Develop Bugs

[UTIL] BGSwitchPPC

Hi All,
This is my first ever smartphone app, but it's based on a full-fledged windows app of mine that I've been using for a few years now.
Basically, I like to change my desktop background alot, each time I log on in fact. So i wanted something similar for my phone. Also, I wanted a way of having an appropriately dimensioned image for when the keypad was open/closed.
So I've created this little app for my X1.
What it does is choose a random image from a preset directory (different directory for portrait/landscape images - to allow for correct dimensions - can be the same dir if you're not fussed) and sticks it in as your background image.
Current Features
Random Background Selection
Supports any resolution device
Different Image For Portrait/Landscape mode
Supports Different Directories To Select Portrait/Landscape Iamge From
Preview Backgrounds In The Config Util
Scheduling Support
New Background After Hard Reset Option
Current wishlist
Automatic image resizing/scaling etc
New Background After Suspend
current known bugs
Sometimes unable to delete original theme images - so this still needs to be done manually after each theme change (remove any stwater* files from Windows directory) Might have fixed this. Not sure, couldn't replicate the problem a second time, but there have been appropriate code changes.
In theory if you left the app open for long enough on the appropriate messagebox just before you exit, you could miss your Switch schedule and have to reset it. Highly unlikely anyone will come across this one though!
Hard Reset upodate seems buggy - but could just be my phone taking a while to load up!
Occasionally goes completely wrong on hard reset.
View attachment BGSwitchPPC.zip V0.4
Installation notes:
Copy it somewhere, anywhere, on your Xperia X1 (or other WinMo device)
Run the exe
Please download it and have a play. Any/All feedbacks, criticism and requests more than welcome.

hey graymi really like this app, works exactly how u said it would no problems here, cant wait for you to add scheduling and now i dont always have to switch themes

Sounds good, does it change the wall paper for all tabs?

it changes the phone wallpaper, i dont think it will change the manila wallpapers but i dont have a manila rom to test it on

illmurs said:
Sounds good, does it change the wall paper for all tabs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tabs? Like the xperia button thing I never use? Thought you couldn't change the BG on most of those?
afaik, becuase of the way it works, it'll only change the wallpaper for the today screen. but it'll do it for both screen orientations. (Different if wanted)
good to see some people getting use of this though! Gives me drive to actually put the scheduling in!

pablo34 said:
cant wait for you to add scheduling
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Scheduling has been added
I've edited top post with new version.
Thanks for the appreciation

scheduling works perfectly thanx for the great app

Glad you like it
hopefully i'll have a chance to work on some more features soon.

i have an idea, made you can find a way to create a way to have it switch wallpapers everytime the phone boots, thats would be a great feature

Consider it done
- Updated version available

that was fast, it works perfectly thank you once again

nothing like a bit of 2am VB hacking

I keep getting "An unexpected error has occurred in BGSwitchPPC.exe" error message.
Details:
Code:
BGSwitchPPC.exe
IndexOutOfRangeException
at BGSwitchPPC.frmMain.LoadImages()
at BGSwitchPPC.frmMain.frmMain_Load()
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad()
at System.Windows.Forms.Form._SetVisibleNotify()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.set_Visible()
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.ShowDialog()
at BGSwitchPPC.SharedSubs.main

interesting...
I think it's because you don't have any stwater images in your windows directory, maybe.
don't have the source code to hand right now, but I'll try and sort it out tomorrow if I get a chance.
This will be sorted!

Is it work on manila ? TF3d ?

woh, exactly what I was looking for :O thanks man, good work. Windows 7 wiie

xicloe said:
Is it work on manila ? TF3d ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
honestly, I don't know.
It works by changing the image files used by the today screen, so unless these apps pick up and use the today screen bg, I'd doubt it.
It might be in future I modify the app to do this, but as I use neither program, especially since the win 6.5 today screen, it won't be for a while.
-didn't get a chance to fix above error yesterday. Well, I did have a chance, but I also had the chance to finish Tales of Monkey Island...

