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▐ 3.9.2011▐ ★UPDATED★Awesome WP7&WP7.5 Tips&Tricks★▐ >>>ALL NEW TIPS FOR MANGO!!<<<
I just wanted to post a couple of helpful tips&tricks for those who are new to the WP7 OS. If I helped please "donate" your time by clicking the thanks button!
Update: All new tips&tricks that I have found playing around on Mango Beta. Have fun!
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Awesome Windows 7.5 Tips&Tricks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom Ringtones
1. Copy MP3 or WMA to Zune Collection. Choose Edit, and type in manually under Genre "Ringtone". The song must be less than 40 seconds and smaller than 1MB.
2. Go to Settings -> Ringtones + Sounds, tap Ringtone. Your custom ringtone will appear under a new tree called "Custom", above "Windows Phone"
Note that it is identified by the filename, rather than the track title.
Also, you can tap and HOLD a ringtone, and Delete will be offered (but only on the Custom ones; preloaded ones grey out delete).
Windows Live Messenger
Pick Messaging, slide right to Online. Set Chat Status (icon at bottom), hit +, and send a message to any Messenger contact. And/or if anyone sends you an MSN, you get a ding just like a SMS, and it appears under Messaging.
Mango automatically made my Windows Live account that my phone is registered under, which is also my Messenger account, work. Others have noted that it's not possible to have a second Messenger account -- only your PRIMARY Windows Live account is linked to Messenger.
Facebook chat is set up also from Messaging -> Online. Some people have had trouble with this... read down to see some possible solutions.
Voice Activated SMS/Messaging
To allow Voice recognition from Messaging (like SMS, Messenger) while on Carrier Data, go to Settings -> Speech and check Enable Speech Recognition over Network.
Put on a headset; leave your phone on the home screen. When someone sends you a Messenger, it announces that the person has sent you a message, Read It or Ignore. If you say, "Read it", the phone reads the message. You then have an opportunity to reply via speech!
Visual Voicemail
Evidently, this is in Settings -> Phone (or Phone app, slide up, call settings). But it doesn't show up for everyone -- it's carrier dependent (doesn't show up for Telus phone on Fido for me).
Exchange/Gmail Server Search
To search the server for older (for example, Exchange) go to Outlook, click the on-screen search button, make a search. At the bottom of the results, tap "search more in Outlook". When the server search is done, at the bottom of the results, you'll see "get more results" and "search all folders". Woohoo!
Bing Visual Search -- and OCR!
Tap Bing key. Click eyeball. You can snap QR codes, Microsoft codes, or TEXT. If you snap text, it will then detect it, and you can translate it (for example, from French to English). But as someone mentioned, you can translate from English to English... and the results come as text that you can then Copy and Paste! Quick and easy cloud OCR that you have to see to believe.
Skydrive, Office
Go to Office. Slide over to Locations and SkyDrive. You can see any of the documents on your SkyDrive, and edit things like Word. It's perfect.
Notes (OneNote, synchronized with SkyDrive and your Desktop OneNote as long as you're saving to Web) is really slick. Office 365 and SharePoint are under Locations.
Easy Ones
Music Controls - This one's easy. Play a song, pause it. Hit lock key. Controls are on the wallpaper. Unlock, hit volume keys -- Controls appear.
Multitasking - Hold down Back button. It's a beautiful implementation. To remove a task from the list, pick it, then hit back button once.
Outlook Threads - Just tap a conversation thread to expand it.
Outlook Account Linking - Outlook -> ... -> Link Inboxes
App Grouping - tap the letters above the groups of apps, just like the phone book (tapping "a" gets you all the letters, tapping "s" jumps to Settings)
App Find - tap magnifying glass on apps list
IE9 -- OMG. Best Mobile Browser Ever. 'nuff said. But is it possible to turn off Address Bar in Landscape? Takes up lots of space.
People/Groups - Tap People hub, tap Family or +. You can make your own Groups, and then SMS or email everyone in the group that has SMS or email. Or quickly call them, since they get big tiles.
People/History - Tap a contact in the People hub, slide to the right, and see History. It shows call/messaging history, and "search Outlook" at the bottom.
UPDATE:
======
To make Traffic work, just set region/location to English (United States).
10 Awesome Windows 7 Tips&Tricks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Using the Windows Phone 7 voice controls
Press and hold the Windows key at the bottom of your screen and you can start talking to your phone. Try saying "Open Calendar", to see what we mean.
2. Adding apps to the Start screen
When you are in the long applications list on your phone pressing on an icon and holding brings up a contextual menu that gives you a series of options, one of which is "pin to start". Press on this option and the app will be shown on the Start screen.
3. Add people to the start page
No it's not just about adding apps to the start page, but people too. Find them in your contacts book, click on the "pin" icon, and they'll be added to your Start page so you can speed dial them whenever you need.
4. Moving your tiles around
Adding a new app or tile to the Start screen will place it right at the bottom. If you want it to be elsewhere, press and hold on the tile in question and then you are free to move it up and down and rearrange your tiles to best suit your needs.
5. Removing apps from the Start screen
You like the app, but you don't really want it on your Start screen anymore. No worries. Hold your finger on the tile in question for a couple of seconds and when it highlights press the no pin icon in the top right-hand corner.
6. Uninstalling apps
You've tried it and you don't like it. No problem. Head over to the menu list and press down on the app in question until you get the contextual menu. Select uninstall and you're done.
7. Rating and reviewing apps
You really love the new app you've downloaded, so much so that you want to rate and review it so anyone else interested knows whether it's any good or not. With Windows Phone 7 you don't have to wait until you delete it to rate it, you can rate and review it at any time. Press and hold down on the app in question until that contextual menu appears and then choose "Rate and review". It will bring up another page allowing you to have your say and give it a rating out of five. Easy peasy.
8. How to change the theme
If you've got your Windows Phone 7 phone from Vodafone the theme is going to be all red, O2 is dishing out blue themes and Orange, orange ones. An all red themed phone might be a bit much (we hear you), but fret not as you can change the colour of the tiles and other features in the Setting area. Zip on over to the menu list, select Settings, and then Theme. Here you can choose the colour of the background and the accent colour. Background options are "Black" or "White" while you'll get nine accent colours to pick from. Lime, anyone?
-Creating custom themes using an XAP: Customizable Windows Phone 7 Accents
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=914840
-Changing the wallpaper is now possible but only to a color using: Custom WP7 Theme with Wallpaper Ability
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=942767
9. Swipe to the left
Windows Phone 7 is built around the idea of panoramic tiles that you swipe to reveal more content off screen. It's always worth seeing if you can swipe to the left as there might be more stuff waiting to be revealed.
10. What are the dots?
Whenever you see three dots at the bottom of the screen, that's a menu for more options. In photo playback for example, it will give you the options to delete the image or perform a quick upload.
72 Windows Phone 7 tips and tricks here:
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/3641...s-phone-7-tips
For those who need access to a US market, or wherever...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st, when you link your live account to the phone, you'll automatically get an e-mail from Microsoft phone 7 in your inbox.
this had some useful links in it. for example, I didn't download the full zune package, but another version witch works as well and is quite a bit smaller.
2nd, create an extra live account with false location settings, i set mine on Beverly hills, California, so you can access marketplace, xbox live etc.
(you can add an other account for your e-mail settings etc)
Search Button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because the HD2 has different hardware keys than the WP7, the home key for the HD2 is the search button for Windows Phones. Depending on where you are, pressing the home button will give you different search results.
