[Q] Blink - One (M7) General

I'm very interested in getting the One and probably will when it comes out. I read somewhere that the "Blink" newsfeed thing won't be able to be disabled. I guess this question probably wouldn't be answerable until the device is actually out, but what's the likelihood of app development support to root/unlock and get rid of some of the Sense bloat. I know Samsung typically has pretty good support because of the adoption level, but I just am not a fan. Does the inability to turn off Blink bug anyone else?

If it isn't possible to turn blink off, I'll just set up Apex Launcher and then I won't have to deal with it.
At the moment I'm thinking that I probably won't like it but of course I won't know for certain until I've got real use of it being there.

So far I like it, but I think I'll get irritated after a while of having to swipe to the right to get to the icons. Hopefully you can turn it off, would be kinda dumb if you can't. Shouldn't have it deal with it since its so different from what we are used to.

You can sort of disable it. One user posted here that you could set the default homescreen to either the good old android homescreen or the blinkfeed homescreen.

I'm sure once the phone gets rooted, just use Titanium Backup to freeze Blinkfeed. This is if you want to use the default launcher.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

crea78 said:
I'm sure once the phone gets rooted, just use Titanium Backup to freeze Blinkfeed. This is if you want to use the default launcher.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a feeling its intergrated into Rosie.... So it may be difficult to remove
Slithered from my HTC One X+

Related

lagginess

anyone else notice that once you install your apps, get things situated how you like, the app drawer gets all laggy. It is really bad when you scroll down, and it jerks around and skips entire pages of apps.
also, when going from my car dock to normal use, it takes about 1-2 minutes for my phone to be used. the screen just shows wallpaper, but doesn't respond. Kind of annoying. I've experienced this in all 3 battery settings, performance, smart, and battery saver.
Anyone have some tips to help speed this puppy up a little with these issues?
That's weird for sure. I've never had it happen nor have i heard of it happening....
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
BS!
pauliewalnutted said:
That's weird for sure. I've never had it happen nor have i heard of it happening....
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
I never have the screen go blank or unresponsive, do you use a task killer? I've had to stop using one all the way around on this phone. Maybe just every once in a while to kill the web or something i just don't want running. I do notice that the software is buggy a bit on here and i really hope that is fixed with froyo.
sent from Shawn Micheals...The heartbreak Kid
ksizzle9 said:
I never have the screen go blank or unresponsive, do you use a task killer? I've had to stop using one all the way around on this phone. Maybe just every once in a while to kill the web or something i just don't want running. I do notice that the software is buggy a bit on here and i really hope that is fixed with froyo.
sent from Shawn Micheals...The heartbreak Kid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use any task killer. I use Tasker, but i had this problem before I started using it.
So while trying to type this post for the first time my screen locked up and the phone went completely unrezponsive, pissed off by this i called moto, they told me that almost all software bugs will b fixed by the up and coming OTA, he said sometime this week. Now. I know from experience that these guys tell u what u want to hear but i hope this is froyo. Im pissed by the fact that the original droid is getting it before us. If its on the droid 2 then it has to be ready. WhT is the ****ing delay motorola? Seeing as how i dumped my dinc for this phone i hope that this is not a mistake. As for lagginess i use launcher pro and that takes care of almost all of it. I would say give it a try. It even makes my lockscreen lag that EVERYONE seems to have go away. Good luck.
sent from Shawn Micheals...The heartbreak Kid
Use launcher pro, hide unused apps
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
i like launcher pro, but I like the motorola widgets. I've had 3 android phones with launcher pro... kinda wanted something different. The only thing I dislike about blur is the home screen thing at the bottom, and the fact that it's laggy everytime i take it out of my car mount. I doubt a different launcher would remedy this, but I will try it.
Also, how would this save on memory when all the blur crap has to stay in memory? should I disable all the widgets in the motorola launcher, and then use launcher pro, or does it matter if I'm not using those screens. I don't want to get rid of the setup i have in the default launcher.
generic.imitation said:
i like launcher pro, but I like the motorola widgets. I've had 3 android phones with launcher pro... kinda wanted something different. The only thing I dislike about blur is the home screen thing at the bottom, and the fact that it's laggy everytime i take it out of my car mount. I doubt a different launcher would remedy this, but I will try it.
Also, how would this save on memory when all the blur crap has to stay in memory? should I disable all the widgets in the motorola launcher, and then use launcher pro, or does it matter if I'm not using those screens. I don't want to get rid of the setup i have in the default launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
root and use minfreemanager or autokiller, i have both installed and have greatly improved memory management, i also switched to adw, better than launcher pro n you can now use themes
thats just the way the phone is dude, it happens to me all the time
the screen takes 1-2 seconds to load up the widgets sometimes and the shortcuts
when you open the app drawer, sometimes it takes 1-2 seconds for them all to cache
also, i had to reduce to about 3 total widgets because they would just bog down the X so much that smooth scrolling was nearly impossible
unfortunately, the device is just not as snappy int he menu system as the incredible. just have to live with it i guess, maybe i will look into the samsung
i was going to return the device, and I still may, but im waiting for 2.2
I would recommend staying with ur x. As crazy as this sounds the more i use it the less lagginess it gets. The only place i do get lag is the homescreen type stuff, the other operations such as opening apps and playing games this phones is absolutely amazing at. NFS for example, it will not even run thy game and my x does it without a hiccup. So bare with it. It will repay u
sent from Shawn Micheals...The heartbreak Kid

