eInk cellphone display swap ideas - Hardware Hacking General

AFAIK there is no Android phone with an eInk display.
eInk Display swap:
I wonder if there's a device out there with a modem that would be a good candidate to replace the screen with an eInk, or at least, sunlight readable display?
The last time I looked into this the graphics driver itself would probably need replacing too, making it much more difficult than a simple screen swap. Also I was unable to get find a donor phone with a screen size to match off the shelf eink displays and also sourcing an eink display was difficult too. I need to learn more about how displays work and how I can search to get a phone and screen to match. Any ideas on this?
Kindle:
Perhaps I need to come at it from a different angle? The old kindle is eink and Android... and it has 3G... but it's hard to hack with... it wouldn't be easy to turn into a proper phone. That I will have to investigate. Any other ideas?
NookTouch:
The NookTouch would be a lot of work to turn into a phone but it's technically possible. You could go hostmode, usb hub for mic/speaker/headset and add a USB modem but that's going to be messy. To do this neatly you'd be cutting up the Nook and would at least want a low profile way of connecting into the USB port. Plus charging might then become difficult, especially if trying to do the induction charging hack. I think other avenues are better to try.

I don't think that the old kindle is android based, and besides it wouldn't be ideal as it's not touch-screen
or you could go down the 50/50 route and follow this guide:
I use a matte screen protector and using an app like Cool Reader (since I'm on Android). I change the background to a moderate to light grey and the font to a dark grey about 25% -30% lighter than black. Turn down the screen brightness to about 75% outside and 45% in doors. Then change the font by adding fonts to the system fonts to a more soothing type face like "antipasto". Increase line spacing to about 125%-150% and margins to no more than 10pt on all sides.
See the above image for what this looks like. It isn't exactly like E-Ink, but it is nicer than staring at a bright white screen. This trick should work with any app that lets you tweak the text and background colors, on iOS or Android.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
source: http://lifehacker.com/5937104/diy-e+ink-contact-shortcuts-and-dropbox-slideshows/gallery/1

Related

LCD problem?

Hello,
I've just got my replacement phone (the previous one had mechanical problems) and the display seems a bit strange with this new device.
There are visible banding effects in color gradients, (web pages, pictures) I know the Lcd has only 65K colors, but I don't remember those bands being so strong on my previous device.
Could you fellow G1 owners check this on your device please? I am in Hungary, Europe and I don't know any other G1 owners here (you know it's not available here, actually mine is an ADP1).
It's easy to check, the effect is very visible on http://www.google.com/news (Google international news mobile site) in the Android browser. It's slightly visible in the dark blue title bar, more in the light blue bar below and very strongly in the "Sections" bar far below.
Please check it and tell me what you have found...
Thanks,
Peter
I see the same issues with google/news. I think it has to do with google's site and/or the g1's browser. Here's a few high quality jpeg gradients Black-White, RainBow and Blue-Red. Unfortunately google compresses them and they look like junk online. So, here's a .zip of the three gradients your can download right to your phone and view with Astro, or extract to pc etc. They should look fairly smooth on the g1, better on pc tho..
use there gradients for w/e you choose.
Hello sonikamd,
Thanks for your help! Interestingly your test pictures look better (smoother) in the standard picture viewer app than in Astro's viewer. Can you confirm that?
Also how old is your device? It looks like that mine (the replacement device) is very old, it's serial number is lower than what I have sent back (purchased in december).
Thanks,
Peter
Just one last quick question: on the incoming call screen there are strange lines appear, do anyone see those on the G1 or it is just me?
Click on the picture to see what I mean.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
No, I am not crazy - I am a graphics artist and really sensitive to things like that.
Thanks,
p
nope... [filling characters]
Hi lilithpro,
Thanks for the image, however you won't see the effect on a screencapture (like you attached). I made the pic in Photoshop (from a captured emulator screen) to show the effect - I exaggerated the effect in the pic a little.
You should check your device's lcd during an incoming call to see it. I think it is something to do with the lcd panel. Today I managed to check an other G1 and it showed that effect, too.
So it seems it is not my ADP1's problem.

