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[Q] 2 questions regarding buttons

1. Is there any app that allows using the volume down button to turn on the screen instead of the power button? The few that I've tried don't work.
2. I don't like how the 4 bottom buttons don't always stay lit up when the screen is on. They go off fairly quickly and I can no longer see the buttons when I'm in a dark room. My old phones buttons stayed lit up as long as the screen was on.
Thanks for any help.

That's some good questions.
The second one drives me crazy. Sometimes.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

I'd be interested in both of those things as well. Coming from a MT3G I'm still getting used to the power button on the top. For as large as the phone is, and being left handed, it is pretty awkward to hit the power button then slide to unlock without having to readjust my hold on it or use 2 hands.
Also, it does get pretty annoying when the lights turn off and I want to hit a button. Sometimes I'll try to go back a page in the browser and I'll just hit Home instead.... just something that dims it to a very very low light would work, or kept it at that same low light all the time. Those are pretty damn bright, and I dont see a reason for them being so bright.

[Q] power/lock button on G2x

i know there is a setting to use the volume rocker buttons as unlock buttons, but that does not always work, but besides that is there anyway on the g2x to lock the screen but not have to use any button to unlock it? any app that will let you swipe a pattern to unlock the phone when the screen is off?

dodgefan67 said:
i know there is a setting to use the volume rocker buttons as unlock buttons, but that does not always work, but besides that is there anyway on the g2x to lock the screen but not have to use any button to unlock it? any app that will let you swipe a pattern to unlock the phone when the screen is off?
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Settings/security
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

How would this be possible? If the screen is off, you can't use it, and thus you can't input anything, and if you can't use any buttons, then there's no way you can unlock it. What are you thinking about, voice recognition?
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA

no, i still want the phone to lock, i just dont want to have to push any buttons to get it to unlock, for the screen to come back on.
for example, i had a nokia nuron that had a slide switch on the side that would lock the phone, it turned the touchscreen off so you didnt accidentally start something. but it also had a screen timeout that would just blank the screen, then you could touch it and it would come back on without having to use the slide switch
i want to blank the screen without locking it. turning off screen lock you still have to use the button to turn the screen back on

I'm speechless!
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

dodgefan67 said:
no, i still want the phone to lock, i just dont want to have to push any buttons to get it to unlock, for the screen to come back on.
for example, i had a nokia nuron that had a slide switch on the side that would lock the phone, it turned the touchscreen off so you didnt accidentally start something. but it also had a screen timeout that would just blank the screen, then you could touch it and it would come back on without having to use the slide switch
i want to blank the screen without locking it. turning off screen lock you still have to use the button to turn the screen back on
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This would also cause another problem. The screen being blank but still active would kill the battery really quickly.

shovelhead83 said:
I'm speechless!
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
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LOL guess im asking the wrong question or not conveying what im thinking
GTWalling said:
This would also cause another problem. The screen being blank but still active would kill the battery really quickly.
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well thats true, but it did work like that on my nokia. but really how much more battery would it use if the screen blanks but doesnt sleep? not anymore than if i was using it, probably even less
oh well, guess its just wishful thinking

How can you lock something, and use nothing to unlock it?
For example, you use a key to lock your door, you must use a key to unlock it. Or, you can leave the door open (leave the screen blank), but risk getting robbed (battery drained). I'm sorry if the analogy is bad, what you're asking for is ridiculous.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA

theking_13 said:
How can you lock something, and use nothing to unlock it?
For example, you use a key to lock your door, you must use a key to unlock it. Or, you can leave the door open (leave the screen blank), but risk getting robbed (battery drained). I'm sorry if the analogy is bad, what you're asking for is ridiculous.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA
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ok, i think what im doing is confusing blanking the screen with locking the phone, 2 different things. im just concerned that button is gonna get a lot of use and wish the volume rocker wake would work better. oh well
thanks for everyone's input, was just hoping

Blanking the screen like it reduces the brightness after a while? If so, there might be an app for it, but it will definitely reduce your battery greatly.
Either way, don't worry about the button. You probably won't have the phone that long, or you'll break something different.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA

theking_13 said:
Blanking the screen like it reduces the brightness after a while? If so, there might be an app for it, but it will definitely reduce your battery greatly.
Either way, don't worry about the button. You probably won't have the phone that long, or you'll break something different.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA
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well i hope to have it that long, just got it

Reducing use/wear of power button to prevent fail

The power button is one of he captivate's weak points. I started looking at ways to reduce use of it to head off the problem before it happens. I'm interested to hear what, if anything, others may have done.
Here is my list so far:
1. use a case, such as otterbox commuter, that keeps the button clean and perhaps softens the impact when pressed.
2. use Rebooter app for reboot, reboot to recovery, and power off.
3. In JB, add the screen lock function to the notification bar. I often lock the screen before putting phone in my pocket after use. instead of power button, I tap the icon.
4. in JB, enable the volume rocker wake function. use volume keys to wake the phone.
Locking/unlocking the screen probably accounts for 99% of my power button use. so items 3 and 4 reduce my power button use the most.
Sent from my SGH-I897

