yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] lesjaw:
ny hd2 keypad broke too..

yes we need this kind app..I have email droidgesture developer to make a feature gesture to replace home, search, menu and back button..

I hope they make it..
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] mulletcutter:
hellz ya, coming from mytouch3g, this could be use full.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] ducklas1:
hope is the last to die
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] quanthien84tester:
+1 great idea and new challenge to developers!
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] itsme_4ucz:
This tool might help folkls with broken button:

ButtonMapper:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=850464
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] ljjehl:
very interesting....will be watching this thread and possibly try some experimenting of my own.....
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] bluevmax92:
we would still need a way to wake up the screen.

all of these ideas for soft key mapping and programs are great and i applaud anyone who eventually creates the program that solves all of this excessive wear on our hardware buttons but the LED lights are sometimes unpredictable depending on which build u use so we still need a way to wake up the screen.... i think consideration of the volume keys should be thought about... or a flip over to wake program... winmo has a program (forget the name) where u roll the phone over and it locks, roll it over the other way and it unlocks... this would also be a great feature for waking up the screen.... just my two cents.... im not a developer but i think ideas like these need to be reborn and developed.... given the right gifted person out there can do it.....
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] rukhi:
I've been using this app BK softhome. Free from market. Puts a home icon in taskbar you touch it and it acts as home button. Pretty handy
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] white-energy:
OMG! I'm afraid now! =(

+9999 for this.. i'll even donate!
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] buzz killington:
I wonder if it may be better to have gestures replace the keys instead of overlaying buttons on top of the whole screen. Not only will it be less clutter on the screen, but the app would have a larger audience since other android users might chose to use it too, no just us HD2 users.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] clio94:
yes it works perfect. ;)we now want a BK backbutton and will be ok:)

i will make a request to the developer for this function
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] motoman234:
All I have to say is WOW! Since I don't have a menu or a power button this app is going to make my life a lot easier. I remapped the volume up for menu and volume down button for power key since I don't use the volume keys very much I'll just use Audio manager pro to keep track of the sound.

Thanks again for pointing this out.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] ljjehl:
Guys, check out version 0.2.1 for the Key remapper program here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=850464

This definitely works with my HD2 phone.....I tested the volume up button and successfully changed it to the camera button. There are other options in the list...trying to figure out which works the capacitive buttons so I can actually minimize the use of the hardware buttons.

I was helping Appelflap by being the guinea pig, it looks like this is going in the right direction. Kudos to AppelFlap!!
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] mattfmartin:
Yeah that program is bad ass. I programmed vol up for menu, vol down for back. Those also wake the device. Along with the app BK softhome for home screen. That pretty much eliminates the stress on the bottom keys. Wish this program was out 5 months ago.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] jae-v:
thank god for this, my power button is almost gone
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] 10507:
Can you go step-by-step on how to program your vol up for menu and vol down for back?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] mattfmartin:
Once you get the program scroll down to vol up, click it and for actions pick menu. For state pick wake dropped. Do the same steps for vol down but pick back for action.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] lucian777:
I have sent an email to the dev of Smart Tasbar app, let's wait for his reaction on this, maybe we have some luck!?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] rukhi:
Please Do that :)
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] lucian777:
So... I got a replay "

"I actually already dicussed this with someone from XDA-hd2 dev forum.

However, Android framework has a very restrictive security rule and therefore not able to simulate back/menu/search key event. I think it will be solved in 2.3 because 4 h/w key design is no longer required to get android compatible status."

So we should wait for a Android 2.3 port for our beloved Hd2 to solve this issue.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] jacoballen22:
No offense but isn't it like imagining a 4g-less evo?

Swyped from my HTC EVO 4G via xda app
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] fredpeters12:
dead button

I for one already have a dead button. I would love to see development in soft buttons...
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] bazinga:
Then how do you change the volume?

I really want to do that, but I listen to a lot of music on my phone...
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] mattfmartin:
Do it manually in settings.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] itsme_4ucz:
If some dev can write a small program to simulate keypress using Instrumentation class, it might just do the trick

Instrumentation i = new Instrumentation();

i.sendKeyDownUpSync(KeyEvent.KEYCODE_A);

Hope we can send the KEY_CODE which is shown in the buttonRemapper software...
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] nurps:
This would be really great.

The device i currently trying Android on has misfunctioning keys.

