Database Users

[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?

AOSP-like browser

Hi i want to ask you if you know good browser with flash support. I want it to be as much as similiar to aosp browser. And yes i know i can root and install it, but on nexus device i dont want to ( i know hoe to root, i have galaxy ace and i'm running cm10 jellybean). I found naked browser, but the design is very poor. Thanks in advance
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Never tried AOSP, but if you can't "duplicate" it with ssLauncher, there's probably nothing close.
edit: LOL, sorry got "Launcher" and "Browser" confused... Boat works for me.

Eh i'm looking for an app not a launcher. Btw. I don't think that this launcher will magically convert chrome into AOSP browser
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

You might try the "naked browser" from the playstore.It works well on my N7 and does not need root.Very smooth and has a full screen mode that crome lacks.I have used asop since I am rooted but prefer the naked browser best.It is set up to load flash on demand and t sppeds up loading pages that have a bunch of flash content you don't want to see anyway.:laugh:

p00l said:
I found naked browser, but the design is very poor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mind sharing exactly what aspect(s) of Naked Browser's design that you found to be poor?

Yes i tried it. It's very smooth and fast, and i really like the fullscreen mode, but the icon could be better (it's not a deal breaker) and the icons in the bottom panel (settings,refresh- the upper row) could be a bit bigger. When i open new tab i would like to see my bookmarks with thumbnails. And also when i open the new tab i have to slide down a bit to see domain, weather,film review, because it's covered by open tabs. Anyway it's a good browser, better than google chrome
Sent from my GT-S5830 using xda app-developers app

p00l said:
Yes i tried it. It's very smooth and fast, and i really like the fullscreen mode, but the icon could be better (it's not a deal breaker) and the icons in the bottom panel (settings,refresh- the upper row) could be a bit bigger. When i open new tab i would like to see my bookmarks with thumbnails. And also when i open the new tab i have to slide down a bit to see domain, weather,film review, because it's covered by open tabs. Anyway it's a good browser, better than google chrome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for responding. It's OK if Naked Browser is not for you. It's just another choice that I want people to know about.
Let me express my position. I made Naked Browser in response to the privacy violations of most browsers out there. All along I focused on speed, stability, and features rather than user interface. I made the icon in 3 minutes from memory. Some people like it. If they don't it is easily changed in some launchers. In others, if you search for "change icon" in the Google Play Store then apps can change the icon. A few people have been telling me to reduce the height of the bottom menu but you are the first to say that it is too small. The start page does not have thumbnails because it is designed to show as much information as possible in a small space as quickly as possible. The "slide down" on new tab is something that may take getting used to. In the end, I believe that the behavior of the Naked Browser menus is more efficient than any other browser that I've tried. Naked Browser has been out for less than 2 months so things may change.
Anyway, I'm posting this information for anyone that cares. You can find Naked Browser here in the Google Play Store.
Naked Browser is not for profit. Please do not try it if you don't want to.

aminaked said:
Thank you for responding. It's OK if Naked Browser is not for you. It's just another choice that I want people to know about.
Let me express my position. I made Naked Browser in response to the privacy violations of most browsers out there. All along I focused on speed, stability, and features rather than user interface. I made the icon in 3 minutes from memory. Some people like it. If they don't it is easily changed in some launchers. In others, if you search for "change icon" in the Google Play Store then apps can change the icon. A few people have been telling me to reduce the height of the bottom menu but you are the first to say that it is too small. The start page does not have thumbnails because it is designed to show as much information as possible in a small space as quickly as possible. The "slide down" on new tab is something that may take getting used to. In the end, I believe that the behavior of the Naked Browser menus is more efficient than any other browser that I've tried. Naked Browser has been out for less than 2 months so things may change.
Anyway, I'm posting this information for anyone that cares. You can find Naked Browser here in the Google Play Store.
Naked Browser is not for profit. Please do not try it if you don't want to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your quick respond. I didn't said that i don't like quite oposite i reaally like it and thanks for clearification on the new tab issue. Keep it up, it's a great browser
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

wallpapers

can some one direct me to a thread that has wallpapers for android phones or specfically ones with the N4 resolution? I searched in general and found the icon threads etc but cant find walls.
thanks.

http://bit.ly/VeqOHk
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Kennnny1 said:
http://bit.ly/VeqOHk
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for not being an ass about it! I don't know if my OP was confusing or what, I was looking for something locally on this board.
Again, thanks for the quick speedy response!
regards
:good:

InvalidUsername said:
Ironic how the "smartass" comments are always written by idiots like you.
That resolution would not give you a properly fitting wall paper (aside from the fact that you wrote 1280*768 instead of 768*1280), because the phone has to upscale it to fit the moving home screens.
The original wallpapers that Google has included are 1436*1196, so anything 1500(width)*1200(height) will do.
Obviously, the width (1436) is a lot bigger than 768 to allow for the homescreen movement without having to upscale the picture, and the height (1196) is smaller than 1280, since the homescreen buttons and menu bar take up some space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for an actual response. Is there a section anywhere on XDA with wallpapers that you know of?