laughingT said:
The power button is one of he captivate's weak points. I started looking at ways to reduce use of it to head off the problem before it happens. I'm interested to hear what, if anything, others may have done.
Here is my list so far:
1. use a case, such as otterbox commuter, that keeps the button clean and perhaps softens the impact when pressed.
2. use Rebooter app for reboot, reboot to recovery, and power off.
3. In JB, add the screen lock function to the notification bar. I often lock the screen before putting phone in my pocket after use. instead of power button, I tap the icon.
4. in JB, enable the volume rocker wake function. use volume keys to wake the phone.
Locking/unlocking the screen probably accounts for 99% of my power button use. so items 3 and 4 reduce my power button use the most.
Sent from my SGH-I897
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To add to this list: Capacitive buttons in recovery.
Imo, case is probably the best solution. The power button is fairly opened to dust/dirt and such. On top of that, if dropped without a case, you multiply your chances of breaking something.
I must say though, I own 2 captivate (both bought about a year and a half ago) and never had any button problems. They have been dropped and got dirty but pretty much always have a case so either I've been very lucky or those cases actually make all the difference!

Button savior also helps.

Anniraff said:
Button savior also helps.
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Is that an app?
edit:
i see the app on google play. thanks for sharing. I am not sure I want to give up screen real estate as preventative measure, but nice to know about it if ever needed.
Sent from my SGH-I897

Is the power button really such an Achilles heel when it comes to the cappy? I've had mine for over 2 years now, it's used every day, has no case on it and it's been working great... so far.
Is this something that just "fails" or does it actually have to break?

iamzombie said:
Is the power button really such an Achilles heel when it comes to the cappy? I've had mine for over 2 years now, it's used every day, has no case on it and it's been working great... so far.
Is this something that just "fails" or does it actually have to break?
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Hope you didn't just jinx yourself. It will just fail one day as that's what it did to me. On the bright side having volume rocker wake on ever rom and most roms now including a go to sleep toggle for the notification drawer its easy to work around.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app

Screen off and lock (free in the play store) will save your power button. No root required.
There are kernels with "touch2wake" that will turn your phone on by touching the capacitive buttons. This of course requires, root, unlock, custom Rom.
Sent from my HTC One X+ using xda app-developers app

I'm on my third Cappy (warrantied) and the first one suffered from the power button death. It was less than a year old at the time. It would work intermittenly at the end and finally quit. I tried taking it apart and spraying electrical cleaner in and around with no success. I had to resort to apps to lock the screen and wake with volume buttons. Hopefully this one will hold out till I'm up for upgrade in March.

I never had any issues with my captivate buttons, but I replaced my nexus S twice, in less than six months, due to a shoddy power button. I'm steering clear of Samsung for a while.
Sent from my HTC One X+ using xda app-developers app

Had one for about 2 years and never had any issues

grotz497 said:
Had one for about 2 years and never had any issues
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A cappy or NS?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

Going on 2 yrs too. I drop mine all the time and am shamefully careless with my cappy. It just keeps on going. I do have a seemingly dead or choosy HDMI port but its probably from my toddler sucking on the Phone a few times.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app

nespid said:
A cappy or NS?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
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Cappy. NS had the shoddy power button. Actually, I think I've had my cappy for closer to three years. My brother in law had a cappy and beat the snot out of it and it still worked. Pool twice, dropped from scaffolding, countless drops, and it kept going.
Sent from my HTC One X+ using xda app-developers app

nespid said:
Cappy. NS had the shoddy power button. Actually, I think I've had my cappy for closer to three years. My brother in law had a cappy and beat the snot out of it and it still worked. Pool twice, dropped from scaffolding, countless drops, and it kept going.
Sent from my HTC One X+ using xda app-developers app
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I swimmed with mine in a pool for about 20mins. Get out of water, freak out a bit, take it a part so it can dry in the sun (not too long), put in bag of rice for 48hrs = Cappy is still running like a champ! Been dropped quite a few times too but has a case. :good:

wow. what case were you using?
Sent from my SGH-I897

laughingT said:
wow. what case were you using?
Sent from my SGH-I897
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A very regular/boring black soft case that covers the buttons

power button stuck down

its half way down.. i can lightly touch the power button and it will turn the screen on/off.. really becoming frustrating. id like to fix this on my own. any one been through this and have a fix? if i send it back through insurance, will it be completely covered? thank you.

Sounds like the tab the battery button connects to is either broke or simply undone itself. Taking the phone apart is the only way to find out.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Power button not working

Hello all:
Today my power button has become nonresponsive. I've done nothing unusual with my phone but I do remember early in the morning it rather strangely vibrating 3 times while I was browsing something, and it wasn't a phone call nor an incoming text, and I'm wondering if that was a signifier of what was to come. In any event, the phone is functional otherwise, for I can still slide out the keyboard in order to wake the screen. However, I dare not let the battery completely run out, lest I not be able to turn it on anymore, and I can't do a reboot of the phone (or screen shot, for that matter) since the power + volume down button combo doesn't work; it just lowers my volume. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I had that happen once - just pop the back cover off & re-seat it, make sure it aligns properly. See if that fixes it.
Sent from my PHOTON Q using XDA Free mobile app

schmandroid said:
I had that happen once - just pop the back cover off & re-seat it, make sure it aligns properly. See if that fixes it.
Sent from my PHOTON Q using XDA Free mobile app
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good advice.
before closing the back lid, try to push the button with your finger nails.
if you don't feel the click and just feel mushy, then you are screwed. I lost my camera button in that way from day 1 and I thought it's the way it is.
You have to expect a tactile feedback with every buttons.