Hi,
I recently bought a HTC Touch HD, and I think that the "shutdown-screen-when-you-answer-a-call" function of phones like Diamonds, Touch Pro and HD is the dumbest way to prevent accidental presses on the touch screen.
Our devices have a light sensor, that could be used to switch off the screen if the phone is near the ear (like the phone using an "i" word ) and keep it on when you answer with loudspeaker for example.
The "problem" with this function is that when you're already in a "no-light" environment, the screen lock function doesn't work.
To resolve this issue, I think we could use the G-Sensor. Indeed, if the place has no light, then, the phone cannot detect the proximity of a ear. But when you put the phone next to the ear, you hold it a the vertical...
To make it short, the app should do :
Do nothing in normal use.
When a call arrives :
- it monitors the ambient light
If there's light :
- when you answer the call, if there's light then no more (you stick the phone next to the ear), it switches off the screen and continue to monitor.
- while in call, if there's light again (you want to see some info on the screen for example), it switches on the screen and continue to monitor.
- and so on until you end the call
If there's no light :
- when you answer the call, but let it at the horizontal (you let it on the desk for example), it does nothing
- if you take the phone on the vertical position (you stick the phone next to the ear), it switches the screen off.
- if the phone, during a call, goes from vertical to horizontal of horizontal to vertical, the screen is switches on/of
- and so on until you end the call
Obviously, you could replace the "switch on/off screen" with "lock/unlock screen".
What do you think about ?
UPDATE :
After playing a bit with the HD, it appears that HTC DOES use the light sensor for turning the screen off during a call.
Let's do a test :
In a place with plenty light :
- put your mobile with the face up
- call a number (always face up) : the screen will not be switched off until the light sensor detects a loss of luminosity or a timeout set in the registry.
So, my conclusion is that HTC already use the light sensor to switch the screen off during a call, but they do it in an absurd way :
- they poll the sensor just to shut down the screen, not to switch it on.
- once the screen has been switched off, they do not longer poll at all.
Do you think it could be a way to "hack" their system to do what we want to do ?
no one has an opinion on this idea ? if there's nobody that want / have the time to develop a soft, I understand, but at least please, give me just your opinion
I agree with your idea for such an application. I must admit that I am very used to just pushing the power button when I answer a call (from Polaris use) to ensure I am not going into other programmes as I rub the phone against my ear. On the other hand I am trying to get used to the Touch HD's modern automatic method but I can't help not feeling relaxed that it has worked and keep trying to look at the screen in the corner of my eye to see if it did go off or not.
If it does not come now I am sure there will be such an app very soon just as you describe especially as all the latest models now have it.
i'd use the half of it that doesn't require the G-sensor as i don't have a diamond or HD...
but i'm certainly sick and tired of my ear operating my touch screen while i'm speaking.
I've written a prototype to do exactly what you are talking about although the one crucial part I am missing is the lock code. Every example or suggestion for locking the screen is very hacky and never feels like a good approach. If anyone has a good solution for locking the screen (especially in managed code) I would be happy to complete what I have started and release it with source so it could be improved upon.
So far, the best locking utility I have seen is PocketShield although I'm not sure what approach was used for locking in that case. It almost feels like a form that captures all windows events but I'm not sure exactly.
fireweed said:
I've written a prototype to do exactly what you are talking about although the one crucial part I am missing is the lock code. Every example or suggestion for locking the screen is very hacky and never feels like a good approach. If anyone has a good solution for locking the screen (especially in managed code) I would be happy to complete what I have started and release it with source so it could be improved upon.
So far, the best locking utility I have seen is PocketShield although I'm not sure what approach was used for locking in that case. It almost feels like a form that captures all windows events but I'm not sure exactly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the simpliest way to "protect" the screen is to switch it off. I suppose it must be some API to do that ?
Concerning the "locking", I think the simpliest way is to put on focus an empty window (transparent if it can be ).
I'm really happy to know that you're working on an app like that
lpaso said:
Hi,
I recently bought a HTC Touch HD, and I think that the "shutdown-screen-when-you-answer-a-call" function of phones like Diamonds, Touch Pro and HD is the dumbest way to prevent accidental presses on the touch screen.
Our devices have a light sensor, that could be used to switch off the screen if the phone is near the ear (like the phone using an "i" word ) and keep it on when you answer with loudspeaker for example.
