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View Full Version : White, two-pixel border now software controllable

slinger
05-25-2005, 10:48 AM
Has anyone else noticed that the media application on the LifeDrive has the ability to turn off the two-pixel-width border that surrounds the LCD screen that is normally always white on every model Palm to date? I wonder if PalmOne will release an SDK to allow other developers to do the same thing...

-Robert
CliePet
05-25-2005, 11:32 AM
> I wonder if PalmOne will release an SDK to allow other developers to do the same thing...

Library 'PmSy', trap 0xA821
void _UI_BLACK(UInt16 libRef, UInt8 flag) SYS_TRAP(0xA821);
// flag = 0 for white, flag = 1 for black border - will stick even if you exit the app

Hmm, sounds like another SharkTool...
picard
05-25-2005, 12:03 PM
Wow. How did you find this API?

I think it works only for LifeDrive.
knank
05-25-2005, 12:10 PM
I want this in Nx73v :D please sharky make it possible ;)
MrNako
05-25-2005, 12:51 PM
Sharky!!... Sharky!! :p
CliePet
05-25-2005, 01:09 PM
> How did you find this API?

The usual way, disassemble an app that uses it
[in this case the 68K Photo app - easy to disassemble with 'pilotdis' - and in this case brain-dead-easy to find since there a function called '_UIDrawBlackBorder'].

Usually finding system entries is a lot harder [eg: more complicated APIs or ARM disassembly] - this one is embarrasingly easy ;->

Sometimes the hardest part is finding a regular app that does something close to what you want. In this case 'slinger' pointing it out

----
NOTE: This is a LifeDrive only feature AFAIK (doesn't work on the T3 either -- not sure about the T5).
Cyker
05-25-2005, 02:00 PM
This is very interesting... that means that 2px-wide border has some sort of interface!

I wonder to what degree... there's a possibility you might be able to manipulate the pixels there too!

It sounds like it would have to be done at low-level 'tho, if it is even possible...
jjesusfreak01
05-25-2005, 02:53 PM
This is very interesting... that means that 2px-wide border has some sort of interface!

I wonder to what degree... there's a possibility you might be able to manipulate the pixels there too!

It sounds like it would have to be done at low-level 'tho, if it is even possible...
On the Corecodec forums Picard says it may be a function of the XScale processor. Does the LD have an XScale processor. It would be cool if this could be done on all PDAs.
tungsten t5
05-25-2005, 03:06 PM
yes the lifedrive has the same processor as the Tungsten T5.
Cyker
05-25-2005, 03:16 PM
Well in our PDA's, from what I could dig up last time we had a thread about this, that 2px border wasn't even connected to anything.

However, in the LD, the fact that you can change it means that those pixels ARE connected to something, so maybe they are accessible via direct hacking of the video RAM or something...!
slinger
05-25-2005, 03:16 PM
The over/under-clock utility that I just posted has a simple control to turn on or off the white pixel border should you be so inclined to want to see what it looks like.

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88084

Thanks to CliePet for uncovering the API data so quickly! That was very impressive!

-Robert
jjesusfreak01
05-25-2005, 05:32 PM
Sharky!!... Sharky!! :p
Hey, be fair. As good a programmer as Sharky is, Cliepet is our resident Uber-Hacker. He did find the code, and if it was available on other devices, he could probably find it there. The problem is that to easily find it you need a program that uses it, and since no other handhelds have programs that do this, it would be near impossible to find the function call (is that right?) for the handheld, even if it was possible from a technical standpoint.
Scott R
05-25-2005, 05:56 PM
What about libRef? What do you set that to?

picard, have you verified that this won't work on the Zodiac? I suspect it doesn't. :(
MrNako
05-25-2005, 09:47 PM
Hey, be fair. As good a programmer as Sharky is, Cliepet is our resident Uber-Hacker. He did find the code, and if it was available on other devices, he could probably find it there. The problem is that to easily find it you need a program that uses it, and since no other handhelds have programs that do this, it would be near impossible to find the function call (is that right?) for the handheld, even if it was possible from a technical standpoint.

