Database Users

[REQ] Custom rom for high pixel density

I'm finding the standard LCD density too small and prefer a setting of at least 200 on my Streak. I also find that 3rd party widgets tend to look better on a setting of at least 200 and best on 240.
Only issue I have is various stock apps no longer look right at the higher setting e.g. the Gallery doesn't display the buttons at the top correctly, the dialer shortcut doesn't appear correctly in the Stage launcher, when receiving an incoming call in landscape mode the number is not fully visible, dialer looks weird and I'm sure I will find more things.
Basically, the two biggest annoyances for me are the dialer and the gallery. Can versions of these apps be baked into a rom that is designed to be used at the higher LCD dencity?
THANKS!!!
Krisbo

agreed the high density looks very sharp, I like it.
but trying to enter text in some fields, you cant even see the input field, Dialer incall buttons and contact names become b0rked, among other things,
Can anyone fix this so they dont get so blown out of proportion?
Thanks. The highest I went is 200, but back to 160 on djsteves 1.5.1 because of issues mentioned above.

I do believe you'd have to open up each apk and completely redo all the graphics so they don't look out of proportion blown up. I guess all you'd have to do is make them all smaller but it will probably be much more complicated than that!
So yes, it can be done. But i doubt anyone will do it.

Could you copy an apk from another phone with a higher pixel density? E.g. nexus one I think has 252ppi.

nexus by default is 240 yes, ill have a look at doing a 1.5.1 huge version wen i get a sec

You are awesome!
Could you possibly make it no baseband because I use a rebel sim?
Thanks

Before flashing the zip, unpack the whole thing and open system/build.prop with a text editor (like notepad or your favorite IDE). Then search for "ro.sf.lcd_density=160" and change it to a value you like. Save the file and repack it into the zip file (with WinRAR for example). Flash the ROM using StreakMod or ClockWorkMod and have fun with it!
Another option is to get Root Explorer - or a similar program - and go to system/build.prop. Set the permissions to r+w. Now you can edit this file using Root Explorer or copy it to your MicroSD and edit it like I said before. After the edit copy it back if you have too or save it. Then set the permissions back to r+o and reboot.
I have mine set to 220, which is a great size but I guess 200 is nice too!

alex3305 said:
Before flashing the zip, unpack the whole thing and open system/build.prop with a text editor (like notepad or your favorite IDE). Then search for "ro.sf.lcd_density=160" and change it to a value you like. Save the file and repack it into the zip file (with WinRAR for example). Flash the ROM using StreakMod or ClockWorkMod and have fun with it!
Another option is to get Root Explorer - or a similar program - and go to system/build.prop. Set the permissions to r+w. Now you can edit this file using Root Explorer or copy it to your MicroSD and edit it like I said before. After the edit copy it back if you have too or save it. Then set the permissions back to r+o and reboot.
I have mine set to 220, which is a great size but I guess 200 is nice too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we understand that, the issue we have is that anything higher than stock 160 and apps get blown out of proportion, escpecially phone app for me, 180 is the highest /usable/ for me. I would love to have to cranked to the max, after owning an iphone 4 for a while, sweet display; but software is too simple.
Thanks DJ_Steve for looking into this,
please see if you can sort out the blurry contact pictures in-call, they look horrible even on stock 160, is it just me?

chrisrotolo said:
I think we understand that, the issue we have is that anything higher than stock 160 and apps get blown out of proportion, escpecially phone app for me, 180 is the highest /usable/ for me. I would love to have to cranked to the max, after owning an iphone 4 for a while, sweet display; but software is too simple.
Thanks DJ_Steve for looking into this,
please see if you can sort out the blurry contact pictures in-call, they look horrible even on stock 160, is it just me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I'm running mine at 220 but if the phone happens to put itself in landscape mode while it's ringing (happens sometimes) I can't see who is calling.

sorry i don't get it. how is the pixel density supposed to increase if the resolution of the LCD screen is fixed (480 by 800 pixels, not one more not one less)? to clarify, I am not denigrating, I just do not understand

Very frustrating. I dont have "ro.sf.lcd_density=160" in my build prop. Im on official ota update from a couple days ago

Hi Steve,
Any news on this?
Krisbo

carhigh said:
Very frustrating. I dont have "ro.sf.lcd_density=160" in my build prop. Im on official ota update from a couple days ago
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me neither.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App

deekdeek said:
Me neither.
Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this line is in the stock build.prop. Just add it under #other edits. If that's not their either, look for either debug.sf.hw=1 or debug.sf.hw=0 and add it after that.

