[HOWTO] Remap hardware button to ICS recent apps

evilisto · Jan 17, 2012

this is simple howto about this mod.. : [MOD] Search key to ICS recent apps

1) change source code related to APP_SWITCH keycode.

platform/frameworks/base/policy/src/com/android/internal/policy/impl/PhoneWindowManager.java

from :

Code:

        } else if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_APP_SWITCH) {
            if (down && repeatCount == 0) {
                showOrHideRecentAppsDialog(RECENT_APPS_BEHAVIOR_SHOW_OR_DISMISS);
            }
            return -1;
        }

to :

Code:

        } else if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_APP_SWITCH) {
            if (down && repeatCount == 0 && !keyguardOn) {
            try {
                mStatusBarService.toggleRecentApps();
            } catch (RemoteException e) {
                Slog.e(TAG, "RemoteException when showing recent apps", e);
            }
        }
            return -1;
        }

2) edit your keylayout files..

/system/usr/keylayout/

for example, if you want to use search key to recent apps on nexus s...

cypress-touchkey.kl

Code:

key 139    MENU           VIRTUAL
key 102    HOME           VIRTUAL
key 158    BACK           VIRTUAL
key 217    APP_SWITCH     VIRTUAL

and mxt224_ts_input.kl (it would be better to edit both files..)

Code:

key 158   BACK              WAKE
key 139   MENU              WAKE
key 217   APP_SWITCH        WAKE
key 102   HOME              WAKE

3) done

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- and if you cannot compile android.policy.jar for some reason, try with my files instead.
you can find my files in these thread :
[MOD] Search key to ICS recent apps
[MOD] Add ICS 'Recent Apps' button to Status bar
and be careful. you should use suitable version to your rom. so if your cm9 rom was built few weeks ago, do not try with latest version of my mod.

etoy · Jan 17, 2012

dumb question, but what does originally the "APP_SWITCH" action do without the java change?

thejaredhuang · Jan 17, 2012

It brings up a recent apps window that looks like the original switcher from 1.5.

For OP, does this still mess up the other key functions that you said in your other thread?

evilisto · Jan 17, 2012

etoy said:
dumb question, but what does originally the "APP_SWITCH" action do without the java change?

that will bring old version app switcher.

thejaredhuang said:
For OP, does this still mess up the other key functions that you said in your other thread?

if you use proper version for your rom(currently stock, cm9 and aokp), key problems will not happen. but that will happen on other roms like peter alfonso's ics..

jerkysh · Jan 17, 2012

where the hell is this direction?
platform/frameworks/base/policy/src/com/android/internal/policy/impl/PhoneWindowManager.java , i would love to try this mod on my cappy, to see if it works

Smasher816 · Jan 17, 2012

Its in the android source code...
Someone needs to make a modded rom based on that (ex a cm9 kang).

RaptorOne3 · Jan 17, 2012

If you don't mind me asking, what is the significance of this?

Long pressing the "Home" capacitive key brings up the "Recent Apps" screen... Why change it?

Forgive my short sighted confusion, but I just don't understand why you want your search button to bring up the Recent Apps screen when the home button already does it...

nonione · Jan 17, 2012

cause its faster just like in the GN you only tap and theres your multitask

thejaredhuang · Jan 18, 2012

RaptorOne3 said:
If you don't mind me asking, what is the significance of this?

Long pressing the "Home" capacitive key brings up the "Recent Apps" screen... Why change it?

Forgive my short sighted confusion, but I just don't understand why you want your search button to bring up the Recent Apps screen when the home button already does it...

If you've ever used webOS you'll understand how frustrating it is to hold the Home button down for 2 seconds.

I would be bagging on Android for copying webOS but in the end its the same person who designed it.

qtwrk · Jan 18, 2012

this is great , i have my nexus s for 5 moths and almost never use SEARCH BUTTON..., problem is , i am using KANGY by HAKA, ok , this is not the issue

but i also applied http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1439681 this MOD .... that brings me a problem ...

and i don't have access to source code of this MOD , how am i supposed to do it ?

