I know, I know... vijay555 just released a similar application earlier today. It seems we were working on the same thing at the same time. After discussing this with him in his thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=45851
I've decided to go ahead and release my own version as an alternative.
The program can (and probably should!) be mapped to a hardware button using the Buttons control panel applet. I run mine on Button 4(hold) because I never use the voice recorder. This also prevents locking the device unintentionally.
I have also added two minor features to the application that some might find useful. You can optionally put the device to sleep after it is locked (same as pressing the power button) and you can configure a program to run just before the device is locked. This is useful if you have an application that you may want to look at frequently without unlocking the device. (Contacts, Calendar, a full-screen clock application, etc).
Both of these options are set in a control panel applet System->Device Lock.
NOTE: I know some people have use memmaid to register the lock application to run on wake up. If you do this, DO NOT select the suspend device option!! This will result in not being able to wake your device up for more than a few seconds (Wake up the device, your notification tells the device to lock, the lock process suspends the device, You wake up the device, rinse, repeat)
If you do this, all is not lost, just soft reset your device and uncheck the option to suspend in the control panel.
Here's a link to the installer (Requires WM5 PocketPC edition):
http://www.mr2-power.com/downloads/DeviceLock.CAB
You will likely need to soft-reset to see the new Control Panel applet.
*NEW* The latest version does NOT require the Lock Device today item to be loaded!
Enjoy!
-Matt Armstrong
Tried it on a BA and it works but change the default from suspend when locked since the applet doesnt show till after soft-reset. Thanks.
so you're saying make the default behavior NOT to suspend. Someone in another forum also requested the ability to blank the screen rather than suspend. I'll likely add this option in the next couple of days. I can change the default registry entry now though. A new installer should be up in a couple of minutes.
-Matt
Ok, yet another new CAB file has been uploaded. This new version has the option to suspend the device OR just blank the screen. If you blank the screen your programs will continue to run (and consume more power!). To restore the screen just press the power button. I also changed the default behavior after install to JUST lock the phone (not susped or blank). Everything else is the same.
-Matt
P.S. I appreciate all of the feedback very much. Keep it coming!
Thanks for the changes armstrom, ill download and test again. Thanks
Just installed and it works ok.
I have updated the software one final time for the night.
I have eliminated the requirement that the Lock Device today item be loaded. Now you can go unload that item and free up 20 pixels of screen real-estate For some reason this was a biggie to many people :? So it's finally done.
Keep the bug reports coming as you find them.
-Matt
great version. Without the plugin makes it invaluable. Maybe you can make as an option to hook it to the power button to get it to run when you power off? Or we can use vjkey for that
Well, I can add that option. In fact an early revision of the software did have it. I was just having inconsistent results with it on my MDA. For some reason the MDA wasn't firing the wakeup event if I suspend and then resume with just the power button. (press the power to suspend, then press again to resume). If I programmatically suspend the device, then I get the event every time. I can add it back in though if you want to try it on your device. Maybe you'll have better luck?
Edit: I just installed the new version vj's software and it has the same problem as mine. For some reason my phone does fire the wake-up event properly! I'll add the option back in to my software since it seems to work on other people's hardware just fine.
-Matt
Awesome!!
Man this place is great!
Armstrom, both you and VJ are awesome. This was the biggest single thing I've missed since buying my 8125. Since I use Xpress mail and the device wakes up when a message comes in, and if it's in my holster, and a button is gettind pushed, all sorts of weird things would happen.
So I had to always remember to go to Today, scroll down, hit the lock function...grrr.
But no more. I can't believe the terrific amount of support, hard work and resources you guys all contribute to these cool little gadgets.
Thanks again to both of you.
-JMS
If this can be made wot work reliably with power on events it would be awesome.
Thank you for putting these together.
One quick question...
I would love to have the Today screen as my default app to load on a lock action, however I can't find a way to do it. There is no .lnk file to point your Device Lock to.
I tried installing PHM Keys (as there's a Today .lnk in there) but it won't install in WM5.
Any programatic way to invoke/call the Today screen from a shortcut/lnk file so I can point the Device Lock to that file so Today is always showing when I lock my phone.
Thanks again, you guys are great.
-JMS
(Apologies for multiple entries - posting problems)
(Apologies for multiple entries - posting problems)
(Apologies for multiple entries - posting problems)
Great job Matt.
One quick question for ya - I would like to keep Egress running on the today screen when the device is locked. When I choose NOT to suspend the device or blank the screen, the today screen shows but the egress app is not cycling thru the latest news (it sticks on the last before the lock).
Is there any way to keep Egress at least cycling thru the news it d/l before the lock (if not allowing it to continue to update at egress specified times)?
Thanks again!
Thank you
A very useful app!
jkimrey said:
Great job Matt.
One quick question for ya - I would like to keep Egress running on the today screen when the device is locked. When I choose NOT to suspend the device or blank the screen, the today screen shows but the egress app is not cycling thru the latest news (it sticks on the last before the lock).
Is there any way to keep Egress at least cycling thru the news it d/l before the lock (if not allowing it to continue to update at egress specified times)?
