Database Develop

[SOLUTION] Button Savior On-screen Softkeys - Utility Updated on Market

For those that would like some onscreen softkeys that you can even see in the dark.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865525
I have been using this little utility on my Android HD2 for a while now and figured I would give it a shot on my Gtab. Works Great! Merry Christmas to All!
[UPDATE Dec 30th 2010]
This great utility is now on the Android Market. Install it from there and you will get prompts for updates when they are released. I had an update yesterday that added a couple of skins and a few new features. It also has a new settings interface and it still works great on the G-Tab!
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB-v1.0.0b3 using Tapatalk

Work great.
thanks.

Awesome find!

great find..... I wish we could now disable the buttons on the side that are so annoying when you hit them accidentaly

insight3fl said:
great find..... I wish we could not disable the buttons on the side that are so annoying when you hit them accidentaly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was thinking of trying to find a way to disable the right side hardware buttons myself. They are fine until you are trying to reposition the tablet and accidentally press one. Or lose your grip and are grasping for purchase and press one then. Very annoying for sure.

Great find. Whose up for doing a YouTube review?
Scott

cscotty said:
Great find. Whose up for doing a YouTube review?
Scott
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would do one myself but have no dock or easel at this time that would provide the necessary stability for video purposes.
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB-v1.0.0b3 using Tapatalk

Neat app I like it. I put 4 very tiny adhesive dots on the side of the case so I know where everything is at night. This app works too though

TeamSpeed said:
Neat app I like it. I put 4 very tiny adhesive dots on the side of the case so I know where everything is at night. This app works too though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some nice little glow in the dark dots would be nice. I wonder if something like that would affect the responsiveness of the buttons? Maybe the dude from AndroidStickers.com can give us some input here?
BTW, this app has been updated and is now on the Android Market. Check the OP for more info.

hitekredneck said:
Some nice little glow in the dark dots would be nice. I wonder if something like that would affect the responsiveness of the buttons? Maybe the dude from AndroidStickers.com can give us some input here?
BTW, this app has been updated and is now on the Android Market. Check the OP for more info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did a quick market search for button savior and got nadda. What's It called there?

Allenfx said:
Did a quick market search for button savior and got nadda. What's It called there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It shows up in market for me. Have you done the market fix (clear cache, etc.)? It's exactly as spelled above.
Jim

hitekredneck said:
Some nice little glow in the dark dots would be nice. I wonder if something like that would affect the responsiveness of the buttons? Maybe the dude from AndroidStickers.com can give us some input here?
BTW, this app has been updated and is now on the Android Market. Check the OP for more info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried fluorescent reinforcement stickers, but you can not see them that well in total darkness. As far as disabling the keys you have to cover them with something thick like leather or many layers of paper. I tried sticky notes.... several layers of them but they still pick up your touch

this app is a lifesavor! Streaming vids crash alot due to that damn cooliris.com gallery association. Button Savior is the only escape when gallery decides FC.
Sent using Tapatalk

I might be way off, but I saw an app in the market called Button Remapper. I haven't had a chance to dig into it, but it looks like it's able to remap the soft keys on the bezel. I don't know if they can be remapped to null or an empty command, but at the least maybe they can be remapped to something that doesn't do much (like dpad up/down/left/right or something).
If I get a chance to play with it, I'll report back. Of course, anybody who beats me to it is encouraged to post their results.
EDIT:
Hey, it worked. I decided to jump into it and try it out. I basically just popped in and replaced any buttons that were soft buttons (search/home/menu/back) with DPAD buttons. I don't know if changing every reference is required or if there are better options than using DPAD buttons, but it's a start.
EDIT AGAIN:
DPAD worked fine but I kept accidentally selecting links and whatnot in the browser. I tried End Call, since we don't have phone capability, but it seemed to just close whatever app I was in. Ended up binding Back/Menu to Volume Down and Search/Home to Volume Up, which is working well.
EDIT AGAIN AGAIN:
Even better, Focus seems to not do anything at all (obviously), unless in an app that uses the camera's focus. Don't know how I didn't notice that. Now to train myself to never use the soft keys!

