yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
I was thinking San, I guess the app is done.

Torch works (toggle on, toggle off). And press and hold is done. And assigning to the backlight button is an existing reg hack.

So the universal version is done now. I can add more stuff (timed mode, morse code etc) but I wonder if there's any point!? And I can add those in future versions I guess.

So basically right now I'm working on compatiblity with other hardware (Possibly Atom, working on the Wizard, investigating the MPX300 eventually).

Do you think I need to add anything more than basic torch functions? Any "feature requests"?

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] cktlcmd:
The only thing I think that could be possibly useful is if you can associate it to flash or light up during reminders, but not all reminders, only those specified by the user. If you can make it as an option like a silent alarm similar to the vibration mode. So at least we have a choice of either using vibrate or the torch option. But this is just a suggestion, to me the simplier the application, the better it is, torch alone is good enough for me.
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
cktlcmd: good idea. I'm just wondering how to implement it. I suppose there's at least one way to "graft" the torch app into the OS, so that it could be enabled at the same time as the reminder LED or vibrator. But I'm inclined to think it would be extremely difficult to implement and would require some heavy low level coding. I'll look into it, and if it can be done in an agreeable way, I'll implement it.

Right now, as a Toggle-able app, you can use a scheduler app to launch the torch. But that's not the neatest solution. Hmmm. I'll look into the other solution :shock:

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] simon_darley:
Hi Vijay

This is great, finally something useful made out of something useless (the flash for the camera is totally pathetic.

My money is here and waiting, the sooner you release it the sooner you get your new software....

Cheers

S.
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] cktlcmd:
Vijay,

Can we assign the torch to any other hardware key and not just the backlight key?

Another question please, if we enable the torch through Start>Programs>Torch, would it light up and would it turn off if we go through Start>Programs Torch again, or do we loose the functionality of the backlight key to torch alone?
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] dreamtheater39:
I guess its good enough for release as it is vj! One thing that would be gr8 is of course having it to work when its in clamshell mode! That's a bigger problem being solved, and once it is solved, the torch app can be upgraded nonetheless...

You don't have to justify the cost of the software with the features it provides really....as I feel, both you and buzz have contributed so much more to the community, and this is something too small that we can all do in return!

Cheers,

San
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] belfast-biker:
So want this app when it's done... :)
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
Thanks guys. It's quite absurd, I was trying to explain to Mrs Vijay555, and I saw myself saying "I've just turned my $1000 phone into a torch!". I decided against it. As I've said before, we're all freaks!

The torch works in two modes: toggle, so you launch it, torch is on, launch it again and torch is off (and of course you can override with torch on, torch off shortcuts). And then there's the press and hold version, which works with the hardware keys. That can work on any hardware key since it's a normal app, but of course it just made sense to assign it to the backlight key. But it'll work on any key that you can assign to.

Getting it to stay on while the clam is closed is a weird problem. And again, I have solutions:

1. Ideally we want full hardware key control when the clam is closed. But of course, that's the ideal solution to so many problems, eg controlling WMP/TCPMP with clam closed, Voice Command and so many others. I'm making progress on this, but it's chicken and the egg: this would be significanly easier to crack when I have IDA Pro; without it it's nearly impossible to crack. It's frustrating because like the flashlight hack, I knew I was 99% there for a long time, but it's the 1% that alludes me. Ida Pro will help with that. Again, in the interest of getting the app out, I may thus leave this issue aside for now.

2. Operating the light in clam mode. I've made a technique to permit this with the torch toggle (ie NOT the "hold the hardware key down to light the torch" mode). So basically you launch "Torch On" to light up the torch, enable the clam hack (this will be automatic by choice) and then you can close the clam, and you've got your ugly-fugly $1000 torch.

So hopefully most code is done. I'm spending a lot of time on the above two problems and working on compatibility with other hardware, but again, it might make more sense to get a release version ready for the Universal, and work on other versions and features when I'm better "equipped" with IDA :)

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] gooroo:
So Vijay, if I understand what you are saying, so far the torch app will NOT work as "press hardware button and release it - torch on, press hardware button again (same button) and release it - torch off".

Correct me if I am wrong?
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] belfast-biker:
When you put it like that.... :)
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
gooroo:

both versions actually: depending on circumstances.

I've got a toggle version, so press hardware key, on, press again, off.

And another version, press and hold, torch on, let go, torch off.

The toggle version obviously is also convenient for launching from launchers, .lnks, program explorer etc. The press and hold is just for hardware keys.

