Database Develop

[Q] Honeycomb layout for apps on Note?

Does anyone know how (if it's possible) to have certain apps default to their Honeycomb layout on the Note? Gmail, Google Music, and Pulse are my biggest wants when comes to having the Honeycomb layout on my Note.

I think I may have figured out the answer to my own question. If I remember correctly, I doubt that the API of 2.3.x supports the "tablet" features of apps designed with Honeycomb in mind.
Maybe this will change once we get ICS though!

Well.. Netflix App is layed out like a tablet...
Some apps use two parameters to determine if to layout as tablet o as phone..
One is the resolution.. Like, I believe, Netflix. A WXGA resolution is almost always a tablet resolution. So the app will layout out as it..
The other parameter is screen pixel density... The Note comes predefined at a 320 dpi, which is a High Pixel Density (hpdi) as seen in apps. The galaxy Tab 10.1, for example has listed a 149 dpi which is either low (lpdi) or medium (mpdi).
So the apps which have a lpdi or mdpi layout defined in code (for Tablets) can show like that.
You can actually change the dpi value that apps "read" from the device by rooting it and with some apps like LCD Resolution (or changing the required file in /system)..
So while the Note has ~300dpi, apps (and Home, and app drawer, and all) will show as ~200 or whatever number you want..
I changed mine to 240dpi to take advantage of the High Resolution and read more onscreen (instead of just view a higher pixel density for icons).. and apps like Opera Mini show as a tablet...
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Of course there are just a few apps running on gingerbread and with tablet layouts.. This will all change a lot with the ICS update in March; and we will be able to view Tablet layouts for a lot more apps..

I agree the Note doesn't use the whole potential of such huge screen software wise. All apps work in phone mode not in tablet mode. Changing screen resolution helps a lot with certain apps but then it gets really hard to use the UI which gets also smaller. I wish there was a way to change screen resolution for specific apps while leaving the rest at default resolution but i already know this is technically not possible at all. I hope our Notes could reach their full potential with next official ICS update ... I'm already looking forward to flash it !

Personally I'm just hoping that ICS will bring the best of both worlds really. Just waiting for a stable release of CM9 baby!

[Q] flash buil.prop through CWM ?

Hi, is it possible to flash buil.prop through CWM ? The idea is I would like to play with the DPI, but I know some values can mess up the system so that the ROM doesn't boot anymore. So the idea is to have a safe and working build.prop as flashable through VWM so that I can experiment without the threat of having to reinstall the whole ROM.
Is that doable ? and would it be sufficient to boot again on a ROM if I put a bad value as DPI ?
Thanks

I may be wrong, but afair one of the DPI apps available on Market, had an option whether to reapply the change on boot
if I'm correct, then you could test the density without risk
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

I didn't find the app (searched for "DPI" and "density") but one of the app had a description saying you can restore build.pro through adb...so i'll look in that direction.

LCD density will allow you to test a dpi before applying it. Its on play store.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

Well, it almost works. I'm on (TW based) Criskelo's v8, changed the DPI to 213, first with LCD density and then with ROM toolbox. I thought it would just boot loop, but
- except for touchwiz, launchers (Go, zeam, adw, apex (small area usuable on desktop though, but maybe it's supposed to work that way)) are ok,
- the s-apps I want work ok : camera, FM radio (I tried S-memo just for the sake of it, it has that well known lines problem)
- s-calendar was replaced by AOSP calendar and it works fine..though I don't see any difference with phone version...maybe because it was not "correctly" installed ?
- gmail, settings, kindle, chrome work as expected in tablet mode. Kindle had to get an update to work in tablet mode, before that it showed the regular phone version.
Now what doesn't work :
- I got that "UI.syst stopped" on every boot (don't care much about it)
- s-contacts doesn't work ! unfortunately I couldn't find a working AOSP contacts.apk, maybe that would work
- s-phone works so that's more important than s-contacts, but the layout is messed up, and you can't use contacts inside the app of course. Unfortunately I don't know of a AOSP dialer for TW roms,
- most annoying negative point to me : status bar doesn't show ! that may be the deal breaker for me.
I went to TW roms because I was tired of little things that didn't work in AOSP based roms, so if I can't find solutions for at least s-contacts and status bar, that's it for me I won't go any further in my quest of TW + tablet mode apps.

KSauzeRK said:
Now what doesn't work :
- I got that "UI.syst stopped" on every boot (don't care much about it)
- s-contacts doesn't work ! unfortunately I couldn't find a working AOSP contacts.apk, maybe that would work
- s-phone works so that's more important than s-contacts, but the layout is messed up, and you can't use contacts inside the app of course. Unfortunately I don't know of a AOSP dialer for TW roms,
- most annoying negative point to me : status bar doesn't show ! that may be the deal breaker for me.
I went to TW roms because I was tired of little things that didn't work in AOSP based roms, so if I can't find solutions for at least s-contacts and status bar, that's it for me I won't go any further in my quest of TW + tablet mode apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the dialler, can you set one handed operation in settings (possibly under accessibility) that usually brings it back under operational state. Not sure about a fix for tw contacts though. There are alternative contacts and dialler apps in play store if you search dialler.
Use an alternative launcher for status bar? Recommend adw or launcher7 if you like windows phone layout, both work well. Adw probably more suitable for tablet dpi.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

Unfortunately I tried an alternative dialer from the market, it displayed contacts correctly but FC'd as soon as I clicked on a contact, so I think it relies somehow on the TW contact app or framework. As for the status bar, it's never displayed whatever launcher I tried (Go, adw,zeam, apex,launcher pro), so I guess it's part of the framework and not of the launcher.

