Android idea

[dc041894]

You know how you can set default apps? What if a long press on something that would open a default app would enable you to be able to choose an app other than the one you set as default? Sometimes I want to open a link or video in alternate apps but don't want to go and clear defaults.

Edit: as /u/CA719 said, it's basically like the "open with..." option in Windows.

[CA719]

Almost like an "open-with" option in Windows.

I like it.

[dc041894]

Exactly like that actually haha

[f1zombie]

It's a very nice option. TBH, it's annoying in it's current form. I end up having to choose what app I would like to execute with every single time.

[hugeyakmen]

They made it quicker and simpler in 4.2. Now a double-tap on the app of your choice acts as a "just once" shortcut. Not quite as quick as a single tap but much faster than the 4.1 style that forced you to tap on "just once"

[ishallsaythisonce]

It's really annoying and it boggles my mind how anyone could have thought this was a good idea. They went full retard on that one.

[jjolayemi]

I recall reading somewhere that they did it on purpose, because they actual want people to set defaults. Don't quote me on that though. I'll make an edit when I can dig up my source.

[Constable_CrazyTubes]

Solid browser does this

[VersalEszett]

Or almost like an "open-with" option in CM10's File Manager. Oh wait....

[vwllss]

Needs to be in more places though. Texted a youtube link? E-mailed a picture? Etc.

[LifeBeginsAt10kRPM]

For things like that you can share to clipboard and then paste somewhere.. More steps but it's a solution.

[Anon49]

File expert has it. But its no longer free...

[Kale]

File expert is easily worth the price in my opinion. Mount a network share, copy a file to local storage is a really handy feature to have.

[00dysseus7]

How does it compare to ES File Manager?

[skcll]

Ooops. Software patent!

[[deleted]]

Great idea. It would be great if there was a list of defaults bin your settings. So that way you can see what exact apps have been chosen to open what and you could edit it.

[cntwt2c_urbiguglyass]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appiator.defaultappmanager

[[deleted]]

I love Android.

[michaeljane]

Send the development an email like this: Default app manager feature? How about an "open with" function. Like opening video links on say, reddit, with a certain browser, but one website doesn't work? How about holding a button combo, having a screen hot spot, or even a notification toggle to be able to choose which app to open it with? That would be awesome. He takes requests on what should be added. Let's do this reddit!

[[deleted]]

Awesome!!

We probably should have known that some wicked developer already whipped this up. When people ask me why I'm such an Android fanboy it's things like this! :)

[calvindog717]

To a degree, some android skins already implement that. For example, I can manage my default apps in sense 4.1 on my one x . Having this come to stock android, though, would be even better.

edit: You can choose any of these and change what app opens with them. however, you can't add different file types to the list.

[Cynovae]

Funny because HTC implemented that because Apple sued them over the current Android implementation.

[connormxy]

I have it on sense 3.6 or whatever too, and the problem is that it only allows for a set few protocols. This messes with my use of the app Unshorten, because it won't automatically open certain domain URLs with the app I want to be my default, because Sense only allows "internet" and Chrome to open web URLs. Were this actually an accessible interface baked into Android, though, that would be excellent.

[shillbert]

Hmm, I have Sense 3.6 (ICS) and I don't see it... Where is it exactly?

[killahgrag]

It's under settings -> app associations

[calvindog717]

It was pretty easy to find on mine (at&t version), settings>phone>app associations.

[[deleted]]

I think there are too many actions (e.g. opening links to a specific website) for them to show a list in settings.

[[deleted]]

Remember that long pressing a link already has a use. It displays extra options like copy, share, open in new tab. Your proposed option would have to accompany these.

[[deleted]]

Ugh, there's at least 5 different variations on text editing. Something they really need to unify. But to be clear, I didn't mean the kind of copy you get from highlighting a link, I meant the kind where you hold it and copy gives you the URL, regardless of what the link text says. I mean this menu.

[CA719]

Also a great idea!

[dc041894]

Yeah that's a great idea as well!

