yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] deba94:
Hate to bump an old thread, but this is really bugging me...

On 4.1.2, I had been using 160 DPI with the full tablet UI and it was perfect. With 4.2 and the new tablet standard, 160 DPI just isn't the same. The notifications bar is too small to be usable, and the nav bar feels much too empty... I've since switch to 190DPI (what used to be know as the "nexus 7 hybrid" DPI) which has a more manageable notifications bar, but doesn't have the 2 column applications of the "full tablet" UI.

Here's a comparison:

4.1.2 with 160DPI

4.2 with 190DPI

Notice how small the notifications bar is now in 190 compared to 160? Just imagine how small 160 is on 4.2! :silly:

Anyone else out there who used 160 prior to 4.2 trying to cope with 4.2?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] mikeandjaimie:
for those having problems with using an app and it messes up and wont boot.. just boot into recovery and reflash your rom + gapps + kernel ontop of your current installation without wiping anything, and itll bootup like nothing happened.. just had this issue and worked beautifully.. didnt loose a single setting
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] DKzErO:
galaxy nexus maguro

i need help! please! when i accidentally change my DPI from 320 - 180 and save and restore im stuck on google screen, i restore my back up i went back from 4.2.1 to 4.1.1 again . i did backup the broken one just encase i can fix it manually from your help please help i want to go back to my setup 4.2.1 i just want it bac:crying:k please help thanks in advance.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] CharlieMPK:
JellyBean 4.2 and DPI Modder

For people having issues with the DPI Modder not allowing your phone to boot.

This may be due to the fact that you're using JellyBean. I've heard of issues with changing the DPI with 4.2.

Boot into recovery and Re-flash your rom ON TOP of your current install and things should return to normal.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Chyrio:
I changed my DPI manually which seriously takes 5 seconds unless you can't read then it may be difficult. But ever since I changed the DPI my battery started dying incredibly fast so I reverted back to stock
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] savantist:
wew... thanks... will trying... :)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Illudrium:
does the change in lcd density only affect system apps and system ui? cause the majority of my apps look the same except for things like the play store, YouTube, etc.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] challl88:
INcall Ring?

Hi guys, Im curently running new stock 4.3, changed DPI to 241 but now I have INcall ring / answer ring on the right side not in center. Is any chance to move it back to center? TY for your help...
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] MarCus M.D:
In Android 4.4.2, which is the best density without having any fc or glitches at all?

EDIT:

320
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BestBrd:
282 For ever!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] gauravraw:
Exactly the thread I was looking for! Using SlimKat 4.4.2 but can't seem to find the perfect density value which will make things not too large and not too small, with having no glitches at all

---------- Post added at 07:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 PM ----------

Thank you sir! Tried 282 and seems like the best till now
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bernardblack76:
I got a Q, if somebody here ;) Did less dPI then 320 cause more battery drain?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bandelenth:
I just stumbled across this thread after seeing the dpi setting in the CM settings. Crazy what you can modify on this phone, all the years I own it, it seems I was pretty conservative with the way I used it. I will try 280 dpi the next few days, for now it seems pretty good to me.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
It will, but only at about 160 dpi and lower. When on that dpi, a glitch makes the on screen buttons disappear completely, effectively rendering the phone completely useless. Once you open an app you cant exit it.

Edit: System.UI crashes as soon as the phone boots, which is probably why the on screen buttons disappear.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] jhericurls:
noticed a problem with the music player too, the controls are overlaid.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] pinhead875:
Just like YouTube, Chrome-to-Phone won't work unless the handset is in landscape mode (EDIT: only with screen on).

Cheers.

