Database Users

App Request : Enable keypad backlight while screen is on

For any devs out there...
Would it or is it possible to develop an app that will keep the backlight on for the keypad ? i.e. On while the screen is on and go off when the screen goes off ?
In the dark its very annoying when using the Hero and having to fumble for the right key to press - Home, Back, Search etc.

i second that

well erm just press any key and the light will go on dude, you dont need an app for this

So you fumble and hit Home or even power off (to sleep) the screen when you only wanted to hit search or back.
Flicking the scroll wheel is the only way to light up the keys and not press the wrong one by mistake, but that tends to highlight a button, link etc... and sometimes if you hit the ball too hard, you select a screen element.
Still a pain and TBH not like any handset I used before. Backlight time out was always linked to screen time out.

You dont need to hit any key, just move the scroll wheel even slightly and lights come up. And it does need decent amount of pressure to press the scroll button, you wont accidentally press it.

er, yer, I know... but I don't want too

lets just say "even if it doesnt make sense to some people, WE want it!"
btw, there is one app "dark keys" that keeps the backlights of the keypads off all the time. this was made for the white G1. maybe it can simply be rewritten to make the reverse happen?

joemax said:
For any devs out there...
Would it or is it possible to develop an app that will keep the backlight on for the keypad ? i.e. On while the screen is on and go off when the screen goes off ?
In the dark its very annoying when using the Hero and having to fumble for the right key to press - Home, Back, Search etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
i'm beeing annoyed by the keys not being lit as well ...

Glad I'm not the only one

Yeah, I want it too. Thanks for bringing this up!

I think it's good idea, btw it looks cool at night. I want it too

Good idea. +1

So which dev is gong to earn a couple of $$, ££, €€ by writing this for each copy sold then ??

From what I can tell of the API docs (http://developer.android.com/reference/android/os/PowerManager.html, the SDK only allows for the keyboard backlight to be on in FULL_WAKE_LOCK state, meaning the screen will have to be full brightness.
So I don't think this request can be achieved by a pure SDK app.

How come it lights up at any screen brightness on the Hero ?
Surely its also a hardware call and not just an OS call ? These would be independent of Android and particular to each manufactures handset, else they would all be the same.
Not questioning you, but it would seem strange that its not addressable separately to the screen ???

joemax said:
How come it lights up at any screen brightness on the Hero ?
Surely its also a hardware call and not just an OS call ? These would be independent of Android and particular to each manufactures handset, else they would all be the same.
Not questioning you, but it would seem strange that its not addressable separately to the screen ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm by no means an Android SDK expert, just posting what I found in a quick search round the docs. Happy to be proven wrong!
Lee

Of course - wasn't criticising at all

Might be able to dabble in the /sys/class/leds/ folder.
I'll take a look when I get in.
Not a dev though. Lol.

soulehmoo said:
Might be able to dabble in the /sys/class/leds/ folder.
I'll take a look when I get in.
Not a dev though. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
echoing a value to:
/sys/devices/platform/i2c-adapter/i2c-0/0-0066/leds/button-backlight/brightness
through adb shell turns on the backlight.
I think an SDK app could be created as a service with a broadcast receiver listening for the power state changing that just writes a positive value to the file above.
Loads of similar examples here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=565015
I'll take this on, just about got it working.

Wicked thx
You are stars (especially fullerlee)
Don't make it too expensive though

LEDs Hack supports Evo

for those that don't know - LEDs Hack is a free program that allows you to turn your leds on or off at will. this includes notification leds and the menu leds.
the downside is that to get it to work properly you need to have super use 2.0.3. DC has 2.1.1 installed.
this is great for reading in the dark or watching movies, no more light bleeding into the right side!
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.net-geekherd-softbuttonshack-wmjD.aspx

Might I suggest incredilight. It does the dame thing and has adjustable intensities and works with any and all root access(unrevoked or normal)
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Led Desire is extremely impressive also

Edit: something out in left field.

Im not super knowledgeable on LED's but i would imagine its not a good idea to leave them on for an extended period of time...

Edit: ... again, useless post cause I can't read.

the op isnt talking about a flash light he's talking about disabling the light from the capacitive buttons at the bottom of the screen for when hes watching movies..etc

yes, it for the menu/home button lights. it's not a flashlight app.

incredilight is my prefered choice

toenail78 said:
incredilight is my prefered choice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LED's Hack is NOT a flashlight app.

