Help Some apps do not show up to launch or make icons

[downsja1]

I've noticed many apps will not allow you to make them icons on screens, or even allow you to open them. For example, "Voice Search" by Google, although installed as a built-in app, in fact, offers no "Open" option from Google Play, from Settings/Manage Apps, or anywhere else, and the app (although visible in "manage apps/all apps") does not appear in the list of apps, widgets or shortcuts available to place as an icon on my home screen or any page. Since noticing this, I've noticed this same thing with many apps... the app list of apps available to run or place on screens as icons seems to be a subset of the installed apps on the phone. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
James

 

[downsja1]

Oh well... either this is just a real dud of a forum or no one else has tried to customize their screens... and discovered the apps available for icons are only a small subset of the total installed apps on the phone... My Incredible & Resound did not have this issue... I'm starting to get pretty displeased with the Incredible 4G... between the lack of the physical menu button and only allowing you to place some apps as icons on your screens...

 

[geoffd]

I noticed this too a few days ago. Car, Mirror, Voice Recorder are apps that don't appear in the app drawer, but can be found through Search and show up under manage apps. I have no idea how you can create a shortcut for these on the home screens. This could be a Sense thing because these apps show up in the app drawer using Apex Launcher...

 

[j13smiley]

the other thread about has a comment that some things like voice recorder were found inside the "notes" app... i wonder if some others mentioned in this thread can also be found "inside" other apps...

 

[kelela92]

I'm confused. Are you talking about a Voice Search widget on one of your screens? And using Voice Search within Google Play? Because I just checked mine and have both available as a widget and within apps.

I know that was only one example, but I wanted to be sure I'm understanding what is missing.

 

[downsja1]

"Voice Search" was one example... most annoying to me because I got to where I used it for almost everything on my Incredible and Rezound... but now am unable to place it on any homescreens as either an app shortcut or widget. Even stranger, I cannot even "open" the app and run it if perusing it on either "Google Play" or within the "Manage Apps" list where it appears... In other words, you go to "Google Play", search the market for "Voice Search", you find it and find that it is already installed... however, there is no option to "open" and run it as with any other app. The same thing happens if you find it in your "Manage Apps" list... no option to "open" and run it. It is not just "Voice Search" but many apps that this is the case with... Like geoffd mentions, same with "Voice Recorder", etc... there are actually dozens that show up in "manage apps" but do not allow you to run them or place them as icons on your home screens as you could with any other phone... You can place this long "Google Search" widget that takes up an entire row, and after clicking on it, then click the "microphone" button to run "Voice Search"... so in two steps & taking up much more real-estate on your home screen it is possible to still run it... but for some reason you can no longer place the "Voice Search" icon itself... along with many other apps...

 

[vzwuser76]

"Voice Search" was one example... most annoying to me because I got to where I used it for almost everything on my Incredible and Rezound... but now am unable to place it on any homescreens as either an app shortcut or widget. Even stranger, I cannot even "open" the app and run it if perusing it on either "Google Play" or within the "Manage Apps" list where it appears... In other words, you go to "Google Play", search the market for "Voice Search", you find it and find that it is already installed... however, there is no option to "open" and run it as with any other app. The same thing happens if you find it in your "Manage Apps" list... no option to "open" and run it. It is not just "Voice Search" but many apps that this is the case with... Like geoffd mentions, same with "Voice Recorder", etc... there are actually dozens that show up in "manage apps" but do not allow you to run them or place them as icons on your home screens as you could with any other phone... You can place this long "Google Search" widget that takes up an entire row, and after clicking on it, then click the "microphone" button to run "Voice Search"... so in two steps & taking up much more real-estate on your home screen it is possible to still run it... but for some reason you can no longer place the "Voice Search" icon itself... along with many other apps...

On the S3 threads they are talking about this as well. Most have reasoned that it is due to the S3 having "S-Voice", Samsung's virtual assistant, that they want you to use their app rather than Google's. But since it is the same on the Inc4G, I think it has more to do with skinned versions of ICS.

IIRC on ICS the Google search bar is at the top of the screen and stays there as you swipe between homescreens. With Sense (& TW) they eliminate that bar (unless you manually add it). With stock ICS they may have reasoned that there's no need for you to access Voice Search or Recorder since you'd do that from the bar at the top of the screen. And if that was the case, it wouldn't be in the app drawer to launch.

Just a theory, no idea if that's the actual thought process behind the situation.

 

[hytekjosh]

Has anyone contacted HTC about the bug?

 

[JaggedEdge]

I noticed this too a few days ago. Car, Mirror, Voice Recorder are apps that don't appear in the app drawer, but can be found through Search and show up under manage apps. I have no idea how you can create a shortcut for these on the home screens. This could be a Sense thing because these apps show up in the app drawer using Apex Launcher...

I noticed this too. I found that you can make shortcuts to these apps on the home screen by using the app "Desktop VisualizeR."

Also, I found this issue to exist on the Rezound as well.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.bii.android.app.dskvzr

 

[kelela92]

Thanks for the explanation. I guess I don't mind the big bar. And just an FYI, if you do put that widget on and hit the microphone (not the empty search area), it starts up voice search immediately. One-touch still....just not in a small form factor that you want. Maybe something you can use until someone fixes it?

 

[kvedt]

I posted on the other thread that I was able to address this using Folder Organizer (App Organizer should work too). You can put the icons on a home screen with it. Hope it helps.

 

[jamala00]

"Voice Search" was one example... most annoying to me because I got to where I used it for almost everything on my Incredible and Rezound... but now am unable to place it on any homescreens as either an app shortcut or widget. Even stranger, I cannot even "open" the app and run it if perusing it on either "Google Play" or within the "Manage Apps" list where it appears... In other words, you go to "Google Play", search the market for "Voice Search", you find it and find that it is already installed... however, there is no option to "open" and run it as with any other app. The same thing happens if you find it in your "Manage Apps" list... no option to "open" and run it. It is not just "Voice Search" but many apps that this is the case with... Like geoffd mentions, same with "Voice Recorder", etc... there are actually dozens that show up in "manage apps" but do not allow you to run them or place them as icons on your home screens as you could with any other phone... You can place this long "Google Search" widget that takes up an entire row, and after clicking on it, then click the "microphone" button to run "Voice Search"... so in two steps & taking up much more real-estate on your home screen it is possible to still run it... but for some reason you can no longer place the "Voice Search" icon itself... along with many other apps...

I had this same issue with my Inc2 and the "clock" app. Go into the Market and download Widgetsoid. It will recognize the apps you are not seeing and allow you to create them as icons\shortcuts on your home screen. Worked great for me. Good youtube video on how to use it.

 

[AndyBones]

widgets need to be added, like a widget..
and if the app isn't in the app drawer then u cany add it
however, I do have a solution to you problem!

here a pic showing some proof.

I'm attaching any your .apk, you need to download it and install using astra or your favorite file manager.
then open the app and go to activity and the what you want itll add to home screen.