Back Light Killer ( V1.7 29-Jan-2011 )

[Guest ptbw]

Having read the comments in the previous thread and having some free time this evening I have updated the package, combined with enhancements supplied by AndyCap and Remlap.

The APK is hosted on http://code.google.com/p/ptbw-codespace/downloads/list.

I hope to get the source on there soon.

Description:

Android application, Back Light Killer for the Advent Vega.

The Vega appears to be unique in that turning off the back light also puts the device on standby. This app gets round this by setting the back light to 0.01 and forcing the machine not to switch off.

Version 1.6 adds a simple setting menu:

1) Enable/Disable the screen touch to wake the device.

2) Enable/Disable the real standby after a specified duration.

3) Specify the duration before the "real" standby takes affect.

Note Do a long press of the hardware back button to bring up the menu.

*Edit* - New version

Version 1.7 changes:

1) the default standby delays to 15 minutes to 2 hours in 15 minute increments

2) Resets the standby timer after entering the settings menu

Edited January 29, 2011 by ptbw

[Guest Gavin]

Quite simply brilliant, great development of your original effort.

Props to all involved.

[Guest woutxz]

Indeed, a wonderful little app. Many thanks!

[Guest Ste_B]

Bravo!! Great little app this and thanks very much.

[Guest remlap]

Um I am so stupid I can't seem to get to the menu you've created?

[Guest ptbw]

Um I am so stupid I can't seem to get to the menu you've created?

You need to do a long press on the hardware "back button" as the on screen menu is covered.

I will add that to the instructions as its not obvious.

[Guest Sir Gash]

Awesome work, cheers!

[Guest debs626]

Awesome work thanks to everyone involved :lol:

Very much appreciated !

[Guest HunteronX]

Nice work - thanks! :lol:

[Guest andycap]

Great work.

I would prefer the sleep times to be more like 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1 hour, 2 hour. Remembering that the Vega is going to be using battery faster with wifi on, 3 and 4 hours would be pointless. Also it looks like wifi is getting turned off after the timer expires and the device sleeps. Should only need to put it to sleep as that will stop wifi and that will allow wifi to resume on wake.

It is coming along nicely though. Well done.

[Guest jdearauj]

Great work on this, thanks very much.

[Guest TylerDurdenK]

Nice one. This app has made it to my dock!

I think it would be good if this app could be made to come on automatically instead of the standard screen timeout which effects the wifi etc. IE make the app startup automatically after a period of inactivity.

Am I right in thinking that with this app running the standard screen timeout is prevented from activating?

Edited January 27, 2011 by TylerDurdenK

[Guest remlap]

You need to do a long press on the hardware "back button" as the on screen menu is covered.

I will add that to the instructions as its not obvious.

Excellent application mate, you've done a great thing here and I appreciate it alot.

[Guest obb]

The Vega appears to be unique in that turning off the back light also puts the device on standby.

I think you will find that every android device does that ... It's not going into 'Standby' per say .. its just turning of the screen and wifi , and other bits it doesn't need.

So in that respect the Vega is not any differenet to any other device Android device out there.

Nice idea though ... However I will let someone else potenentially cause issues with their machine before I do it to mine ... I'm not so sure that setting the backlight to an extremely low level is really that great an idea, as is it may bugger the backlight up over time.

[Guest Sir Gash]

I think you will find that every android device does that ... It's not going into 'Standby' per say .. its just turning of the screen and wifi , and other bits it doesn't need.

So in that respect the Vega is not any differenet to any other device Android device out there.

Nice idea though ... However I will let someone else potenentially cause issues with their machine before I do it to mine ... I'm not so sure that setting the backlight to an extremely low level is really that great an idea, as is it may bugger the backlight up over time.

That's not true, every over Android device I have used does not have the same issues with standby as the Vega. Firstly, the Vega's standby mode is pretty brutal, it will shutoff nearly everything to conserve battery life (I can see why Advent chose to do this). However, things like adhering to the Wi-Fi Sleep policy and allowing alerts such as message notifications and alarms to work is how an Android device should work.

