The new rom works really great and I wouldn't wanna change back to the old one, but I really miss having the clock in the title bar.
With Pocket plus, Agile Messenger and Pocket player there really isn't enough space left and the date/clock just takes up too much.
Is there really no way to get the clock back in the title bar? It would be much appreciated.
Or does anyone have another solution? Eg an analog or digital clock icon that can be used with pocket plus.
Qtek 9100 + miniSD 1Gb
Levenum's clock/date project will put a clock on the taskbar and reduce the date/time space to one line
here http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=45084&highlight=
Thanks, I'm trying it out now. Though I would rather have the clock only in the taskbar but this is still an improvement.
Or you could get Wisbar Advance which will remove the battery icon and replace it with date / time. I really don't know why more people don't mention this program. Its really amazing.
rumpnet said:
Or you could get Wisbar Advance which will remove the battery icon and replace it with date / time. I really don't know why more people don't mention this program. Its really amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably because it does more than just that - it's an entire task bar replacement. To some that's great, to others - well, they may want to stick to the original or whatever other third party taskbar enhancement.
Think of it like this - somebody puts a sticker on your red car, and apparently you can't easily remove it. You could wait for something to come along that makes it easy to remove, or you could paint red over that small sticker, or you could paint your entire car green. If you wanted a green car anyway - go for it
( p.s. I hate car analogies %) )
Well I managed to minimize another program a little so everything fits now when the date is only on one line. Good enough for now... but I would still rather have the clock in the taskbar where it takes up no space at all.
I agree with you, at least I would have removed that stupid battery indicator, it only shows 3 stages. 100%, 60% and 20%. How stupid is that.... Any way to get rid of it? I like the SPB pocketplus battery indicator on top of the taskbar, looks more like a regular phone battery indicator.
Daddy_Spank said:
Any way to get rid of it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only in AKU2.2 - Microsoft acknowledged that many people preferred the clock (though even more people preferred a battery meter - they don't understand why the battery meter was made with such 'low granularity' by the developer either though).
Other option (if you don't have AKU2.2 yet, which is very possible as it's only been sighted on the O2 Atom) is to read up on some of the clock threads - one of them places a clock over the battery icon (and the volume icon - volume's still tappable though).
There is an interesting article that can be found here on the topic
http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2006/04/28/586453.aspx
Pardon my ignorance but I notice this is a very "flammable" topic but I can't figure out what exactly you are all trying to do..
Are you just trying to get the clock back in the title-top bar on the Today Screen? I'm asking because I'm running the IMate 2.17 ROM and I have the clock in my title bar at ALL times except when on the today screen.
Don't see the issue there either because in the Today Screen it's available as a Today plug-in.
I'm probably missing it but I still don't get the big deal...
mobilehavoc said:
I'm probably missing it but I still don't get the big deal...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are what the MSDN Mobile blog guy would probably call "A battery person" Or an agnostic.
It comes down to personal preferences, for the most part. Some people simply -prefer- to see the clock there, instead of a battery, for whatever reasons. You may or may not agree with those reasons
Here's some factual bits, though...
the clock
Microsoft replaced the clock that was always visible in one fixed location with another element (the battery) when on the Today screen
This in and of itself isn't a good development. Again, here's a simple analogy - you have a wristwatch, and if you need to know the time, wherever you are, you need only look at your wrist. Now you get home, and *poof* your wristwatch is gone. Strange? Yes.
Microsoft provided no method to let the user change this behavior.
This in general is just silly, as they could have easily anticipated from trial runs that a subset of users, even if it is a relative minority, would prefer the clock there. Microsoft have corrected this for AKU 2.2.
the today item
Microsoft did, however, add the time to the 'Date' Today Item on the Today Screen.
Given the behavior of the clock disappearing from the Taskbar when on the Today Screen, it seemed like a good idea to add the time to the 'Date' Today Item instead. And yes, you are right, that's where a user can look instead. Back to the analogy though - instead of looking at your wrist, where you can always expect to find the time, you now have to look at the clock on the wall. It's more of an annoyance than anything.
This in itself added a new qualm, however - a lot of people did not like the fact that the new 'Date and Time' item takes up 2 lines of Today Screen space (again, no way to switch back to just the Date on 1 line). Some users have an overly full Today Screen as it is, or would just prefer that other items have more space. Many have found solutions to this in one of two new date/time Today Items whose coders have created threads on this forum.
For AKU2.2, this will be even sillier, as users may use the registry tweak to get the Clock back on the Taskbar - but then they'll have the clock on the Taskbar -and- on the Today Screen. Again, those users can use one of the two third party Today Items, but it's silly that they would have to.
the battery indicator
Microsoft added a Battery indicator that cannot be removed
Okay, so now we have a Battery indicator that could be displayed on all screens. However, you may already have a Battery indicator that does this - either using the same type of method (an icon), or by ways of a graphical bar (Batti), etc. Now you have 2 Battery indicators, but you -can't- remove the Microsoft one. So you're stuck with 2. Again, AKU2.2 at least resolves this by switching back to the clock.
Microsoft added a Battery indicator with too low granularity
You might wonder why somebody wouldn't just disable their third party Battery indicator, then. The reason is simple, and the MSDN Mobile Blog guy even agreed: the MS one is horribly low in granularity. What is meant by this, is the following: there are only 3 states. 2 bars, 1 bar, no bars for 60% and 20% thresholds. Not only is this non-linear and non-obvious, for most people this is simply not enough distinction. Even the most humble $25 pas-as-you-go mobile phones have 4, 6 or even 8 bars, as does the MS SmartPhone WM5's battery indicator (also in the taskbar) So even "the battery people" aren't all happy with this switch from the clock to the battery, as the battery indicator is less-than-optimal.
Now for perhaps the silliest thing of all:
There was no need whatsoever to replace the clock with the battery - they could have lived side-by-side.
There is ample space on 240x240 and 240x320 (and certainly the 480x480 and 480x640) devices for extra icons. For example, currently I'm showing 'new message / missed call', [G], 'signal strength', volume and the clock. There is room for at least 3 more icons to the left, although they would be obscuring the application title. This already applies, however, as even this low amount of icons obscures a good portion of longer titles.
