Is there anyway of getting rid of the google search bar? - Verizon Motorola Droid Turbo Q&A, Help & Troublesh

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.

Related

App that Stops Home Screen Auto Rotation

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.

4.2 Lockscreen - a step backward?

Hi all,
I cannot but tell you this huge doubt that has been haunting me since I got my Nexus 4: is this new 4.2 lockscreen really an improvement?
For me, it can be considered as a step forward (widgets) and two steps backward (camera and Google Now).
Let me explain:
Step back 1: the camera is now accessible only by swiping the screen to the right
Step back 2: Google Now is hidden as a tiny, little, dotted ring in the far bottom of the screen (see attached image)
Step forward: widgets to the left screen
This is all related to the new circle lock widget, that now allows you only to unlock the phone by dragging the center to whatever position in the borders (see attached image).
And you wanna now why Google did this? I'm strongly convinced they did it because of Apple's lockscreen patent. No joke and no flame intended here. If you read the patent, it clearly says that
The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, with this upgrade the "predefined gesture" exists no more. Before Android 4.2, the only way you could slide to unlock was to move from point A (center) to point B (right): that's exactly what we call a "predefined gesture". Now you can slide to unlock from point A (center) to point B (right), or point C (left), or point D (bottom), and so on. In Android 4.2 the user is free to unlock to whatever position he or she feels like, Google is safe from Apple lawtrolls, but my impression is that we all lose here.
If this is not the reason, I can't figure out why they did this.
Honestly, who cares to unlock to whatever position? It is an automated gesture, I hardly see anyone saying "Oh, thank God, I really needed to swipe left and now I can, good job Google".
Now, instead of having three of the most useful apps in one place, and unlocking them immediately, we have to break this process in three different procedures. This is not immediate, this is awful and I'd like Google to revert to how things were before. They can leave the widgets, but the circle lock widget has to be restored as we have seen it in 4.1.
What do you think? Is this new lockscreen really this big improvement or, like me, do you see more cons than pros?
overall, im ok with it. like the google now thing is fine. but sliding left and right can sometimes be bothersome, but it wont kill me
It is just the start. They will build on it.
sent via xda premium with nexus 7-Xbox live-loneleppard add me
I was worried as well, After using it on my GNex i have to say i like it, Alot of 3rd party apps have updated and are usable like Hd Widgets and Falcon for twitter. Im sure many more will follow.Getting to the camera and google now still only take 1 swipe. I see where you are coming from but adding functionality is hardly a step back. You dont have to use widgets and getting to Gnow and the camera are just as simple
i really do like the google now being down there. its where the home button actually is, which makes sense since you do drag up from the home button to get to google now quickly when on any screen (besides the lock screen of course). a bit more organized and less confusing for those who are coming to this phone for the first time
I just want my clock widget to get better from the black eye it's got.
What I'm saying is that the overall third party widget idea is more than welcome, but Google could have done much better by keeping Google Now and the Camera app within the lock circle and giving more space to widgets: that would have been accessible not only by swiping to the left, but also to the right.
0.0 said:
i really do like the Google Now being down there. its where the home button actually is, which makes sense since you do drag up from the home button to get to Google Now quickly when on any screen (besides the lock screen of course). a bit more organized and less confusing for those who are coming to this phone for the first time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know, at first I thought they had eliminated Google Now completely, then a friend of mine told me that it was in fact hidden behind that little dotted circle.
Every time you unlock in 4.1, you see a giant Google Now logo; in 4.2, if you want to get access to it in the lock screen, you have to go figure it out.
UltimateGoblin said:
You know, at first I thought they had eliminated Google Now completely.