[Q]

Where might I try poking around if I wanted to have the trackball, and the call and end buttons light up with the screen turning on?
Sent from my FroShedYo V10-ERIS using XDA App

on cm roms (like Froyoshedyo), i believe your question was how to make the buttons light up when your phone screen turns on. I dont know if there is a way to turn on the trackball light? probably a program in the market. as for the answer/end and soft keys, home screen->menu->settings.>cyanogenmod settings->user interface->automatic backlight->check use custom under light levels. then go to edit other levels. column on the right is buttons, 255 is on and 0 is off. set them all to 255 to have the front lights turn on whenever your phone screen is on. sorry I cant help with the trackball. also, please post questions in the q&a section in the future. thanks.

Thanks for the reply but my question is deeper than just the settings. I want to edit the system files which control these lights. I don't really like the softkey lights so I wont mess with them. If you've used kaos gingerbread you'll notice they don't light up. Just the answer and end keys do.
Im aware of covedesign from the market. I don't know if pulling it apart will show me where to look but I might try if no one else knows where to look.
Sent from my FroShedYo V10-ERIS using XDA App

mindnumbinglyfun said:
Thanks for the reply but my question is deeper than just the settings. I want to edit the system files which control these lights. I don't really like the softkey lights so I wont mess with them. If you've used kaos gingerbread you'll notice they don't light up. Just the answer and end keys do.
Im aware of covedesign from the market. I don't know if pulling it apart will show me where to look but I might try if no one else knows where to look.
Sent from my FroShedYo V10-ERIS using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah. sorry didn't realize. LEDs Hack is another program on the market that I use to kill my LEDs when my eris is plugged in. the eris is not officially supported but the "sprint htc hero" (not sprint htc hero android 2.2) works for the eris leds. it has an option for trackball led, but it doesnt seem to work for the eris. it can turn various leds on, off, and change state based on different circumstances such as plugging in or time ranges. perhaps the developer would have some idea where to point you. http://www.danvelazco.com

mindnumbinglyfun said:
If you've used kaos gingerbread you'll notice they don't light up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This could just be an unfixed bug ... KGB is still in the development stages, it's not an official release.

capacitive buttons malfunction

I am on LXdroid 0.2 ROM. 366 BB.
Rom running stable since it's release-
This week I observed the phone hung twice.
Today - after ride home - I saw- the back button didn't work!
I restarted - thinking of it as a bug!
Even then it was inactive- I pressed harder
And - it worked - sorta glitchy now.
Then - all three buttons failed to work after some time!
I pulled battery out- restarted - and again the back button was inactive.
__
I let the device go to sleep- woke it up.
And- all three buttons work nice!
No extra pressure- just like before!
__
Folks- am I seeing EOL of my device?
:crying:
I would want to stick to it - at least till Quadcores became the norm..
Please advise,
Sony.
P.S. No new apps or anything - in the last few weeks.
EDIT- Back button needs some amount of force! to be used now.

besony said:
I am on LXdroid 0.2 ROM. 366 BB.
Rom running stable since it's release-
This week I observed the phone hung twice.
Today - after ride home - I saw- the back button didn't work!
I restarted - thinking of it as a bug!
Even then it was inactive- I pressed harder
And - it worked - sorta glitchy now.
Then - all three buttons failed to work after some time!
I pulled battery out- restarted - and again the back button was inactive.
__
I let the device go to sleep- woke it up.
And- all three buttons work nice!
No extra pressure- just like before!
__
Folks- am I seeing EOL of my device?
:crying:
I would want to stick to it - at least till Quadcores became the norm..
Please advise,
Sony.
P.S. No new apps or anything - in the last few weeks.
EDIT- Back button needs some amount of force! to be used now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the phone is quite vulnerable if it is not inside something that protective... even so.. you might want to try this... just rub the capacitive panel for few minutes and then restart... that should do the job.. taken from _n0p_ advice...

