Attaching SP HW mediaplayer keys to an alternative mediaplayer like TCMPM

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

Hi there,

since two or three weeks I'm a (almost happy) owner of a O2 Xda Phone (=QTek 8300, HTC Tornado) with WM5 for SP running on it, but still have some problems.

Due to the fact that the MS WMP10 has some serious disadvantages, such as no support for .m3u playlists and no full screen resizeing of videos with smaller resolution (I know, there should be a workaround for that...).

I think that TCPMP would be a nice alternative to the MS WMP. But I don't want to miss the usage of my SP's hardware mediaplayer keys (BACK/REW, PLAY/PAUSE, FWD, START_MP). Does anybody know a solution how to 'redirect' the buttons to TCPMP? It is possible to assign the buttons to some TCPMP's functions, but the MS WMP is still started and controlled by every usage of those buttons...!

And it would also be nice to start up TCPMP (insteadt of the MS WMP) everytime a mediaplayer button is pushed. :)

[Guest pavankp]

I think gpcarreon figured this out: http://www.gpcarreon.com/?p=208

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

I think gpcarreon figured this out: http://www.gpcarreon.com/?p=208

Hi,

thanks for this link. Seems like this will be the solution for my prob! :) Will try it next time, maybe this evening.

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

I think gpcarreon figured this out: http://www.gpcarreon.com/?p=208

I've tested that tweak, but it seems that it won't run on WM5SP devices! :)

Does anybody have another tip...?

Maybe someone knows a way to skin TCPMP's surface at present on a WM5SP? :)

[Guest Casao]

Here are 2 cab files that will program the SDA(SP5M)'s media keys to use TCMPM. I dunno if they'll work 100% for you, but since your device is based on the Tornado, I'm guessing so.

http://surrealnetworks.com/mpx/SDA%20appli...otKeyDevice.cab - This is for if you have TCMPM installed on the device.

http://surrealnetworks.com/mpx/SDA%20appli...PMPhotkeySD.cab - This is if you have TCMPM installed on the storage card.

As a general note, if you're running an MDA, SDA or any of the comperable cell phones, check out this side, it's an incredible find: http://surrealnetworks.com/mpx/ - it works on the phone itself best.

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

Hi Casao,

Here are 2 cab files that will program the SDA(SP5M)'s media keys to use TCMPM. I dunno if they'll work 100% for you, but since your device is based on the Tornado, I'm guessing so.

http://surrealnetworks.com/mpx/SDA%20appli...otKeyDevice.cab - This is for if you have TCMPM installed on the device.

http://surrealnetworks.com/mpx/SDA%20appli...PMPhotkeySD.cab - This is if you have TCMPM installed on the storage card.

Thanks for the links! Works nearly perfect, but only three of the four MP buttons of my SP have the desired effect:

Play/Pause (||>), FastForward/SkipToNext (>>|) and "Call MP" work all fine now (i. e. TCPMP will be started), but

FastRewind/SkipBack (|<<) still calls the damnable MS WMP!!! :)

I've taken a look at the SN_TCPMPhotkeySD.cab files content, but don't really understand the syntax.

The setup.xml refers to Long_AP4.lnk, Long_AP2.lnk, Short_AP4.lnk, Short_AP2.lnk and Short_AP3.lnk. I guess that A2, A3 and A4 stands for the MP buttons, whereas short and long decide if the button is pushed for just a short moment or is pressed for a longer time (let's say some seconds)?

Does anybody know how to remap the remaining MP button?

As a general note, if you're running an MDA, SDA or any of the comperable cell phones, check out this side, it's an incredible find: http://surrealnetworks.com/mpx/ - it works on the phone itself best.

That's a great link, thanks!

I've still found some of those tools at MoDaCo or somewhere else, but not all 'at the same place', and some tools and tweaks I still didn't knew!

I'll check them out next time... :)

Do you know the difference between "MDA" (Mobile Digital Assistant) and "SDA"?