HOMESCREEN:
Will open BING-search(Many custom WP7 ROM's have changed default search to Google).
MUSIC&VIDEOS:
Enables search for videos, music etc.
MARKETPLACE:
Searches for Music and Applications available for purchase in the Market
Transparent Lockscreen Wallpaper
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the link to the wallpaper:
http://phone7.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/clawpaper.png
Simply send yourself an email with the image attached, then open the email on your phone and save the image. When you view the image, you have an option of setting it as your wallpaper(The Zune software only seems to sync JPEG’s)
Click on the PNG attachment and then wait a few moments. Once the ‘cancel’ button next the attachment disappears, click again. This should open it in the picture viewer with the option to set as wallpaper.
Until the lock screen has started any animation, the home screen will appear black. Presumably this is because the home screen isn’t loaded until the lock screen has been touched, which makes sense. Secondly, it doesn’t work if you have a password on the lock screen. Having a password is obviously a good idea, so it’s a shame this doesn’t work with the password.
Lockscreen Text App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A useful application is Jivtech's Lockscreen Text App. Head on over to the site for more info about an application that allows you to quickly and easily add text to your lockscreen wallpaper
http://www.jivtech.com/lockscreentext.aspx
Extra tips from users:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yogeshmishra23 said:
Screen Locked...received a message...tap on the message preview on the top of the lock screen and then unlock the screen. Phone will unlock directly to your message screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
patrikbarden said:
Long press on Send-key activates the camera from sleep mode. Even when the phone is password locked!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
squarejp said:
You can record a phone conversation using the video recording mode. Simply make a phone call and hold the camera button to record the entire phone conversation and video. Make sure you put on Speaker Phone Mode.
Camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u-2MBYYsmw
Dark Side of Focus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXS4jrxeI0k
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ppsravan said:
There is search for Marketplace...goto the market place and hit the search button...the search button works as a contextual search based on the app or hub you are in...its awesome and well thought
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
shahidpak said:
1. Connect to Wifi
2. Select Settings
3. Select Wifi
4. Tap the connected WIFI network for few seconds.
5. Select Edit
6. Proxy ON
7. Type your proxy server and port
8. Save and exit you are done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have fun!
If I helped please hit the Thanks button!
Also.....
1) MULTITASKING (OR LET ME CALL IT "BACK IN TIME")
When you press the back button when on home screen it goes to all you recent apps you opened or edited before....Keep pressing the back button will go further more back! I Think this is because when i wanted to exit an app i pressed the start button(to go to Home screen instantly) and not the back button; so it stays in memory/or recording your steps you did before!
2) CHANGING PICTURES APP BACKGROUND:
When you go to Pictures you can change the Background to your likes using your images stored into phone... Just Hold your finger on the screen and a window will pop up... it says Change Background and "Change it for me" (automatic Randomly change)..Press change my background and pick your favorite photo/image.... Now it should change in the application and when you go to Home Screen you can also see this image on the Pictures tab....Love it!!!!!!!!!!
3) Battery and signal.
When on Home screen or whenever screen you are just slide down your finger starting from the Top of the screen...It should slide down the battery,signal,wifi icons e,t,c!
More WP7 tips .
becknise said:
72 Windows Phone 7 tips and tricks here:
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/36413/72-windows-phone-7-tips
Top 10 are:
1. Using the Windows Phone 7 voice controls
Press and hold the Windows key at the bottom of your screen and you can start talking to your phone. Try saying "Open Calendar", to see what we mean.
2. Adding apps to the Start screen
When you are in the long applications list on your phone pressing on an icon and holding brings up a contextual menu that gives you a series of options, one of which is "pin to start". Press on this option and the app will be shown on the Start screen.
3. Add people to the start page
No it's not just about adding apps to the start page, but people too. Find them in your contacts book, click on the "pin" icon, and they'll be added to your Start page so you can speed dial them whenever you need.
4. Moving your tiles around
Adding a new app or tile to the Start screen will place it right at the bottom. If you want it to be elsewhere, press and hold on the tile in question and then you are free to move it up and down and rearrange your tiles to best suit your needs.
5. Removing apps from the Start screen
You like the app, but you don't really want it on your Start screen anymore. No worries. Hold your finger on the tile in question for a couple of seconds and when it highlights press the no pin icon in the top right-hand corner.
6. Uninstalling apps
You've tried it and you don't like it. No problem. Head over to the menu list and press down on the app in question until you get the contextual menu. Select uninstall and you're done.
7. Rating and reviewing apps
You really love the new app you've downloaded, so much so that you want to rate and review it so anyone else interested knows whether it's any good or not. With Windows Phone 7 you don't have to wait until you delete it to rate it, you can rate and review it at any time. Press and hold down on the app in question until that contextual menu appears and then choose "Rate and review". It will bring up another page allowing you to have your say and give it a rating out of five. Easy peasy.
8. How to change the theme
If you've got your Windows Phone 7 phone from Vodafone the theme is going to be all red, O2 is dishing out blue themes and Orange, orange ones. An all red themed phone might be a bit much (we hear you), but fret not as you can change the colour of the tiles and other features in the Setting area. Zip on over to the menu list, select Settings, and then Theme. Here you can choose the colour of the background and the accent colour. Background options are "Black" or "White" while you'll get nine accent colours to pick from. Lime, anyone?
9. Swipe to the left
Windows Phone 7 is built around the idea of panoramic tiles that you swipe to reveal more content off screen. It's always worth seeing if you can swipe to the left as there might be more stuff waiting to be revealed.
10. What are the dots?
Whenever you see three dots at the bottom of the screen, that's a menu for more options. In photo playback for example, it will give you the options to delete the image or perform a quick upload.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sameerabedi said:
I have some few questions:
- How to quickly switch the phone to Silent mode/Vibrate, etc?
Press the volume button on the side and change from Ring to Vibrate and vicer versa
- How to quickly stop the audioplayer playing when you are somewhere else in the menu ?
Press volume button and audioplayer should show in a bar at the top and you can pause the song
- Why some album cover arts are wrong, or black in Zune?
Don't know, haven't noticed that yet
- Is there a way to change the music/audio settings (equalizer, bass, treble ?)
Download HTC App Sound Enhancer, allows some changes to be made.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to have multi-language dictionaries [WP7 autocorrects my English words]
Tom Servo said:
Select multiple keyboard languages in the settings. When done so, your virtual keyboard will show a regional button right of the spacebar. Changing keyboard layout will change the dictionary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cut down Facebook contacts.
sameerabedi said:
Found out how to cut down on the number of Facebook contacts:
From the microsoft website
By default, all of your Facebook friends appear as contacts on your phone. If you have lots of Facebook friends showing up in your contacts list, you can choose to only show friends who are already contacts on your phone. (So, if a Facebook friend is also a contact in Windows Live or Google, their Facebook information will still show up in your contacts list. All other friends will be hidden from the list.)
1 From Start, flick left to the Applications list and then press Settings.
2 Press Applications and then press People.
3 Under Include Facebook friends as contacts, press Only add Facebook information to existing contacts to filter out Facebook friends who don't already have a contact card on your phone.
Note
This option only filters Facebook friends from your contacts list in People. It doesn't change whose social updates you'll see in What's new.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Contacts from SIM
adrian-polglase said:
Unfortunately it's not simple. This is how I did it...
