just wanted to see what everyone thinks about the button layout.
should we keep it?
should we change it?
how can we change the button layout ourselfs?
is there any progress on making an application to allow us to change our button layout?
what does everyone think?
im used to the button layout now but i would love to customize it to my liking.
There needs to be a third option. "Allow for customization"
Everyone perceives their needs differently.
EDIT: Should also mention that I'm fine with it the way it is, but the way your post is worded makes the third option necessary.
Leave it,
Its perfect.
leave it. Only add button combination for running apps.. If everyone's is different, you will have a hard time giving directions based on buttons.
i like it the way it is as well. the only thing nicer would be more buttons; if we were able to get the red button to "go home, then sleep" it would allow long press camera to be used to display running applications.
a program to modify the keymap was in the works. don't know what happened to it.
i think it would be awsome if the keymap were like this. power is power, volume is volume, 1 tap camera goes to landscape, long press camera goes to camera, left d-pad is back, right d-pad is forward, up d-pad is menu, down or center d-pad to go home, red end button as is, green button as is.
cp0020 said:
i think it would be awsome if the keymap were like this. power is power, volume is volume, 1 tap camera goes to landscape, long press camera goes to camera, left d-pad is back, right d-pad is forward, up d-pad is menu, down or center d-pad to go home, red end button as is, green button as is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can't change dpad function - need it for many games. for those who don't play games, would be great. once again, individualizable keymap seems best.
I personally like it.
We used to have an older configuration but this current one seems very usable making efficient use of the keys we have.
I like it as it is.
myn said:
I personally like it.
We used to have an older configuration but this current one seems very usable making efficient use of the keys we have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean the original, menu on the volume slider, that was THE worst. Last year I quit Android as soon as I started because I hated using the volume slider all the time.
slow88lx said:
If you mean the original, menu on the volume slider, that was THE worst. Last year I quit Android as soon as I started because I hated using the volume slider all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
personally i was in love with the old layout
i loved how holding the home button showed all running apps and made switching between them a breeze
if we could somehow incorporate the old layout
id be all for it!
even though i'm accustomed to the current one
cp0020 said:
i think it would be awsome if the keymap were like this. power is power, volume is volume, 1 tap camera goes to landscape, long press camera goes to camera, left d-pad is back, right d-pad is forward, up d-pad is menu, down or center d-pad to go home, red end button as is, green button as is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it would be cool to have that button layout and make the center d-pad to swith back to the current button layout so we can use the d-pad for games and whatnot.
cp0020 said:
it would be cool to have that button layout and make the center d-pad to swith back to the current button layout so we can use the d-pad for games and whatnot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That just seems overly complicated.
When I first switched to Android, I hated the layout, but it's grown on my now. Only thing I wish is for a spare button that could be made into a search button so I could have working quick compose in chomp sms.
preardon said:
That just seems overly complicated.
When I first switched to Android, I hated the layout, but it's grown on my now. Only thing I wish is for a spare button that could be made into a search button so I could have working quick compose in chomp sms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if we can put android on our phones i think we can do that
cp0020 said:
if we can put android on our phones i think we can do that
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Click to collapse
I was saying more from a user standpoint than a development standpoint.
Related
Hello XDA'ers,
I am wondering what the reason behind why the buttons (camera, power, green, red, etc.) in Android on HTC Vogue map to the various tasks they do? For example, the camera button is back, but why not the red button? Is this something hard set in Android and cannot be changed or did someone specifically set it up this way for a reason?
Secondly I am wondering if I create a new "keylayout file" (source.android.com/porting/keymaps_keyboard_input.html) or modify the default one in /system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl will I be able to change the mapping of these buttons?
Compared to the Win Mobile mapping, they button layout can take some getting used to,
but once you get used to it, it's actually a very cool layout, especially if you are right handed.
You can hold the phone in your left hand, and use your thumb to access the settings 'top button',
Use your ring-finger to always back-out or end an app
Green button for phone / initiating calls
Red button to end a call, sleep mode, or power off
I wish the d-pad had more use, but I'm always using the stylus, so barely use it.
