Related
Does anyone know of an application in which you can disable Auto-Rotation on just the Home Screen instead of disabling it altogether?
It disables the Auto-Rotation in all of your programs if you disable it in settings. This gets annoying if you go into your gallery.
Maybe there is a program that can change the auto rotation properties of specific apps.
Thanks for your help guys.
crecsky said:
Does anyone know of an application in which you can disable Auto-Rotation on just the Home Screen instead of disabling it altogether?
It disables the Auto-Rotation in all of your programs if you disable it in settings. This gets annoying if you go into your gallery.
Maybe there is a program that can change the auto rotation properties of specific apps.
Thanks for your help guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
depends on what launcher you are using....what launcher are you using?
Beautiful widgets has a toggle widget for disabling/enabling auto rotation. But I'm pretty sure there's no app to apply rotation restrictions to specific apps. But search google and see if you can find anything. It also does depend on the launcher in some cases. Are you rooted, running 2.1/2.2/2.2.1 roms or anything?
This would be a great idea for someone to make into an app if it doesn't exist. I too would like to disable home screen rotation, but still be able to use the landscape keyboard and such in other apps without having to change the settings.
if you use a different launcher like launcher pro or adw, those settings are available to you. if you use froyo or gingerbread launcher, it doesnt rotate.
I guess I didn't make myself clear enough. I run the stock 2.2 launcher and I prefer it over LP and ADW. I know I am able to completely turn Auto-Rotate on or off, but I would just need it off for the home screen (maybe the browser and messaging too). It gets annoying turning it off and going into the gallery and not being able to view in landscape mode. I also don't want to have to continuously be toggling a widget or going into my settings. I'm rooted, and I assume such a program would require full permissions.
I guess it hasn't been made yet.
crecsky said:
I guess I didn't make myself clear enough. I run the stock 2.2 launcher and I prefer it over LP and ADW. I know I am able to completely turn Auto-Rotate on or off, but I would just need it off for the home screen (maybe the browser and messaging too). It gets annoying turning it off and going into the gallery and not being able to view in landscape mode. I also don't want to have to continuously be toggling a widget or going into my settings. I'm rooted, and I assume such a program would require full permissions.
I guess it hasn't been made yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
stock 2.2 launcher? like the froyo launcher? or touchwiz?
We are in the Captivate thread, so... Touchwiz. It's the "stock" launcher of the Captivate.
Not that your question needed to be answered because it doesn't have any relation about what this thread is about.
If you're running 2.2, the pulldown menu at the top should have the auto rotation toggle in it. It's really not that much of a hassle. Swipe down. Disable. Swipe the menu closed. Carry on about your business. If there's an app or one gets created, it's always going to be running in the background no matter if you have the "disable app" to work with one app or forty apps, and it's just gonna be lurking there in the bushes, getting ready to take your battery from behind with no lube. No lube at all.
crecsky said:
We are in the Captivate thread, so... Touchwiz. It's the "stock" launcher of the Captivate.
Not that your question needed to be answered because it doesn't have any relation about what this thread is about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow. i apologize for trying to understand what you are running....you know, since 'STOCK' means different things around here....and it absolutely pertains to what this thread is about
carry on. sorry to be of some major burden to you....
Honestly, "stock" does have about 6 or 7 different meanings and implementations around here.
I dont know what you are necesarily refering to here, but what I would like is a widget or icon that I can put on my homescreen that would allow me to just move from auto sensor to portrait only for my homescreen, not the whole system. I know that it can be enabled through most launcher settings, like LP and ADW and GO Launcher, but if there were to be a shortcut to toggling this it would be awesome
Word to the wise. When asking other people a question you really want the answer to, don't act like an arrogant sob. Be it one sentence or an entire explanation. There taking time out to help you. Take me for instance. I was going to dig pretty hard for a solution to this partly for you and partly for a friend that likes stock over lp. But after reading all your posts you just come off as an obnoxious brat. Of the two of you Im only going to give the solution i find (if any) to one of you. Take a wild guess at who won't get it.
All I was getting at is he's asking these questions when I was just wondering if there was an app that would stop the home screen from auto rotating but leave everything else defaulting.
It's a simple question. It has nothing to do with running a different launcher, I already know LP and ADW do such a thing, but I don't want to use them. That's why I was asking.
I wasn't asking for a launcher, I was asking for a background app like "Keep the Lights on" or "Set CPU."
I'm sorry for coming off as "arrogant" or a "snob" but he's digging too deep, asking questions he doesn't need the answer to. As well, his questions came off kind of rude to me. That's probably why I responded the way I did.
Anyways: Simple app that stops home screen rotation.
Smart Rotator (SmartDog Studio HK) and Smart Auto-Rotate (Asteri Software) are possible solutions.
Enough of the Off Topic posts and rudeness, I will not tolerate it.
Also to solve the problem, not sure if this is available on the Captivate, there is an extra button you can enable in the Power Control widget that allows you to lock the screen vertically.
Well, I finally made the switch from iOS to Android. But there are a few things I miss about it, albeit little things.
I have no idea what's good and what's bad in the Play Store, what to avoid etc.
I'm used to having notifications on the lockscreen. Yes, I've realised I can pull down the notification bar when on the lockscreen, but AFAIK that's only if you don't have a password/pattern/face-recog.
I've also tried the 'Productivity', that doesn't show Skype messages, Tweets, WhatsApp messages and stuff like that.
I also have a 4-digit pin for my lockscreen, I'm used to typing in the PIN then it'll automatically unlock.
But on Android (or on Sense, anyway) I have to type it in, then press enter.
Like I said, they're little things. But things I miss nonetheless.
So! Is there anything I can do/change or anything I can install to 'fix' these things?
M_Woody said:
Well, I finally made the switch from iOS to Android. But there are a few things I miss about it, albeit little things.
I have no idea what's good and what's bad in the Play Store, what to avoid etc.
I'm used to having notifications on the lockscreen. Yes, I've realised I can pull down the notification bar when on the lockscreen, but AFAIK that's only if you don't have a password/pattern/face-recog.
