[App] Screen Off App/Widget

[toddpedersen]

I cannot believe there is not an app out there that turns off the screen/mimics the pressing of the power button. They are all over the place for WM phones. Anyone seen a widget or app that with one press, turns off the screen?

 

[ikonosin]

what's wrong with pressing the power button?

 

[toddpedersen]

As with many day to day activities, there are only so many times something can be done before it wears out or breaks.

For instance, the button on your shirt or pants has been tested so that the mfg., nows how many times it can be buttoned or unbuttoned before it fails. (probably a bad comparision example, but nonetheless should hit home my point)

The same holds true for the power button on the phone.

If I have an app that I can simply press an icon/widget to turn off the screen, then I reduce my power button presses by 50%.

I have an app installed called No Lock, that actually allows your volume up and down keys to turn the screen back on, so now I can reduce that 50% Power button use to 25% if I alternate evenly between the two.

Make sense?

what's wrong with pressing the power button?

 

[kngyn19]

I'm pretty certain the power button is not so fragile that you'll have to worry about it breaking after a few months of use.

 

[AlkiDweller]

I use an app from the market called Screebl Lite. It will turn the screen off after whatever timeout you select in the phone settings but only if the phone is completely horizontal, like if you set it down on a desk.

Obviously if I'm holding the phone it won't be horizontal so the screen won't turn off by itself. Since I have the timeout set at 8 seconds, then 8 seconds after I set it down the screen goes off.

The only time I press the hardware button is if it's going in my pocket.

 

[slschmidt76]

I use an app from the market called Screebl Lite. It will turn the screen off after whatever timeout you select in the phone settings but only if the phone is completely horizontal, like if you set it down on a desk.

Obviously if I'm holding the phone it won't be horizontal so the screen won't turn off by itself. Since I have the timeout set at 8 seconds, then 8 seconds after I set it down the screen goes off.

The only time I press the hardware button is if it's going in my pocket.

Thanks for the info. on the app. I'm gonna try it out!

 

[mattmcg]

I'm with the OP in that it would be nice to have a simple graphical button to perform the exact task of hitting the power button. While I'm not quite concerned about button failure, the Evo's power button is sometimes hard to reach in a pinch, especially when holding one-handed.

Make it a widget on the home page and a simple hit turns off the screen. Nothing more......

 

[NeoEVO]

... I have an app installed called No Lock, that actually allows your volume up and down keys to turn the screen back on, so now I can reduce that 50% Power button use to 25% if I alternate evenly between the two.

Yep, it has to be a hard button because those beautiful e-buttons, widgets and applications are all in bed together when they're asleep. No Lock gives me more surface area to lunge for during those times when the damn ringer goes off and I least expected it.

"Hey sombody answer that @c#$!% phone ..."

 

[toddpedersen]

Thanks and thanked. I downloaded the software, but do not see any 8 second choice. The lowest is 30 seconds. Am I looking in the wrong spot?

I use an app from the market called Screebl Lite. It will turn the screen off after whatever timeout you select in the phone settings but only if the phone is completely horizontal, like if you set it down on a desk.

Obviously if I'm holding the phone it won't be horizontal so the screen won't turn off by itself. Since I have the timeout set at 8 seconds, then 8 seconds after I set it down the screen goes off.

The only time I press the hardware button is if it's going in my pocket.

 

[wrecklass]

So that we're on the same page. The typical MTBF on these buttons these days is around 100-200k presses. At 100 presses per day that would be about 5 years on average.

I'll buy a new phone by then.

 

[toddpedersen]

Thanks and thanked.

I would agree that with a MTBF of even 100K and 3.7 years at 100 press per day, that I have nothing to worry about.

Now it more about convienance, and having an icon on my home screen to press.

So that we're on the same page. The typical MTBF on these buttons these days is around 100-200k presses. At 100 presses per day that would be about 5 years on average.

I'll buy a new phone by then.

 

[skpd]

I use an app from the market called Screebl Lite. It will turn the screen off after whatever timeout you select in the phone settings but only if the phone is completely horizontal, like if you set it down on a desk.

Obviously if I'm holding the phone it won't be horizontal so the screen won't turn off by itself. Since I have the timeout set at 8 seconds, then 8 seconds after I set it down the screen goes off.

The only time I press the hardware button is if it's going in my pocket.

problem is this app/widget (and many others) eats up battery so it might be counterproductive

 

[AlkiDweller]

Thanks and thanked. I downloaded the software, but do not see any 8 second choice. The lowest is 30 seconds. Am I looking in the wrong spot?

In the phone settings. Menu, Settings, Sound & Display, Screen Timeout.

 

[konreu]

The Screen Off App for Android is an icon that you can tap from your homescreen to quickly turn off your screen. This lets you lock your screen without pressing your power button.

You can check out the Screen Off App for Android in the Android Marketplace by tapping here from your Android Phone, searching for "screen off" in the Android Marketplace, or using the QRCode below with the Barcode Reader app.