Graymi said:
honestly, I don't know.
It works by changing the image files used by the today screen, so unless these apps pick up and use the today screen bg, I'd doubt it.
It might be in future I modify the app to do this, but as I use neither program, especially since the win 6.5 today screen, it won't be for a while.
-didn't get a chance to fix above error yesterday. Well, I did have a chance, but I also had the chance to finish Tales of Monkey Island...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
heyhey! apparently, i have developed some kind of mod for tf3d to change wallpapers automatically or via touch!
feel free to take a look at it!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=541462

not working for me
when I run exe and press "Select Dir..." independent whether I choose Portrait or Landscape an exception is thrown:
unexpected error...
Details: ...DirectoryNotFoundException at ...InternalGetFileDirectoryNames/GetDirectories/RecurseNodes/frmDirPicker_Load/... and a few others
same when I "Pick" one (Portrait or Landscape) or try to "Switch", after "Switch" I even had to soft reset as every attempt to start the app immediately resulted in an error
could that be manila related? I'm on 2.5.19222911.0

Wow, that's quite an error!
I'll code in a catch to stop that happening, plus fix the other error above

WP7 First Boot Setup Walkthrough Video

Microsoft Innovation Centre in Singapore has their hands on a developer LG Panther running WP7. They have a lot of pictures but better then that they have a video of the phone first booting and the setup you go through when you do so. I have to admit that it looks likes WP7 is running very smoothly! Hit the link and scroll down to see for yourself!
http://innovativesingapore.com/2010/05/windows-phone-7-spotted/
Silverlight required!

Not seeing the video anywhere in your link

Yeah It looks like they took the video off the page.

heres a youtube link of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JqAnhYVeZs

really cool video guys...

man .. too much on scrolling on time-zone
can these guys innovate an easy way to pick a time zone?? can they just provide a map and and an initial spot where we can select the time-zone also once the spot has been tapped, it will zoom out to a more specific time zone in the current GMT??
how's that for change?
loving the flick and scroll too much is sometimes we forget to think of better way.

I would hope that you could just start typing the name of the city. A side scroll bar would be nice too for those really long lists. But I guess that's too Windows Mobile looking.

How about set the time zone by GPS automatically?

Re-Request from a Junior Member

Greetings to Developers & Moderators.
I am using Raphael 300( Windows 6.5.x ) and I prefer using the windows Home Screen rather than using Manila.
I humbly ask you all is it possible to make the clock ( small round analogue ) alive and work equally along with the digital one on the home screen.. I have attached a picture along with this post to make the concept clear..
Thanks and Regards to every Moderators and Developers

Hi bonnyinqingdao
The little analog clock is only an image, search for "Titanium skins" to find something close, not what you want exactly. Good luck!

Feasibly, I could make a program that every minute it updates and creates a new clock image based on the Time, however I am not sure how the homescreen works exactly (in terms of refreshing). Refreshing the homescreen every minute would be both a pain and inconvenient.
If someone knows how to update the image every minute without inconvenience, I would be happy to make the image-maker

Cyclonezephyrxz7
60 images X 12 = 720 it's a lot of work !!! Refreshing Titanium takes 3 to 6 seconds, every minutes it 'll happen, the whole device will be devoted to doing only this thing

tito12 said:
Cyclonezephyrxz7
60 images X 12 = 720 it's a lot of work !!! Refreshing Titanium takes 3 to 6 seconds, every minutes it 'll happen, the whole device will be devoted to doing only this thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't save the images to the phone. Not all of them atleast.
The program would have a base-image to work with, and it will load it, then draw a Line on it with Graphics.DrawLine() for the minutes and one for the Hour. I already know the formula for degrees between hands for every minute (it was an Extra Credit Final Project in my Geometry class two years ago )
However, if Titanium doesn't update that often, then it isn't all too worth it...It would cost more resources than it is worth That, or someone can just make a new CCLock Panel (I don't know C++ well enough, so I can't do that)...

