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How to get past Android's default tiny text size

Are all the Android phones the same or is just the Droid and HTC? Maybe One of the other phones have fixed this and gave us more options on android? I need to do something. Herd Dragon or Passion coming soon maybe they have a fix? I think its an Android problem or lack of options, not sure. Got a couple weeks left, be a shame to leave Android I like the idea of it all.
 
ocean1 said:
Are all the Android phones the same or is just the Droid and HTC? Maybe One of the other phones have fixed this and gave us more options on android? I need to do something. Herd Dragon or Passion coming soon maybe they have a fix? I think its an Android problem or lack of options, not sure. Got a couple weeks left, be a shame to leave Android I like the idea of it all.
Click to expand...

This is an OS thing...Passion will have upgraded specs and most likely OS 2.0 so no difference.

It's a huge thing for me...I took back the Eris and can't get the Droid as it has the same problem. I'm currently back on my old BlackBerry...but Gmail is so horrible on a BlackBerry and so perfect on an Android phone (except that I can't read it.

I would get the Droid if I knew something like Spare Parts (that actually worked for Gmail font sizes) was coming in the near future. Maybe we should be asking these questions in the developer forums...I think I'll go do that.
 
LarryMcJ said:
Hopefully if we keep whining, both here and on the developer forums, we'll eventually get something done. I'm going to start a thread (if there isn't one already) on the Google Mobile Help Forum (for Gmail)...they might see it there.

Scalable fonts are already in the Android Mail app, so how can it be that difficult to put them in the Gmail app? They're also in the browser...come on, Google...give us a break. We've left our BlackBerries and other phones so at least let have the tools to read our email without a magnifying glass!
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I figured out how to change the font size in the web browser but can't for the life of me find any option to do so in the mail app. How do you do this?
 
I'm reading this thread with great interest, because the font size on the Droid is a major issue for me. There is a Note taking app called "StarNote" that allows the customization of not only font size, but the font itself, as well as color:

starnote.jpg


Now how difficult would it be for developers to apply this to Gmail, or for that matter, the Android 2 system itself? After waiting so long for this device, I am so disappointed at the lack of font customizing option!:(
 
I can see that those developers are chomping at the bit to get started on this! :)

Anyone tried making the screen as bright as possible? that seems to help me a bit.
 
ktb1381 said:
I can see that those developers are chomping at the bit to get started on this! :)

Anyone tried making the screen as bright as possible? that seems to help me a bit.
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:-) Obviously, it's not interesting them too much. I hold more hope that the tags of "visually impaired" etc. will catch Google's attention someday.

Increasing the screen brightness does help, but I like the auto-brightness feature so it's not so bright indoors...not to mention the display is the single biggest factor in battery usage, which is already terrible. Guess there's no in-between.
 
LarryMcJ said:
If anyone wants to follow (or add do) a thread I just started about this problem in the Android Developer forum here...the message thread URL is:

http://androidforums.com/application-requests/17047-scalable-font-size.html
Click to expand...

Thanks Larry, your help on this has been above and beyond. With over 1700 views it must be on many minds as they browse the forums. Its like many things, I cant do anything about it, theres a thread for it, it will get fixed. We need more support. I have now posted on the Droid forums as well on another site. I got some great interest soon as it was brought up. It seems with all the hoop la and apps new phones and bugs this just gets lost in the mix. It is however a MAJOR issue for thousands of users. I feel Google will loose to Rim and others if we have to use other devices because they wont address such an easy issue. All devices and OS should have options to enlarge text for visual impairment, although I dont think I am visually impaired I must be if this tiny text is fine and the standard. Drives me batty trying to get a phone number off my contacts or anything. Maybe we should threaten a law suit saying discrimination for the visually impaired. That would get attention. Be funny though I am 38 years old with 20/20 vision. They would laugh at me. I would have to say its THAT bad! If its causing eye strain for me imagine what its like for they visually impaired. Now get me some Botox from the squinting!!!!!
 
ocean1 said:
Thanks Larry, your help on this has been above and beyond. With over 1700 views it must be on many minds as they browse the forums. Its like many things, I cant do anything about it, theres a thread for it, it will get fixed. We need more support. I have now posted on the Droid forums as well on another site. I got some great interest soon as it was brought up. It seems with all the hoop la and apps new phones and bugs this just gets lost in the mix. It is however a MAJOR issue for thousands of users. I feel Google will loose to Rim and others if we have to use other devices because they wont address such an easy issue. All devices and OS should have options to enlarge text for visual impairment, although I dont think I am visually impaired I must be if this tiny text is fine and the standard. Drives me batty trying to get a phone number off my contacts or anything. Maybe we should threaten a law suit saying discrimination for the visually impaired. That would get attention. Be funny though I am 38 years old with 20/20 vision. They would laugh at me. I would have to say its THAT bad! If its causing eye strain for me imagine what its like for they visually impaired. Now get me some Botox from the squinting!!!!!
Click to expand...

