Database Users

Can it autochange to landscape when running program/charging

Hi, I'd like some small utility that will automatically change my screen orientation to landscape whenever I run a specific program. E.g. for TomTom it would be good for the main desktop, not just TomTom, to change to landscape so calls/texts come in the right way round (as I use the device landscape for SatNav).
Alternative could be for it to rotate to landscape when charging in the car charger (but not via USB charger!).
Anyone?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?p=207896#207896
Rotating on power connection is possible but would require someone to write an app for it.
V

Thanks, but I can't see that it shows how to rotate the screen when I launch TomTom?

You could use MortScript to launch TomTom and rotate the screen.
I can't think of any 'background' application that continuously monitors what application is active and change the screen orientation accordingly, though.
I think it's impossible to detect whether you're charging over USB or over the car charger, though. You *might* be able to detect whether there is an actual USB connection, and deduce from that... maybe.

ZeBoxx is correct I think. It would be easy enough (again!) to have a background monitor, but you tell it you're in car mode or 0 gravity mode or whatever, and it switches by your preferences.
Also switching by active app is doable (VJBigPhone does a similar thing).
I believe BeyondTheTech has posted some info on preparing mortscripts for auto rotation. Clever chap.
V

Well, if it's easy enough to do - I'm all for modularity of systems.
So if a background application could be made that basically monitors what app is active, and run another application based on an application active state changes, then auto-rotation-by-app and such is easily done in conjunction with one of those screen rotation programs.

Phonealarm can do it easy!
You can set CAR profile to rotate screen just when charge PDA without activesync!
But... this program is not yet WM5 compatible... is beta version... TEST.

yeah, that's what I meant. There's probably no way to detect whether an outlet, car, or computer/laptop/etc. is charging.
But you -can- detect whether there's an active USB connection. If there isn't, you could assume it's on either the outlet or car charger (and similar).

TomTom - Landscape or Portrait?

I am in the process of getting tomtom for my wizard as well as a gps device. I need to buy a cradle for the car and was just wondering if the tomtom users out there could tell me wether tomtom runs in landscape or portrait or both, if both which is better?

Hi, it runs in both modes very happily, although it does not automatically switch between landscape and portrait when you slide out the keyboard. You have to manually rotate the screen using the tomtom menu which can be a little frustrating.
I personally always use portait as it fits in the car holder easier, plus you can use the car charger in portrait mode, not in landscape (i guess that depends on the type of car holder you have)

Not sure about other users but i find the landscape mode very slow to update?

i'd definately say portrait because the road ahead is more important than side roads and you can see turnings and junctions earlier in portrait mode.

definitely landscape.
The Wizard screen is too small for having a good view. Also the info at the bottom will be too small.
The wider screen (landscape) also gives better view on ie. roundabouts.
I use the Brodit landscape holder

well thanks for your help guys, as it clears up nothing
i gues i will just have to installl tomtom first then decide for myself....

i use a magnetic disk from CPW and put the metal strip under back cover so when i want it landscape i just turn the phone. secure enough for me.

To all you tom tom owners out there...
On your tom tom install disk is there both palm and PPC software? I got Tom Tom for my treo 650 for christmas, but it will only install to the palm. I seen nothing for the PPC.
I have contacted tom tom and they say i can install it, but that's no help since i do not have it on the disk. Any ideas?
I don't want to go buy it again!!
-John
Cingular 8125

I started to use mine in portrate , then switched to landscape, and getting a wider view is definatly better for me. It makes the readout at the bottom easyer to read. Only bad thing is reading a sideways screen when trying to make a call
TomTom Go's, and Pretty much all other sat navs are landscape, so there must be something in it

Best of both!
My brodit holder is mounted on a tilt swivel. Besides fitting very accurate, there is a possibility to rotate the entire holder 90 degrees. I prefer TT landscape but the use of the keyboard in the holde rmakes no sense... So go for the portrait holder!

Best of both!
My brodit holder is mounted on a tilt swivel. Besides fitting very accurate, there is a possibility to rotate the entire holder 90 degrees. I prefer TT landscape but the use of the keyboard in the holde rmakes no sense... So go for the portrait holder!

Landscape mode doesn't stay on.

I have a HTC wizard, with the latest ROM upgrade, but I have a problem. I dont know if this is related to the latest iMate ROM, but when I put my screen in landscape mode it rotates the screen correctly.
Only when I open and close the phone again, the screen is rotated back again. I want to keep the screen on landscape mode.
Is there a way to keep it on landscape and avoid this 'bug'?

it's not a bug, it's a feature
And no - nobody has any ready solution. Would probably require hacking the keyboard driver to stop the call to change the screen orientation. Either that, or have a TSR running which continually monitors the screen orientation and switches to Landscape if Portrait is detected. That would be a lot easier, but such battery more

Weird, because when you select that option "Settings->System->Screen->orientation" you would think it would be a permanent thing .

it would be if it weren't for the fancy slide-out keyboard and the fancy people behind it who thought it would be a good idea to automatically change the orientation to Landscape when slid out (which probably IS a good idea) and back to Portrait when slid back in ( which is a good idea if the device was in Portrait when it was first slid out, but not a very good idea if it was in Landscape to begin with %) )

its just lazy design.

That is really too bad. I found a hint which file to pach : keybddr.dll, but I dont think I can do that

Dissasembly, screen rotate broken

I recently replaced the screen in my 6800 - (I'm out of insurance replacements, and I don't like the Touch Pro Verizon offered me very much.)
The dissasembly and re-assembly went swimmingly - except for the fact that my phone now reverts to Landscape every time it wakes up, as if the switch that detects the sliding motion is broken or disconnected.
Does anyone have any details of where this switch is and how it works? I have heard mention of it being a magnetic reed switch, but I also see a little tab of metal in the slide mechanism that looks like a contact closure point for this.
Any ideas or information?

I know this isn't probably the best answer, but have you looked into software that will rotate the screen? You could then assign that software to a button and rotate that way.

Yeah, I have "Screen Rotate" mapped to the messaging button, but it still reverts to landscape every time the phone goes to sleep, even if I set the screen mode to "portrait" in the settings.
I took it apart all the way again last night, I still can't find any sign of the mechanism it uses to detect open/close.

There are some metal ground clips on the lcd side that I think it uses to sense its location. If you slide the phone out you will see a gold colored clip in one of the slide groves.

Navigation Program on E-ink in Landscape mode and without switching off

Hello,
the E-Ink display is perfect for a navigation program, if I drive a motorbike, but there are many problems. Maybe it is already solved by other users.
If I start it as E-Ink-App, the display is only in Portrait mode, but my holder is horizontal.
If I start it with Yota Mirror, the display is going to Energy Saving after a short time. It is not possible, to switch it on again, while driving.
Does anybody know, how to use a navigation program in Landscape mode on the E-Ink display?
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I have changed the holder for the yotaphone to vertical now.