What UI are you using?

I tried the default UI, and wasn't happy with it. Didn't really hate it, but just not used to using a tablet in portrait mode. So I went ahead and change the DPI down to 160 and put it in tablet UI. Even with font on huge, it just doesn't seem right. I understand that is probably due to the fact, that tablet mode wasn't built for a 7 in screen, but I felt I had a better experience on my nook. What does everyone else think?

I tried the tablet UI but ended up going back to default. If you want it to go landscape, download Rotation Locker

I'd give it a try, but I don't feel like wiping my data just to root.

I think the tablet UI just fits the machine better than it's standard "phone" UI. My only complaint is the empty space created around the edges of the homescreen and application drawers when I run it as a tablet.

There is a way to enable tablet ui without messing with dpi tho it requires changes to systemui and framework. I'm running a tablet ui jellybean rom on my kindle fire, I wish i was smart enough to do those kinds of things but instead I have to wait till someone else does it then donate to them.

[Q] DPI change, more apps in a row on the screen, etc... :)

Greetings, lovely xda community!
I am very happy with all the solutions and innovations I find on these forums.. I am on Ultimate v5 at the moment..
Lately, caught more of the DPI changing texts, from 320 to 240..
But, apparently these is DPI change for apps and for the whole screen of the Note..
So, since my understanding is limited, what I hope to be able to do is to change general DPI of the screen, so that I would be able to put more apps per one homescreen.. I mean, I like Note`s big screen real estate, but there is too much empty space between the apps icons, so maybe something like 6x6 would be better than the usual 5x5... (hmm. I wanted to add attachment of my screenshots of the present state of my screen and homescreens/app icons, but none of the message edit and attachment buttons do not work )..
Anyway, I tried some dpi changers and density changers from Play store.. Boy, I barely managed to get the phone working normally again.. I just made the keyboard pop up with massive numbers and only upper 30 percent of the normal keyboard..
now back to normal..
so, how can I do it? I do not need to run tablet apps,so I do not need dpi change that allows me to download tablet apps from play store..
I would like to fit more icons on the homescreen...
How is that done?
By the way, I did google and search this forum, but it mostly speaks about dpi change for apps..
And ok, there is the "edit build prop", but is that what I need for my intentions, and how can I do it.. and possible negative consequences?
Thanks for stopping and answering!
Peace out...

Hi there, some apps look better in certain dpi modes than others.
I suggest you look at the rom "paranoid android 3 build by beerbong" in the original android development section of the n7000 forum at xda.
Its an aosp rom (google android without the samsung stuff) and it allows changing the dpi of the whole phone (phone, phablet and tablet mode) and changing the dpi of apps alone.
Its a work of art and i suggest you take a look at that rather than messing around with buildprop editors. Goodluck!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

Anthropostar said:
Hi there, some apps look better in certain dpi modes than others.
I suggest you look at the rom "paranoid android 3 build by beerbong" in the original android development section of the n7000 forum at xda.
Its an aosp rom (google android without the samsung stuff) and it allows changing the dpi of the whole phone (phone, phablet and tablet mode) and changing the dpi of apps alone.
Its a work of art and i suggest you take a look at that rather than messing around with buildprop editors. Goodluck!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply.. But, I kind of reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaallllllyyyyyyyyy like to have Touchwiz...

