Hey peeps,
Here's a nice way of saving about 5 megs of memory without loosing functionality, and gaining much more configuration freedom to your hearts content.
The HTC Touch has a service running in the background that controls finger-friendly kinetic scrolling and launches the Cube when you swipe up from the bottom. The biggest memory hogger of this process is the Cube itself that once it's launched stays in memory and eats about 5 megs of precious RAM.
Stopping the Cube from launching is easy enough but you will also loose functionality this way that you may not want to do without so I was looking for some alternatives.
Alternative 1:
I tried fTouchFlo (available on this forum somewhere), a gestures based application launcher, but found it takes up about 1.2 megs of RAM just for the launcher (you won't use the fTouchFlo scrolling on a Touch) and does not react entirely the way I want it to, ie. I only want it to detect gestures when I start swiping away from a screen edge, not when the swipe starts in the middle of the screen. I also have not found a way to completely remove the service that controls the Cube launch (think this would also kill finger scrolling) so fTouchFlo just eats more RAM then I would like it to on a HTC Touch that has the basic gesture functionality built-in already anyway.
Alternative 2:
I also looked long and hard for a finger friendly task manager but to no avail, until I discovered MortButtons. Not only does this tool contain the only finger-friendly task manager around, it's main features also allows it to be an excellent and easy to configure Cube alternative. Combine this with the default gesture based Cube launcher in the HTC Touch and you save a big chunk of RAM without loosing functionality!
So here's how it goes:
Download VJBrisk from
http://www.vijay555.com/?Releases:VJVolubilis
GSFinder (may also work with TotalCommander but I haven't tried) from
http://www.google.de/search?q=gsfinder
MortButtons from
http://www.sto-helit.de/
Install the tools:
- Install GSFinder (you could also use TotalCommander if you prefer)
- Install MortButtons and play a bit with the options and configuration
For the next steps I will assume that you have made yourself familiar with the above tools already. These steps described are for Windows Mobile 6 and above, yet they may also work for WM5 (here the Biotouch startup link is located in \Windows\Startup if I am not mistaken):
- Using GSFinder go into the View|Options... menu, uncheck all checkboxes in the Hide section
- Browse to \Windows and find LaunchStartupApp.lst (could also be called StartupApp on some OS versions), copy this in some other folder and open it on your desktop PC in notepad. My version looks like this:
Code:
#\Windows\WiFiInit.exe#
#\windows\startkey.exe#
#\Windows\StartUPBioTouch.exe#
Delete the line with StartUPBioTouch.exe and save, then copy back to your Touch
(Note: I deleted all entries and copied back an empty file, am not missing anthing, WiFi, BT, GPRS, ActiveSync all still works and saved even some extra memory)
- Using GSFinder, copy your new LaunchStartupApp.lst and paste it into \Windows, you will be asked to confirm to overwrite, do so
- Restart your Touch, it will now start without the Cube in memory, DO NOT use the Cube until you finish all steps described here
- Use GSFinder to show the properties of \Windows\Biotouch.exe, remove the read only check
- Create a shortcut to \Program Files\MortButtons\MBRunner.exe (or wherever you installed it) and rename it to VJTarget.lnk
- Edit the shortcut (with GSFinder or use notepad on your computer) and change it as such:
Code:
41#"\Program Files\MortButtons\MBRunner.exe" "\Program Files\MortButtons\Button1.mbi"
- Run the shortcut by clicking on it, Mortbuttons should start, if it didn't than you need to double-check the shortcut and make sure it points to MBRunner.exe and has the correct path to Button1.mbi
- Put the shortcut into \Windows
- Now, using GSFinder, browse to where you have stored VJBrisk.exe, rename it to Biotouch.exe and copy and past it into \Windows, you will be asked to overwrite, choose Yes.
That's it. Now, swipe up, like you would when starting the Cube et voila, instead of the Cube you now get Mortbuttons, fully configurable with loads of animations and gesture shortcuts to choose from.
