Database Users

HTC Magic Screen Question

Hey guys,
New to these forums here, Love the forums, not much of a linux-head I just do VHDL & Verilog
Enough for the intro; I have a question and I hope somebody here can help.
I bought the rogers Magic not too long ago, came from the iPhone 3GS and noticed something peculiar which I hope is not a fault of my device.
I noticed that if you have your Magic laying flat, and you try to swipe or actually touch the screen, it does not register anything. I have to have it in my hand for it to actually register any input from my fingers! Is this normal? or is it a manufacturing fault?
I tested it against my iPhone and even though they're both capacitive, it seems like the range of sensitivity might be toned down quite a bit on the Magic compared to the Apple device?
Thank you,
GenoMalice!

Mine doesn't do that. That's odd!

Taknarosh said:
Mine doesn't do that. That's odd!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, just to clarify Taknarosh
You can keep the phone lying flat, on your bed for example, and swipe around and it registers your swipes?
Thanks for the reply,
GenoMalice

I just tested mine lying flat and it seems to work fine.
I have the 32B Vodafone UK version, although I doubt that makes a difference.

You know I was just thinking about this as well, I've got the same issue with my 32B. I've noticed that it sometimes registers when the phone is not held/touched by another hand. But that is a strange issue...

I have two Magics (32A and 32B) and they both behave the same way you described. It is much easer to make phone response to the touching if you hold the device in your hand.

omg this happens to me too! if its laying on my desk the touch screen almsot never registers. when its in my hand or on a cloth or something it has no problems!

what rom are you using?
when i first got my rogers htc magic, it was exactly as you described. After I rooted it and started using myhero, the problem disappeared, i can now perfectly control my phone even if it's on a flat surface.

same issue on both stock 1.6 and latest CM 4.2.8.1.. I highly doubt this is a software issue

i also having a same prob .. maybe the htc magic need reboot .. after flashing new ROM .. the problem disappear .. weird ...

Same issue here, most of the time it is with my car mount while using Google nav. I'm using CM 4.2.11.2 on a 32A. It will not recognize my finger or the tip of my thumb but if I use the flat part of my thumb (quite awkward at a arms length by the way) it works fine. I also have had this happen when on a desk, it seems to be more noticeable when my hands are cold (maybe coincidence)

Sorry Double Post

It is issue connected with capacitive screen. The phone needs ground. It is not working good not because of flat surface, but because it needs ground. So when phone is on the wooden surface or it is in car handheld - then screen is less responsive.
You can test it. Lay your phone down where usually it is less responsive, and then plug in charger. The phone will be grounded, and screen will act like holded in hand
Sorry about my english, I know it is not good.

mastermid said:
It is issue connected with capacitive screen. The phone needs ground. It is not working good not because of flat surface, but because it needs ground. So when phone is on the wooden surface or it is in car handheld - then screen is less responsive.
You can test it. Lay your phone down where usually it is less responsive, and then plug in charger. The phone will be grounded, and screen will act like holded in hand
Sorry about my english, I know it is not good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have noticed this problem when using the phone on a car mount too. Now I understand why. Thank you.

mastermid said:
It is issue connected with capacitive screen. The phone needs ground. It is not working good not because of flat surface, but because it needs ground. So when phone is on the wooden surface or it is in car handheld - then screen is less responsive.
You can test it. Lay your phone down where usually it is less responsive, and then plug in charger. The phone will be grounded, and screen will act like holded in hand
Sorry about my english, I know it is not good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the extra-late reply but this is, pardon me, retarded.
You do know that the outershell of the phone is all plastic, right? And you do know that plastic is non-conductive, right? So, how the hell is your hand grounding the phone if all your touching is plastic?
The real answer to why so many of us have this problem with the Magic is most likely because HTC cheaped out and put some crap plastic covering over the display instead of glass a la iPhone/Nexus One/Milestone/Droid or even Hero.
P.S. I moved on from the Magic to the Milestone and couldn't have been happier... EFF ROGERS for ruining it for me!

Maybe because when a phone is flat you touch the screen differently. Think about it; when you have your phone in your palm and are using either your thumb or index finger, you are most likely touching the screen between the pad and tip of your finger, or the pad of your finger. Lay your phone flat on a table and you try like many other people try to do; touching the phone with the tip of your finger. This makes it a bit more difficult for touch capabilities to recognize the heat signature from your finger.
This could be the issue entirely because I lay my phone flat and never had a problem except for my fingers and wrist hurting from odd angles of approach to use my phone.

Screen Calibration

On my G1 there was a menu setting for re-calibrating your touch screen matrix. I have not found that settings page on my Vibrant. I think I may have a faulty phone, cause when I'm charging my phone and try using the XDA App, I scroll the screen a little, and it takes off at high speed to the end of the posts. It does this only while charging. Playing games while charging is nearly impossible, as I hit one spot on my screen, and it triggers a whole other area. Sims 3 is a really good one for it to mess with me. Is anyone else having these probs? I just want to know if it is hardware or software related.

