Database Users

[Q] Dark screen app (?) to reduce brightness? Is it possible?

Hello
I have a Samsung I9000 Galaxy S which is way too bright even at the lowest setting.
Anyways so I got an idea of an app but I dont know whether its technically possible or not!
So is it possible to create an App that works just like a transparent dark glass which covers your screen and you see through it and can perform all functions normally but due to the app the screen becomes dark so that it doesn't strain the eyes?
Also current "minimum" brightness on the Galaxy S is "10" even with 3rd party apps. Is it a limitation of Android or Samsung firmware? Also is it technically possible to go into - values such as "-30" ?

Ah, great topic. I have the same problem on my HTC Desire. Interesting to hear what the experts have to say.

Yeah these amoled screens are uber bright!

Download AdjBrightness from the market, it rules.

Grus said:
Download AdjBrightness from the market, it rules.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have read on the net that it doesnt work for Galaxy S.

The app is called screen filter. Don't really know too much about it other than it works fantastically well and its free. Reduces brightness to almost nothing if you want, and the app functions as a widget for toggling as well.
I've been going around posting this in as many places as i can because this freaking app really helped me out, I could hardly look at the screen in the dark at all but now its good to go. Hopefully help some new galaxy purchasers out.

You can't go into minus values but you can set it to 0, which is 1 above the screen actually being off.
You need to be rooted, then you can just adjust the value with adb.

mr_schticker said:
The app is called screen filter. Don't really know too much about it other than it works fantastically well and its free. Reduces brightness to almost nothing if you want, and the app functions as a widget for toggling as well.
I've been going around posting this in as many places as i can because this freaking app really helped me out, I could hardly look at the screen in the dark at all but now its good to go. Hopefully help some new galaxy purchasers out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screen filter works amazing! This is exactly what I was looking for, Thanks.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Screen unable to show accurate yellows.

Has this been fixed with firmware updates or now that custom roms are able to be loaded?
Or is the screen just that terrible?
Sent from my microwave

I've heard this complain before but I don't seem to have this issue.. or perhaps I'm color blind or something lol.
I do intend to not have much yellow more so red and black on my screen than anything..
Is it really THAT MUCH of a nuisance?

it is really annoying, and unfortunately i'm pretty sure it's hardware-based due to the PenTile display. there are plenty of previous discussions on this so please search back and read up on it there.

seh6183 said:
Has this been fixed with firmware updates or now that custom roms are able to be loaded?
Or is the screen just that terrible?
Sent from my microwave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not terrible for me. It's just the way our screen is.
Our screen was built for -> battery saving, that's why color reproduction has problems.
And for me the choice paid off, I am getting the best battery life than with any android smartphone.
If color reproduction was more important to you, you shouldn't have bought an Atrix.

Supposedly pentile screens also have advantages with sunlight visibility.My wife has an HTC Desire S, and it is literally unviewable in the Sun and yet mine remained completely usable and clear. She was not impressed and I was left gloating

dLo GSR said:
it is really annoying, and unfortunately i'm pretty sure it's hardware-based due to the PenTile display. there are plenty of previous discussions on this so please search back and read up on it there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im well aware of the problem and there is no need for me to do a search. This is why I'm asking if the problem has been addressed. Doing a search will only net me what I already know as no one talks about this issue anymore.
Sent from my microwave

xploited said:
It's not terrible for me. It's just the way our screen is.
Our screen was built for -> battery saving, that's why color reproduction has problems.
And for me the choice paid off, I am getting the best battery life than with any android smartphone.
If color reproduction was more important to you, you shouldn't have bought an Atrix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're getting the best battery life of any android phone because you have the biggest battery of any android phone LOL
And there is no reason in the world why inaccurate color reproduction would EVER result in better battery life. Unless of course you're talking about switching a screen to black and white.
Sent from my microwave

seh6183 said:
You're getting the best battery life of any android phone because you have the biggest battery of any android phone LOL
And there is no reason in the world why inaccurate color reproduction would EVER result in better battery life. Unless of course you're talking about switching a screen to black and white.
Sent from my microwave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He was saying that the screen technology on the ATRIX gave it better battery life. Not the color errors. Clearly.
I haven't noticed any colour reproduction errors.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Magnetox said:
He was saying that the screen technology on the ATRIX gave it better battery life. Not the color errors. Clearly.
I haven't noticed any colour reproduction errors.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its too bad some color panel hidden behind the scenes couldn't be accessed to correct the color. It would have been a top contender for some time to come. Love how big the battery is.
Have they ported cm7 to it yet? Are they still doing the 2nd init hack or has the bootloader been unlocked?
Sent from my microwave