I synced my HD2 phone with Outlook, then downloaded the Hotmail Outlook Connector which allowed me to sign into my Windows Live Hotmail account through Outlook then Outlook shows me two accounts - my old ActiveSync Local account and my Windows Live Hotmail account and it's just then a simple case of clicking and dragging from one to the other. The Windows Phone 7 will then just sync the changes automatically from your Windows Live account.
or you can look here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-gb/howto/wp7/people/import-contacts-from-my-old-phone.aspx
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
contacts from Outlook to my phone.
sameerabedi said:
I managed to successfully transfer my contacts from Outlook to my phone. As advised I downloaded Outlook Hotmail Connector from here and installed it.
It didn't make any noticeable changes in Outlook.
I then set up my Hotmail account in Outlook which synced with all my existing Hotmail contacts (all 10 of them!)
I then proceeded to copy all my Outlook contacts to my Hotmail contacts in Outlook and then synced the Mozart with my Windows Live ID (ie my Hotmail) and all the Contacts that I copied synced across as well!
Long and inconvenient for my liking, but saves having to enter them all individually one by one.
I initially thought it didn't work, because when I logged into my Hotmail on the web, it doesn't update the Contacts on there, but after syncing with my phone, it was fine.
I'm now going to try the same for the Calender as well. EDIT: Works for Calender as well!
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FM Radio.
sutt359 said:
The HD7 DOES have FM Radio it can be found under the Music & Video Hub
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pictures uploading.
evilangelic said:
This is sort of a tip... a tip-off to a cool feature...
When you are in the pictures gallery, if you upload a picture to a service like skydrive off of your phone then... it's 'up' loaded in the gallery if you zoom out.
I thought it was really simple but really awesome lol...
(It's not persistent though, only for that viewing of the gallery...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pinning.
evilangelic said:
When pinning a page to your start screen in Internet Explorer:
Make sure you are zoomed in on a recognisable part of the page. The current zoom level of the page becomes the Tile snapshot image.
Tip is then: Zoom in on the page logo etc!
e.g. XDA:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
change the picture on picture tile
weepatc said:
To change the picture on the picture tile on Home page, Tap Pictures tile, scroll to Pictures hub then hold your finger somewhere above the pics & a context menu will appear. Select 'Change background' & then select the pic you want to use. This changes the tile & the pic is also used as the background for the Pictures hub. Cool eh!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Transparent Lockscreen
adesonic said:
Take a look at this http://wmpoweruser.com/make-your-wp7-lock-screen-transparent-to-show-homescreen/ Neat!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wheresmybeaver said:
Handy Tip #1: long hold the Start button to activate voice recognition (eg "open calendar")
Handy Tip #2: the traditional notification bar (signal strength, 3G, WiFi status etc) is mostly hidden by default unless something changes. Tap near the top of the screen to temporarily show all this information (for example, if you want to make sure you're connected to WiFi before downloading an app or an update). On my HD7, the sweet spot seems to be the HTC logo at the top of the screen.
Handy Tip #3: To remove an app from your phone, press and hold on its icon in the app list and select uninstall. You can also rate a downloaded app for the marketplace here.
Handy Tip #4 (possibly only applies to O2 HD7 users, maybe only in Ireland): If Internet Explorer is having trouble loading particular websites (for example, imgur), add the apn "internet" in "mobile network" under settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pair with your PC.
evilangelic said:
Ok one more everyone should do...
Phone music & calls to PC Speakers
For me the headset & AV service work perfectly, straight away.
Turn on bluetooth, pair with your PC, and touch again to connect.
Apparently my old HTC Desire had these services (AV Source and Headset) but it always paired but didn't maintain a connection... no obvious reason, didn't bother to look up why lol.
I was just excited when as soon as I connected with my PC with WP7, the Headset service asked for permission and after that all phone audio came through!
Old news to some but it is really cool having your phone blast music through your PC speakers wirelessly absolutely no effort or hassle at all!
Edit: Even before the phone has fully booted it connects to the PC you even hear the keypresses to unlock the phone... simple things lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only Alarm sound.
Spybreak said:
I leave my phone on silent every night and the alarm still sounds fine in the morning. To put it on silent click the volume up/down button and press on the bell icon. It'll change to vibrate, but the alarm will still sound.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Email Signature.
Go to your email, go to settings then tick use an email signature and change it from 'Sent from my Windows Phone'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RotoRooter said:
So I was in the same boat you are in. Nothing could read the card except for my Nokia n97 mini. It recognized the card as "locked" and prompted for a password. I bypassed the prompt and went to the file manager. From there it let me format the card and it is back to normal. See, Symbian is good for something after all!
PS: I tried the same process with an E71 and had the same successful results. All recent Symbian phones should work as it appears they can handle the encryption and password. The card is now happily back in my HTC EVO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long press on Send-key activates the camera from sleep mode...
Long press on Send-key activates the camera from sleep mode. Even when the phone is password locked!
This is a very sticky topic, OP should change title and add [NO DISCUSSION] though that way n00bs wont start asking questions etc.
There was a segment about getting rid of most Facebook contacts, how about the contacts that come with the default email?
AKA the one you cant delete or change sync settings for.
http://www.creepinjesus.net/post/Know-the-keyboard-e2809cshortcutse2809d-in-Windows-Phone-7.aspx
excellent keyboard tips and tricks
Excellent guide!!
Importing SIM Contacts
You can import SIM contacts quickly and easily by:
Click on the "People" tile
Now press and hold on the "People" title bar, above your contacts list
Contextual menu will appear, hit settings button
Hit the import SIM contacts button
Cheers!
gray album art in zune: maybe the solution?
i have found something with my german HD7 device. I dont know if this is the solution for this problem but you could try it. Sometimes i have gray album art in the now playing screen on the phone,, but in the history and on the albums, the album art is visible. You have to look at Phone Seetings > Apps > Music and Videos > Connect with Zune enabled (you see the album art), disabled (the album art is grayed out).
But i have another problem: Sometimes i want to call someone, or someone wants to call me, i pick up the phone and can here the other part, but the other part could not hear me. the only solution i have found is it to restart the phone. i have this issue only if im directly under a cell tower. are anyone else with the same problem?
to put phone in silent mode, disable vibration in settings,
then press volume keys, touch on ring bell icon to toggle to vibration mode.........since vibration is disabled, now phone is in full silence
Shuffle a playlist
This one is really hard to find, and I was flummoxed till I found it in the help site.
To play all songs in the playlist in a random order, first start the playlist. Now look at the big "Now Playing" tile in Zune. Click it once. You will see three icons:
repeat, favorite and shuffle. Click the shuffle icon once so that it looks bright (not gray).
Reference: Music and Video FAQ
Text editing: Tap and hold!
Took me a while to figure out you can tap and hold on any text box to get a cursor and then move the cursor to where you want to edit/change text. Searching around I could only find a few references (pocketnow com/windows-phone/selecting-multiple-lines-of-text-in-windows-phone-7) to this technique, so many users might not know about it yet. Some of the office apps have other techniques for selecting text on wp7 ( pocketnow com/windows-phone/selecting-multiple-lines-of-text-in-windows-phone-7)
Here is another good list of tips for windows phone 7: simplemobilereview com/10-tips-for-windows-phone-7/
Sorry... can't post links as a new users I guess....
Video Recording Mode can be used during phone call!