So i would relly need a software that could give me the imporant buttons as softbuttons in the dropdown status bar or somewhere else. Controlling Android completely with the touchscreen would be a huge advantage.

Im going to try Smart Taskbar now..is there anything else that might work better for my needs available yet?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] anderin:
I'm using Smart Taskbar and it runs fine. It saves you from a lot of key presses... At the moment it's our best option, but it would be perfect a soft keys! :)
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] itsme_4ucz:
Ok, guys not the best solution, I have written a toggle, which reduces the screenTimeOut to 2 seconds and resets back to 30 secs on subsequent click...

It can be used in combination with Tasker (DisplayOn launch ScreenOff)

Cheers!!!
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] Emil-Ghoting:
Nice idea and concept, placement takes some getting used to but it's better than the somewhat closley placed hardware buttons
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] clio94:
i made the same thing like mattfmartin but manually in the file /system/usr/keylayouts/qwerty.kl

for the volume i download cvolume next and put it in my screen
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] audscott:
I'm more than a little confused: Winmo uses the hardware buttons about the same as Android, at least that's the case with I went back to Winmo for one day (YUK! :D)

Unconfuse me.....why is it you lumberjacks are breaking your hardware keys so often? (yes, I have soft lady hands, so there!)
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] MartyLK:
Most Android phones use softkeys. There are a few that use hardkeys, but only a few these days. I don't think, with most of us, that it is a matter of breaking the hardkeys, but rather a matter of concern about them wearing out or breaking. I know I am concerned. I was concerned from the moment I started using Android on my HD2 several months ago. I rarely ever used the hardkeys in WinMo, except for the power button. It's possible HTC took into account the softkey nature of WinMo when the HD2 was designed and might have used less long-lasting hardware for the hardkeys.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] ducklas1:
I dont know why but me too. I havent used the hardware keys with WinMo so often...for power on...and also for call drop and hang up...mmm...i think thats it lol! and for some reason softkeys are more comfortable for me..
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] uberamd:
I'm with you, I'm a hair confused by this. Are the keys really so crappy on the HD2 that we are worried they will die from use? That sounds like a major hardware issue, why are people here accepting dying hardware keys as "whoops, my fault for using Android." If they wear out from pressing them it is because they are manufactured poorly.

Imagine a keyboard with keys that wore out after a year of use...
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] nurps:
How do i use it..it found it has the Home button, but how do it set it up for the Back and OptionsMenue Button?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] raysearcher:
Smart taskbar is very nice, but does not deliver those shortcuts to the other hardware buttons.

As far a developer told me, those functions for the Menu, Back Buttons, can only be shortcutted to Software keys, when the system signature of HTC Sense is known. This is not the case, so may be Android 2.3 + may be much more flexible in that manner.

Cheers
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] Danation:
No... Android won't let you do that.

Just in case, I tried it and confirmed... it won't let you.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] krunalkp:
found this but not tested ...

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=850464

EDIT:tried but bad luck ............:(
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] donny-t:
wow

wow men , i need this so bad!!!!!

my hardware key's home,back, dont work anymore.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] privatesam:
I'd be interested in donating to a project that could create this feature. Very concerned that my buttons will break too.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] xkravenx:
I sent my HD2 to HTC to have the buttons repaired once already.

If it breaks again, I will buy something else. No more hardware buttons.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] krunalkp:
i wish some one develop something like this.... broke "back" key of my hd2.....:(
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] nurps:
Is it really that bad? OK with WinMo i dont have to use the buttons, but i use my ok button a lot (has the taskmanager on it) and its still all right..
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] mattfmartin:
I'm using this as we speak. My vol up is menu, vol down is back. Volume buttons also wake the device. Also using BK Softhome to return to the home screen. Works great.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] daysey:
I could only see Wake and Wake ON or so when I tried doing the key remap, only 3 options. How did you manage to do it?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] mattfmartin:
For action pick wake_dropped.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] fana75:
Any news

HI guys

Still no solutions for this job?