I honestly think we'll eventually see something done about this. It bothers me some to see there isn't a lot of action regarding it on the developer forums, but then again, the demographic that would use or buy that app vs. the demographic that would use/by the next great Android app is very small. So I suppose I can't blame the developers for trying to chase the $$.
 
I know this is a low tech solution, but at least for now maybe consider carrying around one of those magnification reader cards.

Hopefully they will make this feature available for all apps. From what I recall I don't think my Palm had this option either, not sure about my Blackberry (think there was but didn't check it).
 
AndroidSPCS said:
I know this is a low tech solution, but at least for now maybe consider carrying around one of those magnification reader cards.

Hopefully they will make this feature available for all apps. From what I recall I don't think my Palm had this option either, not sure about my Blackberry (think there was but didn't check it).
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Palm, at least in the last 10 years or so, allowed you to increase the font. And before that, the font was not half as tiny as the Android defaults.
 
This is a major accessibility issue and they are not in compliance with the ADA. If those of us with vision issues in the US start bringing this up enough they may change. All it will take is one good class action suit to get their attention.

All we need is a simple scaleable text.

http://www.ada.gov
 
Its almost unbelievable to me that one cannot adjust the text size on an Android phone... I need my reading glasses to see almost everything, and I'm really not that blind!
 
I've installed the TouchDown app by Nitro and found it allows zoomin in emails (no double-tap yet though, just the +/- buttons).

I actually bought it for the better calendar widget (shows next four appts). The only downside is that it uses lots of screen space and the design is cartoonish IMO. They have a trial app that lasts for five days before limiting functionality. Also, on the Droid at least, I don't always see the side navigation buttons for some reason, not sure why.

But as I said, it has zooming and it has options for setting the font size, at least four different sizes and HTML vs text. I actually have my Exchange mail box downloading in the native app and TouchDown. I noticed their notifications are better too since they include the sender name and subject in the notification bar. (sorry drifting off topic)

I just wish they'd update the styling, or have customizable skins.
 
Neat, thanks for posting that, DD. I don't use Exchange but would definitely check it out if I did.

Folks, what do you think of the idea of comissioning a solution from a site like elance? Check this out, there are a bunch of Android programmers on there:
Search Providers on Elance

I don't know how much one would need to offer... anyone with some dev experience care to share any thoughts on this?
 
ktb1381 said:
Neat, thanks for posting that, DD. I don't use Exchange but would definitely check it out if I did.

Folks, what do you think of the idea of comissioning a solution from a site like elance? Check this out, there are a bunch of Android programmers on there:
Search Providers on Elance

I don't know how much one would need to offer... anyone with some dev experience care to share any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
I think it would be a no brainer for them. They would make quite a bit fo money fixing the one thing about Android that bother me the most. It bother many others to. Its on all the forums in one way or another. The TINy text and unscalable fonts has been an issue for Android for a long time. I think those Google kids that program Android dont give a #@$$ about anyone over 30. Sad thing is its us that have the money to spend. The kids like the pretty Iphone. I think just threaten a law suit for ADA. Get some attention. Really Android is a nice OS they just need to give a few options that are standard on almost every other platform.
 
The way elance works is you post a project, and the programmers bid on it. What do you think of the idea of our pooling our resources to offer a fee for this app? I think I might be in for 50, for fun. :)

ocean1 said:
I think it would be a no brainer for them. They would make quite a bit fo money fixing the one thing about Android that bother me the most. It bother many others to. Its on all the forums in one way or another. The TINy text and unscalable fonts has been an issue for Android for a long time. I think those Google kids that program Android dont give a #@$$ about anyone over 30. Sad thing is its us that have the money to spend. The kids like the pretty Iphone. I think just threaten a law suit for ADA. Get some attention. Really Android is a nice OS they just need to give a few options that are standard on almost every other platform.
Click to expand...
 
Congrats! This thread just surpassed the sticky's and all others in tips and tricks cat. Must be a huge issue! Lets keep this bumped up till a dev or someone does something!
 
Please post here if you think you might be interested in helping to organize a commission for an app that would help us out on elance. Perhaps we could all throw in some cash via paypal, or something like that.
 
I would love to commission an app to globally increase the font size. Spares Parts doesn't work on my Hero. It is really annoying that I cannot see gmails or text messages without putting on reading glasses. And I have 20/20 vision, just using glasses for reading. Come on, let's get 'er done!!
 
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