You can record a phone conversation using the video recording mode. Simply make a phone call and hold the camera button to record the entire phone conversation and video. Make sure you put on Speaker Phone Mode.
Camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u-2MBYYsmw
Dark Side of Focus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXS4jrxeI0k
1. TALKING TO YOUR PHONE
The Windows Phone 7 is the latest addition in smartphone platforms, so you can talk to it – yeah, literally. You can activate the device’s voice control mechanism by pressing and holding the Windows key at the bottom of your screen. Try saying ‘Open Calendar’ for example, it’ll hear you.
Everyone may know this, but I didn't and was excited when i found out: in the calculator app, the functions change depending on the phone orientation. There's a built-in Dec, bin, hex, etc calculator. Love it!
I added a second live account located in the US, but still marketplace is not available. Noticed I cannot delete the first live account i have with norwegian location so I guess adding a second live account wont open up market as written on the first post?
USB INTERNET
Another awesome Fuctionality on WP7 is the USB Internet...
Just plug your phone on your PC with the usb cable..It should now open Zune and your device will sync.... Start the Browser/youtube or your email on your phone and you will have Internet over the USB with fast speeds and no lag at all! Tested it on my HD2 WP7!
If you install RealTube.xap you will see on the Top Right side: "Connection:USB"
This will show you that this is working frawlessly!
When you are on the homescreen it will open BING-search if you push the home button. But if you are in the MUSIC&VIDEOS-screen you can search for items, music etc. in the marketplace...
Great find! Most people (me including) were shocked by the fact that there was no search in Marketplace!
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/htc-one-tips-and-tricks
Introduction
The HTC One is the most desirable new phone in the world right now. Metal-bodied, great-looking and a seriously powerful gadget, this is the mobile that could turn things around for HTC.
We've spent weeks fiddling with the phone, and here are best tips, tricks and hidden features we've found.
Interface
How to change keyboards
One of the few software criticisms we made about the HTC One was that its keyboard isn’t exactly the slickest in town.
However, one of the neatest bits of Android is that you can swap-out things like keyboards.
The first thing to do is to head to the Play Store to find your perfect Android keyboard.
The most popular third-party one is Swiftkey.
Once you’ve downloaded your keyboard, you need to select it to act as your main keyboard within the Settings menu, from the Language & Keyboard submenu.
However, many third-party keyboard apps have their own setup wizards anyway.
Enabling Swype-style input on the keyboard
There are ways to customise the standard HTC keyboard too, though.
The most important is gesture-based input, which we find speeds-up typing no end.
Instead of tapping away on keys, you draw a line between the characters and the HTC One calculates which word you want.
It works a charm too. To turn this mode on, go to the HTC Sense Input menu within Settings > Language & Keyboard and tick the Trace Keyboard checkbox.
How to customise the apps menu
The HTC One lets you fiddle with the look of the apps menu a little.
You can choose how icons are organised, and how many appear in each row.
As standard, it displays just three in each row for a chilled, spread out look. To bump this up to four, drag the apps “scroll” down to reveal the app menu’s Settings bar.
Tap the 3-pip icon and you’ll see an option for Grid Size.
The organisation options are found in the drop-down menu to the left of the 3-pip button.
How to change icons in the HTC Sense dock
The easiest-to-access app shortcuts of all are those in the shortcut dock, which stays on-screen in both the apps menu and your home screens.
You can choose what’s in this dock on the apps screen.
Just hold a finger down on an icon, whether in the dock or not, until the screen zooms out a little then drag it on, or off, the bar.
You can add app folders to the Sense dock
Folder functionality lets you keep boxes of apps on the apps menu – just like those of the iPhone iOS software.
These folders can sit in the main shortcut dock just like a single app shortcut.
They’re added in the same way too.
How to take a screen grab
Unlike most older Android phones, the HTC makes it dead simple to take a picture of whatever’s on-screen.
It’s the perfect way to capture an amazing score in a game that doesn’t have some of form of brag function as standard.
To take a grab, press the power button and the Home soft key at the same time.
The pic will be then saved to the phone’s gallery.
Installing a custom UI
Do you outright hate the Sense UI? Do not fret as you can swap it out for another one.
Whenever you press the Home button, it’s actually directing you to a home screen “app”.
Install another and you’ll get the option to be directed to one other than HTC’s.
Top candidates include Nova Launcher and ADW.Launcher.
To find a bunch, just search for “Launcher” in the Play Store.
Adding widgets to a home screen
Here’s a nice basic one that most of you probably know already.
To add a widget to a home screen, just find a bit of empty space on a screen and hold a finger down on it.
This will bring up the widget control panel.
Two-thirds of the screen will be made up of a box of widgets, with the other bit left for teeny versions of your homes screens, onto which you can drag widgets.
How to customise the lock screen
The HTC One lets you control what your phone’s lock screen looks like, but you don’t do this from the lock screen itself.
Instead, dive into the Personlize menu within Settings.
Here you’ll find options for home screens that incorporate music players, your calendar or photo album.
You can even turn off the lock screen entirely.
Modifying LED notifications
A neat little hardware feature that barely gets any attention is the HTC One’s LED notification light, which sits behind the top speaker grille.
You can control which types of notifications earn the notification LED flash within Settings > Display, Gestures & Buttons > Notification Flash.
You can’t control its colour though, sadly.
BlinkFeed
How to get rid of Blinkfeed
You can’t get rid of Blinkfeed entirely on the HTC One.
HTC is clearly that bit too proud of it.
However, you can hide it from view.
To do this, you need to create another home screen to use as the face of your phone.
HTC veterans may want to include the classic HTC clock, which you’ll find in the HTC One’s treasure trove of widgets.
Next we need to set this screen as the default home screen.
Hold a finger down on an empty bit of home screen, waiting until the widget drop screen pops up.
At the top of this screen you’ll see teeny versions of your home screens.
Hold a finger down on one of these and a Set as Home Screen option will appear.
Tap it and Blinkfeed will be gone.
Well, more or less.
Adding sources to Blinkfeed
Like Blinkfeed?
It works best if you customise it with the sorts of info you want – whether that’s tweets, Facebook updates or articles from the internet.
To do this, head to your Blinkfeed home page and drag down on its panels to reveal the settings bar.
The triple dot button here takes you to an area where you can add Blinkfeed sources, while the drop-down bar to the left lets you pick between types of active source.
Camera
The filter button
The HTC One’s camera filters selection is so up-front that it’s actually pretty easy to miss.
The filters button is the icon that looks a bit like a colour venn diagram, sitting below the camera/video select buttons within the camera app.
HTC offers a bunch of filters, including creative ones like a distorting warp and customisable vignetting.
How to turn on Zoe Mode
Zoe mode is one of the key features of the HTC One.
It takes a short video clip that can also be sliced up into twenty still images.
One of the neatest parts of Zoe mode is that once it’s shared through HTC Share, a short URL is produced that makes sharing the video with friends dead simple.
It also allows re-touching, including removing objects from the video.
We’ve had trouble getting this to work properly, but you can find the feature by inspecting a Zoe vid in the gallery, tapping Edit and then Retouch.
You’ll find Object Removal in this menu.
Best settings for general use
To get photos with the most detail, we recommend at least trying out using HDR as your go-to photo mode.
HDR stands of High Dynamic range, and it combines three exposures to eke out as much detail as possible.
As the HTC One is so powerful, the processing only takes a second or two – it doesn’t slow you down too much.
