Homebrew developer brings Profiles to webOS 27
Users of competing platforms have had the ability to configure unique "profiles" - a particular setup of wallpaper, launcher, ringer and dock settings - for different times of the day and different scenarios for some time now. It hasn't been until now, with Profiles (which can be downloaded from the PreCentral Homebrew app gallery) from homebrew developer Diov, that webOS users have had an easy to install way of configuring and managing profiles on their phones.
Profiles allows you to configure up to 11 profiles, each with its own unique launcher, dock, and wallpaper set up. The program comes preconfigured with both Day and Night profiles, and users can create their own by setting their phones up how they like, hitting "edit mode", and tapping one of the profiles.
Like many of the custom app launchers that have sprung up in the App Catalog in recent times, I find the Profiles to be inelegant namely due to the minute-long restart of the UI manager - which causes the phone to be completely unusable - every time you switch profiles. That's certainly not the developer's fault, however.
It should also be mentioned that this is beta software. Accidently tapping a profile without first saving your current configuration will cause it to be erased - meaning that any launcher page settings will be gone. A few of us here at PC HQ have also experienced some conflict with customizations based on launcher patches. Update: this has been resolved in the latest version. Be sure to check out the forum thread for the app.
Thanks to Braden for the tip!
27 Comments
Promising!
mode switcher does profile switching too And doesn't require luna resets either.
Amazing! There are solutions coming for problems I didn't knew I had! Downloading now!
isn't this like mode switcher?
i stopped using mode switcher, because everytime i updated that app, it would get rid of my modes/profiles
same here, unfortunately. It's an excellent app but losing all your custom settings on updates that don't seem to add functionality is disappointing
There were certain updates where Sconix had the new version clear the configuration to set a clean slate for testing new features, bug fixes, etc...
Since Mode Switcher was then and currently is still in "beta", that is to be expected that the developer could clear stuff at anytime. To be fair, Sconix always told you when and update to the app would clear the configurations.
Sconix stated that Once MS hits the stable releases, those updates will not clear any configuration. If you choose to keep up with his beta versions after the stable version is released, expect that a configuration clearing version could happen. After all, it would be a "beta" version.
Yes, unfortunately I had to add reset of configuration on some releases. Now the app has moved to WebOS Internals feed and I am currently fixing all bugs that are reported so I can get stable 1.0.0 release out on the public feed. No more configuration resets will be happening after that. The resetting was means to speed up the development so I can get feature rich and bug free version out as soon as possible.
This app has not brought anything new to webOS. Mode Switcher has been bringing profile support to webOS for quite some time now.
Mode Switcher is very robust and feature rich. It is close to a stable 1.0 release pretty soon.
Not only does the homebrew developer Sconix make a great profile/modes app in Mode Switcher, his patches are top notch as well.
Precentral Forum for Mode Switcher:
http://forums.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/224544-mode-switcher.html
Mode Switcher Wiki:
http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Application:ModeSwitcher
Not trying to be negative at all, just curious if anyone has found an advantage to using this over mode switcher. I am using mod switcher for touchstone modes anyways, but with the top bar for switching modes, I am just trying to figure out if this app has any features mode switcher doesn't...
How is this different from mode switcher? Whick by the way does not require a luna restar when switching profiles like this profiles app featured in the article.
Umm it'd be nice if you could download actual themes on this. Not just wallpaper and dock and whatever.
Doubt it since themes (or at least some actually modify things), also the fact that themes run as an ipkg.
I've never found a use for profiles, silence is either switched on or off and that serves me well.
Am I missing something...
I can't find it or Mode Switcher in PreWare anywhere, and when I try to install from the FileCoaster I get the "Install Error" message.
you are. Up a few messages there is the link. Mode switcher is the shit.
you need to add a custom feed to preware. its's not in the default feeds. the feed is: wee.e-lnx.org/webos/feeds/stable/
I think it moved to the webos internals test feed.
http://ipkg.preware.org/feeds/webos-internals/testing/all/
the mode switcher wiki tells how to add the feed. Some posted the wiki link above.
mode switcher has been around for a long time and does this already- and more thoroughly IMO.
I'm always glad to see another solid app option, but Mode Switcher does sound superior to this app. It allows mode switching without luna restarting, and this can be done via a drop-down menu without even opening the app. Mode Switcher may require a little more configuring on the front end since it has a custom feed and requires a patch for the drop-down menu feature, but it's well worth it.
Rob
Just so everyone knows Mode Switcher (and the top bar patches) are both on a custom feed due to there being multiple versions in the works right now.
At least that's if I am remembering correctly. But I know it has something to do with that (like how all of us in the US for the most part aren't on 1.4.5 yet).
ModeSwitcher and the related patches are all in Preware now. The app is in the testing feed and the patches are in the public feed. All have been updated for 1.4.1 and 1.4.5
-- Rod
as if it hasn't been said enough, Mode Switcher is the premier way of custom configuring different profiles.
it's had it's bugs, but they are quickly addressed and solved.
sconix is top notch!
I'm so glad to see Sconix getting some love here! Mode Switcher is an amazing app and his patches have made my Pre very happy!!!
Maybe it is time for someone to write a feature on Mode Switcher Sconix Top Bar patches!!
Great to have a choice! When I first got my Pre, I had a patch-fest and applied them willy-nilly. This post made me discover Sconix and his work - as stated above: excellent stuff.
Great to have a choice! When I first got my Pre, I had a patch-fest and applied them willy-nilly. This post made me discover Sconix and his work - as stated above: excellent stuff.
dis is coool, mode switcher that is...can't wait to set it up for touchstone application.