[Discussion] Stock Android and Next Version of Android

So, a few days ago Apple announced iOS 8 and previewed some of it features. This made me look back into Android, specifically Stock Android. And with Google I/O just around the corner, here are some things that I wish Google will improve on.
The Dark, Old, and Gloomy Holo UI
When it first came out, Holo UI was the thing. Everyone who was still on Gingerbread wanted it, they installed launchers and even modded framework and stuff. Skip forward 3 years, Holo UI is still here with a little change on the icon colours. Some may love it, but it's definitely getting boring. There are rumours that the next version will be 5.0 instead of 4.5. I hope that with the 1.0 jump, there will be a major UI overhaul.
The Not So Helpful Quick Tiles
Quick Tiles, when you look at it it really seems to help make things quicker. "Oh look, the WiFi icon. If I press this, it's gonna toggle the WiFi, right?" NOPE, clicking it will bring you to the Settings section while long pressing it will toggle it instead. I don't know how long it's been like this but I've only tasted stock since 4.2.2 and it's still like this on KitKat so... Someone in the UX Department needs to be scolded.
Not only it's rather misguiding, the toggles itself doesn't offer that much. There are no tiles for NFC, Sync, Auto Rotation and there's no way to add them either. Custom ROMs and manufacturers' skins however offer all these for years and even after a few 0.1 updates, Google doesn't seem to touch this. Which makes me wonder if most people prefer it Google's way. I definitely don't.
KitKat Transparency Not Being Used
When KitKat was announced, the transparent status bar and navigation bar really wowed me. I was hoping the colours would match accordingly to which app is opened. But apparently, apps need to be updated and coded to take advantage of this. Which is fine, there are a few apps that does this but what baffles me is Google isn't one of them. Other than Google Now Launcher, everything pretty much stayed the same. How can others be motivated to do this when even Google isn't doing it.
It Lacks Appeal to the Public Eyes
Have you seen what other skinned Android can do without installing other apps? Multi-Window, Dual Capture Camera, Slow Motion Video Capture, Floating Apps, Power Saving Mode, Video Calling, and many more. What can Stock Android do? Well, normal stuff every Android smartphone can do except those above I guess. Stock Android are designed for developers and tech enthusiasts so it should be normal to stay as de-bloated as possible but don't you want some of those goodies that other skins offer?
Your Thoughts?
Yes, there are apps that can do the stuff above and Xposed Framework can help, but we're talking about pure stock Android without roots and many other stuff. Which makes me wonder, being a Nexus user, how many of you guys stay pure stock?
With competition heating up such as iOS's possible split Window Mode and Windows 8.1's Cortana, not to mention other emerging OS such as Tizen, Ubuntu Touch, Sailfish and Firefox OS; Android need to step up it's game on the next version. What do you think will make Stock Android better?

uchihakurtz said:
So, a few days ago Apple announced iOS 8 and previewed some of it features. This made me look back into Android, specifically Stock Android. And with Google I/O just around the corner, here are some things that I wish Google will improve on.
The Dark, Old, and Gloomy Holo UI
When it first came out, Holo UI was the thing. Everyone who was still on Gingerbread wanted it, they installed launchers and even modded framework and stuff. Skip forward 3 years, Holo UI is still here with a little change on the icon colours. Some may love it, but it's definitely getting boring. There are rumours that the next version will be 5.0 instead of 4.5. I hope that with the 1.0 jump, there will be a major UI overhaul.
The Not So Helpful Quick Tiles
Quick Tiles, when you look at it it really seems to help make things quicker. "Oh look, the WiFi icon. If I press this, it's gonna toggle the WiFi, right?" NOPE, clicking it will bring you to the Settings section while long pressing it will toggle it instead. I don't know how long it's been like this but I've only tasted stock since 4.2.2 and it's still like this on KitKat so... Someone in the UX Department needs to be scolded.
Not only it's rather misguiding, the toggles itself doesn't offer that much. There are no tiles for NFC, Sync, Auto Rotation and there's no way to add them either. Custom ROMs and manufacturers' skins however offer all these for years and even after a few 0.1 updates, Google doesn't seem to touch this. Which makes me wonder if most people prefer it Google's way. I definitely don't.
KitKat Transparency Not Being Used
When KitKat was announced, the transparent status bar and navigation bar really wowed me. I was hoping the colours would match accordingly to which app is opened. But apparently, apps need to be updated and coded to take advantage of this. Which is fine, there are a few apps that does this but what baffles me is Google isn't one of them. Other than Google Now Launcher, everything pretty much stayed the same. How can others be motivated to do this when even Google isn't doing it.
It Lacks Appeal to the Public Eyes
Have you seen what other skinned Android can do without installing other apps? Multi-Window, Dual Capture Camera, Slow Motion Video Capture, Floating Apps, Power Saving Mode, Video Calling, and many more. What can Stock Android do? Well, normal stuff every Android smartphone can do except those above I guess. Stock Android are designed for developers and tech enthusiasts so it should be normal to stay as de-bloated as possible but don't you want some of those goodies that other skins offer?
Your Thoughts?
Yes, there are apps that can do the stuff above and Xposed Framework can help, but we're talking about pure stock Android without roots and many other stuff. Which makes me wonder, being a Nexus user, how many of you guys stay pure stock?
With competition heating up such as iOS's possible split Window Mode and Windows 8.1's Cortana, not to mention other emerging OS such as Tizen, Ubuntu Touch, Sailfish and Firefox OS; Android need to step up it's game on the next version. What do you think will make Stock Android better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROMS are way ahead of this.. Stock, naaaa.. Custom roms you get features satablility and sort of completeness. It defeats stock by a long margin.

Rohit02 said:
Custom ROMS are way ahead of this.. Stock, naaaa.. Custom roms you get features satablility and sort of completeness. It defeats stock by a long margin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, tried stock for a week, couldn't stand it :silly: With all those bugs, it makes you wonder if people at Google actually uses stock Android or never tried custom ROMs, lol.

uchihakurtz said:
Yeah, tried stock for a week, couldn't stand it :silly: With all those bugs, it makes you wonder if people at Google actually uses stock Android or never tried custom ROMs, lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL,Nice one.
+1 on that