I I have looked all over for an app to do this but have found nothing. I am ready to start writing my own, but want to make sure it doesn't exist already? Seems hard to believe no one has done this yet!?
say i need to copy/paste listing descriptions from evernote into ebay... I want a QUICK trigger, maybe double tapping home or something that shows a simple app list in a transparent overlay.
Pick the ebay app and it loads. After pasting the title there, double tap home again and instantly, it flips back to Evernote where I can repeat this process with the description and other fields. Maybe the volume key could flip between the two apps, or better yet, a swipe.
Seeing how I use that technique a million times a day, it would save countless hours over all the other task manager types that always load a display of all (or none) of the recent apps when triggered. I don't know about everybody else, but there's a 90% chance that if I want to quickly flip to another app, it's because I intend to quickly flip right back in a few seconds.
This is such a vital function for me on computers that I dedicate a whole button on my mouse to pressing Alt+Tab so I can flip back and forth very fast. I have become very spoiled by that technique and can't stand doing work on Android just because of its annoyingly slow and painful "task manager" if you can even call it that. TIA!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
toothpick5 said:
I I have looked all over for an app to do this but have found nothing. I am ready to start writing my own, but want to make sure it doesn't exist already? Seems hard to believe no one has done this yet!?
say i need to copy/paste listing descriptions from evernote into ebay... I want a QUICK trigger, like double tap home (or whatever) that shows a simple app list in a transparent overlay.
Pick the ebay app and it loads. After pasting the title there, double tap home again and instantly, it flips back to Evernote where I can repeat this process with the description and other fields. Maybe the volume key could flip between the two apps, or better yet, a swipe.
Seeing how I use that technique a million times a day, it would save countless hours over all the other task manager types that always load a display of all (or none) of the recent apps when triggered. I don't know about everybody else, but there's a 90% chance that if I want to quickly flip to another app, it's because I intend to quickly flip right back in a few seconds.
This is such a vital function for me on computers that I dedicate a whole button on my mouse to pressing Alt+Tab so I can flip back and forth very fast. I have become very spoiled by that technique and can't stand doing work on Android just because of its annoyingly slow and painful "task manager" if you can even call it that. TIA!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sorry, but you cannot override the home button.
You could try one of the various side bar apps though.
It could be a swipe gesture or anything that requires only ONE step. I don't want to bring up an app selection list on every switch, but just the first time. Maybe a notification bar button could bring up the selector, then a side swipe gesture could flip back and forth between the two apps? It should be simple to write this. I just cant believe that it hasn't already been done? Surely someone knows of an existing app?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
toothpick5 said:
It could be a swipe gesture or anything that requires only ONE step. I don't want to bring up an app selection list on every switch, but just the first time. Maybe a notification bar button could bring up the selector, then a side swipe gesture could flip back and forth between the two apps? It should be simple to write this. I just cant believe that it hasn't already been done? Surely someone knows of an existing app?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that the part of the screen which will be "swipeable" will not react to touch events anymore.
nikwen said:
The problem is that the part of the screen which will be "swipeable" will not react to touch events anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. But it could be a small invisible hotzone like many of the task managers do. Swiping is just for the cool factor really. Using the volume button should work just fine for my needs. Would that work? The volume button can still listen to an app thats not in focus because music players do it right? But i guess that would be a problem if one of the switched apps overrides the volume control...? Any suggestions? If nobody has pointed out an existing app with this capability I will start on it tonight. I'm still a newb to Android but, I am majoring in programming so I gotta jump in on something!
toothpick5 said:
Yeah. But it could be a small invisible hotzone like many of the task managers do. Swiping is just for the cool factor really. Using the volume button should work just fine for my needs. Would that work? The volume button can still listen to an app thats not in focus because music players do it right? But i guess that would be a problem if one of the switched apps overrides the volume control...? Any suggestions? If nobody has pointed out an existing app with this capability I will start on it tonight. I'm still a newb to Android but, I am majoring in programming so I gotta jump in on something!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if I understand correctly you just want to have multitasking without having to hit the multitask button and then choose the app; you just want to be able to choose the app. I would say something like floating folders would work for you.