That is why we have this app, because we might want background tasks, downloads and file transfers or streaming music to work with as little battery drain as possible. Also, it is unlikely to be causing any damage as the setting to .01 is actually turning off the backlight completely.

[Guest obb]

But that's not 'Standby' ... if the device was on standby that means that it stops ALL functions ... including CPU processing

If I am listening to music locally on my Vega for example and the screen turns off the music doesn't ... So it's not 'Standby' ...

I don't disagree regarding the Wifi .. that is true, and this does get around that issue. To be honest though all we need is the 'Wifi Sleep Policy' in the settings and this won't be a requirement ...

Sorry ... I am a bit perdantic when it comes to certain terms ... As stated the Vega does NOT go into Standby , as noted though the Vega does shut off more than it may need to.

Hey i'm not knocking the app ... if it works for peeps then so be it ... Personally I will wait for a 'proper' solution (or honeycomb .. .whichever comes first)

[Guest bakedecake]

Thanks very much for the app.

[Guest zakblood]

thanks, just what i needed

[Guest zzleezz]

But that's not 'Standby' ... if the device was on standby that means that it stops ALL functions ... including CPU processing

If I am listening to music locally on my Vega for example and the screen turns off the music doesn't ... So it's not 'Standby' ...

I don't disagree regarding the Wifi .. that is true, and this does get around that issue. To be honest though all we need is the 'Wifi Sleep Policy' in the settings and this won't be a requirement ...

Sorry ... I am a bit perdantic when it comes to certain terms ... As stated the Vega does NOT go into Standby , as noted though the Vega does shut off more than it may need to.

Hey i'm not knocking the app ... if it works for peeps then so be it ... Personally I will wait for a 'proper' solution (or honeycomb .. .whichever comes first)

Yup, you are being a bit pedantic there. How you define "standby" really is a non issue. The people that put in a lot of work creating this app did it for a very specific reason, that being that when you put the Vega into standby (as opposed to switching it off) the wifi turns off too. That creates problems if you want all the functionality you get from, for instance, a smartphone.

Thanks to the op. I find this app very useful.

[Guest alphaola]

could you change the time period to like 15mins,30mins, 45.......cheers

[Guest ptbw]

could you change the time period to like 15mins,30mins, 45.......cheers

In answer to your's and the OP's question, I will be changing the time outs when I get a chance. 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 appear to be reasonable

I also intend to experiment with hooking the standard timeout so that it activates when the Vega goes into its standby routine and does this instead.

In answer to the poster who was worried that setting the back light to 0.01 is likely to damage it, I believe that the light is actually off but because the value is not 0 the rest of the device remains active, this is just a theory and I can't prove it but if you put the Vega in a darkened room I can't see any light from it what so ever.

This is the first Android device I have had a chance to play with and its all a bit of a learning curve so I can't test or confirm the operation of this application on anything other than the Vega running 1.065 and the MoDaCo Rom + PP.

Cheers

[Guest ptbw]

In answer to your's and the OP's question, I will be changing the time outs when I get a chance. 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 appear to be reasonable

Now changed delays and posted an update, please see first post for details.

[Guest alphaola]

Now changed delays and posted an update, please see first post for details.

Good job mate, your work much appreciated

could you also add dates to the title when you release new updates like;

v0.7 29/01/2011.

cheers

Edited January 29, 2011 by alphaola

[Guest rferrett]

This is awesome dude.

Dunno if oyu are still developing this app. But if oyu are how about differentiating between when the vega is on charge and off for the purposes of putting into standby?

Basically I'd ideally like it to just stay on but with backlight off indefinitely if it is on charge, but have it standby after say 45 mins and hour when not on charge.

Either way though top, top stuff.

Thanks

[Guest elvch01]

This is awesome dude.

Dunno if oyu are still developing this app. But if oyu are how about differentiating between when the vega is on charge and off for the purposes of putting into standby?

Basically I'd ideally like it to just stay on but with backlight off indefinitely if it is on charge, but have it standby after say 45 mins and hour when not on charge.

Either way though top, top stuff.

Thanks

I agree with this post - great app etc & a nice-to-have would be different policies on battery & on charge