MS allows background apps! - Windows Phone 7 General

From Engadget....Finally, audio in the background.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/29/microsoft-loosens-up-enables-windows-phone-7-apps-to-run-beneat/

Yeah, and even before it has been released here in the US. Signs are looking good that MS will continue to support its new OS.

"Background apps", that is those that can run behind the lockscreen, were always possible! Does does however not mean multitasking.
The only thing that changed here is that the certification requirements removed the requirement about asking the user to be able to run behind the lockscreen. Yes, the application itself was required to ask for permission.
However there's exactly nothing that stopped an application from doing so to begin with.
All it required was setting the PhoneApplicationService.ApplicationIdleDetectionMode property. It has been there since the beta SDK was released.

Tom Servo said:
"Background apps", that is those that can run behind the lockscreen, were always possible! Does does however not mean multitasking.
The only thing that changed here is that the certification requirements removed the requirement about asking the user to be able to run behind the lockscreen. Yes, the application itself was required to ask for permission.
However there's exactly nothing that stopped an application from doing so to begin with.
All it required was setting the PhoneApplicationService.ApplicationIdleDetectionMode property. It has been there since the beta SDK was released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true that the requirement to ask permission is gone, but in most cases the app would freeze when you lock the device, and resume a few seconds after you unlocked it again.
You can't deny this change is an improvement.

Good news everyone!

cPT.cAPSLOCK said:
It's true that the requirement to ask permission is gone, but in most cases the app would freeze when you lock the device, and resume a few seconds after you unlocked it again.
You can't deny this change is an improvement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a certification requirement that changed. The operating system did not change.
And setting that goddamned property I referred to keeps the applications running under the lockscreen NOW already.

Aerik said:
Good news everyone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well nothing much has really changed.