The "problem" with this function is that when you're already in a "no-light" environment, the screen lock function doesn't work.
To resolve this issue, I think we could use the G-Sensor. Indeed, if the place has no light, then, the phone cannot detect the proximity of a ear. But when you put the phone next to the ear, you hold it a the vertical...
To make it short, the app should do :
Do nothing in normal use.
When a call arrives :
- it monitors the ambient light
If there's light :
- when you answer the call, if there's light then no more (you stick the phone next to the ear), it switches off the screen and continue to monitor.
- while in call, if there's light again (you want to see some info on the screen for example), it switches on the screen and continue to monitor.
- and so on until you end the call
If there's no light :
- when you answer the call, but let it at the horizontal (you let it on the desk for example), it does nothing
- if you take the phone on the vertical position (you stick the phone next to the ear), it switches the screen off.
- if the phone, during a call, goes from vertical to horizontal of horizontal to vertical, the screen is switches on/of
- and so on until you end the call
Indeed, you could replace the "switch on/off screen" with "lock/unlock screen".
What do you think about ?
I searched the forum for an existing app that could do this, but I didn't find anything.
If there's already an app that do this stuff, I'm truely sorry for this post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm looking for this.. If you find a solution send me a PM, I will do the same
Thanks!
We need this app, how does the iphone acheive this?
I think the 'easiest' way to make this app would be to keep the phone doing what it does currently (put the phone on standby when answering a call) then have the light sensor take the phone out of standby when it receives light, (taking it away from your ear)?
Obviously if its dark then we would have to use the power butten as we currently do now or have the Gsensor do it with a twisting motion (vertical to horizontal).
If anyone has an idea how to program this i'm willing to help in any way, the current systems seems so crude on such tech devices!
DB
lpaso said:
Hi,
I searched the forum for an existing app that could do this, but I didn't find anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There a program, that can help you. Not full, but it can switch off screen, using g-sensor. However its using not vertical aligment of the phone. There are using changing orientation of the phone to decide when phone near the ear.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=2622590&postcount=45
I have always wondered why our WM phones don't do what the iphone does...
For the SE Xperia X1, the light sensor is right near the earpiece (along with the little front facing camera), so it would go to virtually 100% darkness when near the ear. I would presume unless you are using the phone also in 100% darkness (which should be pretty rare I would guess) then it would work like the iphone.
I have also been quite annoyed by the fact that after a phonecall, sometimes I found i'm in a note taking program or weather program or something else. It just seems dumb, considering our phone HAVE these lightsensors?!
I think it's a fantastic idea to solve a VERY FRUSTRATING PROBLEM
lpaso said:
no one has an opinion on this idea ? if there's nobody that want / have the time to develop a soft, I understand, but at least please, give me just your opinion
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would rank myself this way:
Not a newbie who's just gotten a touchscreen phone and is now discovering the quirks when holding screen to ear,
and not a developer,
but a power-user. I have installed all sorts of XDA-developed features/enhancements for my phone.
But now I have 4 years experience -- starting with the T-Mobile MDA, and its successor, the T-Mobile WING. And despite all of the advancements expected in that time, STILL, I inadvertently end a call, or put it on hold accidentally, ALL THE TIME. Between that and trying to retrieve the phone from my pocket just to answer the damn ringing phone, I would say I have, on the average, a 20% success rate -- and 80% of the time the call is disrupted. And at least once a day my ohone, in my pocket, even when using s2u2, manages to REDIAL my latest conversation, so mcuh so that all my friends say "why don;t you get rid of that phone. It does all these whiz bang things but still can't reliably manage a basic phone call.
My most recent experiment was to call someone, then when they answered, press the s2U2 key to lock the phone screen. Only I came to find out from A_C that this is no good: S2u2 does not have recognition that you're ending the call, thus, since it's in lock-mode, the "END CALL" or Hang-Up hard key does not work.
So by all means, I would even pay for an app that once and for all handles the baseline problems of simply making a phone call. Thanks for making this request.
fireweed, have you contacted A_C, author of s2u2 ?
There may just be perfect synergy between the two of you. His "best of breed" screen-lock app is widely used -- and other developers, like supbro, for example, author of iDialer, have collaborated on small code-bits from A_C to solve some integration problems.