I've also tried the 'Productivity', that doesn't show Skype messages, Tweets, WhatsApp messages and stuff like that.
I also have a 4-digit pin for my lockscreen, I'm used to typing in the PIN then it'll automatically unlock.
But on Android (or on Sense, anyway) I have to type it in, then press enter.
Like I said, they're little things. But things I miss nonetheless.
So! Is there anything I can do/change or anything I can install to 'fix' these things?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that you're missing the things you've been used to for a long time but at the end of the day this phone isn't an iphone and it's not pretending to be either.
For me if i want to know who's contacted me i unlock my phone and check, it's that simple. In all fairness, if a lockscreen can give away information then it's a lockscreen that's not doing it's job, i want my info to be private until i want to use my phone, otherwise anyone could just open it and take a look.
I'm sure that you'll find that after a while you'll see why people use android over ios and if you ever make the switch back to ios you will miss android so much it'll just make the iphone look stupid.
As a rule of thumb i always go for paid versions of apps and avoid any with aggressive ads, so anything that installs something else with it has to go, If anything has notifying ads then again it has to go.
Generally speaking that's about it with the apps, just go nuts.
There are tonnes of "Best app" threads on XDA and majority of them are in the top 100 apps on the play store anyway.
Afaik there isn't a way to have iphone style scrolling of your notifications.
You do get missed calls and texts on your lockscreen though (the productivity switch is probably the place to go to turn most of these on)
It can be done goto your messages go to settings it will be in there something like display message on screen same for WhatsApp and so on
Exact same problem over here. Coming from iOS and being used to get everything I need to know right there on the lockscreen.
There are some apps on the Playstore that you can use as a workaround though.
First, don't hesitate to use Notifypro, it will send you a little notification like you could get on iPhone. Notification will appear everywhere, in a game, a video, etc etc. Easily configurable and useful. Plus it's free !
Next, I tried it but didn't like it that much, it's Notification LockScreen Widget. I'm not really fond of it, there must anoter app doing it better...but I can't try anothere one since my phone has been shipped for warranty.
There are 2 settings on the security section in settings, one to show message notification preview and one to show phone notification on the lock screen. Try those...
dladz said:
[snip] ...and if you ever make the switch back to ios you will miss android so much it'll just make the iphone look stupid. [snip]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just realised how true this is now.
I've had to resort back to my iP4 while my One gets replaced, it's only been gone a few hours and I'm missing it already!
Same thing here. Was an ios user since iPhone 2g (the most beautiful one imho). This is my first Android phone after getting a nexus 7 last summer.
For me there's just some handiness in some of the functionality built into ios. What I "missed" was the batt status in percentages, volume control from headset and also the notifications.
Found these three apps:
Notification toggle
Can put a batt percentage in the statusbar. And also some very handy quicklaunch buttons in the notification tray like android 4.2.2. and touch wizz.
Jays headset control
The name says it all and it gets the job done.
LockerPro
It's a locks screen replacement which also shows notifications like ios.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
KH_ said:
Same thing here. Was an ios user since iPhone 2g (the most beautiful one imho). This is my first Android phone after getting a nexus 7 last summer.
For me there's just some handiness in some of the functionality built into ios. What I "missed" was the batt status in percentages, volume control from headset and also the notifications.
Found these three apps:
Notification toggle
Can put a batt percentage in the statusbar. And also some very handy quicklaunch buttons in the notification tray like android 4.2.2. and touch wizz.
Jays headset control
The name says it all and it gets the job done.
LockerPro
It's a locks screen replacement which also shows notifications like ios.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this info. I'm coming from a jailbroken iPhone 5 and I want the quick settings toggles on the lockscreen.
KH_ said:
Same thing here. Was an ios user since iPhone 2g (the most beautiful one imho). This is my first Android phone after getting a nexus 7 last summer.
For me there's just some handiness in some of the functionality built into ios. What I "missed" was the batt status in percentages, volume control from headset and also the notifications.
Found these three apps:
Notification toggle
Can put a batt percentage in the statusbar. And also some very handy quicklaunch buttons in the notification tray like android 4.2.2. and touch wizz.
Jays headset control
The name says it all and it gets the job done.
LockerPro
It's a locks screen replacement which also shows notifications like ios.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not bad for a first post
Thanks for the apps, and welcome to the forum!
Thanks, and np. That's why we're here right? To find and share!
Cheers!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
cheers KH_; can I ask, is it stable for you? lots of reviewers saying it crashes quite often?
Apologies for the late reply mate.
Locker pro works really well! It's great being able to see ur notifications and actually read the content from the lockscreen! The app has a shortcut and widget panel accessible from the lockscreen too.
Jays headset control didn't work at all on my device so deleted it. I got the HTC metal three button headset. Good price, sound at least as good as headset supplied with the phone, skip tracks and volume control!
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
So I just recently got my moto x, everything seems really nice and smooth. But I feel some basic things are left out.
For example, it would be nice to have a power widget without making another click on the top right just to access it. And when I do I feel like some things are left out.
Looking for basic things like easy toggle for screen rotation and GPS.
Another thing I'm looking for is an easy way to reboot phone (holding power only allows me to turn off), a quick way to take a screenshot, and even a 'holding back button force quits app' would be helpful.
Now I was thinking of maybe getting apps that do what im looking for (if available) or should I go with a ROM that can do all those?
I'm not crazy into themeing or looks I just want the method thats fast, responsive, quick AND still allow me to use motorolla functions, like the way it handles notifications by shaking the phone or twist twice to get camera, I love that and don't want to lose it.
Any suggestions?
1dtms said:
So I just recently got my moto x, everything seems really nice and smooth. But I feel some basic things are left out.
For example, it would be nice to have a power widget without making another click on the top right just to access it. And when I do I feel like some things are left out.
Looking for basic things like easy toggle for screen rotation and GPS.
Another thing I'm looking for is an easy way to reboot phone (holding power only allows me to turn off), a quick way to take a screenshot, and even a 'holding back button force quits app' would be helpful.