EDIT: Initial test was completed with with phone screen on. Another test with screen off shows Chrome-to-phone to work normally.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
Does anybody else's Camera app crash when going into video record mode?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] SaitheShaman:
Just want to add another app glitch from changing the DPI. Still usable, but looks funky now. The Music Player App. attached a screenshot.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] matt2053:
Getting ics tablet UI working on this phone would be really cool!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] TheXclusive814:
I have had the same thing happened to me with that bar . 4 what I have read online setting the density to 240 put ice cream sandwich in tablet mode. If you look at the screenshots of adw on the market you can see a screenshot of it on a tablet and the bar is there with tablet buttons in it

so it's just adw thinking it is installed on a tablet
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] jairmoreno:
Is there a way to have a usable youtube and music app?.. 240 seems to be so cool but i can't use properly my phone without those apps
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] g33k3r:
So I decided to try density 241 and it fixes all problems I was having including the adw issue and YouTube.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ranova:
whats the sweet spot for DPS that is the lowest that you can go without having ICS change apps to "tablet mode"

Google maps at 240 density is absolutely horrendous. First off, the search bar is way too small, and hard to see google's suggested matches for your search.

Secondly, I dont know if this was like it in the stock density, but when you try to get standard map directions, pressing enter now reverses the start and destinations points. Getting map directions is really hit or miss and a PITA.

Edit: taking g33k3r's advice above, 241 IS the sweet spot! everything is back to normal! Maps and Gmail layouts are back to the phone friendly UIs, youtube works, and you still get the low density. OP you should add this tidbit to the post

Edit 2: I just noticed that the

task switcher NO LONGER LAGS

at 241. At 240, it would take 1-2 seconds before the task switcher pops up, after hitting the button One Downside is that if you dont have a rom that enables landscape on the homescreen, it no longer goes into landscape

If you want a low density, I highly recommend 241
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] jairmoreno:
Can you post some screenshots with the same apps than the first post?.

=D
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] g33k3r:
For those having issues with app compatibility that are using 241 DPI, a work around I found was to set dpi to 240, reboot, clear market cache and data, open the market to make sure the apps are compatible, then freeze market updater, update dpi back to 241 and reboot. Next time you open market it should still have the old settings from 240 dpi and continue to work.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] thefa:
hi,

One thing I don't understand is why Google and Samsung came up with a default presentation making so poor usage of the high resolution and big size screen. It defeats the whole purpose of such screen. Do you guys think there is chance that this will get improved? Or the only way out is the DPI trick?

Thanks,
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] crazeco:
Deleted bc wrong
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] xplanowestx:
It's about usability. A lot of people have bad eye sight or don't prefer the scale at such a small size. The higher the density, the crisper the image. You program for the masses, not the xda-developers forum.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
Guys, I have created an app to change the lcd density. Check it out and let me know what you think. It combines features from most of the other apps available. It is guaranteed to work with the Galaxy Nexus, and uses ICS styling.

LCD Density Mod
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
For those with market issues when running 241 dpi, try this:

1. Boot your phone into 320 dpi mode.

2. Find the Market app under manage apps. Click uninstall updates, clear data, clear cache.

3. Find Market Updater under manage apps and click Disable.

4. Open Market and accept terms of service.

5. Change dpi back to 241 and reboot.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] papstar:
I'm confused - doesn't a lower dpi produce 'bigger' images on screen? For example, the T-Mobile sgs2 has a dpi of 206, and everything is huge. Can someone educate me on the matter please.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
You are confusing the actual physical ppi (pixels per inch) of a device with the android os "fake" dpi. In the android OS sense, dpi is used to tell the applications how large to make things. Most everything in android is based on relative sizes using these dpi values as a baseline.