A friend of mine had to tell me that it was in fact hidden behind that little dotted circle.
Every time you unlock in 4.1, you see a giant Google Now logo.
In 4.2, if you want to get access to it in the lock screen, you have to go figure it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but youre used to it being on the lock screen, like sliding it up. im saying more for those who are new to the phone. they may be like "oh, sliding up on the home button gives me google now. cool!" then they will think that, and when going to the lock screen, it'll be the same process for them. now thats only my speculation. but i understand what you mean
It looks like a bug for me!!! The 4.1 lockscreen was way better!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Old lockscreen found running on 4.2 Nexus 4
Thought this might interest you, also I would love to know how this is possible.
Here in the UK I tried out a Nexus 4 in a Carphone Warehouse store yesterday. We opened the box for the first time, booted up the phone and it presented us with the 4.1 version of the lockscreen .
The thing is, the phone was running on Android 4.2, I checked the settings, it was confirmed to be Android 4.2.
I am desperately trying to find a way to restore the old lock screen. The camera loads slower, the widgets are rubbish and I hate the new clock typeface.
Does anyone else know how this could be possible? The phone was unboxed and came straight from Google.
alexmasters said:
Thought this might interest you, also I would love to know how this is possible.
Here in the UK I tried out a Nexus 4 in a Carphone Warehouse store yesterday. We opened the box for the first time, booted up the phone and it presented us with the 4.1 version of the lockscreen .
The thing is, the phone was running on Android 4.2, I checked the settings, it was confirmed to be Android 4.2.
I am desperately trying to find a way to restore the old lock screen. The camera loads slower, the widgets are rubbish and I hate the new clock typeface.
Does anyone else know how this could be possible? The phone was unboxed and came straight from Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you read reviews on the device, they were running 4.2 without the lockscreen widgets. the OTA implemented the functionality. idk why everyone thinks its bad. im ok with it. maybe the devs will include the option to have the old lockscreen in a custom ROM in the future
0.0 said:
if you read reviews on the device, they were running 4.2 without the lockscreen widgets. the OTA implemented the functionality. idk why everyone thinks its bad. im ok with it. maybe the devs will include the option to have the old lockscreen in a custom ROM in the future
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh now that is interesting, I'm very surprised Google didn't allow people to retain the old lock screen. One can only hope they listen to complaints and roll out an option to toggle widgets, customise clock typeface, etc.
I find accessing the camera by swiping to be a slower experience than before. It makes all that work speeding up the shutter seem a little pointless.
Not only that but sliding between widgets is very awkward when you have a phone case on. Step backwards indeed.
Initially I didn't like it, but it's kinda grown on me now. And I actually like the look of the clock with the hour in bold :victory:
If it's ever too humid or I'm too sweaty, making the phone that easy to unlock one way or another leads to some nasty accidents in the pocket. One time I ended up pocket calling two people over 20 times in the period of an hour. And that was with the original slide to unlock. It was so bad I had to put a pin lock on it temporarily.
For those complaining about the bold hour font on the clock you can easily download a mod to change it.
I didn't like the two flashing boxes that appeared for the widget screens so I downloaded a mod and now I just see the clock and the pattern unlock.
mshaw03 said:
For those complaining about the bold hour font on the clock you can easily download a mod to change it.
I didn't like the two flashing boxes that appeared for the widget screens so I downloaded a mod and now I just see the clock and the pattern unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds great, which specific mod is that good sir?
I dont Understand why People are complaining about Smth so small
Sent from my Apple iPhone using Tapatalk 2
The lock screen is too buggy
Posted from my Sweet Lil' Nexus
arzbhatia said:
The lock screen is too buggy
Posted from my Sweet Lil' Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I haven't found any bugs whatsoever in 4.2 so far.