I had an idea about how to bypass the clam closed hardware key lock. But, it requires a better brain then mine to implement. I'll ask around, but does anyone know of a full proof way of reassembling the PE structure of XIPs ripped from a rom with Mamaich's tools?

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] belfast-biker:
I'm skint at the moment, but am paid on the 28th, any chance of putting a beta copy with 15 day trial out for us in meantime?
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] gooroo:
If your ready to take payments Vijay via paypal then whats the email address? £5 okay with you, I am happy to make a payment now, although you think it's funny trying to justify your torch app, my missus will still look at me like a weirdo when I cough up a fiver to turn my Exec into a torch, lol :)
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] gooroo:
Can I also just add, and this probably goes without saying, that if Vijay releases this without any sort of registration key that we don't go sharing it around. Vijay is one of us and the revenue he gets, regardless of the fact that he wants to plough it back into software to further improve the Universal and other HTC devices, is well deserved and I personally could not care less what he spends it on. So cough up people, it really will make you feel kinda warm and cosy inside and thats without hugging your new Universal Torch app "hand warmer", lol.

Btw, I need two copies if it works on the wizard aswell, so £10 is ready and waiting Vijay :)
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
Gooroo and All: guys, let's not talk about cash for now. Biker, if you can't afford it, drop me a line and make a good case when the time comes, and I'll see what I can do. That doesn't mean 10,000 people email me, but I'll see what I can do... but for now. Let's not talk about cash guys.

When it's ready, we'll talk...

So if you guys are happy with basically two versions, toggle on/off, hardware key on/off, I'll try and get it into release form soon.

For now, Universal only. I am certainly working on cross compatiblility, and IMHO I think you pay for one license, and use it on all the devices you own, subject to compatiblity. However, next stage is to work on implementing some form of serial number. Quite ironic. I've spent the last 20 years breaking them :) However, in the spirit of Gooroo very kind words, I come from this school:

If someone can program it, someone can break it. So, if you break it, have a thought for the effort that went into it first.

I've spent approx 18 hours on VJOkButt over the last two nights (Mrs Vijay555 is away!), and it occurred to me: that's a lot of $$$ if I was being paid for it. A lot of work goes into R&D on many different apps (not just mine, every kind guy/gal that releases stuff on here, and not just the ones you see but many others we're working on). So be nice, and it's always nice to get a kind word if you find it useful. And a click on my google ads always helps!

And finally, just a big thank you to TheBlasphemer who's pointed out the IDA Pro has a demo version available that might be helpful until I can buy the full version for us to use.

Probably a limited beta coming shortly, with release to follow.

V :wink:
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] belfast-biker:
I have no good case! Heheheh... :) I'm just skint, and won't be paid until 28th.... I can wait until then, then paypal you some dosh, no worries.
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] Melty:
Two things:

1. You must have started young!

2. I thought you were new to programming. Maybe just new to "forward engineering" :lol: or perhaps just new to C++ for mobile devices. Either way, you're doing well. Keep up the good work.

Oh yeah, I'll pay for this app when it's ready. :D
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
:) I never said I was new to programming, but I am new to programming on the PPC, and entirely new (or was a few months ago) to C++ on any device.

My history was, I think like many of our generation, I had an amiga, enjoyed those heady days of floppy games and burstnibbling, and the occassional bit of action replay hacking.

From there, I eventually started playing with PCs, relucantly, but any programming I've done I've done in VB. It's a very different thing to C++, and even then, only as and when required, but I'm ok at VB. However, the only thing you take from VB to C++ on the PPC, is Win32 and the API. If you understand that, you know what I mean! But Win32 and the API is very very useful. So although C++ is still relatively new to me, the OS environment has some similiarities to what I've used in the past.

And yes, I started young :)

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] cuteangelika:
I know we dont have to talk about the cash part yet but would just like to know...

Is Paypal the only way to pay? I dont have a Paypal account.. i dont even have a credit card... maybe now I'll be forced to activate those free cards. It's just that Im scared of overspending--- having realized that I am ill-stricken with the dreaded disease, shopaholism. :(
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
cuteangelika: a long time ago I promised you an app right? You wanted a scheduler, but also a GPRS toggle? I'm forgetting in my old age...

I'm not sure what to do if you don't have PayPal or a credit card. How do you pay for things? Salt!?

I don't know; depending on circumstances I'll see what I can do. Write to me later.

If you're in Malaysia, take me to Juara Beach and I'll love you forever. Pre-Mrs Vijay555, but I had a wonderful holiday with a wonderful friend there once.... Sigh. Just to the right of this photo - eating 3cm thick banana pancakes, sunbathing and hiding from the insects :)

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] belfast-biker:
if you've never had a credit card, don't get one.