reynwrap582 said:
I might be way off, but I saw an app in the market called Button Remapper. I haven't had a chance to dig into it, but it looks like it's able to remap the soft keys on the bezel. I don't know if they can be remapped to null or an empty command, but at the least maybe they can be remapped to something that doesn't do much (like dpad up/down/left/right or something).
If I get a chance to play with it, I'll report back. Of course, anybody who beats me to it is encouraged to post their results.
EDIT:
Hey, it worked. I decided to jump into it and try it out. I basically just popped in and replaced any buttons that were soft buttons (search/home/menu/back) with DPAD buttons. I don't know if changing every reference is required or if there are better options than using DPAD buttons, but it's a start.
EDIT AGAIN:
DPAD worked fine but I kept accidentally selecting links and whatnot in the browser. I tried End Call, since we don't have phone capability, but it seemed to just close whatever app I was in. Ended up binding Back/Menu to Volume Down and Search/Home to Volume Up, which is working well.
EDIT AGAIN AGAIN:
Even better, Focus seems to not do anything at all (obviously), unless in an app that uses the camera's focus. Don't know how I didn't notice that. Now to train myself to never use the soft keys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How easy is it to revert back to stock button action? Or do you turn this function ON each time you boot and then run this program?

At each bootup there's a notification item that you can select to restore to your defaults, which you can clear until the next restart, in case something gets borked.

I have 4 very small black metal "nail covers" that I superglued directly on the side next to each soft button. Now I just feel the button with my index finger and use the side of my thumb to press the screen next to it, works great in the dark, better than the adhesive pads I had. Very small and black and low profile...

reynwrap582 said:
At each bootup there's a notification item that you can select to restore to your defaults, which you can clear until the next restart, in case something gets borked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am running tnt lite 3.1.4 and just downloaded button remapper. It loaded, but when I went to run it it FC and never let me set any buttons. Now each time I run it it FC.
What rom are you on?
Thanks
EDIT:Working fine for me now. Don't use galaxy tab version. Download standard.

reynwrap582 said:
I might be way off, but I saw an app in the market called Button Remapper. I haven't had a chance to dig into it, but it looks like it's able to remap the soft keys on the bezel. I don't know if they can be remapped to null or an empty command, but at the least maybe they can be remapped to something that doesn't do much (like dpad up/down/left/right or something).
If I get a chance to play with it, I'll report back. Of course, anybody who beats me to it is encouraged to post their results.
EDIT:
Hey, it worked. I decided to jump into it and try it out. I basically just popped in and replaced any buttons that were soft buttons (search/home/menu/back) with DPAD buttons. I don't know if changing every reference is required or if there are better options than using DPAD buttons, but it's a start.
EDIT AGAIN:
DPAD worked fine but I kept accidentally selecting links and whatnot in the browser. I tried End Call, since we don't have phone capability, but it seemed to just close whatever app I was in. Ended up binding Back/Menu to Volume Down and Search/Home to Volume Up, which is working well.
EDIT AGAIN AGAIN:
Even better, Focus seems to not do anything at all (obviously), unless in an app that uses the camera's focus. Don't know how I didn't notice that. Now to train myself to never use the soft keys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is button remapper free?

I'm on Vegan B3.
ButtonRemapper is US$1.03

Softkey app uses lots of power

Softkey app is the number one power user on my nc. It was 68% while wifi was second at around 15%. Anyone have a similar issue? Is there a fix?
sent from nook color

Uninstall it and replace it with Button Saviour?
Homer

Homer_S_xda said:
Uninstall it and replace it with Button Saviour?
Homer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that was the reason I did that too, on mine softkeys were like 50% of the battery.

