CM7 "N" Key / Back - best options? - Nook Color General

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

Why not use the soft keys built in to CM7?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related

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

Help with "back" and "menu" buttons?

I'm an amateur at all this I've managed to get my nook color rooted, and I've installed a few apps. I've tried softkeys, but I'm not 100% happy with the result. First it wouldn't start on its own after a reboot. I reconfigured it following some directions form another user, and it starts now, but it's still too "busy", with bars and buttons popping up all over.
ALL I WANT is an app or some way to configure a "back" button and "menu" button in the lower black bar where the clock, bettery meter, etc are? Any ideas?
Either that, or is there a way to turn off ALL THE OTHER FUNCTIONS AND DISPLAYS of softkeys EXCEPT the ability to go "back" when pressing the physical "N"/home button, which is how I have it now.
In the end, I don't want any "back" or "menu" buttons on the actual viewable screen except the lower black bar.
THANKS a million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
not quite what you asked for but i remapped my volume keys for menu and back. works great for my needs. i control volume with a widget now.
hxxp://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Remap_volume_buttons_for_back_and_menu
hope this solves your frustrations with hotkeys.
nookcolor
zeam launcher
Well, if all you want is a back button on the notification bar..... you have one. Not talking about the back button that appears on there either. Just swipe left on the notification bar and it should always work as a back button.
Other than that, there's an app you can try called Button Savior you can get from the Market. It has a small launcher button that appears on the edge of the screen. You can move it around a limited range as you see fit. It's not as complicated or as "busy" as Softkeys.
If you find the visible button not to your liking, you can try this modded version of Button Savior. The button is invisible. You can see where the button actually lies by switching to the Sense UI theme. Then back to the default or Froyo theme to make it invisible once more. The modded version of Button Savior can be found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=897253
I suggest you try the Market version of Button Savior first.
I'm going to second Button Savior. It hasn't let me down once
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App
g-costanza said:
I'm an amateur at all this I've managed to get my nook color rooted, and I've installed a few apps. I've tried softkeys, but I'm not 100% happy with the result. First it wouldn't start on its own after a reboot. I reconfigured it following some directions form another user, and it starts now, but it's still too "busy", with bars and buttons popping up all over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have Softkeys set up properly..
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Default_Launcher
I understand what you are looking for. I would like the same thing, but I do not believe there is anything out there for us..
I may end up remapping the volume keys myself.
spikey911 said:
I understand what you are looking for. I would like the same thing, but I do not believe there is anything out there for us..
I may end up remapping the volume keys myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With SoftKeys you can put the menu and back buttons in the notification area, since ver. 1.0.8 I believe. Then, disable the popper, and you are good to go.

Would you recommend remapping the volume buttons?