[Guest Casao]

They're brand names for T-Mobile products - the SDA is an HTC Tornado, while the MDA is an HTC Wizard.

Also, you're right on with your deductions about the buttons. Assuming your phone has 4 buttons, AP1 is the leftmost and AP4 is the rightmost. I'm not sure of the exact layout of your device, since all of the pictures of XDA's I can find are PPC phones, but that should work well for you.

Sorry I can't help with specifics of your phone, but if you have any more questions, I'd be glad to try and answer them.

[Guest mini_man]

Have you used the sda unlocker on gpcarreons blog?

Your phone has to be fully fully unlocked with sda unlocker for his tweaks to work.

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

Have you used the sda unlocker on gpcarreons blog?

No, I haven't used the unlocker tool mentioned at gpcarreon's blog, due to the missing possibility to re-lock the phone, if I want it to.

Instead of that tool, I've used the unlock procedure described here:

>> Robert Peloschek: HOWTO Application unlock your Windows Mobile Smartphone <<

This gives me a better control over the unlocking process, so I can relock my phone everytime I want to by simply setting the registry entries to their original values!

Your phone has to be fully fully unlocked with sda unlocker for his tweaks to work.

I don't think that it is a problem of a not proper unlockred phone, because "Casao's" CAB files work properly, excepted that they seem to be intended for only three MP buttons! So I guess that it will be more successful to figure out how to modify Casao's CABs.

But it would be a very interesting and useful information if there's anybody running gpcarreon's solution successful on a WM5 Smartphone...!?

Edited June 26, 2006 by Twilight.Cruiser

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

Hi Casao!

First of all, thanks for all your help so far! :)

Sorry for my late reply, was a little bit busy last time!

They're brand names for T-Mobile products - the SDA is an HTC Tornado, while the MDA is an HTC Wizard.

Ok, thanks for that hint! So I think my phone is similar to an SDA.

Also, you're right on with your deductions about the buttons. Assuming your phone has 4 buttons, AP1 is the leftmost and AP4 is the rightmost. I'm not sure of the exact layout of your device, since all of the pictures of XDA's I can find are PPC phones, but that should work well for you.

Here's a scan of my O2 Xda Phone:

For better recognizability, look here for the MP button's layout:

With the CAB you've made a link to (at the surrealnetworks sites), the three right buttons work fine now with TCPMP, but the leftmost won't! It still calls up the MS WMP...! :)

Sorry I can't help with specifics of your phone, but if you have any more questions, I'd be glad to try and answer them.

Do you maybe know more about the CAB files' syntax? Or maybe some link(s) where to get information from about that topic? Would be really glad about this, because I think there's a realistic way to reach my aim by modifying the CAB file... Edited June 26, 2006 by Twilight.Cruiser

[Guest Casao]

Ah, I see. Does the Play/Pause button work as intended? Because I believe they should actually all be misconfigured, right now.

Short_AP1.lnk through Short_AP4.lnk all refer to the 4 buttons on the front of the device, from left to right. I believe that using the cab I gave you, it configures it as an SDA, with the media keys being 2-4. However, on your phone, it's 1-3, which should be causing problems.

In order to fix this, you need to browse to /Windows/ on your phone - Once there, copy Short_AP1.lnk through Short_AP4.lnk to your computer. Rename AP2-4 by going down a number(So AP2 becomes AP1, etc) and edit AP4 to point to the TCPMP executable on your phone. Once you've done this, copy them back to the /Windows/ directory of your phone(you should backup and overwrite the files currently in there), and it should work flawlessly for you.

As for the details of CAB if you still want them, I don't know the specifics, but a CAB file is similar to a ZIP file, in that it compresses and stores many files in one. It's often used with installers(both PC and Phone). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_(file_format) is a short explaination of the format, and in the stickied posts of this forum, there's an explaination of creating cabs, if you wanted to make one to make the installation of this tweak easier on yourself in the future.

Hope this solves your problems, I'll be watching the thread if not.