Never seen Softkeys using any battery here... Maybe the overlay does it? I disable it myself by setting Softkeys the default Home, set the Home within Softkeys PRefs to ADW (My 'real' Home), and disable the "Service" option in the Softkeys prefs.

Dont run the "service" and just double tap the nook button when you need to... slipe left on the notificaton bar as needed.
Thats what I do and it works well for me...
Sent from my NookColor using XDA app

For what its worth, i've been using an app in the market called button savior. Works really well and i prefer it over softkeys.
-mark

diomark said:
For what its worth, i've been using an app in the market called button savior. Works really well and i prefer it over softkeys.
-mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion... here's one also:
How about reading what others posted before firing off?

Help with "back" and "menu" buttons?

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.

CM7 "N" Key / Back - best options?

I'm not running any extra virtual key apps... What I want to do... is have the physical N button do a BACK on 1 click, and HOME on 2 clicks... Or normal click BACK, and LONG click HOME...
I've looked through some of the settings - can't tell how to set that up (if at all).
Any thoughts?

Why not use the soft keys built in to CM7?

Sometimes the status bar is gone... either because something causes it to hide, or because I hide it.
MHotovec said:
Why not use the soft keys built in to CM7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

The best setup so far (imho), is to set the soft keys show up at volume button press.
Since the power button or N button tend to fail sometimes.
By doing that, you can hide soft keys with no fear and just presse volume button to bring they back to the screen, flawless.

@blauson
I hate doing that because if I need to change volume I need to leave the app, go into settings, and change it manually. :/
Somehow my "n" button got turned into a back button. Weird. Would much rather haave it be a menu button. but I dont even know how it changed in the first place! lol

DiscoPh3v3r said:
@blauson
I hate doing that because if I need to change volume I need to leave the app, go into settings, and change it manually. :/
Somehow my "n" button got turned into a back button. Weird. Would much rather haave it be a menu button. but I dont even know how it changed in the first place! lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I run phiremod so it's in: settings, phiremod settings, tablet tweaks, choose unhide button

DiscoPh3v3r said:
@blauson
I hate doing that because if I need to change volume I need to leave the app, go into settings, and change it manually. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My volume still works when I use it to recall the status bar.
Rodney

rhester72 said:
My volume still works when I use it to recall the status bar.
Rodney
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? Then I will have to see what's up, last time I was always running around the settings and stuff to change the volume.
Blue6IX said:
I run phiremod so it's in: settings, phiremod settings, tablet tweaks, choose unhide button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using Rooted Stock 1.2, way better battery life IMO.

rhester72 said:
My volume still works when I use it to recall the status bar.
Rodney
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second on that.
I'm running nightly 131.
No problem to change the volume neither to show up soft keys.

I use the N key to cancel full screen. Its more comfortable to use than the volume keys for me.

Hrm.. that would work... Where do I configure what the N key does?
dalingrin said:
I use the N key to cancel full screen. Its more comfortable to use than the volume keys for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

dalingrin said:
I use the N key to cancel full screen. Its more comfortable to use than the volume keys for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is how I've been doing it as well, but sometimes it brings me all the way back to home after showing the status bar. Do you ever experience that? Any tips if so?
Regardless, I like my volume buttons to be... well... volume buttons.

You could use button savior to have a never-hide home only option button located on the very right side by the N button, leaving that slot unused on adw launcher and treat it as a "permanent" home button.

TheAmazingDave said:
This is how I've been doing it as well, but sometimes it brings me all the way back to home after showing the status bar. Do you ever experience that? Any tips if so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's precisely why I haven't used the n button - if there is a way to avoid it, that would be fantastic!
Rodney

The best thing I ever did was install zMooth. Its a gesture bar that lets you draw the buttons. Almost like my old pre.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App

jeremymahoney said:
The best thing I ever did was install zMooth. Its a gesture bar that lets you draw the buttons. Almost like my old pre.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks interesting, but the only gesture I can manage to make it recognize is home. Any special tricks to this?
Rodney