Now I was thinking of maybe getting apps that do what im looking for (if available) or should I go with a ROM that can do all those?
I'm not crazy into themeing or looks I just want the method thats fast, responsive, quick AND still allow me to use motorolla functions, like the way it handles notifications by shaking the phone or twist twice to get camera, I love that and don't want to lose it.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stay stock, root if you can and install xposed with gravity box module, this will allow you to add those features to the stock rom
if you can't/don't want to root here are some tips for getting along better with your x
for the quick settings - use two fingers to pull down the notification shade (xposed / gravitybox will allow you to customize the tiles in the quick settings page)
Screenshot - volume down and power (hold together for ~3seconds)
reboot - there are apps on the play store that can give you a shortcut for a reboot (or again Xposed will give you the advanced power menu that you are missing)
Kill apps - press the recents button and swipe the app away
I hope you find this helpful.
Teksu said:
Stay stock, root if you can and install xposed with gravity box module, this will allow you to add those features to the stock rom
if you can't/don't want to root here are some tips for getting along better with your x
for the quick settings - use two fingers to pull down the notification shade (xposed / gravitybox will allow you to customize the tiles in the quick settings page)
Screenshot - volume down and power (hold together for ~3seconds)
reboot - there are apps on the play store that can give you a shortcut for a reboot (or again Xposed will give you the advanced power menu that you are missing)
Kill apps - press the recents button and swipe the app away
I hope you find this helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, sounds good I am rooted so thats a plus.
So I wont get an increase in speed/response by going to a ROM than?
I'll just get Xposed and add my power widgets (hoping screen rotation is one of them)
And that's really great, I didn't know that you can press power + vol down by default or that swiping apps away kills the process (i thought it just clears it from your most used)
1dtms said:
Alright, sounds good I am rooted so thats a plus.
So I wont get an increase in speed/response by going to a ROM than?
I'll just get Xposed and add my power widgets (hoping screen rotation is one of them)
And that's really great, I didn't know that you can press power + vol down by default or that swiping apps away kills the process (i thought it just clears it from your most used)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly i havent checked out any rom for the X, i have done it on previous devices because the battery life was ****, but i dont feel like i need a custom rom with this device, infact it would probably break things i like, such as active display and touch-less control.
yeah its always cool learning new things i didn't know about the two finger shade pull-down till i lost root on my droid maxx.
Xposed has other great modules as well, such as;
"Gravitybox" - the must have, just about everything you want from a custom rom
"moto tether" to easily enable wifi tethering
"preference injector" will put your modules into the settings page, to make it feel more like their cooked in
"Greenify" to keep those pesky background processes at bay
"root cloak" incase you want to use apps that don't like when your rooted (verzions ISIS payment app doesnt like root)
...Just to name a few.
I was worried about the battery life with switching to the moto X DE, but this thing rocks!
I would also suggest checking out Eclipse ROM. It's stock based so you don't so you don't lose any of Moto's goodies like active display but it adds most/all of the things your looking for using X Control as well as getting rid of the bloat. I'm running it via safestrap and I love it.
I would go with Eclipse!
Eclipse blur ROM. The benefit over a stock ROM using gravity box vs. using eclipse blur ROM is that eclipses ROM is all code. Not a hack and slash overlay code.
I think I might have to go with a ROM because I went here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2431768&highlight=stopped
to try and install xposed and it kept giving me crashes
So which ROM will still allow me to use "ok google now" and twist twice for camera and touchless notifications?
Tasker and the stick power toggle widget will do all/most of what you ask. If there's not something you really need root for, why go through all the hassle?
1dtms said:
I think I might have to go with a ROM because I went here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2431768&highlight=stopped
to try and install xposed and it kept giving me crashes
So which ROM will still allow me to use "ok google now" and twist twice for camera and touchless notifications?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://repo.xposed.info/module/de.robv.android.xposed.installer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjiXfQkuKng
you'll have to do to downloads inside xposed and grab gravitybox, the video doesnt show this
Teksu said:
http://repo.xposed.info/module/de.robv.android.xposed.installer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjiXfQkuKng
you'll have to do to downloads inside xposed and grab gravitybox, the video doesnt show this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Teksu Thank you!'
It worked and I see a lot of options I was originally looking for!
One last thing I suppose, by default kitkat has 5 screens. I'm only using 3. How can I remove/delete the extra screens?
I couldn't find it in gravity box (from quick glance), is there another module to add that can do this or what would you suggest?
1dtms said:
Teksu Thank you!'
It worked and I see a lot of options I was originally looking for!
One last thing I suppose, by default kitkat has 5 screens. I'm only using 3. How can I remove/delete the extra screens?
I couldn't find it in gravity box (from quick glance), is there another module to add that can do this or what would you suggest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you should use a different launcher. You want something like stock launcher grab the Google now launcher or formerly called Google experience launcher, there is a xposed module for the Google now launcher which you to customize. Or use nova prime launcher. That's what I use and I love it, fast easy and simple.
Download Google now launcher.
http://www.androidauthority.com/google-now-launcher-renamed-343048/
MOTO X Slapped
1dtms said:
Teksu Thank you!'
It worked and I see a lot of options I was originally looking for!
One last thing I suppose, by default kitkat has 5 screens. I'm only using 3. How can I remove/delete the extra screens?
I couldn't find it in gravity box (from quick glance), is there another module to add that can do this or what would you suggest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[email protected] said:
I think you should use a different launcher. You want something like stock launcher grab the Google now launcher or formerly called Google experience launcher, there is a xposed module for the Google now launcher which you to customize. Or use nova prime launcher. That's what I use and I love it, fast easy and simple.
Download Google now launcher.
http://www.androidauthority.com/google-now-launcher-renamed-343048/
MOTO X Slapped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I preffer Nova launcher, but if you go with GEL (google now launcher, or google experience launcher, whatever you wanna call it) There is a xposed module that adds some options like that, though as i don't use it, i can't confirm that you can edit the number of home screens.
