[APP][09/29/11] Book button menu. {NEW:LandscapeSwitch,Propagation}

Heya all.

Changelog:
1.1 - Added orientation switch and propagation (open "Reading Now") to Nook reader
1.0 - Initial release with home and CoolReader option.

Working on:
Investigating the way to distinguish if opening reading now book and not other epubs in order not to show menu on any library book click.


History/Idea:
Just got nook last Sunday as gift and immediately noticed after root that back/menu buttons in status bar is great, but would be even better to use book button as home OR as menu, was messing with framework, etc. to no avail, but finally got a better and simpler solution, but with cons.

After installing CoolReader I noticed that "reading now" button will trigger android select app menu with Nook Reader and CoolReader, so it is broadcast event, opening with CoolReader shows it is getting started epub.

So, here it is. Simple app, registers as one of the epub readers, by having last read in native nook reader any epub - and by pressing "reading now" button it will trigger app select dialog with my app in list (you can check to always open epubs with it).

It will show styled popup menu (see screenshot) containing only Home (will open default one or list of available homes if none selected as default), orientation switch, CoolReader shortcut (hardcoded now) and Nook Reader (this one will open remembered "Reading Now" book)

Cons:
1. Will be triggered on any broadcast event to open epub. (I don't care as I read in fb2)
2. If nothing in "reading now" it will not be triggered as well if "reading now" is not epub
3. hardcoded shortcuts for now

If it generates enough interest I can improve app (in current state functionality is enough for me). I could think of adding next features:
1. Add/Configure any shortcuts, e.g.:
* Back/Menu buttons in addition to home (this will required root to run)
* Add/Configure any shortcut
2. Add ability to propagate event data, e.g. if "reading now" sending "warandpeace.epub" to this app - send it to launching app if configured. This will allow to register this app to open epub and then open configured reader with epub data - done, besides configuration
3. Investigate launch origin (launching activity) and if it is not opening from status bar, but for example from astro/library - open configured reader propagating data.
4. Organize shortcuts as tree
5. Add recent apps submenu

Thanks. I'm trying to get a clue if it was launched from "Reading now" button or from other app. I can easily distinguish between "Reading now" and let's say Astro, but cannot distinguish from Nook Library.

And... great news - I'll post update soon with working landscape/portrait button.

Working on: opening only from "Reading now" or other nook app, but skips to configured reader otherwise. Also, instead of CoolReader I'll have configured reader in the menu.

For the back/menu buttons this will require root.

It is possible to change "n" button, I have it configured as Search button and assigned SoftKeys to search button long press. I'll post instructions soon as well as modified SoftKeys to handle Search long press without need of external app and also with a bit more friendly colors for eInk (background of recent apps white instead of blured)

unattached said:

isn't it possible to launch the default app automatically, when pressing the button?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Do you mean just to launch let's say CoolReader instead of NookReader by the press of "Reading now" button?

Ok, story number 1:
I dissembled (smali) framework jars and now have good idea how that book button works, basically it send custom broadcast, problem is that broadcast not ordered, I can change service.jar to broadcast mine event and this will allow to configure how to act, e.g. you can configure as default (reading now so I'll just send original broadcast), popup this menu or launch any app including home or softkeys directly.

Will play a bit more if androidriority indeed works even for unordered sendBroadcast and if I can abortBroadcast to not allow original reader spawn - we can avoid modification of the service.jar.

story 2:
WindowManagerPolicy/WindowManagerService seams like directly invoking native (JNI) code on home button, I was playing with remapping keys and finally found one that works with single press (Call not bringing dialer at all, camera only sends broadcast at long press, etc.), but by default it will not awake device, will have to play if I can awake from broadcastReceiver, if yes - it means we can configure "n" (home) button to do whatever we want.

For clearing uninstall and reinstall should work. You can try installing any epub reader (such as coolreader) and it should bring selection popup back to choose default one.

Anyway I've done patching services.jar so it will load Nookbb by pressing that button with option to go directly to reading now not relying on epub files and *only* by pressing that button.

Also for the nook menu (n button) I done remapping (easy one) and almost done custom small app so n button will act as stock Android home one, e.g. it will go home with short press and bring recent apps (using softkeys now) on long press. Still have to tinker device wake if it's locked instead of going to home behind screensaver.

I plan to post it both tonight or tomorrow.

Then I can spend time adding customizations and partial refresh.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using xda premium

ryanpl said:

I'm loving this app and very excited to see a Touch specific app. If you further tweak the Book Button Menu I'd like the ability to subsituite the E-reader software of my choice instead of Coolreader. I'm currently using Mantano Reader and enjoying the software.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

I'm currently finishing n button mod to act as stock android home (short click - goto home, long click recent apps list with all buttons (back, home, menu, search, orientation). Almost done - testing and trying to apply partial refresh.
Next step - I'll publish patched services.jar so BookButton will be launched only by this book button not relying on epub files.
Next will be settings for the BookButton to configure all aspects of the menu, e.g. appearance of Home, Orientation as well as custom shortcuts.