Should I stick with stock or upgrade to a ROM?

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)
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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

[Q] Rooted, Flashed... Now What? Please Help Me Set Up My Gear on null!

Hopefully I get bonus points for not posting the typical 'Halp! I bricked my Gear!' or 'Halp! I can has no roots!' type threads. :laugh:
I've been searching and I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I've got my Gear rooted w/Recovery & null 23 flashed. Generally that's the hard part of rooting but I've never done this on a watch before and now I'm not sure how to set it up. I have a Sony Smartwatch 2 also and really like most of the functionality of that watch but wanted something that didn't look quite so... dated. I got a Gear and the functionality was a joke in comparison so I opted to root/flash it to get it to do what I want it to do. Now that I've done that I'm not really sure where to go but I'd like it to function similar to my SW2 with a little bit more customization. For instance, when I flashed null 23 there were a LOT of options I wasn't sure if I wanted and needed. I did some searching but all I could find was mostly people having difficulty doing the processes I've already done. Nothing on post-root/flash setup.
Which launcher do I want? I have Nova & Apex and I'm not really sure which one is better and why.
Notifications? How do I set these up? On my SW2 I really like how it handled notifications for apps like Gmail, Hangouts, SMS, etc. and I'd like to replicate this on this watch too. When I go into my Gear Manager on my phone all of the apps under notifications are grayed out. I'm assuming this app no longer controls my watch or perhaps it does when the stock launcher is activated?
Is there a description somewhere that explains each of the options when you flash the ROM? I have a feeling that I installed a LOT of things I don't need but since it was my first time and I hand't yet messed with it I erred on the side of more than less so I could maybe see what it all was.
I would like a home/watch screen with a custom watch of some sort, the current weather conditions, & a few shortcuts maybe. I miss how I could double tap the power button and set that to launch an app. I used this for the Media Controller app which allowed me quick access to controlling the audio on my phone which is one of the big features I need.
I guess in all I'm just confused by what all I want/need since it's basically a Motorola Droid on my wrist w/o a cellular or WiFi radio or GPS and rather than a full featured device I just need a better smartwatch. If someone can point me in the right direction via some links or something or if a few people want to hold my hand through a few more specific questions I have while I get this figured out I would appreciate it.
Thanks for reading.
OstrichSak said:
Which launcher do I want? I have Nova & Apex and I'm not really sure which one is better and why.
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Click to collapse
Up to the user. I like apex these days (phone and watch), used to use nova
Notifications? How do I set these up? On my SW2 I really like how it handled notifications for apps like Gmail, Hangouts, SMS, etc. and I'd like to replicate this on this watch too. When I go into my Gear Manager on my phone all of the apps under notifications are grayed out. I'm assuming this app no longer controls my watch or perhaps it does when the stock launcher is activated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't sound right. What phone/rom are you using?
Is there a description somewhere that explains each of the options when you flash the ROM? I have a feeling that I installed a LOT of things I don't need but since it was my first time and I hand't yet messed with it I erred on the side of more than less so I could maybe see what it all was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trial and error. I haven't installed it ina long time, but I'm pretty sure it was self explanatory
I would like a home/watch screen with a custom watch of some sort, the current weather conditions, & a few shortcuts maybe. I miss how I could double tap the power button and set that to launch an app. I used this for the Media Controller app which allowed me quick access to controlling the audio on my phone which is one of the big features I need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using custom launcher allows you to add any widgets you like to a home screen. Power button [annoyingly] isn't really a power button; there is details how to change this in null faq. People like gesture or pie control type apps for launcher programs
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Brendo said:
Up to the user. I like apex these days (phone and watch), used to use nova
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Why? What would you say are the primary differences?
Brendo said:
That doesn't sound right. What phone/rom are you using?
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SGS4. Rooted but factory ROM still.
Brendo said:
Trial and error. I haven't installed it ina long time, but I'm pretty sure it was self explanatory
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Click to collapse
No, they aren't. I watched a video on how to install and all of the options he had while installing were self explanitory. My install of null 23 had lots of screens of options and I only understood what about half of them did. I would like a page somewhere that explains what they all do so I can make up my mind prior to installing and know what I want & don't want.
Brendo said:
Using custom launcher allows you to add any widgets you like to a home screen. Power button [annoyingly] isn't really a power button; there is details how to change this in null faq. People like gesture or pie control type apps for launcher programs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand adding any widgets I want but I see other people's screens and their screen looks much different than anything I've seen on an Android device so I'm not sure how to go about that.
1. Can't remember. They are similar
2. Hmmm... 4.3+ rom? Latest gear manager?