I have shortcuts on my home screen for most of the applications the Cube has (Internet, Music, Photos, Communication etc) so I never really needed the Cube except for the quick-dial contacts page and communications manager. So, I have set up MortButtons to show a list of contacts with pictures (this is just as easy to configure with MB as with the Cube quick-dial) on Button1.mbi, then when I swipe to the left it switches to TaskList.mbi (fantastic finger-friendly big button task manager included with MB). I've set up the gestures to exit MB when I swipe down, just like the Cube does. MB is fully skinnable even allows a transparent background, can do transition animations between the panels etc. Up to 5 button pages + task manager can be configured by default but you can always add more.
Have fun with this!
Cheers and special thanks to Mort for MB!
Sndance
Ps: the more pages you have in MB, the more memory it will take up, 2 pages eats up about 500kb (the Cube used almost 6 Megs remember ) but you can also set it so it does not stay in memory after closing (MortButtons, not the Cube).
PPS: attached MortButtons (check Morts site for newer releases), GSFinder, and all files to copy into \Windows (includes VJBrisk already renamed to Biotouch, a shortcut to MB installed on the device - not storage card - and an empty LaunchStartupApp.lst)
PPS: screenshots attached, if you are wondering what is on my Today screen: Ultimate Launch (www.ultimatelaunch.de) and RLToday (www.rotlaus-software.de) for iLook buttons and functionality. These give me the freedom not to have to use the Cube and offers tons of functionality. psnap000.jpg is the Today screen, swipe to the left gives me psnap001.jpg (settings and such) and swipe to the right psnap002.jpg (calendar+)
This is very usefull...
Could you upload your Mortbutton's file?
Many thanks....
sndance said:
(the Cube used almost 6 Megs remember ) but you can also set it so it does not stay in memory after closing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi sndance
How would this be accomplished? What needs to be done?
Outstanding, this is a dream!!!
absorber786 said:
Hi sndance
How would this be accomplished? What needs to be done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to make sure there is no misunderstanding, I was referring to MortButtons staying in RAM, not the Cube which would not be used anymore if you follow my steps.
To do this for MortButtons:
- Start "MortButtons Setup"
- Choose the "Extended" item from the menu
- Uncheck "Stay in memory"
This will prevent MortButtons from staying in RAM, for me this means only about 500kb difference so I mostly leave it in RAM. I only have 1 custom panel and the task manager, if you have more panels loaded then Mort may use more RAM. Check with a Task Manager (eg. the new Task Manager included with WM 6.1) that shows the individual processes and check for MortButtons.exe to see how much RAM MB is using.
Cheers
sndance
flaviopac said:
This is very usefull...
Could you upload your Mortbutton's file?
Many thanks....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure where the configurations for gestures and behaviour are stored so I cannot upload anything sorry. But here is how I've configured mine:
1/ Run MortButtons Setup
2/ Choose "Handling" from the menu, enable "Finger Gestures"
3/ Click "Configure Gestures"
3/1/ Here I set left to "Task list", right "Do nothing", Upwards "Do nothing" and Downwards to "Exit"
3/2/ Press OK and again to go back to the main menu
4/ Choose "Display"
4/1/ here I chose "GreyAquaWide" from the Skin dropdown, Entry Size "Big" and "User background" for Display Style pointing to a purely black background.jpg. Further I also checked "Hide menu bar". To max speed I set all transitions (Click "transitions" to enter this menu) to "No transition", you can even choose a cube transition effect here if you like.
4/2/ Press OK to go back to the main menu
5/ Choose "Task List"
5/1/ Here I removed "ActiveSync" from the list and unchecked "Close" and "Close all but current"
5/2/ Press OK to go back
6/ Choose Extended from the main menu
6/1/ Here I unchecked everything except "Stay in memory", speed was first priority for me.
