I'm not sure if this has been pointed out already, but I have found a reddit thread which gives instructions on how to do just that.
I'm running Temasek's android 5.1.1 with the 5.1.x Xposed framework(by romracer) and I'm in complete bliss, I've been freed from the Touchwiz lag wagon!
It's not perfect, some splitscreen bugs here and there, but floating windows are very useable; resizable, moveable, minimizeable.
The Touchwiz alternative isn't perfect either,so...yeah..
The AOSP alternative is actually faster and smoother then on Touchwiz.
My essential apps are perfectly* able to be floated or splitted, these include:
-Chrome, Youtube, Password manager, Note taking, Calculator, email, messaging, office, file explorer, pdf reader.
*most apps are floatable via the recent app screen, however the apps that refuse this action can be forced to comply (float on app open).
Here's the original link: https://www.reddit.com/r/nexus6/comments/2wh9vw/multiwindow_for_the_nexus_6_thanks_to_xposed/ only use the mentioned version ofcourse.
Do's and dont's:
-Don't fiddle around with the 'xHaloFloatingWindow>SystemUI Modes' and/or ',, ,, ,,>Status Taskbars', as it may cause System UI to crash constantly (even if you disable xposed, rooted apps keep crashing).
-more to come.
Some quick settings and tips:
-Set/keep the ',, ,, ,,>Popup Behavior>Whitelist/Backlist options' to default if you wish.
-To force apps into floating mode, add an app to ',, ,, ,,>Popup Behavior>Whitelist Apps'.
-MultiWindowSlidebar is only useful for apps which have been forced into floating mode, any other apps added will be opened in fullscreen (these apps will need to be floated via the recent apps menu).
-unfortunately some apps refuse to open floated(via recents) once they're already opened the normal way, which makes it impossible to open them floated unless you forcefully do so.
Forcing them may or may not be useful. However you don't have to; if you kill the app(via app info screen) and the killed app still shows in recents, you can reopen it in floated(the app is restarted in floated that way, through recents).
There is an even quicker way to achieve this, and I discovered it by accident.
If you're on Tamesek's rom, go to 'settings>Tamesek spare parts>app bar'
Enable it, add you're apps in it.
If you now long press an app in the app bar it'll open in a floating window(some apps must be closed before they can be floated;just close them via recents).
The app bar has in effect replaced my multiwindowsidebar app.
-more to come
Functionality loss compared to touchwiz and/or decrease in reliability:
-no 4 way split screen, only 2 way.
-no app bubbles (these however can be turned on and showed in the notification bar, if you've set the right setting).
-Apps floated via recent's do not get a 'bubble' in the notif. bar if they get minimized. However you can reopen the apps in recents and the apps will reopen themselfs as floated.
-It's not as easy to snap 2 app's side by side.
-Some apps crash/misbehave whereas on TW they wouldn't have.
-Some apps misbehave when forced into float, but do not when it's floated from recents.
Vice versa.
-Split screen divider bar doesn't always show up>Can't resize on the fly.
-Status bar causes some floated apps te misbehave; I use gmd gestures to quickly hide/unhide the bar.
Analyse the relevant behaviors to adapt to them.
-more to come.
All the fluidity of AOSP bundled with most of the functionality of TouchWiz, I highly recommend you try out his instructions. You won't be disappointed, though you will be needing some patience.
Let me know how it went and share your experiences.
-V
Related
Hi,
I'd like to limit number of apps displayed in "Recent Apps" menu. Why? There is a small lag while invoking recent apps menu with lots of apps there. There is even visible stutter in displaying recent apps glowing backrground animation. I don't think it's multitasking performance issue becasue phone is working fine besides this, e.g. when I was using alternative app switchers. The lag is probably connected to renderning all those thumbnails. At the moment I just remove apps from there manually but it's kind of annoying. Is there a way to limit recent apps list?
PS. I know that removing apps from recent apps list is not killing processes and I don't want to. I just want to limit of apps displayed there to avoid lag.
Wait for 4.4 (the real one, not the current fanmade versions) as this will have updated drivers that will enable multitexturing in the UI, that'll get rid of the occasional choppiness.