Related

Remove limit of 10 unsigned app

I've finally reach 10 unsigned app on my phone. Took way longer that I thought...
This is not new for anyone who's not spending time asking for unlock key, but I've made a small app to automate the process of pushing the limit to 100000.
Here it is: http://bit.ly/qpVyR4
Work on my HTC, may work on other device as well (let me know).
Warning: At least one person had problem deploying app on his Samsung after running this app.
Edit: Updated version with rollback button (which already exists but was hidden )
this has been out for like a month now..... but good job of creating one!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=875885
Exactly what I said... nothing new but packaged as a XAP
Advanced Configuration Tool for WP7 Beta
http://forum.touchxperience.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=590&p=2349
has an option to remove the limit, plus set as many colour schemes as you like, and add single registry keys directly.
Its still beta but works a treat so far on my HD2, and comes with about 50 colours for the theme, or input your own with hex codes.
This tools works only on HTC. Minne should work on Samsung too, maybe on LG.
But if you have an HTC, AdvConfig is probably easier to use.
I'm not spending much time making pretty app
I ran this earlier (along with setting the key manually before), and it doesn't work. I still was limited to 10 apps.
But now, frighteningly, I'm unable to deploy -some- apps from Visual Studio (limit reached). I have a real dev unlock, never messed with Chevron.
Thanks, (nico)! I've removed this (stupid!) limit on my Focus (officially unlocked), everything works fine including deployment/debug from VS 2010. Good job!
davux said:
I ran this earlier (along with setting the key manually before), and it doesn't work. I still was limited to 10 apps.
But now, frighteningly, I'm unable to deploy -some- apps from Visual Studio (limit reached). I have a real dev unlock, never messed with Chevron.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also officially unlock.
Like with folks with Chevron, I think the limit will be reseted periodically by Zune.
What do you mean by "some" apps?
You can't install more than 10 apps?
Not sure what do you mean, but I'll try to answer.
Using (official) unlock method, you won't be able to deploy more than 10 unsigned apps. 3 if you have a student account.
Chevron also have the same 10 limit (because they intentionally keep MS limit).
This registry tweak try to remove that limit.
In either way, this don't modify the number of app you can install though Marketplace, which is not limited.
(nico) said:
I'm also officially unlock.
Like with folks with Chevron, I think the limit will be reseted periodically by Zune.
What do you mean by "some" apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I set the key manually in the code Rusty released for the Samsung devices the other day. I wasn't able to deploy the 11th app via VS. I continued dealing with it until I got your XAP, I ran that yesterday and now sometimes I have trouble deploying in VS, even with <10 apps. Restarting VS and the phone doesn't have any effect.
Not that I'm blaming you or anything - just figured I'd note my experience. Some projects will still deploy, not sure of the pattern yet.
Thanks, that the kind of feedback I'm looking for. I'll add this to the first post to warn people.
If you have more infos, please share so we can have something more stable.
Thanks!
* Works on [Europe] Omnia 7
Ah this is the tool that some XDA user was trying to pass off as his own tool.
The big Athiest said:
Ah this is the tool that some XDA user was trying to pass off as his own tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you talking about?
(nico) said:
What are you talking about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look up the RRTool in this forum that I wrote, he is basically saying I rebranded the Chevron Tool as my own, even though my Tool runs on the device not from desktop and only prevents relocking, it doesnt actually unlock a device like chevron does. He only has 2 posts and tried to ruin my credability! Not Happy!
He is a lame troll. Don't pay attention. Thank you both guys! Great job!
P.S. Just a small remark: after using your tools (first I've tried (nico)'s tool, later (toady) RRTool. Both works good but behavior of VS 2010 a little bit changed. Now I can't deploy project via Zune - must close it first and use WPConnect.
Did you try to restore the original value (probably 10 for most users) and see what happends?
Nope, I didn't. Just have no time to browse for Samsung's registry editor or reflect back your's or lyriquidperfection app. Could you add an option to restore back an original values? Anyway, it's not a real problem. MS limitation of 10 app (or 3 for student account) it's just stupid and unfair. What, if I have more than 10(3) homebrew projects to debug and run? What, if I want to recreate all apps I need by myself? But of course the "MS greediness sux!" is not a topic for this thread
sensboston said:
Nope, I didn't. Just have no time to browse for Samsung's registry editor or reflect back your's or lyriquidperfection app. Could you add an option to restore back an original values? Anyway, it's not a real problem. MS limitation of 10 app (or 3 for student account) it's just stupid and unfair. What, if I have more than 10(3) homebrew projects to debug and run? What, if I want to recreate all apps I need by myself? But of course the "MS greediness sux!" is not a topic for this thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I thought I did it but the button was hidden
Here is an updated version with a restore button to 10 apps: http://bit.ly/gKZDgj

Why is it taking so long for WP7 to be fully "cracked" open?

