[F.A.Q.]Glove Mode, Floating Touch and other hovering features - Xperia SP General

So the Xperia SP has a screen based on the same technology as xperia sola and also galaxy s4 and galaxy note 2. I own the xperia sola my self right now but i am going to upgrade to Xperia SP later this month. After posting in Q&A a little bit i found that there are many tricks about these features that you guys may not know yet so i hope this will help.
Q: What is Glove Mode and how to use it correctly?
Glovemode is a feature that allows you to use your phone wearing gloves. If enabled it detects how far you finger is away from the screen while unlocking the phone so that you phone is usable without touching the screen directly.
How to use:
-enable Glove Mode in settings
-lock the screen
-unlock the screen wearing gloves
if you want to exit glove mode just unlock the screen without gloves
What is Floating touch and how to use it correctly?
Floating touch is a feature that will give you a mouseover effect when hovering over links while browsing the web.
It also makes some popup menus work. This feature was announced one year ago with the launch of the xperia sola and the xperia sp is not promoted to support this becouse Sony decide to install chrome as default browser wich does not support it.
How to use:
-it doesnt matter weather Glove Mode is enabled or not
-download a third party browser that supports hovering, i suggest next browser
-go to a webside that uses mouseover effects, about every not mobile optimised webside uses
-hover your finger over a link and enjoy the mouseover effect
Can i control the entire UI without touching the screen?
Yes you can. You can trick Glovemode to think you wear gloves but you actually dont so that between your finger and the screen is just air instead of gloves. There are apps that are suppose to allow that in the Sola section but DONT use these, they are made for the sola before glovemode came with the 4.0 update. You dont need any mod anyway.
How to trick Glove Mode:
-make sure Glove Mode is enabled in the settings
-go to the lockscreen
-hover your finger over the lockscreen
-you will see the animation like you are touching the screen
-gently move your finger and try to unlock the screen without touching it
-now you can use the touchscreen without touching in the whole UI and in every app.
-to disable just unlock your phone normal
Remember that this is just a gimmicky trick to show off to your friends how magic your phone is,its not suppose to be convinient in any situation. It also disables every other hovering feature for the time you use it.
Can i use hovering apps made for Somsung devices?
Yes. Theoritical all the Samsung Air View apps would also work on the Xperia SP. Sadly at this point almost all apps that support Air View are system apps and part of the touchwizz ui but maybe we can find a skilled dev who can port some of the for us. Anyway, the galxy s4 came with a version of Flipboard that support Air View and until now also the Play store version has been updated to support it so that it works on the Xperia SP. You can hover over a category to preview some of the content. Lets hope that more third party apps are going to add support for this.
Feel free to add more questions and i will add them to OP.

Thanks for the info. I do hope someone might port the AirView apps to SP.
The glove mode can be very useful if your hands are oily/greasy and you need to operate the phone :good:

it is very usefull
and it is also very very very Annoying
when u play games
try in ur sp
hope they fixed that bug
or cause it is a big problem in evry Xsola lol

Mtakween said:
it is very usefull
and it is also very very very Annoying
when u play games
try in ur sp
hope they fixed that bug
or cause it is a big problem in evry Xsola lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can turn off glove mode in display settings.
Glove mode does work. Turning it off prevents me from "hover to unlock"
Sent from my Xperia SP using xda premium

Hover mode gone after update!
Hello there, I have been using the SP for three months now and found out some interesting facts about the screen of this device.
The touch panel uses the same technology used in Sola. That is, integration of two different types of capacitive panels; one for normal touch(and multi-touch) operations and another for the glove mode. The diffrence is the range of signal. Sola's screen is much more sensitive than SP. Still, this feature WAS quite usable on SP.
One thing I figured out was that hovering is not possible when glove mode is enabled. In order to activate it, disable glove mode from settings and restart the device.
With that, we can do certain hovering operations like waking dimmed screen without touching it, interacting with certain live wallpapers, and the most important, highlighting links, opening submenus, ets in browser. And it worked on every browser I tested on: Chrome, Opera, Opera Classic, Next Browser, UC Browser, UC Browser mini, US Browser HD, Firefox and Dolphin.
I didn't update my device back in august because it required a computer, and I don't have a reliable internet connection on my PC. Recently I updated my phone to 12.0.A.2.254 and was shocked to find that this is not working anymore. No more hovering in browsers, LWPs, and waking the screen!
The Glove mode, for me, is nothing but a gimmick and I never use it. Heck, I don't even wear gloves! Hovering was much more important for me.
But there's hope. Two days ago I woke up in the morning and found that it was working! But again, after a restart it was gone. I'm still trying to figure out what activated it.
The devs at Sony must have disabled this as a bug fix, but honestly, it was no bug, or even if it was, it wasn't buggin' me. I loved it!
I will post an update once I have figured out how to activate it again. And I also hope some good coders to write a piece of code that would make it work.