[Q] How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?

How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?
I have an elderly relative who has never used any Android device, or much technology at all to be honest besides old feature phones and television boxes, and we shall soon be purchasing her a Google Nexus 7. We settled on this idea after noticing that the 8GB Nexus 7 model is only £159 GBP, which isn't much more than the Kindle Touch and also offers a slightly larger screen. I am looking to make the experience personal and also easy for her.
Since I am going to use a custom launcher to prevent access to the app menu and simplify the user experience by showing her only the apps she will need to use (preventing access to the settings will prevent her accidentally deleting things), I am looking for a widget which will allow me to add my own custom text set to a custom size to the home screen. With this, I'll separate up the few apps she plans on using. Any recommendations for such an application?
Since this person does not have full function of a second arm, are there any applications which make one-handed operation easier on the tablet's 7 inch display?
Is there a widget which will allow me to add "picture frames" to the home screen? I could put some pictures of the family in these, which will add a nice personal touch.
Are there any keyboards which are good for one-handed use? Please do not say Swype.
Any suggestions to any of my issues I face? Also, any general app recommendations are welcome, but keep in mind who this tablet is for when making suggestions. For example, no messenger apps.
No ideas to any of those applications/features I'm looking to implement?
Twenty minutes before the first bump and between the first and second - get a bit of patience! People aren't lurking on forums waiting to jump on your every post...
1. Yes - Minimalistic Text and others
3. Yes - search Play store for "picture widget"
4. Why not Swype? What makes it unsuitable (that'll make it easier for others to make suggestions.
Swype probably requires two-handing on a device this big.
Honestly, any keyboard that works well with one hand, will also reconfigure so much that you'll essentially have to relearn it.
Messagease and 8pen are good with one hand, but they obviously don't look anything like qwerty. And one-hand typing is really only feasible with phones anyway.
Best bet is just to use voice recognition and hope it really is as up to snuff.
You're probably not going to like my answer, but I tried this (also with a person who had use of only one arm) and it didn't work. I mounted it to a table on a movable arm to make it easy to use.
Beyond the shaking hands and weak eyes, the biggest problem is understanding the UI. To you and I it's not complicated, but we grew up with computers. That's not any sort of judgment; the guy was capable of using a windows XP computer (very very slowly), it's just that switching to a new IU is much more confusing to the older brain than for a younger brain. They just don't have the filters to pick out the important information from the screen quickly, and every step requires conscious thought. This can be very tiring for an older person, and--at least in my experience--older people don't have a lot of tolerance for frustration.
I don't want you to be discouraged by this; I spent weeks on this (and several hundred dollars) and ended up getting him a small laptop on which I installed a simplification program that allowed only basic email and internet. But your relative may be more savvy, have better coordination, or just more interest in making it work. Here's what I'd suggest:
1) "minimalist text" can be customized to put static text on the screen. You'll have to play with it a bit.
2) There's no applications I can think of that make it easier, but I'd suggest giving her some system to mount it where she can both see and reach it. Have her sit as she would when she wanted to use it (chair, table, bed) and figure out how she can use it with her arm resting on something.
3) I think the picture frames widget is included in stock android. I'd strongly suggest against using anything other than a solid-colored background though. Again, it's difficult for an older brain to parse large amounts of information, and older eyes to see past the contrasts. I'm sure there's some way to have a rotating photo widget on some part of the screen in the market though.
4) Swiftkey. It's a bit advanced, but has one major advantage: predictive text. She can enter a few letters and the software will come up with a few words. Often it will get the intended word within a few letters, which can save a lot of inputs. That said, I think the stock android keyboard in JB has this functionality too, so you might hold off and try that.
A few other suggestions:
1) Get a launcher that can be cut down to just one screen. ADW EX does this. And get rid of the elastic screens (allows it to stay static). You said you already have a custom launcher in mind; which one were you thinking of?
2) When AOKP gets their hands on this, they'll allow you to add and change buttons to the notification bar. Get rid of the long-presses, maybe even get rid of everything but the home and back button.
3) Forget the speech recognition stuff. Old voices are not easy to understand for anyone, much less a computer, and convincing an older person to speak slowly and annunciate is not easy. Also, the first time it doesn't work you'll have a very frustrated relative to deal with...
4) Keep it simple. The first time you show her how to use it pick one thing (probably email or video chat) and show her how to do just that. If you take just one suggestion from me it's this. Add something next time, once she gets how to do email or video chat (test her first). Seriously, everyone will end up happier as a result.
OK, good luck! Hope it works better for you than it did for me!
I would say, a very simple background. No live wallpapers. A Big clock widget,
Get her a Bluetooth Keyboard, there is no sense in trying to force an older person to use a touch screen, that requires near perfect fingers. A normal keyboard is something she most likely has seen and used before. So it will feel normal.
