Similar things happen with many many apps).
(example 2) Run book reader. Run Twitter. Click back arrow to go back to book (works fine). Click back arrow to go back to Twitter (oops, doesn't work).
(in example 2 - would like app to go back & forth between reader & twitter)
Went back & forth with the maker of QuickSwitch (a pretty neat app on it's own) describing what I was looking for. He's looking into it as well
OH - also btw - an all called Clutch Pad does similar things (including a last app), but having a bad time triggering the event regularly. If/when it runs perfectly every time it would handle everything I mentioned! The dev there is also very responsive.
Thanks to all for help - I was hoping this last app thing would be like the home thing that Jordan5222 made - something that a dev would spend 10 minutes making. If it's a big project, it's not that important!
Give a try to this if it's ok. I don't have your launcher so i can't test it.
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Let me know how it work or if I don't have understood well what you want.
Jordan5222 said:
Give a try to this if it's ok. I don't have your launcher so i can't test it.
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Let me know how it work or if I don't have understood well what you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading now.
Installed... loading app list in program.. hmm, not working on Gesture Launcher.
I tried to load up Twitter, then load up NewsRob (rss reader). Then I ran the program from GL. GL shows it found the app & ran it, but nothing happened.
To test it further, I re-ran Twitter & Newsrob. Then using the hold-down-home, I ran your app over & over again. This correctly switched between Twitter & Newsrob.
Do you have Gesture Editor as an ignored-app (ie, if I launch your app from GL, it doesn't go to the last app - which is GL) ?
I'll gladly pay for your license for the GL if you'd like to try it yourself. I'm getting kinda curious if this is do-able at this point, since I think these 2 apps can be used for many different alternate launchers (like GL, Clutch Pad, Swipe Pad [actually, this last app would be fricking amazing in Swipe Pad])
polstein said:
Downloading now.
Installed... loading app list in program.. hmm, not working on Gesture Launcher.
I tried to load up Twitter, then load up NewsRob (rss reader). Then I ran the program from GL. GL shows it found the app & ran it, but nothing happened.
To test it further, I re-ran Twitter & Newsrob. Then using the hold-down-home, I ran your app over & over again. This correctly switched between Twitter & Newsrob.
Do you have Gesture Editor as an ignored-app (ie, if I launch your app from GL, it doesn't go to the last app - which is GL) ?
I'll gladly pay for your license for the GL if you'd like to try it yourself. I'm getting kinda curious if this is do-able at this point, since I think these 2 apps can be used for many different alternate launchers (like GL, Clutch Pad, Swipe Pad [actually, this last app would be fricking amazing in Swipe Pad])
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't understand how many tasks i have to go back without using your launcher. i have only gesture search.
i don't guarantee that will work with the launcher but i can at least try.
i don't know the others launcher, are they similar?
-----------------------
EDIT
Just in case.. give a try to this, maybe it will work in gesture launcher
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Jordan5222 said:
i don't understand how many tasks i have to go back without using your launcher. i have only gesture search.
i don't guarantee that will work with the launcher but i can at least try.
i don't know the others launcher, are they similar?
-----------------------
EDIT
Just in case.. give a try to this, maybe it will work in gesture launcher
http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading new version now.
The other launchers are similar - you can try SwipePad for free from the market. SwipePad gives you some hot points - you click on them and 12 favorite apps/shortcuts appear (so it's drag from corner to shortcut to launch it). I've actually read in the SP thread about people asking to make the bottom 3 apps the most recent ones.
The 1st version of Back 2 Home works *perfectly* with Slide Pad. I'll have to play tomorrow with it, the home program & SwipePad (played a bit in the car on the way home) - but it worked very, very well !
2nd version of Back 2 Task seems to work about the same. Works well with SwipePad, not at all with Gesture Launcher. Works with press & hold of home button. What's the difference between the versions?
I'll actually have to think a bit of which launcher makes more sense. Gesture Launcher allows unlimited programs & shortcuts (limited by memory really), but is slower. Slide Pad allows 12, but is quicker. Both do Shortcuts (like a Folder Organizer folder) & Applications. GL seems to have a problem with Sense's Mail app (it gets stuck there).