I am not talking about sideloading. Android and iOS are hacked within weeks if not days of being released. WP7 has been out for a while and it seems there hasn't been any major progress in this front.
Anyone know why this is? Has MS made WP7 THAT secure that even xda can't break into it?
digger1985 said:
I am not talking about sideloading. Android and iOS are hacked within weeks if not days of being released. WP7 has been out for a while and it seems there hasn't been any major progress in this front.
Anyone know why this is? Has MS made WP7 THAT secure that even xda can't break into it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not talking about sideloading, what are you talking about? The primary modes of "hacking" iOS and Android involve sideloading homebrew apps that do different stuff, which is already happening on WP7.
I was mostly talking about system modifications. Where are utilities like quick toggles for the settings and such? Or for example having folders in the app list. These were added pretty quickly when iOS was jailbroken I believe.
digger1985 said:
I was mostly talking about system modifications. Where are utilities like quick toggles for the settings and such? Or for example having folders in the app list. These were added pretty quickly when iOS was jailbroken I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awaiting the proper APIs
Hmm... I was under the impression that the APIs were there but just not available to the devs. Cracking open WP7 was meant to solve this right?
digger1985 said:
Hmm... I was under the impression that the APIs were there but just not available to the devs. Cracking open WP7 was meant to solve this right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really. Devs have no access to native APIs and the access they have managed to gain is still sandboxed to restrict what they can do with the phone.
You could still crack open WP7 without access to native APIs, but it makes it more unlikely that anybody will. When devs have access to native APIs, there is more of a chance that somebody has overlooked a method of gaining access to the phone's features.
I'm not 100%, but I'm pretty sure iPhone did not have a native API available when it was jailbroken. Android is mostly open source, so it's pretty much already jailbroken
Just to mention, i was today able to get full root control of running processes on the current phone (phone sided code). And some api's that are hidden by microsoft can easily be reloaded with "LoadLibrary" and "GetProcAddress" like enumerate running processes. (Look under wp7>hacking>dllimport).
its coming...very soon
Why is it taking so long for WP7 to be fully "cracked" open?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Microsoft developers are not amatuers, and TBQH I hope it never is. They need to shut down homebrew IMO, or certainly not facilitate it. All it does it lead to issues and I don't think Microsoft wants the solution to issues to be "go to XDA" or "flash CustomROM_01."
Android is a mess because of all that ****.
How long it took for the first iPhone JB?
fiinix said:
Just to mention, i was today able to get full root control of running processes on the current phone (phone sided code). And some api's that are hidden by microsoft can easily be reloaded with "LoadLibrary" and "GetProcAddress" like enumerate running processes. (Look under wp7>hacking>dllimport).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait-Are you saying you have the ability to run and exit processes from another application on the device?
Edit: Never mind, found your thread here. Just gave me an idea, nice work!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1006331

[Q] Why so many apps ask to activate Location, when not necessary?

Hello,
I noticed that several apps I install require that I enable my location/position.
For several of them my location has nothing to do with the purpose of the app.
For instance: Bubble Birds.
I was wondering why??! And also, are the developers using the users' location info for some reasons?
Thank you.
This is something that irks me too, and is often a deciding point on whether I buy/install said app.
I can see it as being used for statistical purposes, but still brings out the conspiracy theorist in me.
I think it might be for ads. Maybe it is for stats though
Sent from my HD7 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
The "ID_CAP_LOCATION" capability is included by default when creating a new project. If the location requirement is derived from this, it could mean that many developers just haven't removed it before submission, making it look like the application needs location info. This would probably be pointed out during submission, though. Maybe it's for the ads?
Thank you for all the answers.
I suppose it's not for the ads. I live in France and, luckily, all the ads are totally irrevelant and in English.
arturobandini said:
Thank you for all the answers.
I suppose it's not for the ads. I live in France and, luckily, all the ads are totally irrevelant and in English.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my App, I have a trial mode that uses ads. If you pass the location information to the adControl, it enhances the selection process for the ads and will provide better focused ads, which also enhances money the developers receive.
AFAIK, WP7 doesn't support the ability to say "no" to the location and still use the app. If you decline the location, the application will not run. It would be nice to deny access to Location to the app, and still let the application run.
spokanedj said:
On my App, I have a trial mode that uses ads. If you pass the location information to the adControl, it enhances the selection process for the ads and will provide better focused ads, which also enhances money the developers receive.
AFAIK, WP7 doesn't support the ability to say "no" to the location and still use the app. If you decline the location, the application will not run. It would be nice to deny access to Location to the app, and still let the application run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well they have a very strict policy with the location service, it should be comppetely turned off from within the app if the user desires, i had an app with a button to activate and find the current location and it failed certification since the user could not bypass this button! If the user does not want to supply his location dont press te button and the location service will remain off, but this was not strict enough there should have been an extra switch to deactivate this button....
Weird policy really really weird

My Focus and I are running back to NoDo as fast as possible..