You can use Incoming Call Plus (beta) as a replacement for incoming calls. This works great and has no negative side-effects for me.

Krisbo said:
I don't think this line is in the stock build.prop. Just add it under #other edits. If that's not their either, look for either debug.sf.hw=1 or debug.sf.hw=0 and add it after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adding it worked. Thanks, i can read more now

alex3305 said:
You can use Incoming Call Plus (beta) as a replacement for incoming calls. This works great and has no negative side-effects for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not bad although the answer/reject buttons are UGLY!!! Does the job though and I can see who is calling

Any progress Steve?

I took this Gallery apk out from the Cyanogen Mod HTC Evo zip. It should scale properly when you change your DPI although stuff becomes real small when you go back to stock 160 DPI. It also fixes the "this is an audio file only" or whatever the hell that is if that wasn't already fixed.
It seems Dell changed the DPI of the dialer and gallery app to make use of the screen real estate while also using 160 dpi for the rest of the system.

Tried that apk n didn't do **** for me but I might have done it wrong...no biggy 1.5.3 looks like it might have this area sown up
Sent from xda app Dell streak dj 1.5.2
1190=1861qrdnt

Font Flashing (?)

Hey Guys
Due to the Honeycomb Architecture, is it possible to change the fonts on the Xoom, I’ve searched the forums and haven’t found anything for the xoom in flashing fonts etc,
Obviously to play with key android files, you need to be rooted, in which I am I might add. But where is the key file?

fkofilee said:
Hey Guys
Due to the Honeycomb Architecture, is it possible to change the fonts on the Xoom, I’ve searched the forums and haven’t found anything for the xoom in flashing fonts etc,
Obviously to play with key android files, you need to be rooted, in which I am I might add. But where is the key file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try an App from the Market...Custom Android Font Switcher. Lousy name, but very accurate. The app works even if it is a bit "no frills", and comes with an impressive set of "Creative Commons" fonts. Many are a bit too decorative for everyday use, but there are several which are good replacements for the stock font on the Xoom.

rschenck said:
Try an App from the Market...Custom Android Font Switcher. Lousy name, but very accurate. The app works even if it is a bit "no frills", and comes with an impressive set of "Creative Commons" fonts. Many are a bit too decorative for everyday use, but there are several which are good replacements for the stock font on the Xoom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another one I like-Absolute System Tools-has a whole suite of useful apps but that's the one I use for selecting fonts.

this is pretty cool (I JUST CHANGED ALL MY FONTS THE STYLE FROM THE HITMAN MOVIE). I AM JUST WONDERING IF ITS possible to also change font size or bold/italics. Etc.
Although I think this font looks cool, I am gonna have to change again because it appears to only be in all caps
edit: interesting. i just checked this post from my computer and see that some of the text i wrote while on my xoom came uot in all caps and some didnt. On the xoom everything is caps. hmmm

[Q] Decrease font size in Message thread in GB stock room on X10

Dear all,
I am having problem with the font size of message thread view since updating to Gingerbread, the font size is now quite big.
Is there any way to decrease it?
PS: I search the forum and try to find settings in the phone, but could not get one solutions.
Thanks you in advance.
Fantisto

I was also looking for some settings on this but with no luck, maybe just install Handcent and be done with it eh XD
I think the font size is standard among their current devices, for better visibility
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

It can only be done by decompiling the apk and changing some xml values.
If anyone is interested, I can do it pretty easily.
Just send me the apk.

If u've got root you can make everything on ur phone smaller.
Edit /system/build.prop
Change ro.sf.lcd_density=240 to
ro.sf.lcd_density=200
It may cause some graphical glighes in badly programmed apps that expect the same screen size including some of the android pop up boxes and some stock SE apps. For example gaps may appear or not all the screen is used but most apps work fine and its def worth it for me at least.

Everything (font) seems to be fine besides message threadview... It cannot fit many message in one screen...
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

Anyone with different LCD density and Market issue, look here

I've been in touch with Google the past few weeks cause I hardly get any updates through the market since about three months.
Google noticed that everybody or at least most users with a non-standard screen density have this issue. Many apps give a 'your device is not compatible with this application' error when browsing the internet/desktop market version (not the phone market app).
And than in the market you won't see your apps under 'My Apps'
When you switch back to 'default density (240) the problem is gone.
Google is investigating the issue but does not know yet if they will support non-standard densities.
If this is a double post, sorry for that.