I know Cliepet found the code and I am asking Sharkboy for support because Cliepet said it sounds like a SharkTool

Hmm, sounds like another SharkTool...
CliePet
05-26-2005, 09:30 AM
> in the LD, the fact that you can change it means that those pixels ARE connected to something
From looking at the ARM code, it appears to be partying directly on the LCD control registers (ie. doesn't look like a general solution, and very LifeDrive specific)

re: writing accessory apps
This is not a zero-sum game.
If someone else (sharky or slinger or anyone else but me;-) wants to create utilities for optimizing the LifeDrive or other device, more power to them !

> What about libRef? What do you set that to?
"libRef" is a reference to the opened library (see SysLibFind/SysLibLoad). 'PmSy' is the creator, 'libr' the type. Officially you should SysLibFind first, then SysLibLoad if not already in memory. Very basic PalmOS programming.
Tam Hanna
05-26-2005, 10:15 AM
Well,
is there such a library on my T3? I just set up FilEZ to filter for the library.
But nope, files found no such file. Gotta look on t5 though!
KenSong
05-28-2005, 08:35 AM
Yes, it would be great to have this work on a T3. Picard managed to make it work on "some" T3s when playing movies in TCPMP and it seems it is because T3s come with 2 different display panel, Sharp and Sony.
picard
05-28-2005, 02:09 PM
Yes, it would be great to have this work on a T3. Picard managed to make it work on "some" T3s when playing movies in TCPMP and it seems it is because T3s come with 2 different display panel, Sharp and Sony.
It is not the same method. This API is only available on LifeDrive. TCPMP uses direct LCD controller programming on T|3 (but only works with Sharp LCD, the ones without the four diodes on the bottom).
JAmerican
05-29-2005, 12:49 AM
Any updates on this?

JAmerican
Tam Hanna
05-29-2005, 01:58 AM
Well, but there is one problem. The LCD's with the four yellow diodes are much better. I had one on my T3 until they exchanged it Damn!
JAmerican
05-29-2005, 02:11 AM
But can we other Palm users experience a non-White Pixel border as well?

JAmerican
Cyker
05-29-2005, 02:41 AM
It's unlikely - On the vast majority of colour Palms, the pixels that make up the white border aren't connected to anything, so it's physically impossible to address them...
jjesusfreak01
05-29-2005, 06:09 AM
It's unlikely - On the vast majority of colour Palms, the pixels that make up the white border aren't connected to anything, so it's physically impossible to address them...
It all depends on how the screen is set up. If it is addressable, then there is a chance, and if its not, we will have to live with it, though the TH probably has one of the best screens regardless.
Cyker
05-29-2005, 09:00 AM
Heck yeah! :D
JAmerican
05-29-2005, 08:46 PM
It all depends on how the screen is set up. If it is addressable, then there is a chance, and if its not, we will have to live with it, though the TH probably has one of the best screens regardless.

Why is this??? Because its bigger? Doesn't mean its the best screen.

JAmerican
KenSong
06-20-2005, 02:52 AM
Well, but there is one problem. The LCD's with the four yellow diodes are much better. I had one on my T3 until they exchanged it Damn!

Yes, those are the Sony display but very prone to digitizer drift. Have had 2 units of T2 swapped due to this. But the colour is so much more natural and backlight brighter. Especially nice when viewing movies with dark scenes.
Tam Hanna
06-20-2005, 06:43 AM
Well, my t3 with the new screen also drifts quite a bit...
but that seems to be normal for Palms.
KenSong
06-20-2005, 09:17 AM
Sorry, I meant T3 not T2.
nkendric
06-30-2005, 02:00 AM
Anyone willing to see if the 2pixel border is now addressable via API for the Tungsten T5? Since the firmware upgrade (rolled in LD updates) maybe it came with new API's?

--

just found an answer at corecodec.com for the 2px border for TCPM... picard rocks.
Scott R
07-08-2005, 03:23 PM
> What about libRef? What do you set that to?
"libRef" is a reference to the opened library (see SysLibFind/SysLibLoad). 'PmSy' is the creator, 'libr' the type. Officially you should SysLibFind first, then SysLibLoad if not already in memory. Very basic PalmOS programming.Thanks. You'll have to excuse my ignorance as I've only recently ventured into Palm OS programming and am doing it via HB++. I'd like to make use of this API for my thumbboard app, even if it only benefits LifeDrive users.