With you app (currently) working perfectly in SwipePad, (and the home app too) it's a big ++ for SwipePad. I'll search for the thread of Slide Pad and ask them to test out the Home app & both versions of the Last app & see if we can get some other people in on this.
Either way, you might want to publish the 1st version of Back to the Task on the market as well for people that can't otherwise get to it.
...and once again, thanks for your work!
Edit - I noticed that sometimes I called it "Slide Pad", and sometimes "Swipe Pad" - the free one I'm talking about is SwipePad Beta - sorry, getting mixed up in all the names!
Edit 2 - In the name of the warped: Currently playing with a combination of SwipePad & Gesture Launcher. My 3x4 grid that I'll be experimenting with tomorrow is:
sms/mail/contact group manager
ireader/camera/quick settings
internet/newsrob/tweetcaster premium
gesture launcher/lassie come home/back to the task
I have Swipe shortcuts to my most common apps used. I have Swipe set to use bottom corners, so BTTT is at a very quick position, as is home. I can use Gesture Launcher to access the other programs (including Gestures to get to my 5 Folder Organizer folders).
I did experiment briefly with putting a Favorite Folder Organizer folder in the bottom left, but Back to the Task had similar problems as Gesture Launcher with it (it kept puling up the folder as a task).
Lessee. Direct SwipePad for most common apps. SwipePad into 20 or so memorized apps in Gesture Launcher. SwipePad into GestureLauncher (shapes are 1-5) to get to my Apps/Games/Internet/Multimedia/Tools Folder Organizer stuff - sounds good to me
polstein said:
Downloading new version now.
The other launchers are similar - you can try SwipePad for free from the market. SwipePad gives you some hot points - you click on them and 12 favorite apps/shortcuts appear (so it's drag from corner to shortcut to launch it). I've actually read in the SP thread about people asking to make the bottom 3 apps the most recent ones.
The 1st version of Back 2 Home works *perfectly* with Slide Pad. I'll have to play tomorrow with it, the home program & SwipePad (played a bit in the car on the way home) - but it worked very, very well !
2nd version of Back 2 Task seems to work about the same. Works well with SwipePad, not at all with Gesture Launcher. Works with press & hold of home button. What's the difference between the versions?
I'll actually have to think a bit of which launcher makes more sense. Gesture Launcher allows unlimited programs & shortcuts (limited by memory really), but is slower. Slide Pad allows 12, but is quicker. Both do Shortcuts (like a Folder Organizer folder) & Applications. GL seems to have a problem with Sense's Mail app (it gets stuck there).
With you app (currently) working perfectly in SwipePad, (and the home app too) it's a big ++ for SwipePad. I'll search for the thread of Slide Pad and ask them to test out the Home app & both versions of the Last app & see if we can get some other people in on this.
Either way, you might want to publish the 1st version of Back to the Task on the market as well for people that can't otherwise get to it.
...and once again, thanks for your work!
Edit - I noticed that sometimes I called it "Slide Pad", and sometimes "Swipe Pad" - the free one I'm talking about is SwipePad Beta - sorry, getting mixed up in all the names!
Edit 2 - In the name of the warped: Currently playing with a combination of SwipePad & Gesture Launcher. My 3x4 grid that I'll be experimenting with tomorrow is:
sms/mail/contact group manager
ireader/camera/quick settings
internet/newsrob/tweetcaster premium
gesture launcher/lassie come home/back to the task
I have Swipe shortcuts to my most common apps used. I have Swipe set to use bottom corners, so BTTT is at a very quick position, as is home. I can use Gesture Launcher to access the other programs (including Gestures to get to my 5 Folder Organizer folders).
I did experiment briefly with putting a Favorite Folder Organizer folder in the bottom left, but Back to the Task had similar problems as Gesture Launcher with it (it kept puling up the folder as a task).