Edit: somehow totally missed that Hovax mentioned the xposed module in the previous post.
Teksu said:
I preffer Nova launcher, but if you go with GEL (google now launcher, or google experience launcher, whatever you wanna call it) There is a xposed module that adds some options like that, though as i don't use it, i can't confirm that you can edit the number of home screens.
Edit: somehow totally missed that Hovax mentioned the xposed module in the previous post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I decided to go with something simple (instead of downloading module and another apk just for reducing 2 screens) and went with Nova launcher (i like the description that it's performance driven, i hope thats true).
So now I got gravity box module and I love it! Does exactly what I want it to do with the power buttons when you swipe from the top and what I love even more, it gives me an option to swipe on a corner to instantly bring up the toggle buttons (instead of swiping down and than clicking the button or using two fingers). And the performance is smooth and not noticing any slowdowns. Which is exactly what I'm looking for. Fast, smooth, simple, and functionality.
Unless there is a ROM thats faster than it already it is right I think I'm sold with stock + gravity box (and nova launcher to do something as simple as reducing home screens)
1dtms said:
Well I decided to go with something simple (instead of downloading module and another apk just for reducing 2 screens) and went with Nova launcher (i like the description that it's performance driven, i hope thats true).
So now I got gravity box module and I love it! Does exactly what I want it to do with the power buttons when you swipe from the top and what I love even more, it gives me an option to swipe on a corner to instantly bring up the toggle buttons (instead of swiping down and than clicking the button or using two fingers). And the performance is smooth and not noticing any slowdowns. Which is exactly what I'm looking for. Fast, smooth, simple, and functionality.
Unless there is a ROM thats faster than it already it is right I think I'm sold with stock + gravity box (and nova launcher to do something as simple as reducing home screens)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can set nova launcher animations to faster than light and its really fast. You can also set gestures for things, I have swipe up on the screen so I can get to the app drawer so I don't have to have the little icon. If your on Verizon check out eclipse ROM.
MOTO X Slapped
Is it persistent? Its annoying as heck to have it there permanently.
Use a different launcher. Nova is very popular.
Nova is a good launcher. Been using Action Launcher and both allow you to customize your launcher experience beyond what stock does.
So the answer is no without getting a launcher
No, the answer is yes, you just have to use a different launcher. People give you the answer to your question, but you respond rudely. Nova launcher can be just as close to AOSP as the stock launcher, or you can trick it out to your heart's content. It's just as reliable, and faster than the stock launcher. Absolutely zero drawbacks to using a custom launcher at all, plus you can easily hide the apps you were complaining about in your other thread.
You have an awesome phone, with an incredibly customizable OS, not you've just got to take full advantage of it, and have fun.
With root there is an exposed module for the GEL that lets you do all kind of things including remove the search bar. Google wants to mine data and it cant mine data when you go to some other internet based source and skip their search engine. For this reason and because they are becoming increasingly aggressive in their data mining efforts they have made the search bar fixed, force it onto every page, and it cannot be removed, all in the hopes that you will use it rather than an alternative source.
Probably works in the grand scheme from their point of view but all it did for me is make me dislike them and their increasingly overbearing behavior. And of course change to a different launcher which I would have done anyways since there are so many that do it better but thats beside the point. I shouldn't have to change launchers just to avoid having the corporate boy wonders waste a part of every single screen with a widget I don't use.
If you don't want to use another launcher and you don't plan on ever using Google Search, just disable it. The widget will be removed.
It's 'persistent' for a reason, try using it, maybe then you'll realize how great it is having it there.
Ever turn your phone on to go hit chrome and type something in? Try turning on your phone screen, say, "okay google, (pause for a second) what are the showtimes for Interstellar."
Or if you want to search for something without speaking, just tap the google search bar, it's quite useful once you use it. And it's there when you need it, not obtrusive in any way with the cards and notifications.
Alternatively if you don't like any of those suggestions....a different launcher.
you can remove the widget but then it would be removed from all the screens as well.
I switched to galaxy launcher which is a bit buggy but i used to use nova which was very good.
Ironkidz said:
Is it persistent? Its annoying as heck to have it there permanently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, disable google search service.
gordonzhao said:
It's 'persistent' for a reason, try using it, maybe then you'll realize how great it is having it there.
Ever turn your phone on to go hit chrome and type something in? Try turning on your phone screen, say, "okay google, (pause for a second) what are the showtimes for Interstellar."
Or if you want to search for something without speaking, just tap the google search bar, it's quite useful once you use it. And it's there when you need it, not obtrusive in any way with the cards and notifications.
Alternatively if you don't like any of those suggestions....a different launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is nothing particularly great about being forced to have it on every screen since you can have all those features without the search bar on any screen or if you wish only the screens you want it and and where you want it located. This of course if you are rooted and use the exposed module for GEL. Ok Google can then work on every screen and without requiring the search bar, assuming of course you want it that way. When you think about it who exactly would want to start a voice search by swiping over 5 screens to tap the same search bar that was on every screen before it? Or to swipe over 5 screens to say ok Google when they could have done that from their home screen and every screen before it or simply swiped left to the google now screen? At any rate it should have been an option you can use or not at your discretion but Uncle Goog is getting downright overbearing about their data mining. They didn't have to make it they way they did as the exposed module shows, they did it because they are becoming a bunch of Richards who cant ever be rich enough.
With the latest update, there is now a fix for removing the Google Search bar without disabling anything.
Long touch the home screen.
Touch Settings.
Touch Goolge Search to turn it off.
krabman said:
There is nothing particularly great about being forced to have it on every screen since you can have all those features without the search bar on any screen or if you wish only the screens you want it and and where you want it located. This of course if you are rooted and use the exposed module for GEL. Ok Google can then work on every screen and without requiring the search bar, assuming of course you want it that way. When you think about it who exactly would want to start a voice search by swiping over 5 screens to tap the same search bar that was on every screen before it? Or to swipe over 5 screens to say ok Google when they could have done that from their home screen and every screen before it or simply swiped left to the google now screen? At any rate it should have been an option you can use or not at your discretion but Uncle Goog is getting downright overbearing about their data mining. They didn't have to make it they way they did as the exposed module shows, they did it because they are becoming a bunch of Richards who cant ever be rich enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the latest OTA you can long press on the background and select settings to turn it off.