seh6183 said:
Im well aware of the problem and there is no need for me to do a search. This is why I'm asking if the problem has been addressed. Doing a search will only net me what I already know as no one talks about this issue anymore.
Sent from my microwave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wasn't trying to upset you.
but if we're on that wave, if you're well aware of the problem and searching only netted you no new answers, what did you expect asking would do? net you more non-new answers.

The Atrix screen indeed makes everything a little "bluer" (are your yellows slightly green?).
I read that in CM7 you can alter the color scheme a little bit, or there's an app that can also do this...I'd have to search a little bit to find what I'm talking about, but I'll post a link in just a sec.
Edit: this is what I was thinking of...Might not be exactly what you're looking for, as it requires you to have CM7 it looks like (not that that's a bad thing, but of course it's still in pre-beta and you might not want to use it). It's a start though, and gives you a little more info.

It's an unfixable hardware "problem".
It not a huge deal (can't really tell a huge difference)
Who cares.

seh6183 said:
Its too bad some color panel hidden behind the scenes couldn't be accessed to correct the color. It would have been a top contender for some time to come. Love how big the battery is.
Have they ported cm7 to it yet? Are they still doing the 2nd init hack or has the bootloader been unlocked?
Sent from my microwave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need for 2nd init...
Bootloader has been unlocked for a couple of months now.
CM7 is in early beta stages right now.
Sent from my ATRIX using XDA App.

dLo GSR said:
wasn't trying to upset you.
but if we're on that wave, if you're well aware of the problem and searching only netted you no new answers, what did you expect asking would do? net you more non-new answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're wasting mine and everyone else's time.
Sent from my microwave

Monochrome ftw.
I voided my warranty and your mum.

thebeardedchild said:
The Atrix screen indeed makes everything a little "bluer" (are your yellows slightly green?).
I read that in CM7 you can alter the color scheme a little bit, or there's an app that can also do this...I'd have to search a little bit to find what I'm talking about, but I'll post a link in just a sec.
Edit: this is what I was thinking of...Might not be exactly what you're looking for, as it requires you to have CM7 it looks like (not that that's a bad thing, but of course it's still in pre-beta and you might not want to use it). It's a start though, and gives you a little more info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is excellent information and essentially a fix to the problem. I may pick up an Atrix for this very post right here!!! Thank you for the info!!!!
Sent from my microwave

BravoMotorola said:
It's an unfixable hardware "problem".
It not a huge deal (can't really tell a huge difference)
Who cares.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the post above yours lol
Sent from my microwave

seh6183 said:
This is excellent information and essentially a fix to the problem. I may pick up an Atrix for this very post right here!!! Thank you for the info!!!!
Sent from my microwave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol sure thing. Just remember that, from what I can gather, it requires you to use the CM7 ROM (which in turn requires unlocked bootloader, etc. etc.) so make sure to look into all that first!

thebeardedchild said:
Lol sure thing. Just remember that, from what I can gather, it requires you to use the CM7 ROM (which in turn requires unlocked bootloader, etc. etc.) so make sure to look into all that first!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I use is cm7 so not to worry
I just need to ask around about a couple of other things about the Atrix before I decide to buy one again.
Sent from my microwave

The atrix is the bomb diggity yo.
I voided my warranty and your mum.

[POLL] Who wants to enable Samsung's mdnie on CM9?

So today I flashed CM9 Beta 1, and I noticed the screen was different. The colors were fine, but the text was fuzzy and the icons were blurry. I didn't realize that this was because they disabled Samsung's mdnie coloring, which in my opinion, made the text look a lot better. So who hopes for Beta 2 that they re-enable the old colors because it looks awful now! I know this sounds immature, but I've seen so many complaints and I have to agree.

Where is the poll?
Also, please include an option for "indifferent".
My ol' eyes cant tell one from the other...
edit: Ha! Guess I was just to fast, and thanks for the I dont care option!