Alternatively, there is room to the right on the Today Screen as well, as there is no OK/Close button. When on the Today Screen, the battery indicator could have been placed there, leaving the clock intact. Depending on the user's "Show clock in all applications" setting, either the battery indicator would then be gone in all other applications (if the aforementioned setting is set on) or it would simply slide over to where the clock would otherwise be (if the aforementioned setting is set off). This is a less elegant solution, however.
Zeboxx,
Excellent explanation. I couldn't have said it better myself! That about sums it up.
In my today screen I have Ilauncher so I can start my favorite programs really fast, Pocket Breeze so I can see my upcoming appointments and "to-do's", the controls to an mp3-player and a profile program so I can change the ring tone and vibrator settings swiftly.
This setup is perfect for me and I've even downloaded a program to map the device lock function to a button so I don't have to have it on the today screen. My today screen is packed and I don't want to lose any more space.
Ilauncher, as well as other similar programs like Pocket Plus, provides a battery meter at the top of the display that spans the entire screen and is a thousand times better than the new battery meter and it's full/half/empty status.
Personally when I hear that folks hardly use the today screen it feels like they haven't yet understood the full potential of the phone. I'm continuously trying to make improvements and tailor it to my demands.
AKU2: Date overwriting battery ind./sig strength
Hi all,
I've been searching all over for this, so please bear with me.
Posts regarding the AKU2 battery icon have revolved around how to remove it. I mistakenly set Tweaks2K to display the date, and now have either that overwriting the battery ind/sig strength, OR when I set Tw2K to not display the Date/Time, a blank spot overwrites the battery/part of the sig strength.
Any ideas on how to get rid of the blank patch?
Thanks,
paul
Re: AKU2: Date overwriting battery ind./sig strength
fuzzyclam said:
Any ideas on how to get rid of the blank patch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably just need to set it back to just the clock?
Try the registry tweak "Change the display of the clock in the taskbar" in http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=WM5_Tweaks_Other
JNGold said:
Zeboxx,
Excellent explanation. I couldn't have said it better myself! That about sums it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This sums it up very well, however there is one explanation that has been overlooked. What if you were the owner of a huge money grabbing organisation who wanted to ensure that certain elements of software were unhackable? A small test item would do the trick. Something that was small but very annoying, like a very poor battery indicator that wouldn't look out of place on a zxspectrum?.......
If there was a way then some fine forum member would have done it by now! And it is almost certain that said organisation would be avid readers of sites such as this to chart the progress!
Next stop microsoft WORLD MOBILE DOMINATION!!!!!! :evil:
Come on guys there has to be a way.
NOTHING IS UNHACKABLE! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
There's already many parts in WM5 that are 'unhackable' unless you want to go around replacing binaries/editing binaries. There's no need for Microsoft to 'experiment' with this battery/time issue for that.
Microsoft simply got word from their OEMs that their clients wanted a battery meter on the taskbar that could be displayed at all times. A developer at Microsoft added the battery meter, replacing the clock with it, and the thing was OK'd. Whether the Microsoft Windows Mobile QA team did a particularly good job of reviewing this change before OKing it is another matter entirely, but it would be highly unlikely that they explicitly made this change, in this manner, just to irk 'hackers'.
As for nothing being unhackable - true. But some things are as easy as a registry change, while others require a binary file change, and yet others take so much effort that it takes weeks just to figure it out (see SIM unlocking the various branded HTC Universals for example - and that is still on-going).
Given that users can...
A. deal with it
B. get one of the clock replacements that will overlay on the battery
C. get or wait for AKU2.2
...I don't think you'll find many developers willing to spend a lot of time on trying to hack this around anymore. If it were simple, it would've been done already.
JNGold said:
Zeboxx,
Excellent explanation. I couldn't have said it better myself! That about sums it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This sums it up very well, however there is one explanation that has been overlooked. What if you were the owner of a huge money grabbing organisation who wanted to ensure that certain elements of software were unhackable? A small test item would do the trick. Something that was small but very annoying, like a very poor battery indicator that wouldn't look out of place on a zxspectrum?.......
If there was a way then some fine forum member would have done it by now! And it is almost certain that said organisation would be avid readers of sites such as this to chart the progress!
Next stop microsoft WORLD MOBILE DOMINATION!!!!!! :evil:
Come on guys there has to be a way.
NOTHING IS UNHACKABLE! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
dupe post? Read up
Icon gone?!
Try this one
Related
Okay, the Prophet is a great machine. I am getting used to WM5 and like it a lot. The Prophet is fast enough for normal business use, so no complaints.
I do have a wee list of things I would like to be able to do. Some might already have been cracked, so any help would be fab. (These also apply to Wizard and other WM5 devices.)
1) Button Lock
Pressing the power locks the buttons. All is well until you get a notification and then the buttons come alive and your pocket can take over and start dialling people!
Is there any software / reg fix to require a key combination. (I know about the code option, but that is tricky without the stylus.)
Good old Menu * on the Nokia is great!
2) Network info
Is there a simple and clean Today plugin / element that will show you the network name and the signal strength? I know there is commercial stuff out there, but I want something that is in keeping with the regular Today stuff and looks like it came with the machine!
3) Upcoming Events
Can you limit the number in the list. I like to know the next four appointments, but when I have a busy day (!) a scroll bar appears and looks ugly!!
As you can see, I am not that fussy!!
Any ideas appreciated.
1. Mort Saver, get it from www.sto-helit.de
2. DkToday, use the search to find it.
BTW, MortSaver also shows phone signal, but no operator name and only when activated. DKToday shows it in your today screen
prophetuser said:
3) Upcoming Events
Can you limit the number in the list. I like to know the next four appointments, but when I have a busy day (!) a scroll bar appears and looks ugly!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A freeware Calendar+ will definitely help. Download it here: http://mohairsofa.com/content/downloads/calplus.exe
Use the little padlock icon on your today screen to lock the phone.
As it seems, M$ introduced a mod into new WM5.0 ROMs, so that a Battery Indicator is displayed at title bar instead of the tradicional clock.
