Database Develop

[launcher] AppDrawer (MIUI App Drawer)

I recently rooted my NST with NookManager, and was looking to run a "stealth" root under stock. I used the Nook Touch Mod Manager to change the LONG PRESS on the 'n' button to launch THIS. After some fiddling with the options, it pops up a single 5 x 8 grid of apps on a white background with black text. You can long press on an app to hide it. Simple and fast.
I'll be happy to post a screenshot if I can figure out how to take one! :cyclops:

This is the best app for a rooted NSTG No need to fiddle with different launchers, it just works as an extension to the B&N homescreen. Thanks for the tip!
johnseeking said:
I recently rooted my NST with NookManager, and was looking to run a "stealth" root under stock. I used the Nook Touch Mod Manager to change the LONG PRESS on the 'n' button to launch THIS. After some fiddling with the options, it pops up a single 5 x 8 grid of apps on a white background with black text. You can long press on an app to hide it. Simple and fast.
I'll be happy to post a screenshot if I can figure out how to take one! :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

johnseeking said:
I recently rooted my NST with NookManager, and was looking to run a "stealth" root under stock. I used the Nook Touch Mod Manager to change the LONG PRESS on the 'n' button to launch THIS. After some fiddling with the options, it pops up a single 5 x 8 grid of apps on a white background with black text. You can long press on an app to hide it. Simple and fast.
I'll be happy to post a screenshot if I can figure out how to take one! :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pardon my ignorance, but how exactly do you 'fiddle with the options'? The app opens in fullscreen mode, and i can't find the way to get the status bar to show up, tried everything...
my nook simple touch rooted with nook manager, so relaunch is the shell(or whatever it's called) from which i run app drawer...
Thanks!

nnbveh said:
Pardon my ignorance, but how exactly do you 'fiddle with the options'? The app opens in fullscreen mode, and i can't find the way to get the status bar to show up, tried everything...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this issue with another app and here is what I did:
Temporarily assign the "Menu" function to one of the hardware keys using NookTouchModManager (unless you have it set up that way already for other purposes--I keep a long-press on one button this way just in case).
When you launch your app you will now have a way to access menu functions even though it is running full-screen. In my case I was able to change the settings on my app so it would *not* run full-screen by default, but that is probably not what you want in this instance. After you have made your adjustments, you can change the hardware key back to its default, although I think keeping both a "Back" and "Menu" option around is not a bad idea.

VERY late reply...
I use an app called Button Savior which lets you add a set of software buttons which expand or collapse when you touch an assigned target point on your screen. (I have mine set to a long press in the lower left corner, and since I bought the pro version I can customize my target to be invisible.) That way I can always get to a menu button if I need one.
Don't have my NST with me, so I can't tall you what version I'm running, but I'm pretty sure it's the current version on Google Play.

I came across this old post and thought I'd look up the app to see what it was like. I've attached a copy below.
This is not actually a "launcher" despite what the thread title says. It is plain-and-simple an App Drawer. But as the OP said, it can provide almost a "stealth" modification of the NST. To me it seems ideal for the person who says "I only want to root so I can run app x--I don't want a lot of stuff on it."
There are a few hurdles to get to that point, so here is a brief outline of steps to get it working:
1. Root with NookManager (update it first if you're rooting FW 1.2.2)
2. Install the app along with a good file manager like ES File Explorer which will give you root access when you need it (ReLaunch can't).
3. Use Nook Touch Mod Manager to assign a button press (maybe a long-press?) to the MIUI app. You can use one of the hardware buttons or (less "stealth") one of the QuickNav buttons you don't use like Social, or Shop or Search.
4. Temporarily assign one of the hardware buttons to "Menu". This is needed because the MIUI app opens in full screen by default and you can't get at the settings without the Menu button.
5. Run the MIUI app and configure as you want (there is an option not to hide the status bar). Once you have the appearance you are after note that you can long-press on an app to (among other things) hide it from the drawer or even uninstall it. I suggest you uninstall ReLaunch.
6. Go back to Nook Touch Mod Manager and remove the temporary "Menu" button assignment.
And you're good! Your NST still looks and works like its old self but you're one button-press away from accessing any apps you may want to install. And you have a decent file manager