Glad to hear it, I wouldn't use the stock launcher anyways but it's a bonus for those who do.
It removes it, but doesn't give up that screen space real estate to use for anything else. Kind of stupid. Until they fix that, I'll just leave it there.
Hey guys,
considering the Mate S but don't really like the way recent apps menu looks and works. Did anyone replace it with something more stock like?
Does the app Fancy Switcher work with the Mate S, could somebody check this please?
And what about the lock screen - has anybody replaced that with an alternative lock screen app? Will the fingerprint scanner still unlock the device using an alternative lock screen?
Thx for your answers,
vercetti.
vercetti said:
Hey guys,
considering the Mate S but don't really like the way recent apps menu looks and works. Did anyone replace it with something more stock like?
Does the app Fancy Switcher work with the Mate S, could somebody check this please?
And what about the lock screen - has anybody replaced that with an alternative lock screen app? Will the fingerprint scanner still unlock the device using an alternative lock screen?
Thx for your answers,
vercetti.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, here in the UK on the latest build for Lollipop I was unable to install Fancy Switcher, as it said it wasn't compatible with my device.
I'm not very keen on the stock recents however I believe the marshmallow update change's this from 4 apps on a screen to a single app per screen
Lock screen, not very nice and ability to set apps as sensitive to stop them displaying the app sender or message (for example in WhatsApp) which is something I really miss from previous Lollipop and Marshmallow that I had on a HTC One M8 running Google Play Edition. I've tried 'Next' lock screen app from Microsoft but unable to unlock with fingerprint so its probably only a function that works with the stock lock screen. As Marshmallow has native support for fingerprint sensors maybe the update will bring additional functionality however we will have to wait and see.
I did register for Marshmallow beta testing but don't appear to have been selected unless rollout is slow.
I like the phone but almost wish I had waiting and tried a Mate 8. The extra battery size and already on Marshmallow may make it a better choice.
I've always been a stock android or custom ROM person however I quite like some features of the EMUI skin...just wish there were a few more customisations and built in features that were enabled as standard...like the ability to change the cycle date of your mobile data plan.
Gavin
hey gavin,
thx for the nice reply.
the recent apps menu in marshmallow makes it even worse if only 1 app is available per screen. to get to the 5th app you'd have to swipe 5 times (compared to now with just one swipe)! that really sucks - 1 app per screen?!?
too bad about fancy switcher, that would look nice if it worked. i found switcher so far but it doesn't work 100% on my note 2. would you try that one out for me?
lock screen - how are notifactions presented? would you have a screenshot? and they can be swiped away right from the lockscreen?
thx for your help,
vercetti.
hey,
i just saw a video on youtube of emui 4 and the recent apps menu could be seen for short time.
it's improved a lot for my taste: yes, you can only see one app but you flick it to the left and all the others appear. so you only need one swipe to make the other apps slide into appearance and you can swipe them away if they're not wanted anymore.
so yes, you only see one app once the menu is opened but it's seemless once you start swiping.
here's the link to the video. there are probably much better videos, i just came across this one.
the recent apps menu appears on 00:10 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPgATGXaFcA
greetz,
v.
p.s. in the 5 seconds you see the person using the recent apps menu it looks very laggy/unresponsive but i suppose it's a demo or prototype phone. i'm sure it works fine.
vercetti said:
hey,
i just saw a video on youtube of emui 4 and the recent apps menu could be seen for short time.
it's improved a lot for my taste: yes, you can only see one app but you flick it to the left and all the others appear. so you only need one swipe to make the other apps slide into appearance and you can swipe them away if they're not wanted anymore.
so yes, you only see one app once the menu is opened but it's seemless once you start swiping.
here's the link to the video. there are probably much better videos, i just came across this one.
the recent apps menu appears on 00:10 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPgATGXaFcA
greetz,
v.
p.s. in the 5 seconds you see the person using the recent apps menu it looks very laggy/unresponsive but i suppose it's a demo or prototype phone. i'm sure it works fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had just tried Switchr, not sure if I was using it correctly but when I swiped in from the side it said "No Recent Apps" although I had just opened WhatsApp and Clock.
With regards to Lock Screen, I have't got a screenshot at the moment, but what I can say is you can swipe left to remove the lock screen notification or swipe right to open the app that the notification has come from, this presents the numeric pad for you to enter your unlock pin, but just touch the fingerprint reader and the phone unlocks.
Regards
Gavin
brumgav said:
I had just tried Switchr, not sure if I was using it correctly but when I swiped in from the side it said "No Recent Apps" although I had just opened WhatsApp and Clock.
With regards to Lock Screen, I have't got a screenshot at the moment, but what I can say is you can swipe left to remove the lock screen notification or swipe right to open the app that the notification has come from, this presents the numeric pad for you to enter your unlock pin, but just touch the fingerprint reader and the phone unlocks.
Regards
Gavin
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Click to collapse
Thx Gavin,
that's exactly what happens with my note 2 when i install Switcher. The only thing that worked is to set up favorite apps within the Switcher app. Then it will always show you the icons of those apps. But without a preview of the app, just the icon.
I found a few more videos on youtube with Emui 4.0 and i'd be fine with their latest version of the recent apps menu. And it's just a matter of time til the Mate S gets the marshmallow update.
About the lockscreen: so even if i don't activate a pin code, sliding a notification to the right to open the app will still bring me to a numberpad where i should enter a pin? and then i'd have unlock that with the fingerprint ID? sounds very weird. i can't just slide the notifation to the right and it opens the app diectly?
thx,
v.
vercetti said:
Thx Gavin,
that's exactly what happens with my note 2 when i install Switcher. The only thing that worked is to set up favorite apps within the Switcher app. Then it will always show you the icons of those apps. But without a preview of the app, just the icon.
