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!!
i want to configure my home's right softkey so it gets me directly to my phonebook (right now it starts the camera application) and want to know if there is a shortcut to the rhodium manila phonebook? contacts.lnk in my startmenu links to the default windows mobile 6.1 contact manager.
thanks!
i'm searching this .lnk, too. Any ideas?
HKLM\\Software\HTC\Manila\
HomeRSKPath xxxx\yyyy\aaa.exe (ei: \Programs\Yota Phone\Yota Contacts\YotaContacts.exe)
HomeRSKText Contacts
You could use Advance Configuration 3.3 (Menu -> More setting -> Key Mapping)
D'rath
PS: the registry hack is to Manila v2.x
I am also wondering this. I am using verizonTP2
The only contacts I could locate was using the addrbook.exe in my registry. This contacts looks old and crappy. The contacts used under the phone (if you push the green button and then the soft key-contacts) looks much better and more finger friendly and has more options for contacts including viewing call history, txts, emails, ect...
Is there any way to change the registry so that this phone contacts comes up under my TF3d left soft key on the home page?
Hey all,
I am currently using the energy rom with TF3D2..
I'm not to good at alterations to the phone and tweaks etc. but i am wondering.. on the home screen where the clock is.. the softkeys are LEFT: Contacts RIGHT: Comm Mgr.
Now my question is.. am i able to change the Comm Mgr. one (as i never use it) to say an action screen that i've installed? I have tried numerous things and they dont seem to work. On the original Touch Flo i knew how to do it but as i said, i cant figure out how to do it on the new one..
Any help would be much appreciated!
jayt2008 said:
Hey all,
I am currently using the energy rom with TF3D2..
I'm not to good at alterations to the phone and tweaks etc. but i am wondering.. on the home screen where the clock is.. the softkeys are LEFT: Contacts RIGHT: Comm Mgr.
Now my question is.. am i able to change the Comm Mgr. one (as i never use it) to say an action screen that i've installed? I have tried numerous things and they dont seem to work. On the original Touch Flo i knew how to do it but as i said, i cant figure out how to do it on the new one..
Any help would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you used advanced config?
I cant seem to find settings for that anywhere in advanced config?
I have cahnged it using softkey manager that came with the rom but it still doesnt work?
jayt2008 said:
I cant seem to find settings for that anywhere in advanced config?
I have cahnged it using softkey manager that came with the rom but it still doesnt work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad. Thats a ROMeOS exclusive thing .
Sounds like you are using WM6.5.
The CHome homescreen takes over the softkey assignments the same way TouchFlo3D does. In order to change the Left and Right Softkey, you'll have to make the change manually in the registry or from a CHome Titanium Customizer.
The registry setting is easy if you know the link url to the file you want
Go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\CHome\CClock\
Find the Strings "SK2TEXT" and "SK2URL". The SK2TEXT is the name the button will display, and the URL is the link.
If you're wondering, in the main CHome Key (folder) you'll find the SK1TEXT and SK1URL which is the Left SoftKey; although I would leave contacts up there.
he said hes using tf3d2. he didnt say he was using chome.
Thanks for that! I found it in the registry.. the only thing is.. how do i create a URL for the program that i want to run when i click that softkey?
player911 said:
Sounds like you are using WM6.5.
The CHome homescreen takes over the softkey assignments the same way TouchFlo3D does. In order to change the Left and Right Softkey, you'll have to make the change manually in the registry or from a CHome Titanium Customizer.
The registry setting is easy if you know the link url to the file you want
Go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\CHome\CClock\
Find the Strings "SK2TEXT" and "SK2URL". The SK2TEXT is the name the button will display, and the URL is the link.
If you're wondering, in the main CHome Key (folder) you'll find the SK1TEXT and SK1URL which is the Left SoftKey; although I would leave contacts up there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have solved it and changed the key. Thank you all for the help!
Apologies if there's already a thread about this; it seems like there should be, but I couldn't find one.
Anyway: I recently upgraded from a Kaiser to a Touch Pro (AT&T branded Fuze), and while I like the TouchFlow 3D interface in general, I'd like to remap some of the softkeys do do different things.
For example, I use O3Touch as a contact manager (http://www.o3touch.com/screenshots.html), so I'd like to have the "contacts" softkey on the home page, and the "all people" softkey on the people tab to point to that instead of to the default contact manager. I never use the calendar, so I want to use the "calendar" softkey on the home tab for something else.
I can't find any obvious config files, reg settings or apps that can remap softkeys within the TouchFlo interface. Can anyone help?
download and install total commander and navigate to \\Plugins\registry\HKLM\Software\HTC\Manila and change HomeLSKPath, HomeLSKText, HomeRSKPath, and HomeRSKText to what you want. You can only change the softkeys on the home tab though.
Thanks!
That does exactly what I want.
Thanks!
That does exactly what I want.
Can someone here tell me what is the app name for the Contacts application, I want to put the shortcut as one of the home screen softkeys but couldn't find it.
I searched \windows folder but it's not there. Thanks.
kyang said:
Can someone here tell me what is the app name for the Contacts application, I want to put the shortcut as one of the home screen softkeys but couldn't find it.
I searched \windows folder but it's not there. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
\Windows\Contacts.lnk
noob
Sorry to ask here, can't find with search.
Is there a possibility to remap right softkey in order to turn on/off wlan.
It would be useful.
Maybe just putting the link to "Windows/Comm manager" or something more
direct?
EDIT:
No problem I found solution