Related
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/MOTOR...available-STILL-1-5-though/td-p/304863/page/2
There was an OTA update to the CLIQ today, which was taken down after 15 minutes. Reports say this added functionality to their home button as such:
There is also a new option to double-click home button to launch, contact, voice search, etc... it's under Application Settings
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for the double tap on the home screen, you can now set that as a shortcut. So if you press the home key twice, it will open up a certain function of the phone. Like take you to your contacts or open something else. By default it opens up google voice search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you can't customize the Double Tap. It is located under Settings - Application Settings and gives you the choices of Voice Search, Messaging, Dialer, Map, Contact and Camera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any chance that something like this can be either a) ported over, or if it's not possible, b) developed for the Nexus One? (Basically if it is possible to add button functionality using the standard SDK tools?)
And even better, edited/hacked so as to allow home button double-tap to launch ANY app? (And even add double tap functionality for the other buttons?)
I don't see this working too well with capacitive buttons, tbh.
double tap on track ball
I wish there is a way to have double tab on he track ball to launch the dialer or to my favorite contacts. It would make it easy for making phone calls.
nuc70st said:
I wish there is a way to have double tab on he track ball to launch the dialer or to my favorite contacts. It would make it easy for making phone calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i can dig that!
but with the option to change it like camera, txt, etc...
nuc70st said:
I wish there is a way to have double tab on he track ball to launch the dialer or to my favorite contacts. It would make it easy for making phone calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That too!
The reason I ask if this is even possible to develop using the standard SDK tools is because I've been searching and searching and searching and searching over the past year with my G1 for some app on the Market that adds or alters button functionality. To date, there is not a *SINGLE* app that does this for *ANY* Android phone.
Until yesterday's update of course. Finally!!!
Is this something that ONLY Motorola (and other carriers) can do?
Personally, I would love to see a mod in spare parts or something that would make it so that all of the capacitive buttons at the bottom of the screen on the Nexus would require a double-tap to be activated. This would help us avoid brushing up against them accidentally when not meaning to. Granted, it would take a little bit of getting used to double-tapping them to make them work, but I'm sure some people would appreciate and use such a mod. I'm talking about a purely optional mod that you would not have to have turned on (but could via Spare Parts) and would be off to keep the button behavior stock by default.
kylez64 said:
i can dig that!
but with the option to change it like camera, txt, etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i guess the longevity of the trackball is low, at least it is on my blackberry. if you are onto this, mate, then, maybe, it could be either dblpress or longpress - to chose from?
tutech said:
Personally, I would love to see a mod in spare parts or something that would make it so that all of the capacitive buttons at the bottom of the screen on the Nexus would require a double-tap to be activated. This would help us avoid brushing up against them accidentally when not meaning to. Granted, it would take a little bit of getting used to double-tapping them to make them work, but I'm sure some people would appreciate and use such a mod. I'm talking about a purely optional mod that you would not have to have turned on (but could via Spare Parts) and would be off to keep the button behavior stock by default.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah, different strokes for different folks. I wouldn't use that, but that's exactly why it should be customizable.
Can any Android developers comment on this?
I found one! It's called Button Shortcut in the market. Great App!
Paul22000 said:
I found one! It's called Button Shortcut in the market. Great App!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using it now. Works great. Replaced search-button long press with Dialer.
Perfect!
karthikjr said:
Using it now. Works great. Replaced search-button long press with Dialer.
Perfect!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hell yeah! Now I wonder what it would take to get a back button long press?
I emailed the developer to see if a Back button long press was possible. His answer:
It is not possible to override function of back button.
-social mobile <[email protected]>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's a bummer! I do like this lite app Button Shortcut at least for a Dialer launch button!
Is there a way to configure the optical button on the htc incredible so that clicking it wakes the phone up (like pressing the top button)? I'm looking for functionality thats a little bit similar to how the iphone wakes up since I find that button at the bottom much more accessible than the button on the top.
id be interested in this as well. The top button isnt very intuitive to me
Search the market for "lock screen" or "lockscreen" or just "lock" (or maybe "button"? I thought there was a button switcher app too).
Many of the 3rd party lock apps will bring up the lock screen by pressing one or more of the physical buttons (volume, camera, etc). I bet at least one of them comes on with the optical button.
it has been done on the nexus one with the trackball. i think you need root access or at lease custom rom.