I found a few more videos on youtube with Emui 4.0 and i'd be fine with their latest version of the recent apps menu. And it's just a matter of time til the Mate S gets the marshmallow update.
About the lockscreen: so even if i don't activate a pin code, sliding a notification to the right to open the app will still bring me to a numberpad where i should enter a pin? and then i'd have unlock that with the fingerprint ID? sounds very weird. i can't just slide the notifation to the right and it opens the app diectly?
thx,
v.
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Click to collapse
I think I got that slightly wrong...it appears you can not dismiss a notification from the lockscreen by sliding left, however once unlocked you can dissmiss all notification by double tap on fingerprint reader
If you are using the fingerprint ID you have to set a PIN....but what I meant was if you slide the notification to the right...it brings up the screen to unlock so you can either enter the PIN or you can press the finger print reader....you dont have to do both of them.
I guess if you dont set a PIN or fingerprint then it will just open the app but i prefer the security of having my phone locked securely with fingerprint.
brumgav said:
I think I got that slightly wrong...it appears you can not dismiss a notification from the lockscreen by sliding left, however once unlocked you can dissmiss all notification by double tap on fingerprint reader.
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Click to collapse
too bad you cannot get rid of the notifications right off the lockscreen.
instead unlock -> pull down status bar -> double tap fingerprint
If you are using the fingerprint ID you have to set a PIN....but what I meant was if you slide the notification to the right...it brings up the screen to unlock so you can either enter the PIN or you can press the finger print reader....you dont have to do both of them.
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and this will get me to the app? in whatsapp for example, will it jump into the conversation where the new message has been posted or it will simply open whatsapp and present the conversation list?
thx,
v.
vercetti said:
too bad you cannot get rid of the notifications right off the lockscreen.
instead unlock -> pull down status bar -> double tap fingerprint
and this will get me to the app? in whatsapp for example, will it jump into the conversation where the new message has been posted or it will simply open whatsapp and present the conversation list?
thx,
v.
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When on the lock screen - you can't pull down the status bar or the quick settings tiles at all.....(now that is dissappointing) as I would like to be able to quickly disable mobile data something without unlocking or turn off GPS without unlocking.
With WhatsApp it takes you straight to the conversation that the message was posted in.
brumgav said:
When on the lock screen - you can't pull down the status bar or the quick settings tiles at all.....(now that is dissappointing) as I would like to be able to quickly disable mobile data something without unlocking or turn off GPS without unlocking.
With WhatsApp it takes you straight to the conversation that the message was posted in.
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Click to collapse
Thx on the Whatsapp-notification-clarification
Yeah, i heard that you can't pull down status bar on lockscreen. That is really a pity.
But the doubletap to wake and/or the fast fingerprint scanner can perhaps compensate this issue. Double tap and then pull down the status bar. Oh wait, double tap probably only wakes the device up again, right? That'll just take you to the unlock screen which, then again, has to be unlocked...
Lots of little "problems". Maybe i could get used to them. I'm sure there are more than just the lock screen, right?
How are you getting along coming from AOSP?
Have you rooted? That would be my top priority. Changing DPI is a must to me.
greetz,
v.
vercetti said:
Thx on the Whatsapp-notification-clarification
Yeah, i heard that you can't pull down status bar on lockscreen. That is really a pity.
But the doubletap to wake and/or the fast fingerprint scanner can perhaps compensate this issue. Double tap and then pull down the status bar. Oh wait, double tap probably only wakes the device up again, right? That'll just take you to the unlock screen which, then again, has to be unlocked...
Lots of little "problems". Maybe i could get used to them. I'm sure there are more than just the lock screen, right?
How are you getting along coming from AOSP?
Have you rooted? That would be my top priority. Changing DPI is a must to me.
greetz,
v.
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Click to collapse
The double tap on the fingerprint scanner only works when the phone is unlocked. Once unlocked u can swipe down on the fingerprint scanner to bring down notification bar and then double tap fingerprint scanner to clear all the notification, this is really nice feature.
I really miss some of the AOSP things but its outweighed by some the fact of having a fingerprint scanner...The guest mode is great, either set a different PIN (or for a family member register one of their fingerprints) and if they want to use your phone they can use it in guest mode so they can only see, Apps that you allow them to see, and galleries that you allow them to see), plus you can also lock Apps so that they require a fingerprint to open which is good too, perhaps for your banking app or something like that.
I did root, but unrooted in order to allow an OTA update to be installed.
I also wiped the phone and converted it to a chinese variant which brings lots of chinese bloatware (uninstalled) but some extra features like permissions manager, virus scanner, mobile data plan cycle date manager..
I'm back converted to a european variant now though becuase I registered to be MM beta tester although I dont seem to have been accepted yet, unless they havent released to the UK yet. I'm still waiting for it to come OTA.
I'm really hoping that the MM update and EMUI 4.0 update bring lots of new features.
I brought an iPhone 6 Plus a month ago to have a look at it, as I had the opportunity to buy one, have a play and sell it without making a loss and I admit I really quite liked some of its features...considering the CPU the iPhones are so fast but I hated the notification centre, Android really have a great notification system and I prefered being able to customise lots of features, particulary with ROMs like Cyanogen. I sold it and after seeing the Mate S online thought it looked great and thought performance would be better....for example graphics performance isn't very good at all...but I only play things like Clash of Clans, Boom Beach, Sim City not nothign that requires heavy frame rates. I'm sure it would handle games liek Asphalt okay but have't tried.
I have seen youtube videos comparing Galaxy S6 and Mate 8 (yes the bigger Mate S with better CPU) however the S6 still wsa very powerful on graphics.