I don't think it's possible to limit the number of apps in the taskswitcher.
Warning : Do not install this if you're running art on 4.4 (xposed works only with dalvik) or any other rom with multiwindow framework built in like mokee.
Here's a guide to XhaloFloatingWindow Xposed module :
Firstly basic installation Guide and Original thread
After following the guide, you will be able to launch notifications in floating window like halo, but you'll need a secondary launcher like floating notifications or bubble launcher to launch apps in floating mode.
But to get true multi window(not just halo like behaviour), do the following in xHaloFloatingWindow app.
In popup behaviour:
1) App pausing is off.
2) disable auto close checked.
3)force new windows in halo checked
4) show app in recents checked (this one's your choice)
In movable and resize :
1) turn on movable and resize
2)in titlebar settings, enable title bar.
3)in moving settings, enable all.
4)in resizing settings, nothing is on.
5) in system ui mods, prevent moving home to the front is checked, rest is off.
And the result is .....drum roll.... multi window like behaviour.
See screen shots attached
Feel free to experiment and post your results. I'm on Cm11 by CodyF86.
P.S : for some reason, opening more than one app on home screen causes the new app to hide previous app. I just open a random app, like contacts app and now opening new apps wont hide previous apps.
a1shakes said:
P.S : for some reason, opening more than one app on home screen causes the new app to hide previous app. I just open a random app, like contacts app and now opening new apps wont hide previous apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not able to get that
Also take care that if you have inbuilt halo or omni multiwindow. ....
Don't follow this method results may Uneven as per developr. .....
Only it suits for simple roms without halo or omni multiwindow. ...
You can use SensonicHD rom it has in built unlimited floating multiwindow. ...you may refer bellow.... ...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49756565
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I love it! it's great for tablets, but I guess it's still pretty new? some apps don't function so well with it.You said something about bubble launcher and floating notifications. I've tried bubble launcher and didn't see the difference. Maybe I've configured it wrong?
Thanks for posting!:good:
Hello,
I'm using Slimkat 4.4.4.8269 since its release. It has a neat feature called the custom tiles which is the feature that keeps me on that rom because I was unable to find a similar function in another ROM.
The Slimroms custom tiles basically lets you set unlimited "custom" tiles in the quicksettings which you can set with apps, os functions or whatever. They take a second action for a long press and they can cycle through multiple apps on that one tiles.
This is basically a quickstarter for apps. The thing that makes this marvelous is actually that opening an app doesn't get that app into the foreground, that statusbar stays in the foreground such that I can open a second and third, etc. app through very few taps.
An example what I use this for: My worst but not rare case here:
Navigation+speedcam warner+mozilla stumbler(wifi and cell existance to gps mapper)+openwlanmap.org (wifi to gps mapper)+openbmap.org (wifi and cell to gps mapper).
The best approach is to use a directory on the homescreen, if my launcher supported it. This way i don't have to search in the app drawer.
So I would open the directory, start app 1, press home screen, start app 2 and so on.
Until i started the 5 apps, I have done (swipes and presses+ app-open-taps combined) 15 actions.
Using custom tiles as slimkat offers it in the status bar I swipe to open the quick settings and then open my apps, 1 swipe+5 taps=6 actions.
This is for me much faster and allows me to pay much less attention to my phone while starting what I want.
However, I would like to update to Lollipop or M, anyways, go with CM most likely but that feature isn't there. I found out that the GravityBox with the xposed framework offers some kind of similar features but it only features 2 custom apps, currently I have a bit more than 20 in my status bar.
I could use "Tasker" for this approach as well, but actually that configuration is rather weird and static to one action/app (condition) which I first have to fulfill. That approach fails if one of the apps is already started and I only want to start one app especially if that meets Taskers condition. I end up using the app drawer and search for my app.
This post pretty much covers the configuration and outcome of the custom tile in Slimroms in two pictures:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/orig-development/rom-slimkat-hammerhead-stable-5-0-t2511512/post51495728#post51495728
Have you seen any other ROM with decent updates (that seems to be only CM for the hlte at the point of writing) or way to accomplish something similar? It doesn't need to be in the statusbar, even though that is quite easy to access.