The Android operating system does not let developers make your phone immediately go to sleep like your power button can; however, this application does the next best thing and makes sure that your phone goes to sleep as quickly as possible and that you do not accidentally press anything on your screen while your phone is going to sleep.

You should not notice any changes your current power settings (brightness, screen timeout, etc.) when you open your phone again; you will be on the lock screen just as if you had pressed the power button!

If you have any questions, issues, or requests, please reply to this thread, leave comments on my blog, or email me at konreu@gmail.com.

 

[musikat]

I just bought this and it's cool. The "static" takes a while though. It could be faster to actually turn off. Otherwise pretty cool.

 

[braxx]

When using this screen off app, do you still have to use the power button to turn the screen back on?
IE; does this app only turn the screen off?

 

[sitlet]

When using this screen off app, do you still have to use the power button to turn the screen back on?
IE; does this app only turn the screen off?

Yes, obviously when the screen is off you cant push a button on it.

 

[RaiseUp151z]

.99 cents to turn my screen off.... YAY!

 

[mattmcg]

This is really a nice app! Until the Android OS allows a program to instantly shut off the screen, this is the next best thing. Shuts down the screen after about 5 seconds of no input after showing a wallpaper of your choice.

I'll leave Android market feedback once I've got a little more windshield time with it. Nice job.

 

[rsa]

Amazing all the trolls that come out with smarta$$ comments when they don't have anything useful to contribute to the thread.

Thanks to those that provided useful app suggestions as I too was looking for the same solution and posted a request for suggestions and only got lame comments too.

 

[konreu]

Thanks to all who have tried my Screen Off application and left feedback! Please let me know if you have any questions, issues, or suggestions.

I just bought this and it's cool. The "static" takes a while though. It could be faster to actually turn off. Otherwise pretty cool.

With the latest update (v1.1) you can choose different screens to display while your phone is going to sleep. If you choose a blank screen (instead of the "static"), you do not notice the delay while the app loads.

Until the Android OS allows a program to instantly shut off the screen, this is the next best thing.

As soon as the Android OS allows programs to instantly shut off the screen, I will definitely make that update! I find it disappointing and frustrating that the Android OS reserves the screen-off permissions for "system" apps.

When using this screen off app, do you still have to use the power button to turn the screen back on?
IE; does this app only turn the screen off?

You are correct: this app currently only turns the screen off. I am curious about your idea, though: how would you envision this app turning your phone back on? Would you please elaborate? Thanks!

 

[braxx]

You are correct: this app currently only turns the screen off. I am curious about your idea, though: how would you envision this app turning your phone back on? Would you please elaborate? Thanks!

Well, I was wondering if there was a way to turn off the display, and have the screen locked except maybe a special input to turn it back on.
Like dim to 0% display showing but then wake up if the screen it tapped 2 times in the upper right hand corner, then the swipe to unlock it.
I know I've seen this type of thing before.
Just because a screen is not displaying a picture doesn't mean that it shouldn't/couldn't recognize screen taps or swipes.
Maybe swipeing an " X " accross the screen could wake it up?

My issue is pressing that darn little button to wake the phone, downward swipe to unlock it and then pressing that same little button.

My last couple of phones had buttons that were VERY easy to operate/ press the button one handed.

 

[konreu]

My last couple of phones had buttons that were VERY easy to operate/ press the button one handed.

I am interested to know which phones you have had where you liked the interaction. What did you like about them?

I agree that one-handed operation is critical; that is why I created Screen Off. Pressing the power button on the HTC EVO 4G with one hand is just not practical, but quickly putting the phone to sleep is something I do dozens of times per day.

I personally liked the HTC myTouch 3G that I had. It was very easy to use with one hand. Of course, it was much, much, much smaller than the EVO 4G, so it was a bit easier to wield overall.

What about you ?

 

[braxx]

I am interested to know which phones you have had where you liked the interaction. What did you like about them?

I agree that one-handed operation is critical; that is why I created Screen Off. Pressing the power button on the HTC EVO 4G with one hand is just not practical, but quickly putting the phone to sleep is something I do dozens of times per day.

I personally liked the HTC myTouch 3G that I had. It was very easy to use with one hand. Of course, it was much, much, much smaller than the EVO 4G, so it was a bit easier to wield overall.

What about you ?

My last phone was a PALM TREO Pro and it was awesome for one handed operation. Power button on top was very easy to push (even with a case on it) and also the center directional pad / button was easy to push. Either one would wake the phone and it was ready to go.
Same with putting it to sleep.
The phone before that was a HTC Mogul. Power button was easy to push, even with a case on it.
Either phone could be powered up AND then powered down in less than 2 seconds blindly, in the dark.

 

[bernechad]

How do you people hold your phone/how small are your hands that you can't reach the button with 1 hand?

Speaking of which, does anybody know of an app that will charge my phone without my actually plugging it in? Because that's just too much work for me.