A Widget for changing volume. Something with like a large Plus and Minus sign, and a big percent so she can easily see how loud it is.
Brad387 said:
How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?
I have an elderly relative who has never used any Android device, or much technology at all to be honest besides old feature phones and television boxes, and we shall soon be purchasing her a Google Nexus 7. We settled on this idea after noticing that the 8GB Nexus 7 model is only £159 GBP, which isn't much more than the Kindle Touch and also offers a slightly larger screen. I am looking to make the experience personal and also easy for her.
Since I am going to use a custom launcher to prevent access to the app menu and simplify the user experience by showing her only the apps she will need to use (preventing access to the settings will prevent her accidentally deleting things), I am looking for a widget which will allow me to add my own custom text set to a custom size to the home screen. With this, I'll separate up the few apps she plans on using. Any recommendations for such an application?
Since this person does not have full function of a second arm, are there any applications which make one-handed operation easier on the tablet's 7 inch display?
Is there a widget which will allow me to add "picture frames" to the home screen? I could put some pictures of the family in these, which will add a nice personal touch.
Are there any keyboards which are good for one-handed use? Please do not say Swype.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad387 said:
Any suggestions to any of my issues I face? Also, any general app recommendations are welcome, but keep in mind who this tablet is for when making suggestions. For example, no messenger apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad387 said:
No ideas to any of those applications/features I'm looking to implement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol man, RELAX. Bumping your thread like that is terrible forum etiquette.
I'd refer to your own thread that you opened not long before this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1757848
Aps at startup
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
This might dumb the phone by a lot but: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.kunes.android.launcher.activity&hl=en
Here's a photo widget app that people seem to like though : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thinkjava.androidphotowidgetfree
If you can wait for further development.. flashing MIUI seems to attract a lot of newer android users due to the similarities with iOS. If not you can always get the MIUI style launcher.
Thanks. I will likely use Nova Launcher to keep the amount of screens to a minimum.
darkamikaze said:
This might dumb the phone by a lot but: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.kunes.android.launcher.activity&hl=en
Here's a photo widget app that people seem to like though : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thinkjava.androidphotowidgetfree
If you can wait for further development.. flashing MIUI seems to attract a lot of newer android users due to the similarities with iOS. If not you can always get the MIUI style launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
blackhand1001 said:
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fascinating. But this isn't for you; it's for an older person.
OP, the folks pointing out that it's bad forum etiquette to create multiple threads and bump them are right. And considering the time folks put into answering your question, it wouldn't hurt to respond and click the "thanks" button.
thebobp said:
Swype probably requires two-handing on a device this big.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand how you would use Swype with two hands even if you wanted to. Swyping requires one continuous swipe with one finger across all of the letters that spell out your word, and besides the actual act of swyping, I don't understand how using it would be any different from using one finger to type on a non-Swype keyboard.
blackhand1001 said:
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry that you don't know much about MIUI. It's the easiest ROM that I have used and now have it on my Infuse and Nook Color.
I am 66yo and like very simple and clean screens that are easy to use. The attached s/s's are from a 7" Nook Color screen.
1. Home screen.
2. Favorites expanded
3. 2nd Page....only have 2 pages...show all my apps in folders...no app drawer.
4. Reading folder opened
EDIT: You can set up as many or as few folders as you need and name them anything you choose.
dparrothead1 said:
Sorry that you don't know much about MIUI. It's the easiest ROM that I have used and now have it on my Infuse and Nook Color.
I am 66yo and like very simple and clean screens that are easy to use. The attached s/s's are from a 7" Nook Color screen.
1. Home screen.
2. Favorites expanded
3. 2nd Page....only have 2 pages...show all my apps in folders...no app drawer.
4. Reading folder opened
EDIT: You can set up as many or as few folders as you need and name them anything you choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used miui on several devices. I just find it clunky. I like having an alphabetically sorted app drawer.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I'm working on the same issue for my mom, who just turned 86.
I downloaded Minimalistic Text for her, but I had assumed it would be simple to set up - it isn't.
Am I correct that it's very limited as to what it can display? It appears to be able to display the time, date, temp, and then a few other things not important to your typical 86 year old, such as battery level, cpu speed, etc.
I had hoped I would be able to have it launch apps, so I could for instance, have it show "Email", Facebook", etc.
Older people have difficulty remembering the names of apps sometimes. "K9" for instance, would not mean email to my mom.
Something that would allow you to make app icons larger might help. But I had high hopes for Minimalist Text!
Btw, we did a four way hangout with her yesterday. She has beginning Alzheimer's, but she loves technology!
Edit: I see in the OP's other thread someone mentioned Simple Text . Can that be used on a stock N7? Must I use a different launcher?