6/2/ Press OK to go back
7/ Finally I built my contacts page, choose "Edit menus" from the main menu
7/1/ Choose MortButton1, select "Set entries" button
7/2/ Click Add
7/3/ Open the contacts folder and choose "Call Contact", press OK
7/4/ Choose your contact from you phone book, press OK
7/5/ Now either it picked up the contact photo from your phone book or you can assign it a different one by clicking Icon
7/6/ Press OK, then Close
8/ You are back in the main menu, Press Exit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is so much more to explore, you can add multiple different items on one button page like contacts and applications together on one page. It is even possible to rotate the screen before launching an application! You can add buttons that link button pages together or use gestures to navigate.
I kept it simple - for now - with just a contacts page upon calling MortButtons when swiping up like I did for the Cube and a following swipe to the left brings up the integrated task manager. A swipe to the bottom and MortButtons dissappears again.
Cheers
sndance
Edit: MortButtons stores the display and handling configuration in the registry, HKCU\Software\Mort\MortButtons, so far MB does not support exporting these settings to a file.
sndance said:
I'm not sure where the configurations for gestures and behaviour are stored so I cannot upload anything sorry. But here is how I've configured mine:
There is so much more to explore, you can add multiple different items on one button page like contacts and applications together on one page. It is even possible to rotate the screen before launching an application! You can add buttons that link button pages together or use gestures to navigate.
I kept it simple - for now - with just a contacts page upon calling MortButtons when swiping up like I did for the Cube and a following swipe to the left brings up the integrated task manager. A swipe to the bottom and MortButtons dissappears again.
Cheers
sndance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks...
I'm going to try it asap....
Added 2 new images showing my contacts page and the task manager at work.
Cheers
sndance
sndance said:
Just to make sure there is no misunderstanding, I was referring to MortButtons staying in RAM, not the Cube which would not be used anymore if you follow my steps.
To do this for MortButtons:
- Start "MortButtons Setup"
- Choose the "Extended" item from the menu
- Uncheck "Stay in memory"
This will prevent MortButtons from staying in RAM, for me this means only about 500kb difference so I mostly leave it in RAM. I only have 1 custom panel and the task manager, if you have more panels loaded then Mort may use more RAM. Check with a Task Manager (eg. the new Task Manager included with WM 6.1) that shows the individual processes and check for MortButtons.exe to see how much RAM MB is using.
Cheers
sndance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi sndance,
Thanks for clearing that up. I was under the impression this could be done with the cube. It would be really awesome if it could be done though.
At present I am using PointUI, which i am highly impressed with, so i dont think i will be trying out your suggestions, sorry
Regards
Thanks for finding out ow to keep the cube from launching, at startup, first of all.
Haven't looked into MortButtons, as I'm using Ultimatelauncher exclusively so far, but if it's that customizable, I'll give it a shot.
Cheers,
mc
netzcoyote said:
Thanks for finding out ow to keep the cube from launching, at startup, first of all.
Haven't looked into MortButtons, as I'm using Ultimatelauncher exclusively so far, but if it's that customizable, I'll give it a shot.
Cheers,
mc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Coyote, if you want to stop the Cube completely, then use a registry editor and go into HKLM/Software/OEM/TFLOSettings and set the value of the "EnableCube" key to 0. If you also followed my steps above to delete Biotouch.exe from the LaunchStartupApp then you will have effectively terminated the Cube.
Setting this key basically tells the TouchFlo service (which also controls the finger-friendly scrolling I believe) not to launch Biotouch.exe when you swipe up, so this will also stop anything else you put in place for Biotouch.exe such as MortButtons in my guide above.
Btw. I use a combination of UltimateLaunch with 3 slideable panels and RLToday a bit like FocalDesign does in his today theme. Mort gives me the added functionality of a fully configurable Cube and - to me, most importantly - a finger friendly launcher and task manager of which I am sure there is no alternative, and it's free also!
Cheers
sndance
Will this work...
...if I'm using spb Mobile Shell to launch apps and quick dials?
davehutch said:
...if I'm using spb Mobile Shell to launch apps and quick dials?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no experience with spb Mobile Shell, but you could edit the VJTarget.lnk contents to start any kind of application you want instead of the Cube when you swipe up. So if spb Mobile Shell could be started with a shortcut then I guess the answer is yet. Give it a try.
