Pandora volume issues (too low)? Look no further! - General Questions and Answers

To increase the volume of Pandora on Windows Mobile:
1. Open Pandora
2. Wait for music to start playing
3. Press the OK button (you should now hear an audible increase in the playback volume)
4. Bring Pandora back into focus, repeat steps 1-3 and enjoy your preferred level!
Why this works:
Let's concentrate first on the number of levels of fail in play here...
Level 1:
Windows Mobile utilizes some pretty funky key-mappings. As can be seen here:
http:[slash][slash]msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb431750.aspx
the key for 'volume +' is actually 'F6'. Since most Windows Mobile phones do not have the F-key row, the only way to do this is if you have a hard button.
Level 2:
The Pandora programmers decided to give Pandora an independent volume control at all based upon the same button configuration used by Windows Mobile to detect hardware button presses.
This also works the same way in the browser-based version at pandora.com! Try using your hardware 'volume -' button (if you have one) on your PC while you have the browser window running Pandora in focus - you'll see what I mean...
Level 3:
The Pandora programmers decided to not expose the above control to the user in the GUI
Level 4:
The Pandora programmers decided to utilize Windows Media Player mobile for their backend. Unfortunately for us who do not have a hardware volume control, they initialize the Windows Media Player ActiveX control's (Those of you who have ever programmed in Visual Basic should know what I mean here) volume value to BFFF (hex) or 49151 (dec) - equaling about 74.6% - every time you start the Pandora player, instead of 100%.
This is a 32-bit value, so the max value is FFFF (hex) or 65535 (dec). It is also written to the registry at the location \HKCU\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Preferences\Volume and it's horrid results can be observed by starting Media Player after Exiting the Pandora app.
Level 5:
Those of us suffering from a lack of hardware buttons may have thought they were really smart after discovering the above and tried a button re-programming application for Windows Mobile, to attempt to bestow upon ourselves a volume +, volume -, or both hardware buttons. This simply does not work for one reason or another - I am guessing because the programs may only send the key-down event and Pandora may only look for the key up event.
I spent the last two days trying to bring forth fruit from this method.
And the best part...
When you press the 'OK' hard button, it doesn't correspond to just one button in the Operating system. It is actually a combination of WINKEY + F6. Those of you who have hardware button controls can try this, or the rest of us can get the 'cerdisp' program and try this with our Windows computers. It should close whatever program you have in focus. Since Pandora is not really looking for the WIN key, I'm assuming it ignores the WIN key press, instead looking only at the F6 key press alongside it, this time most likely along with it's associated key-up event.
Please let me know your results. This was tested on an HTC PPC-6800 with a cooked WM6.5 rom.
On a side note, it's been a long year of searching for a solution, but at long last I can listen to Pandora at full volume through my Ford SYNC-capable stereo using A2DP!

Related

Any software to remap hardware keys?

Is there any software out there right now that can remap the hardware keys easily so that when a key is pressed the applications on the device think it's another key? (for example, holding the Volume Down key makes applications think you're holding down the * key on a phone keypad).
Therefore I can use it to map *, 8, 6, 9, 1 and 0 keys onto a phone without a keypad and play games that require more than the 4 direcitonal keys and center key.
So annoying knowing that you have hardware keys that aren't being used by the game but you don't have the keys the game needs... (yes, no, volume up, volume down, gps and browser key... enough to play the game... though not the keys that game wants)
SortInchKey... it's kinda hard to setup, but it will do what you need....good luck
Can you share how you can set it up? I am looking for this but totally confused by the screen.
Take a look at this one....should serve your purpose.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=472280
cortk said:
Is there any software out there right now that can remap the hardware keys easily so that when a key is pressed the applications on the device think it's another key? (for example, holding the Volume Down key makes applications think you're holding down the * key on a phone keypad).
Therefore I can use it to map *, 8, 6, 9, 1 and 0 keys onto a phone without a keypad and play games that require more than the 4 direcitonal keys and center key.
So annoying knowing that you have hardware keys that aren't being used by the game but you don't have the keys the game needs... (yes, no, volume up, volume down, gps and browser key... enough to play the game... though not the keys that game wants)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well the best way in my experience is to use resco registry editor, for example i change my left soft key to "new sms" so when i click it it pops open a new sms message window, look into that if you'd like
Also make sure you check out my dedicated bible in the Wiki.
AE Button Plus
which device do u have? i have hp 614c and i use the app "CZ612Key1.01" for that very same purpose.

Is there a way to assign the hardware buttons to applications?

Hi all,
Is there an application out there that let's me assign all the hardware buttons on the TD2 to various applications? For instance, it really bothers me that I only have a software button to take pictures and videos with (because sometimes I turn the phone around to have myself in the frame, try to hit that touchscreen button then!). It would be nice when in camera mode I can assign for instance the return button to act as the shutter button. In another application I can assign the buttons for other tasks then.
In short, is it possible to use the hardware buttons for different tasks in different applications (for example the already given example of the return button acting as the shutter button in camera mode, but in the browser you can assign the return button to act as the "back" key).
It would make using the TD2 SO MUCH easier!
Try SPB Pocket Plus.
Then go to |START|SETTINGS|PERSONAL|BUTTONS|. You should be able to assign just about anything to a HW key or a long press on a HW key.
HButton.
Freeware, works great!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=306794

[REQ] Change track using Vol Keys.

