64 replies to this topic

[bretto]

Hi All

Does anyone know of an application that will simply COMPLETELY lock my PPC.

There are a number of apps around but they all have their quirks and are generally incomplete in some way. Or they insist on adding other functionality.

I simply want to hold a key down for a period of time (auto timed lock would be good too) and have the device lock both keys and touch screen.

When anything happens, no matter what it is, the device stays locked. Except for the unlock key combo obviously.

The standard lock buttons at turn off turns everything back on when a call or message comes in. Others leave the keys locked but turn the touch screen on.

Maybe someone wants to develop this. If they do can we keep it simple. Dont need a screensaver option or anything tricky that will eat battery power.

Just want it to disable input from the keys and touch screen until it is specifically unlocked.

Cheers

Bretto

[bretto]

Ok well if someone has the ability to create a simple dll that encapsulates the touchpanel dll I would be happy to do the rest.

I believe visual studio has this ability. It apparently includes the .h and .lib files to support the touchpanel.

I only use evc++ and it doesnt come with these library and header files.

Or if someone can get me these files I'll encapsulate the TP too

I could use TPEnable.exe and TPDisable.exe but I dont know if they work on all platforms. They come with wm200se but not wm2003 so I dont even know if they work on wm2003 devices. Maybe someone can enlighten me on this too.

Cheers

Bretto

[RiceBurner]

bretto, on Apr 19 2005, 13:43, said:

Ok well if someone has the ability to create a simple dll that encapsulates the touchpanel dll I would be happy to do the rest.

I believe visual studio has this ability. It apparently includes the .h and .lib files to support the touchpanel.

I only use evc++ and it doesnt come with these library and header files.

Or if someone can get me these files I'll encapsulate the TP too

I could use TPEnable.exe and TPDisable.exe but I dont know if they work on all platforms. They come with wm200se but not wm2003 so I dont even know if they work on wm2003 devices. Maybe someone can enlighten me on this too.

Cheers

Bretto

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd be interested in this - DeltaLock (screenlocking) and ButtonLock (just button locks) are all very well, but I agree a PROPER "InterfaceLock" would be far more useful.

As long as you can set it up so that it'll still answer calls at the touch of a Bluetooth headset button....

[RiceBurner]

RiceBurner, on Apr 20 2005, 13:57, said:

I'd be interested in this - DeltaLock (screenlocking) and ButtonLock (just button locks) are all very well, but I agree a PROPER "InterfaceLock" would be far more useful.

As long as you can set it up so that it'll still answer calls at the touch of a Bluetooth headset button....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Update - just downloaded DeltaLock V3  (0.03 actually) and it appears to be a complete "lock-out" program.

Even locks out the buttons, apart from the 2 used to reactivate the phone, which you can alter.

http://www.deltadeve...Lock/index.html

[bretto]

RiceBurner, on Apr 25 2005, 14:50, said:

Update - just downloaded DeltaLock V3  (0.03 actually) and it appears to be a complete "lock-out" program.

Even locks out the buttons, apart from the 2 used to reactivate the phone, which you can alter.

http://www.deltadeve...Lock/index.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Riceburner

Thanks for the heads up. Just checked it out. This is close to what I want but the application still appears to be relying on "stealing" the screen to stop it from being used.

What I mean is yes you can write a fullscreen app to run in the forground all the time and hide the rest of the screen so users cannot select anything other than your app but what happens when you want to look at the device and see the time or if you have mail/sms, etc.

I knocked something up very similar in evc++ when I was playing around but I ran into the same limitation. Its actually not too hard to disable the buttons but the touch panel is another beast altoghether.

Also these two programs are from HTC which work on both wm2003 and wm2003se.

TPDisable.exe and TPEnable.exe. At the moment I simply have them associated with two of my hardware buttons but now Ive tested them on both operating systems I think I will knock up something using them until I can work out how to encapsulate the touch.dll.

 touch_panel_utils.zip   2.58K   24967 downloads

[bretto]

Ive been haveing a better look at this and pulling my hair out!

Ideally a background or tray based app would be good. But I cant get the wm_key messages to process unless the app in on the screen.

ie: have a tray app. when on screen using gdi functions the hardware buttons are all under my control. When the window is hidden but still "active" I loose the buttons capture.

Can anyone tell me how to get around this. Even better can anyone else have a go at doing this.

Dont think I can use registerhotkey because if another app has already registered the hotkey it is unobtainable.

Edited by bretto, 25 April 2005 - 06:57 PM.

[vijay555]

I haven't done any serious PocketPC programming, but couldn't you do this by subclassing the windows messages and filtering for the ones you want?

