EKH Tutorial 7 - Enabling Voice Input

With version 6.4 of External Keyboard Helper a new keycode has been added that is called Voice Input. It can be mapped to a key and then that key can be used to start voice input. Exactly how this works out may vary between different devices and Android versions but here I will describe how it works on my Nexus 5 that runs Android 4.4.2.

First of all you need to assign a key to trigger the voice input. Since version 6.5 of the app you find the configuration for this in Advanced Settings > Other settings. In this example I've mapped it to Scancode 57 which is Space and I've checked the checkbox that says it also requires Alt to be held down.

As an alternative way to configure this there is also a keycode that can be used to trigger voice input (this is the only way to map voice input in if you are still on version 6.4 of the app). The example below maps scancode 88 to the keycode that triggers voice input. Scancode 88 is usually F12.

 
Voice Input can be accessed in two ways. The first way is with Google voice typing enabled.

In this mode you must disable the Physical keyboard switch or voice input will not start.

To be extra clear, you need to turn the above switch to OFF.

In this mode pushing our mapped button (Alt+Space in my case) will automatically switch to the Google voice typing input method and it will looks something like this.

  

As you speak the text will be continuously added to the input field.

 

The other mode is when "Google voice input" is disabled.

In this mode it does not matter if Physical keyboard is ON or OFF and when we press our mapped key it will start voice input in a less integrated way.

Once you spoken it will present you with a list of interpretations.

 

Once you make your choice it will pass that line of text into the active input field.

This is the two ways I got it working on my Nexus 5, it may look and work different on your device so you may need to experiment a bit to get it working.

On one device (ZTE Blade III) that was running an unofficial CyanogenMod version I needed to install this to get it working: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.voicesearch

So basically this tutorial doesn't necessarily show the exact solution for your setup but hopefully it will provide enough help to get you going.

Watch out for flying pigs

I wouldn't be surprised if pigs started to fly soon, because guess what, Spotify no longer looks like this on my tablets...

...and Google Play can no longer be unsecured by clearing it's data:

The Samsung Galaxy S4 that I first pre-ordered and then canceled after trying a Nexus 4 because I realized how much I missed using Android the way it was supposed to look without any Touchwiz, Sense or other manufacturer added crap^H^H^H^Hmodifications will soon also be sold with an non-modifed Android.

And HTC follows with their flag ship model HTC One making me actually consider a HTC as my next phone (No offense Samsung but having had an S3 recently before switching to a Nexus 4 makes it feel a bit boring to get a new Samsung that looks almost the same as the last one I had).

Now let's hope more manufacturers follow Samsungs and HTCs example...

... and if it isn't to much to ask for, a flying pig? Or at least an Android 4.3 release soon?

Manually updating your Nexus 7 (wifi only) to Android 4.2.2

I've also manually updated a Nexus 7 (wifi only) using the same method as I used on my Nexus 10.

This is totally done at your own risk but it worked fine for me.

Since this is an update that patches the already installed system I strongly advice against trying this on anything but an non-rooted JOD40D device. 

Just follow the same steps as in the Nexus 10 guide but use this OTA file instead.

Manually updating your Nexus 10 to Android 4.2.2

I just manually updated my non-rooted, stock Nexus 10 from Android 4.2.1 (JOD40D) to Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39).

This is totally done at your own risk but here is what worked for me.

Since this is an update that patches the already installed system I strongly advice against trying this on anything but an non-rooted JOD40D device.

• Download the JOD40D to JDQ39 update.
• Make sure you have ADB up and running. I used this guide.
• Turn off the Nexus 10.
• Start the Nexus 10 while holding down both volume up and down.
• You should get an Android lying on it's back and some device information.

• Press volume down until the left vertical text says "RECOVERY MODE"

• Press power to reboot into recovery mode. 
• You'll now get a smaller Android robot, still on it's back, with a red triangle.

• Hold power and press once on volume up to enter the recovery menu.

• Press volume down to select "apply update from ADB"
• Press power once.
• It will now tell you to type "adb sideload <filename>" so connect the Nexus 10 to your computer with the USB cable if you have not already done so.

• On the computer type "adb sideload eaef14432ff5.signed-mantaray-JDQ39-from-JOP40D.eaef1443.zip" and watch the magic happen.

Nexus 10 - Unboxing and first look

Santa was early this year and today my Nexus 10 arrived.

Carefully opening the box reveals the Nexus 10 complete with protective plastic.

Under the Nexus 10 we find the charger, a UK plug for the charger, a micro USB cable, a quickstart guide and some warranty information. The majority of the space in the box is occupied by air.

After removing the unnecessary parts (protective plastic, quickstart guide and warranty information) this is what remains.

Actually the UK plug is useless for me and Handtec had promised to include an international adapter but they had forgot to include it. However they quickly responded to my mail and promised the send me one. Luckily I have a lot of micro USB chargers so I'll manage for now.

Side by side comparison with my Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9.

Thickness seems pretty much the same but the Nexus 10 is thinner at the shorter edges while the Galaxy Tab 8.9 has the same thickness on all the sides (Nexus 10 to the left).

 The Galaxys Tab on top of the Nexus 10.

After a short time of using the Nexus 10 it got a 60Mb OTA upgrade. Not sure what changed but I do not think it had the lock screen widgets before the upgrade (but I could be wrong).

Compared to my Tegra2 based tablets it's really fast but someone who compared the Nexus 10 with a Galaxy Note 10.1 felt that the Note 10.1 was slightly more responsive. Considering the massive amount of pixels the Nexus 10 has to push I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't the fastest tablet in all benchmarks. High resolutions usually has a price. However so far I feel it is "fast enough" and the screen is really good. Although I still consider the screen on my Galaxy Tab 8.9 to be very good with it's 1280x800 pixels you can easily see the difference when you compare it to the Nexus 10.

I have not had that much time to play with it yet but it runs Netflix perfectly and I also tried hooking it up to my 42inch plasma using a micro HDMI cable it it worked as intended.

The only thing that I'd like to chamge is the placement of the virtual buttons that in Android 4.2 is centered and not left aligned as they are on tablets with Android 3.0 to 4.1. I'm used to reaching the buttons with the left thumb even in landscape mode and with this new centered buttons the joints in my left thumb are already starting to hurt.

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

I finally gave in and preordered a Google Nexus 10 from the UK as I've seen no date on when it will be available here in Sweden.

Looks like a very nice device and I want to get my hands on Android 4.2 but since I recently bought a Samsung Galaxy S III I cannot really motivate getting a Google Nexus 4. At least not for now.

Funny that a 10-inch tablet has a higher screen resolution than my 42-inch plasma and my 23-inch computer displays at work but I'm not complaining. However, it is not the high res display that I'm most looking forward to try, but rather the features of Android 4.2. Finally tablets will get multiuser support which is something I've felt been missing since I got my first tablet.

Now... if I only had a time machine...

I'll try to make some unboxing photos when it arrives but I suppose the net will flooded with Nexus 10 unboxing pics and videos by then so I may not bother.