[APP][ROOT/Keyboard] Keyboard Manager - Dual keyboard: Portrait/landscape switch

[ne0fhyk]

Keyboard Manager allows you to customize what keyboard (input method) appear on input based on your phone orientation.
It displays the keyboards you have enabled on your android device, and let you select one per orientation (landscape/portrait).
As your phone switch orientation, the app automatically switch the keyboard.

The source code for the app is available at https://bitbucket.org/ne0fhyk/keyboard-manager/overview

Version 2.2:

- Bug fix: certain apps (MLB, Youtube, ...) misbehave while KM is running. This is caused by a 'transition screen', introduced in prior versions to prevent keyboard input freezes on orientation switch for older devices.
I added the option to MANUALLY DISABLE/ENABLE the 'transition screen'. Testing on Galaxy nexuses shows that affected apps stop misbehaving.

- Bug fix: fix KM's requests for root access outside of orientation switches.
​

Version 2.1:

Update should reduce the frequency of force closes for the swiftkey 3 keyboard.
Unfortunately, it's not possible at this point to eliminate all force closes while using swiftkey 3. The problem primarily lies with swiftkey 3, as many other keyboards (Thumb keyboard, hacker keyboard, swype,..) perform fine under Keyboard Manager.

If you think you can help, feel free to take a look at the code, and submit patches.
​

Version 2.0:

This version can he found on the android market by searching for Keyboard Manager.

I have open sourced the application source code to allow anyone to continue developing and improving the app.
The code can be found @ https://bitbucket.org/ne0fhyk/keyboard-manager/overview
​

Version 1.4:

The updated version can be found on the android market app by searching for 'Keyboard Manager'.

- Fix installation bugs issue cause by /etc/fstab read/write permissions on certain android devices.


INSTALLATION ISSUES FIX:

MOTOROLA ATRIX USERS, please follow the steps below if you cannot start the app after installing it.

If you are unable to launch the app after installation, please follow these steps:

- Look in your sdcard folder for the directory /Android/data/com.ne0fhykLabs.android.utility.kmLauncher/files/
- There should be an apk file there, Keyboardmanager.x.y.apk, where x,y stands for the version number
- Copy that file to /system/app/, and change the permissions to rw-r--r-- (Read/write for owner, read for group, and read for other)
- Reboot your device, and try running the app again.
​

If the problem still persists, please contact me through xda, or at [email protected]

​

Version 1.3:

The updated version can be found on the android market app by searching for 'Keyboard Manager'.
This update contains fixes to installation bugs, as well as better error reporting.
​

Version 1.2:

I uploaded an updated version of the app to the android market.
It can be found here( Mod edit: No Market links for paid apps) or on the 'android market' app by searching for 'Keyboard Manager'.

This update should fix the installation issue, and make it easier to push future updates to users.

Again feedbacks are welcome, and greatly appreciated.
​

Version 1.1:

Requirement:
- rooted android device (app was tested on Samsung captivate with Cognition v2.3b8 rom)

Installation:
a- Download, and install the apk file KMLauncher.1.1.apk
b- If KMLauncher.1.1.apk failed to install on your device, download KeyboardManager.1.1.apk manually to your sdcard, and follow the instructions for v1.0

The app should be visible in your launcher as 'Keyboard Manager'

Update:
- added KeyboardManager.1.1.apk for cases where KMLauncher.1.1.apk failed to install
- added/implemented 'start on boot' option
- notification disabled by default. added option to enable it
- ease up installation method
- removed freeze on orientation switch

Bugs:
- Depending on the foreground app, there might be a slight lag in the keyboard switch.
- KMLauncher.1.1.apk has trouble installing on certain devices. If this happens, please report device information, and follow instructions for KeyboardManager.1.1.apk. I am working on a fix for KMLauncher.1.1.apk
​

Version 1.0:

Requirements:
- Rooted android device (app was tested on Samsung captivate 2.1)
- Root Explorer app, or similar app that allows you to edit the permissions of a file.