Right, I didn't think about changing the arms only
There's already an analog clock plugin somewhere....

[Project] CTaskManager - Spicing up UI [Android-Like]

Hey Everyone...I haven't been around these parts often, but I conceived a pretty good idea [I think]...
My friend recently got a Droid phone, and of course he was flaunting it to me...I love Android, honestly...but I love Windows Mobile too. SO! I thought "Why not merge the best of both worlds?"
Well obviously, I cannot make windows look 100% like Android...that would take tooooooo long. So instead, I thought "What about the Task Switcher!"
So I introduce to you, CTaskManager
Right now it is just a P.o.C (Proof Of Concept), but I have done my research and found pretty much all the API calls I will need [minus one or two, but I'll find those]. It will be fully in C++, and if I can get it working correctly, will be activated by the HOME button.
Attached is a proof of concept image [100% Photoshopped, not real at all].
In any case, this is how I forsee it working:
This will appear on top of any window
Activated by pressing [and holding?] HOME
1st Box will always be the Home Screen
2nd Box will always be the current Window (unless it is the HomeScreen)
You can switch between apps with 2 easy Clicks
First Select the Number of the Dialog
Second, Press CENTER or SPACE to switch to it, or press DEL to quit that app
The program's layout will vary depending on the number of Open Windows
Should be light, fast, and easy to use
Hopefully, since I forsee this to be a really easy project, I will have a release by later today! I am making it for my Excalibur users FIRST, because I owe it to this whole forum [And because I will be switching to an HD2 this upcoming monday, and I want to start a project up for a phone I use NOW]
-Until Later: CycloneZephyrxz7

sweet...thanks..will wait for your release and then will added to the sticky.

I am very pleased that the ONLY component I have yet to get working is getting the screen captures [and window titles]. I need to investigate this ... For some reason, I am getting the same window drawn OVER and OVER again. I think it is because the window handle I am getting from some of the methods is invalid...Its very odd ... I have to figure it out. I should be able to do this winthin the next hour or so

seems cool so its like a multitasker? or somthing

alexrodri0 said:
seems cool so its like a multitasker? or somthing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly.
So this is the update:
I got the program to run on Home-Key Press ... Now I am going to just modify it and add a timer or something to get it to run on Home-Key Long Press [since just a press interferes with Smart ToolKit]
An odd bug I have encountered is that when I run this, and wait, the Smart Toolkit taskbar shows up (as it should), and the whole phone locks up...I think it is because both are competing for Keyboard privilages. [I have to use a Keyboard hook to get this working, and it is all undocumented APIs]
I have yet to get the actual Task part working Haha. I can't confirm whether or not it is working, because for some reason my Debugger is acting weird, and all the images are of the current screen. As it turns out, it is impossible to take a snapshot of a minimized / partially visible screen. It will take the screen coordinates, and take a picture of whatever is there right now. I will get that fixed [I am talking to another Dev to see if he will let me in on how he does it in his task manager].
I got the "back" key escape working. Relatively simple.
I have planned out Layouts. Such that when you have JUST the HomeScreen open, it will NOT run. When you have the HomeScreen and 1 OTHER window open, the two will be split on the screen [Maybe make each like 150x113]. When you have 3 to 4 total windows (Including HomeScreen), they will make a 4-quadrant layout. Where each will be around [120x90]. When you have 4 - 6 open, each will be [92x69] (as shown in the ScreenShot) and have a 6-block layout. When you have more than 6 (if that is possible on the Excalibur haha), it will make a second page, and the second page will adapt to however many excess processes there are.
I have to work on getting the Translucent Background working ... that shouldn't be too hard, I just have yet to look into it {I think I have to use AlphaBlend or TransparentBlt}.
In any case, there is actually very little that doesn't work yet haha, but of course it is the most essential parts that don't work.
I will keep you all updated

sweet
looking forward to this, my phone will live on!!!

