[Q] Saving our beloved physical home button - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Is there a way you can hard-coded, let say the left capacitive button to act as a home button when you long-pressed it? especially on ICS roms that for let say you want to see the recent apps(home button long-pressed) alternatively you'll just long-press the left capacitive button = profit?
My home button is being quirky nowadays(6 months owner) and I don't want to bring it to Service Center just to repair that.. The problem is not groundbreaking(not yet) but this will save me in the future and probably others will so

It's not exactly what you want, but maybe Button Savior will do for you?

I think capacitive buttons are more likely to stop working than the physical buttons. My friend has a motorola Milestone and his back button stopped working in a month. Dont know if it is a bug
Sent from my GT-P7500 using XDA Premium

Still need to use home-button I'm in CM9 right now and the home button is really ****ed-up especially when I'm multitasking and I really love how ICS implement the task-switching/killing "Recent app"

srivas95 said:
I think capacitive buttons are more likely to stop working than the physical buttons. My friend has a motorola Milestone and his back button stopped working in a month. Dont know if it is a bug
Sent from my GT-P7500 using XDA Premium
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Well that's a different phone but maybe that can apply to ours. What I mean is that sometimes my home button when I long press and then released it, it double registers the pressing so it's like you pressed again the home button

I am also looking forward for a solution to this. As I also want as much as possible not to use the home button. I quite feel that somehow it is already degrading. Showing press results that are not what I specify. Like for example clicking does 2 clicks thus entering 2 directories in CWM.
Button Savior could have been perfect if the recent apps it shows is the firmware's version. It shows its built-in recent apps instead.

Related

So now with Ice Cream Sandwich the menu button is useless ?

What do you think google is going to do with the menu button on the actual devices? Make it the contextual menu button or make it the multitasking button? the multitasking button would be nice imo
I can see them keeping the function for the "legacy devices"
The contectual buttons will prolly not show up on hardware button devices.
Like the people above me said, its probably gonna be contextual on new phones, and still work with "old" touch keys..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
can be used like camera button
HotlipsH said:
The contectual buttons will prolly not show up on hardware button devices.
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That's what I'm thinking for SGS2... In the end, bottom menu does what real button does only. Nothing extraordinary...
and what about the multitasking button, an onscreen button?
Chad_Petree said:
and what about the multitasking button, an onscreen button?
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I think that the developers or carriers should hide that part of the launcher in this device. Because if you are going to use your sgs2 for at least 2 years, i will be mad seeing every time the software and hardware button at the same time
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
bigcvm said:
I think that the developers or carriers should hide that part of the launcher in this device. Because if you are going to use your sgs2 for at least 2 years, i will be mad seeing every time the software and hardware button at the same time
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
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Im sure there will be no onscreen buttons for "home" and "back" but what will happend with the "recents apps" button?
Recent apps = hold the home button, just like how it already works.
Actully there is no devices with ice cream sandwitch for smartphone so it's difficult to judge
Z4muZ said:
Actully there is no devices with ice cream sandwitch for smartphone so it's difficult to judge
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Click to collapse
Lol you are right
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Does the Galaxy Nexus even have a menu button? No, the menu buttons are onscreen (they differ with each app).
My guess is that the menu button on our GS II will be the multitask button.
It would be awesome if the existing hardware buttons will be like the ICS on-screen nav buttons with one difference: menu button will open multitasking tool. After all, the existing "menu" icon won't look to bad to be interpreted as "multitasking."
That's if and only if the ICS on-screen buttons are always just the three: back, home, and multitasking tool. This way, GS2's hardware buttons won't really make the device outdated. Just something that doesn't rotate landscape. No biggie. Even arguably better in some cases.
Yes but why can't we keep the menu button! I like it, It keeps the screen clean of crap do we really want to turn into the Iphone with software buttons for everything... And On screen is just stupid, Sure then can rotate and the menu button could appear in old apps when it is needed but menu is a part of android... I don't want to click a gear on the app to open the menu when the button did that fine. If Samsung / CM don't implement 4.0 in such a way that menu means menu then I will personally develop a rom that does, Multitasking should be long press of home... That is how we already view recent apps. It just works better.
epichappy said:
That is how we already view recent apps. It just works better.
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And you are sure of that, how?
It isn't even released yet, you can't really judge >.>
Any news here?