Like I said, hopeing the MM and EMUI update brings some improvement however, for jsut a normal phone user that uses phone on train during morning commute for 40 minutes I'm more than happy with it. Finger print sensor on the rear is perfect, I've barely opened the front cover of my phone case and just natural position of my hand and first finger is perfect so the phone is unlocked ready for me. I think my thumb was at risk of being strained on my HTC One M8 which I had pattern unlock....when I look back I don't know how I managed to keep doing that pattern so many times, and also the risk that a pick pocket could learn my pattern over time.
Hope this is helping you.
brumgav said:
The double tap on the fingerprint scanner only works when the phone is unlocked. Once unlocked u can swipe down on the fingerprint scanner to bring down notification bar and then double tap fingerprint scanner to clear all the notification, this is really nice feature.
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Click to collapse
hey, sorry for the mixup: i didn't mean the double tap on the fingerprint scanner but the feature "double tap to wake" which is somewhere in the emui settings. with that you simply doubletap the screen to wake it from standby but i'm guessing this won't unlock it, it will just activate the lockscreen.
I really miss some of the AOSP things but its outweighed by some the fact of having a fingerprint scanner...The guest mode is great, either set a different PIN (or for a family member register one of their fingerprints) and if they want to use your phone they can use it in guest mode so they can only see, Apps that you allow them to see, and galleries that you allow them to see), plus you can also lock Apps so that they require a fingerprint to open which is good too, perhaps for your banking app or something like that.
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Click to collapse
those are all very nice features, yes. and the fingerprint scanner is also one of my reasons why i'm looking to upgrade.
i also think the camera results are good enough and that especially the camera app itself is nice (pro mode too).
i'm looking for a 5,5" screen with fingerprint scanner on the back (one reason why the oneplus2 doesn't match my interest even though otherwise it seems to be a nice phone too - its fingerprint sensor is on the home button like with the samsung models).
build quality is also great.
i usually would never go for a phone that doesn't have lots of custom roms available by the time i buy it. but somehow i think i'll be making an exception here. with an AOSP custom rom i would lose all the fingerprint sensor features, the camera app (its features and resulting images) and other EMUI features that i feel might come in handy (like you summed it up in your last post). so having this phone with an AOSP rom would make it sort of pointless in a way. the features we both miss from AOSP is the price we need to pay in order of getting all the mate s features. we just can't have it both i'm afraid
I did root, but unrooted in order to allow an OTA update to be installed.
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that's my plan. root it as soon as i get it. and once the marshmallow update is available i'd set it back, go stock, update to marshmallow and then root it again (hope it won't take long for someone to figure out how to root on marshmallow).
I also wiped the phone and converted it to a chinese variant which brings lots of chinese bloatware (uninstalled) but some extra features like permissions manager, virus scanner, mobile data plan cycle date manager..
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Click to collapse
perhaps there are certain apps (root) that provide these features, instead of using the chinese mate s rom?
I'm back converted to a european variant now though becuase I registered to be MM beta tester although I dont seem to have been accepted yet, unless they havent released to the UK yet. I'm still waiting for it to come OTA.
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probably not out yet...
thought performance would be better....for example graphics performance isn't very good at all...but I only play things like Clash of Clans, Boom Beach, Sim City not nothign that requires heavy frame rates. I'm sure it would handle games liek Asphalt okay but have't tried.
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not really a gamer, so i don't worry too much about the limiting graphics performance.
Hope this is helping you.
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yes indeed, thanx a whole lot, i appreciate it very much.
greetz,
v.
vercetti said:
hey, sorry for the mixup: i didn't mean the double tap on the fingerprint scanner but the feature "double tap to wake" which is somewhere in the emui settings. with that you simply doubletap the screen to wake it from standby but i'm guessing this won't unlock it, it will just activate the lockscreen.
those are all very nice features, yes. and the fingerprint scanner is also one of my reasons why i'm looking to upgrade.
i also think the camera results are good enough and that especially the camera app itself is nice (pro mode too).
i'm looking for a 5,5" screen with fingerprint scanner on the back (one reason why the oneplus2 doesn't match my interest even though otherwise it seems to be a nice phone too - its fingerprint sensor is on the home button like with the samsung models).
build quality is also great.
i usually would never go for a phone that doesn't have lots of custom roms available by the time i buy it. but somehow i think i'll be making an exception here. with an AOSP custom rom i would lose all the fingerprint sensor features, the camera app (its features and resulting images) and other EMUI features that i feel might come in handy (like you summed it up in your last post). so having this phone with an AOSP rom would make it sort of pointless in a way. the features we both miss from AOSP is the price we need to pay in order of getting all the mate s features. we just can't have it both i'm afraid
that's my plan. root it as soon as i get it. and once the marshmallow update is available i'd set it back, go stock, update to marshmallow and then root it again (hope it won't take long for someone to figure out how to root on marshmallow).
perhaps there are certain apps (root) that provide these features, instead of using the chinese mate s rom?
probably not out yet...
not really a gamer, so i don't worry too much about the limiting graphics performance.
yes indeed, thanx a whole lot, i appreciate it very much.
greetz,
v.
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No problem, your welcome.
I just wish there was more stuff going on for this device, ROMs, support, chat etc...its very quiet hardly anyone replies to things in this forum.
brumgav said:
No problem, your welcome.
I just wish there was more stuff going on for this device, ROMs, support, chat etc...its very quiet hardly anyone replies to things in this forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, no development...
But it's understable: most developers are proabably located in USA and hardly anyone owns a mate s there. also the processor is kirin and not qualcomm. not much info coming from huawei about their kirin processors (which the developers would need).
i have another question about looks:
i saw that there are many themes available from huawei and that they change many parts of the user interface. what happens with these themes if i use an alternative launcher, say nova launcher?
will nova launcher override the background pic of the lockscreen or generally the way the lockscreen looks or does the lockscreen stay untouched by nova? same goes for the notifications that appear once you pull down the status bar. will the background of the notification "curtain" stay unchanged or does nova change different things here? colors and icons in settings also are changed when using different huawei themes - do they stay intact when using an alternative launcher?
