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[feature request] Allow Android apps to use notification LEDs [released]

asked 2014-11-10 18:08:25 +0300

tad gravatar image

updated 2015-09-14 13:07:31 +0300

r0kk3rz gravatar image

At the moment Android apps cannot access LED for notifications. This means for example that you miss any notifications from messaging apps when you didn't hear the notification sound.

As android notifications are not visible at the lock screen you constantly have to check the event view in order to see whether anyone has written a message to you.

With access to notification LEDs one would at least know that there are new messages waiting to be read.


Especially now that Mitäkuuluu users are being banned by Whatsapp, more and more Jolla users will switch to the official android app. These people would definitely benefit from the proposal. I don't endorse the usage of Whatsapp but rather recommend TextSecure. But the notification situation is the same there...


EDIT (14/9/15): This has been improved upon in current Early Access release 1.1.9.28

Android apps now use the "Chat" system tone for notifications, and alert with vibration and notification LED

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The question has been closed for the following reason "released in a software update" by raketti
close date 2015-09-14 14:10:47.642581

Comments

11

I agree. Even if I don't want Jolla to focus too much on android apps the IM capability right now is too weak. For example the native FB chat is not very reliable so I have to have the android app always open anyway. Also many IM apps, which there are many on android, are not expected to be ported to Sailfish any time soon.

Personally I would like to see full notifications for android apps. Sound, vibration, led, event screen and lock screen if there is room. There could be an icon on the lock screen to show how many notifications are "hidden" in the events screen and show the top X most recent (also android)/top priority notifications directly.

synthent ( 2014-11-10 19:38:27 +0300 )edit

I understand whatsapp is a sad story but I think Jolla's efforts should be put up to encourage the native application development more than fixing android compatibility issues. If users get too cozy with android apps will we ever see someone bothering to even develop for sailfish .. which automatically will ensure the death of a platform and a great idea.

pavi ( 2014-11-22 03:58:23 +0300 )edit

I think there is another question related to this. Android notifcation are not shown on locksreen because they have only 80% "importance" (don't know the real name) if you tweak this value to 100 the notifications are visible on Lockscreen.

drummer12 ( 2014-12-08 20:53:50 +0300 )edit

@drummer12 How can this value be tweaked to 100?

juergbi ( 2014-12-08 21:42:46 +0300 )edit

Seems to be defined in a deeper layer: here a statememt from Jolla, calling it a feature maybe @stezz could help on this, how to tweak android notification to priority >100.

drummer12 ( 2014-12-09 02:02:23 +0300 )edit

3 Answers

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12

answered 2014-12-03 22:44:16 +0300

Upp15 gravatar image

updated 2014-12-08 19:20:01 +0300

Have to somewhat disagree with @pavi. Jolla's effort should be put to make Sailfish robust and tempting platform for developers. Currently supply of native apps just isn't enough, so android support is a lifeline for Jolla, and therefore the most important apps (like WA & FB) should absolutely be treated as first class citicens.

EDIT: Converted my comment to an answer, just to get this subject up in the list, because this is important...

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I am not saying whatsapp and FB needn't be treated as first class citizens . I am saying they should be native applications and Jolla as a firm should prioritise getting them to sailfish . Coderus had to code a whatsapp client which was turned down as unofficial . I am not sure whats stopping FB to have a native experience ? Maybe there wasn't a SDK for Sailfish os ? I see a JS SDK and I am guessing its less in features , I am not sure . Anyways my point is should Jolla put efforts for the sake of one IM platform ( which might be top 1 ) which refuses to acknowledge sailfish as a platform"

pavi ( 2014-12-09 05:48:45 +0300 )edit

I think it's way to optimistic to expect e.g. Whatsapp to come up with a native Sailfish app. Why would they. Just for those 'few' devices? Come on, even Windows Phone had to wait ages for Whatsapp. And it has millions of users. Do you really expect Whatsapp to have any interest in Sailfish with it's current user base.

Jarno ( 2014-12-09 09:39:54 +0300 )edit

Are there any negotiations between Jolla and Whatsapp whether the new native Whatsapp client could gain official approval from Whatsapp.

The new native whatsapp client released in new year? http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=1400694&postcount=1

sipex ( 2014-12-15 14:04:34 +0300 )edit

@pavi & @sipex I doubt that FB/WA will develop a native client for such a small platform (in their eyes). As for negotiations you should ask coderus..

tad ( 2014-12-23 17:24:26 +0300 )edit

@tad coderus is an independent dev and he has expressed his helplessness but gave a hope that he might be releasing a new client on new year. Keeping the Unilateral king of IM aka whatsapp aside, wonder what happened to FB native client ?

pavi ( 2014-12-24 01:40:05 +0300 )edit
9

answered 2014-12-27 16:55:22 +0300

Upp15 gravatar image

Could someone from Jolla please comment on this? Is this mission impossible, or doable with a reasonable amount of effort?

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The only easy way out is to increase android compatibility which means indirectly Jolla is digging a hole to burn its own platform.

pavi ( 2014-12-28 02:46:11 +0300 )edit

@pavi Still disagree. And I don't believe that is the reason for not having this feature implemented. Jolla has very limited resources, so they have to prioritize everything they do. In my opinion this particular feature should get high priority.

Upp15 ( 2014-12-28 10:34:34 +0300 )edit

@Upp15 I think we both will exhaust ourselves of energy by continuously arguing and we definitely are on the opposite sides of discussion but we both want Jolla to succeed. Lets wait and see how they would respond/take action.

pavi ( 2014-12-28 19:50:04 +0300 )edit
9

answered 2015-03-09 21:00:49 +0300

th80 gravatar image

There exists an App for this for some weeks now: Android Notifications by coderus.

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3

This is not a solution, this is a hack/tweak/patch. Some of us make/want these requests to be fullfilled by Jolla and aren't willing to install patches etc. from OpenRepos. I mean no disrespect, but this is too often the solution to questions here:"please, go hack yourself."

raketti ( 2015-03-09 22:44:24 +0300 )edit
1

@raketti: On the contrary - until Jolla implements similar functionality (or opens up the necessary parts & accepts patches/contributions from the community for them) this is the solution.

MartinK ( 2015-03-09 23:17:26 +0300 )edit

@raketti, that's what the voting arrows are for, you don't have to upvote an answer you don't like.

r0kk3rz ( 2015-03-09 23:45:04 +0300 )edit

Unfortunately the patch is not working good. At the beginning it worked, bit now a days even the event screen does not show notifications anymore and therefore no sound or led at all.

meldolion ( 2015-03-10 07:57:22 +0300 )edit
1

@meldolion did you reinstalled the latest version after uninstalling the first? I had the same issue with the second or third release. The latest version works like a charm. You can configure whitelist or blacklist for your desired app notifications.

th80 ( 2015-03-10 08:25:29 +0300 )edit

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Asked: 2014-11-10 18:08:25 +0300

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Last updated: Sep 14 '15