[Q] Remapping buttons to use "LONG PRESS BACK KEY OR MENU KEY"

I have the sgs2 for a few months, Im very satisfied with this phone, But there is a thing I cannot live with, THE HOME BUTTON, I dont know why? but a I dont like it at all, I prefer non physical buttons, so Ive been proving some apps to avoid it, someones like button savior, swipepad and wave launcher (This one is absolutely great).
I just wanna know: is there a way to remap LONG PRESS "BACK KEY" to go to home?, just like long press menu does to go to search!. I proved BUTTONREMAPPING but it doesnt have the "long press" options. I was searching and now I know that files on /system/usr/keylayout and /system/usr/keychars setup the keys on the phone, indeed /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchkey.kl shows the default capacitive buttons setup, but I dont have enough knowledge to change "LONG PRESS" options on this keys.
so:
Some of you guys know about it?
It is possible or not setup LONG PRESS BACK OR MENU KEY on SGS2?
....Nobody?
diegonando22 said:
....Nobody?
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Click to collapse
just figuring out to do the same and came across your thread. will be interesting if this can be achieved, I hate the center button it is as hard as rock
bala_gamer said:
just figuring out to do the same and came across your thread. will be interesting if this can be achieved, I hate the center button it is as hard as rock
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Click to collapse
There certainly is way to achieve such a thing but i certainly dont know what the way to do so without replacing launcher and having it doing so or maybe replacing Rom. I qould love to know a way to get it done without having to go through that.
diegonando22 said:
I have the sgs2 for a few months, Im very satisfied with this phone, But there is a thing I cannot live with, THE HOME BUTTON, I dont know why? but a I dont like it at all, I prefer non physical buttons, so Ive been proving some apps to avoid it, someones like button savior, swipepad and wave launcher (This one is absolutely great).
I just wanna know: is there a way to remap LONG PRESS "BACK KEY" to go to home?, just like long press menu does to go to search!. I proved BUTTONREMAPPING but it doesnt have the "long press" options. I was searching and now I know that files on /system/usr/keylayout and /system/usr/keychars setup the keys on the phone, indeed /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchkey.kl shows the default capacitive buttons setup, but I dont have enough knowledge to change "LONG PRESS" options on this keys.
so:
Some of you guys know about it?
It is possible or not setup LONG PRESS BACK OR MENU KEY on SGS2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have to ask one of the modders to do it for you, try contacting one of the modders who has made "long press to kill process" it will be fairly easy for them.
Sent from my GT-P6200 using xda app-developers app
Any fix ?
I want to remape my menu to back and menu to app switch like the navbar =D
If you don't mind going custom, then cyanogenmod has this (sort of) in an option in the developer options of their roms.......you long press the back button and it kills the running processes (apps)
Sent from my rooted, de bloated, stock JB powered S2 via PhilZ kernel and XDA developers app

Swap Capacitive Search Button With Multitask

Sort of just been pondering about how useless the capacitive search button is to me (and probably a lot of other people) and how I'm a little envious of the physical home button on the International Note, then I came across an article about how a HTC rom dev had switched their capacitive multitask button to perform the function: menu due to app incompatibility. Now I didn't know capacitive buttons could have their function switched but it kind of had me flirting with the idea of how insanely epic a menu/home/back/multitask capacitive layout would be on Ice Cream Sandwich. I wouldn't be jealous of the International Note's physical home button at all if that were the case. I thought this was a little day dream of mine worth sharing. From what I've read it's just a file in system/usr that needs to be edited, I took a quick look but haven't quite figured out which it is yet.
What about you guys, do you like the capacitive search function or would you like to see it something else?
inb4: yo dawg u can just hold down home
multitask with long-press for search would work for me. maybe there is something in the play store than can do this
The galaxy tab has a button remapping app. I used mine to screen off.
rangercaptain said:
The galaxy tab has a button remapping app. I used mine to screen off.
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Can I get a link to test?
sam.jh said:
Can I get a link to test?
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Here is the link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865526
I just tried it and it doesn't work.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
I love the search button, especially since it's app-aware for context. I see your inb4, but can you explain why reassigning the search button is better than just holding down home? Is it just a second of time you're trying to recover?
I have my long pressed search button mapped to an app called "AltTabApps" which gives me a longer list of recent/installed apps. Long pressing the home button only gives you 6 recent used apps, which sometimes isn't enough.
I think the button does enough multitasking. Short press to search, then long press to voice search or voice talk"hi galaxy" control... I like the voice search because you don't have to access the s voice controls. You could just simply long press search then select voice search and say text blank, "come over after 3" and it will do it... So having there separate functions under one button works for me great.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
I wanted to do this for a while now and finally I got around to it. Basically all I did was to replace search key 217 in system/usr/keylayout/generic.kl to APP_SWITCH. Rebooted and now I have search key remapped to recent apps.
BlackZenith said:
I have my long pressed search button mapped to an app called "AltTabApps" which gives me a longer list of recent/installed apps. Long pressing the home button only gives you 6 recent used apps, which sometimes isn't enough.
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Click to collapse
Mine is showing 13 recent apps right now. Have seen more than that before.
I use the search button extensively. Wouldn't want to change it.
Edit: just saw how old that post was.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Id love to switch the search button for S voice, and set long press to nothing. Then just tap the search button and it opens s voice.
dacho said:
I wanted to do this for a while now and finally I got around to it. Basically all I did was to replace search key 217 in system/usr/keylayout/generic.kl to APP_SWITCH. Rebooted and now I have search key remapped to recent apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked perfectly, thanks!!
If you have the Google Now apk installed, the search button launches it.