It has always worked well for me. Have you used the nook screen recalibrate app? Before I ran that I had a really hard time getting the lower part of my screen to recognize my touch. I think there are some sensitivity settings in the zMooth app you can play around with too.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App

Menu button (do you miss it)

Just found out a little tip which many of you might already know. If you are missing the menu button, especially for outdated apps like the xda app, you can still access it. The note 4 replaced the menu button with recent apps button, but if you long press the recent apps button you will get to the menu function.
That is all. Have a good day.

ozaghloul said:
Just found out a little tip which many of you might already know. If you are missing the menu button, especially for outdated apps like the xda app, you can still access it. The note 4 replaced the menu button with recent apps button, but if you long press the recent apps button you will get to the menu function.
That is all. Have a good day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that. I was using a friends S5 last night and that was driving me mad. My note 4 is at home waiting for me to open the package

If they completely removed it, then yes but holding task switcher for a couple of more seconds then it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that I have to hold the back button every time to access Multi window bar as app switcher only has opened apps.

Hovscorpion12 said:
If they completely removed it, then yes but holding task switcher for a couple of more seconds then it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that I have to hold the back button every time to access Multi window bar as app switcher only has opened apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
App switcher has on every app window a icon on top right that does what you need.

Wow thanks a million for this. I thought it was gone forever :highfive:

PhatFishNL said:
Wow thanks a million for this. I thought it was gone forever :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
X2, I still accidentally hit the recent button all the time from being so used used to it being there...

PhatFishNL said:
Wow thanks a million for this. I thought it was gone forever :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are welcome. It would have been a nightmare had it gone forever. Not all applications have that on screen menu button.

Brilliant, I missed that button... nice to know it's still there

Need a way to reverse the functionality from long and short press

Nope don't miss it. I don't even use the long press.

m3lover1 said:
Nope don't miss it. I don't even use the long press.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not about missing it just because you prefer to press the physical button. There are many apps which don't have the soft menu button. For example, go to Google Now and try to change the settings, but don't long press. Good luck with that.

ozaghloul said:
Its not about missing it just because you prefer to press the physical button. There are many apps which don't have the soft menu button. For example, go to Google Now and try to change the settings, but don't long press. Good luck with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did. Took less than 2 seconds. Then again, 6 of my past 7 phones all had on screen nav buttons, which I prefer

m3lover1 said:
I just did. Took less than 2 seconds. Then again, 6 of my past 7 phones all had on screen nav buttons, which I prefer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, what? How? There is no soft menu button in Google Now. Am I missing something here?

ozaghloul said:
Wait, what? How? There is no soft menu button in Google Now. Am I missing something here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is. There is no way Google didn't implement soft menu button when they themselves are pushing on screen nav bar and soft menu buttons. Open Google now and it's bottom right corner. Might need to scroll all the way down. That might be the only annoying thing about it but it's there and very easy to access.

m3lover1 said:
There is. There is no way Google didn't implement soft menu button when they themselves are pushing on screen nav bar and soft menu buttons. Open Google now and it's bottom right corner. Might need to scroll all the way down. That might be the only annoying thing about it but it's there and very easy to access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I see, thanks. I assumed it would be on the top right corner. However, there does remain other apps that don't have it at all. For example the XDA app.

ozaghloul said:
Oh I see, thanks. I assumed it would be on the top right corner. However, there does remain other apps that don't have it at all. For example the XDA app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with what your saying. But you've picked 2 really bad examples. You can get to menu without menu button in xda!

I am used to Android tablets which don't have the menu button anyway, so I don't miss it on the phone.

daz_2000 said:
I agree with what your saying. But you've picked 2 really bad examples. You can get to menu without menu button in xda!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. I looked and looked, still can't find it. *fail*

ozaghloul said:
LOL. I looked and looked, still can't find it. *fail*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open up the left panel and whilst its open. The far right button changes to a settings cog.

People should have read the manual by now...