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

Software key panel

Don't know if anyone has tried this on there Nook but I got it up and running. Progam is call Button Savior and can be found in the market. Really liking this program versus soft keys. I have it set to trigger on the left versus the right. Right side was semi hidden versus the app launch button.
Here's a link from the HTC thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865525another

rswain64 said:
Don't know if anyone has tried this on there Nook but I got it up and running. Progam is call Button Savior and can be found in the market. Really liking this program versus soft keys. I have it set to trigger on the left versus the right. Right side was semi hidden versus the app launch button.
Here's a link from the HTC thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865525another
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no experience with button savior. Softkeys can do this as well though. You can drag the little launcher button as well as the pop up softkey panel anywhere you like, and it will remember that position.

rajendra82 said:
I have no experience with button savior. Softkeys can do this as well though. You can drag the little launcher button as well as the pop up softkey panel anywhere you like, and it will remember that position.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats exactly why i picked this over softkeys, going to the circle in some games ended with it just following my finger and no reaction on the game. Not knocking it, still have it, but this is another good one if you like lack of choice.
(Hit thanks instead of quote -_-)

Thanks for this post. I have button savior on my HD2, but completely forgot about using it here. Great reminder. I will hit the thanks button next time I'm on the computer.
Sent from my Nook Color using XDA App

I love having this set up on the left versus the right. You know us lefties can't do anything right!

I have softkeys set up to use the "n" button so i don't have the little on screen button anymore. Very convenient
posted from my nook color using the official xda app

themirthfulswami said:
I have softkeys set up to use the "n" button so i don't have the little on screen button anymore. Very convenient
posted from my nook color using the official xda app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to try this, but my physical button is mapped to ADW launcher. How can i change it?

thereddog said:
I'd like to try this, but my physical button is mapped to ADW launcher. How can i change it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install the app "homeswitcher" it will allow you to change it.
-CC

Ultimate navigation button solution.

If you think the current on-screen buttons is already the best solution then perhaps you wont agree with me. But anyways I along with alot of other people dont like to accidentally press the home button AND the multi-tasking button due to its disruptive nature especially now that in 4.2 it throws you out of the app basically. Mapping the home button to a long press really isnt a solution its annoying to do it all the time and is simply not intuitive.
My solution is something thats not done so far but I really think its possible.
A center hardware home button. Double press acts as a multi-tasking button.
2 tiny OLED screens on the sides of the home button so we can have adaptive navigation buttons alongside a hardware home button.
One of the OLED screens shows the back button and the other one dynamically shows the menu button whenever needed. When not used the OLED screen wont consume any power at all unlike LCD.
And ofcourse this also keeps open the possibility to customize and map whatever buttons you want to like if someone wants to have a single click task switcher they can still have it.
Another huge advantage of having a hardware home button is the ease of waking up the device which is under appreciated a bit I feel. Anyways thats my 2 cents.

Having a home button would be a problem to create a uniform Google experience, since every manufacturer would have their own button design. Also, physical buttons has a life expectancy of approximately 2 years (just try pressing an iPhone 4 button).
Also, Galaxy S3 has a home button. Choice.
Sent from my Nexus 4 pimped with AOKP and Franco.kernel

Pie seems like a better solution or the many gesture navigation's out there
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

elzafir said:
Having a home button would be a problem to create a uniform Google experience, since every manufacturer would have their own button design. Also, physical buttons has a life expectancy of approximately 2 years (just try pressing an iPhone 4 button).
Also, Galaxy S3 has a home button. Choice.
Sent from my Nexus 4 pimped with AOKP and Franco.kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And yet we dont have a unified solution. HTC and samsung the 2 biggest players continue to do their own thing. Another point to note is that on-screen buttons dont allow for their to be a "gap" between the screen and navigation buttons unless ofcourse you want to waste massive amounts of screen estate. Having more gap reduces accidental presses.
But S3 has static capacitive buttons so you lose out on the freedom that the solution I proposed offers. The menu button certainly needs to be dynamic so you know when its needed and when its not.

I was really excited to have phone with on screen buttons...until I had a phone with on screen buttons. I definitely noticed the loss of screen real estate coming from the HOX to the Nexus 4. Expanded desktop is nice, but not very convenient. I really like the style Samsung has adapted. My friend has a Galaxy S3 and I love being able to turn on the display with the home button. Of course, on screen buttons are mappable, which is nice.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

What i do...
Use on screen buttons when navigating and when I'm in an app for a long time i use the expanded desktop with PA.. after I'm done I go back to normal.

I would rather have an option to swipe to the left to hide the soft buttons.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Censura_Umbra said:
Pie seems like a better solution or the many gesture navigation's out there
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, pie ftw!!!!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

So that HTC button can actually be a button??

Apparently so....
http://www.androidcentral.com/use-logo-htc-one-extra-button-custom-kernel#comment-586561

Yeah, this was discovered a while back in some coding. Not really sure I'll have a use for it, but it's good to know it's there.

The answer is: Not Really.
In the other thread they showed a pic of the digitizer used on the HTC One. There is no "touch-sensitive" area under the HTC logo. The kernel hack discussed where the HTC logo *is* turned into a button mentions that it is only responsive at the very top of the logo.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2194315&page=13
Although this is nice work, I think the HTC logo as a button is a lost cause.

Am I the only one that likes the two buttons? I like minimal designs and I have no problem long pressing or double taping a button to get what I need. I think the two buttons looks nicer than having a dedicated menu/multitasking button.
I have been on HTC for sometime and all of them had the long press for multitasking so I might just be used to this kind of setup already.

I'd be fine with the two button layout if it weren't for how they handle the menu "button" for apps (like this one!) that haven't adopted Androids latest design guides for how the menu function should be handled... I really hate that big black bar on the bottom of an otherwise beautiful screen!
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app

i like the two button layout....took a little getting used to but....

I'm used to the buttons now, but that would have been cool to have the HTC Logo as an actual full functioning button.

levman said:
I'd be fine with the two button layout if it weren't for how they handle the menu "button" for apps (like this one!) that haven't adopted Androids latest design guides for how the menu function should be handled... I really hate that big black bar on the bottom of an otherwise beautiful screen!
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you root/unlock and install either ViperROM or the Xposed Mod pack, you can get rid of the black bar and instead long press back button.
that's what I did, I too hated that black menu bar at the bottom!
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Change Location of Soft Buttons in Landscape mode?

Hi,
I wonder if the location of the soft nav buttons in landscape mode can be changed to be on the other side? Being right handed, I find it very unnatural and would very much prefer them to have on the other side, but it seems not to be easy without root, or did I miss something?
Thanks!

You want the nav buttons on the left?
I have not seen that done on any platform.
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Free mobile app