[Q] Home Button issue on Pebble Blue

Hey,
I was playing around with my new samsung Galaxy s 3 international, when I noticed that home button is different from power button and volume up and down, in terms of firmness.
The Power button and Bvolume up and down are quiet firm and Form factor for the slot, but for Home button, It is not that firm and by pressing the corners of the home button, I can see it is little loose, not very loose though. It works perfectly and didnt sound strange.
But is it a matter of concern, or is it by design or shall I replace the phone for this.
In the worst case, if it stops working, Can I live without Home button?? Please help!!!
I would say it's part of the design unfortunately. Same with mine. I personally do not like using the physical button and therefore have changed the function of my capacity buttons.
I.e. menu button become home button and vice versa which means yes you can survive without the physical home button. This mod is posted on the forum.
Another alternative you can look at is on screen navigation bar. Can be found in the same forum either in development or themes and apps.
Hope that helps!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I have themarble white version and my home button behaves exactly like yours when I place my fingers on bah ends of it . my friends pebble blue version is much firmer than mine though... . I was just about to bring both of these to Samsung to let them compose to change a new one
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Remap power button?

I haven't been able to figure out a way to remap the physical power button. There was an xposed module that worked great long ago, but hasn't been updated to work with oreo. I want to be able to press/long press/double tap/whatever the power key to take me to the home screen. I've used the fingerprint sensor apps, but they're hit or miss at different times, which is more frustrating than not having it. The other button mapper programs seem to work for volume keys only. Rooted/Running LOS ROM
Remapping the power button seems like such a bad idea to me. What happens if you need to reboot?
nola mike said:
I want to be able to press/long press/double tap/whatever the power key to take me to the home screen.
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Why? What does your "home" button do? On my Nova launcher, home button takes me immediately to home screen and much easier/faster than trying to double tap fingerprint sensor, which currently turns off/on display.
Or long tapping, which currently gives you reboot options.
Remapping power button seems like an answer in search of a problem, which would cause more problems?
ChazzMatt said:
Why? What does your "home" button do? On my Nova launcher, home button takes me immediately to home screen and much easier/faster than trying to double tap fingerprint sensor, which currently turns off/on display.
Or long tapping, which currently gives you reboot options.
Remapping power button seems like an answer in search of a problem, which would cause more problems.
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Click to collapse
Home button takes me to home screen as well, which is usually where I want to go. If I'm holding the phone it's much easier to press a physical button to get back. I rarely reboot, so could do away with that. On my G3, I had all the buttons on the back mapped to pull up assistant, go back, go to home screen using single/double/short/long taps. It was MUCH faster to do that. Anyway, I like it, it existed before, I want to know if I can get it back.
nola mike said:
Home button takes me to home screen as well, which is usually where I want to go. If I'm holding the phone it's much easier to press a physical button to get back. I rarely reboot, so could do away with that. On my G3, I had all the buttons on the back mapped to pull up assistant, go back, go to home screen using single/double/short/long taps. It was MUCH faster to do that. Anyway, I like it, it existed before, I want to know if I can get it back.
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Click to collapse
So found a program called "powy". It can intercept the power button keypress and then trigger tasker. It can't distinguish long v. short press, but you can program power button to trigger by pressing 1x/2x/3x/etc. Not as good as xposed additions (which hasn't been updated since MM), but functional and better than nothing.

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