Disabling physical home button

Hi I was just wondering if it were possible to disable the physical home button. Any toddler apps my niece plays with are short played because she just clicks home all the time. I know there are kids apps that act as a home replacement button I was looking for something more elegant, namely pie mode or expanded desktop.
I did try editing the kl files in system/usr/keylayout
I changed HOME to BACK just to test but it didn't work.
I'm using the latest schizoid rom 4.2.2

Expanded desktop is pie in that ROM not sure if it disables the physical home button though

4catalyst2cI said:
Expanded desktop is pie in that ROM not sure if it disables the physical home button though
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Click to collapse
Pie doesn't disable physical home button. Pie is far less distracting for her, without the soft keys though.

Solution
I found the solution. Ill just keep this here if someone else in Googleland needs to disable the home button.
Download Jota+ and Root Explorer (maybe there is a free alternative?) from Google Play.
Open Root Explorer, navigate to /system/user/keylayout, then hold down gpio-keys.kl and select copy. Navigate to the sdcard and paste the file (use the "copy here" button on the top). Make another copy for backup if you don't like livin' on the edge. Now hold down gpio-keys.kl, select open with, General tab, Open as Text. Select Jota+. Find the line that says key 232 HOME WAKE. Remove the word HOME or replace it with another key if you really want to. Hit Save, the back button, copy gpio-key.kl. If it gives an error, try again because it's requesting root privileges. Reboot.
Use pie to hide the soft keys. In the pie settings there is a option to disable pie from appearing. I can't figure out how to enable "Expanded Desktop" in this build.

gosmo86 said:
Hi I was just wondering if it were possible to disable the physical home button. Any toddler apps my niece plays with are short played because she just clicks home all the time. I know there are kids apps that act as a home replacement button I was looking for something more elegant, namely pie mode or expanded desktop.
I did try editing the kl files in system/usr/keylayout
I changed HOME to BACK just to test but it didn't work.
I'm using the latest schizoid rom 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of the launchers you can set the Home button to do nothing, like Nova. Not sure if that would give you the desired result your looking for.

Changing nav bar buttons and their functions - is this possible?

Hi, newbie here trying to find out if it’s possible to turn an android phone into a fast desktop type multitasker. Was told I need a combination of AOSP ROM + eXposed, +Tasker +plugins, and a launcher like Lightning Launcher Extreme. so trying to assemble a list of things I’ll need, and find out if it’s even possible or not to achieve these tasks. In priority sequence:
1) Add as many as 15 buttons to nav bar. would love to change the size and more impornt spacing maybe even location of each button.
2) Optional (ability to lock some of the buttons across the board so lets say, on left side I have a locked home and back button, btu the ones on the right I can swipe left or right and move the nav bar buttons just like on Xtended NavBar app , so it’s kind of like a split nav bar.
Is it possible to add specific functions to each nav bar button I create:
3) Three zoom buttons, one with preset zoom %, so I click it once it zooms in to my preset % I click it second time zoom out must be able to preset the % of zoom somewhere. The other two zoom buttons are regular zoom in and out by increments (if possible preset increments as well per each click)
4) Multitask, instead of resent app, where it shows my open apps as smaller windows, I’d rather switch between them in full screen view, so the navbar recent app button must be mapped to simply switch between all open apps in rotation with each click.
5) Copy/ paste/ cut / undo / 4 buttons, not sure if it needs mapping in each app I use or universal, if each app, can it be done in Firefox or any other web browser, and in Microsoft office or any other office program so when I highlight text I can use these buttons, just like they normally would work in desktop versions?
6) 4 arrow keys, this is for Microsoft excel to shift quickly between cells so in each direction. Or as scrolling in web browser in all 4 directions.
7) search button, same concept as copy paste only once I highlight a text this button will search the net for highlighted text not sure if it’s possible to do from office app as well.
8) Now this is a tricky one, is it possible to automate the nav bar buttons, so if I had 10 or more buttons in total, they can’t fit the screen obviously, os once I open a certain app, the nav bar would move left or right depending on my app, so lets say I open an office app, the cut/paste /undo are automatically in front of me, if I open a excel then the arrow keys are in front……and so on
9) Is it also possible to remap volume keys in certain apps, so lets say I open excel, I have space in my nav bar only for 4 arrow keys, so in this case the volume buttons would become copy/paste.
If some could list the ROM, which launcher, specific modules, specific takser plug ins that could accomplish this or some things, well in an optimized way so I’m not running 15 apps for each request, then I will research each one individually.
Sorry for the long post.
Cheers