..unless there's a working registry solution for Samsung devices in Mango. I suppose I thought fast app switching was developer code independent, but it seems I need to apply the dehydration hack to achieve the results I want.
Here's some background in case anyone can help me load a registry editor on here or revert to NoDo, apply the tweak, and then upgrade back again:
1. I have no idea where my backup actually saved to, but I know it's there. Does anyone know what the known locations are? The actual file extension?
2. I used the cracked tool to upgrade to Mango. I'm a dev but I'm stuck in GeoTrust verification which won't let me dev unlock (or upgrade using the official tool) until that process is complete.
3. Are there any other tweaks I should apply while in NoDo land?
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Phone Update
Fast task switching is developer-code independent, but third-party apps written using the pre-Mango SDK will have their Activate (rehydrate) function called when you switch to them. In many cases, this will cause the app to waste some time. Even in Mango, non-foreground apps aren't actually running - they're just suspended (in RAM but inactive). Resume *can* be instant, but it requires that the app be aware of suspend/resume, which requires that it be a Mango app.
Registry tweaks made while in NoDo should carry over to Mango. My phone carried its custom accent color and a few other changes across the update just fine.
seanlindo06 said:
2. I used the cracked tool to upgrade to Mango. I'm a dev but I'm stuck in GeoTrust verification which won't let me dev unlock (or upgrade using the official tool) until that process is complete.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI, I was stuck there as well. As it turned out, I didn't submit the required icon images and screenshot. It sat in a waiting for GeoTrust verification without telling me my submission was incomplete.
Not sure if this helps but I figured I may as well pass along my experience.
I also I put a .99 price on the shell app I submitted. I obtained my dev account via DreamSpark and I remember reading that you will waste one of your 5 free apps if you don't put a price on the verification app.
naplesbill said:
FYI, I was stuck there as well. As it turned out, I didn't submit the required icon images and screenshot. It sat in a waiting for GeoTrust verification without telling me my submission was incomplete.
Not sure if this helps but I figured I may as well pass along my experience.
I also I put a .99 price on the shell app I submitted. I obtained my dev account via DreamSpark and I remember reading that you will waste one of your 5 free apps if you don't put a price on the verification app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The free apps limit has been raised to a hundred. So that's not really relevant anymore.
You could also do it the way I did - actually write a basic application and submit it when you've got the core functionality done. Then keep working on it and as soon as it's published, submit an update that actually just finishes the app.
seanlindo06 said:
..unless there's a working registry solution for Samsung devices in Mango. I suppose I thought fast app switching was developer code independent, but it seems I need to apply the dehydration hack to achieve the results I want.
Here's some background in case anyone can help me load a registry editor on here or revert to NoDo, apply the tweak, and then upgrade back again:
1. I have no idea where my backup actually saved to, but I know it's there. Does anyone know what the known locations are? The actual file extension?
2. I used the cracked tool to upgrade to Mango. I'm a dev but I'm stuck in GeoTrust verification which won't let me dev unlock (or upgrade using the official tool) until that process is complete.
3. Are there any other tweaks I should apply while in NoDo land?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Υour title has nothing to do with your post !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Change the title m8

