Enable On-Screen Android Navigation Buttons on the Galaxy S3 (Requires Root)

*UPDATE* Comments have been disabled here as I’ve folded this blog into my main website. If you’d like to comment, please do so >>HERE<<

OK, this is one that’s fun to try.  You’ll either:

1. Love it
   -or-
2. Hate it

I know it might seem redundant with the hardware softkeys on the the Galaxy S3, but I really like this mod and it’s one of the first things I do after flashing a new rom.  The S3 has plenty of screen real estate to handle it, and I find it a much faster way of navigating around the phone, with faster access to app switching and Google Now.  Also, frequently while trying to reach down to the “Back” hardware button with my left hand, the phone feels like it’s going to shoot out of my hand like a bar of soap.

To enable the on-screen navigation buttons:

Use a file explorer (like Root Explorer) to navigate to

/system/build.prop

and open the file with a text editor.  Add the line

qemu.hw.mainkeys=0

at the end of the file.  Save and close.  Reboot.  Done

That’s it!

Be advised, there a are a few apps that don’t behave well with the keys, such as the camera.  For some reason (probably because it’s a stock app) instead of resizing, it partially covers up some of the controls.  Still completely usable though.

For extra credit, you might try one of these other mods…

Disable the softkeys:
Navigate to

/system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchkey.kl

and open the file with a text editor.
You will a giant list of key numbers and what they do.  Try to find these…

key 172    HOME key 158    BACK key 139    MENU

Add a # before any key you don’t wan’t to use anymore.  Save and reboot.

Thanks to jastonas over on XDA for the post!

Prevent the “HOME” key from waking your phone up:
Personally, I like to keep the softkeys engaged.  I do still use them from time to time, such as when you can’t find the freaking “MENU” key on a poorly designed app.  But, in a completely made up statistic, I have found that accidental pocket-engagement of the “HOME” key is responsible for 80% of battery loss.

Navigate to

system/usr/keylayout/sec_keys.kl

and open the file with a text editor.
You will see this…

key 115    VOLUME_UP           WAKE key 114    VOLUME_DOWN     WAKE key 172    HOME                     WAKE key 116    POWER                   WAKE

Just delete the word “WAKE” from the “HOME” key (or more if you like, but be careful you still need a way to wake your phone!!!).  Save and reboot.

Thanks to Eric over on Galaxy S3 Forums for the post!

That’s all there is to it!  So now that the S4 is coming out, is anyone getting antsy to trade in their S3?  Personally over a year in I’m still happy as a clam…

Galaxy SIII Owners: Make Google Voice Actions (and now Google Now) the Default Instead of S-Voice

*Update 10/08/2014* This post is pretty out of date at this point and I have no idea if it even works any more, but it’s the number two most visited page on my site.  Comments have been disabled here as I’ve folded this blog into my main website. If you’d like to comment, please do so >>HERE<<

*** UPDATE 12/20/12 ***

While I’m still recommending Home2 Shortcut (easier on the eyes and more functionality), reports are coming in that Bluetooth Launcher will still work with 4.1.1.  Apparently you just need to select a different activity. Process is updated in the post, but I was unable to get it to work on either my or my wife’s S3.

*** UPDATE 12/18/12 ***

Based on the comments and questions below, it appears that Blootooth Launcher does not work this way anymore with Android 4.1.1.  If someone figures out a way to make it work again, leave a comment and I’ll update this page.

I now am recommending Home2 Shortcut for this getting direct access to Voice Search (which contains most of the original Voice Actions).

I found it over on XDA Developers and it can be found on the Play Store.  It allows you to set Home Double Press as well as other key combinations.  I found “Voice Search” under “Activities->Google”, but YMMV.

****

Some of the more popular posts on this blog have had nothing to do with Event Technology per se, but rather have been tips and tricks that I myself found hard to find and decided to repost when I found the answer.

This is one of those posts!

I searched for a really long time to find a way to make Google Voice Actions, instead of  S-Voice, the default action when double pressing the Home key on my fancy new Samsung Galaxy SIII.  I just couldn’t get S-Voice to do what I wanted it to do, and it was basically useless in the car.  Turns out there’s a clever little workaround using a 3rd party app that isn’t actually designed for that specific purpose!  The tip comes from Sorka over on Android Forums and is a great little workaround.  NO ROOT REQUIRED!!

Here’s the trick:

1. Download and Install “Bluetooth Launch” from the Google Play store.
2. Open Bluetooth Launch and scroll down to “Voice Search”. (*See update below*)
3. Tap on it to expand it out, then select:
   “com.google.android.voicesearch.RecognitionActivity”
   (*Update* Some are reporting that on Android 4.1.1 you need to use this:
   “Google Search->com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox.VoiceSearchActivity”  I have been unable to verify)
4. Exit by hitting the back key.
5. Double click the home button.
6. Select “Always complete using this activity”
7. Select Bluetooth Launch.

You’re Done!

Thanks again, Sorka, works like a charm, and there’s a metric crapton of other options offered by Bluetooth Launcher.  Nice workaround!

Meanwhile everyone, how are you liking your S3?