Blink feed: like or dislike?

At first the idea of blink feed really irritated me but now that I've had the one for about a week I actually have been using it and it's really grown on me. It reminds me of flip board only there was something about flip board that I hated and Blink feed seems to be the same concept only more simple and user friendly IMO.
Do you guys like or dislike?
Sent from my HTC One (AT&T silver) using XDA developers app
I like it will be much better when we can add our own feeds
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
I like. Simple quick and useful.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
I too like it but find it a huge flaw that we don't have complete control over the sources.
MG
I agree with moregadget, it would be useful if you could choose what you wanted on there, or pull from RSS feeds, etc. As is, I don't use it.
I agree I wish there was the option to remove it in the event that it becomes obsolete to me
Also agree about adding our own sources there are some websites i'd like to add but as you said we can only choose from a pre prescribed list
Sent from my HTC One (AT&T silver) using XDA developers app
At first, I didn't like the idea. But it really grew on me. I rarely go into my flipboard these days. Flipboard, watch out.
floodingaugust said:
I agree I wish there was the option to remove it in the event that it becomes obsolete to me
Also agree about adding our own sources there are some websites i'd like to add but as you said we can only choose from a pre prescribed list
Sent from my HTC One (AT&T silver) using XDA developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing haha, if you could remove it from the get-go, you would never have a chance to appreciate it because for quite a lot of people it takes a bit of time for it to catch on. I think that not being able to remove it is ok, but being limited to so few sources is a HUGE fault.
Yes this is true lol as I said when I first got the phone I hated the idea of it but by it being forced on me by HTC I actually grew to love it :thumbup:
Sent from my HTC One (AT&T silver) using XDA developers app
Hate it, hate it hate it, dont like it, dont want it...........................
So to summarize, I want an option to disable it. It does not have the sources I want, nor does it have efficient interface to read all stories from one source quickly. And I dont want my social life plastered on my home screen. I dont use facebook and nothing is as good as Falcon Pro for twitter which I do use. So no, I dont want blinkfeed. I dont mind having it as a feature on phone as long as I can disable it. I dont like it forced down my throat.
I tried it for a day and it was meh!
Due to this approach I am simply not using Sense 5. There are tons of launcher options out there. Some better than any android skin. I am sticking with simple Nova for now.
You know you can always not set up blinkfeed and just set another screen as your home screen, right?
Just make blinkfeed the last screen on the left, since we can't move it to the right.
Just in case someone doesn't know...just pinch your screen and the option to edit will pop up.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Dislike
floodingaugust said:
At first the idea of blink feed really irritated me but now that I've had the one for about a week I actually have been using it and it's really grown on me. It reminds me of flip board only there was something about flip board that I hated and Blink feed seems to be the same concept only more simple and user friendly IMO.
Do you guys like or dislike?
Sent from my HTC One (AT&T silver) using XDA developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's hidden away to the left of my home screen until there's a way to remove it from the Sense launcher.
You know you can just remove facebook and Twitter from blink feed all together?
It's one of the options, that's what I did because I don't like my social stuff all over my home screen either and I just put blink feed all the way to the left as there is no infinite scrolling and I never end up there by accident
But it's your right not to like it, I was just curious.