Ok, I found this.
http://androidforums.com/htc-incredible/69443-using-optical-trackpad-button-wake-phone.html
Try the "lockbot" app. It is probably about all that is available right now, but the Incredible will be extremely popular. There will be more hacks/tweaks/apps/whatever for this device than any to date, I suspect.
Humpa said:
Ok, I found this.
http://androidforums.com/htc-incredible/69443-using-optical-trackpad-button-wake-phone.html
Try the "lockbot" app. It is probably about all that is available right now, but the Incredible will be extremely popular. There will be more hacks/tweaks/apps/whatever for this device than any to date, I suspect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the heads up. And I agree I think we are going to see a whole new level of geek with this phone
"myLock" in advance mode.
Great app, and thank you for the info. I was looking the same solution.
Mylock works great. Although I did have one occurence of it locking up the phone.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
daftlush said:
"myLock" in advance mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talking about the app called myLock auto unlock? I am not finding an advanced mode or way to get in advanced mode. Care to explain a little more? and this is able to make it so you can use the trackpad to wake/unlock the phone?
NoLock works for this as well but I wish there was a way to allow the optical pad to work without allowing the volume buttons to work at the same time.
Tried myLock just now and both seem like good apps.
re
GrandMasterB said:
Thanks for the heads up. And I agree I think we are going to see a whole new level of geek with this phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just wondering why you sport the "Big Black" avatar?
And to those who think im being racist by calling him "Big Black", its his name on the Reality TV show with rob dyrdeck.
Anyone know of an app or way to implement a gesture to replicate the back button Its a PITA to always have to go down to the bottom of the phone for back. I'd like some sort of left swipe to hit back for me instead.
Just think of it as a downward swipe to hit the back button and your problem is solved...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Geekybiker said:
Anyone know of an app or way to implement a gesture to replicate the back button Its a PITA to always have to go down to the bottom of the phone for back. I'd like some sort of left swipe to hit back for me instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tasker is a popular app in the Market that can be used to perform an action based on a tilt gesture. It can enable you to automate many other things about your phone too. I'm just beginning to explore it myself. It's not free, but pretty cheap. It's a little cheaper of you buy it directly from the dev's website.
Linuxuberant
I can't imagine a gesture that would be simple and not interfere completely in various programs. How would you swipe left and right on the home screen or in certain apps without activating the back button? If it was on a tilt action, then there goes all sensor based applications.
Really missing a function like press and hold the Home button to see previous used apps to switch to.... I'm running with GoLauncherEX but it apparently doesn't have that ability.
Any easy way or app that can and still work with GoLauncher.
I would consider another Launcher but I've not tried any others.
Market search for taskswitcher by shisho. Worked great for me. I use Adw but should work with any launcher including stock.
One home tap for switcher, two for real home.
Thanks that works fine.
Another option is SwipePad with the Tasking add-on. Hold for a split-second at the corner or edge of the screen of your choice and then drag towards the center of the screen and a task switcher will pop up. Move to the task of your choice and let go to switch to it. You can switch really quick once you get the hang of it.
boomn said:
Another option is SwipePad with the Tasking add-on. Hold for a split-second at the corner or edge of the screen of your choice and then drag towards the center of the screen and a task switcher will pop up. Move to the task of your choice and let go to switch to it. You can switch really quick once you get the hang of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that's a freaking amazing app. I paid for the recent tasks addon (since I think that's necessary for multitasking).
Thanks!
I think SwipePad is one of those "best kept secret" apps. I've been using it since it was released and cannot use an Android phone without it. It was the first app I downloaded from the market after rooting. Glad to see it gaining popularity though.
[email protected] said:
Market search for taskswitcher by shisho. Worked great for me. I use Adw but should work with any launcher including stock.
One home tap for switcher, two for real home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This solution is working nice for me.
I installed swipe pad and tasker but I cant figure out how to make my recent apps menu come up when I swipe. Can someone help me?
teookie said:
I installed swipe pad and tasker but I cant figure out how to make my recent apps menu come up when I swipe. Can someone help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got SwipePad with Tasker as well and it seems the only way you can do it is to put a shortcut to Tasker in one of the boxes, swipe to it, and THEN it pulls up a menu of your recent apps. I ended up getting a refund for it because that's not what I wanted - I was hoping it would automatically populate the tiles with my recent apps instead of adding an extra step.