RaptorOne3 · Jan 18, 2012

Hmm... I suppose...

No pun intended... Just curious. Seemed a bit redundant but I suppose it's all in personal preference really. Just another option I suppose!

I may actually be interested in this the more I think about it... I never use my search button. It would be nice to bind it to a some what useful function... lol...

I'll be keeping my eye on this. Perhaps we could bundle a little update zip for this?

evilisto · Jan 18, 2012

qtwrk said:
this is great , i have my nexus s for 5 moths and almost never use SEARCH BUTTON..., problem is , i am using KANGY by HAKA, ok , this is not the issue

but i also applied http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1439681 this MOD .... that brings me a problem ...

and i don't have access to source code of this MOD , how am i supposed to do it ?

it looks like... there is no other way to ask that mod(theme?)'s dev..

bearsblack · Jan 19, 2012

Nevrmind this post

Evilisto is the man!

AeroEchelon · Jan 23, 2012

I am currently using a AOSP based ROM for the Nexus S and would greatly appreciate this mod! I found your thread on the Nexus S forum however my ROM isn't supported ...

How would I go about changing the source code on my ROM? (Not too experienced with Android Development.)

evilisto · Jan 23, 2012

AeroEchelon said:
I am currently using a AOSP based ROM for the Nexus S and would greatly appreciate this mod! I found your thread on the Nexus S forum however my ROM isn't supported ...

How would I go about changing the source code on my ROM? (Not too experienced with Android Development.)

sorry but i can't make mod for your rom because he doesn't release his source code..
and he was interested this mod too(link). so i think this mod or similar thing will be added to his rom later.

endursa · Jan 27, 2012

Code:

else if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_APP_SWITCH) {
            if(showing != true){
                if (down && repeatCount == 0) {
                    try {
                    mStatusBarService.toggleRecentApps();
                } catch (RemoteException e) {
                    Slog.e(TAG, "RemoteException when showing recent apps", e);
                }
            }
                return -1;
           }
        }

could you please add a check if the device is on lockscreen, so pressing the search button while the device is locked wouldn't flash the recent apps screen

Code:

KeyguardManager kgMgr = (KeyguardManager) getSystemService(Context.KEYGUARD_SERVICE);
boolean showing = kgMgr.inKeyguardRestrictedInputMode();

evilisto · Jan 28, 2012

endursa said:
could you please add a check if the device is on lockscreen, so pressing the search button while the device is locked wouldn't flash the recent apps screen

thank you

i didn't even know about that bug...

..
i fixed that with this code and it seems like working well.

Code:

        } else if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_APP_SWITCH) {
            if (down && repeatCount == 0 && !keyguardOn) {
            try {
                mStatusBarService.toggleRecentApps();
            } catch (RemoteException e) {
                Slog.e(TAG, "RemoteException when showing recent apps", e);
            }
        }
            return -1;
        }

VolcanicSkunk · Jan 31, 2012

Quick question for the OP:
I was going to request the developer of my rom to implement this into their build. Before I did though, I was wanting to make sure that if they put this code into their build it wouldn't change anything until the keylayout.kl file was changed.

evilisto · Feb 1, 2012

VolcanicSkunk said:
Quick question for the OP:
I was going to request the developer of my rom to implement this into their build. Before I did though, I was wanting to make sure that if they put this code into their build it wouldn't change anything until the keylayout.kl file was changed.

yes because this change APP_SWITCH related code only. and this is not related to long-press home key too. so if you don't use APP_SWITCH keycode, this code change doesn't do anything.

provolinoo · Feb 7, 2012

anyone is able to update the patch for latest cm9 builds using the how to?

current version messes some text up

thanks in advance

[HOWTO] Remap hardware button to ICS recent apps

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Top Liked Posts