If for any reason you are unfamiliar with A_C, go to his website: www.ac-s2.com -- where his apps are explained, and all link back to XDA.
He's even managed to make the screen lock work, yet, have it selectively overridden when you insert headphone jack -- such that his s2p (slide to play) app opens and allows you to switch music tracks etc while otherwise the screen and buttons are all fully locked...
fireweed said:
I've written a prototype to do exactly what you are talking about although the one crucial part I am missing is the lock code. Every example or suggestion for locking the screen is very hacky and never feels like a good approach. If anyone has a good solution for locking the screen (especially in managed code) I would be happy to complete what I have started and release it with source so it could be improved upon.
So far, the best locking utility I have seen is PocketShield although I'm not sure what approach was used for locking in that case. It almost feels like a form that captures all windows events but I'm not sure exactly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
After playing a bit with the HD, it appears that HTC DOES use the light sensor for turning the screen off during a call.
Let's do a test :
In a place with plenty light :
- put your mobile with the face up
- call a number (always face up) : the screen will not be switched off until the light sensor detects a loss of luminosity or the timeout set in the registry expires.
So, my conclusion is that HTC already use the light sensor to switch the screen off during a call, but they do it in an absurd way :
- they poll the sensor just to shut down the screen, not to switch it on.
- once the screen has been switched off, they do not longer poll at all.
Do you think it could be a way to "hack" their system to do what we want to do ?
I think HTC does not only switch off the display but goes to standby (phone works independent if you didn't know yet). Your idea is a lot different in terms of programming.
I don't know if it goes to standby : when the screen is switched off during a call, a press on any button switch it on again. In the registry, the key controlling the timeout before the screen is shut off is named "LightSensorToScreenOff" so I think it is just switching off the screen...
lpaso said:
I don't know if it goes to standby : when the screen is switched off during a call, a press on any button switch it on again. In the registry, the key controlling the timeout before the screen is shut off is named "LightSensorToScreenOff" so I think it is just switching off the screen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if thats the case, its HALF of what the iphone does... it turns off the screen based on the light sensor going dark suddenly (next to ear) but then fails to turn the screen back on after you move the phone away from your ear...
Anyone know how to enable this?
Interested in having this feature too. Isn't it possible to have the G-Sensor determine when the phone is vertical and shut the screen and then when it is lying flat to turn the screen back on again. Believe that the Iphone does it this way, not with the light sensor.
Hmm... I never had my ear 'navigating' my phone during in-call before....
I never allowed the screen to touch my face anyway, and the speaker is facing the ear canal, when I receive or make calls...
But i do understand that s2u2 can do what you guys might need, it locks the screen during in call.
Hennyb said:
Interested in having this feature too. Isn't it possible to have the G-Sensor determine when the phone is vertical and shut the screen and then when it is lying flat to turn the screen back on again. Believe that the Iphone does it this way, not with the light sensor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the Iphone has something called proximity sensor, which senses the distance from the ear to the phone, hence when the phone rest on the outer ear, the phone screen shut off.
Or am I wrong?
Section9 said:
I think the Iphone has something called proximity sensor, which senses the distance from the ear to the phone, hence when the phone rest on the outer ear, the phone screen shut off.
Or am I wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you're right. It uses an iR sensor to know if there's something near the phone.
I find this behavior of my touch pro irritating and stupid. The screen goes off during coversation. We all know that. And we know that we can tweak it via the registry not to go off at all.
But WHY can't it just act like my wife's iPhone does? The iPhone turns the screen off during conversation by using the LIGHT DETECTOR. So when you put it near your ear screen goes off and immediately returns when you move the phone away from your ear. I am using my wife's iphone a lot and I can say this behavior works excellent, flawless and so much better than the Touch Pro, where it's either goes off and I have to click on a button each time to turn it on again. Or just leave the LCD on even I talk for half an hour. Did anyone fix that ?
Look for Touch InCall Screen Tweak.
Check the options for:
"Ignore Light Sensor"
"Ignore First Screen Off"
and I believe it'll work how you want it to.
unless one talk for a long time turning on and off the lcd backlight would most likely use more power then having it on during the call these devices don't have led backlight or use oled
so there is still a neon backlight type of thing I believe
and they use most power when turning on
mindfrost82 said:
Look for Touch InCall Screen Tweak.