It is also possible to configure the device to display the time/clock in all applications, but it doesn't happen while in Today screen.
In opposition to what happened with previous OS builds.
A Reg hack allowed and still allows to change the 'time', to 'date' or 'time&date'.
However with some combinations now, the icons overlap each other into the Title Bar...
Nobody seems to be happy with this new "feature", and likes to live with the alternative of having the time/clock displayed into a Today plug-in.
Also it seems no one succeded to hack and get rid of this. Any ideas?
It is in fact a very annoying indicator!!!
Who wants a Battery Indicator that means just one of three things: 'battery full'; 'battery half full' (or half empty); 'battery empty'...
And look bellow, how strange it could get...
Two battery indicators at the Title Bar (both from M$), and with different lookings...
lol
That's pretty funny, 2 battery meters in the taskbar, with no third party tool to do so? :>
I just wonder who came up with this stroke of genius... was it really Microsoft, or was it HTC, or was it iMate/Qtek (haven't seen any other branded ones yet..)?
Having the Time in the Today Item is one thing... it's a shame it takes up 2 lines, but I guess some people can live with that. Others, like me, think that's pretty messed up and would prefer a better solution ($100 is still available for the person to create said solution - search around the forums for the bounty thread).
But to automatically remove the clock from the expected location is just horrible ergonomics. Imagine having that in real life... you have a watch on your wrist, and wherever you are, you look at your wrist because you expect your watch with the time to be there. Now you get to the office, and there's one of those cheapo round wallclocks on the wall. You look at your wrist to check the time: hey, wtf - your watch is gone! But as soon as you step outside the door *ploink* your watch is back on your wrist. Ooookay.
The battery meter is an entirely different issue altogether. It's almost the lamest and least informative meter ever*, it takes up an icon in the task bar, and I guess it actually disappears when you switch to an app? What's the point? Battery meters like "Batti" are where it's at - MS/whoever should take a page out of their book and learn.
( * the lamest are actually those which are onlu applications. Start an application to check the battery level? double-you tee triple-ef. No offense to those who coded one )
And you thought that was funny!? Look at this!!! OMG LOL!!
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!! OMG 3 Battery indicators!!! LMAO!!!!!
M$ ARE STUPID AS ****
lol
how'd you end up with -that- happening ?
You sure that extra bar that's obscuring your today items isn't a third party thing? I suppose it might be that tray_icons.exe (wrong name, technically - as it's the taskbar, not the tray) ?
ZeBoxx said:
lol
how'd you end up with -that- happening ?
You sure that extra bar that's obscuring your today items isn't a third party thing? I suppose it might be that tray_icons.exe (wrong name, technically - as it's the taskbar, not the tray) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL...
This bar pops-up when you have more than one notification in queue to acknowledge, and you tap ballon at Title Bar.
In fact it is the combination of the two images I posted, with the events queued
Great work M$...
Waitting for the day we can get rid of the battery icon on the Title Bar.
[>_<]
I hope Qtek's ROM makers end up reading all these complaints about the iMate one (and their own earlier test one) and fixes it before they release theirs. I know a lot of people are anxious for push e-mail (and then go asking how to disable it because it runs up their bills.. *chuckle*) and A2DP (not included in iMate) and overall improvements, but this is one non-improvement I'll stick to an older ROM for
You are really right. it is a sh***.
Always they come with these fantastic ideas. i don't know nobody of the developpers saw all complains about the device in all forums discussing the good and the negative points.
i hope one will come with a batch correcting these mess.
FWIW the recently released Orange ROM does this too. It is very annoying indeed.
Has anyone discovered a way to disable this useless battery indicator on the Title Bar?
It would have been nicer too if they at least made the date, day, and time pug-in as one line, and not the date and day taking 2 lines.
wisbar advance 2 makes the time stay when on the today screen,
when i can i'll post a pic but i have
wisbar advance 2 + vga skin
pocket breeze, contact breeze, pocket weather and ilauncher all setup to use only the 1 today item,
clock stays all the time
and im pleased with the speed, its still just as fast even at rotating
more accurately.. last time I checked.. wisbar advance places its own clock there %)
Not quite the same, and means you do have to install another app which permanently takes over your task bar, etc. - which isn't all bad, wisbar advance is pretty sweet. still, I didn't find any particular need for it.. so if the battery meter can just be removed, that'd be preferable %)
I must be the only one who thinks this is quite useful then! But it assumes that you have the clock plugin on the Today screen, and don't like to waste space on an extra battery plugin.
However, it would be nice to have the option. If no one comes up with a reg hack, it might be possible to hack the system to force it show only the clock I guess.
V
Carnivor said:
wisbar advance 2 makes the time stay when on the today screen,
when i can i'll post a pic but i have
wisbar advance 2 + vga skin
pocket breeze, contact breeze, pocket weather and ilauncher all setup to use only the 1 today item,
clock stays all the time
and im pleased with the speed, its still just as fast even at rotating
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much memory does Wisbar take? Can we install this to the SD card or better yet, the Ext ROM?
You might want to check out the recently released WisBar lite. No skinning engine built in for faster operation. I've never tried it though.
V
vijay555 said:
I must be the only one who thinks this is quite useful then!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*gasp*
et tu, vijay?
vijay555 said:
But it assumes that you have the clock plugin on the Today screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mistake #1
vijay555 said:
and don't like to waste space on an extra battery plugin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mistake #2.1. In my case icon wastes more space than 2px high indicator line. *pats Batti*.
mistake #2.2. Assumes that you don't already -have- a battery indicator. /me points at the dozens of battery indicators out there. Say yours of choice is a taskbar icon as well. Except it's cooler (more features.. whatever). Now you have two - but you can't get rid of the built-in one. Yay!
vijay555 said:
However, it would be nice to have the option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mistake #3
vijay555 said:
If no one comes up with a reg hack, it might be possible to hack the system to force it show only the clock I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
request #1 as soon as this ROM popped up - get rid of the da*n battery icon
request #2 and restore the clock %)
I do suppose it's some silly registry thing, or just a file that you need to remove, or if need be some file that you need to hack about.
vijay555 said:
You might want to check out the recently released WisBar lite. No skinning engine built in for faster operation. I've never tried it though.