Unfortunately, we can’t see any way to get the HTC One to save both standard and HDR shots at the same time, as you can with an iPhone.
How to auto upload photos to Flickr
If you’re a big photo sharer, you can set the HTC One to automatically upload your songs to the ‘net.
You’ll find this option right down the bottom of the camera app’s Settings menu.
As standard, the only option is to upload to Flickr for HTC Sense.
Wireless camera shutter
A neat hidden feature of the HTC One is that you can use a Bluetooth headset to take photos you’re when within the camera app.
Hold down the central button on your remote and the camera will take a shot.
Audio
When to use Beats Audio
Beats Audio is a signal processing mode that’s used in a fistful of HTC phones.
It’s designed to mimic the style of the Beats by Dre headphones – that means a lot of bass for that booming club sound.
It works wonders on the internal speakers of the phone, cutting out the harsh mids, but with a decent pair of headphones you’re best off without it unless you have a craving for more bass.
How to turn off Beats Audio
Don’t like the sound of Beats Audio?
You can switch it off – as standard I’ll turn on automatically when you play music.
You’ll find the switch for the feature on the top layer of the settings menu, under the Phone subhead.
Quick music navigation
If you have a big music collection on your HTC One, flicking through all your tracks or albums can be laborious.
To make it quicker, use a two-fingered scroll.
This cycles through letters of the alphabet rather than entry-by-entry.
Video
How to play any video on the HTC One
The integrated video player of the HTC One offers much less than flawless video codec support.
If you have a library of videos downloaded from the net, many of them probably won’t play.
To fill the gaps you’ll need a third-party app, preferably one with its own hardware acceleration.
Our go-to pick is MX Player.
How to transmit video to a TV
The HTC One does not have a dedicated video output socket.
However, there are a few different ways to get your videos over from the phone to your TV.
The neatest of the lot requires a special accessory, the HTC Media Link, a box that connects to your TV.
This lets you swipe any content over to your TV using a three-fingered swipe.
Alternatively, the microUSB socket on the phone is MHL compliant, letting you use it as an HDMI port with the right connector.
You'll find these online.
Hardware
How to reset the accelerometer/gyroscope
This is one most of you shouldn’t really need, but is useful if you find accelerometer games are way out of whack.
You can re-calibrate the accelerometer and gyroscope manually – these sensors can tell what angle the HTC One is being held at.
The calibration works much like a spirit level, and is the G-Sensor Calibration option within Settings > Display, Gestures & Buttons.
You’ll find it right down at the bottom of the menu.
One way to diagnose touchscreen issues
If your HTC One’s touchscreen has gone a bit dodgy, you can try to diagnose the problem using the phone’s Developer Mode.
This is a set of options you’ll find in the Developer Options menu within Settings.
The one we’re after is called Show Touches, which shows little circles where the screen is sensing points of touch.
Hard-soft reset
Software misbehaviour can often be cured with a simple reset.
You can turn the phone on and off again, but getting the good old “pull the battery out” effect requires an HTC special move.
You could rip off the back, but it’s not something we’d recommend. Instead, hold the power button down for ten seconds to simulate the cutting of power.
A prompt should pop-up warning you that the hard-soft reset is about to happen.
Battery
Sleep mode is key
The HTC One has a battery saving mode that’s crucial if you want to have a phone that’s able to last more than 24 hours.
Sleep Mode, an option found in the Power sub-menu of Settings is one of the most important to switch on, as it turns of 3G when it’s not needed.
3G is a real power-sucker.
You can also select how intensive the Power Saving mode is in other respects.
Turn Power Saver mode off in the Power menu, then tap the Power Saver menu option (not the slider) to select which parts of the phone are throttled by the mode – CPU, display, vibration feedback and the data connection.
Apps and Games
Enable non-Google Play apps downloads
Unlike iPhones, Android phones can install apps other than those downloaded from the official app store.
However, this feature is disabled as standard – mainly because some (well, many) apps from the net will be infected with malware.
To turn off this security measure, tick the Unknown Sources box in the Settings > Security menu. Android apps online are shipped as APK installer files.
To install them, transfer them to the internal memory then find and run them using a file browser app like ES File Explorer.
Enabling offline speech recognition
Virtually all top-end phones offer pretty serious voice recognition these days, but you generally need to have internet connectivity for it to work.
The HTC One lets you download a pack of offline voice recognition data to let you use it when you have no Wi-Fi or mobile internet reception.
You’ll find the option to download the pack in Settings > Language & Keyboard > Voice Search.
How to stop the phone auto-creating app icons
The HTC One automatically creates home screen app icons and widgets for downloaded apps.
It’s a way to stop you having to curate your own home screens, but some of you may not like the clutter.
To stop the HTC One from doing this, go to Google Play, head to its Settings menu (accessed through the 3-pip button at the top-right of the screen.
Here you’ll find a tick box for auto-add.
If screen brightness goes down while you’re playing a game…
One curious thing we’ve noticed while playing games on the HTC One is that the screen brightness can unexpectedly dip.
The reason why is simple – the placement of the ambient light sensor means it’s easy to cover the thing up, or shade it, with a hand when the phone’s held in landscape orientation.
To avoid this, try turning your phone around.
Simples.
Security
Backing up to the cloud
The HTC One comes with an allocation of HTC online cloud storage.
You can set the HTC One to automatically back up your data to this storage, or you can use Google’s cloud servers.
You’ll find this option in Settings > Backup & Reset.
You can also make the phone auto-upload pictures taken to Flickr.
You’ll find the auto upload function in the Settings section within the camera app.
Lock screen security
A lock screen security layer is hardly the height of security sophistication, but it’s the best way to stop being stitched up on Facebook if you’re in the habit of leaving your phone lying about when with friends.
We’ve all been there.
Within the Screen lock menu of Settings > Security you’ll find options to use a Pattern unlock, a password, a PIN number or Face Unlock.
Our top tip is not to use Face Unlock as it’s pretty useless as security measures go.
And it makes you look silly.
Browsing
Get straight to Google
The quickest way to get to a web search on the HTC One is using a clever Google shortcut.
Hold a finger down on the phone’s Home soft key and you’ll be taken directly to the Google search page.
Using Google Now
Google Now is a recently-introduced Google service that’s designed to pre-empt what you’re going to look for.
It does this using info cards that appear on the Google Search page.
If you’ve been searching for places in a certain location, Google Now might offer up directions as to how to get to that place.
How to go full screen in the stock browser
If you want to make the full use of the HTC One’s 4.7-inch screen when browsing the web, you need to enable full screen browsing.
This hides the address bar, giving you that extra bit space for web sites.
To find the setting, pull down the address bar and tap the three-pip button to bring up the menu.
Scroll down to Settings, tap General and select the Fullscreen tick box.
.
Help, got myself in trouble trying to mess with the Sense Dock!
Palla71 said:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/htc-one-tips-and-tricks
How to change icons in the HTC Sense dock
The easiest-to-access app shortcuts of all are those in the shortcut dock, which stays on-screen in both the apps menu and your home screens.
You can choose what’s in this dock on the apps screen.
Just hold a finger down on an icon, whether in the dock or not, until the screen zooms out a little then drag it on, or off, the bar.
You can add app folders to the Sense dock
Folder functionality lets you keep boxes of apps on the apps menu – just like those of the iPhone iOS software.
These folders can sit in the main shortcut dock just like a single app shortcut.