Related

[Q] Force portrait mode?

Is there a way to force an application into portrait mode or spoof/disable the accelerometer to maintain portrait orientation across applications? Ideally in the long-term it'd be nice if there were an elegant solution for handling portrait vs. landscape devices and screen rotation - or maybe more apps just need to take this into account - but a workaround for apps that don't would be nice.
My primary use case for this issue is when lying sideways, holding the tablet sideways to read on the Kindle application. The tablet thinks it should be in landscape mode, but I want it in portrait mode lying sideways with me so I can read it. The Kindle application can lock itself, but it always does so into landscape mode on tablets. This is inconvenient since it is easier to read on narrower displays (it's trickier for your eyes to wrap around to the beginning of the next line the longer those lines are).
Using the CyanogenMod beta I came up with a workaround - be sure you have the 180 degree/upside down rotation position disabled so that the display won't flip upside down - now when you turn it upside down it will stay in whichever portrait rotation it was previously in. Unfortunately, I was not able to figure out a similar workaround in Beast ROM since the display always rotates, even to the 180 degree/upside down position.
Now I might like to switch back to CyanogenMod in the long term (I use it on my Nexus One and like all the options and developer goodies it gives and it's kinda neat/convenient to be running similar software on both devices), but I think I currently like the Beast ROM better since it feels more solid and less buggy (it's particularly embarrassing trying to explain to friends why the camera orientation is messed up in CM >_>).
Anybody have any other solutions/workarounds for this issue? particularly something that might work with Beast rom?
~Troop
I would also really like to know if this is possible, for basically the exact same reasons you would.
In the past I would have thought that this would be a really high priority issue, but my experience has been bookreading does not appear to be a very highly used application of pdas/tablets - I remember when the HTC G1 first came out, there was a surprising lag before usable bookreader apps were released...
Just incase anybody is interested, I brought up this question on stackexchange as well:
http://android.stackexchange.com/qu...fault-screen-orientation-in-android-specified
There are apps that should lock you in to portrait or landscape. Just install one on your device and you should be good to go. Here is an example:
https://market.android.com/details?id=kennethcheng.com.autorotate&feature=search_result
blazingwolf said:
There are apps that should lock you in to portrait or landscape. Just install one on your device and you should be good to go. Here is an example:
https://market.android.com/details?id=kennethcheng.com.autorotate&feature=search_result
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, but unfortunately the problem is more complicated than that. Once you turn off auto-rotate, your device goes back to its default orientation mode.
For a tablet, that is landscape