Would love for the d-pad center key to maybe be the main power-off button.
Does_It_Matter said:
... It's actually a very cool layout.
...
I wish the d-pad had more use, but I'm always using the stylus, so barely use it.
Would love for the d-pad center key to maybe be the main power-off button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree the current layout is a very cool layout indeed, but as I imagine most people on here like to tinker it may be interesting to know how to customize the button bindings.
I am not sure if its just a matter of changing the button layout file.
I looked at that qwerty.kl file in the android.tgz
It looks like its just a mapping file, and if you change the mapping, you change
buttons,
but doesn't that mean you're just re-mapping the button itself?
Not re-mapping its functionality?
I.e., if you remapped the camera button to the d-pad center, for example, then
the d-pad center would do all functions the camera button used to do,
and the camera button would do any functions the d-pad center would?
Seems like you'd actually have to change more code than just the .kl file?
i wrote this application for polaris, and with simple changes you can add the vogue setup...
I think having the trackball function as the home button would be a feature many would like to have. Any developer out there willing to take on this function?
What would be the point of the actual home button then? This seems pointless
what would be more useful is if the trackball can be programmed for stuff then we can use it to launch apps and do all sorts of things.
PhantomRampage said:
What would be the point of the actual home button then? This seems pointless
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 3 things for my home button now, Quickdesk on dubbletap, recent apps on hold in, and singletap for launcher pro. for me it would be awesome to have quicker access to the recent apps, by putting the home to the trackball. and have recent apps on single click. wouldnt hurt to have the option. and it should also be available to bind the trackball click to anything u like.
I agree, or trackball to answer a call, I don't use the trackball that much.
Creating a service to run in the background wouldn't be too hard to do. The only problem is that you wouldn't be able to use your trackball to select links in the browser, for example. Good in theory, wouldn't work great in practise i don't think.
Here are the reasons why this would be a great function, and how it should go down:
The capacitive home button is not as responsive as it should be. I think we all use it A LOT, so making sure it worked perfectly everytime would be awesome. Especially when accessing "recent apps" and long pressing the home button, the capacitive button will occasionally take you home before you see your recent apps.
Double tapping can be incorporated into the home button. With the capacitive button, double tapping it has an almost 50% chance of failure. The trackball home button would fix this.
I don't know about you guys, but I usually dont use the trackball to select things on the screen. Touching it is so much easier. The trackball would be much more usefull for notifications, scrolling, and as a home button.
I agree with a previous poster, the trackball should be given to option to route to anywhere the user would like it to... Though I don't know what else there is to route to...
The ACTUAL home button can also be routed to anything the user would like. Maybe to recent apps, changing of brightness, a favorite app, an alternate launcher... ANYTHING.
This is all hypothetical of course, and as a non-dev, I actually have no clue how hard or easy this would be to create.
But what do you guys think? I know this a feature that would be really useful to me at least, and sound like some other people too.
sorry, there was a double post due to the server upgrades/issues on XDA.
Sorry to revive an ancient thread.
My N1 had a broken trackball, and in the process of replacing it i managed to kill both my home button and my seach button.
I can live without the seach, but not without the home.
Is there any progress on this topic ?
tia
John_duh said:
Sorry to revive an ancient thread.
My N1 had a broken trackball, and in the process of replacing it i managed to kill both my home button and my seach button.
I can live without the seach, but not without the home.
Is there any progress on this topic ?
tia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never mind, it was a software problem caused by an incomplete flash. (wiped everything separately, but that wasn't sufficient. Returning to factory settings did the trick)
All I want is trackball to blink beautifully for me!
That's all, baby.
+1
I would also like trackball mods such as
double tap to go to an app and other tap patterns for the trackball
I'm an amateur at all this I've managed to get my nook color rooted, and I've installed a few apps. I've tried softkeys, but I'm not 100% happy with the result. First it wouldn't start on its own after a reboot. I reconfigured it following some directions form another user, and it starts now, but it's still too "busy", with bars and buttons popping up all over.