[Q] White Lines missing from screen, and crazy screen result all CM ROMS

I have major display problems on any CM based ROM with crazy jumping and unreadable screens.
I have tracked the problem to the display of white lines. A screen shot is OK, so its hardware - either the Adreno200 GPU or my screen.
Problem Description:
Lines (pixel lines that is) containing a significant amount of white randomly do not display. As a result the display "scrunches up" with a gap from the bottom. Any background to the app, and sometimes the desktop will display in the gap at the bottom as it has not been written over.
Note the "bottom" in this context is the button end of the phone, thus rotating the phone leads to different screen areas being affected.
Affects all the CM ROMS I have tried, with the latest CM10.x ones being the worst. There was no issue with the stock LG ROM.
Images:
1.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Coloured triangles produced by "OpenGL Demos" app are OK
2.
White Triangles loose lines and scrunge up. I used the Demo prog as the code is the same, just a color change!
3.
Screen shot, so not a software issue. What they should look like!
5.
Google Play. Unusable. Note hte white background is OK. It just seems to be items that are layered onto the screen.
Apps with black backgrounds and grey/coloured text are fine.
What have I tried?
I have tried messing with OpenGL HW settings with no effect.
I have messed with screen brightness.
I have tried various ROMS.
I tried moving processing from the GPU to the CPU, but that completely messed the display, and I had to re-install the ROM
I haven't tried altering the refresh rate from 60hz, but cannot find if this is possible. I think its a refresh problem, but not sure. Its almost as if the white lines are sent faster than the screen can handle and they are missed during the display phase.
The other theory is that the GPU does some special acceleration cleverness for white areas the screen can't handle.
Any ideas?
Any Adreno200 settings I could try?
Any bridges nearby I could jump off?
p.s. Photos taken from the Optimus Nexus Me port here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2397696 not that it matters which ROM it is.
Obviously, it's not "soft" problem, it's a "hard" one, replace the screen.
LeoPosas said:
Obviously, it's not "soft" problem, it's a "hard" one, replace the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was kind of where I was heading, but I was concerned that an aftermarket screen would have the same problem. This screen was fine with the stock ROM, so was hoping for a magic setting change.
Thanks for the response. Really wanted to run your Zoe ROM, but that was worse.
To be honest, I wouldn't replace the screen on this phone anymore. It isn't worth it anymore.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Request] Black background for one handed mode

Title says it all. Thanks!
holycow1 said:
Title says it all. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed! I'd like this too. Samsung is letting their design team run wild without considering the advantages of the technology. Sad.
+1 I really though there was a setting hidden somewhere, But no. Black would have been great. Dont know why they though Blue was better..???!!?
I want black BG too.
holycow1 said:
Title says it all. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I figured it out. I've attached the apk. You need to be rooted obviously but once you are, use ES File Explorer or something similar to replace the EasyOneHand.apk file with the one below. You should get the same result as the one in the screenshot.
The file is located in /system/app. Make sure that you rename the download below to "EasyOneHand.apk". The attachment manager added a 1 to the file.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Don't forget to backup your original and donate :victory:
I assumed it was something to do with burnin.
I.E. on amoled, black means the pixels turn off, so if you do the one-handed operation a lot, you'll quickly see an image burnin. with blue, you are using the largest of the subpixels, so maybe its a hue of blue to better handle battery drain (larger pixels need less power to illuminate to a certain percent, or there are fewer blue pixels than green, so less power needed to power, etc. could be a variety of reasons around the hardware alone).
I just figured there was a reason why it was a soft blue, and non-changeable. But then again, it could also be a simple matter of something that slipped through the cracks and wasn't even considered as an option people might like to customize.
Ragnarkov said:
I assumed it was something to do with burnin.
I.E. on amoled, black means the pixels turn off, so if you do the one-handed operation a lot, you'll quickly see an image burnin. with blue, you are using the largest of the subpixels, so maybe its a hue of blue to better handle battery drain (larger pixels need less power to illuminate to a certain percent, or there are fewer blue pixels than green, so less power needed to power, etc. could be a variety of reasons around the hardware alone).
I just figured there was a reason why it was a soft blue, and non-changeable. But then again, it could also be a simple matter of something that slipped through the cracks and wasn't even considered as an option people might like to customize.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If burn-in was a concern, then why use a white border that utilizes all the pixels? Why not use a thin light-green border with a mostly black interface instead of white. I think Samsung is just letting their design team loose without considering the benefits of the tech. Look at the phone dialer. Why is it all white?