For a further example, Windows uses something like 96 dpi as a default density regardless of whether it is a 16" 1080p laptop, or a 55" 1080p lcd hdtv. As you may guess, the physical ppi of those two screens is massively different, but because windows uses the same dpi value of 96 for each, they both have the same amount of screen real estate.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Tobz:
Hey mate, just tried the app, but it wont save settings on 4.0.2 GSM with root
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
What ROM are you using? It could be a permission issue with the build.prop file. Just to be sure, what happens is when you click Save and Reboot it says: "There was an error saving DPI value."?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] cdesai:
Try adding/editing this line in build.prop

ro.product.characteristics=tablet (would be defualt in stock)

From my fingers to your eyez
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
I just tried this. It made no difference at all in 240, 241, or 320 dpi. Too bad, because i was really hoping it would do something cool. Setting the dpi to 160 will change ICS to tablet mode, but it causes SystemUI.apk to crash, meaning broken soft buttons.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] cchant:
Any way to get icons on the home screen closer to the dock? At 241 they are almost middle of the screen.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] psycho2097:
OP, you forgot to mention google music issues. this was the one issue that finally drove me away from 240dpi.

---------- Post added at 12:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------

yea but you can change the windows dpi settings afaik. same for android.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Tobz:
Hey mate, running the official google image with root. Ended up editing the file with root explorer. All is working excellent, thanks heaps!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Mr. Barlow:
Unfortunately, this method isn't foolproof. Running at 280dpi (240 is just way too small for me, unless there's a way to resize the softkeys.)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
Did it ask you to accept the market terms again after rebooting into 280 dpi? If it did, you did something wrong. Try the steps again. I know i had to mess around a few times until i got it right, and i thought the steps i gave were right. If the market cache gets cleared for any reason you will have to do this again.

You can, but since most Windows UI's aren't meant to scale like android is, a lot of things look weird. Windows lets you set values higher than 96 like 120, which look ok in some instances, but you can also hack a lower dpi of say 72, and the ui just breaks completely.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
Check out BRD Launcher or Nova Launcher to set the amount of icons on the homescreen.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] cchant:
I did. They still don't fit the screen right.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
You are either doing something wrong, or I am not understanding what you mean. What does it look like on your phone?

BRD Launcher:
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Mr. Barlow:
I tried it again a few times. It never asks me to accept the market terms again. The only difference I faced with your instructions is that there was no Uninstall Updates button. Not sure if this would cause any problems.

Also, in the market, I noticed that the Movies section was still there, which normally isn't when I change to a strange density. Maybe it's just some apps that don't work?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] cchant:
BRD fixed it. Nova wouldn't align correctly
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
Try it again using 240 instead of 320. I don't think the facebook app is compatible with 320.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] bryannh:
281 is working great for me, no glitches or issues with any apps.

i tried this because i thought 240/241 was too small and saw someone say they liked 280 bigger, so i thought why not try 281. and its working great so far *knocks wood*
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Mr. Barlow:
No good, I guess I'll just switch back and forth if I need to. It's not that big of a deal. Thanks for all your hard work! I'll try to see if I can stumble on any way to make more apps compatible.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ranova:
Yep, 240 and 241 caused too many issues. For one, when you tap on a contact's picture, it should give you options to call, email, map, etc. with 240 and 241, it would show a huge picture and not let you do anything but tap it and have it go to the contact's profile.

But 240 was the worst, youtube would crash in portrait mode, search bars were WAY too skinny, and overall the phone thought you were using a tablet, making a lot of apps (gmail, messaging, maps) use the tablet interface, which was not really phone-friendly at all.

but now the problem with 280/281, is that a lot of market apps will not let you install it, it will say "imcompatible with your device." So you will not be able to update or install any of those apps until you switch back to 240 or 320... annoying

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:56 PM ----------

once you switch to a compatible DPI (320 or 240), you have to go into manage apps, and then CLEAR data on the Market application. Then it will reset its settings.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Mr. Barlow:
That's when I do it. It still gives me issues. I think I'll stick on 320 until we figure out how fix compatibility on 280/281.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
I have released a pro version of my lcd density changing app on the android market for those who like the app, or are interested in supporting me.