It looks good too me.. I won't vote yet, I may need to flash back to double check but I am pleased so far..

celsius0010 said:
It looks good too me.. I won't vote yet, I may need to flash back to double check but I am pleased so far..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just compared. The text is MUCH better in CM9 beta0. Honestly.

|| Acer || said:
I just compared. The text is MUCH better in CM9 beta0. Honestly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got a place I can check that I could tell better than others?
My eyes ain't what they used to be, and I would like to see if I can tell, where it is supposed to be most obvious.
Still, I would rather an option to switch it on/off over stuck with one or the other, if possible.
When it comes to Android, I always tend to go with the "more options" path

God I agree with this. Please change it back. I'm getting more use to it but it does not really look all that better, and has more negatives than positives.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

I can live with it. It is certainly not a deal breaker for me, as I can tell the difference from beta0.

It doesn't look any different to me...I guess that means I don't give a crap. More free RAM sounds good to me.
Anyone have some screenies to show us the difference?

RyleyinSTL said:
It doesn't look any different to me...I guess that means I don't give a crap. More free RAM sounds good to me.
Any have some screenies to show us the difference?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screenies won't help. It mods the display. Camera photos will work. I notice a smoother fade on the settings app and keyboard.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA

marcusant said:
Screenies won't help. It mods the display. Camera photos will work. I notice a smoother fade on the settings app and keyboard.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely notice its smoother in the settings app and i like that. However i wish the text would still render i bit better and i hope that they re-enable mdnie in beta2, or at least find a way to improve the text while keeping the smoothness in some other areas. Idk. Back to beta0 for me.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab 10.1

RyleyinSTL said:
It doesn't look any different to me...I guess that means I don't give a crap. More free RAM sounds good to me.
Anyone have some screenies to show us the difference?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I retracted my statement about the RAM as this doesn't actually free up any RAM. That was something else they modified.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

|| Acer || said:
I just compared. The text is MUCH better in CM9 beta0. Honestly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree. My eyes hurt for a minute trying to focus.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium

Someone should post side by side screen shots for the poll.

judogti said:
Someone should post side by side screen shots for the poll.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cant because the camera wont recognize it any differently. Without any bias, id say you just have to try them out yourself.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab 10.1

The colors on my screen look more natural, but I don't notice any difference in text. I switched the kernel several times. I guess everyone's phone is affected differently.
Maybe it's something more complicated like differently manufactured screens or something (just taking a shot in the dark).

Some areas are better than others. I see it with black text on gray. There is a difference. Small, but you get the colors right you'll see it. Smaller the font the better it gets too.
I vote back or options.

I've been using voodoo color and then I updated to beta 1 and the white color is way off it looks like to me but it could just be not use to using my phone without voodoo
Epic 4g, CM9 Beta, EL30, Shadow

this was most likely removed due to the fact that CM roms use nothing from the OEM. If the is an OEM setting it will never be added to CM roms.

zelendel said:
this was most likely removed due to the fact that CM roms use nothing from the OEM. If the is an OEM setting it will never be added to CM roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this was removed because the devs on "our" end were experimenting with it. They even claimed they were unsure what it did, but that Noobnl said it looked better without it. Read the blog there's more info there. They are also letting people test a temp boot kernel with it re-enabled so they can decide before the next release whether to re-enable it or not. I just with in the meantime that they would release a perm flashable of the alternate kernel isntead of just the temp bootable.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Zeinzu said:
No, this was removed because the devs on "our" end were experimenting with it. They even claimed they were unsure what it did, but that Noobnl said it looked better without it. Read the blog there's more info there. They are also letting people test a temp boot kernel with it re-enabled so they can decide before the next release whether to re-enable it or not. I just with in the meantime that they would release a perm flashable of the alternate kernel isntead of just the temp bootable.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I'll have to check with the CM team as they make it a point to never add any OEM features or settings. If its not part of the AOSP coding or CM coding then normally it is not added to Official from versions

SNote sucks

First the brightness issue,
Now that I actually tried to use it for a extended period, I'm finding my palm always hits the edge and moves the scrollbars
I had a tablet pc many years ago that provides a much better note taking experience