2048x2048 'retina' ipad wallpapers work fantastically on the Nexus. The ones that I cycle between on my device can be found here - http://t.co/MCef15DL

Meh, I only use one home screen and didn't stop to think about users with multiple home screens. Regardless, the gist of my reply was valid - search! It's all there.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Full HD wallpapers for 5" 1080p Phones?

Ones that are scaled for the mobile displays and not the desktop/tablet ones? Been looking to switch up my wallpaper a bit, but the ones I grab off the Internet just don't look good on the phone the majority of the time.

megagodx said:
Ones that are scaled for the mobile displays and not the desktop/tablet ones? Been looking to switch up my wallpaper a bit, but the ones I grab off the Internet just don't look good on the phone the majority of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the moment I am just rotating & cropping desktop 1440p wallpaper in Nova Launcher. If there are more 1080X1920 portrait wall paper I'd like to see them.

Try ZEDGE
megagodx said:
Ones that are scaled for the mobile displays and not the desktop/tablet ones? Been looking to switch up my wallpaper a bit, but the ones I grab off the Internet just don't look good on the phone the majority of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use an app called ZEDGE - you can download and install hundreds (thousands) of Hi Definition, awesome quality Wall Papers - I personally like wall papers that have a sort of 3d effect - with depth to the image - and I found quite a few from ZEDGE - You will find it here;
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.zedge.android&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDNd
As an added bonus, you can also download free ringtones, notifications and alarms. I love it - good luck - hope it works for you.
If I have helped, don't forget to say thanks.

I posted in the themes sub forums that the correct resolution for the phone is 2160x1920. This results in the most detailed backgrounds. Personally I've found there to be a lack of wallpapers for my taste in this resolution so I resorted to the slightly more common 2560x1920 wallpapers. It crops wide, but height is perfect.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

I found a nice website with a lot of 2160X1920 wallpaper for GS4 here :http://www.mygalaxys4wallpaper.com/gallery.php?gallery_id=21_Space&paging=0
Just updated my own Wallpaper.

pics work too; i snapped this one the other day, desaturated it, and cropped it.

I find good pictures then I make the HD background. For best support I crop and scale them to 1920x1920. Then it works for vertical and horizontal screen without anomalies.
Sent from my awesome AT&T SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 SGH-I337 using xda developers app.

Well, to get full HD wallpapers I can only recommend http://fhdwallpapers.weebly.com/ . The site is easy to use and browse, and it's commited to providing only vertical (portrait) 1080p wallpapers for mobiles; some high quality stuff there actually.
If you want full HD wallpapers with the status bar shadow effect (my personal favorite), then go to http://fhdwallpapers.weebly.com/shadows.html .

Best apps and games

Sent from my XT1032 using xda premium

the sarge said:
Sent from my XT1032 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm back on the scene and will be researching the best stylus apps. I'll be looking for functionality and development of flowcharts, project design, to sketching vector and pixel based drawing.
Here's some of the regular free apps I always download (some may need root or sourced from maker);
Hackers Keyboard - Great for coders as offers near to desktop keyboard layouts. Like ESC, Ctrl, arrow Keys, etc.
DNS Changer - Allows you to change the dns provider, maybe making internet faster, and avoiding usage monitoring.
SyncMe Wireless - Allows you to sync directories with other computers. Example an eBook directory off your desktop.
AdAway - Removes commercials from Apps by cutting internet url access.
Link2SD - Allows you to manipulate Apps like moving them onto different partitions. Example pushing updated Apps back to their system partition so system wipes retain the latest version.
Droidwall - Iptable based firewall. Lets you choose which Apps have internet access, blocked at a system kernel level.

Good post m8 would also be interesting in paid apps ur also using if u got a min to post tnx :thumbup:
Sent from my XT1032 using xda premium

MyScript Stylus Beta works amazingly well!

While im absolutely impressed with the resolution and tracking of the capacitive stylus on the Tegra note, im dissapointed that no reviewer to date showed the actual level of resolution it was capable of. I would have still purchased, but i cannot write as small as im used to on the screen cleanly. The device wont cleanly track at that size and speed, only displaying "the gist" of my strokes. Does anyone have any suggestions for page by page note taking app that mitigates this? Really looking for an app where i dont have to keep repositioning the writing area manually, as it really disrupts the flow of writing.

I like Markers from the F-Droid Market. MyScript Stylus Beta is cool, but it seems slower than swyping in the Google Keyboard.

crhylove said:
I like Markers from the F-Droid Market. MyScript Stylus Beta is cool, but it seems slower than swyping in the Google Keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Markers looks strangely familiar, seems an updated version of the Tegra Draw app that came with my UK Advent tablet, has a zoom and move around page function, hand icon.
Tried Myscript Stylus and yes, found slower than swyping keyboard.
Been playing with Floor Plan Creator, have to pay to save out in various formats but otherwise free, works well with the stylus.
And of course Autodesk SketchBook I have the pro and nice drawing app with the stylus.
Just trying ArtFlow, good support for the stylus.
Still new to the Tegra and will add here as we go along, enjoying this tablet, would like a bigger screen tho.....