Holo Cards - Nexus 5

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"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
http://mycolorscreen.com/2013/01/20/holo-cards-by-thand/
Install guide;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tase7wn6ibo
Going to be trying to set this up on my N5 when it arrives sometime today (so excited over a phone I feel like a kid on christmas haha)
The guide has two sets of images to use, one set being 728x1200 and the other additional one is 720x1280, which one should I use for the N5's screen? Or will I need to modify one of them to fit the resolution since it's 1080×1920 px?
Has anyone set this theme up on their N5 and can share their experience, things that may need to be modified for it (if at all?)
Thanks
paradoxiumwind said:
http://mycolorscreen.com/2013/01/20/holo-cards-by-thand/
Install guide;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tase7wn6ibo
Going to be trying to set this up on my N5 when it arrives sometime today (so excited over a phone I feel like a kid on christmas haha)
The guide has two sets of images to use, one set being 728x1200 and the other additional one is 720x1280, which one should I use for the N5's screen? Or will I need to modify one of them to fit the resolution since it's 1080×1920 px?
Has anyone set this theme up on their N5 and can share their experience, things that may need to be modified for it (if at all?)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Modify Wallpaper to 1080x1920 and set immersive mode/ expanded desktop mode on. Then run wild with the setup. Due to different screen size resolutions, you might need to play around in Nova settings a bit (particularly desktop grid) to get the far left page working properly.
I did this on my old phone which was running 480x800. Unfortunately, I no longer have the set up but of all the MCS themes there, this is probably one of the more functional ones and as a result, you'll probably enjoy this a lot
072665995 said:
Modify Wallpaper to 1080x1920 and set immersive mode/ expanded desktop mode on. Then run wild with the setup. Due to different screen size resolutions, you might need to play around in Nova settings a bit (particularly desktop grid) to get the far left page working properly.
I did this on my old phone which was running 480x800. Unfortunately, I no longer have the set up but of all the MCS themes there, this is probably one of the more functional ones and as a result, you'll probably enjoy this a lot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spent the day setting it up, got it looking how I like mostly now:
http://imgur.com/a/c3s7A

Black Stripe on Screen

So my galaxy s5 has been working great for the past month or so that I've owned it. I have rooted it and done some adjustments with the xposed installer, but I haven't flashed any custom roms yet or anything. So then today out of nowhere, this little stripe appears on my screen:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
So that's annoying. I took a screenshot on my phone and then moved it to see if it was the actual screen or just the picture being displayed on it. However, the screenshot shows no black stripe when zoomed and moved around so that the would be screenshotted black stripe wouldn't be on top of the actual black stripe. Then I restarted my phone, still there. I booted into recovery mode to see if it still happened when not opening the actual normal use, it was still there. Then finally I tried pulling out the battery and putting it back in, still there. I'm a little frustrated and a bit scared that I've already voided my warranty by rooting it and disabling knox. Also, the line turns sort of white when against a dark background and goes away when the screen is off. It's not the worst obstruction in the world, but the phone is less than a month old, so obviously I want it to be perfect. Any help that can be offered is appreciated.
I'm on verizon if that makes any difference.
Edit: I haven't dropped it, exposed it to heat or magnets or anything of the sort
It's unfortunate that you didn't post a full size, full resolution image. We can't make out any fine detail in your reduced resolution image. It would also have been good to know if the band is invariant in size as you make screen adjustments or display primary colours on screen. Or if it shows up in downloaded photos?
We are of course seeking a pattern or otherwise trying to narrow down the potential causes. Since we don't have much to go on yet, we can only guess, it looks to be a hardware defect. But there isn't enough information to be certain.
It would still be useful to look for a pattern in whether the band varies at all with different colours and brightnesses on screen. You can also use the dialer code *#08# and display red only, blue only, white only, black only, etc screens to get a better sense of which pixels are apparently contributing to the band.
Also try backing up the phone (to save your user files or installed apps), then revert to 100% stock firmware temporarily, followed by a factory data reset. If the problem persists it is all but certain to be a hardware issue. Claim it under warranty then if you can.
.

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