Cool Story Bro

Mine is awesome.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

dtziheucdavis said:
I'm finding my palm always hits the edge and moves the scrollbars
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Poor Samsung. First, everyone *****ed about the panning box they used to allow you to move through a note you're working on. Then, they changed it and replaced it with a scroll bar and people are *****ing about that too. I don't know which version of S-Note you're on but in the version included in JB with "only recognize the S-Pen" enabled it's really really hard to inadvertantly hit the scroll bars so maybe that'll solve your problem. As for the brightness being ramped up in S-Note I get the logic and it shows how much they think about how people use their devices and apps. If you think about, since the Note's a drawing device, people could be using it at any angle and in any position. Disabling auto-brightness kind of makes sense so that the screen doesn't fade in and out if someone's hand is over the ambient light sensor. Oh well, you can't please all the people all the time.

"version included in JB"
Jelly Bean? I thought the US Note 10.1 were still in ICS

dtziheucdavis said:
"version included in JB"
Jelly Bean? I thought the US Note 10.1 were still in ICS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't mean that you can't flash another rom...

I don't use autobrightness so it changing the levels drives me absolutely nuts. E.g. I'm working in a dark room so have the level turned down to what suits me best. I open snoteb and up it goes. I turn it back down manually, jump to another app for a moment for whatever reason, say to read some info in a pdf, switch back to snote and, bam, blinded again.
There's a reason why autobrightness can be toggled on and off, and one app ignoring that convention is infuriating.

actually if you use autobrightness, the brightness levels still change

"Disabling auto-brightness kind of makes sense so that the screen doesn't fade in and out if someone's hand is over the ambient light sensor. Oh well, you can't please all the people all the time."
If this is the case, then there are definitely better solutions than the one Samsung implemented. For example, putting a timer on the ambient light sensor so it doesn't react to accidentally being covered up. If it's only briefly covered up, the brightness won't change. If it's really in a dark room and sensing low light with no interruption for say 1 minute, then change the brightness.
So, it's hard to believe that Samsung would make SNote change the brightness autmoatically as a "feature". Samsung makes great products, but we dont have to idolize them the way that iOS Sheep idolize Apple.

dtziheucdavis said:
So, it's hard to believe that Samsung would make SNote change the brightness autmoatically as a "feature".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, since we know it wasn't done accidentally, care to take a more reasoned guess as to why they did it?
Samsung makes great products, but we dont have to idolize them the way that iOS Sheep idolize Apple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're referring to me I chose the Teg3 One X over the SGS3 and am very happy with my choice. Here's a demonstration of my lack of idolization. In JB, putting the multiview selector to the right of the more important and more often used "settings" selector wasn't very well thought out from a usability perspective.
S-Note turning up the brightness works fine for me and I kind of like it since auto-brightness tends to be on the dim side normally. I'd probably like it less if I frequently took notes in a dark room which I don't. I don't assume everyone uses their device like I do so I certainly wouldn't invoke my opinion of a feature on others.

This is why I use lecture notes.

There is no brightness ISSUE.
They increase brightness on purpose to make drawing more precise.
You can never satisfy everyone....

Can someone share the apk of the first version with no bars?
Sent from my GT-N8000 using xda app-developers app

bsilvino said:
Can someone share the apk of the first version with no bars?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't upgrade or downgrade S-Note with just the single APK. There are supporting files that have to be changed along with it. When PDF import was borked on some versions of S-Note folks tried to update it with a newer version of the APK alone and it failed.

Actualy, I did the backup with titaniun but when I tried to restore now I am getting FC. Any idea how can I fix it then?
Sent from my GT-N8000 using xda app-developers app

legion1911 said:
There is no brightness ISSUE.
They increase brightness on purpose to make drawing more precise.
You can never satisfy everyone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes they can, they can let us make up our own mind as to what level of brightness we want, the same as we do with every other app. Why bother having a brightness setting at all if that's the case, just get rid of it entirely as they know better.

Screen flickering in direct sunlight?