ALL I WANT is an app or some way to configure a "back" button and "menu" button in the lower black bar where the clock, bettery meter, etc are? Any ideas?
Either that, or is there a way to turn off ALL THE OTHER FUNCTIONS AND DISPLAYS of softkeys EXCEPT the ability to go "back" when pressing the physical "N"/home button, which is how I have it now.
In the end, I don't want any "back" or "menu" buttons on the actual viewable screen except the lower black bar.
THANKS a million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
not quite what you asked for but i remapped my volume keys for menu and back. works great for my needs. i control volume with a widget now.
hxxp://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Remap_volume_buttons_for_back_and_menu
hope this solves your frustrations with hotkeys.
nookcolor
zeam launcher
Well, if all you want is a back button on the notification bar..... you have one. Not talking about the back button that appears on there either. Just swipe left on the notification bar and it should always work as a back button.
Other than that, there's an app you can try called Button Savior you can get from the Market. It has a small launcher button that appears on the edge of the screen. You can move it around a limited range as you see fit. It's not as complicated or as "busy" as Softkeys.
If you find the visible button not to your liking, you can try this modded version of Button Savior. The button is invisible. You can see where the button actually lies by switching to the Sense UI theme. Then back to the default or Froyo theme to make it invisible once more. The modded version of Button Savior can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=897253
I suggest you try the Market version of Button Savior first.
I'm going to second Button Savior. It hasn't let me down once
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App
g-costanza said:
I'm an amateur at all this I've managed to get my nook color rooted, and I've installed a few apps. I've tried softkeys, but I'm not 100% happy with the result. First it wouldn't start on its own after a reboot. I reconfigured it following some directions form another user, and it starts now, but it's still too "busy", with bars and buttons popping up all over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have Softkeys set up properly..
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Default_Launcher
I understand what you are looking for. I would like the same thing, but I do not believe there is anything out there for us..
I may end up remapping the volume keys myself.
spikey911 said:
I understand what you are looking for. I would like the same thing, but I do not believe there is anything out there for us..
I may end up remapping the volume keys myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With SoftKeys you can put the menu and back buttons in the notification area, since ver. 1.0.8 I believe. Then, disable the popper, and you are good to go.
Just wondering if people have done it and didn't like it, or vice-versa. It does seem bad for the hardware, but I can't stand softkeys/button saviour.
If you're using nookie Froyo, you can try the MENU/BACK soft buttons in the status bar mod, instead of remapping the vol+/- buttons. I've been using it since it came out, and can confim it works for nookie Froyo 6.7. Here's the link to the original thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=932631
It does have it's issues, mainly with the stock browser, and causing it to FC. Other than that I have not noticed any other problems.
If you are interested in useing the mod, but don't know how to install it, let me know. I'll pm you or post instructions.
I absolutely recommend remapping the volume buttons. Softkeys is nice, but kind of a pain sometimes. For instance, when I would view pictures in the XDA APP, I would have to restart the app instead of backing out, for some reason softkeys wouldnt let me back out of the picture viewer. It's just much easier to have the menu and back buttons always available than rely on software. I installed volume volume control if I need to adjust volume for some reason.
Is there an app that puts volume in the status bar that anyone knows of?
buffnutz1 said:
Just wondering if people have done it and didn't like it, or vice-versa. It does seem bad for the hardware, but I can't stand softkeys/button saviour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup... I've got a Pandigital Novel(white v2) w/custom fw and it'd be essentially useless w/o re-mapping the vol keys to menu and back along with soft-keys in the notification bar...
NC has one up on the WPDN though, it has the n home key plus the 2 vol keys and volume can be controlled through setting or a quick-settings app anyways or by adding soft-keys... still no substitue for physical keys or capacitive screen keys though, unfortunately... (spoilt by gtab with the full complement...)
