Pal Szasz’s blog… or something like that…

Let’s start for a more important news for you: I applied for Sourcefoge project hosting for some of the open source UIQ3 programs I wrote. So far StickIt is in CVS (and I will use the SF CVS host from now on, which means the latest version of the source code will be always accessible to the pubic ), and ClockSS and TOSC is comming soon (the projects are already created, I am importing the code in CVS now.

So, the URLS:

• http://www.sf.net/projects/stickit
• http://www.sf.net/projects/clockss
• http://www.sf.net/projects/tosc

You can use the bug tracking services of SF to post bugs you find in this app. That way it will be easier for me to track them (since right now I got feedbacks, bug reports and feature requests from at least 4 different sources (forums, this blog, emails)). And it’s quite possible that I miss a few bugs.

And now some other topic: today I had to wait a lot (in a hospital), so I tested Pixy by creating some icons (40×40 and 64×64) for it. The 16×16 icon was also made by pixy. They are not perfect, but Pixy is already very usable (more usable then the previous/old UIQ2 version, thanks to the UNDO feature )

Here are the icons:

Well today I started to backport Pixy to UIQ2. Actually I started it yesterday, but I spent only a minimal time just to create the project file.

Now I finally have a version, which starts, most of the functionality is working. Still todo are:

• The screen is flashing, I think I need to implement doublebuffering (or use Backed up window?)
• Load/Save dialogs not implemented yet
• Menu bar not implemented yet

But apart from these it seems the program is functional. So in a few days I might have an UIQ2 version as well.

Btw, I’m really curious, how many UIQ2 and UIQ3 owners are out there…

First of all, I released a demo version (save functionality removed) of Pixy v0.4: pixy_0_4_demo.sis.

Other changes:

• Added command/tool to toggle between filled and not filled mode (now rectangle drawing takes into consideration this flag).
• Added command/tool to toggle between use of transparency (usefull with the select tool)
• Added tools Select and Sele w/copy: they are like cut+paste and copy+paste: select a rectangular area and move it or copy it elsewhere in the screen. They check the transarency (colorkey) flag.
• Fixed some minor selection-rectangle renderig bugs

And now about ClockSS: There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary, and those who don’t Well, it’s an old joke, but I just remembered it

For those who don’t understand the binary clocks: The filled circle corresponds to 1, the empty 0, in rest they are the same. To find out the current time, jus tconvert the two numbers from binary to decimal.

Let’s take an example, let’s suppose the hour sais: 01101. Each digit must be multiplided with a power of two, then summed together. We start from the right hand side: 1 * 2^0 = 1 * 1 = 1; The next digit is ‘0′ (0 * 2^1 = 0 * 2 = 0). Next is ‘1′ (1 * 2 ^ 2 = 1 * 4 = 4). Next is again ‘1′ (1 * 2^ 3 = 1 * 8 = . Since the rest is all 0, we ignore it. So the result is 1 + 4 + 8 = 13. Piece of cake, right?

If anybody interested, normal binary led watches can be bought at www.thinkgeek.com When I saw them, that was the time I decied to make a binary clock screensaver for my P800… but I didn’t had the proper knowledge then… and i still don’t have it now

I finally made some time to update the clock screensaver (or something like that) application, so you can download v0.4 here.

Changes:

• Added floating small clock to show to current time anywhere
• By clocking on the small clock willactivate the screensaver immediately
• The application should not activate itself in the middle of a call
• The date is shown as well (for now in fixed format: YYYY.MM.DD)
• Analog clock fixed
• Option added to not hide the top of the screen (so you can see new message, or not answered calls). Clicking on any icon in the top of the screen deactivates the screensaver (except in total lock mode)
• Total lock fixed

I worked some days on pixy, and now I already have a working version. It’s not complete, but contains most of the functionality.

You can get more info about it (userguide, screenshots, PC versions) here: http://www.saxoft.com/pixy/. Yes, I said PC version: to make things easier for me, I do most of the coding on a PC version, then recompile for UIQ3. The PC version has the same functionality but a bit different look. I made versions both for linux and windows, so you can try it out on your PC.

And now the bad news: I decided that this program will be commercial. Yeah, i know, it’s way cooler to make freeware apps, but I have to make a living also. I will release a trial version soon (the only change from the fill version will be the lack of saving). But until then you can test the PC versions.

Any comments are welcome, I read them ALL!

And here is an animation, which shows the progress of making a teddy bear icon:

And a slower version (so you can check out some functionalities of the program):

Just some minor updates:

• no need to press ALT, * and # is enough

• you can activate the screensaver immediately from the app

• I also changed some code which decides when to unlock the phone… might be better… or worse, still need to test it

Program has it’s own page now here.

Update: Important: “total lock” is buggy, DONT USE IT IN V0.3!

I found the missing piece in the puzzle, and now TOSC (aka The Open Screen Capture) is working even if the app is in the background. I mean you can now start the capture by clicking on the floating window (let’s call it radar?).

You can download the new binary here:  theopenscreencapture_0_3.sis

I havent uploaded the new source code yet (lack of time), but there is only one line changed (added actually): in the AppUi the following method is called:

IgnorePointerEventsWhenInBackground(EFalse)

Well, another little usefull UIQ3 app: StickIt. It allows you to post a note on the standby screen. That’s it

Download: stickit_0_1.sis

Screenshots:

 

Changes:

• Added 3 more clock types (binary led, binary, analog)
• Added “Total lock” mode
• Some minor changes

Download:

• UIQ3 binary: clockss_0_2.sis
• Source: clockss_0_2_src.tar.gz

The “Total lock” means, when turned on, is more agressive in locking: ie if you press the ‘@’ (or internet) button, or long press the back button, it will detect that it is sent to background, and forces the phone to bring it in the foreground. Thus reducing the chance of doing something by mistake.

Here are the screenshots of the new clock types:

… or something like it…

Well, a lot of people miss the clock screen saver in their shiny new UIQ3 phone… so here is a sort of replacement.

It’s not a real screensaver, but looks like a screensaver, behaves like a screensaver, so it’s a pretty good estimate

Ok, and now the serious text

The program should start automatically, when the phone starts. And it also should go to the background. To controll it, just locate it in the task manager, and when you switch to it, you should see:

You can choose the timeout value from 10seconds, 1 minute (the default), 2 mintues or 10 minutes. You can also de/activate it temporary.

After the given amount of inactivity, it switches to screen saver mode:

You can switch back to normal mode (ie. “unlock the keypad”) with ‘*’ and then ‘#’ (note: you should probably need to press ALT as well, to get in numeric mode)

You can switch to a different app with the BACK key (only when you press it longer) or the internet (or hardware) key. Unfortunately I cannot change this behaviour But fortunately, these keys are not easy to press by mistake.

You should turn off automatic keyguard in controll panel (otherwise you will reseave the standard unlock message).

Well, that’s it for now, awaiting opinions

Oh, and next version probably will have binary mode as well (ie. shows the clock in binary instead of decimal… just for the geeks )

Almost forgot the downoad links:

• UIQ3 binary: clockss_0_1.sis
• Source code: clockss_0_1_src.tar.gz (btw, is anybody interested in the surce code, or I just keep posting source codes for no reason ?-)