Maybe you need a rom have capacitive button on status bar to reduce have to push phone capacitive button frequently
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk 2

Have you tried using an app called button savior. Works like a charm
Sent from my Dell Streak using xda premium

for now it's ok.
deysmacro said:
the phone is quite vulnerable if it is not inside something that protective... even so.. you might want to try this... just rub the capacitive panel for few minutes and then restart... that should do the job.. taken from _n0p_ advice...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just did exactly that ( hoping for some mumbo jumbo to happen ) expecting it to heal itself
For now - it has healed. :gulp:
Well- I use a silicone case- and I am sure it only sits in my (loose) pockets for 1 hour of commute.
rest of the time it is pampered in A/c environment and non-humind climate of my city.
Still - I will try to keep it cleaner.
nom051205 said:
Maybe you need a rom have capacitive button on status bar to reduce have to push phone capacitive button frequently
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be a last resort!
is there anything like that already!?
anthmur said:
Have you tried using an app called button savior. Works like a charm
Sent from my Dell Streak using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will def- try that!
Thank you all for such prompt help.
For now- it's working fine :fingers-crossed:
Cheers,
Sony.

I'm working on one of cm7 rom from HD2 and HTC Desire, found that cm7 have softbutton on statusbar.
You can choose which soft button you want to show in settings/cyanogenmod settings/tablet tweaks.
I include in this zip file newer camera.apk, if you don't want it just open this zip file use winrar / 7 zip then delete it.
Remember, always nandroid backup before flashing anything.
Hope this can help save your capacitive button.

nom051205 said:
I'm working on one of cm7 rom from HD2 and HTC Desire, found that cm7 have softbutton on statusbar.
You can choose which soft button you want to show in settings/cyanogenmod settings/tablet tweaks.
I include in this zip file newer camera.apk, if you don't want it just open this zip file use winrar / 7 zip then delete it.
Remember, always nandroid backup before flashing anything.
Hope this can help save your capacitive button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
interesting.. will try this one out and see how it performs
EDIT: working great

nom051205 said:
I'm working on one of cm7 rom from HD2 and HTC Desire, found that cm7 have softbutton on statusbar.
You can choose which soft button you want to show in settings/cyanogenmod settings/tablet tweaks.
I include in this zip file newer camera.apk, if you don't want it just open this zip file use winrar / 7 zip then delete it.
Remember, always nandroid backup before flashing anything.
Hope this can help save your capacitive button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Superb!!!!!!
My cap buttons are fine for 2 days now! So - looks like that was just random.
But,
I am installing the zip and using these buttons as much possible!
Cheers to your efforts!
Thanks,
Sony.

What is the point of the led lights in the back/recents capacitive buttons?

I mean really, there needs to be option to have them on always when the screen is on. As of right now, they simply flash for about half a second after pressing one. I figured the point of them would be so you can easily see the buttons and press them?
The way it is makes them very hard to find in the dark.
Am I missing something?

Agreed makes no sense the way it is

I agree 100%. When I heard they were lit I was happy and thought it'd be like on a Samsung. But these little dots are useless, you can barely see them and the only light up once you have already hit the key, anyway.

I think they are doing everything to improve battery time even if it takes away good features. Same goes for proximity wave to peek at the ambient screen. They removed that with the first update. They should give us the option if we want to waste battery on certain features.

Personally I think the current consumption of the two LED's under those capacitive buttons is so small that might not even be measurable.
So having those two LED's lit while the screen is on could only bring benefits!

Use Keyboard Backlight Controller from Playstore. Works. Perfect. Needs only to be reactived after reboot. It's free and open source.

exis_tenz said:
Use Keyboard Backlight Controller from Playstore. Works. Perfect. Needs only to be reactived after reboot. It's free and open source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to require root - is that correct?
Alan

exis_tenz said:
Use Keyboard Backlight Controller from Playstore. Works. Perfect. Needs only to be reactived after reboot. It's free and open source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thanks a ton.
alan sh said:
Seems to require root - is that correct?
Alan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it required root.

ArkAngel06 said:
I mean really, there needs to be option to have them on always when the screen is on. As of right now, they simply flash for about half a second after pressing one. I figured the point of them would be so you can easily see the buttons and press them?
The way it is makes them very hard to find in the dark.
Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes as much sense as a widget displaying the current weather. On some devices you can disable them without root. Perhaps they should be used as notifications on devices with no LED.

Haven't thought about that! They could easily be used for some fancy, animated notifications!

exis_tenz said:
Use Keyboard Backlight Controller from Playstore. Works. Perfect. Needs only to be reactived after reboot. It's free and open source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm failing to find this app, could you provide me a direct link? I would love to be able to have these lights on all the time.
Thanks!

MZGSZM said:
I'm failing to find this app, could you provide me a direct link? I would love to be able to have these lights on all the time.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's apparently been removed from the App store, maybe by the author.
I have the apk as an attachment on this post. If someone sees this and would like it removed, just let me know.