[Mod-Deprecated] Map Recent Apps Soft Key to Menu

[RegnierD]

Alright, this is only halfway done, but until I hear back from the One X devs and remove the menu software button, this will at least give you the menu softkey. I'm not going to bother making a flashable zip until I'm finished with everything, so, for now, follow these instructions.

Requirements:
1. SuperUser permissions (root)
2. Root Explorer (or a similar app with root permissions and the ability to edit any file as text)

Directions:
1. Navigate to /system/user/keylayout
2. Find the synaptics-rmi-touchscreen.kl AMD long-press on it. Select "Open in text editor."
3. Change the line for key 249 (APP_SWITCH) to MENU.
4. Use the on-screen menu key for the last time to select Save and Apply Changes.
5. Reboot.

Disclaimer: This means you will lose the ability to access the recent apps menu. I never really use it much, but I know some people do. So if you really need that, hold off until I update with a flashable zip (or the proper files to push if we don't have a recovery out already).

As soon as I figure out how to remove the on screen button, I'll give a real update and freshen up the OP. This will be my first public mod, so try to cut me a little slack, and keep in mind I'm not really a dev, I'm just trying to help out and expand my knowledge a little. Who knows, maybe I'll keep picking up on things and put out a theme, and maybe even a rom of my own eventually!

Thanks to the following who have helped me or whose tools I have used!
OMJ - For the base 1.13.651.1 deodexed rom. (I was using the kitchen wrong, because I am n00b)
sk806 - For pointing me to the right apktool and baksmali versions, as well as guiding me through the process when I effed up.
TeamWin for the awesome recovery (and, of course, toastcfh, who is a BOSS!)
The devs of Root Explorer, because that app does EVERYTHING! You can edit keyboard layouts on the fly and reboot to apply!
And whoever is going to help me write my first updater-script so this can be flashable when it's done!

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cuppeerr]

Alright, this is only halfway done, but until I hear back from the One X devs and remove the menu software button, this will at least give you the menu softkey. I'm not going to bother making a flashable zip until I'm finished with everything, so, for now, follow these instructions.

Requirements:
1. SuperUser permissions (root)
2. Root Explorer (or a similar app with root permissions and the ability to edit any file as text)

Directions:
1. Navigate to /system/user/keylayout
2. Find the synaptics-rmi-touchscreen.kl AMD long-press on it. Select "Open in text editor."
3. Change the line for key 249 (APP_VIEW) to MENU.
4. Use the on-screen menu key for the last time to select Save and Apply Changes.
5. Reboot.

As soon as I figure out how to remove the on screen button, I'll update this.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Thanks!! How do we get to recent apps now though?

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[RegnierD]

Thanks!! How do we get to recent apps now though?

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Until I figure out the environment to properly decompile the jars and apks, there is no way to do that. Probably should have mentioned that. Haha. Until I can crack open the android.policy.jar, you'll have to use the app icon from the drawer/homescreen.

If you want to revert, delete the modded one and remove .bak from the original that RE backed up for you.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cuppeerr]

Until I figure out the environment to properly decompile the jars and apks, there is no way to do that. Probably should have mentioned that. Haha. Until I can crack open the android.policy.jar, you'll have to use the app icon from the drawer/homescreen.

If you want to revert, delete the modded one and remove .bak from the original that RE backed up for you.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Haha ok sounds good

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[regaw_leinad]

Hope this helps you in your journey

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1511730

 

[RegnierD]

Hope this helps you in your journey

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1511730

I'VE BEEN LOOKING ALL OVER FOR THAT! As soon as I hear back from a dev regarding the softkey and long pressing, I'll get a zip up here! This is my first public mod, so bear with me.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[jcwxguy]

Alright, this is only halfway done, but until I hear back from the One X devs and remove the menu software button, this will at least give you the menu softkey. I'm not going to bother making a flashable zip until I'm finished with everything, so, for now, follow these instructions.

Requirements:
1. SuperUser permissions (root)
2. Root Explorer (or a similar app with root permissions and the ability to edit any file as text)

Directions:
1. Navigate to /system/user/keylayout
2. Find the synaptics-rmi-touchscreen.kl AMD long-press on it. Select "Open in text editor."
3. Change the line for key 249 (APP_VIEW) to MENU.
4. Use the on-screen menu key for the last time to select Save and Apply Changes.
5. Reboot.

As soon as I figure out how to remove the on screen button, I'll give a real update and freshen up the OP.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

mine doesnt say APP_VIEW (says APP_SWITCH)

edit: still worked

 

[94tbird]

mine doesnt say APP_VIEW

mine did

 

[jirafabo]

I'll be checking back in on this progress. The lack of a menu button, and the resulting 15% of screen wasted on a soft menu button, is by far the biggest problem with this phone. It really is pathetic to play a full screen game and have that silly soft menu button at the bottom.

I would prefer the multitask button to be a menu, and long-press home become multitask like on previous phones.

 

[RegnierD]

mine doesnt say APP_VIEW (says APP_SWITCH)

edit: still worked

Thank you, I fixed the OP.

I'll be checking back in on this progress. The lack of a menu button, and the resulting 15% of screen wasted on a soft menu button, is by far the biggest problem with this phone. It really is pathetic to play a full screen game and have that silly soft menu button at the bottom.

I would prefer the multitask button to be a menu, and long-press home become multitask like on previous phones.