Regards
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] HelderJr:
It would be very nice if some great dev could create such program.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] zarathustrax:
Yeah, I'm using the same exact setup since my back and menu buttons are slowly becoming unusable. Using the volume buttons for the 2 most used keys is actually more comfortable once I got used to it... it makes one handed use a lot easier.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] Jmarley:
Great idea, this or some sort of "windows type" task bar is what Android needs....for me anyway :)
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] elitishtc:
and where are the volume bottoms when you need them?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] zarathustrax:
I have a widget for volume on my homepage.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] elitishtc:
xmmmm.. very good but still when you are listening radio/music you have to open your phone instead of just touch the bottoms.

i will give it a shoot anyway to see

Thanks
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] privatesam:
Any news if this project is now possible with the release of Gingerbread? Can an app call the required code to offer software shortcuts of hardware keys? Someone had previously hinted Gingerbread may bring this and it was released today. Thoughts?

(a bit soon I know)
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] Ryan Cordero:
just installed softkeys and it seams to have the function we want http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=860153 just need to find a useful way to call it
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] mindstormmaster1:
Im not sure why no one thought of this before the nook color uses software menu, back, power keys. And that looks they just pulled the apk and tweaked it a little. Im going to test is not after reading this I have noticed my buttons are starting to feel a little worn.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] 2000impreza:
calling the "softkeys"

The best way to call the Softkeys is using the BK Softhome app from the market. The BK softhome app will trigger the home buttom command and call the Softkeys menu. Simply drag the status bar down and hit the bk softhome item (screen shot below). Physical buttons not needed at all. Works great pretty good.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] Ryan Cordero:
I was hoping I could tie it in with the vol key using Tasker but no such luck. The notifications menu trick works, but its not very quick or available in apps that full screen such as dolphin hd when im surfing, unless i hit the menu key so that ruins the whole save the btns idea.

I would love to see them permanently on the bottom in a smaller form and activated by long press like smarttaskbar
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] taltos_1123:
Hi, how did you make the "softkey" work? Only the the home key worked for me. Thanks
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] brooon:
Okay, this really seems to be a breakthrough!!! :) :) :) :) I really do like nemtiths version:

...it would be huge if he or someone else can modify the apk especially for our well loved HD2! Things to do (IMAO):

1.) Making the buttons a little smaller (when installing on the HD2, they look much more bigger than on the picture above)

2.) Fixing the buttons on the screen, so that are there all the time. I dont´t know how to bring up the buttons instead of activating the "app" by clicking on its icon ("softkey").
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] arthursnape:
I just installed that softkeys, but i cant get it work...

i have superruser installed, can you help me provide the tutorial?

thanks b4....:)
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] white-energy:
Does it work? can anyone confirm this?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] privatesam:
WOW - PROGRESS!!!

Excellent work over at the Nook forum. I can confirm that this works - I've tested nemtiths version and its not super slick yet but certainly works. The next step as I see it for the HD2 would be for the buttons to sit in the notification bar - just like BK Softhome but with all four soft buttons. I've gotten into an excellent habit of accessing the notification bar to hit BK Softhome to go home.

I might, tentatively, suggest this mod at the Nook forum to see if its something they're interested in/possible. Mind you if anyone here knows how to do this it would be massively appreciated!
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] clio94:
Yes i have installed nemith version and it works pretty good.but we must find a way to call them quickly or to stay permanent in the screen.Because now if you want to call them,without touch any hard button is bk softhome button in notification bar.pull down notification bar,push bk softhome and softkeys come on :D And as said before if you run a app full screen,there is problem :(

but yes this a good start and if i had this app 2 months before,i wouldnt break up my back button.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] rukhi:
are the hardware buttons that fragile ??

well everyone had been asking this question :p and great app ...

bk softhome + this == less paranoia
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] clio94:
After some use i really love this great app.Before this app i had volume down for back button and volume up for menu.Now i changed volume down to behave like home button,so when i push it the magic app comes out :D it is the best solution i found until know,when some apps are full screen and you cannot see the notification bar
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] brooon:
Sorry for being noobish :) but: how did you have changed the volume key function? would you mind making a very short tutorial on this? And: Don´t you use sound on your HD2 (--> how do you change the volume now after "killing" the volumefunction of these keys?)
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] xpedax:
softkeys work, but i want it to stay permanently
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] nmambre:
With ButtonRemapper

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=850464

and using an app to change volume, for example search on market for:

cvolume
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] weexy:
I have tried most of the Softkeys versions, but even after asking for and granting super user permissions the back, menu and search buttons will not work. The home, settings and X buttons work fine.