V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked out Wisbar Lite http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/products.php?prod=WisBar+Lite as you and Carnivor mentioned, it does take care of the time issue on the today screen. I am afraid to try it though, for I am running Small Menu and Magic Button at the same time, their combination is absolutely perfect in the Universal.
Me too - I use smallmenu with VJOkButt. I wouldn't use Wisbar just to replace the clock.
V
have the same problem, defies the whole purpose of having the date/time if it overlaps.
no way around it?
I just upgraded the ROM on my JAMin and its the same, battery meter on the top right hand corner in place of the clock.
Have we found a solution to this battery icon problem yet? I've not been able to find one.
Cheers,
Steve.
Hi, after installing MarkVan's true VGA package in this link
http://www.jaml.com/MvRTrueVGA/, I have identified the following issues that I'm still unable to solved. I thought that a special thread to address specifically problems after this installation might be helpful.
I'll start by first listing what I've identified as problems:
1) setting>system>backlight screen could not be used. This problem is serious, as somehow by default, the backlight is switched off after just a few seconds in true VGA mode. Even if I try, using QVGA mode to change it such that backlight will not be switched off, as soon as I toggle back to the true VGA mode, it is switched off after 10 seconds again.
2)setting>system>clear storage screen is garbed. It is difficult to make up what the input instruction are in performing hard reset. Not critical but would be nice if the screen could be fixed.
3)setting>system>power screen is garbed due to wrong sized icon. This is minor problem.
4) Setting>system>TV out screen title has the wrong font. Minor problem
5) Setting>system>VueFLO screen title has wrong sized font. Minor problem
6)setting>connection>comm manager screen is garbed. Not being able to control the connection could be quite a problem. In this application, the Settins>Wireless LAN screen is also garbed. I can solve this problem by installing Commmgrpro to give exactly the same functionality, however. Therefore, I would say this is not really an issue. But would be nice if someone already know how to solve this.
7)setting>connection>wireless Lan heading and the screen is garbed. The screen could not be used. The font sizes within all tabs are of wrong sizes. Again, CommmgrPro solves this problem by replacing this.
8)setting>personal>phone (pin2 and "more" tab) are garbed
9) Phone. Although I've applied VJbigpohne, I'm somehow unable to get exactly the same effect as what vj has in his screen shot. His screen shot showed that the numbers are nicely sitting in the centre of the phone buttons and the phone stretches all the way to the bottom of the screen. Mine looks different and ugly. The numbers are sitting to the extreme right edge of the buttons and there is a blank space at the bottom of the screen. I would like to fix this to look good
10) Spb GPRS monitor plugin has wrong sized font. As a result, I cannot see the download speed of my connection. The main application itself, which shows in chart form the usage has no problem. I have been looking for another product that works fully under VGA mode to replace the Spb GPRS monitor, but none of them gives me the download speed (They only shows the total MB downloaded, but not the Kbps info)
11)Pocket music. In landscape mode the option and playlist buttons are missing. In portrait mode there is no such problem. edit: this is not the vga problem,as it also behaves the same way I'm qvga mode.
12) Software Input Panel, or the soft keyboards, are soooo small, that they are unuseable. The standard big keyboard was nice as I can use my finger to type it without covering up the screen. If it is not possible to use the original soft keyboard, then I would like to use the HiKeyboard, because this keyboard has the ability to also do the job the the Spb full keyboard, as well as provide a calculator keypad. I like Hikeyboard the best, among all the ones I've evaluated. However, with MvrTrueVGA, I'd be forced to use only the resco keyboard. I prefer not to pay for resco keyboard, and to pay for Spb full keyboard, when I can just pay for Hikeyboard. I also much prefer HiKeyboard over Spb Full keyboard because it has the option to reveal what you have typed without exiting the full keyboard. Coming to the worst I'd get the Resco Keyboard although it is not as good as the Hikeyboard, so I supposed this is not the most seriuos matter.
13) Quick GPS program does not display correctly, and at the bottom of the screen display does not reach all the way to the edge of the screen. It looks ugly. Also, you can't see vital date and validity information on this screen.
14) Pocket Mechanics - The icons are too big and the characters are too small. It look real ugly as compared to the QVGA appearance.
15) My VOIP client SJPhone does not stretch all the way to the bottom. In landscape mode, the bottom part of the applications are cut off, while it leaves a big hole on the right. EDIT: qvga display landscape mode is also faulty I'm the same way.
16) In QVGA mode, my H and G indicator for data download has disappeared under true VGA mode. In place of the H (which means HSDPA connection is available), it shows the "connection is active" indicator instead.
In place of "HSDPA is in use" indicator, it shows just the signal strength without indicating whether I'm on a UMTS or HSDPA connection.
There might be more problems with other applications which I have not listed, and if you know of any, please add them in as a repository for all of us to look at.
It is possible that some of you have got solutions to the above problems.
If so, let's post the solution here, quoting the problem number if you can.
Thanks guys and gals
I'm not sure (and I'm happy if I'm wrong) but I think the best answer is:
"Yeah, but what'cha gonna do..."
WM5 is not intended to be used in full 640x480 mode, roumors will have it that WM6 is. So let's keep our hopes up.
But you obviously have more problems than me. Most screens are good and readable for me, except the phone (before applying VJBigPhone), Clear Storage, QuickGPS and the G/E/U/H icons + signal level. Of all these, the GEUH and signal level indicator is the only thing I "need" fixed (I can live with the rest).
Moskus said:
I'm not sure (and I'm happy if I'm wrong) but I think the best answer is:
"Yeah, but what'cha gonna do..."
WM5 is not intended to be used in full 640x480 mode, roumors will have it that WM6 is. So let's keep our hopes up.
But you obviously have more problems than me. Most screens are good and readable for me, except the phone (before applying VJBigPhone), Clear Storage, QuickGPS and the G/E/U/H icons + signal level. Of all these, the GEUH and signal level indicator is the only thing I "need" fixed (I can live with the rest).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Moskus,
Thanks for the reply.