They’re added in the same way too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I seem to have gotten myself in trouble with this. When I tried to drag an item off the dock and onto the home screen, it made a copy on the home screen but kept it on the dock. So I tried dragging a new item to the dock, and ended up with a folder containing both the old and new items. Now, I can't find any way to get rid of that folder which is stuck on the dock! Anyone know how to do that?
Edit: Never mind, I found the answer here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2235130
Is there any way to get Google Now to respond to the "Google" voice prompt like it does on other devices (including the HOX)? Kind of a pain to hit the mic icon at the top of the screen when using the One one-handed.
Has anyone tried "light flow" for the notification light to see if the colors are able to be changed?
And has anyone installed swype/swype beta? I'm sure it also works with the H1, just curious.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
dirtyhamster73 said:
Has anyone tried "light flow" for the notification light to see if the colors are able to be changed?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
HTC phones don't have tri colored LEDs like Samsung phones so Lightflow won't work.
Tikerz said:
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
HTC phones don't have tri colored LEDs like Samsung phones so Lightflow won't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only phone from Samsung that has a led is the gnote 2 and sgs3, I can't think of any recent (within the last few yrs) Samsung phones with led. I do know my HTC g1 back in the day was able to have different colored led. Hhmm...interesting. Can't say I've ever heard this about HTC. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
dirtyhamster73 said:
The only phone from Samsung that has a led is the gnote 2 and sgs3, I can't think of any recent (within the last few yrs) Samsung phones with led. I do know my HTC g1 back in the back was able to have different colored led. Hhmm...interesting. Can't say I've ever heard this about HTC. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung did manage to put a RGB LED in the Nexus 10, surely at Google's behest.
Not to take away the credits, I appreciate your time and efforts.
Seems to be like squeezed out manual rather than tips.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Palla71 said:
How to change icons in the HTC Sense dock
The easiest-to-access app shortcuts of all are those in the shortcut dock, which stays on-screen in both the apps menu and your home screens.
You can choose what’s in this dock on the apps screen.
Just hold a finger down on an icon, whether in the dock or not, until the screen zooms out a little then drag it on, or off, the bar. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't working for me. When I select an icon in the dock and drag it to the top of the screen on top of the 'uninstall' nothing happens, and when I drop it onto the 'desktop', it simply replaces itself with another one in the dock. Trying to add different icons doesn't work, either. Any help appreciated. I don't use text messaging and would far prefer to have my Email and Firefox icons in there instead.
Croak said:
Is there any way to get Google Now to respond to the "Google" voice prompt like it does on other devices (including the HOX)? Kind of a pain to hit the mic icon at the top of the screen when using the One one-handed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't found a way yet to have the button launch voice search, but if you say "google" it will launch the voice search
BillTheCat said:
This isn't working for me. When I select an icon in the dock and drag it to the top of the screen on top of the 'uninstall' nothing happens, and when I drop it onto the 'desktop', it simply replaces itself with another one in the dock. Trying to add different icons doesn't work, either. Any help appreciated. I don't use text messaging and would far prefer to have my Email and Firefox icons in there instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to be in the app drawer to change the dock icons or you'll keep getting duplicates.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
jsho31 said:
You have to be in the app drawer to change the dock icons or you'll keep getting duplicates.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Took me an hour to figure this out....I swear the programmers were high when designing some of the software for sense 5..
bugsy said:
I haven't found a way yet to have the button launch voice search, but if you say "google" it will launch the voice search
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Saying "Google" totally doesn't work for me, I have to hit the mic icon to voice search in Google Now.
Palla71 said:
How to take a screen grab
To take a grab, press the power button and the Home soft key at the same time.
The pic will be then saved to the phone’s gallery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it's Power button + volume down.
Palla71 said:
How to turn on Zoe Mode
Zoe mode is one of the key features of the HTC One.
It takes a short video clip that can also be sliced up into twenty still images.
One of the neatest parts of Zoe mode is that once it’s shared through HTC Share, a short URL is produced that makes sharing the video with friends dead simple.
It also allows re-touching, including removing objects from the video.
We’ve had trouble getting this to work properly, but you can find the feature by inspecting a Zoe vid in the gallery, tapping Edit and then Retouch.
You’ll find Object Removal in this menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well this didn't tell people how to turn on HTC Zoe so, for those who aren't aware, go into Camera and at the top of the screen in the middle you'll see a small camera icon. Click it and it'll turn blue and will also display another camera icon near the bottom of the screen which says "Zoe" next to it.
Also, the best way to get the Zoe features working isn't actually by capturing a Zoe. When you're in normal camera mode, hold the bottom capture button and it will take a shutter shot. This will produce lots of pictures which were captured during the time you held the shutter button.
Once you've captured what you desired, go to edit the photo and use the editing options available to you.
Why is this easier than snapping a Zoe?
The answer's simple. Zoe shots only give you a limited amount of time and can be awkward to use some of the editing features. Using the shutter button, this isn't a problem.
Palla71 said:
How to turn off Beats Audio
Don’t like the sound of Beats Audio?
You can switch it off – as standard I’ll turn on automatically when you play music.
You’ll find the switch for the feature on the top layer of the settings menu, under the Phone subhead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's important to note that if you turn off Beats Audio, the speaker playback quality is actually quite bad. Maybe it seems worse because I'd gotten used to the effect of Beats but it definitely has a big drop in quality.
I haven't tested this through the headphones, however.
BillTheCat said:
This isn't working for me. When I select an icon in the dock and drag it to the top of the screen on top of the 'uninstall' nothing happens, and when I drop it onto the 'desktop', it simply replaces itself with another one in the dock. Trying to add different icons doesn't work, either. Any help appreciated. I don't use text messaging and would far prefer to have my Email and Firefox icons in there instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It only works from the app drawer. See http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2235130
(I had the same issue last night, until I found the above link).
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda app-developers app
Croak said:
Is there any way to get Google Now to respond to the "Google" voice prompt like it does on other devices (including the HOX)? Kind of a pain to hit the mic icon at the top of the screen when using the One one-handed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, figured out what the problem is. Google Now disables "hotword detection" for English(Canadian), which is the default system language on my Telus One.
Switched to English (US) and it works fine now.
How to fast forward or rewind Video in stock player
Swipe 2 fingers forward (right) to fast forward. Swipe again for faster forward. Tap play to resume normal play.
Swipe 2 fingers back (left) to rewind. Swipe again for faster rewind. Tap play to resume normal play.
You forgot tap to top like on a iPhone
jaythenut said:
You forgot tap to top like on a iPhone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you please explain it?
omar302 said:
Would you please explain it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're in BlinkFeed or contacts and so on touch the top of the screen in the middle where the clock is
Like the title says,
I'm looking for a way to remap my home button, specifically for use with tasker. I want tasker to map the home button to a certain launcher during specific times, and default launcher while outside of those times.
Any suggestions?
Sent from my XT1254
OR! If there is a way to have tasker change the default launcher during certain times this will automatically deal with the capacitive home button.
Sent from my XT1254
Are you just looking for a Tasker tutorial? What you're describing seems possible but would just require some playing around with Tasker to figure out.
swboland said:
Are you just looking for a Tasker tutorial? What you're describing seems possible but would just require some playing around with Tasker to figure out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive got as far as I can in tasker, Ive messed around with it alot but i cant seem to figure out how to get tasker to do one of the following:
remap home key
change default launcher
theres a few simple ways to do it with root, but since the Droid Turbo isnt rooted yet I'm looking for a workaround.