Is anyone else having this issue?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] undergroundcugir:
yeeee glad it's shaping up ....
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] Gary.M:
Softkeys on Mdj 2.3 Clean w Hastarins 8.5 causes force close when I touch its home icon... HTC sense has a fit.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] internauta2000:
I created a screenshort with my idea of a skin that would be ideal for Android Sense HD2...

See here
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] motoman234:
I really like the idea of the soft key app. The only thing that would make it usable to me would be to have it where we can have the keys at the bottom at all times but still be able to navigate through our phones and we can just exit the soft key app when we need to use something at the bottom (like the app drawer). My home button will get worn like hell if I keep hitting it to pull up the soft keys. What do you guys think? I'm sticking with re-mapping the volume keys until then.

P.S. internauta2000 I really like your writeup, it looks a lot nicer than the original.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] 2000impreza:
Bounty?

Perhaps the next step is to outline the requirements and start a bounty?
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] nmambre:
That beats the purpose of using softkeys. I have Volume Key remapped too, and also BK Home (suggested a few posts ago)

Right now I have 3 ways to use the softkeys: Home, Volume Down, BK Home.

trying to use BK Home more. Involves more movements/touches on the screen, but the hardkeys get some rest.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] privatesam:
I agree with 2000impreza its time to get a bounty going - its obvious that the functionality is possible and for a developer of the abilities in these forums a app that we require would be possible to make. My only concern is there is differing opinion on the type of behaviour of the app - some want these soft keys visible at all times, some want them called through a gesture/swipe from the bottom of the screen and I want the soft keys sat in the notification bar like BK Softhome. Maybe a requirement of the bounty should be that the app offers all this functionality????
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] ducklas1:
After all...it has been possible to hack androids base and code this app...after some xda members mentioned it is not possible to realize this in Android 2.2 i expected it from Gingerbread and took the decision to wait for a 2.3 build, but as we see everything is possible and a skilled programmer has been all we needed :p:)

Expect the unexpected! :)

The developement of "Softkeys" by bpk is very fast...lets wait and see..am very optimistic
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] raysearcher:
UI ideas, Softkey apk ...

I had some more ideas based on the popular Opera mobile browser!

Have a look at the images below (are a fast Photoshop draft) ;)

Best regards
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] anderin:
Good news brothers! The "Smart taskbar" developer has just answered this to me:

"Hi, Thanks for your intrest in my app. I am already making a seperate app for key simulation. I have to make a different app instead of integrating to Smart Taskbar because Key simulation requires some hack and a rooted device. If you know my app from xda hd2fourm, you can pay attention to my future post. Ill post my new work there.

Best regard,

Jerry Fan"
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] fyase:
Hi guy look for jerryfan2000 button app on this forum... fantastic
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] ducklas1:
Over here :D:D

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=865525
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] IphoneKiller125:
I think its a great idea,i like the look of the DHD soft keys :D the only problem is however your still gonna need to use a hardware button to wake up the device,not all android phones have soft keys,Desire and Legend dont.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] licro:
posted in wrong thread
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] dicksonma:
How about yours?

I would like to try your version. i seems your version is better
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] raysearcher:
Softkey apps choice

Hi,

All two (by now) developers have done an amazing piece of programming!!!

The two apps are great, each of us may choose which works best form him/her.

"bpk"--http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=860153

"jerryfan2000"--http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=865525

Posted a "How to" to change UI icons to your taste: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=9691972&postcount=131

Best regards
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] nmambre:
Thanks for the transparent theme, raysearcher.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] asctony:
I have been searching and downloaded 2 apks (smart task & smartkeys) trying to use something other than the HBs. I was hoping to find the apk that shows the softkeys (2 on left side and 2 on right side.) If it is in one of the postings, I cannot find the right apk. Yes, I did do a search not only on this forum, but on the web, too.

I would appreciate it if someone can ID the exact apk that has the softkeys (2 on left and 2 on right.) Thank you.

I did find swkey1/2_single_icons_theme.apk that does work and is displayed in all apps.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] nmambre:
I think those are just concepts of people's wish. Not actually a working app.

Right now, what you have found is what is available.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] bpk:
I don't know if you guys are still looking at softkeys but I posted an update that runs as a service now so there is a little button on screen all the time you can tap to bring up softkeys then mash away at softkeys without exiting the current application. Basically it just lives on a layer above all the apps now.
[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] krunalkp:
where can i find one???