May I get more specific about what you're having?
a) You mean your soft input panel (on screen keyboard) is not too tiny? Are you using Resco keyboard to overcome the problem? Are you able to use the standard with no problem?
b) Your backlight adjustment screen is okay? Using the standard or replacement which consumes additional memory?
c) What about yout comm manger screen? Are you still using the standard or using a replacement which takes up more memory?
d) Your phone does not leave a hole at the bottom after VJbigpohne is applied? The characters on the keys are centered or also to the edge? I saw VJ555's screen shot and its as beautiful as the standard. Mine is aweful looking, although it works. Are you having the perfect looking screen just like VJ555's or are you putting up with the less than perfect looking screen?
e) Do you use SPbGPRS monitor? When you click the task bar icon, does the pop up screen display correctly? Or are you not using this?
f) Your quick GPS is displaying okay?
g) What is your ROM version?
h) What it your os language?
Thank you for sharing these information.
eaglesteve said:
Hi Moskus,
Thanks for the reply.
May I get more specific about what you're having?
a) You mean your soft input panel (on screen keyboard) is not too tiny? Are you using Resco keyboard to overcome the problem? Are you able to use the standard with no problem?
b) Your backlight adjustment screen is okay? Using the standard or replacement which consumes additional memory?
c) What about yout comm manger screen? Are you still using the standard or using a replacement which takes up more memory?
d) Your phone does not leave a hole at the bottom after VJbigpohne is applied? The characters on the keys are centered or also to the edge? I saw VJ555's screen shot and its as beautiful as the standard. Mine is aweful looking, although it works. Are you having the perfect looking screen just like VJ555's or are you putting up with the less than perfect looking screen?
e) Do you use SPbGPRS monitor? When you click the task bar icon, does the pop up screen display correctly? Or are you not using this?
f) Your quick GPS is displaying okay?
g) What is your ROM version?
h) What it your os language?
Thank you for sharing these information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we have different "standards" for what the problems are.
a. I'm using the Resco keyboard, since the original is not showing up (as described in many other threads here and at the Qtek 9000 forum)
b. The backlight adjustment screen is OK.
c. The Comm Manager is "squished" but usable. I would prefer it if the icons were bigger, but I can use without any serious problems.
d. The phone does leave a gap at the bottom with the last displayed picture, and it would be nice if it didn't. But I can use the phone without problems.
e. I haven't tried SPG GPRS Monitor on this device. However, I do not have problems with the "home icon" that Magic Button is displaying in "Task Bar mode" and I can press/click on the other status indicators.
f. The QuickGPS application is also "squished" together as the Comm Manager is. But I can read when I last updated and I can find the "Update now" button without problems. I am able to use the program, but it could look nicer.
g. My ROM version is 1.25.409.2 (03/21/07).
h. My language is (not supprisingly) norwegian.
So TrueVGA is not perfect, and it probably never will be (until WM6 I hope). But I think the advantages (insert pun here) outweights the disadvantages. Using my Advantage without TrueVGA is not an option for me anymore.
I agree with you that it is not an option for many people. I guess I need to lower my expectation a little. It was just that after seeing the beautiful screen, the initial euphoria was somewhat dampened by the ugly screens for some places and for some program.
I'm using VGA mode most of the time, and use the largest font in the setting>system>screen>font selection due to the strain on my eye if I use other fonts.
One of the key problems that I had using trueVGA initially was that because I could not control the backlight setting, everytime I toggle to VGA mode, it revert to turning backlight off in 10 seconds. There is absolute no way to change it to stay on for longer time. So it was very frustration to look at an extremely dimmed screen which is totally unreadable outdoor. This problem seems to have gone away after two recent hard resets. With that problem gone, I guess I can live with the other imperfection
I had a simular problem with the backlight control --- I have installed "Todaywarrior" and I can control the backlight from the today screen now while in VGA mode.
leblancrs said:
I had a simular problem with the backlight control --- I have installed "Todaywarrior" and I can control the backlight from the today screen now while in VGA mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi leblancrs,
Thanks for this info. What can today warrior do? Does it let you specify the elapsed time before backlight is off?
what else can it do?
You have the website link?
Spb pocket plus can adjust backlight, but not the time elapsed setting, I think.
eaglesteve said:
Hi leblancrs,
Thanks for this info. What can today warrior do? Does it let you specify the elapsed time before backlight is off?
what else can it do?
You have the website link?
Spb pocket plus can adjust backlight, but not the time elapsed setting, I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google is you're friend
http://personales.ya.com/beemer/todaywarrior1.htm
leblancrs said:
I had a simular problem with the backlight control --- I have installed "Todaywarrior" and I can control the backlight from the today screen now while in VGA mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Leblancrs,
Downloaded that and tried it. Unfortunatley, this actually is not doing what I was talking about. While it provides a slider to control the backlight (which I can already do in many different ways without problem in VGA mode), it does not appear to have a facility to specify how many minutes must elapse before backlight is automatically switched off (battery and main would have a different setting of course). Or am I missing out something?
Well ive ordered one of these devices on the basis that Windows Mobile 6 offers VGA. Im pretty confident that is official not just hopeful but Microsoft have been known to dissapoint before.
If thats the case then I guess this device will be up on ebay pretty quick. Im not going through all the stuffing around for VGA like what you're all experiencing and like what I went through for Universal VGA. Despite the fact that converting to VGA seems to be a much easier process now.
Hhhmm
I have installed MW6 on my device and no native vga support I am afraid.
Oh well.
Those screens are way too small with VGA , like being blind!
spacecat said:
Those screens are way too small with VGA , like being blind!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's not. It's like seing alot!
It's absolutely excellent!
Moskus said:
No, it's not. It's like seing alot!
It's absolutely excellent!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used truevga for a while, although I didn't experience quite the same amount of problems as Eaglesteve I did have distorted comms and dialpad screens and was unable to change the brightness. There were a few other niggles but these were the prevalent one.
After getting over the novelty of tiny icons and lots of space on the today screen I eventually removed the program. Now IE and Opera support high resolution it seems like even less reason to use it.
There seems to be no REAL advantage to its use other than to view lots of icons at once.