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

...because I think there's a realistic way to reach my aim by modifying the CAB file...

Kindly check this: http://www.gpcarreon.com/?p=376 :)

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

Kindly check this: http://www.gpcarreon.com/?p=376 :)

Hi gpcarreon (or whatever's your real name... ;) ),

gradually I believe that you're a real SmartPhone Enthusiast....! B)

I think I should spend more time browsing your webpages! :D

I'll check this out the next days, hoping that it won't take too long until I'll get enough tzime to do so! :)

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

Hi Casao,

Ah, I see. Does the Play/Pause button work as intended? Because I believe they should actually all be misconfigured, right now.

I don't think so. Play/Pause button works fine, but I think that can be configured the right way in the TCPMP settings itself!?

Short_AP1.lnk through Short_AP4.lnk all refer to the 4 buttons on the front of the device, from left to right. I believe that using the cab I gave you, it configures it as an SDA, with the media keys being 2-4. However, on your phone, it's 1-3, which should be causing problems.

You're right refering the buttons 2-4. Those three buttons can be 'found' in the CAB (AP2-AP4), but AP1 can't. The result is that the three right buttons are working as they should do, but the REWIND (left) button won't do anyway! So I've to add some commands for AP1, I guess.

Do you also know what's the difference between "Short_APx" and "Long_APx"? Is that if a button is pressed only for a short time (e. g. for "skip to next") or holded for a longer time (e. g. for "fast forward")? Using 'your' CAB doesn't allow a fast forward function by holding the button, it always skips to the next title! ;) (But that doesn't really matter because fast forward could be done by using the joystick...)

In order to fix this, you need to browse to /Windows/ on your phone - Once there, copy Short_AP1.lnk through Short_AP4.lnk to your computer. Rename AP2-4 by going down a number(So AP2 becomes AP1, etc) and edit AP4 to point to the TCPMP executable on your phone. Once you've done this, copy them back to the /Windows/ directory of your phone(you should backup and overwrite the files currently in there), and it should work flawlessly for you.

I'll try for that next time!

I think perhaps it will be neccessary or even useful to generate a new CAB...!?

As for the details of CAB if you still want them, I don't know the specifics, but a CAB file is similar to a ZIP file, in that it compresses and stores many files in one. It's often used with installers(both PC and Phone). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_(file_format) is a short explaination of the format, and in the stickied posts of this forum, there's an explaination of creating cabs, if you wanted to make one to make the installation of this tweak easier on yourself in the future.

Thanks for that!

I knew that CAB files are some kind of compressed archives, but didn't knew whether there are any special requirements.

I'll check your wikipedia link together with gpcarreon's description! :)

Hope this solves your problems, I'll be watching the thread if not.

I'll let you know...! :)

[Guest sirius_cn]

wmp10 also support full screen,just press 0 while playing.. :)

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

wmp10 also support full screen,just press 0 while playing.. :)

The 'fullscreen' of the MS WMP10 is a very simple and 'unintelligent' one.

For example, if you're playing a video rendered for smartphone's VGA resolution on a device with QVGA resolution, it won't be resized to that higher resolution, which will result in a non-screen-filling, to small video display!

TCPMP will automatically do this resizing for you...! :)

[Guest Twilight.Cruiser]

Hi @ll,

unfortunately, I haven't got the time to modify the .cab file and check out the result.

But there are some other threads that could possibly be useful to solve the problem. Look there:

• TT-Mobile SDA, SP5m, QTEK 8310 hacks, LED, Music Button, many other hacks wanted
  
• T-Mobile SDA T-Zones Key, Reprogrammed T-Zones Key
  
• Mapping T-zones button on SDA
  

The way described there looks promising. I'll try to check it out asap and post my experiences here.

And I'll also try to build a .cab file which will automatically modify te MP buttons functionality.

But due to private involvement, this could take some weeks... :)

Watch out!

Edited August 15, 2006 by Twilight.Cruiser