Thanks to a bunch of help from another Dev, I confirmed that getting the image of a non-visible window is IMPOSSIBLE on windows mobile. [Although it gives me an idea to try to 'fix' that haha ... maybe after this]. In any case, I think I have figured out how to do it. Tomorrow I will write up the code, test it, and hopefully have an Initial release.
The way I see it the releases will be as follows:
1) Initial Release [Basic]
2) Fix-Up of any Bugs
3) Add some Effects
4) Add some customizations
5) Fix-Up of any Bugs
6) FINAL
Hopefully, I can do this in 6 or less releases [And in the meanwhile, adapt it to work on my new HD2 i will get on Monday ]
*PS: For those of you following my projects: Once I get my HD2, I am going to make a fixed up release of FFP_LS, and then open-source it. Thereafter, i won't work much on it anymore. This is so I can start working on my SUPER-HUGE project called "CMessage" ... Here are the contents of the 'sticky note' i have on the desktop reminding me of it:
Suite of Programs:
1. Transport DLL (Send/Receive SMS/MMS/EMail)
2. T-Mail.exe Client (Compose/View SMS/MMS/EMail)
3. Notifier (When new Message Arrives, Display Alert)
4. A new DLL for the HomeScreen [it probably won't be compatible with the old one]
5. API Docs (For future use and adaptation)
6. Sample Programs (I.E. HomeScreen Panel, SMS Games, etc.)
7. Filter Rules Program
8. Macro Program (Get Message ... Do Action)
9. Environment Set-Up DLL/Exe [Cache Contacts, create Message Stores, transfer over old stuff, etc. etc.]
It is going to be a VERY large project. Hopefully, it will also be a very successful one Say bye-bye to CE MAPI?

Cyclonezephyrxz7 said:
Thanks to a bunch of help from another Dev, I confirmed that getting the image of a non-visible window is IMPOSSIBLE on windows mobile. [Although it gives me an idea to try to 'fix' that haha ... maybe after this]. In any case, I think I have figured out how to do it. Tomorrow I will write up the code, test it, and hopefully have an Initial release.
The way I see it the releases will be as follows:
1) Initial Release [Basic]
2) Fix-Up of any Bugs
3) Add some Effects
4) Add some customizations
5) Fix-Up of any Bugs
6) FINAL
Hopefully, I can do this in 6 or less releases [And in the meanwhile, adapt it to work on my new HD2 i will get on Monday ]
*PS: For those of you following my projects: Once I get my HD2, I am going to make a fixed up release of FFP_LS, and then open-source it. Thereafter, i won't work much on it anymore. This is so I can start working on my SUPER-HUGE project called "CMessage" ... Here are the contents of the 'sticky note' i have on the desktop reminding me of it:
Suite of Programs:
1. Transport DLL (Send/Receive SMS/MMS/EMail)
2. T-Mail.exe Client (Compose/View SMS/MMS/EMail)
3. Notifier (When new Message Arrives, Display Alert)
4. A new DLL for the HomeScreen [it probably won't be compatible with the old one]
5. API Docs (For future use and adaptation)
6. Sample Programs (I.E. HomeScreen Panel, SMS Games, etc.)
7. Filter Rules Program
8. Macro Program (Get Message ... Do Action)
9. Environment Set-Up DLL/Exe [Cache Contacts, create Message Stores, transfer over old stuff, etc. etc.]
It is going to be a VERY large project. Hopefully, it will also be a very successful one Say bye-bye to CE MAPI?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can't wait!