They dont't need to support non standard dpi but they should let applications to show up in Market. This is the reason I downgraded the Market version on my phone, but this is not a solution. I hope Google will let the users decide what dpi is best for them.

Yep but as long as they fear claims and complaints nothing may happen...
At the same time the 2 persons I've been dealing with have been very cooperative and asked me lots of questions. Gave them app details, logs and after a few weeks they came back with this conclusion.
Which sort of makes respect them, after all, I'm only one of nearly 200 million Android users!

blackspp said:
I've been in touch with Google the past few weeks cause I hardly get any updates through the market since about three months.
Google noticed that everybody or at least most users with a non-standard screen density have this issue. Many apps give a 'your device is not compatible with this application' error when browsing the internet/desktop market version (not the phone market app).
And than in the market you won't see your apps under 'My Apps'
When you switch back to 'default density (240) the problem is gone.
Google is investigating the issue but does not know yet if they will support non-standard densities.
If this is a double post, sorry for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seen a couple of these pop up so far. The problem has been affecting me for a while now, but I just figured out what caused it last week. Lots of people (myself included) seem to have thought nobody else had this problem.
Post: Changing DPI and new market makes apps incompatibility
Post: [Q] Cannot update multiple installed apps, is it the new market?
blackspp said:
Yep but as long as they fear claims and complaints nothing may happen...
At the same time the 2 persons I've been dealing with have been very cooperative and asked me lots of questions. Gave them app details, logs and after a few weeks they came back with this conclusion.
Which sort of makes respect them, after all, I'm only one of nearly 200 million Android users!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm almost surprised it took so long for them to notice that trend, considering they surely have facilities to notice trends in their databases. Score one for XDA! (Very cool of Google to provide such tailored support, though!)

So, no "permanent" dpi change solution for now?
I kinda missed my streak because of this high DPI on the SGS2. Everything getting so big, i losed some of my productivity...

schizo said:
So, no "permanent" dpi change solution for now?
I kinda missed my streak because of this high DPI on the SGS2. Everything getting so big, i losed some of my productivity...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To "permanently" change your DPI to "XYZ", add these lines to /data/local.prop:
Code:
ro.sf.lcd_density=XYZ
qemu.sf.lcd_density=XYZ
(Note: If /data/local.prop does not exist, you may create it yourself.)
- OR -
If you would prefer that the change not persist when flashing a new ROM, you could edit /system/build.prop, which should already contain the "ro.sf.lcd_density" property unless you're on a 160dpi device. /system/build.prop will be overwritten any time you flash a new ROM, even if you do not wipe first.
Both of these methods will require a reboot for changes to take effect.
---
Alternately, if you would like to avoid editing system files by hand, there is an app called Blade Buddy which allows you to modify various properties in /data/local.prop, including LCD density.
To save your changes from Blade Buddy, tap Menu -> Save. If you choose not to reboot, you can then tap Menu -> Apply to apply the changes in RAM and restart the UI to see them in action. (Applying density without rebooting seems to be hit-or-miss.)
---
Regardless of how you set your LCD density, the Market will exhibit the incompatibility bug.
As a workaround, I have set my density "permanently" with Blade Buddy and use LCDDensity for Root to revert to default once and a while, so I can launch the Market and get all my updates. LCDDensity for Root is designed specifically to change density temporarily, on-the-fly, and on as many devices as possible.

Thanks, Mr. Bezeek. Actually what I'm looking is the permanent solution of not having to temporarily switch back and forth. As for editing .props I already have experience before with my Streak. Hehehehe
But still, thanks anyway and hope you not offended. I like it the way you help others in precise and detailed manner. Keep it up, bro *thumbs_up*

Not a problem, just doing my bit to make sure the information is out there.
As far as avoiding the temporary switching goes, I'll be on vacation for the next week, but I intend to try a little hacking when I get back, to see if I can find a way to spoof the dpi. That is, if Google doesn't throw us a bone in the meantime.
Users have reported that older versions of the Market still work. The one shipped with the latest OTA for my Evo worked for me, and I suspect that any version released before they changed the Market UI will. YMMV.

