Home screen of Xperia Z1 does not auto rotate.

[_akurnev]

Hello,

I have Sony Xperia Z1 and it's home screen does not rotate to horizontal mode.

This issue has been noticed on the home screen and during calls (Speaker / Sony SBH50 used)

There is no such issue when using Album, Movie, etc,. Auto rotation is enabled! 

I assume that this is software issue and should be fixed, because :

1. I have Sony Smartphone Car Holder SPA-CK20M, and it is supposed to have smartphone installed horizontally in it, right?
2. I'm thinking about purchasing of Sony DK31 to charge the battery. It is also supposed to have smartphone installed horizontally in it, isn't it?

So why horizontal home screen does not work?

Why screen does not rotate to horizontal mode when incoming call received? 

Build: 14.4.A.0.108 

Awaiting for your comments. 

P.S. Home screen rotation works well on Xperia Z2 Tablet...

Best regards, 

Anton. 

[Uliwooly]

it won't rotate unless you are charging your phone through the Dock (magnetic cable) 

[_akurnev]

Hi,

Thanks!  But why is it so? Why this affected only home screen? The rest of apps are OK without charging... 

Also, how about Car Holder usage stated above? There was no mention about such issue in Car Holder specifications.

I think this limitation should be fixed, so home screen to be rotated as in the rest of apps.

Xperia Z2 Tablet doesn't have such problem. Is it possible to have the same screen behavior on Xperia Z1?

Best regards, 

Anton. 

[Uliwooly]

This has been asked and requested before but that's how it is, there are apps that can force the home launcher to rotate, or use a different home launcher. 

[_akurnev]

Hi,

Does it mean that Sony will not fix this known issue in the next Build(s) for Xperia Z1, if any?

Do you know the ticket numbers of previous requests for the same?

Would you please recommend different home launcher for Sony Xperia Z1, that is under support by Sony? 

Thank you!

Best regards, 

Anton.

[SergioPL1]

---

@_akurnev wrote:

Hi,

Does it mean that Sony will not fix this known issue in the next Build(s) for Xperia Z1, if any?

Do you know the ticket numbers of previous requests for the same?

Would you please recommend different home launcher for Sony Xperia Z1, that is under support by Sony? 

Thank you!

Best regards, 

Anton.

---

It is hard to define but it is in fact an issue and a feature. I preffer my phone not to rotate the homescreen and like this behavior but I would appreciate to have a choice somewhere in display settings (you can lock rotation at all if you wish via settings).

As said before - it will autorotate with magnetic or USB charger connected (also with MHL adapter too).

[_akurnev]

Hi, Sergio PL, and All Readers of this topic,

I have tried with USB charger today. 

Please see snapshot below (note: "Auto-rotate Screen" mode is 'Enabled'): 

You can see on the snapshot, Home Sceen of Xperia Z1 is not properly rotated, even it is connected to a PC (USB charger). Please advise what can be wrong here. You said: "it will autorotate with magnetic or USB charger connected".

But it did not happen!

Also, regarding your statement:

"It is hard to define but it is in fact an issue and a feature. I preffer my phone not to rotate the homescreen and like this behavior but I would appreciate to have a choice somewhere in display settings (you can lock rotation at all if you wish via settings)."

This "choice" should be "Auto-rotate Screen" mode, this is now set to 'Enabled', but does not work for the Home Screen.

==**==

==**==

One more notice about strange behavior of "Auto-rotate Screen" mode on Xperia Z1 (should I create a separate thread?):

When Xperia Z1 is in the horizontal mode (like on the snapshot above), and "Contacts" application is used, it is OK, i.e. application shows information about my contacts in horizontal mode properly. But when I choose a person to call to and tap on a phone number, the screen is rotated to the vertical mode: why is it so? Is this a bug or a feature? If this is a feature, I don't really understand its purpose... 

My (User) understandings is: if I am hoding device in the horizontal mode, I expect that all applications (and Home Screen as well) should be displayed properly, i.e. horizontally. If I don't want applications to be displayed in horizontal mode:

1. I will change device orientation to vertical (note: "Auto-rotate" mode is 'Enabled'), or

2. I will disable "Auto-rotate" mode to follow default screen rotation (which is Home Screen rotation of Xperia Z1 for now)...

What is wrong in my expectations?

As I said previously, I refered to Xperia Z2 Tabled, because I have this device, and it does not have such behavior, i.e.:

1. If I disable "Auto-rotate Screen" mode, screen orientation is always horizontal, i.e. Default.

2. If I enable "Auto-rotate Screen" mode, screen orientation always follows device orientation;

3. I can use this device as above (1,2)  without any charging devices connected, so that is why I suspect SW issue of Xperia Z1.

Please let me know your opinion on this and how to propagate this to Sony SW developers further?

Thank you!

Best regards,

Anton.

[_akurnev]

Hi, Community, 

Does anyone agree with me? Or observations I indicated are minor for you? 

Thank you! 

Best regards, 

Anton. 

[_akurnev · Accepted solution]

Hi,

After contacting Sony Support,

The topic is closed with the following conclusion :

1. Home screen rotation is only possible when inserting to the dock station;
2. Caller app is only possible in vertical layout;

These Sony "features" look strange to me nevertheless. 

Sony Support advised me to use Google Play Market to download some 3rd party SW that will fit my needs. It was advised without any specifics.

Sony Support didn't answer on question about how the illustrations for the Sony Carholder SPA CK-20M were taken.

Looks like this is really a 'Photoshop' made illustrations. 😞 

Best regards, 

Anton.

[Uliwooly]

Just like I've told you before, you either 

use a Dock

or

install a different home launcher 

Keep in mind that you have the play store to download apps and customize your phone as you please.