Trust me.

95% of people probably use a credit card ina haphazard fashion. Don't go there! Paypal works with your current account, I'd recommend it.
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] edgley:
Paypal interact with your current account, be very careful.

You have much less protection, and rememebr that PP isnt regulated like a credit card company.

Basic rules of internet shopping. Use only a proper Visa or Mastercard. Switch cards dont have the same protection as the big two if something goes wrong.

With a CC you just have to phone up and complain with a non signiture payment to get it refunded. The CC company has to do the work.

Sorry to preach but friends have been burnt cos they thought a switch card had the same protection as a CC.
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] tbhausen:
I would gladly pay for this app if it worked on an HTC Apache. I asked for this:

http://www.pdaphonehome.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58630&highlight=hotkey+for+flash

back on 10/24, I just shoulda come here first ;)

Todd/Indy
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
I'm fairly sure I can offer Apache and Wizard compatibility out of the box. A couple of good friends will be getting an email shortly. Just an FYI: I don't know anyone with an Apache :)

And it's not this version.

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] tbhausen:
Apache

I would be happy to test it on an Apache for you. I'm not afraid to hard-reset my device--I can practically re-assemble it in my sleep now ;)

David's solution is a bit of a "work-around" as it starts the camera app... a step in the right direction but not what I was anvisioning when I started the original thread on PDAPhone.com

I'll be glad to spread the word there once the app goes gold if you like--I've been there quite a while (unlike here, where've lurked but only registered today--same username).

Best Regards,

Todd/Indy
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] dreamtheater39:
I've asked this often already, but here goes once more!

When do you plan to release it??? :-)

Cheers,

San
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
tbhausen: I've vistied that board a few times. Lovely chaps.

My old and I think first ever app, VJLumos, used a similar technique to brighten the screen. I'm hoping to revisit this with a more elegant solution at some point shortly.

(gestalt) (Todd/Indy): I'll try to get in touch once I'm at a point for you to test it.

San: I'm working on in the evenings. As ZeBoxx loves to point out, I don't do GUI work for a reason. I'm a klutz :( Hopefully quite soon.

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] dreamtheater39:
are you using vc++ .net with wm5 sdk or embedded vc++ or c# or vb?? :)

If you're using any variant of C(++ or #) it should be pretty simple to hook it up with MFC for the UI...i could help you with that if you need me to!

cheers,

San
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
I'm using C++ (not .net) in VS2005.

It's not making the GUI that's the problem. It's just that I'm quite skeletal with my interfaces: I like a very clean UI, and that can be counter-intuitive. And I tend to fuss a lot. This is my notepad app for the PC, VJWebPad:

which at least makes some sense, until you see it in its native state with toolbars minimised (as I use it), but with border and drop shadow enabled (which again, I normally leave off):

Thank you very much for your offer to help on the GUI. If I hit a brick wall, I'll get in touch. Right now I'm fighting with one tiny, vital and frustrating bit of code :(

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] buzz_lightyear:
VJ,

just keep the UI as simple as possible... THat's the way to go...

buzz
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] dreamtheater39:
On the contrary, i personally feel you need to obfuscate it soooo very much that it starts to bleed in all directions.

How about some form of "Morse code based" button tapping to configure settings and options? Or probably building a script editor internally which the user has to code in a near C++ style language to configure torch operation and control?

I would personally contruct the tool woven around my second illustrated example. You could plan a business model which incorporates support charges (if through paypal, you might consider meeting their CEO to work out a deal for huge anticipated transactions).

If you need assistance in setting up a call center, you could try India...people here are jobless anyway, so they'd love to while away their time talking to random strangers pretending to assist them (if you're wondering why setting up call centers here in India are cheaper...now you know why!)

Another alternative is, to provide a simple UI which is online. The user would have to log into your website through his pda, and configure options. The product can be extremely cheap, but the html hosting his configurable options can be a highly concentrated advertisement hotspot with multiple spammers across the world contributing to the cluttered appeal. The whole trick is to camoflage the options within the ads to offer 100% viewership guarantee, which might end up being a terrific ad model. Who knows, Microsoft might want to advertise through your site!!

These thoughts might be a little to advanced for the time we live in, and not many people out here are willing to time travel...nor do they have the technology to do so unfortunately.

Shine on you crazy torch, (yeah! i'm a pink floyd fan too :P)

Amen

San

(I might have been drunk when i typed this)
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
San: superb! And the sad thing? It's pretty much word for word what Microsoft's "Live" technology is going to be based on! What a world we live in.

