Successfully Implementing Android Landscape Support

After spending quite a bit of time trying to get the Android app to work in landscape mode, I thought I’d share my experience in case others are struggling with the same issue. While the official app doesn’t natively support landscape orientation, I found a workaround that works pretty well!

First, I came across an app called Rotate for Jelly Bean and Above. It’s a simple tool that forces apps into landscape mode. I was hesitant at first, but it actually worked like a charm! Here’s how I set it up:

  1. Install the Rotate App: I downloaded it from the Play Store and granted it the necessary permissions.
  2. Force Landscape Mode: Using Rotate, I forced my SmartThings app into landscape mode. The UI adjusted beautifully, and I could finally see all my tiles in a single row without any issues.

For those looking to optimize the display further, I also played around with the DPI settings. By tweaking the DPI in build.prop, I managed to fit more tiles on my screen without compromising readability. This was especially helpful for my wall-mounted tablet setup!

While this isn’t a perfect solution, it definitely gets the job done. I’m now able to use my tablet as a seamless control interface for my SmartThings setup. If you’re considering a similar setup, I highly recommend giving this a try!

Pro Tip: If you’re comfortable with custom ROMs, you can even set custom DPI settings for individual apps. This gives you even more control over how everything looks and feels!

Happy tinkering everyone! Let me know if you have any questions or if you’ve found other creative solutions for optimizing your SmartThings setup.