I'll have to try some of the other solutions mentioned in this thread.
Open the settings for SwipePad and then go to the Hotspots tab where you choose which spot activates the normal swipepad. Click on a different hotspot and "recent tasks" will show up as an option. Once set up it does work like what you were hoping
Just to clarify for anyone else reading, the add-on required is "Tasking: SwipePad add-on", not to be confused with the unrelated "Tasker" app for scripting and automation
boomn said:
Open the settings for SwipePad and then go to the Hotspots tab where you choose which spot activates the normal swipepad. Click on a different hotspot and "recent tasks" will show up as an option. Once set up it does work like what you were hoping
Just to clarify for anyone else reading, the add-on required is "Tasking: SwipePad add-on", not to be confused with the unrelated "Tasker" app for scripting and automation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, can't believe I missed that! I'll have to give it another shot.
Corners problem
I installed Swipe Pad and wondered... where have you been for all of my Fire life? Am surprised amazon hasn't absorbed them into their product since it is so easy and simple to jump.
Altho, I did have problems configuring the corners (might be the custom home bar down there), but configuring lower left panel for tasks didn't seem to have any problem.
BTW, what a great premise - give basic app for free, sell the advanced.
[Edit: Before you jump on this, I'm now having crashing of SwipePad when trying to get it to launch market or other shortcuts. Will contact developers and see if this is imminently fixable.]
[email protected] said:
Market search for taskswitcher by shisho. Worked great for me. I use Adw but should work with any launcher including stock.
One home tap for switcher, two for real home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you configure double home taps for ADW home screen?
You can also install button savior if you're rooted your Fire. It can come in handy for some full screen apps that rely on the non-existent hard buttons also. You just long press on the button savior home icon and you'll get the little icon list of recent apps. I have mine setup with a slight delay before it invokes but it defaults to instant on.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
Smart Taskbar
I tried swipepad and didn't find it easy to set up and use on the KF. I also didn't want to pay for the extra add-ons without being totally sure I liked it. Found smart taskbar and I've been really happy with it. Easier to pull up than swipepad and has recent tasks built in. I recommend it.
SenorDeuce said:
I tried swipepad and didn't find it easy to set up and use on the KF. I also didn't want to pay for the extra add-ons without being totally sure I liked it. Found smart taskbar and I've been really happy with it. Easier to pull up than swipepad and has recent tasks built in. I recommend it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember that with paid apps, you can try them out and get a refund if you uninstall within 15 minutes. But if you don't like how Swipepad works then having the Tasking addon won't be worth it.
ags29 said:
I think SwipePad is one of those "best kept secret" apps. I've been using it since it was released and cannot use an Android phone without it. It was the first app I downloaded from the market after rooting. Glad to see it gaining popularity though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you use Swipepad w/o rooting?
Well you need to get it from the Android market (which requires root to install), but I guess you can also sideload it. The app itself doesn't require root access.
bsoplinger said:
You can also install button savior if you're rooted your Fire. It can come in handy for some full screen apps that rely on the non-existent hard buttons also. You just long press on the button savior home icon and you'll get the little icon list of recent apps. I have mine setup with a slight delay before it invokes but it defaults to instant on.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on Button Savior... a nice out-of-the-way solution for the long press home feature.
Naturally some helpful soul here on XDA pointed me to this app and it works like a charm.
Devoting a soft key exclusively to recent apps seems ridiculous to me. Is it a Motoblur thing or stock ICS?
Is there an app that will allow an unrooted user to program a shortcut to the key that is of some use? Maybe on long press?
I installed Google Launcher and noticed that accidentally hitting that key shows recent apps but then takes you out of Go Launcher and back to Motoblur. Any way to avoid that?
That's pure ICS, not Moto. Actually was there in honeycomb too. I never understood removing the search key and menu key to put in the far less used recent apps. If there is a mod out there to convert it's function to a menu button I'd be on it too.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Any shortcut would be preferable. I thought it would be a nice button to open phone dialer or dolphin browser.
I'm really surprised you guys don't find it useful. There's plenty of times where I'd rather have that button than hit the home button and go back to the home screen or hold the home button for a second or more to get that popup on my Nexus S.