You have to use a better charger. The cheaper chargers tend to do these with touch phones.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Coming from an iphone, there does seem to be a slight difference in terms of the area on the screen my fingers activate. On the iphone, a touch registers slightly higher up on the screen than the Vibrant. I suspect that Apple raised the area of activation on the screen in order to compensate for the fact that the pad of your finger is lower than the area just under the tip of your finger so that it would feel more as if you are pointing to the link and not have to worry about making contact with the bottom of your finger. I hope that made sense. Now, on my Vibrant, I have to focus on raising my finger ever so slightly because I am constantly selecting the link below the one intended.

Um, not my problem. When charging, my phone will sense a touch up to 1 inch away from where I actually touch it. But when not charging, it works perfectly fine. I think it is a heat or magnetic field issue messing with my touch screen only during the charge cycle.

I use the charger that was included with the phone and it works fine.
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using the XDA app

Shagman68 said:
Um, not my problem. When charging, my phone will sense a touch up to 1 inch away from where I actually touch it. But when not charging, it works perfectly fine. I think it is a heat or magnetic field issue messing with my touch screen only during the charge cycle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very well could be.

Screen acting weird

Hi,
I have been using the x 10 for about a couple of months now... one thing I don't get is why the screen goes all weird on you and randomly presses buttons if you have moisture in your hands etc. For example if I get out of a shower and start using my phone, it never presses the keys I want it to press, just randomly presses all the buttons. Sometimes I hit the backspace and it doesn't stop even after I take my finger off of it. Tries to erase the entire line. Even if I have some sort of dirt or dust on my fingers and it comes in contact with the screen, same thing happens.
So is this something that is happening with all of your phones or just mine?
Sent from my X10a using XDA App

I guess this is a property of capacitive touch technology. Happens on my synaptic trackpad all the time.

mmsbludhound said:
I guess this is a property of capacitive touch technology. Happens on my synaptic trackpad all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
really? it never happened on my other phones even though i had capacitive... i do agree it happens sometimes with my trackpad as well, but not to the level the x10 does... heck if i get close the screen and blow on it the damn thing will start pressing keys... ever had that?

saketh321 said:
really? it never happened on my other phones even though i had capacitive... i do agree it happens sometimes with my trackpad as well, but not to the level the x10 does... heck if i get close the screen and blow on it the damn thing will start pressing keys... ever had that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was just a guess. And I've just tried blowing hard on my X10's screen, didn't work

hmm... damn i cant even exchange my phone... it doesnt have warranty

I noticed the same issue. To fix it i put on a screen protector (i took off the stock one) and updated to 026. Its been a week with no problems.
Sent from my X10a using XDA App

been having same problems....from call log...i ll dial the wrong number.
when i type something,..the keyboard will totally type out some different letters.
especially when hands are moist..which they mostly are...not wet..just moist.
doesnt happen on iphones at all.
thinking of changing the stock screen protector

I have experienced something similar, but not as extreme, when I have damp hands.
Removing the screen protector did cause an issue for a mate regarding over sensitivity.
Capacitive screens certainly do seem to prefer dry skin though.
Swyped from my rooted X10i using XDA.

i have the same problem but mine is with the stock screen protector on, does any 1 have a fix yet it really is driving me mad to appoint its nearly went out my bedroom window!!

It does happen on iPhones (both first and second gen) owned them both and it was pointless to even attempt to use it. The only fix is to keep the screen dry.

Touchpad randomly activates

Has anyone else experienced their cursor randomly moving around while trying to type or pages scrolling while they're trying to read? My G2 has been doing this fairly frequently and I can send it back but I'm somewhat afraid to since mine does not have the hinge issue and (so far) has pretty damn good battery life. I don't want to just swap one problem for two more

It happened to me once, but I have yet to see it happen again. Strange though.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Mine is rediculous. Can hardly type. I also don't have the hinge problem, but the trackpad is all over the place.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

my screen with wake up sometimes for no reason, it seems there may be a bug with the the Sense, cause it hangs up on calls all the time, and makes selections

Dalamak said:
my screen with wake up sometimes for no reason, it seems there may be a bug with the the Sense, cause it hangs up on calls all the time, and makes selections
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have the Desire Z?

Mine does the same thing with the cursor. Makes it very difficult to type a lot of the time. The only thing I can think of is maybe it's a lighting condition... maybe light reflects on the trackpad a certain way that makes it think your finger has moved over it.
I hope there's a way to fix it!

