Mobile gadgets running Blackberry & Android OS'
Posts tagged UIQ
[en] New set of Main Menu icons [Sony Ericsson/UIQ/modding]
31318 days
by Bograma
in Everything Else Tech
Took a long time to find out why not all my icons would update with the rest: everytime I tried, all were updated but Contacts, Messages, Calendar and Control Panel (right side image). And it didn’t look good.
What’s all about? Modding. By replacing even the icons in my phone, I have a brand new interface every time I get bored with the old one. And it’s simple: after hacking the operation system, all I have to do is to copy the new icons on C: drive. For some reason, if these are mirrored on C: drive, then the phone displays them. If I wanna get back to original ones, I just delete the ones I put and poof, the phone uses the original ones from the Z: drive where everything is backed-up. And a nother plus is the fact that by deleting a small file, I now have bigger (at the same resolution) icons that are easier to use with your finger instead of the stylus. I also changed the theme. I started a 3 part series about all the modding business and everything includes it (1st part here) but didn’t have the time (as usual) to see it through right away. I will, eventually.
But back to the new icons, the reason for failure to change all icons layed in the fact that they were “written” for English (phone’s language). Even if my phone was in English, it wouldn’t change them all. So I gave it one more shot and asked the developers and they said I should change the language to English. I was going nuts because I HAD English. But it was American English as I’ve learned in a second of blitzy sweet inspiration. I’ve changed it to UK English and now I have what I long longed for! Kudos to the developers!
So here’s my new UI layout in terms of icons variation (left side image).
[en] Sony EricssonP1i modding evolution – 1st part [Sony Ericsson/UIQ/gsm/modding]
01336 days
by Bograma
in Everything Else Tech
Some while ago I discovered I can install diff’rent mods on my phone. What are they? Well, they are ordinary files from your Symbian smart-phone modified to add supplementary functionality to that particular program they’re part of. That’s the trend now. No more new programs to try, tweak and buy. Just be a part of the world in which talented smart guys break apart in small pieces all available programs in your smart-phone in order to ad an exit button, or to improve quality of pictures, or to turn on for another 60% your headset volume so you can enjoy the music as you should.
Until a year ago, none of this was possible due to restrains imposed by a stiff UIQ system in which there were files and folders kept away from the user. Why? Because they know the user likes to customize the phone. So much that the user would attempt to modify the files in order to get what one wants. And then,sometimes,the system would fail. And nobody would want that. I can find any other reason.
Any sane person (or company management) knows that by buying the product, you agree with their EULA and so if something you done goes wrong and the product is failing, is not their fault. And with that in mind, I still don’t understand why their locked the system.
Anyway, some people were able to break the barrier separating us from so many goodies. I found out about it from SWmail first, then Esato by Ares, then Symbian Freak and UIQ Blog. With each site writing about it, the core of info was bigger and bigger. And the more I read, the more I wanted to try it although there was no guarantee involved. There is always a way. Always.
Next,I’ll enumerate the mods I curently have on my phone. I’ll start with the most important and will complete the article over the next few days because there are many mods and they deserve proper description each and every one of them.
1.Caps Switch and Override permisions. Without these two, none of the below would be possible.
2.The camera mode: there are at least 4 versions over the Internet at the moment. W90i, P990i and P1i camera mods are available. They bring burst of 6 pictures instead of 4, extra digital zoom up to 400%, auto rename from of the pictures (PICT 0000x) from DSC000x, and video (VID9857), quality increase up to 96% for the “fine mode” and video improvement from 15 fps (standard high quality) to 27 fps. Quite simple to add, just overwrite files in C drive. How it works: fantastic improvement for video, good improvement on picture quality. One problem with video: due to higher bitrate and fps, the image sometimes freezes for a tenth of a second. It did it for a few times when I’ve tried it (2nd example). After finding a tweaked version on Esato, the pauses only happened for 3-4 seconds and then the image became smoother (3rd example).
After the 1st camera mod: there’s this huge improvement on image but also the frequent pauses that weren’t there before.
After the 2nd camera mod: as smooth as the 1st time but with only 3-4 pauses.Notice there is less light available for this last video.
Pictures.
Not much to say here. I only use high/fine mode, 3 MP.
Before:
After camera mod:
You can download all the above in real size here (first pictures).
3.Sound full mode: this mode enables your smartphone to increase your sound in the wired headset with circa 60%. It’s a bit tricky to do it but if you follow the step by step walkthru included in the file. How it works: very,very good. No distortions or anything of such kind. There is also a version in which you can modify the sound volume to your own choice but if I’m not a professional, so I’ll leave it like this. I admit I’d still need an extra 30% volume to cover the jet engines when I’m flying but it’s better than what I had before. Definitely worth the improvement.
Later-edit: When using this mod one loses the Track ID service. I don’t know why, it just stops working.