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really not sure how to solve that issue. I've never use the application you're talking about. Perhaps it is detecting the device being locked and not updating itself? I'm really not sure.
-Matt
Matt,
I think it must have something to do with the phone being in locked mode. I've found that when the phone is locked, the screen will go black after a couple seconds for both the lock on the today screen as well as when using a hardware button thru your application.
When I use the today screen app, after tapping the screen when black, it will display the today screen with the cycling headlines.
When I use your lock app, however, and tap to get the screen back, it doesn't cycle. If I hold down the power button and then turn it back on after being locked by your app, however, it does cycle.
Not a huge deal, just found it interesting...Wonder what would be different between the included today screen lock and your lock app that would cause this?
Thanks again!
armstrom said:
jkimrey said:
Great job Matt.
One quick question for ya - I would like to keep Egress running on the today screen when the device is locked. When I choose NOT to suspend the device or blank the screen, the today screen shows but the egress app is not cycling thru the latest news (it sticks on the last before the lock).
Is there any way to keep Egress at least cycling thru the news it d/l before the lock (if not allowing it to continue to update at egress specified times)?
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really not sure how to solve that issue. I've never use the application you're talking about. Perhaps it is detecting the device being locked and not updating itself? I'm really not sure.
-Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I have added the option to lock the device on wake-up. Note: I have not been able to test this because my device does not properly send wake-up notifications. If someone could give this a try and let me know if it works I would appreciate it.
I have also added command line options to override the configuration specified in the control panel applet. The options are as follows:
-o:* Overrides the lock options and takes a number 0-2.
0 = Lock Only
1 = Lock then Suspend
2 = Lock then Blank Screen
-r:* Overrides the application to run after locking. This must have Quotes around it. Specifying -r:"" will prevent the default application from running.
Here are some examples:
Blank the screen and run the calculator.
DeviceLock.exe -o:2 -r:"\Windows\calc.exe"
Just lock and don't run anything
DeviceLock.exe -o:0 -r:""
You do not need these command line options if you just want the device lock to always follow what you have specified in the applet. These are only to optionally override the specified behavior. Some people on another board expressed the desire to have the device lock in two different ways depending on what they were doing. This is the way
Again, please let me know if the lock on wake functionality works or not
The cab is in the usual place.
-Matt
Here are some examples:
DeviceLock.exe -o:2
Yesterday I installed a new font package on my Sapphire Vodafone 32B and all of a sudden the HOME/MENU and Call buttons stopped working as they should.
I found a fix for this problem on another Android forum, essentially you install "Anycut" from the market and create a shortcut to the "setup wizard", I had a three setup wizards in a scrolling list to choose from, the third one worked for me and ran all the way through the phone setup, FYI the others just exited as soon as I selected SKIP. It works, prior to that my HOME, MENU and CALL buttons were not working. I think that a faulty update.zip must have caused permission issues with the phone's software.
http://androidforums.com/updates-cupcakes/4884-can-fixed.html
Anybody using widgetlocker for a lock screen replacement, I know we know have lockscreen widgets (tho it seems only about 4 to choose from) but what I love being able to set is shortcuts for gmail, phone and messaging right there and have support for unread messages/missed calls with telsa unread.
Anyway the problem I have is that widgetlock doesn't seem to disable the soft keys (like the stock lockscreen does) so basically I can just bypass unlocking. Anybody have a work around, I know this isn't the first device with softkeys so this must have been a problem that as come up before.
NVM, root helper and 'hide navigation keys' got rid of the soft keys, only problem now is it is just so laggy/unresponsive to touch, takes several attempts to unlock. Hopefully this is just a bug with 4.2 devices and they will fix it soon.
I got a problem w/widgetlocker and the multitask softkey. When I go to the lockscreen, it takes a second for the multitask softkey to appear while the back and home keys are lighted automatically. It just happened today..does anyone w/widgetlocker experience that problem? I wonder if there's a way to fix it and it's starting to bother me.
Hi I am on 4.4.2 stock rom rooted. All of a sudden the multitasking key on my S5 when held no longer brings up the menu in any app or home screen it just opens the multitasking as if I pressed it instead of holding. Also, I can no longer take screenshot via pressing the home button and power button at the same time as it just opens Google now. I have home2 launcher installed to open Google now instead of svoice but this does no longer works as well. I am not sure how the problem occurred out of the blue. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks.
Blxckcard said:
All of a sudden the multitasking key on my S5 when held no longer brings up the menu in any app or home screen it just opens the multitasking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, you have to distinguish between the key failing to work per se and a key that works fine but does a different action than you expected. If you meant the latter, then simply reassign the function that you prefer to the key.
You said that you had a third party launcher change a key action which no longer works. So go back to your custom launcher settings and reinitialize that setting again. If your app doesn't let you adjust those settings, then reinstall the app to have your key preference set again. Or use an app like xposed to remap the key function.