I was gonna use a launcher but I really just like HTC sense
Sent from my HTC One (AT&T silver) using XDA developers app
floodingaugust said:
You know you can just remove facebook and Twitter from blink feed all together?
It's one of the options, that's what I did because I don't like my social stuff all over my home screen either and I just put blink feed all the way to the left as there is no infinite scrolling and I never end up there by accident
But it's your right not to like it, I was just curious.
I was gonna use a launcher but I really just like HTC sense
Sent from my HTC One (AT&T silver) using XDA developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there is an option. The thing is, I dont want any source from blinkfeed's list. (Actually I do couple, but the way their stories are presented is actually less efficient than using something like Pulse with widget. And rest are absent. Not efficient to use 2 things to do 1 thing. I dont want my facebook plastered on blinkfeed, so that is also gone.. And it is not as good as Falcon. So basiclaly I dont need it. I want it disabled totally, not have 1 extra home screen wasted with blue blotches.
When it comes to phone interface, I am a bit OCD. I can change my home screen. But I would know there on the left side hides a monster that is always there just waiting to throw big blue squares and rectangles in my fact when i go there............
Blinkfeed is also not the only reason to ditch Sense 5 for me. I also dont like the app drawer and way it works, the way desktop action is limited to just adding widgets and I need 4 steps to change simple thing like wallpaper, not to mention wasted space on 1080P screen which can easily take 5x6 grid.
Options and choices is why I love android. I am not ready for any OEM to force a launcher I dont like down my throat.
Funkym0nkey said:
When it comes to phone interface, I am a bit OCD. I can change my home screen. But I would know there on the left side hides a monster that is always there just waiting to throw big blue squares and rectangles in my fact when i go there............
Options and choices is why I love android. I am not ready for any OEM to force a launcher I dont like down my throat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A bit? OCD.
If you're that OCD I'm sure you count the number of swipes needed to avoid disaster.
It's not forced down your throat, just install a different launch. The freedom is yours.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
I really like it. I wasn't expecting to like it.
drspikes said:
A bit? OCD.
If you're that OCD I'm sure you count the number of swipes needed to avoid disaster.
It's not forced down your throat, just install a different launch. The freedom is yours.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you did care to read the previous posts I have already changed the launcher to Nova Launcher prime for exact same reason. I was responding to the posts where some people said you can ignore that page and leave it there in Sense 5. And my other reasons for not liking Sense 5 and why I replaced it with Nova.
That is precisely what I meant. I am not going to use Sense as it is because OEM decides I need to use it certain way. I will change it to something else like I have done already.
I dont like things that just exists for the sake of it taking up usable space and hurting productivity. Now I have 3 screens with endless scroll to quickly go where I want to go and quickly do what I want to do.
Also I guess you missed little bit of sarcasm in my previous post
I really didn't like blinkfeed at first but then I got used to it, but the limited news sources did irritate me.
Moved to apex launcher after a few days and now on CM, definitely don't miss it
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
I don't mind blinkfeed but it's no Flipboard. It may eventually become better in future updates though and if that happens, I will be happy to use it full-time. My biggest gripe with it (and as a new Android/Sense 5 user, someone can tell me if this can be remedied) is that many of my photos and Zoes show up upside-down in Blinkfeed.
Like but needs more feeds.