Based on my knowledge so far - it IS possible without root, just not sure how its done.
there's an app called Home2 Shortcut - and its capable of remapping the home key, which leads me to think theres a way to do it manually with some terminal commands or possibly through an option in tasker that could be sitting right in front of my eyes.
Figured the whole thing out, if anyone requests it, I am willing to give some instructions on how to make a contextual home screen - certain home screens based on location, time, yaddiyadda
I did this so that my home button would default to a Launcher that I set up for work during my shift hours,
Outside of shift hours my home button will go to my default home screen with apps I use at home.
My work screen has navigation apps, shift planning apps, and PDA type set-up
My home/on the couch screen has netflix, chromecast, youtube, spotify, that kind of stuff.
It helps me separate my workflow at work from my workflow at home.
I call it Launcher Switcher, and im copywriting that right there.
ccheww said:
Figured the whole thing out, if anyone requests it, I am willing to give some instructions on how to make a contextual home screen - certain home screens based on location, time, yaddiyadda
I did this so that my home button would default to a Launcher that I set up for work during my shift hours,
Outside of shift hours my home button will go to my default home screen with apps I use at home.
My work screen has navigation apps, shift planning apps, and PDA type set-up
My home/on the couch screen has netflix, chromecast, youtube, spotify, that kind of stuff.
It helps me separate my workflow at work from my workflow at home.
I call it Launcher Switcher, and im copywriting that right there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They stole the name already https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.mobilefirst.launcherswitcher&hl=en
joshm.1219 said:
They stole the name already https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.mobilefirst.launcherswitcher&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crap! I'll just name it something else because its far more useful than that app
Sent from my XT1254
Has anyone found a way to unlock and lock the Nest x Yale door lock
I would just like a button widget i can press that will unlock my door
or even better a way to connect it to Google home to unlock
I found your thread looking for the same solution - couldn't find one so I made one myself.
For those of you with even beginner level tweaking experience you can accomplish the unlock using tasker and autoinput apps. I have it setup something like this:
Activated by a profile (shaking the phone, long volume button press, etc)
Launch Nest app
Wait 5 seconds
Select Lock button - note that I had to disable "Spaces" on my app, but I think it looks better that way anyway
Wait 3 seconds
Gesture swipe from x,y to x,y+200 over 3 seconds - you can get the x,y number by enabling developer options on your phone and turning on cursor tracking. This is the physical location on the screen so it will vary from phone to phone
Wait 1 second
Go home
It's not the cleanest option but now I can get out of my car, unlock my phone and long press my volume button to launch this little command and my door will be unlocked.
There is also another app, Autovoice, that I am messing with made by the same developer. This allows integration into your google home devices, and you can create a Routine that will act like a shortcut. So I can say "Hey Google, Front Door" and have it set up to be read by google as "Hey Google, ask Autovoice to Front Door" - more info on AutoVoice here https://joaoapps.com/autovoice/
The biggest hurdle with using voice is like I said above, the nest app doesnt have a "button" for the unlock area - I suspect they did this to avoid apps like Tasker from finding something to "click" since it uses the same triggers that technology like Voiceover/Talkback use to find objects to select. So if you wanted to have a full on demand voice unlock you will need a spare android phone plugged in somewhere in your house to be a dedicated nest operator. Autovoice can specify which device you want the command to run on, so you would point to that device. Using that, it might even be easier since you could have the nest app always open, never sleeping or locking, on the lock/unlock screen. Tasker would just have to run task #6 above, which would decrease the processing time to make it almost instant similar to the lock command via OK Google.
Hello, in this guide I am going to describe how to side load android apps on the lenovo smart clock 2.
Requirements.
A device to use the google home app.
A List of apps you want to install, make sure you have a keyboard and home screen launcher in mind.
Not a requirement but basic understanding of the talk back screen reader will be helpful.
Next some things to be aware of.
While ADB is in developer settings I haven’t found a way to connect the clock to a pc using the dock I tried a usb C to A cable but that did not work.
The draw over other apps permission is unavailable.
Here are the specks that we are working with.
Processor
MediaTek™ MT8167S Processor (1.50 GHz)
Operating System
Android 10
Display Type
4.0" LCD IPS Touchscreen
Memory
1 GB
Hard Drive
8 GB Flash We have about 3.3 GB free.
Finally, I am visually impaired so the way I describe things may not make sense for some. If you have trouble understanding please let me know.
Note You are doing all this at your own risk. However, everything is easy to undo with a factory reset.
Instructions for factory resetting.
Flip the mute switch to muted.
Press both volume buttons for ten seconds.
A window should now come up asking if you want to reset. If nothing is pressed the device will auto reset in a minute.
OK, let’s start.
Find a website where the apk is that you want to install.
Now find a way where that website will come up in a google search.
Note do to how google displays the search button may not be available, so we will have to rely on Google’s auto complete feature.
Examples:
If you were looking for nova launcher, you would be using nova launcher.ap we will want google to finish adding the K.
Add this word to your calendar. For example,nova launcher.ap
Make sure this is the same calendar that the clock is signed in to.
Next open the google home app. Find your device click on settings then accessibility.
Next click the switch next to screenreader.
Your clock should now start talking or making sounds.
If so, ask google “what’s on my calendar?” Swipe right until the event you added is spoken or highlighted.
Next swipe down and right in a single motion an L shape.
Swipe right until copy last utterance is selected double tap, if successful the menu should disappear.
It may take a few tries to get it.
Next open the same menu, (swipe down and right.)
Swipe until talkback settings is selected. Double tap again.
A new screen should appear.
Now swipe, swipe a lot until privacy policy is selected.
Double tap, a browser should now open.
Swipe and double tap to allow all the permissions.
Next swipe until google apps is selected. Double tap then find search and double tap to activate.
Find the search box, double tap to get into it.
Now swipe up and right in a single motion
If successful a new menu should come up. Find edit then activate paste.
If the text gets pasted in the search box, you can now turn off talkback.
Back on your phone flip the switch next to screenreader.
Now here is where things get difficult, the text should be in the box, But I was not able to see the search button with talkback. If you see the button, try turning off
talkback and pressing it
If the search button does not show up here is where you will have to rely on Google auto complete suggestions.
You should have a pretty good idea of what to do from here.
Note that when you download something a window will come up with all downloaded files. The first time you install an apk you will have to click allow from this source when that window comes up.
Notes.
I recommend you install something like nova launcher, for a replacement home screen.
When you install a replacement home screen you will have to click always on the new window that will pop up.
If you want to get back to the regular clock interface, launch the home app.
Any questions feal free to ask.
Remember doing a factory reset will clear all changes made.
What apps have you found that work well and are useful?
Most apps should work, since this is basically android 10, but here are some ideas.
1. Aurora Store
auroraoss.com
Allows you to download apps from google play without play services installed.
2. any voice recorder, you can record audio, but I recommend turning the microphone gain up since the microphone is a little quiet. Note, that when recording Google assistant will not be listening.
3
Ultimate alexa.
Allows amazon alexa to be used. with wake word and all.
4. Last launcher.
Last Launcher | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository
Faster than Light
f-droid.org
A simple and small launcher that will show all apps on one page.
The built in browser seems to work well.
You could also install youtube vanst so that youtube could work on the clock.
Mainly want to get the Google home app on there.