Im curious, are you folks charging when youre having these issues? i had the problem temporarily when i first got the phone so i unplugged the usb cable and havent had it since.

no mystery here guys. it's changing light conditions that are affecting the optical pad. it's the same notion as an optical mouse, if the light doesn't reflect back right it can go all over the place. try finding someplace with a strong overhead light and angling the g2 back and forth and you'll see it activate the pad. that's how it works, light not touch.

Had the same problem, only when charging tho.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

scotolsen said:
no mystery here guys. it's changing light conditions that are affecting the optical pad. it's the same notion as an optical mouse, if the light doesn't reflect back right it can go all over the place. try finding someplace with a strong overhead light and angling the g2 back and forth and you'll see it activate the pad. that's how it works, light not touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are correct...the desk at work has spot where light can come through...when I have my phone laying flat the screen starts to go crazy!!, I was like wtf. It ONLY does it in this spot,no where else...I guess that explains everything
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Yes, I'm definitely having this issue. I started a thread a while ago about it. I took a video of it happening, too.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=799435
I have track lighting in my apartment, and that's what I think is triggering it. Mine's not as bad as the rest of yours seem to be. It very rarely "goes all over the place" for me. It just highlights random buttons once in a while. I can see how if it activates during typing that it would be a huge pain in the ass.
Stupid optical trackpad... was was wrong with a track ball? I never had a problem with my G1's trackball. Doesn't HTC test these things?

Yup, that explains it. That was my suspicion. Especially since when using Swype (where my hand covers light going to the trackpad) it never does it. It's never been while charging, though - not specifically, at least.
Try holding it towards a light and wave it around. You'll see the cursor jump around. Makes sense. Kind of annoying, but at least it's not a defect.

linkage2424 said:
Yup, that explains it. That was my suspicion. Especially since when using Swype (where my hand covers light going to the trackpad) it never does it. It's never been while charging, though - not specifically, at least.
Try holding it towards a light and wave it around. You'll see the cursor jump around. Makes sense. Kind of annoying, but at least it's not a defect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually had to stop using swype because it would happen EVERY time I tried to write in portrait mode

Strange, but it could just be the difference of how we hold our hands or something to that effect. I think the lighting thing does explain it, though.

linkage2424 said:
Strange, but it could just be the difference of how we hold our hands or something to that effect. I think the lighting thing does explain it, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my thought as well, T-Mobile should include a "how to hold" guide in the box

This happens to me whenever I try to use the phone when I'm sitting on the couch with my back to the window. Only place it happens.

Called T-Mobile a few days ago about this and the hinge issue and they immediately issued me a replacement. Probably won't be any better but worth a try right? And if it keeps giving me problems then I'll keep exchanging it until the Nexus Two comes out lol

Need help explaining an odd issue.

I really cannot figure out this issue I'm having. Basically, I have the black rubberish/flexible case that T-Mobile sells. Once in a while, while using the touch keyboard ( stock gingerbread, I'm using cm7.) A couple letters become unresponsive. Most work, but others will not.
Weird thing is, when this happens and I take the case off, all goes back to normal. Maybe I'm missing something here, but how could the case cause this?
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

kimbernator said:
I really cannot figure out this issue I'm having. Basically, I have the black rubberish/flexible case that T-Mobile sells. Once in a while, while using the touch keyboard ( stock gingerbread, I'm using cm7.) A couple letters become unresponsive. Most work, but others will not.
Weird thing is, when this happens and I take the case off, all goes back to normal. Maybe I'm missing something here, but how could the case cause this?
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the case is applying pressure to the device and for some reason making the screen less responsive. I have this with my TPU-S Curve case and the one with the kickstand on it.

I actually believe that is a CM7 bug. I have experienced the same problem on recent nightlies. Some keys on the keyboard will go unresponsive, while others will work. Occasionally the entire keyboard locks up. Once, the keyboard worked but the image of the keyboard didn't show up (tapping in random spots on a webpage resulted in text being typed, lol).

synaesthetic said:
I actually believe that is a CM7 bug. I have experienced the same problem on recent nightlies. Some keys on the keyboard will go unresponsive, while others will work. Occasionally the entire keyboard locks up. Once, the keyboard worked but the image of the keyboard didn't show up (tapping in random spots on a webpage resulted in text being typed, lol).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have evil's unity rom so it cant be cm only. I havent tried the kb without the case off though.

synaesthetic said:
I actually believe that is a CM7 bug. I have experienced the same problem on recent nightlies. Some keys on the keyboard will go unresponsive, while others will work. Occasionally the entire keyboard locks up. Once, the keyboard worked but the image of the keyboard didn't show up (tapping in random spots on a webpage resulted in text being typed, lol).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everyone experiences that in any rom, even stock, once in a while. The point is, some letters work, some dont. The ones that dont work usually are not even close to each other. and EVERY time it happens, I take off the case and it goes back to normal.
As for the theory that the case was causing pressure, the chances of that are slim for two reasons:
1. It hardly even reaches over the glass. at most, a couple millimeters. http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/AddOns...48e2-bb7a-0e5d354aefa7&inCart=True&catCode=21
2. Being a gel skin, it doesn't really cause pressure to the phone at all. (I could be wrong here, it just seems unlikely.)
This just baffles me because I KNOW its the case causing it but I can't begin to comprehend why.