This program is actually bugging me...haha [get the joke?].
In any case, it is becoming rather tough to get this actually working. Correction: To get it working efficiently. The dev making the 3D iManager app over in the Development/Hacking forum told me how he is doing it, but to me it just seems terribly inefficient (every 5 seconds, check for Foreground Window....LOTS OF BUGS). In any case, I am using a registry notification now, since Windows Mobile has a value that tells me the currently active program and the previously active program [and it updates!] ... this works out because then I can take a screenshot of the new-ly active program, AND check to see if the old one was minimized or closed. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working as I would have hoped.
I don't have much time today for developing [Hooray for a 50 Page AP Government Outline] ... so I will probably get back to this tomorrow [NEW PHONE], or maybe tonight if I get a really good idea/inspiration to finish this!

Cyclonezephyrxz7 said:
This program is actually bugging me...haha [get the joke?].
In any case, it is becoming rather tough to get this actually working. Correction: To get it working efficiently. The dev making the 3D iManager app over in the Development/Hacking forum told me how he is doing it, but to me it just seems terribly inefficient (every 5 seconds, check for Foreground Window....LOTS OF BUGS). In any case, I am using a registry notification now, since Windows Mobile has a value that tells me the currently active program and the previously active program [and it updates!] ... this works out because then I can take a screenshot of the new-ly active program, AND check to see if the old one was minimized or closed. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working as I would have hoped.
I don't have much time today for developing [Hooray for a 50 Page AP Government Outline] ... so I will probably get back to this tomorrow [NEW PHONE], or maybe tonight if I get a really good idea/inspiration to finish this!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
keep the good work man and again thanks for your effort in developing new stuff for the dash.
Cheers,

So I finished my work
But that isn't pertinent to this forum. What it does mean is that I can work on my developing for today!
Counter-to-my-prior-plan, I am going to release a pretty flawed version of the program ... errr ... rather an Alpha that will run much less efficiently than the final product.
I hate announcing a project, thinking it will be easy, then taking forever with it ... so this is what I am going to do:
I will use the same timer-based approach that iManager 3D uses, but I might make it update more often [3 second intervals maybe] ... it won't be AT ALL battery efficient, but it should be pretty memory efficient. It will serve as NO MORE THAN A PROOF OF CONCEPT OF WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT WILL BE. The final product should not have a major impact on battery life, and should leave the end user unaware that it is actually running when it is!
I am re-installing Visual Studio because it has been acting up, but once that is done, I should be able to pump out an ALPHA VERSION.
EDIT: Computer Issues ... Expect a release in the coming days. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Cyclonezephyrxz7 said:
So I finished my work
But that isn't pertinent to this forum. What it does mean is that I can work on my developing for today!
Counter-to-my-prior-plan, I am going to release a pretty flawed version of the program ... errr ... rather an Alpha that will run much less efficiently than the final product.
I hate announcing a project, thinking it will be easy, then taking forever with it ... so this is what I am going to do:
I will use the same timer-based approach that iManager 3D uses, but I might make it update more often [3 second intervals maybe] ... it won't be AT ALL battery efficient, but it should be pretty memory efficient. It will serve as NO MORE THAN A PROOF OF CONCEPT OF WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT WILL BE. The final product should not have a major impact on battery life, and should leave the end user unaware that it is actually running when it is!
I am re-installing Visual Studio because it has been acting up, but once that is done, I should be able to pump out an ALPHA VERSION.
EDIT: Computer Issues ... Expect a release in the coming days. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! This sounds awesome! And yeah, we finally get more interests and development in non-touch devices! Good luck with building the program and don't forget to contact the News-Writers when it's ready!

This is actually quite upsetting ... I tried re-installing Visual Studio, because it was no longer giving me the 'code suggestions' for C++ ... [like if I typed in a function, it didn't tell me what the parameters were] ... and now it isnt set up for Windows Mobile 6 Standard/Pro anymore. So i tried reinstalling those SDKs .... no joy....I am going to uninstall EVERYTHING OF IT and start all over [backing up my projects of course ].
Hopefully I will get my computer in working condition by tonight.
I got my new HD2 [TMOUS] today I am very happy with it already. BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON MAKING THINGS FOR THE DASH. Non-TouchScreen phones are highly under-appreciated, and I hate that so much [let alone the fact that WinMo is underappreciated] .... I NEED YOUR IDEAS TO MAKE THIS PHONE [Exca] BETTER! So toss me a PM with even the wildest Ideas, and I will try to figure something out