Parts of my post I took from my post to a CM feature request at JIRA:
https://jira.cyanogenmod.org/browse/CYAN-2227?jql=text%20~%20%22custom%20tiles%22
Thanks in advance!
Try Layers, http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4/themes-apps/systemui-overlays-5-0-t3025183
Thanks for the reply. I think layers is some sort of theming app overlaying the normal icons with other colors. This is something new to me and interesting, but not what I wanted in this thread.
I found something that goes a bit in that direction: Hangars. It displays some appbar in the notification area. Upon opening an app the area disappears and I would have to open the notification area again. Still better than the homelauncher and its folders.
Something I tested previously going into the same direction is the PIE control as well as some sidelaunchers like omnirom and such. Still the custom tiles allow a faster operation.
If anyone is interested in those, you could vote for this as well:
https://jira.cyanogenmod.org/browse/CYAN-2227, It enclosed this feature.
From time to time I changed to CM or something like it, but return very quickly to my custom quick tiles as they are irreplacible and other roms waste time and I can hardly operate them blindly like slimkat.
Just heads up, Google finally may have thought those tiles to be useful and they were added in Marshmallow. You can only go there using the System UI tuner (google for it, if you don't know what it is. You'll need another app to configure those nicely, like custom quick settings. Due a bug you can't add more than 18 tiles in total, but if you like it and don't need more go ahead. Right now I have 40+ and they're in color.
So far I can't think of changing from the lovely slimkat.
You need to have Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S7 with Nova Launcher and Marshmallow.
Confirmed working on SM-G925F
So, to access hidden activities you need to add Nova Launcher widget called "Activites" then scroll down to "Settings" and select something from list. Some things won't work (they are not available, need additional permissions etc.), some of them are already available via Settings. I am not responsible if tinkering with activities do something nasty to your device!
However, there are some options that are hidden but can be very, very useful.
Hint - you can "test" specific activity by long press, there's no need to put every activity on home screen and test it that way. Also, applying settings isn't dependent on Nova Launcher, ergo you can use whatever you want after changing something.
Here's what I've found:
Settings
.DisplayScalingActivity - enables condensed view of system UI, same as on S6 Edge + or Note 5, meaning smaller icons and UI elements.
.IconBackgrounds - enables homescreen and app drawer icons background like it was in Marshmallow Beta.
.ModePreviewTablet - enables additional "Reading mode" in display options. It dims screen so I don't recommend using it on bright daylight because it can be harder to see assets on screen.
.networkconnect.NetworkManagerActivity - holy **** this one is nice. Allows you to select which app can use WiFi and mobile data. Also it allows you to select which apps can use data even after data usage warning is shown.
.RunningServices - shows running services, like in Developers Menu
.Settings$AirCmdSettingsActivity - S-Pen Air Command setting. It won't work since S6/S7 doesn't support S-Pen functionality.
.Settings$MemorySettingsActivity - Shows RAM usage options like on stock Marshmallow, at least I think. Very helpful for troubleshooting misbehaving apps or battery consumption.
.Settings$ZenModeSettingsActivity - it seems like this is Do Not Disturbed (DND) on steroids. You can add additional rules and select which events can have priority.
.UsageStatsActivity - shows usage for every app on phone. It lists app name, Last time app was used and for how long.
.wifi.WifiConfigInfo - very detailed info about configured WiFi networks.
System UI
.settings.BrightnessDialog - shows small slider for brightness
.DessertCase - old KitKat hidden animation from About
.egg.MLandActivity - hidden MM game
List will be updated with new discoveries.
Link for the widget please?
I am not able to locate it will Google search.
it´s a widget of nova launcher...just add the widget to homescreen
Is there a way by which apps such as dialer, messenger, YouTube and some other selected apps can open with loading as instantly as they would when they were in recents tabs without being there. That means I want them to stay awake but still not be available in the recents tabs.
Thanks and by this I want to prevent the slow loading of certain apps for example when u open dialer first there would be a white screen then a top search bar and then finally all content, although it's is there for a fraction of second but I still hate it.