[Q] Launch games (or other apps) on second display

Hi,
I have my PC hooked up on my big LCD, on which I like to play my games.
So to lauch my games on that screen, I always have to switch primary display.
(go to desktop > right click > change resolution > make primary display)
Is there an easier way to do this?
I have searched a lot, but have never found something..
It would be awesome to just be able to manange your apps and configure on which display the have to open..
Maybe Win+P will be good ?
regards
Thanks, but that doesn't really help..
To play my game on second monitor I whould then have to choose the option 'second screen only'.
Which is kind of worse then how I do it now
I am pretty sure full screen programs launch only on the primary display. That has been my experience since 7.
JihadSquad said:
I am pretty sure full screen programs launch only on the primary display. That has been my experience since 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah.. that's the problem, but I want it to launch on the secondary display
There's a keyboard shortcut for moving apps between monitors in Win8. I believe it's Ctrl+Win+arrow key (I'm not at my multi-mon system at the moment). I haven't tried it with a full-screen app yet, but you may want to give it a shot. It's said to work with Store apps (which are full screen) just fine.
Are you talking about the Modern UI games or Desktop?
If it is the Modern UI games, then just open the Start Screen on that monitor by pulling your mouse to the lower left corner of the screen until you see the Start Screen "icon" show up and click.
Launch the Modern UI app/game from there and it will launch from whatever screen the Start Screen was on.
Now, if you are talking about Desktop Apps/Games, that's another monster. Most will remember which display they were last opened from.
What I do with Metro apps is click the top and drag down, like I'm going to kill the app, but instead just drag it to whatever screen I want it on. For non-Metro apps like the post before mine said, most programs will remember the window they were on last.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
Yeah, Metro apps aren't the problem either, like you guys say, they worked that out just fine.
I'm talking about desktop apps (like most games still are, and will be for a while I think).
Most games don't remember the last display the were on, they just open on the primary display for me..
Have you tied Win+Page Down ?
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mmfh/
Try this.
That looked exactly like what I need!
Being able to create a rule for an application, so that it launches on the display you want.
But I'm afraid the app doesn't work as perfect as I'd hoped..
I've tried many different settings, but games like far cry 3 or assassin's creed 3 still open on my primary display..
For Far Cry a quick alt + tab does the job (then it goes to my secondary display in borderless window), but it's not perfect..
But thanks! I'll keep it, I'll play with it some more.
Yes, it scans on intervals of time I think, and I haven't used it for games, but I believe you're supposed to make sure the game is in windowed mode first.
Yeah, kind of got it to work for Hitman, but not perfect, like I said.
Perhaps another solution:
Would it be possible to create a shortcut/hotkey to switch primary display?
The advantage of windows 8 is that switching primary display doesn't change a lot for your open windows, or start menu.
They just remain on the same display.
That would make it very easy to quickly swap primary display and start the game from start menu.
Win+P, duplicate displays.
Nope, that won't work either, aspect ratio is different.
I use extended display, so I always just make display 2 the primary before starting the game.
I was able to make a shortcut to het screen resolution config screen now, so I at least don't need go to desktop, right click... anymore now
(shortcut: C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl)

[Q] Touch input so bad with vaio duo 11

The touch input in this device is so bad i have to use my stylus pen to browse webs(i can never touch the back page button on google chrome instead it touches the forward page button instead),close programs(touch the top of the screen and pulling it down never works), opening the charm bar(swiping my finger from the right of the screen to the left never works too).
I tried calibrating it by searching calibrate on the charm bar's search feature but they doesn't work as well.
Any way to fix this? Its getting so annoying because i can't use the touch screen feature at all because its not precise.
thekiller99 said:
The touch input in this device is so bad i have to use my stylus pen to browse webs(i can never touch the back page button on google chrome instead it touches the forward page button instead),close programs(touch the top of the screen and pulling it down never works), opening the charm bar(swiping my finger from the right of the screen to the left never works too).
I tried calibrating it by searching calibrate on the charm bar's search feature but they doesn't work as well.
Any way to fix this? Its getting so annoying because i can't use the touch screen feature at all because its not precise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont have one myself, but I played with one at Frys, and I gotta say I didnt see any of these issues at all! Maybe you got a bad one???
thekiller99 said:
The touch input in this device is so bad i have to use my stylus pen to browse webs(i can never touch the back page button on google chrome instead it touches the forward page button instead),close programs(touch the top of the screen and pulling it down never works), opening the charm bar(swiping my finger from the right of the screen to the left never works too).
I tried calibrating it by searching calibrate on the charm bar's search feature but they doesn't work as well.
Any way to fix this? Its getting so annoying because i can't use the touch screen feature at all because its not precise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure your navigation gestures start from the black bezel of the Vaio then onto the touchscreen. You can use the calibration tool, change pen and touch settings, and change double clicking of objects to single tap to make the experience better. I'm not sure if the registry change to make touch more responsive for surface rt applies to your Intel tablet.
I'm with @vinscuzzy on this one... generally speaking I detest Sony products, but this sounds like a defective unit more than anything else. I'm not sure what you mean by "calibration doesn't work as well" (grammar, people: it conveys meaning). but if you can't fix this yourself, I would definitely suggest you take it back to wherever you got it.
When i use the calibration settings whenever i try to touch the cross it shows the input to be slightly on the right. i can't even close apps or use the multitasking. Closing tabs is hard or even clicking on links on google isn't accurate at all.
I bought this machine overseas and it isn't even out in my country so replacing it is too much of a hassle.
I almost considered it. But found there is a problem with the drivers, especially with Photoshop supposedly MS and Sony are using a specific driver but its not compatible with certain apps that use a different format of driver like Photoshop for touch.
The driver developers as far as I'm aware via googling don't seem interested in fixing this issue due to cost and/or it being niche market. Maybe try other software, I hope you don't have faulty system
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium HD app

Disable changing watchfaces (long-press)