Taking all the problems into account I can live with chunky icons - they're hardly offensive to the eyes. and I suppose didn't pay good money for a 5" screen to squint and have to get my pen out evey time I want to type something or navigate through menus.
Much as Microsoft DO neglect certain applications and functionlity with windows mobile I think that they have made a conscious decision not to use VGA and this decision would have been made for a reason, though we may never know it.
I'll install MVRTruevga again and give it another try now and see if my opinion alters......
leoni1980 said:
I used truevga for a while, although I didn't experience quite the same amount of problems as Eaglesteve I did have distorted comms and dialpad screens and was unable to change the brightness. There were a few other niggles but these were the prevalent one.
After getting over the novelty of tiny icons and lots of space on the today screen I eventually removed the program. Now IE and Opera support high resolution it seems like even less reason to use it.
There seems to be no REAL advantage to its use other than to view lots of icons at once.
Taking all the problems into account I can live with chunky icons - they're hardly offensive to the eyes. and I suppose didn't pay good money for a 5" screen to squint and have to get my pen out evey time I want to type something or navigate through menus.
Much as Microsoft DO neglect certain applications and functionlity with windows mobile I think that they have made a conscious decision not to use VGA and this decision would have been made for a reason, though we may never know it.
I'll install MVRTruevga again and give it another try now and see if my opinion alters......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are also a number of apps that look pretty strange with MvRTrueVGA. But I'll put up with some cosmetic defects for functionality. I just love being able to see a couple days of appointments, device status, weather info... plus an ilauncher strip, all on my today screen!
wgary said:
There are also a number of apps that look pretty strange with MvRTrueVGA. But I'll put up with some cosmetic defects for functionality. I just love being able to see a couple days of appointments, device status, weather info... plus an ilauncher strip, all on my today screen!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same excitement myself initially, though I found it difficult to press these icons with my fat fingers and inevitably decided that it was easier to just navigate to the program folder and leave essential apps for the today screen. I hope a new VGA solution is developed soon which makes the icons a bit bigger and throws up less garbled screens and program glitches.
In the interim does anyone have link for how to alter the sidebar/ softkey size so they look like thse in MVRtruevga? my internet is very slow on my phone today so searching is proving very frustrating.
Moskus said:
No, it's not. It's like seing alot!
It's absolutely excellent!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your opinion dude , in mine its WAY too small, its not like you need to see so much at once . Who needs the eyestrain
leoni1980 said:
There seems to be no REAL advantage to its use other than to view lots of icons at once.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you ever tried editing an Excel-spreadsheet or Word-document using MrVTrueVga? It's a must.
spacecat said:
your opinion dude , in mine its WAY too small, its not like you need to see so much at once . Who needs the eyestrain
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure it's my opinion, I was just commenting yours...
(To me) There is no eyestrain, so I don't "see" ( ) the problem...
Moskus said:
Have you ever tried editing an Excel-spreadsheet or Word-document using MrVTrueVga? It's a must.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is certainly easier to edit word and excel documents in VGA mode - I'm surprised MS didn't create a highres option for their office apps like the one in PIE.
You can change the default font size via the system>screen menu instead of switching to VGA for a slight improvement.
hi, just few basics please...
how do you know when the battery is fully charged ??
probably really dumb but i didn't really figured it ou exept going in the battery section of WM
thanks
The LEDs will stop flashing (if you had them enabled whilst charging)
ok thanks, and one last crappy question,
do you think that to have the ''self controlin brightness'' of the screen enabled is slowin down the system speed ?
what are (if they exist) the best cache values in xperia tweaker ?
thanks
"do you think that to have the ''self controlin brightness'' of the screen enabled is slowin down the system speed ?"
doubt it
i dont even believe it require actions from the os at all it could be don in hardware
and if it does use the system it's not rocket science equations it have to calc
bill'o said:
hi, just few basics please...
how do you know when the battery is fully charged ??
probably really dumb but i didn't really figured it ou exept going in the battery section of WM
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The obvious way is checking Start-->Settings-->System-->Power. (but you probably know that already, and anyway, it's a mission )
I use homeplusplus (or home++), which has a today screen plugin which gives you lots of indicators (including battery percentage (100% is fully charged)).
Search for the cab (if not in the sticky in this forum) on the Kaiser forum or Rapheal forum, and the best part is it's free.
When you install it, it has two icons on the Today screen (bottom) by default. Click and hold to get the options, and in there include extra rows as well as task bar icons. 10 points to the developer of that software.
A potentially better way of seeing battery percentage is to install SPB mobile Shell, which also has a today screen row (with useful icons and menus alongside the battery status on the main screen). But you got to pay for that.. spbsoftwarehouse.com.
The light sensor polls by default every 200 milliseconds (if I'm not mistaken), as already said - the system load for the polling is negligible.
BUT if you are worried, then there is an option in Start-->Settings-->Power-->Lighting-->Auto Adjust Backlight which you can tick off.
Doubt you will notice any performance gain by doing that.
Good luck!
Cheers
Overview
You've seen these before -- the little green line at the top of the screen that indicates the current battery level. This app is really nothing new or revolutionary. The main difference of BattLineSvc is that it's a true Windows Mobile service, so it does NOT use one of the precious few 32 slots available for processes. You can find more information about services here. This app has been tested on Windows Mobile 5, 6, 6.1, 6.5, and 6.5.3.
CodePlex
BattLineSvc development is hosted at Microsoft CodePlex! http://www.codeplex.com/BattLineSvc
License
Ms-RL
Tip Jar
Like this app? Want more like it or quicker updates? Tip a buck (or Euro or Pound or whatever) or two to help the author out! Click here to make a safe donation via PayPal.
Current features
- Shows a nice bar along the top of your screen to indicate battery status.
- Color changes based on 'warning' and 'critical' battery levels, as well as when the device is on AC power (configurable).
- Immediately correctly resizes when the screen orientiation changes.
- The battery level is updated immediately when the device notifies listeners that battery status has changed (or you can specify an interval if your device isn't sending notifications.
- Can show a bar at the bottom, left, and right sides of the battery bar (if you want it).