Cheers
sndance
Mm. I don't have either of the entries you mentioned
No StartupApp and no LaunchStartupApp either.
Removed Biotouch from Windows/Startup and rebooted...memory exactly the same as before.
Any suggestions?
davehutch said:
No StartupApp and no LaunchStartupApp either.
Removed Biotouch from Windows/Startup and rebooted...memory exactly the same as before.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dave,
Check with a task manager that shows individual processes if biotouch.exe is in there (memmaid or such). It seems like you have a Touch with WM version prior to 6.1? If you removed biotouch from Windows/Startup then after a fresh restart you should not see biotouch in the task manager processes. Mind you, even if biotouch is not started automatically, it will be loaded by the touchflo service the first time you swipe up to bring up the Cube.
Cheers
sndance
Hey Coyote, if you want to stop the Cube completely, then use a registry editor and go into HKLM/Software/OEM/TFLOSettings and set the value of the "EnableCube" key to 0. If you also followed my steps above to delete Biotouch.exe from the LaunchStartupApp then you will have effectively terminated the Cube.
Setting this key basically tells the TouchFlo service (which also controls the finger-friendly scrolling I believe) not to launch Biotouch.exe when you swipe up, so this will also stop anything else you put in place for Biotouch.exe such as MortButtons in my guide above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, man. I have cleared my LaunchStartupApp.lst so far, like you suggested, and I'm loving every free MB I won Now I wanted to set it up to launch PocketCM insted of the cube when I swipe up and kept rereading your first post on how to do this, until I read this reply. now I remember setting TFLOSettings to 0 weeks ago when I started to try to get rid of the cube. That clears it up, of course.
Btw. I use a combination of UltimateLaunch with 3 slideable panels and RLToday a bit like FocalDesign does in his today theme. Mort gives me the added functionality of a fully configurable Cube and - to me, most importantly - a finger friendly launcher and task manager of which I am sure there is no alternative, and it's free also!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. I have a very similar setup. I'll definetly look into MortButtons, if only to see what it does, but I use only a small part of features of a WM phone, and I'm looking for ways to set these up for easiest use and smoothest execution. I'm perfectly fine to use things I rarely use through stylus operated menus.
Cheers,
nc
Hi sundance, sounds great. I tried it on my orbit 2 but could not find a LaunchStartupApp.lst nor a StartupApp.lst in \windows folder. There is StartUPBioTouch.exe and .lnk but both in ROM.
What can i do?
ichbins said:
Hi sundance, sounds great. I tried it on my orbit 2 but could not find a LaunchStartupApp.lst nor a StartupApp.lst in \windows folder. There is StartUPBioTouch.exe and .lnk but both in ROM.
What can i do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Servus Ichbins,
The LaunchStartupApp.lst or StartupApp.lst in the Windows folder only apply to Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1. If you have an earlier version, then you should have a link to biotouch.exe in your Windows\Startup folder. Delete this to kill the Biotouch Cube, or edit the link (using GSFinder or on your desktop PC using notepad) and point it to MortButtons to replace it. I.e. put this in the biotouch.lnk instead:
41#"\Program Files\MortButtons\MBRunner.exe" "\Program Files\MortButtons\Button1.mbi"
If there is also not biotouch.lnk or similar in your Windows\Startup folder then I am out of ideas and maybe someone else can share a few words of advise? I am running WM6 and 6.1 for a while now and do not remember the HTC file structure of WM5 sorry.
Grüße
Sundance
.lst file not found
Hi Sndance (oder Sundance?)
Thanks for the ultrafast answer. A have Windows Mobile 6 Pro installed. Touchflow is Version 2.0 Build 29087. Searching for *.lst only gives me customize.lst, hopreject.lst and revoke.lst.
It seems there is no chance for me.
Grüße
ichbins
Finally I figured it out: Deleting the line “21#"\Windows\StartUPBioTouch.exe" in "StartUPBioTouch.lnk"
did it. Works like a charm.
Works like a charm.
Very useful tip, thx sndance!!
Hi,
someone can hel me to see the active tasks in TODAY of TouchFLO?
