[APP][26-10-2009] AutoLight V2.5 - Better Auto Backlight for Topaz

[oruam57]

AutoLight V2.5

HTC Topaz (Diamond 2) auto adjust backlight function is a good idea with a not very good implementation. It must be said to HTC excuse that the light sensor is very noisy, especially at low light conditions.
Some alternatives do exist but are not very good or are Compact Framework application (not a very good idea for background application).
AutoLight is supposed to be a better implementation for the auto adjust backlight function.

Requirements and compatibility

AutoLight was developed for HTC Topaz (Diamond 2) with WM6.1 and it critically depends on HTCSensorSDK.dll, HTCUtil.dll and on a 10 levels backlight starting from value 1.
It has been reported to work with WM6.5, on Rhodium (Touch Pro 2) and on Leo (HD2) and it might works on other HTC phones but the test is up to you. I do not think it can work on non-HTC phones.
AutoLight is a native application with a very low memory usage. On the other hand the Configurator requires Compact Framework 2 but it should be closed after the use.
The Configurator is designed for WVGA screens.

Install

Run AutoLight.cab and install in main memory (not in storage card), run AutoLight.Config.cab and install where you like, then softreset (this should also disable the native auto adjust backlight function, check for that in the Control Panel Power applet).
If you have previously installed autolight V2.x and want only upgrade to V2.4 without having your configuration reset to default use the Configurator to stop AutoLight. After that overwrite AutoLight.exe, ChangeLight.exe and AutoLightConfig.exe with the files you find inside AutoLight.zip and softreset.

Uninstall

To uninstall AutoLight use the Configurator to stop it, then use Remove Programs in Settings.
AutoLight can be also be stopped running the AutoLightStop utility.
To uninstall AutoLight Configurator use Remove Programs in Settings.

Configurator

AutoLight working depends on parameters it gets from registry. For details on parameters see AutoLight.reg.txt and AutoLigth.reg
The Configurator gives a more user friendly access to these parameters. Nevertheless, the configuration process is quite complex and should be done after thoroughly reading AutoLight.reg.txt.
The second tab of the Configurator contains a graphical representation of the calibration table used to convert light sensor to backlight values. Note that:
- the horizontal scale is not linear but goes according to square root of the light sensor value;
- the horizontal red segments represent the ranges of light sensor values assigned to every backlight level;
- the horizontal red segment whose backlight level is selected (with the control on top of the second tab) turns blue;
- the small rectangles connecting the segments are the hysteresis;
- the vertical blue line is the current light sensor value (only available when AutoLight is running);
- the horizontal blue line is the current backlight level (only available when AutoLight is running).

Freeze backlight command

When you use your phone in a rapidly changing light environment AutoLight keeps hunting the right backlight level. For example, this may happen using a GPS navigator inside a running car. The freeze backlight command solves this kind of problem by keeping the backlight level stable from the moment it is invoked.
To freeze the backlight level run ChangeLight.exe without any parameter. Using ChangeLight.exe and a hardware button mapper you can freeze the backlight level just pressing a button. From then on the backlight level remains stable until you run ChangeLight.exe again, power your phone off or change power from AC to battery or viceversa.

User offset change and increment/decrement backlight command

If you are not satisfied with the backlight level as computed by AutoLight you can add a positive or negative offset to it. The offset values, one for use when on battery and one for use when on AC power, can be entered using the Configurator.
Moreover, running ChangeLight.exe with parameter "/-" decrements backlight level by one, with parameter "/+" increments backlight level by one. The utility then adjusts current offset level accordingly. Using ChangeLight.exe and a hardware button mapper you can change backlight and offset without using the stylus.

History


v2.5 [26-10-2009]
- Fix for phones where sensor data was returned as int instead that byte (thanks to nik3r).
v2.4 [06-10-2009]
- Freeze backlight command.
v2.3 [14-09-2009]
- New lower backlight default calibration.
- Offset CPL option removed due to induced instability at high light levels.
- Minor fixes.
v2.2 [06-09-2009]
- Application exception list by window title OR class name.
- Minor fixes.
v2.1 [01-09-2009]
- Fix for adding applications with Configurator.
v2.0 [01-09-2009]
- Configurator application added.
- Increment/decrement backlight command.
- Better default values for calibration table.
- Minor fixes.
v1.3 [22-08-2009]
- User changeable backlight offset.
v1.2.1 [21-08-2009]
- Uninstall procedure correction.
- Minor fixes.
v1.2 [20-08-2009]
- Better backlight stability.
- No more backlight instability on power on.
v1.1.1 [17-08-2009]
- Value of SampleN registry value changed from 10 to 12.
v1.1 [16-08-2009]
- Added change backlight for different applications capability (OverrideWindows registry value).
v1.0 [15-08-2009]
- First public release.

USUAL LEGAL DISCLAIMER

Use AutoLight at your own risk! NO WARRANTY! Although running this application does not seem to produce any damage on my phone, I take no responsibility for any kind of damage or major or minor inconvenience caused to devices or data or person or whatever else due to this application and its usage.

[supreme_one333]

I'm a bit confused. What exactly does this do?

[Nagrom Nniuq]

How is this different than the excellent LUMOS?

[bnm7bnm]

i tried lumos & g-light and eventually got back to WM6 default autolight & its working pretty good.

how this app different/better than default autolight?
because its starting from level 1 not from 2?

[oruam57]

Originally Posted by supreme_one333 I'm a bit confused. What exactly does this do?

It changes backlight according to ambient light level.

[oruam57]

Originally Posted by Nagrom Nniuq How is this different than the excellent LUMOS?

Lumos (and G-Light) are not bad but they use Compact Framework even for the background always running process. Use a task manager to see how much memory they consume. Moreover, under stress condition (many running applications) a Compact Framework application can be forced to close.

[oruam57]

Originally Posted by bnm7bnm i tried lumos & g-light and eventually got back to WM6 default autolight & its working pretty good. how this app different/better than default autolight? because its starting from level 1 not from 2?

Yes, because it starts from level 1, not 3 (at least on my Topaz is 3). Moreover, it's more configurable (if you are experienced enough to tweak the registry) and because with version 1.1 it can change backlight for different applications (details inside the zip).

[kamson]

Works well on WM 6.5

[Nagrom Nniuq]

Cool, thanks for answering the questions. I'll try it out.

[oruam57]

Version 1.1.1 posted.