[XAP] Orientation Lock: self-explanatory

Tada. Here's a little stupid-simple something I made to cure my frustrations.
Whooo. New version, basically wiped up the whole post. Oops.
Anyway, here's orientation lock, an application that, well, locks your orientation. It does this by setting the accelerometer to power state D4, then back to D0 to revive it.
Using DllImport:
Code:
DllImportCaller.lib.StringIntIntCall("coredll", "SetDevicePower", "ACC1:", 1, (int)Phone.Network.WiFi.PowerState.D0);
Simple. Worked on my HD7, Lumia, and Focus. Lmk if you have any issues.
Oh, and known problem: HTC devices detect the accel sensor as active, even when it isn't. Weird. Toggling the button back and forth works, though.
Download: http://windowsphonehacker.com/articles/orientation_lock_release-02-06-12
Cheers!
DeactivateDevice() ACC1: on HTC device will make phone reboot.
ted973 said:
DeactivateDevice() ACC1: on HTC device will make phone reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that from this application or when you do it using native APIs?
Jaxbot said:
Is that from this application or when you do it using native APIs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh, i try this before and your app is same result.
DeactivateDevice()
change registry "Dll"
ActivateDeviceEx()
Process above, sometimes works on HTC Device, but it is real "sometimes"!
ted973 said:
oh, i try this before and your app is same result.
DeactivateDevice()
change registry "Dll"
ActivateDeviceEx()
Process above, sometimes works on HTC Device, but it is real "sometimes"!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know you can change it in the registry, but I was hoping for something a little more integrated. I wonder what the deal with HTC is.
Jaxbot said:
I know you can change it in the registry, but I was hoping for something a little more integrated. I wonder what the deal with HTC is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does samsung & lg device have this in registry:
[HKLM\Drivers\BuiltIn\Accelerometer]
"ForegoundModule"="\Windows\TaskHost.exe"
ted973 said:
does samsung & lg device have this in registry:
[HKLM\Drivers\BuiltIn\Accelerometer]
"ForegoundModule"="\Windows\TaskHost.exe"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung doesn't, nor does it have all the X Y Z values.
works on focus s, surprisingly....
ManelScout4Life said:
works on focus s, surprisingly....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why wouldn't it? And I saw your comment on Wpcentral, thanks for that. I don't blame anyone, even I get confused with all these different devices and driver versions. Seems only the end consumer has a consistent experience
Jaxbot said:
Why wouldn't it? And I saw your comment on Wpcentral, thanks for that. I don't blame anyone, even I get confused with all these different devices and driver versions. Seems only the end consumer has a consistent experience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With all the changes in the gen2 software, I figured it wouldn't work. Just like none of the interop apps work so far I figured this would be on the same boat.
ManelScout4Life said:
With all the changes in the gen2 software, I figured it wouldn't work. Just like none of the interop apps work so far I figured this would be on the same boat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, they don't work because of other changes, but it's a good thought, and I was worried myself. Glad to see it does, though
More specifically, most homebrew interop apps don't work on Samsung Gen2 because they use OEM drivers that are specifically designed to allow apps to do high-privilege things their sandbox normally prevents. In gen2 firmware, Samsung crippled those drivers somehow, locking them down to their own apps only (bears more investigating, but that's the best explanation I've found so far).
This, on the other hand, is simply opening a driver that's built into the phone - all phones, apparently - and is an actual device driver, not a software driver intended forleaving the sandbox. Samsung can't cripple that, or it wouldn't be possible for any app to use the accelerometer. Interop unlock is still required, though - in simple terms, what ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES regulates is "Can the app open a direct handle to a driver?" and this app needs to do this.
Update for everyone:
No more interop unlock, now allows toggling. You're welcome =D
http://windowsphonehacker.com/articles/orientation_lock_release-02-06-12
Also a video with my sexy new phone (Lumia 800) in it ^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7tNiDn-7Szw
Too bad that this can't be put in the Marketplace; it's the kind of app a lot of people have been asking for. All the more reason for Microosft to provide more Chevron Labs unlock tokens, I guess...
EDIT: I guess that having the Sensors capability gives enough permissions to call SetDevicePower on it? I would have expected ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED. In any case, well done. Works on my HD7. One minor bug is that it doesn't remember or detect when disabled, so to re-enable it I have to first toggle to Disabled, then back to Enabled, because when the app is launched it *always* says Enabled. Might be an HTC firmware oddity.
GoodDayToDie said:
Too bad that this can't be put in the Marketplace; it's the kind of app a lot of people have been asking for. All the more reason for Microosft to provide more Chevron Labs unlock tokens, I guess...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. It's harmless, stays at LPC level. Wish Microsoft would let in some more /dangerous/ applications.
Awesome, good job. I've been looking for this. Works well on optimus 7
SetDevicePower really nice solution!!!
One simple fix for HTC, if they always report the accelerometer as available: can you use GetDevicePower? The method signature is the same, except the third parameter is a pointer (which .NET will see as an "out" parameter, if you declare it as such). I'm not sure if DllImport supports those, but it could be done very easily using COM.
Actually, turns out the problem is more universal than I thought. I'll find a fix for it soon, should be simple enough.
Liking this update very much Looking forward to the toggle fix.

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