Now I can see only Time, calendar and calls..
I try to set the tasks in START-SETTING-TODAY-ELEMENTS but nothing.
Thanks in advance.
Hi,
I have the same problem. But no solution
Tasks Touch LO
A simply way to it's to sobstitute calendar with tasks activity.
But how?
I try to use advance config tools secion TouchFLO 3D but no sets are here for my problem.
????
No other Today plugins/items can be used if TF3D is activated.
Until someone works out how to add task to TF3D itself (I assume by editing the XML bits of manilla) you will not be able to do this.
What would be really useful is if someone figured out how to add a Tasks tab to TF3D and also a Calendar tab too (I know there is one but I don't think it shows highlights on days with appointments etc).
People are working on these things so I tihnk there will be a solution down the road.
TF3D
So to solve the only way is to disable TF3D.
No solucion installing SPB Mobile shell o similar becouse with TF3D active it's impossible to add Tasks in Today Screen too.
Many thinks to solve
It's incredible you buy a terminal It's cost 800€, and you have to put a cab to fix double contact SIM and Cellular, You can't display the active tasks..., ....!!
But the ingeneers are tested this, or the most important think is to have a good weather tasks?
Bho!?
I have been searching for a Touchflo Tasks tab also with no luck. My best solution thus far as been to remap my PTT button to my tasks. This definitely isn't too bad to work with. I use NATFs ROM on my Fuze which already has remapping tools but you can use fuzemobility.com and search for PTT remap if you need.
why dont you try that tf3d disabler that lets you switch between tf3d and standard today screen plugins? simple click of a soft key and your back and forth between the two.
The Jack of Clubs said:
why dont you try that tf3d disabler that lets you switch between tf3d and standard today screen plugins? simple click of a soft key and your back and forth between the two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be your best bet IMO.
install secondToday, map that app to the PTT button or some other hard key, and you can easily have an alternate today screen for expanded agenda and tasks. By installing SecondToday, you can have all of your plug-ins right at hand... and get to them from anywhere in the device.
It's the best of both worlds. Really.
Does anyone know if the newer versions of Touch Flo 3D will allow other Today plug-ins ? Such as Tasks, etc?
I just started using MTP (Manilla Today Page) and it's incredible.
Just what I needed to put SPB Diary as it's own tab in TF3D.
I couldn't use TF3D for months till i got this working, and i gotta say, it's gorgeous.
what is Manila Today Page?
Any update with the Tasks Tab?
Now with the new HTC HD2 - I think that TouchFlo is finally a decent replacement for SPB Mobile Shell.
However, I still miss the Tasks window to complete the tabs list...
can the email client as selected from the touchflo envelope be customised? outlook sucks - i havent found a suitable replacement yet but when i do - since anything is better - i would like to open inbox into that app. defining it as the default mail app doesn't do it
cheers
I would like to see this as well. I like using FlexMail
I would also like to change the default page when you launch Opera by clicking the globe in TouchFLo. Would it be possible to have it go anywhere other than http://device.home?
jdigital007 said:
I would also like to change the default page when you launch Opera by clicking the globe in TouchFLo. Would it be possible to have it go anywhere other than http://device.home?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I get a page load error everytime I click on the thing....
Agreed. I also like Flexmail. I'd be fine with the TF3D interface, but if I click on the Inbox softkey can I get FlexMail?
hopper13 said:
Yep, I get a page load error everytime I click on the thing....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For this try entering opera:config in the address bar and change Default URL under User Prefs.
CU,
Cactus World
jdigital007 said:
I would also like to change the default page when you launch Opera by clicking the globe in TouchFLo. Would it be possible to have it go anywhere other than http://device.home?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See here for the touchflo home page thing.
I would love to hear if anyone had an answer about the email link though...
Have you tried SSMaPa ? I've used it to change the my TF£D to open SPB Time instead of the built in clock, and to open Pocket Informant instead of calendar.
I believe it should work to open up flexmail etc instead of pocket outlook.
I can't remember the link but if you search here you should find it.
Found it!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=407777