Hello,
I picked up my GS4 about a week ago but haven't really used it in direct sunlight until today. I was outside, and the sun was shining brightly on the screen. Home screen was fine, and darker images were ok, but if I were to go to an app with a primarily white background, or open up something which used the keyboard (texting) the screen would flicker pretty noticeably. Brightness is all the way up, and auto tone was off.
Has anyone else seen this?

yup this is normal esp when using the keyboard.
Im not sure if it will be fixed.
orlandoxpolice said:
Hello,
I picked up my GS4 about a week ago but haven't really used it in direct sunlight until today. I was outside, and the sun was shining brightly on the screen. Home screen was fine, and darker images were ok, but if I were to go to an app with a primarily white background, or open up something which used the keyboard (texting) the screen would flicker pretty noticeably. Brightness is all the way up, and auto tone was off.
Has anyone else seen this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

richard371 said:
Im not sure if it will be fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess my question is, is this a hardware issue with many GS4's or a minority. I came across a thread on the Tmobile GS4 forum where people were experiencing it, but it seems not everyone is.

orlandoxpolice said:
I guess my question is, is this a hardware issue with many GS4's or a minority. I came across a thread on the Tmobile GS4 forum where people were experiencing it, but it seems not everyone is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually noticed for the first time today too..
Sent from my WICKED AT&T S4 i337

Its a hardware thing, but also its only in touchwiz so a developer might be able to turn it off so to speak.
It adjusts the color and tone no matter what to save the display from overheating and or burning in...
Does it a lot and I notice it cause im weird about those kinds of things.
If you use CM 10.1 or AOKP its gone.

ive made some progress with the RGB light meter on this; hoping a friend can write up some code so we can test out a 'smoothed out' transition and sampling rate and one that is sped up, averaged faster, but will take up more CPU and RAM and battery but more accurate.

here is another thread regarding it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2280715
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2284726
Maybe if someone who is using CM10 or AOKP could test it to see if it is a software issues and not a hardware issue?
edit: slade and jet replied while I was writing this...thanks for the info. looks like it is touchwiz related.
edit2: just went out in the sun again to test a lot of different options in the display settings (which none worked) but is seems it is only happening when the keyboard is enabled. I am using swiftkey.

yeah TW and that sensor communicate; i believe the sensor itself probably works better ALONE, but TW changes it and throttles it for either battery or screen safety.
It is always dependent on what is being pulled up on the screen, though it can be mitigated quite a bit if you disable all power saving and screen auto features, and leave brightness under 80% or so.

yea anything under 80% in direct sun is basically black. all power saving and screen auto modes were disabled. i covered up all of the sensors too and it still flickered....

orlandoxpolice said:
yea anything under 80% in direct sun is basically black. all power saving and screen auto modes were disabled. i covered up all of the sensors too and it still flickered....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not just a sensor thing per-say.
It's hard to explain, they most likely did it because they didn't want the amoled to burn in.
Its the same reason why the brightness goes up another 34% or so on auto above the max brightness. Only uses it when needed to save the screen and battery.
Does it on youtube too btw, bring up a video on wide screen then tap it and you'll see the drastic color shift

I noticed this thing when I got my phone also. I thought I was just imagining it but I guess it's an actual problem

geoldr said:
I noticed this thing when I got my phone also. I thought I was just imagining it but I guess it's an actual problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
'its not a problem, its a feature'
-Steve Jobs
Seriously its about power handling/battery saving and white balance, but its noticeable, and annoying.

Slade8525 said:
'its not a problem, its a feature'
-Steve Jobs
Seriously its about power handling/battery saving and white balance, but its noticeable, and annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, looking into a whole bunch of stuff, just installed ubuntu so maybe I can compile something; gonna look deep into the framework.

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jetlitheone said:
Yep, looking into a whole bunch of stuff, just installed ubuntu so maybe I can compile something; gonna look deep into the framework.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, let me know if you figure anything out.

Open camera in direct sun and it flickers too..
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

This is so annoying. Does anyone on touch wiz not experience this?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

orlandoxpolice said:
This is so annoying. Does anyone on touch wiz not experience this?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No that's not possible, its hard coded into touchwiz, this isn't a bug or anything...
If people say they don't have it; they're not noticing it.

jetlitheone said:
No that's not possible, its hard coded into touchwiz, this isn't a bug or anything...
If people say they don't have it; they're not noticing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

Thought my eyes were going crazy. Mine does this too. It even did it once under some fluorescent lights. It's not annoying enough to matter but it would be cool if it gets fixed.