Tablet UI

Is there a way to get the tablet UI on the 2013 Nexus 7 yet????
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Gadzooks1123 said:
Is there a way to get the tablet UI on the 2013 Nexus 7 yet????
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install the Paranoid Android ROM.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
How about a way on stock ROM? Just a mod or tweak or something?
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Gadzooks1123 said:
How about a way on stock ROM? Just a mod or tweak or something?
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2418867
Gadzooks1123 said:
Is there a way to get the tablet UI on the 2013 Nexus 7 yet????
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus 7 comes with a tablet UI, unless you are talking about the old UI from HoneyComb that was depreciated a while ago. I don't understand why people are still hung up on legacy layouts.
"It's very clear what Google is doing - keeping users' attention on two general parts of the homescreen UI. The search / voice / notification area, and the app drawer / nav button area. Just like a modern Android phone. It makes sense - the experience across all [stock-ish] devices is now extremely consistent."
http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/1...just-like-a-giant-phones-and-thats-fantastic/
rmkilc said:
The Nexus 7 comes with a tablet UI, unless you are talking about the old UI from HoneyComb that was depreciated a while ago. I don't understand why people are still hung up on legacy layouts.
"It's very clear what Google is doing - keeping users' attention on two general parts of the homescreen UI. The search / voice / notification area, and the app drawer / nav button area. Just like a modern Android phone. It makes sense - the experience across all [stock-ish] devices is now extremely consistent."
http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/1...just-like-a-giant-phones-and-thats-fantastic/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except that that is simply not the case.
On phones the navigation buttons never leave the short side of the screen leaving them easily accessible with your right thumb while in landscape. On tablets the nav bar is terrible with the buttons spread out across the bottom while holding your device in landscape. The centred buttons are barely reachable on a 7" tablet like this. On 10" devices unless you are some kind of mutant, bred to be a piano virtuoso, good luck getting your thumbs where they need to go while cradling the tablet in 2 hands. Similarly the top-of-screen based notification pull down is simply not an ergonomic solution to something that you will be doing thousands of times with your device. Again this is not so bad on a device of this size, but is seriously ridiculous on large tablets.
It is all well and good for Google to say that they want users to have the same user experience across all devices, but they do not deliver on that. Given no other option, I would far rather use this tablet in full phone mode, with navigation buttons that never leave the short edge of the screen, than use the new "Tablet UI". I have actually clicked the DPI up to 340 and find the phone UI much easier to use than the default one, with the obvious exception of the full screen notification shade (which just looks ugly on this device). At least though, this configuration would be more condusive to one handed landscape navigation.
So, for me, I am going to keep using the old tablet UI as long as Google leaves the code in there for me to use and hope that they come to their senses one day over at the AOSP and realize that they've actually taken a step backwards in terms of user friendliness.
No need for nay-sayers to jump in when someone asks for a customized user experience. That's the beauty of Android! It isn't a one size fits all, apple-corer OS. The only limit is your imagination, and how much time you want to spend learning and tweaking. I say tweak on, young man, tweak on!
rmkilc said:
The Nexus 7 comes with a tablet UI, unless you are talking about the old UI from HoneyComb that was depreciated a while ago. I don't understand why people are still hung up on legacy layouts.
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Because it's functional. The notification area is always visible even when apps are running full screen.
I can see the clock. I can see if the downloading is finished. I can see if a new email has come in.
The new Mod for tablet UI is working nicely.
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/tablet-ui-mod-for-the-2013-nexus-7-on-stock-rooted-jss15q/
The ipad has a tablet ui too and its really useful. Less pressing on the back button when navigating thru the settings ap
Sent from my MT27i using xda app-developers app
csrow said:
Because it's functional. The notification area is always visible even when apps are running full screen.
I can see the clock. I can see if the downloading is finished. I can see if a new email has come in.
The new Mod for tablet UI is working nicely.
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/tablet-ui-mod-for-the-2013-nexus-7-on-stock-rooted-jss15q/
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Click to collapse
The new UI is much better looking, to be fair. And the notification area on the old one felt a bit rushed - for example, if a notification came in, it hijacked the entire notification area so you couldn't get to other notifications until it was gone - or at least, that's what I thought until I figured out that (for whatever reason), notifications could be cancelled by pressing somewhere else on the navbar (in other words, that 'feature' was a nuisance and user unfriendly in many ways).
I had plenty of moments where I went to get an email by opening the notification drawer when something else suddenly notified me and I ended up somewhere I didn't want to be like Appy Geek instead.
Also, the fact that it was a tap to open instead of at least a swipe upwards made no sense at all.
I get that you power users are happy to have to practice using your technology like it's some sort of art form, but please save the rest of us the bother.
Kookas said:
The new UI is much better looking, to be fair. And the notification area on the old one felt a bit rushed - for example, if a notification came in, it hijacked the entire notification area so you couldn't get to other notifications until it was gone - or at least, that's what I thought until I figured out that (for whatever reason), notifications could be cancelled by pressing somewhere else on the navbar (in other words, that 'feature' was a nuisance and user unfriendly in many ways).
I had plenty of moments where I went to get an email by opening the notification drawer when something else suddenly notified me and I ended up somewhere I didn't want to be like Appy Geek instead.
Also, the fact that it was a tap to open instead of at least a swipe upwards made no sense at all.
I get that you power users are happy to have to practice using your technology like it's some sort of art form, but please save the rest of us the bother.
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Agreed, it was a very inconsistent experience. Also, trying to get expandable notifications to work properly with gestures was a pain.
That's what's great about Android on a Nexus device. You get to choose what you like and everyone will be happy.
No one option is better than another. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean someone else should not be using it.
The OP simply wanted to know if it was possible to use Table UI on the N7 v2 and everyone is on a full blown discussion of who prefers what.
Here is the link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45084692
Sent from my Nexus 4
I recommend trying out LMT (better than the pie control in paranoid/CM). I find it much better than having this blasted button bar using space all the time)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
Apex launcher has a tablet ui setting. For the most part is seems stock just bring the app icons to the bottom in landscape mode along with the app drawer in the upper right corner.