Need some help. Got nova launcher running. Then when I applied my nova settings, it went back to the Lenovo home screen. How do I get it back to nova? Lol
Nevermind. I found it.
willbilec said:
Most apps should work, since this is basically android 10, but here are some ideas.
1. Aurora Store
auroraoss.com
Allows you to download apps from google play without play services installed.
2. any voice recorder, you can record audio, but I recommend turning the microphone gain up since the microphone is a little quiet. Note, that when recording Google assistant will not be listening.
3
Ultimate alexa.
Allows amazon alexa to be used. with wake word and all.
4. Last launcher.
Last Launcher | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository
Faster than Light
f-droid.org
A simple and small launcher that will show all apps on one page.
The built in browser seems to work well.
willbilec said:
Most apps should work, since this is basically android 10, but here are some ideas.
1. Aurora Store
auroraoss.com
Allows you to download apps from google play without play services installed.
2. any voice recorder, you can record audio, but I recommend turning the microphone gain up since the microphone is a little quiet. Note, that when recording Google assistant will not be listening.
3
Ultimate alexa.
Allows amazon alexa to be used. with wake word and all.
4. Last launcher.
Last Launcher | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository
Faster than Light
f-droid.org
A simple and small launcher that will show all apps on one page.
The built in browser seems to work well.
You could also install youtube vanst so that youtube could work on the clock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a quick way to get back to nova launcher when I decide to be on the clock for a while.
You could also install youtube vanst so that youtube could work on the clock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you open the home app, not assistant core. their is a app called home, this app should allow you to get back to the default launcher if you do the back gesture.
I am trying to get Ring in it!
Any chance you can do a YouTube guide on how to do this. I would love to be able to install Auora OSS to easily install other apps. Thanks.
I am going to make a YouTube tutorial and how to connect Bluetooth keyboard! NOT USB !!!!!!DONGLE!!!!!!
How can I enable notification toggle ?
willbilec said:
Hello, in this guide I am going to describe how to side load android apps on the lenovo smart clock 2.
Requirements.
A device to use the google home app.
A List of apps you want to install, make sure you have a keyboard and home screen launcher in mind.
Not a requirement but basic understanding of the talk back screen reader will be helpful.
Next some things to be aware of.
While ADB is in developer settings I haven’t found a way to connect the clock to a pc using the dock I tried a usb C to A cable but that did not work.
The draw over other apps permission is unavailable.
Here are the specks that we are working with.
Processor
MediaTek™ MT8167S Processor (1.50 GHz)
Operating System
Android 10
Display Type
4.0" LCD IPS Touchscreen
Memory
1 GB
Hard Drive
8 GB Flash We have about 3.3 GB free.
Finally, I am visually impaired so the way I describe things may not make sense for some. If you have trouble understanding please let me know.
Note You are doing all this at your own risk. However, everything is easy to undo with a factory reset.
Instructions for factory resetting.
Flip the mute switch to muted.
Press both volume buttons for ten seconds.
A window should now come up asking if you want to reset. If nothing is pressed the device will auto reset in a minute.
OK, let’s start.
Find a website where the apk is that you want to install.
Now find a way where that website will come up in a google search.
Note do to how google displays the search button may not be available, so we will have to rely on Google’s auto complete feature.
Examples:
If you were looking for nova launcher, you would be using nova launcher.ap we will want google to finish adding the K.
Add this word to your calendar. For example,nova launcher.ap
Make sure this is the same calendar that the clock is signed in to.
Next open the google home app. Find your device click on settings then accessibility.
Next click the switch next to screenreader.
Your clock should now start talking or making sounds.
If so, ask google “what’s on my calendar?” Swipe right until the event you added is spoken or highlighted.
Next swipe down and right in a single motion an L shape.
Swipe right until copy last utterance is selected double tap, if successful the menu should disappear.
It may take a few tries to get it.
Next open the same menu, (swipe down and right.)
Swipe until talkback settings is selected. Double tap again.
A new screen should appear.
Now swipe, swipe a lot until privacy policy is selected.
Double tap, a browser should now open.
Swipe and double tap to allow all the permissions.
Next swipe until google apps is selected. Double tap then find search and double tap to activate.
Find the search box, double tap to get into it.
Now swipe up and right in a single motion
If successful a new menu should come up. Find edit then activate paste.
If the text gets pasted in the search box, you can now turn off talkback.
Back on your phone flip the switch next to screenreader.
Now here is where things get difficult, the text should be in the box, But I was not able to see the search button with talkback. If you see the button, try turning off
talkback and pressing it
If the search button does not show up here is where you will have to rely on Google auto complete suggestions.
You should have a pretty good idea of what to do from here.
Note that when you download something a window will come up with all downloaded files. The first time you install an apk you will have to click allow from this source when that window comes up.
Notes.
I recommend you install something like nova launcher, for a replacement home screen.
When you install a replacement home screen you will have to click always on the new window that will pop up.
If you want to get back to the regular clock interface, launch the home app.
Any questions feal free to ask.
Remember doing a factory reset will clear all changes made.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So my issue here is how to enable the screen reader using the google home app on iOS. I think they removed it
So after installing Nova Launcher there will be a pop-up we always have to click? Is that the choose default launcher pop-up?
@willbilec Could you please list what software build version you have? Because I can get to auroraoss and nova launcher but when I click the download APK button the button flashes (so I know it was clicked), but nothing happens? No pop-up to click install. What am I missing?
I am facing the same problem, after clicking on the download link nothing happens. Has the download capability been disabled on the latest build? I know that as soon as I turned on the device and got it connected it performed an update
After I've added the link to my calendar and ask google to show my calendar she says she can't find anything in my calendar. Is this patched?
I followed this guide again and it worked totally fine. I went into settings and disabled auto update and turned on OEM unlock.
This is a really cool solution that almost worked with the mi smart clock.
Unfortunately the xiaomi(or google?) guys have scraped everything that resembles a browser or could possibly open a link.
Also, went trough all the settings (using the method described above, and searching for settings, apps, etc.) Everything that's USB or Bluetooth related is severely cut down to only work as needed for the intended functionality. Can't attach a keyboard. Can't transfer a file trough Bluetooth. So, although in theory you could install anything, u can't get any new files downloaded on the device.
When i get to the paste section, it seems somehow "Home" has been copied instead of my event name.
When i'm copying i've checked "repeat last utterance" before i "copy last utterance" and it's correct, but when i go to paste in the search box, i get "Home"
is this happening to anyone else?
Nice work!
ggreenwood334 said:
Need some help. Got nova launcher running. Then when I applied my nova settings, it went back to the Lenovo home screen. How do I get it back to nova? Lol
Nevermind. I found it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...So what did you do? I can't figure this part out either.
edit 1:
ok for anyone else, follow the instructions again right up to install, but instead of "install" select "open". Then when I rebooted the device i was able to tell it to use nova launcher "always", and then using the launcher home to get to the android settings, I was able to connect a bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
However, short of rebooting every time the clock home screen or browser comes up, I haven't figured out a quick way to exit that and return to the nova launcher home.
edit 2: Ok with the screen reader enabled, you can swipe up and left (L shape rotated 180 degrees) to return Home, then set Nova7 as Home. If you add a bluetooth keyboard, you can also alt+F4 to return home.
Has anyone been able (A) to get ride of the "muted microphone" screen overlay icon or (B) prevent the google home setup screen from taking over when trying to connect to a wifi ssid without internet access?