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buffnutz1 said:
I'm sure you guys know where I'm screwing up. After I adb pull, I only get this
/system/usr/keylayout/twl4030-keypad.kl -> ./twl4030-keypad.kl
/system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl -> ./qwerty.kl
/system/usr/keylayout/AVRCP.kl -> ./AVRCP.kl
but it says to edit " 'TWL4030_Keypad.kl' and 'omap_twl4030keypad.kl' "with your text editor of choice; I used vi, always a safe choice.
I don't have the omap. what should I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just modify the qwerty.kl in the place of omap. That's what I did and things are working fine.
--ex
Love my remapped buttons and i saved the originals so i can go back anytime i wish.
buffnutz1 said:
Is there an app that puts volume in the status bar that anyone knows of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on the stock 1.1 rooted and have mapped my volume buttons - I have tried the other ones, and I MUCH prefer having hard buttons.
I downloaded a volume app "Volume Master Free". It has about 5 different volume controls, but I only use the system volume and the media volume controls.
I use Zeam as home screen; and I put a shortcut to Volume Master on the bottom right of my Zeam shortcut bar. It works very well. I do need to go to the home screen to change volume; but I can tap on the notification bar and toggle mute, so that works for me.
Yes, it makes a huge difference on the stock rom and froyo -- though honeycomb's soft buttons eliminate the need to do so.
Can't recommend remapping the keys enough. On froyo it makes a huge difference in functionality on. The device, life is a pain without it.
how do you remap the vol buttons? i would love to do it
TweetyBear said:
how do you remap the vol buttons? i would love to do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go here for instructions:
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Remap_volume_buttons_for_back_and_menu
--ex
I remapped.
I also recommend remapping your volume buttons. It's handy having tactile buttons for the back and menu functions.
What really sold me on remapping was that I didn't like to have a Softkeys button floating on the home screen. Without a floating button, I would have to double tap the hardware "N" button to bring up the Softkeys interface, then hit "menu" or "back." If I have to double tap a hardware button to use "menu" or "back," I might as well just remap those functions to the volume buttons and use a single tap.
evilxenu said:
Go here for instructions:
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Remap_volume_buttons_for_back_and_menu
--ex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks. will attempt over the weekend
can remapping the volume buttons be done when running cm7 nightlies off SD ?
I didn't find a definitive answer
I ran with the CM7 softkeys, Button Savior, remapped volume keys and I just finally settled on zMooth.
Hello,
after the sources for the Z2 Pro have been released and good Custom ROMs are possible, I would love to buy this beautiful device. I've read alot about this U-Touch thing, where you navigate only by using the Home Button... and I don't like it. So my question is: Does this phone also have the normal Back, Home and Recents hardware buttons?
Thanks!
Hi,
Yes, you can add on screen buttons in "Developer Options" menu. At least you can do it with z2 (non pro). I guess you will have this option too.
So there are no "real" hardware buttons to the left and the right of the home button?
On screen buttons are in developer options in both models, make sure you reboot to effect the changes.
Thanks for your answers. I know about the possiblity to show the On Screen Buttons, but that's not what I wanted to know.
I'm curious if the device also has dedicated hardware buttons (not on screen) for Back and Recents, or just the U-Touch button?
It only has 1 physical button on the front..
I'd love to see an app or even integration in a custom rom to be able to configure the behaviour of the front button. What are the chances this will become reality?
It already lets you configure what the button does. You can also preset actions to open specific apps.
Karly Johnston said:
It already lets you configure what the button does. You can also preset actions to open specific apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that is in the ZUI ROM right? I'd like to see this in a separate app or built into custom ROM so it can also be used outside ZUI.
Now that the sources are available someone who knows what he is doing should be able to pull this off.
Is there a way to make swipe left on the u-touch button act like a back button? Maybe there would be a way to have it open an scripted action that acts as back button?
Edit: Just figured out that short tap is back, so my problem is solved!
Thanks, this helped me out!
I'm looking for a phone with this same exact button. I'm always super stunned how retarded iphones are compared to my $200 phone.