Pro Benefits:

- No ads

- Restore from backup, either full build.prop or dpi value only

- Add and remove favorite dpi's

- Support developer

- Faster updates

LCD Density Modder (Free) / LCD Density Modder Pro ($0.99)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] samizad:
At 240 density, I get a weird bug in the Market app. If I am doing a search for an app, the phone reboots if I enter a space in the search keyword. This happens 50% of the time but is reproducible. It does not happen at 220 but with all the other bugs reported here, I think I'll stick with 320 for the time being.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] trincisor:
soft buttons

Hi

I love the 241 dpi, but i hate that the soft buttons are too small is there any way to make the soft buttons look big ?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] MK17:
Ive used 240 and it was great. Had a few small problems but nothing that really bothered me. I had problems with nova showing my screens to the left and right of my homescreen at an angle, but just had to put my phone in landscape mode and back to portrait to fix it.

Just switched to 281 and I think it is the perfect compromise between the 2. Facebook doesn't work but I don't use it anyway. I just use the browser as it has always worked faster for me on the Gnex.

Thank you so much for this!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
Sorry if it seems like too much self promotion, but i have recently updated the pro version of my app to include a semi-automated step by step walkthrough to fix the market compatibility issues.

See the attached screenshot.

LCD Density Modder Pro v1.6
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] MK17:
Is there anyway to fix market compatibility while using 281? I can install some programs but not others. When I find one I can't I just change back to 320, reboot, install, back to 281 and reboot. It's not that hard but I'm getting a little tired of doing it.

-MK
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
The steps are the same as listed on the first post for 241 dpi. Bullet point #6. Alternatively, LCD Density Modder Pro can help you do this.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] The_GreenTree:
I've purchased the pro version of the app and have went through the steps 4 times with no luck for market compatibility at 241 dpi. I've rebooted into both 320 and 240 two times a piece clearing market data turning off updater and rebooting back to 241 each time with no change in market compatibility at 241.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] theb1rdm4n:
After booting into 320, when on the open market step search for the app that is incompatible and check if it's compatible at 320.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] The_GreenTree:
Yes, the apps are compatible at 320 I've been rebooting into 320 dpi to download/update my apps then using the apps at 241 no problem. It's time consuming this way and was hoping that disabling the market updater would take care of it but no luck so far
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Kidd_Funkadelic:
I just went through this twice myself. Disabling the market updater doesn't seem to prevent the market from updating for me. And 240 breaking Google Music is a deal breaker which stinks because I love the look at 240/241... I hope someone can help out w/ what's missing here.

EDIT: Also, I tried freezing the updater in TB, and renaming marketupdater.apk all to no avail. Seems pretty baked in. Not sure how the suggestion would ever work for anyone?

EDIT2: Just a theory, but I wonder if moving the vending apk to a user app would block the auto-updating? Thoughts anyone?
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] BlackDino:
Whoa you guys are crazy with 240, haha but I do like 310
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] marshallladd:
I'm having the same problem. Using AOKP #14. There is no way to uninstall updates for the market since it includes 3.4.4 by default. I downloaded 3.3.12, disabled and froze market updater, cleared data, installed it, and rebooted. Somehow it came back with market 3.4.4.

I then tried to uninstall the market using TB then installed the 3.3.12 version and it just keeps crashing as it asks you to accept the terms of use.

So that's what I have tried with no luck. Side note: I am using "evernote" as my market check app. It's compatible when I am on 320, but not when I use anything else.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Kidd_Funkadelic:
This looks promising to block market auto-updating, but I had the same problem w/ chattr not found:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=21096723

EDIT: Got it- Need BusyBox installed. This does in fact block the update, however I still get all of my apps showing as unsupported. Ugh...
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Kidd_Funkadelic:
I think maybe in addition to preventing market updates, a hacked version needs to be installed that fakes out the screen density. Someone took a crack at that here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=20623581&postcount=10 but it seems from other comments that it isn't working exactly right. Maybe someone else can take a stab at it? Plus the original attempt was to fake the market into thinking the density was 240, so maybe the default 320 would have a better result?