All my questions short: does Nova (or any other alternative launcher for what it matters) only change what it is known for - leaving everything else the way you set it up with one of the hundred huawei themes? hope yoou know what i mean.
ok, for better demonstration: take the attached pic here for example. from left to right will only screen #2 and #3 be changed and the lockscreen #1, quick toggles #4 and whatsapp #5 remain unaltered with the chosen huawei theme still intact?
thx,
v.
vercetti said:
Yeah, no development...
But it's understable: most developers are proabably located in USA and hardly anyone owns a mate s there. also the processor is kirin and not qualcomm. not much info coming from huawei about their kirin processors (which the developers would need).
i have another question about looks:
i saw that there are many themes available from huawei and that they change many parts of the user interface. what happens with these themes if i use an alternative launcher, say nova launcher?
will nova launcher override the background pic of the lockscreen or generally the way the lockscreen looks or does the lockscreen stay untouched by nova? same goes for the notifications that appear once you pull down the status bar. will the background of the notification "curtain" stay unchanged or does nova change different things here? colors and icons in settings also are changed when using different huawei themes - do they stay intact when using an alternative launcher?
All my questions short: does Nova (or any other alternative launcher for what it matters) only change what it is known for - leaving everything else the way you set it up with one of the hundred huawei themes? hope yoou know what i mean.
ok, for better demonstration: take the attached pic here for example. from left to right will only screen #2 and #3 be changed and the lockscreen #1, quick toggles #4 and whatsapp #5 remain unaltered with the chosen huawei theme still intact?
thx,
v.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try and take a look at a different launcher and the themes thing later tonight when home from work.
Just a quick point though, the lockscreen notifications only work with a particular lockscreen type called Magazine Unlock... This is a type of lockscreen that cycles through a gallery of images....not sure if the images are customisable.
Here is a snapshot of a normal lockscreen with limited notification details compared with the magazine lockscreen. You can see one has the message details and the other is very basic with just an icon.
hey, now that sucks! only magazine lockscreen gives you more info on notifications? all the others simply show the icon?!? wow, that is really disappointing...
thx for trying later today, can't wait!
from a quick internet search I think it's possible to stop the switching pix in the magazine lockscreen. also which pix should be used. so you can actually control which and also how many (or only 1) are used.
The Magazine lockscreen doesn’t necessarily cycle background images. You can set whatever single image you want. I have it set to the same as my normal wallpaper, so it looks like it just changes icons when you unlock.
Sadly the lockscreen is one of the worst features of EMUI. You can't pull down the notification bar, you can't dismiss notifications by side swiping, and you can't touch to open the notifications. The notifications also doesn't quit fit the EMUI theme, they are more material design. Some notifications won't show at all (yes, I turned it on), like Soundcloud. You do however get music control for Spotify, but this is a completely different lockscreen (which can't be changed). And then your notifications won't show up. I don't know how Huawei managed to scrap the stock lockscreen, which works very well and looks nice, and replace it with something far worse. You can install lockscreen apps, but you can't use them with the fingerprint scanner, so it's not really an option imho.
The app switcher, which was mentioned in the OP, I actually prefer to the stock android one. The most useful feature is that you can long press the app switcher icon to return to the last app (like Alt+Tab). As far as I understand, this not a stock feature, but from Cyanogen.
vercetti said:
i have another question about looks:
i saw that there are many themes available from huawei and that they change many parts of the user interface. what happens with these themes if i use an alternative launcher, say nova launcher?
will nova launcher override the background pic of the lockscreen or generally the way the lockscreen looks or does the lockscreen stay untouched by nova? same goes for the notifications that appear once you pull down the status bar. will the background of the notification "curtain" stay unchanged or does nova change different things here? colors and icons in settings also are changed when using different huawei themes - do they stay intact when using an alternative launcher?
All my questions short: does Nova (or any other alternative launcher for what it matters) only change what it is known for - leaving everything else the way you set it up with one of the hundred huawei themes? hope yoou know what i mean.
ok, for better demonstration: take the attached pic here for example. from left to right will only screen #2 and #3 be changed and the lockscreen #1, quick toggles #4 and whatsapp #5 remain unaltered with the chosen huawei theme still intact?
thx,
v.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Nova launcher. It will override the icons from the EMUI themes. Nova does however not influence the lockscreen at all, nor the pulldown meny, settings menues or other apps. So yes to your last question.
Thx for clarifying this suprman.
Lockscreen doesn't sound very good unfortunately...
which theme and lockscreen do you use?
I read in older Huawei threads that one can change the lockscreen style. "halo" style got rid of the 4 standard shortcuts on the bottom (which to my knowledge are also not modifiable...) and instead let's you set up 4 custom shortcuts. but maybe huawei did away with this feature nowadays.
which design (theme) do you use?
thx,
vercetti.
suprman said:
The Magazine lockscreen doesn’t necessarily cycle background images. You can set whatever single image you want. I have it set to the same as my normal wallpaper, so it looks like it just changes icons when you unlock.
Sadly the lockscreen is one of the worst features of EMUI. You can't pull down the notification bar, you can't dismiss notifications by side swiping, and you can't touch to open the notifications. The notifications also doesn't quit fit the EMUI theme, they are more material design. Some notifications won't show at all (yes, I turned it on), like Soundcloud. You do however get music control for Spotify, but this is a completely different lockscreen (which can't be changed). And then your notifications won't show up. I don't know how Huawei managed to scrap the stock lockscreen, which works very well and looks nice, and replace it with something far worse. You can install lockscreen apps, but you can't use them with the fingerprint scanner, so it's not really an option imho.
The app switcher, which was mentioned in the OP, I actually prefer to the stock android one. The most useful feature is that you can long press the app switcher icon to return to the last app (like Alt+Tab). As far as I understand, this not a stock feature, but from Cyanogen.
I use Nova launcher. It will override the icons from the EMUI themes. Nova does however not influence the lockscreen at all, nor the pulldown meny, settings menues or other apps. So yes to your last question.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the comments, that summarised what I was going to so with the themes later.
Did you know you can open the app from the lockscreen by swiping it to the right...and then touching fingerprint sensor?