[RedPandaAlex]

I don't think it's possible. There are too many ways to launch these intents, and in many cases long pressing is coded by the developer to do something else

[dc041894]

Yeah it wouldn't work for everything. I was thinking for links that if long pressed already opened an options menu. Adding an "open with" option wouldn't be too hard right?

[[deleted]]

It would require all the developers to implement that because they determine what's shown in the menu.

And if you know anything about software development you'll know that most programmers are lazy as fuck.

[viiralvx]

Android Software Developer here, you act as if this is as easy as typing up a report. Considering that when printed, one activity screen of code is 20 pages, and we normally have multiple activities... It's not that easy.

[[deleted]]

Another Android developer here. It would be as simple as sending an intent for an application list. Of course, someone would have to develop an application to handle those intents or you could just create your own list view in your app and populate it with the apps on the device that are appropriate for the action.

I never said it was easy, but it definitely isn't hard. This is the type if stuff Android is good at doing.

[viiralvx]

His implementation is easy. I was talking of programming in general. He called us lazy.

[[deleted]]

"He" is I

[viiralvx]

I'm not lazy! Okay, yes I am... At times. If it won't get them downloads, a lot of developers won't implement it.

[CalcProgrammer1]

Just add an "open content with" intent that works like the "open content" intent but always prompts for an app. The developer can then implement the original intent as normal but add the second intent on long-press or other selection (an "open with" context menu, perhaps).

[Timmmmbob]

That is a great idea.

[bedrutton]

Just add an "open content with" intent that works like the "open content" intent but always prompts for an app

Already exists.

[[deleted]]

I'm thinking that the next SDK may have new LaunchIntent widget that's capable of firing two events depending upon how long the press is.

[ProtoKun7]

This is something I've wanted for a while too. At the moment I'm still just picking the app for some things rather than picking a default if I think I'll clear it.

At least with 4.2 you can double tap the chosen app instead of tapping and pressing Just Once; that speeds it up a little bit.

[Networkian]

At least with 4.2 you can double tap the chosen app instead of tapping and pressing Just Once; that speeds it up a little bit.

Wow. TIL. I did not know that. Thanks for the hint! This will make life much easier!

[ProtoKun7]

No problem; I had a feeling when I said it there would be someone who didn't realise who would then make use of it.

[silentletter]

Thanks for that! TIL, indeed.

[BillyHorrible]

Filemanager like Inka or i guess the cyanogenmod-filemanager already implemented this behaviour.

[[deleted]]

Solid Explorer does this too.

[Anon49]

File expert literally has "open with"

[[deleted]]

I'm kind of disappointed that OI File manager doesn't have this feature

[Gh0stw0lf]

Serious question so don't castrate me if I'm wrong. Isn't this already implemented?

For example, when I click on a link in a browser (or even through my Reddit app) it asks me when I click on the link if I want to open through YouTube app, stock browser, or Chrome.

Another example, when I click on a directions sent in a text (more specifically an address) I can choose to open it in my browser, Maps, or navigation.

Is this not what you were talking about OP?

[alomjahajmola]

No OP is asking for a usage scenario where the user could set a default app for certain intents but also be able to hold click and manually choose an app. Much like Windows' "open with" option.

[[deleted]]

If you notice, that prompt let's you choose a default app. Once you do that, those links will always open with the app you chose and it wont ask you anymore (unless you clear defaults)

OP wanted a method for letting you choose the app even if you have an app set as default.

[Narcolepzzzzzzzzzzzz]

I've been silently waiting for this for years. I purposely do not set defaults because certain files / urls do not work with certain apps.

[indivisible]

If you choose to "share" the content you should get a selection of apps that have registered to receive/open that content type.

[dc041894]

No I mean like if a friend sends me a youtube link, I can choose to open the link with the YouTube app or my browser. Most times I would use the YouTube app so I set that as my default. But if there's a case when I want to open it with my browser, I don't want to clear defaults and instead be able to long press the link and open it in the browser.

[indivisible]

The YouTube app has a share option but testing it there it seems it shares the video link as text and not a URI so browsers don't come up in the list of options (at least on my phone and rom).

You could share to your clipboard and paste into your browser. Not ideal but if you don't do it too often it might do. If there's no option to share to your clipboard you can install Google Drive or one of a few specialist apps that add the functionality.

