37 replies to this topic

[TerryH]

I am looking for a solution that if the screen turns off the Wifi doesn't turn off too. I am using a static Ip with Dns of my router. I would like have a screen blanker (battery saving) and Wifi on if this is possible. Anybody has an idea for this issue?

[zzleezz]

Something we are all waiting for. Needs an updated kernel (one just dropped) that enables this or kernel source so someone can add it.

[ptbw]

TerryH, on Jan 22 2011, 12:24, said:

I am looking for a solution that if the screen turns off the Wifi doesn't turn off too. I am using a static Ip with Dns of my router. I would like have a screen blanker (battery saving) and Wifi on if this is possible. Anybody has an idea for this issue?

I experimented with some code I found on GoogleCode that changed the brightness of the backlight. http://code.google.c...source/checkout but I soon discovered the a brightness of 0 put the Vega to sleep wifi and all.  (The brightness level is a float between 1.00 and 0.00)

However a brightness of 0.01 looks like the screen is off but the Vega does not sleep...........

So I have a pretty basic APK that can turn off the screen when run, press the back button to make it restore to its previous level. I did play with touching the screen to restore the backlight as well but that's still a work in progress.

Source is here: http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.zip

Since the WiFi is a large part of the battery drain I did not notice that much improvement but you are welcome to give it a try:

APK is here: http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.apk

Please reply if you do actually find it useful.

Edited by ptbw, 22 January 2011 - 02:52 PM.

[zzleezz]

Wow! Nice work mate.

[andycap]

Hi.

I have taken the liberty of adding an icon to the App and also have it exiting when screen is clicked.  Hope you don't mind.

http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.apk

[ptbw]

andycap, on Jan 22 2011, 19:02, said:

Hi.

I have taken the liberty of adding an icon to the App and also have it exiting when screen is clicked.  Hope you don't mind.

http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.apk

No problem, as I said it was a work in progress.

[debs626]

ptbw, on Jan 22 2011, 14:50, said:

I experimented with some code I found on GoogleCode that changed the brightness of the backlight. http://code.google.c...source/checkout but I soon discovered the a brightness of 0 put the Vega to sleep wifi and all.  (The brightness level is a float between 1.00 and 0.00)

However a brightness of 0.01 looks like the screen is off but the Vega does not sleep...........

So I have a pretty basic APK that can turn off the screen when run, press the back button to make it restore to its previous level. I did play with touching the screen to restore the backlight as well but that's still a work in progress.

Source is here: http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.zip

Since the WiFi is a large part of the battery drain I did not notice that much improvement but you are welcome to give it a try:

APK is here: http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.apk

Please reply if you do actually find it useful.

You Sir are awesome, thanks very much for this, I think its going to prove to be a very handy tweek for many . I greatly appreciate your time and effort

and thanks to andycap for adding the icon and exit function

Maybe this needs to be put in a seperate (renamed) post

Edited by debs626, 22 January 2011 - 09:02 PM.

[Ste_B]

debs626, on Jan 22 2011, 21:00, said:

You Sir are awesome, thanks very much for this, I think its going to prove to be a very handy tweek for many . I greatly appreciate your time and effort

and thanks to andycap for adding the icon and exit function

Maybe this needs to be put in a seperate (renamed) post

.



Totally agree!  Nice little app this.

[TerryH]

Thank you for this nice idea!
I am using this at the moment for 3G-tethering from my small Android device to the Vega, this app lets the device on, otherwhise my WiFi connection cracks up...

[Sir Gash]

Thanks guys, I've been look for a solution to this problem for weeks! I can finally stream some music on the Vega to go to sleep to.

Cheers!

[Melted]

Thanks, I just love it!

[SilentMobius]

ptbw, on Jan 22 2011, 14:50, said:

Please reply if you do actually find it useful.

While this apk isn't actually useful to me, I must applaud the work you've done as it answers one of the main questions I've had regarding the backlight/wi-fi connection. I was _very_ worried that power for the wi-fi chipset was slaved directly from the power line to the display backlight, you've now proved that incorrect. This means that when we get kernel source it should be a simple job to decouple the wi-fi from the backlight. Yay!

[simonta]

ptbw, on Jan 22 2011, 14:50, said:

I experimented with some code I found on GoogleCode that changed the brightness of the backlight. http://code.google.c...source/checkout but I soon discovered the a brightness of 0 put the Vega to sleep wifi and all.  (The brightness level is a float between 1.00 and 0.00)

However a brightness of 0.01 looks like the screen is off but the Vega does not sleep...........

So I have a pretty basic APK that can turn off the screen when run, press the back button to make it restore to its previous level. I did play with touching the screen to restore the backlight as well but that's still a work in progress.

Source is here: http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.zip

Since the WiFi is a large part of the battery drain I did not notice that much improvement but you are welcome to give it a try:

APK is here: http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.apk

Please reply if you do actually find it useful.

Hi ptbw

Nice work for the good people of this town.  Thank you.

You might want to think about some enhancements then push this onto the market?  I'm sure other Android user other than Vegans would appreciate your work.

If I may make so bold:

If you register a broadcast receiver, you can receive a message from Android when the system is putting itself to sleep.

http://developer.and...er-element.html

You could then cancel the sleep and apply your brightness setting.

http://developer.and...werManager.html

You could further enhance it by adding a timer so it does this automagically at a time the user sets.

Cheers

Simon

[simonta]

For those bugged by the slow connect after resume, Wifi Static on the market will help a great deal.

There's an existing thread somewhere on here covering this.  You do need to understand DHCP vs static addressing and be comfortable with configuring your router but if this is old hat to you, Wifi Static will make connection after resume much faster as Android seems to be really slow with DHCP.

Cheers

[ptbw]

simonta, on Jan 23 2011, 15:30, said:

..
If you register a broadcast receiver, you can receive a message from Android when the system is putting itself to sleep.

http://developer.and...er-element.html

You could then cancel the sleep and apply your brightness setting.

http://developer.and...werManager.html

You could further enhance it by adding a timer so it does this automagically at a time the user sets.

Interesting, if I ever get any free time I will have a play.  Although most devices would not behave like the Vega so I can't see it being worth while outside our "burg".

[English Haze]

andycap, on Jan 22 2011, 19:02, said:

I have taken the liberty of adding an icon to the App and also have it exiting when screen is clicked.  Hope you don't mind.

Would you mind posting the source with your amendments? I'd be interested to see what changes you made.

[andycap]

English Haze, on Jan 23 2011, 18:20, said:

Would you mind posting the source with your amendments? I'd be interested to see what changes you made.

Yea sure.

Here you go.

http://dl.dropbox.co...LightKiller.rar

[remlap]

Hope you don't mind I tided up the icons a bit and renamed it Back Light so it would look okay on my desktop

Great application mate!

http://dl.dropbox.co.../Back Light.apk

Attached Files

•  Back_Light.jpg   169.41K   156 downloads

Edited by remlap, 23 January 2011 - 11:01 PM.

[xathras]

simonta, on Jan 23 2011, 15:33, said:

For those bugged by the slow connect after resume, Wifi Static on the market will help a great deal.

There's an existing thread somewhere on here covering this.  You do need to understand DHCP vs static addressing and be comfortable with configuring your router but if this is old hat to you, Wifi Static will make connection after resume much faster as Android seems to be really slow with DHCP.

Cheers

Thanks for the heads up on WiFi Static. Much faster reconnect.

[AndyCr15]

Sounds interesting.  Does the screen still respond if I accidentally swipe across it though?