3. The few I can remember; choice of launcher, gapps (google based apps - people, calendar, play services, etc), power button mod (power button turns screen on/off), stock Samsung apps
4. No matter how it looks, it's exactly the same as phone if not using touchwiz launcher. Touchwiz launcher is not really customisable. I use the stock weather clock widget on home screen, shortcuts on second screen (app drawer, media controller, notifications, camera, tasgear), zooper widget with notification counts on third screen
I'd like to know the differences because I can choose which one of the two to install during ROM flash and I'd rather not flash the one that I'm not going to use.
Yes, 4.3 and the latest version of Gear Manager. However I just noticed something quite odd... the 'Other Notifications' on/off slider was set to off this time. I know for a fact that it wasn't last time because I checked that when I checked on 'Additional notifications' and they were gray. I went back and for a few times checking and it was set to 'on' and green. After a reboot they were grayed out again but this time I noticed that little slider on the previous screen was set to off. Slid it on and now all of my additional notifications are active and I can check and uncheck them. So I've got Gmail, Hangouts & one other one checked. I should be getting notifications on the watch now?
I know what Gapps is and I found what the power button mod thingy does in another thread. Seems if you want the power button to function on the 3rd party launchers the way it does on the stock launcher you need that installed. I did see where this can create issues at times with other functionality so I will keep an eye on that to see if it's going to create any issues for me. Still not 100% clear on that but I think I chose the right option. I also installed the stock apps because there's a media player controller and a couple of others that I really like as they are.
I guess I just keep seeing people with screens that look entirely different than mine. Mine the clock is kind of cut off on the top and the bottom and I know the top is cut off because I selected to install the status bar at the top (which I would likely not do next time I flash the ROM.. kinda pointless) but I can't understand why the bottom part is cut off. I disabled the little dots that show which home page you're on and it still gets cut off by the dock. Not really sure what I'm doing wrong.
So how will this work for notifications and phone controls? Like I know with my SW2 I could enable/disable WiFi, BT as well as a few other options and even mute, silence and normal my ring tone. Can I do this somehow from this watch with these launchers? What about notifications? I've enabled those as I stated earlier while I was typing this and still haven't got a single notification on the watch. Do I have to install the full Gmail & Hangouts APK to get the notifications and if this is the case I'm not sure it's going to behave the way I'm looking for. I really just want basic popups with the sender and the message the way my SW2 does and I'm not sure that a miniature Android device is going to be able to do this. Edit: while I was typing this I just got a notification for Hangouts & it was a full screen pop-up with the sender and the message for a few seconds so maybe this will do what I need it to do. Nothing for Gmail yet though.
Also, since I know I want the status bar across the top gone I will likely boot into recovery & flash the ROM again with that feature disabled. When I do that I will take the time to list each option that I see as well as if I know what it is or not and maybe someone can answer the questions I have about it and then I can go through with the flash with the options I want and don't want correctly set.
You'll really have to have a play yourself. I'd suggest downloading both to your phone and checking them out on an easier to use (ie bigger) screen
Yeah, sometimes it can turn off like that. I'd suggest clearing gear manager data/cache, uninstalling gm, reboot, install gm. If it's ticked, you should get notifications (when screen is off)
Correct. It's either one or the other
You'll need to play with settings to get that correct. Widget padding I believe
I think you may need to reset watch as well as reinstall gearmanager just to get rid of the gremlins it sounds like you have. The watch hardly controls anything on the phone (only what you see in gm). For bidirectional stuff, give tasker a try and check apps in themes and apps section
Yep, just reflash if you want to change any settings

Can't remove persistent Google search bar

I've read in several places that you can get rid of the persistent Google search bar on the stock home screen by long-pressing it and responding to the dialogue box that then pops up. I've tried this and the long press has no effect on mine.
I've also tried disabling Google Search and, while this did stop the search app from starting when I tapped the persistent search bar, it didn't make the bar go away.
I'm running the UK customised version of the .77 stock firmware.
Anyone got any ideas why this isn't working for me, and/or what I could do to make the thing go away without running a custom home screen or installing Xposed? I do know that removing it won't buy me any extra home screen space, but I just don't like it being there!
I don't know if I'm missing anything, but if I long press on the homescreen to enter the mode for adding widgets I'll have the possibility to remove/add the Google search bar.
Brilliant! Many thanks. This is clearly a different method for removing the search bar than all those articles and threads that I found (eg this one started in September last year) - and much better too, because you don't have to delete the stock home app's data and lose all your carefully laid out home screens if you decide that you want to get it back at a later date. Presumably it's a change that was made because of that very problem. I wonder why the updated functionality never came to light in any of my Googling or XDA searches? I'm normally pretty good at tracking down info that way. Perhaps my mojo is waning...
This feature is only for the Xperia launcher, it's better than the google launcher, that you can't get rid of it

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