I have honestly never heard of such things...
And I think (having owned a Note 3 and now a Nexus 5) that the closest you can ever get to such multitasking experience is to own a Galaxy Note 4, with all the S-Pen functionality that's been added so that it'll work like a mouse on a computer. I know this may not add a lot to your cause; it's just what my knowledge offers.

Well for a newbie the confusion comes to me from not understanding the fundamentals of the android, what things are in the core and what things are on top as a layer? So for example if there is a back button on most phones that’s a fundamental core feature, does that mean it will be easy to add a forward button, so this way I’m compromising on my number 4) request and trying to go more a long the lines of android fundamentals.
As for the note 4 if it does add some mouse like functionality it’s only 50% since some things are faster via keyboard shortcuts rather then a mouse.
The problem I see is too many menus, so you select a text even with an s pen you must open a menu then select a copy, then open another app where you want to paste it in a specific location first you must zoom in that means turn the pen away and zoom then turn the pen towards another menu to open so you can select paste… The pen only has one or two buttons so if it has the zoom buttons I can’t paste quickly with a pen, if it has the paste buttons then I need to use my fingers to zoom in again turning my hand back and forth
way too many menus and not very productive way of working in trying to accomplish a small task of coping a text in one app and pasting in another in specific location. As you can see I’m trying to combine both mouse and keyboard shortcuts into one nav bar button this is to overcome the shortcomings of a small size screen and lack of keyboard and mouse of course.
I realize maybe the whole goal of android was never geared towards my way of thinking, but if it’s open source platform and as I see it there are many things that can be changed compared to a more closed system, it’s how difficult to do it only a programmer will understand, a I’m not a programmer. So I’m here trying to get some answers.
Cheers

Disabling hardware/capacitive buttons on stock 6.0.1 ROM?

Is it possible to disable the hardware/capacitive home/back/recents buttons on a stock 6.0.1 ROM?
qemu.hw.mainkeys=0 in build.prop doesn't work, on-screen buttons are not appearing.
The default sec_touchkey.kl file in ./system/usr/keylayout/ doesn't exist in the Samsung ROM, as it does in AOSP-based ones.
There isn't even an option in the settings to disable the annoyingly bright backlight of the back/recents buttons, as far as I looked. (Edit: Galaxy Button Lights 2 at least can do that)
I guess Samsung removed and/or broke that all in their customizations. While this tutorial works fine on Lineage 14.1, it doesn't on stock 6.0.1.
Is there anything I can do about that, or is it hopeless?
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Edit:
In the end, I installed All In One Gestures to disable the hardware buttons, and Pie Control to get a decent-ish navigation for the large screen.
It's an ugly solution, having to install two apps instead of a few simple text edits to the system - but I guess that's as good as it gets with a Samsung stock ROM...
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Edit 2:
Turns out, Pie Control triggers that extremely annoying "Screen overlay detected" bug/feature. Whenever you install a new app that requires some permissions, you have to disable screen overlay for Pie Control in the system settings, otherwise the app won't start.
So I uninstalled both All In One Gestures and Pie Control, and am trying Xposed Edge now. While its Pie features are very basic (almost no customization), at least it's an Xposed module, so it doesn't trigger the "Screen overlay detected" bug like a 'normal' app. And it can disable the hardware/capacitive buttons as well, without needing yet another app installed.
Another issue with disabling the capacitive buttons is, that none of the above methods disable the long-press on the back button, so you still kill the running app when inadvertently resting a finger on the back button. Luckily, by disabling the back button in the Generic.kl file, as Alta1r wrote, this issue is fixed.
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Edit 3:
Trying Unique Controls now, because... its Pie controls are prettier than Xposed Edge's. :^)
Scratch that, this one triggers the "Screen overlay detected" bug as well. Guess it just doesn't work without Xposed and/or root.