Just thought I'd toss this out there... I have a Droid X. When running MIUI 1.8.19 on it, I don't have this problem. I can set my density to 200 and the newest market (3.1.3) still works as expected. Seems as though with all the other ROMs I've tried (both blur and 2nd init), I couldn't access a lot of stuff unless I set density back to 240. I can't remember for sure, but I might have been able to set stock .602 (rooted) to 200 with no problems as well - but I'm a little iffy on that. So it would seem that MIUI has done something (perhaps not intentionally) to work around the problem. I just wish I had the smarts to figure out what that might be.
Edit: I realize that this is not a Droid X forum, but I was thinking this info might help somehow. Thanks.

tslovejoy1969 said:
Just thought I'd toss this out there... I have a Droid X. When running MIUI 1.8.19 on it, I don't have this problem. I can set my density to 200 and the newest market (3.1.3) still works as expected. Seems as though with all the other ROMs I've tried (both blur and 2nd init), I couldn't access a lot of stuff unless I set density back to 240. I can't remember for sure, but I might have been able to set stock .602 (rooted) to 200 with no problems as well - but I'm a little iffy on that. So it would seem that MIUI has done something (perhaps not intentionally) to work around the problem. I just wish I had the smarts to figure out what that might be.
Edit: I realize that this is not a Droid X forum, but I was thinking this info might help somehow. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know! Being able to compare a "working" ROM to mine will surely make it easier to identify a workaround.

Nice info never noted this before!! yeah i dint get any updates over a last few weeks. Im at 200 dpi.

I've been switching back to 240 periodically to get updates, not a big deal to me, but would be nice if things worked normally. My only real issue with running lower dpi (160 here) is that some apps don't scale properly. IE the Dialer.

blackspp said:
I've been in touch with Google the past few weeks cause I hardly get any updates through the market since about three months.
Google noticed that everybody or at least most users with a non-standard screen density have this issue. Many apps give a 'your device is not compatible with this application' error when browsing the internet/desktop market version (not the phone market app).
And than in the market you won't see your apps under 'My Apps'
When you switch back to 'default density (240) the problem is gone.
Google is investigating the issue but does not know yet if they will support non-standard densities.
If this is a double post, sorry for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank for this information! I've been wondering why some standard apps weren't compatible.. It's weird, since they work if you side load them ...
I hope google finds a solution.
---------- Post added at 02:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:51 PM ----------
I just switched from 190dpi to 160. Angry birds seasons is now compatible( wasn't with 190dpi)
Dank U vriendelijk

Wow. This has been driving me crazy trying to work out why apps where missing. Guess I need to swap to 240 occasionally for updates.

I am using 200 / 192 DPIs from day one. (3 months). its working fine.I never faced incompatibility issue with market. however some games doesn't run correctly which usually i don't play.

i have a workaround idea, and i started a thread to discuss here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1288150

The google support thread for this is here: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=19744#makechanges
I still have this issue and if you do a web search you'll see that many still do. Reply in the support thread to raise awareness ! or if you have a workaround please share You also might want to check out his Idea thread, if you have some developing skill please help.

schizo said:
So, no "permanent" dpi change solution for now?
I kinda missed my streak because of this high DPI on the SGS2. Everything getting so big, i losed some of my productivity...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from a streak as well and it's this is the biggest annoyance I've had with the sgsii.
The reason why i enjoy Android over any other mobile OS is because i can tailor the OS to how i want it. Not allowing me to download apps because I'm using a non standard density is crippling.
For now, i urge everyone to go to the google support thread and simply press click the star. No need to comment (unless you found a fix), the more stars the issue gets, the more likely Google will look into it.

Seems to be fixed with the latest market version.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

Ke11ett said:
Seems to be fixed with the latest market version.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i seem to be ok ive just got the version from androidpolice last night. im on 3.3.11 now, still cant install stuff from the website though says my phone is incompatible for everything lol

edge installed, text on pages too small, help?

ok, so I installed edge off the play store onto my fire hd 10..small problem, some of the web pages I like to frequent, the text can be...SMALL..
its really bad on a fanfiction site I frequent, I'm providing a link to a story here so everyone can see what I mean.
example page
scroll down so the box there with the story pertienents disappears and the font size changes.
as in going from arial size 14 font, down to arial size 8... just on the uncomfortable to read side of uncomfortable...
anyone know how to fix this?
I'm just looking for a way to stop it going so small I cant read it, I dont mind the size shift(per say) that site does on edge