Just keeping the ball rolling on the conversation :) I love this MOD, but having a broken market is a huge damper on it...
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] The_GreenTree:
+1 on this mod but no market at 241 is a huge damper. Hopefully someone can figure it out
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] marshallladd:
I take no responsibility for anything that goes wrong if you try this. Use at your own risk.

Credit for the idea and info goes to alienwolf426. His original posts are here http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=20623581&postcount=10 and here http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=20624277&postcount=13

So basically I pulled the Market from my Nexus(Phonesky.apk) took his instructions in the second post, changed the Hexadecimal code from 240 to 320 and re-packaged it into the file for download here on my post.

Not everything works though.

-Paid apps can't be bought through the market, however, if you buy them on the desktop market.android.com site, they will install.

-Rebooting the phone breaks the fix. Clearing the app data for the market re-enables the fix. I set up a schedule for clearing the data in TB.

-Sometimes without a reboot, apps will become incompatible. Clear Market data should fix it.

-Other things that I have not come upon yet

Install instructions.

- Download the modified apk

- Using Root Explorer or any other file manager program go to /system/app

- Move Phonesky.apk to some place safe, as backup

- Copy the downloaded market app from where you downloaded it to /system/app ...

- In Root Explorer, press 'Mount R/W' to give write access to system directory

- Rename the market app to Phonesky.apk and set permissions to the apk ...

- In Root Explorer, long press on Phonesky.apk, and then press Permissions and set the permissions as in the screenshot in alienwolf426's first post I linked

- Restart your phone

- Go into Settings -> Applications and find Market, and Clear Data

- Start Market ... and everything should be good

(This can also be done through adb. Not explaining that process though. Google is your friend.)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Kidd_Funkadelic:
Tried the modified Market, and all I get is a FC every time I try to open it after reboot...

This have anything to do w/ me being on a stock ROM still? (Not deodexed).
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] marshallladd:
Not sure. But it is a possibility. I did pull the market from my phone which is running AOKP.

And not to sound like a jerk but, make sure you did clear market data and changed permissions of the file.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Kidd_Funkadelic:
This looks like a promising concept though not quite worked out completely to get market compatibility:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1434037

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] terminal 7:
res

i have been playing with dpi since the g1 and even that benefited from the dpi change, the GalaxyNexus however really does come in to its own with such a high resolution screen - you can change dpi drastically and still read the text.

on that subject who here is changing the text sizes in the phones settings ( setting-screen-font,size- ) if you find the dpi change works for you but text is too small there is an instant fix.

anyway, just for the the way this thread has developed i have got the Pro version of the app - if anyone has tried the 2 most popular resolution-DPI changing apps in the market they dont work so stick with this one - its the only truly ICS compatible one i know ( which is odd really as build.prop hasnt moved! - fast reboot issue may be ) )

thanks.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Kidd_Funkadelic:
I don't think that setting carries over to apps. As much as I loved 241 initially, after using it for a night I found the same problem in apps that don't allow the text size to be changed, the XDA app being the primary culprit :)

Anyway, I dropped back down to 280 and found it's a great compromise for extra screen real estate but still being able to read things w/out straining. Now if only we can get the market fixed!
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] vapotrini:
Thanks for this. 280 is sweet! 240/241 were a shade too small for my old eyes.

Btw, have you tried Birdman's market fix strategy?

1. Boot your phone into 320 or 240 dpi mode (depending on which kind of compatibility you want).

2. Find the Market app under manage apps. Click uninstall updates, clear data, clear cache.

3. Find Market Updater under manage apps and click Disable.

4. Open Market and accept terms of service.

5. Change dpi back to 241 and reboot.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Kidd_Funkadelic:
Unfortunately it doesn't work. The newer market versions auto-update w/out market updater. And even blocking the updates via the other link I provided doesn't work, it will still know you changed the DPI. In fact, even from a browser now looking at the market it tells me my phone is not compatible.

I am still holding out hope that someone figures a long-term work around. Having to reboot back in 320 to install apps or updates will be a huge PIA that I don't know if I can live with forever...