Ace42 said:
Maybe the case is applying pressure to the device and for some reason making the screen less responsive. I have this with my TPU-S Curve case and the one with the kickstand on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just for kicks I tried applying pressure to the edges of the screen using the gel case while typing. I also wiggled the phone around in the case so I could test all positions, all while typing away and nothing could reproduce the unresponsiveness.

kimbernator said:
Just for kicks I tried applying pressure to the edges of the screen using the gel case while typing. I also wiggled the phone around in the case so I could test all positions, all while typing away and nothing could reproduce the unresponsiveness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only solution is to ditch the case or just deal with the screen not responding.

Ace42 said:
The only solution is to ditch the case or just deal with the screen not responding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've come to this conclusion as well. The only thing keeping me from ditching the case is the fact that this is one dang slippery phone.

kimbernator said:
I've come to this conclusion as well. The only thing keeping me from ditching the case is the fact that this is one dang slippery phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's true and I like the case to protect it when it falls.

Perhaps the gel case is electrically conductive? I noticed one day I was caught in the rain and some raindrops fell on my touchscreen, which caused random things to be selected until I wiped the water off.

It actually might not be the case... The myTouch 4G's screen has random spots that die temporarily for no reason, and keeping away from the screen or locking and unlocking it can revive the spots. It's not the case at all, probably just the time it takes you to take off the case that the spots revive and convince you that it's the case. Try letting it sit for about 20 seconds when the screen dies and see what happens.

synaesthetic said:
Perhaps the gel case is electrically conductive? I noticed one day I was caught in the rain and some raindrops fell on my touchscreen, which caused random things to be selected until I wiped the water off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Water does that. Wet a paper towel and you'll see.

GazaIan said:
It actually might not be the case... The myTouch 4G's screen has random spots that die temporarily for no reason, and keeping away from the screen or locking and unlocking it can revive the spots. It's not the case at all, probably just the time it takes you to take off the case that the spots revive and convince you that it's the case. Try letting it sit for about 20 seconds when the screen dies and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When at home I use the phone without the case quite regularly. I've never had this issue when the case isn't on.
In fact, I can usually (Without taking the case off) go back to the homescreen and do stuff, all spots being responsive, while the keyboard is acting funky. The keyboard itself has the issue but nothing else, even when using the same touchscreen spots.
It's such an odd correlation, the keyboard software itself and the case. Yet there has to be something that one does to the other.
Also, just to make this clear - this ONLY happens to the keyboard. If that theory was correct I would experience this in any app

I noticed this also when I first bought my phone, bought the rubber case the same day. after a couple of months, the letters towards the end of the keyboard would become less responsive and I had no idea why. took the case off and it went away. so I ditched the rubber case and got a TPU, never had the problem since then. I think over time the rubber case gets a bit stretchier and bigger, causing you to have to sort of roll your finger around/over the case to press the keyboard buttons on the end(unless in landscape mode)

You know I've always had this problem, and I thought I was the lone soul that had this retarded hardware (maybe software?) issue. I was on Royal Ginger 2.1 and never had this problem. But then subsequently left RG and started using ROM's like Virtual Fusion, MIUI, Virtual Unity, CM7 RC1 and other CM7 nightlies and all of them I've had the problem where some of my keys would just stop working, most noticeably the "delete" key. Other keys like the letters "P" and other vowels would cause the same problem as well. So I figured it's just another list to add on to the plethora of hardware defects that plagues this phone. I've used several KB's as well such as Flex T9, SwiftKey X, SmartKeyboard Pro and even the stock GB keyboard and problem still persisted in all of them.
So I thought what the hell might as well flash Royal Ginger 2.1 to see if the problem is still there and after 2 days I have yet to encounter it! So now I'm baffled... I was for sure that it was hardware related but now I don't get why it's not happening ONLY to Royal Ginger...
I have had the same case on my phone, it's a TPU case. I know it is not the cases' fault as it's always on my phone even now when I'm on RG where I have yet to experience that problem even once.
So I'm pretty much dumbfounded...

I don't think it's the case. I thought it was a ROM thing... agreeing with mackster on this... haven't had a problem while on RoyalGinger 2.1, but have encountered it on CM7 RC1, MIUI & Virtuous Unity...
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App