[REQ] Overriding Home button long press

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Hi!

Was wondering if we could somehow override the home button long press to run a custom application instead of showing the recent apps list? This way, we could develop a custom application which shows more stuff rather than just 6 recent apps.

Some ideas are - integrating a task manager which shows running apps, favorite apps shortcuts, shortcut to app drawer etc.

I could develop the application but I wouldn't know how to override the home button long press! Any ideas anyone?

Cheers,
San

Well, there is at least one (paid) app that already does this (could be more but i don't know of them) - "MultiTasking Pro" http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com....ultitaskingpro

It would be nice to have extra functionality though, such as a clock (say, if you're in the middle of a game and want to check the time).

As for how it works, just from testing it out, it appears to act as a launcher (given that single home button press takes you to home launcher). I gather this as I had to set it as the default app when i pressed home button for the first time, aswell asthe fact that you have to select the home launcher in the app settings.

The way the app works is, press home button once brings up the menu (overlaying existing app). press it a second time and it takes you to the "default" home launcher as selected in settings. If you hold down home, the original app menu pops up, reinforcing the fact that this isn't a replacement per se.


Of course, overriding the original home button hold function menu would appear to be a much cleaner solution, and I welcome any info on that... whether its integrated into touchwiz or what not... One things for sure, is that samsung modified it to include a link to their "task manager" app.

TaskSwitcher is better, faster, uses less memory and it's completely free.

However no app can replace the long press. It needs kernel/system file modding.

Originally Posted by Bec07

TaskSwitcher is better, faster, uses less memory and it's completely free.

However no app can replace the long press. It needs kernel/system file modding.

Indeed, not possible. Does anyone know if it was implemented in other android phones?

PS. Power strip is better =) Very very fast and you can see 12 recent apps + widgets. Itching thumb is very promising, but its a plain beta for now.

Yeah but itching thumb uses a LOT of memory.

Originally Posted by Bec07

Yeah but itching thumb uses a LOT of memory.

For me Itching Thumb is currently the only task switcher style thing I find good enough (interface, functionality) to run next to Launcher Pro... I uninstalled all others I tried before.

But if I could have Launcher Pro on short press home, and Itching Thumb on long press home, that would be exactly how I would want that . Because I think optimizations such as memory use will come in time anyway.

I hope for the visual style to be integrated in android and have a real preview, live of the app.

Originally Posted by Bec07

However no app can replace the long press. It needs kernel/system file modding.

Any idea on what would need to be modified?