This would probably need to be a window hook (if they exist in PPC).

Please ignore if I'm talking poo.

V

[Xenzo1990]

any more on this tool ill probably need something when i get my m500

[bretto]

Xenzo1990, on Jul 31 2005, 21:33, said:

any more on this tool ill probably need something when i get my m500

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I shelved it because of other committments. But since you reminded me about it I might take another look at it.

[Xenzo1990]

Thanks Mate.

[sleighty]

Xenzo1990, on Jul 31 2005, 22:33, said:

any more on this tool ill probably need something when i get my m500

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think something like this is essential for M500. Had mine since Thursday and can't understand why Orange/HTC let it out without some sort of full lock.
If its in its case or a pocket and receives a call or text, all keys go live and it can then ring out accidentally etc.
By the way, a long press on the power key DOESN'T turn off phone per manual, only the backlight. Short press turns off PDA ok.
I've been managing by short press on power button after using phone before putting back in case. Guess this is what they intended, but would prefer long press on red handset key to lock a la E200. Not sure how to propose unlock.

[NikLP]

sleighty, on Jul 31 2005, 23:57, said:

I think something like this is essential for M500. Had mine since Thursday and can't understand why Orange/HTC let it out without some sort of full lock.
If its in its case or a pocket and receives a call or text, all keys go live and it can then ring out accidentally etc.
By the way, a long press on the power key DOESN'T turn off phone per manual, only the backlight. Short press turns off PDA ok.
I've been managing by short press on power button after using phone before putting back in case. Guess this is what they intended, but would prefer long press on red handset key to lock a la E200. Not sure how to propose unlock.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agreed, this is weird. Didn't know what you lot were talking about until I played about with mine (M500 came this morning - weeeeee!) but having the whole thing unlock after a missed call or text is pure madness... Am waiting on this thread!

[Xenzo1990]

Yer... Does your phone keypad unlock aswell? What a messup. You'de had thing they would have fixed that. Well they will in a patch, no doubt they know, they probably knew before shipping it to.

[bretto]

After a lengthy look at this I have come to the conclusion that there is no way I can do this as the tools at my disposal will not let me control the touchscreen.

[tonijj]

bretto, on Aug 16 2005, 07:10, said:

After a lengthy look at this I have come to the conclusion that there is no way I can do this as the tools at my disposal will not let me control the touchscreen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ahh, thats not the news I was waiting for! I'v been waiting on this thread to pop up an app
On the other hand, I shouldnt complain since I got no programming skills whatsoever and cant contribute in any way, sry guys, but hey, if you solve it, post it.

[dan13l]

OK - I've written an app that might be of use

You run it, it locks all the buttons. There are three buttons on screen, and after tapping them three times, one of them will randomly quit the app and restore the buttons. It runs full screen, so you can use the "x" to close it.

Does this sound useful? If so I can upload it

Hmm - ok, so my app isn't massively different to Delta lock   I can still upload it, and it was still fun to code Its written using the .Net compact framework btw.

I might carry on playing and see if I can improve it now I've started though

Edited by dan13l, 16 August 2005 - 10:05 PM.

[tonijj]

dan13l, on Aug 16 2005, 21:51, said:

OK - I've written an app that might be of use

You run it, it locks all the buttons. There are three buttons on screen, and after tapping them three times, one of them will randomly quit the app and restore the buttons. It runs full screen, so you can use the "x" to close it.

Does this sound useful? If so I can upload it

Hmm - ok, so my app isn't massively different to Delta lock  I can still upload it, and it was still fun to code Its written using the .Net compact framework btw.

I might carry on playing and see if I can improve it now I've started though

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, definetely upload it mate! Now, since you're gonna play around with it, would you mind looking into if you could either integrate or add a feature like Dockware, that is, when you look the keys, a blackscreen with calendar and time+date displays etc. ?

Cheers

[bretto]

.net ! nice someone with the capability to control the touchpanel!

For sure upload the app but can I also get you to research stoping and starting the touchpanel? You should be able to do this using .net , or there might be the possibility for me to grab the h and lib file I need from you if you dont mind.

If you can control the touchpanel then there is no more need to use a full screen app. That is to say we will be able to see whats going on with the device when its locked.

[dan13l]

OK, I'll look into controlling the touch panel. The only problem I have is I write in c# not c++, so it might limited what I can do. If it comes down to it I can get my head around c++, so I'll do my best

[dan13l]

bretto - if you've got any pointers, or if you need some files from me, let me know and I'll try to help. I've been trying to get some information on turning the touch panel off, but can't seem to dig up much info