Cyclonezephyrxz7 said:
This is actually quite upsetting ... I tried re-installing Visual Studio, because it was no longer giving me the 'code suggestions' for C++ ... [like if I typed in a function, it didn't tell me what the parameters were] ... and now it isnt set up for Windows Mobile 6 Standard/Pro anymore. So i tried reinstalling those SDKs .... no joy....I am going to uninstall EVERYTHING OF IT and start all over [backing up my projects of course ].
Hopefully I will get my computer in working condition by tonight.
I got my new HD2 [TMOUS] today I am very happy with it already. BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON MAKING THINGS FOR THE DASH. Non-TouchScreen phones are highly under-appreciated, and I hate that so much [let alone the fact that WinMo is underappreciated] .... I NEED YOUR IDEAS TO MAKE THIS PHONE [Exca] BETTER! So toss me a PM with even the wildest Ideas, and I will try to figure something out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
congrats with your new phone!
"Non-TouchScreen phones are highly under-appreciated, and I hate that so much [let alone the fact that WinMo is underappreciated]!" Yeah that sucks, that's also why I keep developing Apps and ROMs!
Hope you can get VS working again!

Whats With This Multitasking Coming Soon Talk?

Where are these rumors coming from? i've yet to read or hear anything from Microsoft that they are going to open up their os to allow multitasking for all apps. where is this news coming from? has there been anything i may have missed that confirms this multitasking rumor?

None that I'm aware of, in fact its likely that it wont be out soon considering the fact that they showed the video displaying that if an app is built properly you can return to the same screen you were on by simply clicking the back button.

z33dev33l said:
None that I'm aware of, in fact its likely that it wont be out soon considering the fact that they showed the video displaying that if an app is built properly you can return to the same screen you were on by simply clicking the back button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That has nothing to do with multitasking though, that's just efficient app design. Most apps have no reason to multitask (ie. run in the background while you're using another app or talking on the phone), so tombstoning is a great idea - as long as the devs take it into consideration and save all pertinant information.
The apps that do require multitasking won't be helped by tombstoning however. Consider a GPS tracker of some kind, perhaps one for tracking your daily run. This would benefit greatly from multitasking (ie. running in the background) as an incoming call or you taking a photo wouldn't affect the GPS log in any way.
The same goes for any apps that provide extra core-OS functionality, perhaps a Profile app. Not being able to have this run in the background means you can't automatically get the phone to go silent at night, or turn to vibrate during working hours, or allow notification sounds but no ringer during lunchtime - no amount of tombstoning would help here.
But I agree, I don't think we'll see multitasking yet either. Not until a major update, perhaps the rumored Mango - more likely than not delivered with a bunch of new (and powerful) devices.

when the apps tombstone do they save their position for u to resume right back to them?

deadwrong03 said:
when the apps tombstone do they save their position for u to resume right back to them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They can, it's up to the developers to implement it. Mine all do.

yea. i think MS may go the approach apple did and have a selected criteria for your apps to be able to multitask. in the case of tombstoning though, the game hearts is a great example. i have played it for hours on end constantly being interupted, and it automatically loads back to the game when i go back to it, and i continue on where i was at. the developer for Hearts really did understand the concept of tombstoning and really did implement it correctly.
it is possible for most apps to work just as good as multi-tasked with tombstoning. as said, it's really about the developer.
perhaps MS should provide the user with the ability to say how the app should launch (not allow the developer, but the actual user). like, if you press and hold an app you can set it so that it has "run in background" capabilities. or they can suggest this at the market place with MS approval (e.g. skype or messenger), but still provide it. apps like facebook, some people like having it always running and getting feeds, others don't. with the capability to select "run in background" it would be nice.