Another example that you cited was the "multitasking key". That isn't a standard label, so it's uncertain which key you are referring to, but probably you mean the left soft key, located to the left of the home button. Test it by dialing *#0*#
Then Sub key on the hardware test menu
Inevitably the test will show that the key works fine and you just need to remap it's function.
Likewise with your screen shot issue. Go back to whatever app setup that key combination to take a screen shot with those two keys and reset it again.
.
Thanks for the reply, how do you go about remapping the softkey. The screenshot issue has nothing to do with a third party app I have uninsulated all launchers and used the stock touchwiz launcher and the problem persists. All buttons work fine for around 30 seconds after I boot then they start acting as previously mentioned which leads me to believe it's an app that has somehow changed the functions of the hardware keys. I just wanted to know if anyone had a clue what's causing it as I have tried and it is driving me up the wall.
Blxckcard said:
Thanks for the reply, how do you go about remapping the softkey. The screenshot issue has nothing to do with a third party app I have uninsulated all launchers and used the stock touchwiz launcher and the problem persists. All buttons work fine for around 30 seconds after I boot then they start acting as previously mentioned which leads me to believe it's an app that has somehow changed the functions of the hardware keys. I just wanted to know if anyone had a clue what's causing it as I have tried and it is driving me up the wall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please use paragraphs, those walls of text are hard to read.
Agreed that it sound like apps loading after boot are customizing the key functions in ways that you don't like. You can disable or uninstall as many apps as possible and add them back one at a time to see which ones cause problems. Or, as mentioned previously, use xposed framework to remap the key functions.
You're hoping for a short cut in having someone name what specific apps are involved. That's a long shot at best that someone would just happen to know. And you should have at least listed all of the apps on your phone to narrow it down.. or help jog someone's memory.
.
Home key and app swap soft key not working
I have a galaxy s5 and just updated to lollipop 5.0 and then the home key and app swap key stopped working. Also it was running very slowly and I thought maybe it was because I had 384 apps installed (11 gig). Anyway it was driving me crazy but I didn't want to perform a factory reset. Too many programs into to lose..
I followed the instruction to take out the SD card and SIM card and restart without the SIM card and they started working again so I replaced the SIM card and it works fine now..
Thank you forum..
davemcm said:
I have a galaxy s5 and just updated to lollipop 5.0 and then the home key and app swap key stopped working. Also it was running very slowly and I thought maybe it was because I had 384 apps installed (11 gig). Anyway it was driving me crazy but I didn't want to perform a factory reset. Too many programs into to lose..
I followed the instruction to take out the SD card and SIM card and restart without the SIM card and they started working again so I replaced the SIM card and it works fine now..
Thank you forum..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now they have stopped working again.. FML
davemcm said:
Now they have stopped working again.. FML
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every time I take out my Sim card and restart the buttons work for a little while and then stop working again..
Please help me
After the upgrade to version 5.x, the "back" button (touch) ceased to work, the press works correctly. I'm sure this is a software problem. Sometimes it starts working, after reflashing for a short period. I'm sure it's a bug with the "finger scanner" settings. Found that when the button starts to work - thumbnails are displayed and it is suggested to scan them. When the button does not work (does not return back), I'm watching artifacts and errors (see screenshots).
A video where my problem is visible: watch?v=y5MfwJpu_7w (youtube)
When the button does not work (backward function), in the "identification by release" section we see this (see screenshots) and note that:
1) When you try to add a finger to the screen, there is only a suggestion to enter the name for the "finger", it does not save, it says "save error". (the window when you need to put a finger does not appear)
2) Five empty fields appear, they can be selected and selected, but can not be deleted.
When the button starts working, in this section we see the normal name of your data (finger names) and when you try to add, the menu opens correctly and you can safely perform the necessary operations.
What does NOT help solve this problem:
1) Reset all settings
2) Re-flashing (After it, sometimes it starts to work for a short time)
What can I try? I know that not a few people have encountered this problem, wrote them in private messages, but it was all over the past year and their accounts are not active.
UPD1:
Deleting this folder /system/app/mcRegistry:
1) After the reboot, the files do not appear in it, just like the folder itself does not appear anymore.
2) After reinstalling or cleaning the system, binaries reappear there.
3) Rollback to version 5.x with 6.x nothing has changed the same files and the same "bugs".
UPD2: add logs https www dropbox com/s/hyqki38h71rhfdy/17-10-02--23-42-38.zip?dl=0
The problem is not solved, what else can I try to solve?
p.s. Sorry for my English. using translator
hi I have this problem too..
do you solve it??
Same problem
Having the same problem. Button didn't work for a half a year. And after updating to flyme 7, once again has begun working. Worked for less than a day. Now dead again.
I heard that it's not expensive to change the button, though it doesn't seem like the problem in the button itself.
upd
Used alcohol.
Just cleaned the button with it. And it works.
al_prix said:
Having the same problem. Button didn't work for a half a year. And after updating to flyme 7, once again has begun working. Worked for less than a day. Now dead again.
I heard that it's not expensive to change the button, though it doesn't seem like the problem in the button itself.
upd
Used alcohol.
Just cleaned the button with it. And it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
put energy plan to max and try if it work.