From: V@nguard.LH   
      
   Andy Burns  wrote:   
      
   > VanguardLH wrote:   
   >   
   >> Yours has a shortcut to the history, so I'm wondering if a shortcut   
   >> could defined to stick onto the screen; i.e., one-tap shortcut to   
   >> access to  Settings -> Notifications -> Advanced settings ->   
   >> Notification history.   
   >>   
   >> I looked at some of the notification history apps at the Play store.   
   >> All are adware.   
   >   
   > Try a generic launcher, I use this one   
   >   
   >    
   >   
   > or the pro version.  If I search for "history" I see "Notification   
   > History" class, within the Settings app   
   >   
   > "com.android.settings.notification.history.NotificationHistoryActivity"   
   >   
   > I can launch the same activity that the Pixel icon gives me, there's   
   > also an option to put a shortcut on the home page.   
      
   When I do a search on "activity launcher" at the Play store, I don't get   
   a list of search results, but a direct one-match-up on that lone app.  I   
   was hoping to see if the Pro paid version was listed since the app page   
   for the free version notes "contains ads" which means there is a   
   non-adware version.  I hate ads, especially when app authors indemnify   
   themselves against the content of the ads, especially excusing   
   themselves from fullscreen ads that obliterate the entire screen making   
   the phone unusable until the fullscreen ad is dismissed (and the "X"   
   close button can be scripted to run something untoward, so use the Back   
   nav button to back out of the fullscreen ad).  In my opinion, any app   
   that permits fullscreen ads is rude and malware.   
      
   The app page doesn't give a comparison between the free and paid   
   versions.  For the free version, are the ads ever displayed when the   
   shortcuts it creates are used?  How intrusive are the ads within the app   
   when using it to define shortcuts?  Does it ever display fullscreen ads?   
      
   The app page has a link to the author's website at:   
     https://activitylauncher.net/   
   where there was a link to the paid version at:   
     https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.szalkowski.ac   
   ivitylauncher.pro   
   which costs $2.49, so it is cheaper than Tasker ($4.49).  Are there   
   functional differences between the free and paid versions?  So far, the   
   only difference noted is the paid version removes the ads.  The readme:   
     https://github.com/butzist/ActivityLauncher   
   doesn't mention any differences between free and paid.  If I pay, I   
   expect MORE features than just eliminating ads.  Their privacy policy:   
     https://activitylauncher.net/privacy-policy/   
   notes use of Google's Analytics for the app, and AdMob for the ads.   
   Maybe AdMob gets disabled when you pay, but Analytics remains.  I'm not   
   keen but not paranoid about the anonymous tracking, just something to   
   note.  It's a FOSS project, so a bit surprised it used Google Analytics.   
      
   I had thought about using an app to do the scripted task, like Tasker,   
   but I really wanted a solution or workaround that didn't involve   
   installing more software.  Obviously not a feature Google put in   
   Android.  I thought someone here noted in the past how to create such   
   shortcuts, but maybe they were also using an app to create and execute   
   scripted shortcuts.   
      
   I did find something of a workaround, but a bit tenuous.  Instead of   
   using the Settings icon in the drop-down panel when you swipe down from   
   the top of the screen, there is also the Settings app that is bundled on   
   the phone.  The settings gear icon in the swipe-down panel always takes   
   me to the start of the settings menues, but the Settings app opens to   
   wherever I last navigated in settings.  So, I can navigate to Settings   
   -> Notifications -> Advanced settings -> Notification history, and later   
   use the Settings app to reopen settings to that navpath.  However, if I   
   ever go into settings again, the Settings app will show to wherever I   
   was previously in settings.   
      
   A better solution would be the history (clock) icon in the notifications   
   panel you mention is available with the Pixel.  No need for additional   
   "launcher" apps to create shortcuts.  No having to drill into settings.   
      
   I won't be needing to get at past notifications very often, only when I   
   dismiss one, and realize I needed to look at it again.  Or when I go to   
   dismiss one, another arrives, pushes down the one which I intended to   
   dismiss, and I instead end up dismissing the wrong one.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)