Once I've got it all together, I'll post several versions of the mod. I know, personally, I'm going to have mone set as such:

Back (Leave long press empty)
Home (Menu)
Multitasking (Search)

On a somewhat off topic note, I'm happy to be getting more and more into Android. It's exciting. I've made it a personal goal to try and be really active in this community. I've learned a lot through reading, so it's time to apply some of it and pay things forward a little.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cuppeerr]

I'm going to have mone set as such:

Back (Leave long press empty)
Home (Menu)
Multitasking (Search)

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

I like that idea

 

[wvufan]

I've done some Android dev, so I may be able to put some effort into this. Personally, I'd like to see the keys like:

Back: short = Back, long = kill current app (like Cyanogen)
Home: short = Home, long = recent apps
Multitasking: short = Menu, long = voice search (like long press search on EVO 4G)

 

[fr0st420]

Thank you, I fixed the OP.





Once I've got it all together, I'll post several versions of the mod. I know, personally, I'm going to have mone set as such:

Back (Leave long press empty)
Home (Menu)
Multitasking (Search)

On a somewhat off topic note, I'm happy to be getting more and more into Android. It's exciting. I've made it a personal goal to try and be really active in this community. I've learned a lot through reading, so it's time to apply some of it and pay things forward a little.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

I want that same setup. This thread is added to my favorites.

Sent from my EVO LTE using Tapatalk 2

 

[RegnierD]

I'm not sure how easy the long press of back to kill will be to implement. It probably depends on whether or not Sense 4/ICS supports killing the foreground app natively. If not, it might have to be added, at which point, I'll go bug IHTFP69 and ask how he implemented it into his Zeus builds.

I'm under the impression that the software keys are just a flag in SystemUI, but not entirely sure if I remember having read that correctly.

I'm out with the guys tossing a few back in celebration, but when I get home, it's time to boot up my Mint partition!

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[Techrocket9]

I've done some Android dev, so I may be able to put some effort into this. Personally, I'd like to see the keys like:

Back: short = Back, long = kill current app (like Cyanogen)
Home: short = Home, long = recent apps
Multitasking: short = Menu, long = voice search (like long press search on EVO 4G)

My thoughts exactly. I think this setup flows best with the history of EVO button bindings.

I could live without the long-press kill, though (when I enabled it I found myself nuking apps on accident (especially Netflix) more often than intentionally. Additionally, I haven't had a single hangup on the LTE so far).

The holy grail, of course, would be an app/settings option allowing for full configurability of the buttons from within the OS. Perhaps CyanogenMod will feature it. (EDIT: It does)

 

[RegnierD]

To be honest, I don't think long press back to kill would be that helpful. I'll still make it, just for the few who really want it, but really, just hit home and then bring up multitasking. If you want the free RAM so badly, you'll be better off in an interface where you can kill multiple apps by swiping them away. Leaving three or four in the background is not going to affect your battery anyway (unless it's the official Facebook app, lol).

Edit: ^Oh wow, I hadn't even though of extending the customizations that far. Maybe I collectively we could figure out a way to include multiple functions into the LeeDroid Sense 4 tweak apps when they start coming out!

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

[Techrocket9]

If you want the free RAM so badly, you'll be better off in an interface where you can kill multiple apps by swiping them away.

Now we just need an interface where you can kill multiple apps by swiping them away. (I'm referencing the fact that the app switcher on the eVOLTe only really shows you one app at a time).

 

[runandhide05]

Alright, this is only halfway done, but until I hear back from the One X devs and remove the menu software button, this will at least give you the menu softkey. I'm not going to bother making a flashable zip until I'm finished with everything, so, for now, follow these instructions.

Requirements:
1. SuperUser permissions (root)
2. Root Explorer (or a similar app with root permissions and the ability to edit any file as text)

Directions:
1. Navigate to /system/user/keylayout
2. Find the synaptics-rmi-touchscreen.kl AMD long-press on it. Select "Open in text editor."
3. Change the line for key 249 (APP_SWITCH) to MENU.
4. Use the on-screen menu key for the last time to select Save and Apply Changes.
5. Reboot.

Disclaimer: This means you will lose the ability to access the recent apps menu. I never really use it much, but I know some people do. So if you really need that, hold off until I update with a flashable zip (or the proper files to push if we don't have a recovery out already).

As soon as I figure out how to remove the on screen button, I'll give a real update and freshen up the OP. This will be my first public mod, so try to cut me a little slack, and keep in mind I'm not really a dev, I'm just trying to help out and expand my knowledge a little. Who knows, maybe I'll keep picking up on things and put out a theme, and maybe even a rom of my own eventually!

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Are u still working on the longpress home for recent? If so hit me up

Sent from my MZ609 using Tapatalk 2

 

[scottspa74]

I'll be checking back in on this progress. The lack of a menu button, and the resulting 15% of screen wasted on a soft menu button, is by far the biggest problem with this phone. It really is pathetic to play a full screen game and have that silly soft menu button at the bottom.

I would prefer the multitask button to be a menu, and long-press home become multitask like on previous phones.

This ^^^^^↑^^^^^↑↑↑↑↑^^^^^^
Couldn't agree more. And much thanks o OP.

sent from 2yr old Evo on ICS

 

[scottspa74]

I've done some Android dev, so I may be able to put some effort into this. Personally, I'd like to see the keys like:

Back: short = Back, long = kill current app (like Cyanogen)
Home: short = Home, long = recent apps
Multitasking: short = Menu, long = voice search (like long press search on EVO 4G)

Oops. Actually THIS ^^^^^^↑^^^^^^↑^^^^^^

sent from 2yr old Evo on ICS