Simple density tweak

bonstio · Mar 14, 2013

This is such a simple tweak but I figured I'd share it any how...

It always amazes me how there's this badass high res screen but it ships with everything scaled up which just doesn't take any advantage of the number of pixels available.

I messed around with a few values of the "ro.sf.lcd_density" property in /system/build.prop and settled for 320 (default is 480). It does make a little on the small side but you can offset this with the regular Settings -> Display -> Font size option.

The result, is for me at least, a great improvement. I can see most of my apps in the drawer without scrolling, can see and actually read a whole website without zooming in plus the system and nav bars top and bottom now take up a much more reasonable amount of space.

Install your favorite root enabled File Explorer and mount system RW and go edit. I like http://goo.gl/NvtA8 as it runs as su & mounts system for you.

Kallb123 · Mar 15, 2013

After getting stuck in a bootloop by using one of those dpi changer apps I've plucked up the courage to try again. This time I edited the build.prop myself and it worked.

It looks crazy

I think I could get used to this though

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

frocee · Mar 15, 2013

wow this is amazing. i always wondered why they scale it up, now i can tweak it myself. thanks!

kchino · Mar 15, 2013

I'm hoping that at some point someone ports Paranoid Android for the Z it will be amazing! (please, please, please!). But can someone who's applied this upload some screenshots (Settings, Notification shade, etc)? Thanks in advance!

pvillasuso · Mar 15, 2013

Kallb123 said:
After getting stuck in a bootloop by using one of those dpi changer apps I've plucked up the courage to try again. This time I edited the build.prop myself and it worked.

It looks crazy I think I could get used to this though

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

How about the camera app
Are the controls offset?

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Kallb123 · Mar 15, 2013

Here's some screen shots
320 DPI, font size is normal. With small font size everything is tiny

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Kallb123 · Mar 15, 2013

Just found the phone app doesn't scale correctly.
The buttons work, but graphics are messed up.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

grievous2004 · Mar 15, 2013

R: Simple density tweak

I suggest you to try with the value 400: I've been using it since I got the phone and is great! A lot of space but still usable everyday. But sadly this is not a stock value ( 480 320 240 and 160 are stock afaik) and this will break play store compatibility: to fix it you have to flash a multi dpi play store mod.
And yes, the phone app does not scale properly but it's not really an issue..

Sent from my C6603 using xda premium

DeiphoneaAndroid · Mar 15, 2013

Tried with 320 , but I got a boot loop. Locked Z , with root and CWM .

I think I will have to reflash it from the PC companion to recover it.

bonstio · Mar 15, 2013

Very strange. What does adb logcat say during your bootloop? Sure you didn't b0rk the file some how?

DeiphoneaAndroid · Mar 15, 2013

I did not look at the adb, but I'm thinking the same thing, I thing somehow the file just got corrupted ...

also after I mount R/w , twice the screen got black, reboot, root explorer, R/w and everything ok.

Once I flash with PC companion , and root it again I will try again :fingers-crossed:

Anyhow I tried also a couple of days ago with a dpi changer and the result was the same .

Kallb123 · Mar 15, 2013

DeiphoneaAndroid said:
I did not look at the adb, but I'm thinking the same thing, I thing somehow the file just got corrupted ...

also after I mount R/w , twice the screen got black, reboot, root explorer, R/w and everything ok.

Once I flash with PC companion , and root it again I will try again :fingers-crossed:

Anyhow I tried also a couple of days ago with a dpi changer and the result was the same .

I used a dpi changer a few days ago and got a bootloop. This time I simply used ES FilevL Explorer and enabled root functions. Didn't need to mount anything, just change number, save and reboot

grievous2004 said:
I suggest you to try with the value 400: I've been using it since I got the phone and is great! A lot of space but still usable everyday. But sadly this is not a stock value ( 480 320 240 and 160 are stock afaik) and this will break play store compatibility: to fix it you have to flash a multi dpi play store mod.
And yes, the phone app does not scale properly but it's not really an issue..

Seems like a big gap between 320 and 480 :/
I've been thinking if using 400, as I did try on my way down to 320 abd it looked alright, but now I know it's not stock I'm not sure. Also, would we get tablet interfaces on 400 dpi?
I opened up imdb and was greeted by a nice tablet interface

kinda don't want to give it up :/

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

fards · Mar 16, 2013

For apps that don't scale such as dialer I use xposed and app settings module.

Been using 380dpi for a while that works ok

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

pvillasuso · Mar 16, 2013

fards said:
For apps that don't scale such as dialer I use xposed and app settings module.

Been using 380dpi for a while that works ok

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Any chance you can give us a hint on how to use xposed, please?

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

fards · Mar 16, 2013

Set the dpi per app to the original 480 for each of the particular app such as contacts (dialer), contacts import, phone, phone contacts and phone storage and semc task switcher.
which don't scale properly at a lower res.

To install it
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=39145237
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Kallb123 · Mar 16, 2013

fards said:
For apps that don't scale such as dialer I use xposed and app settings module.

Been using 380dpi for a while that works ok

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Will 380dpi give us a tablet interface or do we need to go all the way to 320 for that?

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

grievous2004 · Mar 16, 2013

fards said:
Set the dpi per app to the original 480 for each of the particular app such as contacts (dialer), contacts import, phone, phone contacts and phone storage and semc task switcher.
which don't scale properly at a lower res.

To install it
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=39145237
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Well... THANK YOU! It's almost like being on Paranoid!! You can set per app dpi, font dimension (scale) and layout (screen dp) so I can get tablet layout in the apps I'm interested while keeping the global interface (navbar and notification bar) at the desired dpi.

jerdog · Mar 18, 2013

This is not development... Moving to themes and apps

Sent from my Z

shulmus · Mar 24, 2013

fards said:
Set the dpi per app to the original 480 for each of the particular app such as contacts (dialer), contacts import, phone, phone contacts and phone storage and semc task switcher.
which don't scale properly at a lower res.

To install it
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=39145237
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk 2

Pls pls pls share your settings for exposed, meaning all the packages with modified settings list with the applied parameters. Would be worth a million thanks.

Story is i've applied 320 dpi via build prop and everything is perfect but the dialer is coorupt. So i installed xposed and the module, hanged the dpi for the phone and contacts apps to 480, but when i open the dialer, it has ne dial button and the soft keyboard pops up...

Once again, i would really appreciate if one of you gus who reported everything to work ok could share all the relavant details i/o for me to reproduce.

Cheers

Sent from my Z using xda premium

flamingsamurai · Mar 24, 2013

shulmus said:
Pls pls pls share your settings for exposed, meaning all the packages with modified settings list with the applied parameters. Would be worth a million thanks.

Story is i've applied 320 dpi via build prop and everything is perfect but the dialer is coorupt. So i installed xposed and the module, hanged the dpi for the phone and contacts apps to 480, but when i open the dialer, it has ne dial button and the soft keyboard pops up...

Once again, i would really appreciate if one of you gus who reported everything to work ok could share all the relavant details i/o for me to reproduce.

Cheers

Sent from my Z using xda premium

I got these set to 480 and the dialer looks pretty good for me:

Contacts
Contacts Import
Contacts storage
Phone
Phone Contact
Phone/Messaging Storage
Recent Calls

I'm not sure how many of these actually relate to what you're seeing on screen, someone else will hopefully clear that up, but at the moment this is what is working for me.

Simple density tweak

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Attachments

Senior Member

Attachments

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Inactive Recognized Developer

Senior Member

Inactive Recognized Developer

Senior Member

Senior Member

Admin Emeritus - Purveyor of word nuggets

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Top Liked Posts