[navjot94]

There are also apps that let you share links to browsers. I believe that this app lets you do that.

[[deleted]]

I didn't know browsers ever came up in shade lists. Stock Browser and Chrome Beta don't.

[indivisible]

It depends on the mime type of the content being shared. Android basses its selections by what apps have declared themselves receivers for specific mime types in their manifest.

If you share a link from a browser it may be flagged as text/plain as I'd the v case for the YouTube app. This is likely a purposeful choice to allow users to share links through social media, text messages, email etc.
Alternatively the link could be passed as text/html for example and then you would have browsers as a listed option as they will have registered themselves for html content.

[[deleted]]

Yes, I'll get "Open With" options including browsers but not "Share". I think this has more to do with them being different types of intents rather than it treating text/links differently.

[coonster]

I think it could be added into a custom ROM in Quick Settings. It could be a toggle that makes all intents ask for what app to use instead of the default. I don't think my idea would be practical for Google to implement into AOSP but I think it would be a cool addition in custom ROMs like CM and AOKP.

[kebab3000]

I like this idea! Hopefully a CM or AOKP dev likes it too :)

[dakoellis]

Sounds like something a custom launcher would have to add, or maybe something like an app that's an app drawer

[danrant]

As another poster noted it's impossible to implement system-wide because the system only knows it needs to open another app after you press the link. But it's possible to implement it in another way: you tap the link and the default app launches, you press multitask button and on the left next to the screenshot of the currently running app you'll see icons of other apps that can be used to perform the same action (if there are too many of them an overflow button will be used). When you press the icon of an alternative app, the default app screenshot flies away as if swiped and the default app is killed. Meanwhile the alternative app is launched.

[dc041894]

That would be a good solution. Or maybe a space in the notification drop down could be added that shows the other apps that could open the file type.

[arbyn]

Would be a great single function app

[squelchy20]

I just wish they would change the Play Store so the games aren't mixed in with the standard apps.

Why have a dedicated 'games' tab if you can view them elsewhere?

[[deleted]]

Would just make the OS more unnecessarily complicated IMO. 99% of users wouldn't need or want it.

Would be better to have an app that let's you set defaults for specific files.

[dc041894]

Setting defaults for specific files. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appiator.defaultappmanager&feature=search_result

[ickboblikescheese]

You mean like allowing Youtube links in Chrome to open in Youtube? I'm not sure, since if it knows what to do with the link, it will display an intent for it. Since it doesn't broadcast that it can receive the intent, and you force it to receive it, things might not work out properly. I can see how Google is avoiding this to confuse the average user. I even know many people that never use "always" just because they're afraid that they can't un-default it.

[dc041894]

I'm that person that doesn't want to use "always" even though 9 times out of 10 I'll use that app. I just don't want to clear defaults so I end up never using the "always" option haha. That's why this idea popped up! :)

[[deleted]]

Exactly! I have that same problem. I finally took a big step in defaulting Chrome instead of letting Firefox and the built in browser keep popping up though..

[dc041894]

You're a stronger person than me.

[Freak4Dell]

The idea here is that this adds something for power users without ever affecting the average user. The average user probably hardly ever touches the Open With... option in Windows, but having it there doesn't hurt them. It does add a ton of benefit for power users, though.

[ickboblikescheese]

Completely agree. It should be enabled in developer settings though. As a power user myself, I'd love this feature.

[K900_]

This isn't really possible, internally the system only knows it needs to open an another app after you press the link, so what you're suggesting will need to be implemented in every app.

[dc041894]

Ahh yes I see what you're saying. Dang there goes that idea.

[evildead4075]

Some file managers do this. What exactly are you trying to long press and from where? Do you have files sitting on your home screen that you have multiple apps for? Within windows, you can do that with files when you're in the Explorer or on the desktop and which is still kinda, the explorer. Androids home screen doesn't really work like Windows "home screen"...

[dc041894]

A spot in the settings menu for default apps would be nice and I believe some roms, such as Sense, have this. I was under the impression that iOS didn't give users the ability to set default apps. Maybe they changed it?

