I finally did it. After years of feeling like my phone owned me instead of the other way around, I purchased a TCL Flip 2 – an Android-powered flip...
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Wow, what a great article. I had given up on finding a decent launcher for this phone, and a few other problems I was experiencing. You've revealed some excellent solutions I was able to implement.
Just got a quick question: What did you do to get quick access to the original notification bar and original recent apps list from launcher3?
Thanks Ryan! Currently For the notification list, I am using the Button mapper app and I remapped the top right soft key to show notifications. I don't tend to use the recent apps list unfortunately. Cheers!
Ah, I see! How do you navigate that pull down notifications list?! It's kinda hard without a touch screen. Are you just using the mouse, or am I missing something?
Very true! It's kind of annoying to use the pull down notifications without a touch screen. It would be amazing if you can set a button to open the notification list which you open with left soft key on the stock launcher.
Regarding recent apps, on most phones you can map a button to open recent apps but on the TCL based off the fact that it's a "fake" list (I saw that somewhere, not really sure what it means) you can't.
If you want more info on the TCL you may want to join these forums forums.jtechforums.org/invites/6ps...
There is a shortcut to open the notifications that the top left soft key opens, I dont have the TCL on me at the moment, but if you play around with the available shortcuts in button mapper you can open the default notifications menu.
Really enjoyed reading your article, thanks for posting.
I have 2 TCL Flip 2 phones, my daily driver has software version KEFS, and I bought another one to play with which has KEKA. I noticed you got a TCL GO Flip 2, what software version does that have?
I tried to use the link (see below) in the section "I flashed this image with no issues".
github.com/tylerboni/tcl-flip2/rel...
but it returned a "404" code?
Thanks.
If your trying to install apk's on the one running KEKA version the process is a bit harder. See here forums.jtechforums.org/t/rooting-a...
I will probably skip KEKA, especially as I just found out it doesn't support Group messaging!!
I don't think that is accurate.
I believe you are correct, my bad.
Under Settings in the Messages KEFS app, there is an option for Group Messaging, which is missing in the KEKA app.
So if it's missing then it has group messaging or it's not?
Did more research, looks like the links are in github.com/TylerBoni (note uppercase)!
Loved this article! Thanks.
I personally use this phone with LiteGapps. It slows down the phone a lot but it's worth it.
You may find this site jtechforums.org/invites/a6JXxdKiQK useful.
If you get anywhere with android auto please share here jtechforums.org/t/android-auto-on-.... It's something I wanted to have on my TCL Flip 2 for a while already.
PS Why don't you use NeutronScott's Magisk module as your virtual mouse?
I have created my own mouse. It is located here: github.com/TylerBoni/FlipMouse
Let me know how it works out for you. I have been using it for a few days and loving it. The button mappings are a bit different because I wanted the ability to type while the mouse was on. You also do not hold the star key to activate the mouse. It is a toggle, and you hold the key t open the contacts.
Thanks! I will definitely keep you updated.
I had some issues with vMouse that I don't think were actually related to vMouse, but I had already gotten the system mouse working. I will revisit it and update the post!
Update: I tested out vMouse2, and had some bugs (mainly unable to click after presing the 3 key). There is currently an open issue for the bug. I tried the later mouse release and it is not currently working for me. I will fork the project and see if I can improve it. Thanks for the suggestion!
So the 3 button is messed up. Though the one button does the same thing as the three and it works. jtechforums.org/t/vmouse-2-on-the-....
If you do put some work in to that mouse maybe post it here so those part of that community (a couple of them with TCL's) cam benefit. Thanks.
which bluebubbles version are you running? how long does it take to boot up? sometimes it can take over a minute for mine to boot... maybe it's because i don't have a ton of space on device or have a lot of conversations in my imessage history EDIT: and thank you for the guide - super helpful. your mouse is working great (my one change is that i'd like closing the phone to turn off mouse mode - if i close the phone and touch the volume rocker to check the time, it doesn't work if mouse mode is activated)
I run bluebubbles on a mac mini, so it just runs 24/7. If you mean on the phone, it is pretty much instant for me. My server version is 1.9.7.
Oh yes that would be a great improvement!! I have not had any time to mess with the mouse, and am calling it "good enough" right now. I really hope some other devs pick up the repo and contribute. I will create an enhancement request for this feature!
In regards to lowering your resolution you may find this guide helpful:
forums.jtechforums.org/t/resizing-...
It allows you to keep the phone on the default resolution and lower the DPI on specific apps (and customize each apps DPI as well).
I used it and it's amazing to have the regular stock apps on the regular resolution and lowered resolution for the added apps.
Did you come across this module when working on Android Auto github.com/sn-00-x/aa4mg?
Yes, I was not able to make it work. Have you had success?
No. I have LiteGapps so that module is not for me.
You can check out the steps I took here forums.jtechforums.org/t/android-a...
What was the error you got. It may help if you set the props ro.config.low_ram to false. Tricking the device to think it has high RAM.
The way you use your pointer are you able to scroll? Because with the magisk module you are able to and it comes in very useful.
You can’t scroll with the “stock” mouse. I have written a new virtual mouse module with all of the intended features of vMouse. So far no bugs. I plan to release it this weekend, I will update here. It would be great to have some other users test. I believe it could work for more non-touch phones.