Check the options for:
"Ignore Light Sensor"
"Ignore First Screen Off"
and I believe it'll work how you want it to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just want to second this. The behavior you describe really annoyed my about my fuze as well, when I had been using a Samsung Eternity that operated similar to the iPhone (detected when it was at your ear to turn off screen).
Get the program mindfrost said, it works like a charm! You can even make the phone automatically turn to speakerphone when you sit it face down mid-call, and go back to normal when you pick it back up! It's an excellent add-on.
I don' understand one thing. Why do we check Ignore Light Sensor? I have the program, my phone now works like an iphone with the settings you described but that option is throwing me for aloop
I went to the thread for the app and found that the app is working a bit different than I thought. I do enjoy this app. Nuts that this isn't an out of the box type behaviour.
the iphone doesnt use the ambient light sensor, it uses the proximity sensor which the touch pro doesnt have. if you tilt it up to the sunlight you can see 3 black spots on the iphone. one that is the light sensor, a proximity beam and sensor. it can tell if an object like your face is too close to use the screen and turns it off during a call.
The Jack of Clubs said:
the iphone doesnt use the ambient light sensor, it uses the proximity sensor which the touch pro doesnt have. if you tilt it up to the sunlight you can see 3 black spots on the iphone. one that is the light sensor, a proximity beam and sensor. it can tell if an object like your face is too close to use the screen and turns it off during a call.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all replies. I will try Touch InCall that you guys suggested.
Jack : I didn't know that. That seems like a smart thing to do, better than using the light sensor I wonder why the HTC guys didn't think about that being that the HTC devices are more expensive, newer and should have better tech. Oh well
I'm a bit curious why everybody wants their screen to remain on while they are talking on the phone. Do you like to press the screen with your cheek while you're talking? What do you need to look at the screen for? I've always had the option of turning the screen off while talking enabled.
pennywisdom said:
I'm a bit curious why everybody wants their screen to remain on while they are talking on the phone. Do you like to press the screen with your cheek while you're talking? What do you need to look at the screen for? I've always had the option of turning the screen off while talking enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think anyone is saying that - they want the screen to turn off when the phone is against their face, and turn on if the phone is moved, to type in numbers, take notes, etc.
DaveLinger said:
I don't think anyone is saying that - they want the screen to turn off when the phone is against their face, and turn on if the phone is moved, to type in numbers, take notes, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. That's correct
DaveLinger said:
I don't think anyone is saying that - they want the screen to turn off when the phone is against their face, and turn on if the phone is moved, to type in numbers, take notes, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess the impression I got from the Tilt (which doesn't have a light sensor) and the users of the Tilt, they didn't like the screen to blank during a call. I always turn my screen off with the power button if I have to while I'm on the phone so I never understood why they wanted it to stay on.
I think the problem with using the photo sensor reading is that if it is dark, you'll never get the screen to turn back on, even if you pull the phone away from your ear.
On the Raphael/Touch Pro perhaps the improved screen sensitivity and the non-bezelled screen makes for ear shenanigans while ear mashing.
I could get away with ear mashing on the Tilt and the Wizard.
What if you are using bluetooth in the car?
During calls the proximity sensor isn't working properly. The display keeps going on and off and many times you end up having accidental touches which can lead to the pulling down of the notification drawer and even cause apps to open randomly.
However, it behaves differently with every single occasion I get to make a call. Sometimes it works better and sometimes it's worse. It also seems to be influenced by the environment I'm in. If for example I'm inside my apartment talking on the phone, when I move from a darker area of the room towards the open window and vice-versa, it seems to be triggering the light sensor which is somehow communicating with the proximity sensor, thus causing the display to go on and off.
Can anyone confirm this issue?
Yes, even I have observed the same, sometimes it works like a charm and sometimes it just keeps toggling very badly.
Same thing happens with my device. It's comman with many Xiaomi devices I purchased in the past. Maybe a software update will fix it.
My Proximity Sensor always turn off screen after click "Call" without near my face. I just got a new redmi note 7 pro replacement because that.
Just updated to the latest MIUI China Stable 10.3.5.0 version and the bug appears to have been solved. I've tested it in different lighting conditions and the screen stays off in each and every scenario. So that's one less bug to deal with.