- Can be offset from the left and right, if you need it.
- Height of the bar can be changed.
- VERY low resources used -- runs as a TRUE service and uses as close as 0% CPU as is possible by an app like this. So it's good for even older snail devices. :-D
- Has a configuration app (requires .Net CF 3.5)
- AppToDate support!
Recent Changes (See CodePlex or changelog.txt for longer changelog)
- (2.1) Fixed a bug where on system start-up, it would pop up a notification box to let you know the service started. Annoying! And fixed!
- (2.1) Fixed the styles in the notification boxes for start/stop service.
- Fixed bug where sometimes the line would not show up, even with the 90 second boot-up delay. This was due to the window being created too early (not actually delayed, even though the subclassing was properly delayed. Oops!
- Boot delay was reduced to 30 seconds from system start-up; so far no issues with it starting too early!
- Added a "right side offset" which works as the left side offset, but for the right side.
- Added a "right line" which works the same as the left line.
- Added a new color setting for when the battery is charging. (Default is a light gray-blue.)
- Battery status, by default, no longer refreshes on an interval, but instead by waiting for battery notification events. This makes BattLineSvc even more efficient! The interval timer is still there in case your device does not work with events only.
- Reduced the number of subsequent refreshes by requesting a synchronous status refresh; previously it would wait asynchronously which was less efficient since the update could take anywhere from a few milliseconds to several seconds.
- Removed a redundant battery status checking method which monitored the registry (no longer needed because the new power event-based system works better and is more efficient).
- Removed a few other old segments of code that were inefficient.
- Added user notification for starting/stopping the service with the start/stop apps.
- Added a configuration program (yay). Requires .Net CF 3.5. You can still edit the registry manually.
Registry
Look in HKCU\Software\Avian Waves\BattLineSvc
Colors are best edited as hex, using the following pattern: BBGGRR (seems backwards, but it's due to the endedness of DWORDS in CE). Your registry editor may not show leading zeros either, keep that in mind.
- TaskbarClass = (string) Don't change this unless you are 100% positive the taskbar is not named standard.
- Height = (int) Number of pixels tall for the battery line.
- LeftOffset = (int) Number of pixels from the left edge that the battery line starts.
- LowPercent = (int 0-100) What percentage of battery charged is considered low (yellow).
- CriticalPercent = (int 0-100) What percentage of battery charged is considered critical (red).
- ShowLeftLine = (bool) Show the vertical line on the left side of the title bar where the BattLine starts.
- ShowRightLine = (bool) Show the vertical line on the left side of the title bar where the BattLine starts.
- ShowBottomLine = (bool) Show a line on the bottom of the battery bar
- ColorForegroundSolidNormal = (color) For 'normal' (not low) battery charge, this is the foreground color, default is bright green.
- ColorBackgroundSolidNormal = (color) For 'normal' (not low) battery charge, this is the background color, default is dark green.
- ColorForegroundSolidLow = (color) For low battery charge, this is the foreground color, default is bright yellow.
- ColorBackgroundSolidLow = (color) For low battery charge, this is the background color, default is dark yellow / brown.
- ColorForegroundSolidCritical = (color) For critical battery charge, this is the foreground color, default is red.
- ColorBackgroundSolidCritical = (color) For critical battery charge, this is the background color, default is dark red.
- ColorForegroundSolidCharging = (color) For when the device is charging (on AC), this is the foreground color, default is light gray-blue.
- ColorBackgroundSolidCharing = (color) For when the device is charging (on AC), this is the background color, default is dark gray-blue.
- ColorLeftLine = (color) Color of the left line.
- ColorRightLine = (color) Color of the right line.
- ColorBottomLine = (color) Color of the bottom line.
- TimerIntervalSeconds = (int) How often do we look to see if the battery level has changed (in seconds)? NOTE: As of V2, set this value to 0 unless BattLineSvc is not updating on your device. Zero means disabled. This settings is no longer necessary as BattLineSvc now waits for battery notification events, instead of updating on a timer.
Download
CAB Installer: http://battlinesvc.codeplex.com/releases
Source Code: http://battlinesvc.codeplex.com/SourceControl/list/changesets
FAQ
Question: My battery life seems to be draining faster after installing BattLineSvc. Is BattLineSvc causing this?
Answer: Probably not. The current version of BattLineSvc has no active polling. This means that when there is no battery status change happening, BattLineSvc is 100% idle. In Windows Mobile, applications and services are event based. You can set up a "loop" type of system (loop over and over, constantly checking for something), but that's inefficient. Even in older versions of BattLineSvc that made use of TimerIntervalSeconds to update the battery status, the updates were done a timer. So, you see, when BattLineSvc starts, it sets itself up to listen to system events, then it explicitly goes to sleep and waits until it receives a message. This is all handled in the OS and it's the way efficient apps are written in WM.
Okay, so you are wondering, well maybe a lot of events are firing and it's causing more CPU and therefore more battery drain. BattLineSvc listens for battery events and also power change events (on to idle or idle to on). None of these fire very often, unless there is something wrong with your device or your ROM. Even if they did, it wouldn't matter unless they continued to fire when the device was asleep/idle. In WM, an app must request to stay awake when the device goes idle (users presses power button). BattLineSvc is set up to use unattended mode, which is the mode where WM goes into after you press power-off to turn off the screen, but before it's fully asleep. WM gives all apps requesting unattended mode 15 seconds to complete their task. If they need more time, the app must explicitly ask WM by reseting the idle counter timer. BattLineSvc never resets the idle timer! So unless another app is doing this, the device will fully sleep 15 seconds after you press the power button, which is normal WM operation.
Okay, so that's the long winded explanation. But you want answers! Well, I always would encourage you to A/B the situation by running BattLineSvc for a few days, then uninstall it and try it a few days without. I think this will persuade you in 99% of cases. Please don't post on this thread if you have done less than a week's worth of power testing. There are so many thousands of things that can cause battery drain, you can't tell with only a few hours worth of testing.
