Unintended device turn on by keys, any solution?

[snovvman]

I want to keep the Hero in my back pocket, replacing another phone. I carry another larger (no jokes) device in my front pocket.

The screen can turned on and unlocked (not pattern lock) by pressing the "menu" key twice. Or, "End/Power" and then "menu". In my back pocket, my @$$ apparently pushes on these buttons randomly and sometimes turn on the device.

I do not wish to use pattern lock, it's too many steps. I am used to S2U2 on WM and it's fast.

Are there any applications that can modify the behavior of the buttons or the turn on characteristic of Hero? It would be nice to disable the menu key from unlocking the screen.

I'd appreciate any input.

 

[Edaze55]

Silly question, but have you tried flipping the screen direction in your back pocket? Im assuming you have the screen to your butt, have you tried turning it outward?

 

[snovvman]

Silly question, but have you tried flipping the screen direction in your back pocket? Im assuming you have the screen to your butt, have you tried turning it outward?

Thanks for your reply. I have tried it 4 ways--screen toward, buttons up and buttons down, screen away, buttons up and down. When the screen faces away, the seat then pushes on the buttons...

Edit: I thought about trying the Moment, but I like the idea of a capacitive screen (even though it is not functionally better on the Hero), UI, and interchangable battery with my Touch Pro 2.

 

[Edaze55]

Thanks for your reply. I have tried it 4 ways--screen toward, buttons up and buttons down, screen away, buttons up and down. When the screen faces away, the seat then pushes on the buttons...

Edit: I thought about trying the Moment, but I like the idea of a capacitive screen (even though it is not functionally better on the Hero), UI, and interchangable battery with my Touch Pro 2.

Like I said, it was a silly question.

Sounds like you might need a case. I know several of us are looking for a case that more or less flips open allowing access to the whole phone. Something like this pic below might work, but one for the Hero hasnt turned up yet that Im aware of.

 

[snovvman]

Like I said, it was a silly question.

Sounds like you might need a case.

Well, it was a valid question. I was hoping one of the configurations would eliminate the issue. I did find that face in, buttons up seems to have the least instance of unintended turn-on.

I really would like to avoid a case.

Alternative: Use pattern lock with a simple pattern. Press menu key twice and run the patter. Now I just have to worry about killing the battery from all of the activations....

Is it safe to assume that there would be no app or OS mod that can alter the behavior of the menu-menu press?

 

[Edaze55]

Well, it was a valid question. I was hoping one of the configurations would eliminate the issue. I did find that face in, buttons up seems to have the least instance of unintended turn-on.

I really would like to avoid a case.

Alternative: Use pattern lock with a simple pattern. Press menu key twice and run the patter. Now I just have to worry about killing the battery from all of the activations....

Is it safe to assume that there would be no app or OS mod that can alter the behavior of the menu-menu press?

Im not aware of any, but I also havent tried custom lock screens, so I dont know if it would change the behavior.

I just checked, its a paid app, but it should do the trick. Take a look at Lock 2.0. It resets your lock screen to something more iPhoneish, but doesnt appear to unlock using the menu menu button.

 

[snovvman]

I just checked, its a paid app, but it should do the trick. Take a look at Lock 2.0. It resets your lock screen to something more iPhoneish, but doesnt appear to unlock using the menu menu button.

Thanks a lot for checking. I have been testing the Hero and it is not yet activated (hence I haven't looked). I will activate it in the next few days and give it a try.

Cheers.


Edit: Related question: Is it possible (I'd imagine it's a value set somewhere) to alter the timeout period where the screen will turn off if the device is woken up and no other input is added. So, as a button is unintentionally pressed, I would like to see the screen turn back off sooner...

 

[Edaze55]

15s, 30s, 1m, 2m, 10m and never are the timeout presets for the Hero. Im not sure if these can be changed with other apps.

 

[snovvman]

15s, 30s, 1m, 2m, 10m and never are the timeout presets for the Hero. Im not sure if these can be changed with other apps.

I presume you're talking about the screen timeout setting. I do not think this setting governs the timeout for the screen lock panel--that is, you press the "End" or "menu" button while the device is asleep and either the pattern lock or screen lock turns on. If no further input is added, the screen will turn off after 15 seconds. I currently have the screen timeout set for one minute.

It would be nice to reduce the 15 seconds to 5 or less. This will save a bit of battery and reduce accidental activation.

 

[Edaze55]

I presume you're talking about the screen timeout setting. I do not think this setting governs the timeout for the screen lock panel--that is, you press the "End" or "menu" button while the device is asleep and either the pattern lock or screen lock turns on. If no further input is added, the screen will turn off after 15 seconds. I currently have the screen timeout set for one minute.

It would be nice to reduce the 15 seconds to 5 or less. This will save a bit of battery and reduce accidental activation.

A 5s timeout for the screen is crazy short, you would always be unlocking it in the middle of using it. Unless of course you mean just for the actual lock screen.

Like I said before, with Lock 2.0, it shouldnt really be an issue as the menu > menu trick doesnt bring the phone out of the lock screen. The only way to move past it would be to slide the lock as you would on the iPhone.

 

[snovvman]

A 5s timeout for the screen is crazy short, you would always be unlocking it in the middle of using it. Unless of course you mean just for the actual lock screen.

Like I said before, with Lock 2.0, it shouldnt really be an issue as the menu > menu trick doesnt bring the phone out of the lock screen. The only way to move past it would be to slide the lock as you would on the iPhone.

I do mean just the lock screen. Thanks for sticking with me. I will give Lock 2.0 a try. Cheers Edaze55.

 

[lugose]

Have you tried the other pocket? I find my keys scratch phones, so I always keep it in a pocket that has nothing else in it.

 

[pdragon]

That case would be perfect! Hope whoever designed it makes an HTC version.

 

[Edaze55]

That case would be perfect! Hope whoever designed it makes an HTC version.

I totally agree.