Just wondering if people have done it and didn't like it, or vice-versa. It does seem bad for the hardware, but I can't stand softkeys/button saviour.
If you're using nookie Froyo, you can try the MENU/BACK soft buttons in the status bar mod, instead of remapping the vol+/- buttons. I've been using it since it came out, and can confim it works for nookie Froyo 6.7. Here's the link to the original thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=932631
It does have it's issues, mainly with the stock browser, and causing it to FC. Other than that I have not noticed any other problems.
If you are interested in useing the mod, but don't know how to install it, let me know. I'll pm you or post instructions.
I absolutely recommend remapping the volume buttons. Softkeys is nice, but kind of a pain sometimes. For instance, when I would view pictures in the XDA APP, I would have to restart the app instead of backing out, for some reason softkeys wouldnt let me back out of the picture viewer. It's just much easier to have the menu and back buttons always available than rely on software. I installed volume volume control if I need to adjust volume for some reason.
Is there an app that puts volume in the status bar that anyone knows of?
buffnutz1 said:
Just wondering if people have done it and didn't like it, or vice-versa. It does seem bad for the hardware, but I can't stand softkeys/button saviour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup... I've got a Pandigital Novel(white v2) w/custom fw and it'd be essentially useless w/o re-mapping the vol keys to menu and back along with soft-keys in the notification bar...
NC has one up on the WPDN though, it has the n home key plus the 2 vol keys and volume can be controlled through setting or a quick-settings app anyways or by adding soft-keys... still no substitue for physical keys or capacitive screen keys though, unfortunately... (spoilt by gtab with the full complement...)
-------------
buffnutz1 said:
I'm sure you guys know where I'm screwing up. After I adb pull, I only get this
/system/usr/keylayout/twl4030-keypad.kl -> ./twl4030-keypad.kl
/system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl -> ./qwerty.kl
/system/usr/keylayout/AVRCP.kl -> ./AVRCP.kl
but it says to edit " 'TWL4030_Keypad.kl' and 'omap_twl4030keypad.kl' "with your text editor of choice; I used vi, always a safe choice.
I don't have the omap. what should I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just modify the qwerty.kl in the place of omap. That's what I did and things are working fine.
--ex
Love my remapped buttons and i saved the originals so i can go back anytime i wish.
buffnutz1 said:
Is there an app that puts volume in the status bar that anyone knows of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on the stock 1.1 rooted and have mapped my volume buttons - I have tried the other ones, and I MUCH prefer having hard buttons.
I downloaded a volume app "Volume Master Free". It has about 5 different volume controls, but I only use the system volume and the media volume controls.
I use Zeam as home screen; and I put a shortcut to Volume Master on the bottom right of my Zeam shortcut bar. It works very well. I do need to go to the home screen to change volume; but I can tap on the notification bar and toggle mute, so that works for me.
Yes, it makes a huge difference on the stock rom and froyo -- though honeycomb's soft buttons eliminate the need to do so.
Can't recommend remapping the keys enough. On froyo it makes a huge difference in functionality on. The device, life is a pain without it.
how do you remap the vol buttons? i would love to do it
TweetyBear said:
how do you remap the vol buttons? i would love to do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go here for instructions:
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Remap_volume_buttons_for_back_and_menu
--ex
I remapped.
I also recommend remapping your volume buttons. It's handy having tactile buttons for the back and menu functions.
What really sold me on remapping was that I didn't like to have a Softkeys button floating on the home screen. Without a floating button, I would have to double tap the hardware "N" button to bring up the Softkeys interface, then hit "menu" or "back." If I have to double tap a hardware button to use "menu" or "back," I might as well just remap those functions to the volume buttons and use a single tap.
evilxenu said:
Go here for instructions:
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Remap_volume_buttons_for_back_and_menu
--ex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks. will attempt over the weekend
can remapping the volume buttons be done when running cm7 nightlies off SD ?
I didn't find a definitive answer
I ran with the CM7 softkeys, Button Savior, remapped volume keys and I just finally settled on zMooth.

Why is soft keys necessary on stock rooted NC?

Does everyone realize that on a stock rooted nook, if you swipe right to left on the status bar on the bottom, it's a 'back' button? I don't get why soft keys is necessary. I shut it down on both my nooks and have never once needed it. Just extra overhead, to me...
Can someone educate me as to why this program is so 'important'?
doncaruana said:
Does everyone realize that on a stock rooted nook, if you swipe right to left on the status bar on the bottom, it's a 'back' button? I don't get why soft keys is necessary. I shut it down on both my nooks and have never once needed it. Just extra overhead, to me...
Can someone educate me as to why this program is so 'important'?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Full screen apps like angry birds? I also fail to see why this issue was so important to you that you had to make a thread about it. Softkeys is an optional app, you don't have to install it yourself.
I personally use Button Savior, less noticeable and easy to access.
ewong90 said:
I personally use Button Savior, less noticeable and easy to access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Button Savior looks like much nicer than Soft Keys - what basic steps to remove Soft Keys and run Button Savior instead? Any gotchas? Im also using the Gingerbread keyboard and hope this change wont affect that?
timekeeper said:
Full screen apps like angry birds? I also fail to see why this issue was so important to you that you had to make a thread about it. Softkeys is an optional app, you don't have to install it yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can always use the home button (and then a task killer if needed) to get out of the few full screen apps that won't let me back out.
But softkeys is part of the autonooter package, which a lot of people use - I didn't specifically install it. I haven't used the other 'packages' - not sure if it's included there as well. It's positioned as a "must have", but doesn't really seem to be. So someone thought it was important enough to include there and so I wanted to know why.
Gee. I'm sorry. I guess I'm not allowed to ask questions? Should I ask you if you deem an issue important first before I ask a question in the future?
Here's my next question - let me know if it's important enough: Why did you have to be an ass about my previous question?
timekeeper said:
Full screen apps like angry birds? I also fail to see why this issue was so important to you that you had to make a thread about it. Softkeys is an optional app, you don't have to install it yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offense timekeeper but I was wondering the same thing, so I found this helpful.
It's not just the back key that's important.
Most apps have additional functionality that you can only access via the 'menu' key.
That's the one I find most needed.
ewong90 said:
I personally use Button Savior, less noticeable and easy to access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto. Soft Keys does a passable job, but the attractive design and customizability of Button Savior makes it a better choice.
I wasn't a fan of the softkey button size and could never find a place on screen that i liked it. Button Savior is much better. Both add a huge amount of functionality to a rooted NC.
Except you don't see any silly on-screen buttons with SoftKeys if you set it up properly.. Then you just press the N key once or twice, depending upon config, to get the pop-up with back, menu, etc..
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Default_Launcher
As for the Op saying "Can't I ask questions?" Sure you can, just don't act like a free piece of software which is VERY useful is somehow killing you .
ajaik said:
Button Savior looks like much nicer than Soft Keys - what basic steps to remove Soft Keys and run Button Savior instead? Any gotchas? Im also using the Gingerbread keyboard and hope this change wont affect that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just make sure you have USB debugging enabled. You don't have to uninstall softkeys, just disable it. Button Savior should run normally from startup and shouldn't affect anything else.
doncaruana said:
Does everyone realize that on a stock rooted nook, if you swipe right to left on the status bar on the bottom, it's a 'back' button? I don't get why soft keys is necessary. I shut it down on both my nooks and have never once needed it. Just extra overhead, to me...
Can someone educate me as to why this program is so 'important'?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know you could swipe to go back, so thanks for that.
There are some apps that run full screen and the status bar isn't visible which then you would need either soft keys or button savior.
I went ahead and uninstalled SoftKeys. Button Savior rocks.