I find that I'm swapping back between texting, web browsing, the music player / pandora and facebook quite often
snowmanwithahat said:
I'm really surprised you guys don't find it useful. There's plenty of times where I'd rather have that button than hit the home button and go back to the home screen or hold the home button for a second or more to get that popup on my Nexus S.
I find that I'm swapping back between texting, web browsing, the music player / pandora and facebook quite often
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I agree as well. Not to mention, the menu and search are legacy buttons. People need to let them die and embrace the design direction Android is moving forward in...but I guess old habits die hard (and painfully). Why so much resistance towards the death of the menu button?
UserDemos said:
Thank you, I agree as well. Not to mention, the menu and search are legacy buttons. People need to let them die and embrace the design direction Android is moving forward in...but I guess old habits die hard (and painfully). Why so much resistance towards the death of the menu button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I can definitely do without the menu button since every new app has been building it into the application. It's a button that I'd hardly hit while interacting with most applications.
I do miss the contextual search though. I got used to tapping the search button in Contacts or Chrome and searching within that context. Only searching globally when I was at the home screen. Well now with the changes (at least to the Nexus S) the search button brings up Google Now and there's no in-app search unless they specifically build in a button. Most have done that now, so it's not really a problem, just a habit that I got into.
I understand it's benefits but those apps I use quite often you speak of are already shortcuts on my home page. Using the recent apps button adds another key press to open it. I've only used it when I can't remember the name of an app I recently installed.
For me personally, useable? Yes. Useful? Not really. Especially when it gets bogged down with tons of recent apps and my finger already knows where the shortcuts are.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Hey look I'm the OP and said nothing about making it a menu button. What I want is a programmable button to do what I want and you could have one to do what YOU want. Now you tell me NOOOO.., I should embrace the direction of Android. That sounds suspiciously like Apple philosophy.
I never have had any use for a recent apps button and still don't. I don't care what apps I have used recently. Since there is a key there I would like it to be useful. Personally, I would like short press to be Opera and long press to be Dolphin. Now shall I look forward to be scolded for not embracing Chrome? I thought the whole point of Android was personal choice. Android users don't have to be sheeple imo.
Zodwraith said:
I understand it's benefits but those apps I use quite often you speak of are already shortcuts on my home page. Using the recent apps button adds another key press to open it. I've only used it when I can't remember the name of an app I recently installed.
For me personally, useable? Yes. Useful? Not really. Especially when it gets bogged down with tons of recent apps and my finger already knows where the shortcuts are.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've got to admit though that closing applications by swiping them "off" at that quick switch menu is kind of nice. I like that a little bit better for closing off high RAM applications quickly compared to the CM method of holding "back". Then again, I'll admit it's a very rare thing where I want to kill more than one application at once haha
Sorry, no I don't admit it. (not for me anyway) Never have done it. Never will. I prefer not to force close apps. I let Android handle it.
Dolphin and Opera are in a folder on my desktop so it takes two keypresses to access them while that utterly useless recent apps key sits there doing nothing. In fact it does harm if I am using another launcher and hit it by accident.
There was an app I used to use that allowed you to program the search key (which I also never used) and double tap of home key (which normally produced something else I never used). I think it is called Home to Shortcut. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated to use the recent apps key.
I also think Moto should have made the navigation bar transparent so we could see the entire screen like Nexus. I hope somebody figures out a way to do that too.
Give it time for custom roms and you will be able to do loads of stuff with that bar, including changing the icons and uses. Aokp is great for that.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
I don't think swiping from the recent apps menu is an FC function. Just a history. To check it I FC'd a bunch of stuff from the proper menu and opened the recent apps. Sure enough everything is still there. Clicked on one of the apps and sure enough it had to start up.
I generally don't use app killers but there are always rogue apps that will give you problems. Netflix is a bad one for me where I'll watch an episode and when it's over Netflix develops Alzheimer's whether there are more episodes. Does the same on the Roku and tablet so I'm sure it's a Netflix thing. The only way to slap sense into their servers is an FC and restart.
Sent from my Droid RAZR HD MAXX using the XDA Developer App
robstunner said:
Give it time for custom roms and you will be able to do loads of stuff with that bar, including changing the icons and uses. Aokp is great for that.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't wait. I was spoiled by the super developers for Tbolt.