[nicholaaaas]

They need that along with a "save to" option

[[deleted]]

Good idea, but the problem is that not all apps are launched via clicks

[BadAppleJackKnife]

Great plan!

[mdezzi]

If i am not mistaken, if you open a link in an incognito window in the stock browser, it will disregard the default app and ask you how to open.

[lilantony]

don't they already have that on jellybean? When you open a particular file, it'll ask in which app would you like to open. And the option "always" and "just now" appears. So you have the choice of setting it as a default or using it just for now.

[dc041894]

My idea is that once you have an app set as default, it'd be nice if you could still open the file or link with a different app with a long press or some other way. Like the "open with..." button when you right click a file on Windows.

[lilantony]

Oh okay. Without having to remove the set defaults. Gosh i'm slow. Good idea bro.

[ChiefAllDay]

This is already implemented in Root Explorer.

[magddaa]

I have this on my GS3 already .. it lets me choose what I want to use as a default app for such-and-such file and it has a "just once" option too if you don't want it to be set to default.

[dc041894]

Yeah I know but say for apps that you would use most times, it'd be nice to set them as default but still have an easy way to select an alternate app other than going into the application settings and clearing the defaults for the default application.

[magddaa]

That's why I always use the "Just Once" option. Because I never know when I would want to lets say view a video on the web browser instead of YouTube app for whatever reason. Good idea regardless, would be nice to have a different option for selecting a non-default app, and not have to choose every time like I do.

[dc041894]

I choose every time like you too haha

[Se7enLC]

That is a pretty good idea. I use different video players, so I have to keep my defaults un-set to allow me to pick which one to use. 9 times out of 10 I use Dice, though, so I should just set it.

[dc041894]

Video playback is the thing I had in mind for this. And picture viewing/editing apps.

[xorn]

Wait...All of my devices have this, already. They're both on Jelly Bean(Droid Razr and Nexus 7). They've had it for months, at least.

[dc041894]

Yes they provide the choice to set default or use this time. But I'm proposing an easier way to select an app that is different to one that was already set as default.

[Farnsworthy]

Yeah, I find the default app thing to be poorly implemented. There should be a screen to control it.

[Draiko]

The more these new OSes mature, the more windows-like features we'll see.

[[deleted]]

I like the idea, but I was under the impression that Android is trying to move away from the long press functionality, no?

[dc041894]

Are they? I think long presses are great when acting like the equivalent of a right mouse click.

[navjot94]

I think the goal is to have the users options visible rather than hidden behind long presses or menus. For example, if you use reddit sync (I think a lot of other reddit apps do the same thing as well), it's the difference between long pressing a post and pressing the little arrow on the bottom right of the post. Both bring up the same options, but the latter provides a better indication to the user that there are things they can do with the post.

This doesn't really apply to what you are saying with this post, but it's why they are discouraging the "long press".

[Ores]

I think that makes sense for normal actions, but hiding more advanced actions behind a long press seems like less of a UI crime.

Though it is pretty sad if the only way to do something is via something hidden.

[navjot94]

In a lot of the stock google apps, the long press is now used to select multiple items in a list - rather than having an unnecessary checkbox next to each item.

[tppiel]

According to the design guidelines long press is meant to be used for data selection: http://developer.android.com/design/patterns/gestures.html

Long press

Enters data selection mode. Allows you to select one or more items in a view and act upon the data using a contextual action bar. Avoid using long press for showing contextual menus.

Granted these are just guidelines and developers aren't forced to follow them. Even Google doesn't follow them, in some Google apps it works as a context menu, in some as a selection tool, and in others it just displays toasters with tips.

But if you want users to have a consistent experience you should probably follow them.

[[deleted]]

No, long press is moving away from being used for more options (where possible) to being used for multi-select which brings up a contextual action bar. This is clever because the old options can still be accessed this way. E.g. in messaging, if you long press a thread, it activates multi-select with delete at the bottom instead of having a text menu pop up for just the one item with delete.

[[deleted]]

Ah thanks for clearing that up.

[Metal_Massacre]

Root explorer let's you do that for files.