4.Graphic mods: these mods change your UI, including icons. This means you can change the whole upper bar with signal, shortcuts, battery level, task manager, etc AND main menu icons. As you can see from below, there were some problems regarding the changed icons – not all of them were changed. It might have something to do with the fact that i have an older FW version. I either have to update (no reason as the phone works as a charm) or change the “missing” icons manually but didn’t have the time.
Later-edit: one important issue with a lot of people is the language. This means that these graphic mods are done especially for each language. Almost all of them are for English, so be sure to use UK English, not American English or another language. Otherwise, like you see in the left picture underneath, it won’t change all icons like it should.
[en] A modded Sony-Ericsson P1 screenshot [UIQ/gsm/Sony-Ericsson]
01353 days
by Bograma
in Everything Else Tech
I’ll come back with more details regarding the modding and what it means,what it does. Until then, the ones familiar with the model can see at least 2-3 differences from the original interface.
[en] Speed-boost for P1i-The PIPS Libraries [gsm/UIQ/technology]
01384 days
by Bograma
in Everything Else Tech
In February 2008 a mod appeared over the internet speeding up certain apps on Sony Ericsson P1i. I found out about it from Esato and UIQ Blog and decided to give it a shot. They were the PIPS Libraries, 2 little drivers.
I tested the applications before applying the mod in order to observe any real difference. And there were.
The agenda opens faster (but not fast). The messaging application also opens faster and it would open even faster if I’d not have 600 sms’ and 100 e-mails in there-so not much of a test over there. In general, the phone seems more responsive. No side-effect after 6 months.
The reason I’m writing this is the update to version 1.3 of these 2 drivers.Here.
[en] Handy Safe review [software/UIQ/tech/gsm]
01395 days
by Bograma
in Everything Else Tech
How many times did I forget one of the many PINs I have,for one of my many cards or accounts? A lot of times. The ATM refused to give me my CC back after punching the wrong PIN for 3 times at least in two separate ocasions.What’s Handy Safe? In one (sic!) word:security, data management and simplicity.
What is does
That was one of the many reasons I started using Handy Safe. And that’s just one of the many uses I found for this little great piece of software. Launched by Epocware, a division of Paragon Software Group, one of the leading companies in producing software for smartphones (and you can see that in every aspect of their programs), Handy Safe envisioned one program for all (purposes): you can keep your PIN numbers for CCs, passwords (for your locks, bank accounts, calling cards, emails, web pages,shopping accounts) ,different combinations and number series of you driving license,ID card, insurance policies,lens prescriptions,SSN,voice mail info and as you can imagine, I was quoting the program itself!There is a security issue I have to clarify: as the producer brags, this little program uses a 448 bit strong encryption software using blowfish algorithm (considered military grade and a little bit exagerated by some) which means your data is hard to decript. Simple enough, right?
Interface
It’s really simple and old skool: you have over 35 icons and pre-defined/standard tasks to choose from. Each of those has specific fields in accordance with the task you create. In my example, I choose a really simple and useful one: car info. The spcific fields are: model, make, year, license, expires on…, VIN, insurance name, number and phone number of the insurance company. You can also add notes and an icon, if you like.
How it works
Being very simple, it works like a charm. I mean, it’s a breeze to use it, it has a built-in intuition rarely seen in other programs. It takes you around 2 minutes to get to know it thus meaning the learning curve is quite non-existent. The program renders the entries by alphabet order. Also there is a possibility to arrange it in separate folders as Personal, Business, Custom types, Samples, Unfiled and All.In “Preferences”, you can set up a period of time after which the program locks-up automatically, or you multi-tasking it can lockup when going in background. Very useful at times.
There is a desktop version one can download from Epocware to syncronize all the data I have in the program, but it wasn’t necessary for me because I don’t have so many entries and I have the data backed-up anyway already. But it’s important that the creator thought about it and make an effort in developing this kind of back-up.It’s also very simple and one can also add and edit information on every card.
All in all, a classic program ( I also had it on my SE P910i some years ago), a must have for busy people and a real life-saver sometimes. And if it served me correctly once, then is good enough for me and the money are well spent.
There is a 7 days period of demo and the program is available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Russian and also in Northern and Eastern-European languages. The program can be also found in various Handy packages (being on the market for a few years now) like this one where you can get good discounts when buying in bulk. Available for Palm, W.M, UIQ, Symbian S40 and S60.
Check my other reviews: ACM vs MCleaner and TOSC review.
[en] The never ending P1i saga [technology/SE]
01428 days
by Bograma
in Everything Else Tech
I promised myself I won’t give up as long as I keep this model. This is the 4th attempt to surpass the “9 days uptime barrier” that my phone is having. It’s working like clockwork until it gets to the 9th day. Then, some of the functions like Bluetooth or WLAN stop working, it lags at times until it crashes. Today I got 9 days, 1 hour (screenshot) and another 10 hours ( I didn’t take another screenshot) and rebooted by itself, as usual. “…restarted in order to improve performance”, as usual.
I wonder if my software has a 9 days limit code…