Hello all.
I don't think anyone has asked this before, so here it is.
Is there a way to disable long-press to change watch face? When I happen to cross my arms, it tends to hit the watchface and registers a long press and goes to the face selection screen. It is pretty annoying as it vibrates and there is a tendency that my face will get changed.
I rather just have the ability to change watch faces via the settings, but would very much like the long-press disabled.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers!
I´ve the same issue, sometimes when covering the screen with the hand to turn it off it changes the watchface...
Wouldn't enabling theater mode prevent that? Two taps on the crown to enable or disable.
No. Theatre mode disables the display.
It should be possible to keep the display on but disable changing watch faces. At least this way.
Yes I found it very annoying too... Google should lock that function (or at least give the ability to do so)
MasK said:
Hello all.
I don't think anyone has asked this before, so here it is.
Is there a way to disable long-press to change watch face? When I happen to cross my arms, it tends to hit the watchface and registers a long press and goes to the face selection screen. It is pretty annoying as it vibrates and there is a tendency that my face will get changed.
I rather just have the ability to change watch faces via the settings, but would very much like the long-press disabled.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would need to root your watch, but this should do what you want: http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...ch-wake-to-save-battery-t3116936/post60952041
JimSmith94 said:
You would need to root your watch, but this should do what you want: http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...ch-wake-to-save-battery-t3116936/post60952041
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. That's pretty close. However, I would not like to lock the screen altogether. Normal tasks like viewing and swiping cards is fine. It's just the long tap on the face that I need to disable. I'm thinking the watch face itself needs to be amended. I'll probably ask around the WatchMaker G+ forums as I'm using it's face.
MasK said:
Thanks. That's pretty close. However, I would not like to lock the screen altogether. Normal tasks like viewing and swiping cards is fine. It's just the long tap on the face that I need to disable. I'm thinking the watch face itself needs to be amended. I'll probably ask around the WatchMaker G+ forums as I'm using it's face.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a developer, but it looks to me like that just disables touch to wake, which is what you asked for. It doesn't affect swiping at all.
JimSmith94 said:
I'm not a developer, but it looks to me like that just disables touch to wake, which is what you asked for. It doesn't affect swiping at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to disable touch to wake. I want to disable long-press to change watchface. That's pretty specific to changing watchfaces.
any news?
Hello,
i've got an G Watch R (Rooted with an G Watch Urbane port running).
I used Advanced Settings for AndroidWear to disable WakeOnTouch, that works pretty well.
but sometimes it seems that i perfom a long-press on the watch and trigger the "change watchface screen".
Are there any News, how this feature could be deactivated? (to change watchfaces there is also an entry in the settings-menu).
LG Naith
Same problem here.
Was out shovelling snow today and I could feel my wrist vibrating to change the watch face every minute. Must have been wearing something conductive. Tried theatre mode in hopes to outwit it, it skipped passed the three taps almost immediately. As a result, the battery must have dipped 20 to 30% (or more) in that hour alone because nine hours from being on charge it's down to 50%.
I use an LG G Watch (original), so no crown to make the hack above worthwhile (unless I never want to interact with the watch again )
This happens when I bike ride as well. At any rate, any ideas (other than keeping the watch in my pocket) would be helpful (not too concerned about the battery drain effect, just the constant watch face change).
Thanks.
Anyone found a solution for this?
He is an asshole that develops such garbage function.

Unnecessary split screen change

Okay, so i only just made this account. I don't have any experience when it comes to programming. But i just had to get this out.
Is it okay if i rant for a second? Why did they change the split screen mode? It uaed to be really practical but now it's juat a buggy mess! Apps constantly flip out, some apps dont even work because it doesn't acknowledge that the phone is in split screen!
How dose this change benifit anybody? You could already access your home acreen by pressing on the home button! Now i can't use my phone while it's in my pocket without it opening a bunch of apps!! Like who the hell though this was a good idea?? It doesn't add anything other then rendering split screen practically useless!!
Sorry but i just had to get it off my chest
Just a quick question, are you referring to the split screen knuckle gesture? Because it can be easily turned off in setting under accessibility, and there isn't really any significant change in multitasking from nougat to oreo at least visually.
There is a setting that allows you to turn on a touch disable mode that disables the touchscreen when in your pocket.
As for apps not recognizing that the phone is in split screen mode well if it didn't work with nougat in split screen it wont work now. That is true for most games or apps that doesn't scale correctly in split screen.

Categories

Resources