On a related note, I've had a few thoughts about time travel, and think I can do it, but will require overthrowing Einstein's theories - hopefully already done, a faster then light drive (or a Schwarzschild black hole depending on local availability), some major deceleration, anti-grav/momentum, and a change of underwear (for the view). I'll be working on this after VJSihaya I hope.

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] tbhausen:
Vijay,

I will keep an eye on PM regarding Apache testing. I can break an anvil with a featherbed, so I'm a good tester ;)

Seriously, I'm not afraid to work with this in early stages, so shout at me when you're ready.

Todd/Indy
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] SiliconS:
vijay, this is excellent news. I'm writing this from my holiday in New Zealand and look forward to seeing progress when I get back home. :) In the meantime, could I humbly request the following please?

- one program does toggle-on/toggle-off and press-and-hold functionality (only one .exe)

- the .exe is smart enough to recognise the length of the keypress and adapt its behaviour (e.g. if the button is held for longer than a second then the .exe assumes it's a press-and-hold operation, but if it's a brief press then it toggles on or off)

- if the button press duration isn't available to you from the OS then can you find a way of emulating the press-and-hold behaviour for the Backlight button in the registry so that there are two options for that button just as there are for the Notes button?

- the ability you're building in for the buttons to work with the clam closed is a switchable option, so that I don't accidentally toggle the flashlight on when the Exec is in my pocket (since I'm happy to open the clamshell slightly or flip the screen open if I want to use the Exec as a torch)

Other than those requests above, all I want is a torch please. :) No Morse code, no timed or notification operations thanks. Just a torch. 8)
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
SiliconS: just got back from Ronnie Scotts. Another night wasted not coding :( Mrs Vijay555 is cracking the whip, so off to bed.

Agreed generally. I'll see what works in the most user friendly and widely compatible manner...

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] dbroome:
I just wanted to tag along on this. Glad to see someone with more experience is working on it and that it is possible to do without my kludge of a workaround!
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
David! I wasn't being condescending - I hope it didn't sound that way. I've had a couple of guys from ppc6700 asking about the app, and I found your post and thread. I used a similar technique to you in VJLumos (which I hope to update after this app).

I have no experience, just a kind of amateurish Brownian motion that occassionaly hits a lucky spot :)

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] dbroome:
No, of course not. I didn't think that at all. I took what you wrote as a simple comparison between two methods of doing it, with one being infintely more useful :P

I'm actually in the same boat you are in, an old VB wiz trying to get up to speed on c++ and programming for WM5. I have a missus who keeps me from programming as much as I want (plus 2 kids), so I get very little chance to learn new stuff, and I'm just glad to see someone got it to work.

Unless, of course, being mortally offended gets me and my Apache on your Beta test team :D

Whoa, did I just put two smilies in the same post? I need to go back to bed...
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
Apache - it's an alien beast to me. I love the way it looks (other then the external aerial). Would like to see what platform it's built off of.

No offence intended or taken.

I'm stuck in a cold server room today doing analysis of telephone call logs at a client bank. It's a glamorous life I lead. But at least they can't keep me off the net (yet!).

V
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] ramjet73:
Actually the external antenna can be quite useful when taking the Apache out of its case. :wink:

If you want to know more about the HTC Apache, this site will give you plenty of information:

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/...Frame=N&application_id=377965&fcc_id=NM8PA10A

BTW, I'd be happy to be another beta tester for you, but I have the PPC-6700 as well so I'm guessing you'll want representation for some of the other models.

ramjet73
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] TheBlasphemer:
I'd like to quote Edgar W. Dijkstra:

:P

j/k, Great reason to pick up C++ :) Once you get used to pointers and the like, you'll never want to go back to dirty-old-VB ;)
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] ramjet73:
I'm sure Bill Gates loses a lot of sleep over being "mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration". :D

ramjet73
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] vijay555:
To go entirely off topic regarding programming:

I've written elsewhere about my still fledgling attempts to learn c++.

I think coming from VB to C++ is a very hard journey. But it depends on the kind of programming you were doing. I've been doing a lot of low level API stuff in VB for a wihle, and you do start to realise that it's not natural - VB wasn't made for some of the mental gymnastics required for shell extensions, COM and stuff like that. However, the API is fundamentally self contained, and so you can learn a lot about how to use the API in a comfortable environment.

The environment: using C++ and Win32, you suddenly start to see the bones behind the chubby flesh that VB presents to you. I wouldn't say that VB scars you for life, it's better to get familiar with something then nothing at all in programming, and going forward, .net will bring much of this down to personal taste since they'll be equally powerful. But, it is a very substantial change of mental gear...

V