Menu button (do you miss it)

Just found out a little tip which many of you might already know. If you are missing the menu button, especially for outdated apps like the xda app, you can still access it. The note 4 replaced the menu button with recent apps button, but if you long press the recent apps button you will get to the menu function.
That is all. Have a good day.
ozaghloul said:
Just found out a little tip which many of you might already know. If you are missing the menu button, especially for outdated apps like the xda app, you can still access it. The note 4 replaced the menu button with recent apps button, but if you long press the recent apps button you will get to the menu function.
That is all. Have a good day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that. I was using a friends S5 last night and that was driving me mad. My note 4 is at home waiting for me to open the package
If they completely removed it, then yes but holding task switcher for a couple of more seconds then it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that I have to hold the back button every time to access Multi window bar as app switcher only has opened apps.
Hovscorpion12 said:
If they completely removed it, then yes but holding task switcher for a couple of more seconds then it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that I have to hold the back button every time to access Multi window bar as app switcher only has opened apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
App switcher has on every app window a icon on top right that does what you need.
Wow thanks a million for this. I thought it was gone forever :highfive:
PhatFishNL said:
Wow thanks a million for this. I thought it was gone forever :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
X2, I still accidentally hit the recent button all the time from being so used used to it being there...
PhatFishNL said:
Wow thanks a million for this. I thought it was gone forever :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are welcome. It would have been a nightmare had it gone forever. Not all applications have that on screen menu button.
Brilliant, I missed that button... nice to know it's still there
Need a way to reverse the functionality from long and short press
Nope don't miss it. I don't even use the long press.
m3lover1 said:
Nope don't miss it. I don't even use the long press.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not about missing it just because you prefer to press the physical button. There are many apps which don't have the soft menu button. For example, go to Google Now and try to change the settings, but don't long press. Good luck with that.
ozaghloul said:
Its not about missing it just because you prefer to press the physical button. There are many apps which don't have the soft menu button. For example, go to Google Now and try to change the settings, but don't long press. Good luck with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did. Took less than 2 seconds. Then again, 6 of my past 7 phones all had on screen nav buttons, which I prefer
m3lover1 said:
I just did. Took less than 2 seconds. Then again, 6 of my past 7 phones all had on screen nav buttons, which I prefer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, what? How? There is no soft menu button in Google Now. Am I missing something here?
ozaghloul said:
Wait, what? How? There is no soft menu button in Google Now. Am I missing something here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is. There is no way Google didn't implement soft menu button when they themselves are pushing on screen nav bar and soft menu buttons. Open Google now and it's bottom right corner. Might need to scroll all the way down. That might be the only annoying thing about it but it's there and very easy to access.
m3lover1 said:
There is. There is no way Google didn't implement soft menu button when they themselves are pushing on screen nav bar and soft menu buttons. Open Google now and it's bottom right corner. Might need to scroll all the way down. That might be the only annoying thing about it but it's there and very easy to access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I see, thanks. I assumed it would be on the top right corner. However, there does remain other apps that don't have it at all. For example the XDA app.
ozaghloul said:
Oh I see, thanks. I assumed it would be on the top right corner. However, there does remain other apps that don't have it at all. For example the XDA app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with what your saying. But you've picked 2 really bad examples. You can get to menu without menu button in xda!
I am used to Android tablets which don't have the menu button anyway, so I don't miss it on the phone.
daz_2000 said:
I agree with what your saying. But you've picked 2 really bad examples. You can get to menu without menu button in xda!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. I looked and looked, still can't find it. *fail*
ozaghloul said:
LOL. I looked and looked, still can't find it. *fail*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open up the left panel and whilst its open. The far right button changes to a settings cog.
People should have read the manual by now...

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