Opinions on Aviate

So instead of hijacking the other Aviate thread that is mainly for being wanting to try it I decided to start this one. How does everyone feel about Aviate? How many are still using it? Any cool/nice features that some may not know about? Lets hear what you all think!
What I've learned from aviate is that apparently I'm a control freak. It's very hard for me to let the launcher make decisions for me. That being said, the idea is pretty amazing. I can see why there is so much excitement surrounding it.
Sent from my VS980 4G
I feel the same way. It's almost like being whipped by a significant other, it tells you what to like whether you do or not but yet you can't seem to pull yourself away. I'm intrigued.
It's restrictive and boring to me. I'm passing on it personally. I don't understand the hype. Android is about having options and being open, not closed lol.
Sent from my LG-D800 using xda premium
WizeGuyDezignz said:
It's restrictive and boring to me. I'm passing on it personally. I don't understand the hype. Android is about having options and being open, not closed lol.
Sent from my LG-D800 using xda premium
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I think the argument here would be that this is an option that wouldn't be available on other platforms because of Android being so open.
Sent from my VS980 4G
I lean more towards stock because I can control it more, but Aviate is pretty nice so far (after 1 day). I think I like it more than Themer themes because of the way Aviate organizes apps. Aviate is fairly customizable, with a dark and light theme. You can sort apps however you please, granted it will be in the bins that Aviate provides for you.
I haven't really used the Spaces feature much. I've just been forcing it to play by my rules. It seems like it suits minimalists like me, but I'll give it a few more days.
I run it on my G2 that I use for work (Yes, I have two G2's. I know I know lol), and I gotta say it really does help me there. I would like it to be more customizable though, and be able to set more specifically which screen should open when.
Having fast access to my meetings while I'm in the office is great. Getting the GPS with all my team-mates locations on when I'm out would be great, along with our collected GPS-tags. Then a more entertainment-oriented screen when I'm at home.
In short, I like the concept, but I would like to be able to change what content it presents more.
I like it. It's clean, quick, I don't worry about all the customization I've been obsessing over.
The current places, apparently from foursquare is entertaining.
If you want to change it you don't get it.
I love the cleanliness. One feature I would like is to turn the collections off And have home and apps. Even get rid of the letters etc so it's a bit more like launcher 7.
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
It's very pretty - after messing around with it for about 15-20 minutes, i have the following short wishlist:
1) Would love to have the ability to set the homescreen photo to rotate.. but I guess I could do that with a widget.
2) I'd also love to see custom icon packs on this, would give it a much cleaner look.
Overall, I'm just not feeling the lack of customization. I've been using Action Launcher Pro for months now (HIGHLY recommend it), and this seems so stripped down in comparison.
Good idea but...
It looks nice, it's fluid and I like the idea of different workspaces depending on where you are and what you are doing.
But I stopped using it for a few reasons:
It keeps thinkin that I am at a bar because the office is located right above one. And at home, it thinks that I am at the library in the next building.
It left aligns all my icons which makes it difficult for me to reach them as I am right handed like 66% of the population.
I miss the double-tap functionality to turn off the phone.
Gnarfsan said:
[*]I miss the double-tap functionality to turn off the phone.
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To turn the phone off you double tap on the notification bar. This was almost a deal breaker for me as well until I saw someone mention this is the other thread.
Sent from my VS980 4G using xda app-developers app
Lockett said:
To turn the phone off you double tap on the notification bar. This was almost a deal breaker for me as well until I saw someone mention this is the other thread.
Sent from my VS980 4G using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
It's easier for me to re-place the phone in my hand to push the power button than to reach the notification bar
But thanks for the tip. It's good to know in any case!
I seemed to have more battery drain with aviate. Pretty nice launcher though. Wish it was more customizable
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk 2

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