Lessee. Direct SwipePad for most common apps. SwipePad into 20 or so memorized apps in Gesture Launcher. SwipePad into GestureLauncher (shapes are 1-5) to get to my Apps/Games/Internet/Multimedia/Tools Folder Organizer stuff - sounds good to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, what works better? 1st version or 2nd version? so i can restore it eventually and re upload.
From tomorrow i have more time so i can try with launchers.. We use the phone in a different way, i've never use these launchers, i have many icons on the home screen.
Jordan5222 said:
ok, what works better? 1st version or 2nd version? so i can restore it eventually and re upload.
From tomorrow i have more time so i can try with launchers.. We use the phone in a different way, i've never use these launchers, i have many icons on the home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to play with version 1 for a day, then uninstall and try 2 to know for sure. Limited (under 5 minute) testing - they seem to be the same.
I was thinking about an exclusion list/ignore list - problem is, I'm not sure where you would build it unless you (in theory) had 2 apps: The one that did last app, and a separate config app.
This morning, I did hit some force closes on the app (it gave me a FC, then oddly worked anyway). I wound up rebooting my phone & haven't hit any yet.
Also, while it's only been a couple of hours, this entire layout thingy I'm doing seems very promising. Like you, I was just using 12 icons on my today screen, backed with Launcher Pro (5 dock icons are all Folder Organizer shortcuts). While it works, it never felt that smooth.
The plus is that you don't have any extra apps in memory, so it's pretty fast. And when you go to your home screen to launch an app, you can see other widgets (weather, maybe a to-do list..etc).
On the flip side, I was getting annoyed at being in a program, hitting home, hitting a folder, then running the app. At this rate, my home button won't last much longer! I don't like most recent apps since they apps aren't always in the same spot. I don't want to have to stare at my screen & look for a specific icon to run a program.
So in short, it just feels like android could do better. My current solution is defiantly over-complicated.. but so far working for me (with your help!).
SwipePad is free - if you are really curious, download a copy and give it at least a day to play with. Try putting your last app on one of the bottom corners & experiment a bit. Heck, for all I know, in a couple days I'll toss this idea out & go back to where you are now myself.
EDIT: Found out that SwipePad works on lock screen (or does on Widget Locker, which I use). So I removed all sliders from Widget Locker and now using SwipePad as my hidden unlocker. SwipePad to Back to the Task does the same thing as a normal unlock - goes to the last app running before Widget Locker
I have installed Swipepad beta. Bttt does not work. Later when i return home i try to fix it. Interesting way to use the phone and navigate trough the various things you're doing.
---------------------------------------
EDIT
Just fixed...
can you try with swipepad? http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Is this the correct behaviour that it's expected to have?
Jordan5222 said:
I have installed Swipepad beta. Bttt does not work. Later when i return home i try to fix it. Interesting way to use the phone and navigate trough the various things you're doing.
---------------------------------------
EDIT
can you try with swipepad? http://db.tt/3EKXugO
Is this the correct behaviour that it's expected to have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using Swipe Pad for a few days, and BTTT is behaving mostly correct. It's a real fast way to jump to the last task. Only problem I hit is when the last app is Gesture Launcher or a Folder Organizer folder (which register as the last "app").
polstein said:
I've been using Swipe Pad for a few days, and BTTT is behaving mostly correct. It's a real fast way to jump to the last task. Only problem I hit is when the last app is Gesture Launcher or a Folder Organizer folder (which register as the last "app").
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the problem is exactly that. Different launchers and apps behave in different ways and we need to go back in different ways
Jordan5222 said:
the problem is exactly that. Different launchers and apps behave in different ways and we need to go back in different ways
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I had a feeling when I first posted that the last app wasn't a simple thing.
Still, I think the way it works is fine for what I need. If you really want to make it into something more professional, the only way I can see doing it would be to implement some sort of "ignore apps on this list."
If your Last App ignored Home/Widget Locker/Gesture Launcher/Folder Organizer/Swipe Pad it would be perfect.
For a quick app made for 1 user (anyone else using it that isn't posting?) - it's fine the way it is (and one again, thanks for the apps!)

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