Hi,
Is anyone able to write a simple service or app that will hook the volume keys so that i can double tap or tap and hold the volume keys to change the track back and forward on the stock music player.
It's a bit of a pain getting the phone out every time I want to skip a track, especially since I like to drop things but also since I prefer not to take my desire or hero out and be seen with them in my local area.
Ain't too safe.
I still can't believe HTC didn't add this feature by default, I don't want to use the headset remote.
Thanks.
Well you can always modify the file bravo-keypad.kl in /system/usr/keylayout
from
key 115 VOLUME_UP WAKE
key 114 VOLUME_DOWN WAKE
to
key 115 MEDIA_NEXT WAKE
key 114 MEDIA_PREVIOUS WAKE
But then you have no volume keys.
HTC headset has track change controls?
sruon said:
Well you can always modify the file bravo-keypad.kl in /system/usr/keylayout
from
key 115 VOLUME_UP WAKE
key 114 VOLUME_DOWN WAKE
to
key 115 MEDIA_NEXT WAKE
key 114 MEDIA_PREVIOUS WAKE
But then you have no volume keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly why I didn't do it and requested an app/service instead
alias_neo said:
Hi,
Is anyone able to write a simple service or app that will hook the volume keys so that i can double tap or tap and hold the volume keys to change the track back and forward on the stock music player.
It's a bit of a pain getting the phone out every time I want to skip a track, especially since I like to drop things but also since I prefer not to take my desire or hero out and be seen with them in my local area.
Ain't too safe.
I still can't believe HTC didn't add this feature by default, I don't want to use the headset remote.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use my own set of earbuds, no way I'd ever take that stock crap out of the box.
You can open the track control unit and solder your own buds onto it :/
AdamG said:
You can open the track control unit and solder your own buds onto it :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know i _can_ but it's not the solution I'm after. My buds are expensive and I use them elsewhere too, as do I also plug several other things into the phone.
Essentially, I want hte controls on the phone, and independant of the phones or wiring.
Otherwise the first thing I would have done is modify the remote control. 2 minutes work for an electronic engineer. (most of which is waiting for the iron to heat up).
I'm surprised someone hasn't already written something like this, it seemed like an obvious addition to me.
i have htc touch pro, and i mapped nearly all hw keys to do something usefull.
hold send key = toggle screen brightness. hold end key = toggle vibrate. hold home key, get the task manager. when playing music, press dpad's down = next track, hold it = fast forward. same with dpad's up but reverse. dpad's middle key = play/pause. dpad's right/left, player's volume (dedicated volume keys controll system volume.)
seeing that evo has only volume and power hw keys, assigning different functions to them besides what they currently do is essential. you got my support here =)
i'm quite familiar with modding winmo phones, but havent played with android yet. tho once i get evo, trust me, ill do everything in my power to get those hw/sw key to function as desired =D
frifox said:
i have htc touch pro, and i mapped nearly all hw keys to do something usefull.
hold send key = toggle screen brightness. hold end key = toggle vibrate. hold home key, get the task manager. when playing music, press dpad's down = next track, hold it = fast forward. same with dpad's up but reverse. dpad's middle key = play/pause. dpad's right/left, player's volume (dedicated volume keys controll system volume.)
seeing that evo has only volume and power hw keys, assigning different functions to them besides what they currently do is essential. you got my support here =)
i'm quite familiar with modding winmo phones, but havent played with android yet. tho once i get evo, trust me, ill do everything in my power to get those hw/sw key to function as desired =D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeh, this was a useful capability of WinMo. I miss that in Android, but not much else. The Desire like you said doesn't have many keys unfortunately, I'm even missing the Call and End keys I was used to on the HTC Hero, but that I can live with.
What I'd really like is the double press or press and hold for track change on volume keys just like Sony Ericsson's do.
Why moved?
Can someone please tell me why on earth this has been moved to the EVO 4G Apps and Themes Section?
The request is for an App for use on the HTC desire, which is where I posted it.
........................
My thoughts exactly.
any solution found yet, op?
Well still I want it for the Evo so if this gets moved again I am making a new one
i support this request as well... coming from BB i miss that functionality to skip tracks without having to look at or even pull out your phone
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=777767

A way to detect volume rocker presses on low level

OK, here's the deal: Android services, unlike activities, are unable to capture keypresses via i.e. onKeyDown(). That makes it hard for services that for example play music to detect volume rocker presses. Capturing them is possible, as Voodoo Louder somehow detects it, but unfortunately Voodoo author is not willing to share his secret. So question to you hackers - is there any other way for service to capture volume button presses, beside the one I've posted on stack exchange, the one that employs ContentObserver? Some low level kernel access point? Something in /dev/ ? Note that my device doesn't have /dev/event0, as supposed here:
http://www.kandroid.org/online-pdk/guide/keymaps_keyboard_input.html

Changing music app/button association

Running an avant4 avinusa bmw e39 unit, Android 9.0.
Probably a faq:
I’ve installed power amp, and want that to launch instead of the stock music player when hitting the music button. Power amp is working ok.
Don’t see a way to add new actions in button key study factory settings.
Don’t see a way to over-ride the behavior of the existing music action listed in the button key study.
Beyond that question, seems the builtin music app needs to be left running (background) in order for steering wheel button presses to trigger track forward/etc in power amp. How to fix to no longer need the default music app?

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