Handcent 4.0 Public BETA! ** UPDATE 2/16 Beta 7

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

PLEASE READ THIS FULL POST BEFORE INSTALLING!

Beta Version updated 2/16. Build 7

This is our 7th beta build of Handcent 4.0 and we're releasing it to the public. Because of the nature of BETA we expect you to be able to install an application manually without using the market.

Remember, Handcent is a free application, so we don't have a fancy, outsourced, technical support team to assist you with Android OS tech support such as installing applications outside of the APP market. If someone wants to link me a tutorial for this, I'll post it in this first post.

This will replace and upgrade your current version of Handcent 3.9.x. It does not install a second copy. You can easily revert back to an older version if you experience catastrophic issues by redownloading from the Android marketplace.

HELP US FIND BUGS! If you think you found something, but you aren't sure, see if myself or someone else can replicate it in this forum before submitting a bug report.

Thanks for your patience! Don't forget the THANKS button here, and show your support by removing ads in Handcent by purchasing a subscription or contribution membership.

New to XDA? The install file is attached to this post.

New Features

Handcent Talk - Allows you to bind your phone number and send text messages for free using the Handcent network.
Greater customization (particularly with widgets and the pop-up window but not everything is implemented yet)
Improved compatibility with iOS messaging from iPhones (iOS compatible group messaging planned)
Full ICS Support

Features under Development

iPhone iMessaging compatible GROUP MESSAGE support
Skinnable POPUP notification
Greater detailed ICS Notification features
SMS/MMS/Settings Backup to SD CARD feature (Which won't require subscription like the online backup service!)

Confirmed Issues

Some modded users may experience theme compatibility issues when using themes of white text on dark backgrounds.

c00ller · Feb 16, 2012

Thanks for this! Can this be installed over the current stable version with no issue?

Edit: could you also please provide some sort of changelog so us beta testers can test/verify all the new things?

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

Yes. It will replace the current version. And this version is quite stable. We don't expect many issues to come up.

zelendel · Feb 16, 2012

Only issue I can see so far is that it doesn't like dark menus as the text is black and doesn't pull thebcilor.from the android system

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

zelendel said:
only issue i can see so far is that it doesn't like dark menus as the text is black and doesn't pull thebcilor.from the android system

settings -> custom style -> theme -> black

c00ller · Feb 16, 2012

Hmm, is there a way to change the new top action bar? Or do we have to wait for the skins to be updated? Right now it is a light blue that doesn't fit with the Darkness theme I'm using... Or am I being mindgamed and it was always this blue?

Also, I have a suggestion for one option regarding some wasted screen space. Going to "Settings > Custom style > Bubble settings > Enable text counter" lets us enable or disable the text counter. This text counter shows under the text editor.
When the text counter is disabled, the text counter is gone, but the vertical space is still taken up by the blank space. See screenshot below for what I mean.

It would be nice if disabling the text counter would collapse the previously reserved space.

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

I can suggest collapsing the text counter field when it's not being used, but yeah, we are aware that there may be SOME skinning issues and we will be addressing those as best as we can prior to the public release.

zelendel · Feb 16, 2012

Calcobrena said:
settings -> custom style -> theme -> black

already set.

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

I see. I'll be bringing this up with development as we are aware that many Handcent users are also advanced users who root their devices and install third-party ROMs. I'm one of them, myself. However, with Cyanogen largely unavailable to DX2 users, this isn't something I get the luxury of testing.

zelendel · Feb 16, 2012

Calcobrena said:
I see. I'll be bringing this up with development as we are aware that many Handcent users are also advanced users who root their devices and install third-party ROMs. I'm one of them, myself. However, with Cyanogen largely unavailable to DX2 users, this isn't something I get the luxury of testing.

I will be more then willing to help in this. I am pretty sure I can make a few simple changes so the color codes call the ones from the stock android framework. It would go along way to reduce the fragmentation issues we all see with how apps look if they used the built in color codes instead of defining their own. If I can be of any help please feel free to let me know.

zelendel · Feb 16, 2012

Missed something in the OP. Man enough to admit I am a noob at times lol

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

Someone didn't read the entire first post

zelendel · Feb 16, 2012

Calcobrena said:
Someone didn't read the entire first post

Oops I must have missed that the first time i read it. I remembered the entire post except for that part lol. Ill edit me post.

Archon810 · Feb 16, 2012

First app load scrolling performance is absolutely horrific. It's choppier than any other app I've seen on my SGS II.

Edit: contact selection screen's scrolling is even worse. It's like watching a horrible car crash in slow-mo over a 28.8k modem.

zelendel · Feb 16, 2012

Archon810 said:
First app load scrolling performance is absolutely horrific. It's choppier than any other app I've seen on my SGS II.

How many messages do you have. Mine had no issues scrolling.

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

Ditto I have no scrolling issues. Do you have thousands of messages stored?

jx326 · Feb 16, 2012

I thought we were finally going to get group mms compatibility with iOS? I can't find any option to enable this and it's not working natively.
If this was not added, what does "Improved compatibility with iOS messaging from iPhones" actually mean?

It's frustrating being left out of the loop because my friends on iphones like using iOS group messaging to communicate.

Referenced from this post
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=774990&page=8

Calcobrena · Feb 16, 2012

jx326 said:
I thought we were finally going to get group mms compatibility with iOS? I can't find any option to enable this and it's not working natively.
If this was not added, what does "Improved compatibility with iOS messaging from iPhones" actually mean?

It's frustrating being left out of the loop because my friends on iphones like using iOS group messaging to communicate.

Referenced from this post
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=774990&page=8

This is a beta software. We are working on making this feature work.

jx326 · Feb 16, 2012

Calcobrena said:
This is a beta software. We are working on making this feature work.

Good to know it's coming. If you guys are first to the market with this feature, you will make a lot of android users with iPhone using buddies very happy.

coversnail · Feb 16, 2012

Is there/will there be an option to turn off the new 3 home screens? I appreciate you want to highlight the Handcent services and talk, but is a little annoying to accidentally change the screen when scrolling the conversation list.

The rest all looks good, much prefer the new 'unknown' contact avatar to the previous.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

Handcent 4.0 Public BETA! ** UPDATE 2/16 Beta 7

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