You should be able to disable the back and recent keys by editing the Generic.kl file (same directory you mention above). Put a # in front of key 158 and key 254. Save and reboot. To revert remove the # and reboot or restore a backup of the file. Obviously you need root to do this.
No idea how to enable the onscreen buttons through buidprop, but there's an app on the play store that can do this: gmd auto hide soft keys https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.hidesoftkeys
I have the app and used it before, but I personally prefer the same developer's other app gmd gesturecontrol to go back, switch to recent apps or go to the home screen (and anything else you want).
Sent from my SM-T813 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Actually, Package Disabler Pro can disable the back and recent apps hardware nav buttons without *root*.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro

Alta1r said:
You should be able to disable the back and recent keys by editing the Generic.kl file (same directory you mention above). Put a # in front of key 158 and key 254. Save and reboot. To revert remove the # and reboot or restore a backup of the file. Obviously you need root to do this.
No idea how to enable the onscreen buttons through buidprop, but there's an app on the play store that can do this: gmd auto hide soft keys https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.hidesoftkeys
I have the app and used it before, but I personally prefer the same developer's other app gmd gesturecontrol to go back, switch to recent apps or go to the home screen (and anything else you want).
Sent from my SM-T813 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the tip about the Generic.kl button mappings. This appears to be the only way to disable the long-press on the back button, so the running app doesn't get killed. Not even the Xposed Edge module can prevent that. (I added that to the OP above.)
I bought the full version of GMD Gesture Control back in the days, haven't used it in years. Might give it a try, and hope it doesn't trigger the awful "Screen overlay detected" bug, like Pie Control does.
Niii4 said:
Actually, Package Disabler Pro can disable the back and recent apps hardware nav buttons without *root*.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'm rooted, so that shouldn't be an issue.

dfkt_ said:
I bought the full version of GMD Gesture Control back in the days, haven't used it in years. Might give it a try, and hope it doesn't trigger the awful "Screen overlay detected" bug, like Pie Control does..
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Click to collapse
I'm using GMD Gesture Control and only 1 app is giving me that bug, but not even sure if it's due to GMD Gesture Control as I have to turn off all app screen overlay permissions before the app can get its permissions. So I guess you should be fine.

Niii4 said:
Actually, Package Disabler Pro can disable the back and recent apps hardware nav buttons without *root*.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Digging this up from the dead, but I'm using a Note 5 now. What do you disable?

How to toggle navigation keys via Bixby Button

So i have been using my phone in Immersive mode, love having the extra space and no black borders.
But i find swiping up to activate the navigation keys abit touchy sometimes, More so when browsing the web or reddit and i end up scrolling back to the top just to activate the nav keys.
Does anyone know a way to Re-Map the Bixby button to toggle the display of the Nav keys?

You could try BXActions from the play store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jamworks.bxactions . This may allow it or you can assign the button to a Tasker task.

dave7802 said:
So i have been using my phone in Immersive mode, love having the extra space and no black borders.
But i find swiping up to activate the navigation keys abit touchy sometimes, More so when browsing the web or reddit and i end up scrolling back to the top just to activate the nav keys.
Does anyone know a way to Re-Map the Bixby button to toggle the display of the Nav keys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,
i agree with rob_h (above post) re bxActions.
See screenshots.
Unfortunately you must have the premium version (paid) of bxActions.
I use it and works fine. No issues.
You can either set it to toggle per app or otherwise.
No root required, only a simple ADB command on a pc.
Good luck