One thing that causes power drain, which is the TRUE reason most people think a new app did it, is your cellular radio. Sometimes, for random reasons (atmospheric interference, dead zones, cell tower glitchy/busy), your radio has to work harder to get a signal. In fact, sometimes you may notice your phone is warm while its idle and you know you aren't downloading or anything. That's the radio! I've had a fully charged phone go down while it was in my pocket doing nothing in half a day due to this. The next day, all is well. Zero changes on my part. It just happens. It sucks, but, well, there's nothing you can do short of turning off your cellular radio. Luckily its rare unless you know you are driving out of coverage area or something. Which is why apps are blamed sometimes. You install an app, then the power drains and you logically conclude it was that app. You uninstall it the next day, and all seems well. This is why you need several days of testing - to rule out these random things!
Finally, you must test from a full charge. You can't install BattLineSvc when your device is half full, then see the last half of the battery drain faster than your first half and come to any conclusions. Battery drain is not linear! It's subject to the nuances of the battery. Usually the last half of your battery will drain faster than the first half, but it all depends on the detection algorithm and the battery itself. The only true test is from full charge with exactly the same operating conditions (all other apps the same, usage the same, no background tasks like downloads/refreshes happening any different from the previous charge).
Good luck in finding your power drain and I do want to know if it is BattLineSvc, so please report it if you are having an issue, but don't post anything until you've done a full week of testing with BattLineSvc installed and BattLineSvc uninstalled.
Thank you. It seems to work well on my HD2. How can I get rid of the original battery WM6 indicator?
Stephen, search for reg settings called TBOpt and ShowTitleBarClock, You'd probably get Your answer.
What I really wanted to say is that the idea is REALLY nice, although I personally dismissed all the bars and stuck with QMenu's numeric display of battery and memory on the taskbar - tho it's a bit buggy. I guess I am a numbers' freak If someone could rewrite that to a reliable, small, resource-saving service, that I would really appreciate. To date I haven't found such app...
If You need any ideas what to develop, I would be glad to present my list
Good work and respect!
nice job - try to implement "breaks" in the line - like SPB Pocket Plus bar
(so that you actually get a feel of steps)
also looks nicer and feels like it measures something, not like there is something wrong with the pixels at the top of the screen
wm 6.5.5 (build 23540) Touch HD Blackstone
Works fine on said device and build, just changed height to 1 pixel.
Attached a screen shot but can't really see it that well, it's fine in reality.
NLS said:
nice job - try to implement "breaks" in the line - like SPB Pocket Plus bar
(so that you actually get a feel of steps)
also looks nicer and feels like it measures something, not like there is something wrong with the pixels at the top of the screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I probably won't be doing that, at least not soon. I have too many other tasks on my plate at the moment. After creating a config app for this service, I will probably shelve it for a while. It is open source, so feel free to add that feature and I'll roll it into the next version.
Beautiful app. I always admire developers who make the effort to really optimize their application and minimize resource usage. Well done.
I was not able to find any information as to whether ibattery and lvmtopbat (which ibattery is based on), also run as a service. Anybody knows?
thx1200 said:
Overview
You've seen these before -- the little green line at the top of the screen that indicates the current battery level. This app is really nothing new or revolutionary. The main difference of BattLineSvc is that it's a true Windows Mobile service, so it does NOT use one of the precious few 32 slots available for processes. You can find more information about services here. This app has been tested on Windows Mobile 5, 6, 6.1, and 6.5, but NOT 6.5.3. (Can somebody test for me?) There's no configuration app yet, so I hope you like editing the registry if you don't like the default settings. ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi thx1200
No issues so far on my device
Thank you
Currently running 6.5.5 with manila2d. It seems 90 seconds is not enough on my Tilt to startup correctly. If I restart the service it is great. Maybe it can be a parameter in the registry settings.
Thanks
I like it, works great on my Imagio so far. The only improvement I'd like to see would be an additional color to indicate that the battery is being charged.
Good job!
Works well on my Imate Ultimate 8502..
Good job!
good work!
gwinga said:
I like it, works great on my Imagio so far. The only improvement I'd like to see would be an additional color to indicate that the battery is being charged.
Good job!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this would be great. Thanks for making this so lean. Apart from this request, I wouldn't add anything else as it should be kept simple to be really useful.
A really tiny little tool. Will post a screenshot from mine...
One point i have:
It will be very helpfull when there is also a right side offset.
It means with newer skins we have round corners. And with
that the left side offset is wonderfull, but i need also the
right one.
Is this possible for the next version?
Hi
Being color blind, I want to change the colors to more contrast so I found a web Hex Color Chart but when I apply a color code the bar disappears, obviously I'm doing something wrong, can someone help me with this?
Is it supposed to run on smartphones (aka "WM Standard") as well? I don't get it visible despite the service is started after reboot. Do I have to use a different class name for this?
tito12 said:
Hi
Being color blind, I want to change the colors to more contrast so I found a web Hex Color Chart but when I apply a color code the bar disappears, obviously I'm doing something wrong, can someone help me with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@ tito,
you have seen the default colors after the installation and before you have changed something??? Next point from 1st posting:
as sample:
color = green
standard hex = #00FF00
BattLineSvc registry value = ff00
You have done this in this way? The leading zeros are not supported. Otherwise the light goes on now?
Hint:
If you need the hex information for a color and you have further problems with your hex calculator, publish an icon 90x90 pixel and you will receive them.
@thx1200:
i am working on a DUSK skin for your tiny app. Looks good at the moment, but not ready because the right side offset .
tobbbie said:
Is it supposed to run on smartphones (aka "WM Standard") as well? I don't get it visible despite the service is started after reboot. Do I have to use a different class name for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi tobbbie,
i don't think that the app is running on smartphones. So far as i understand the soucre code after reading, is this app not compiled for smartphones. I also have seen for the *.exe this resourceppc.h and this Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC SDK (ARMV4I) and this Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK (ARMV4I) is used. That means it is for powerpc, or i am wrong thx1200?
drfno1 said:
Currently running 6.5.5 with manila2d. It seems 90 seconds is not enough on my Tilt to startup correctly. If I restart the service it is great. Maybe it can be a parameter in the registry settings.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know why this is happening and it will be fixed in the next version (with a much shorter delay).