To install:
1- Download the app (KeyboardManager.apk) on your device sdcard.
2- Using Root Explorer, move the apk file to /system/app
3- Using Root Explorer, edit the file permissions like below:
-- User: 'Read/Write' checked
--Group: 'Read' checked
--Others: 'Read' checked
4- Exit Root Explorer

The app should be visible in your launcher as 'Keyboard Manager'

Update:
- Added option to disable notification icon
-' start on boot' feature is disabled because it's not yet complete and tested... Sorry for the confusion

Bugs:
-On certain applications (i.e: Messaging on Samsung Captivate), the input window occasionally freeze on orientation switch. Exiting the app, and resuming should fix it.
​

Thanks!

- ne0fhyk

 

[codesplice]

Sweet, thanks for the update.

 

[S_Dot]

need option to disable notfication icon

 

[devlp1213]

only have two things wrong

1. notification that the app is running stays in notification bar

2. when I switch it doesn't freeze but it closes the keyboard and have to reclick to open the keyboard back up

other than that works great

Sent from my Samsung Fascinate using XDA App

 

[ne0fhyk]

The notification icon is intended to remind the user that the service is running. I will add an option to disable it.
Does it close the keyboard everytime?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

 

[S_Dot]

The notification icon is intended to remind the user that the service is running. I will add an option to disable it.
Does it close the keyboard everytime?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

using nexus one it doesnt change kb everytime from portrait to landscape mode.. stays in the same mode sometimes.

 

[devlp1213]

yea I flipped it several times it switched everyone but closed the keyboard. not a fc or anything just dropped the board

Sent from my Samsung Fascinate using XDA App

 

[JWorth]

wow.. these looks really promising! Will it work on any rom, or is it specific to certain types?

 

[rmoney]

is this the same version that was posted in the middle of some thread a couple months ago?

want to know if I need to update or not.

 

[lilpeezy23]

Works perfectly for me on droid x

 

[codesplice]

is this the same version that was posted in the middle of some thread a couple months ago?

want to know if I need to update or not.

It is an updated version.

 

[bonikowsky]

Ditto on getting rid of the notification icon.

For me it isn't working. When configured it, and every time I switch between orientations, I get this message

"Exception caught: java.lang.SecurityException: Using null token requires permission android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS"

I thought it was a little strange, but when I installed it it said it didn't require any permissions. That didn't seem right to me...

 

[ne0fhyk]

Ditto on getting rid of the notification icon.

For me it isn't working. When configured it, and every time I switch between orientations, I get this message

"Exception caught: java.lang.SecurityException: Using null token requires permission android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS"

I thought it was a little strange, but when I installed it it said it didn't require any permissions. That didn't seem right to me...

Did you follow the instructions to install. Based on your description, it seems you install it like a regular app.

 

[gobztopper]

After you install restart (reboot) your phone. App is awesome dude, few glitches still on the incredible, but much better then the last version!

 

[Nitromind]

Good app!!

A sugestion for an extended version: choose keyboard based on the app you are usin (swipe for handcent and stock for search for example). That would turn this app into something unique!

Thanks!

 

[spy890]

Enable service on boot is grayed out for some reason and the notification persists even after unchecking the box. 2.2 droid x

BUT! This app is awesome. Been waiting for something like this. Thanks so much

 

[codesplice]

Good app!!

A sugestion for an extended version: choose keyboard based on the app you are usin (swipe for handcent and stock for search for example). That would turn this app into something unique!

Thanks!

It's already pretty unique. ;-)

 

[airmaxx23]

The "enable on boot" option is grayed out on my Droid X.

 

[JustRuin]

Worked the first time when I tested it in search, but all subsequent attempts failed when I went into landscape. Also, the notification icon at the top is still showing even though I had it disabled. That boot option is grayed out for me too (I don't know if that's a bug). EVO

 

[ugh what]

It works as far as switching from portrait to keyboard, but when I switch from Portrait (Swype) to landscape (multi) in Handcent, I cannot see what I'm typing in landscape until I rotate back to portrait. The text entry box is there and the keyboard behaves normally, but nothing shows up in the box I'm typing into until I rotate. This happens whether or not I type anything in portrait prior to rotating. I have a Droid X.

Glad to see this being developed though!