PDA Backlight Question

Pagemakers · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 5:33 pm Post subject: PDA Backlight Question

I have just purchased Tom Tom Bluetooth GPS. I am still exploring all its features as I type and have yet to go driving with it.

One thing I have noticed is the backlight of my PDA (Ipaq 4150) keeps turning off every x seconds (as set by the devices battery power management). I would have thought this software would force the backlight to remain on (as the media player software does for example), even on battery power. Is this not the case?

lbendlin · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:03 pm Post subject:

TomTom can tell the PDA not to shut down after x minutes, but it cannot influence the backlight. That is done in the PocketPC settings itself. If the backlight switches off this normally means your iPAQ is running on battery power. When connected to a DC source you can leave teh backlight on all the time. (make sure the checkbox is unchecked there).

Again - TomTom can influence the power off, but not the backlight.
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Pagemakers · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:08 pm Post subject:

Shame. Media player leaves the backlight on when playing videos......

lbendlin · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:09 pm Post subject:

some call it shame some call it saving energy 8)
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agibbs · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:43 pm Post subject:

In a perfect world I'd rather TT had options to force the backlight to stay on, and more importantly to be able to turn it down in 'night mode' - I've never seen the point of changing the colours when the backlight (rather 'sidelight') is still on full! Given that the turn off time is also in the PPC settings but CAN be affected by TT this does not sound like a big difference!

But I live in a state of comfortable ignorance about the inner workings of any of this stuff...

Pagemakers · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:54 pm Post subject:

I use my PDA and TT connecting by Bluetooth and my PDA running on batteries I am very surprised to find that there is not a option in TT settings for "Keep Backlight On".

It a pain to have to go to settings/backlight/etc, only to return them to normal when not navigating in the car.

If I play a video media file using media player the screen stays on without my intervention, so it obviously can be done.

If you think about it what's the point in TT letting the backlight turn off.....you can't navigate with a dark screen - it needs to be on to work.

Such a small point but a major bug in my opinion.

Darren · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 8:39 am Post subject:

If you're on external power in-car why not just set the backlight to stay on when on power?
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Darren Griffin

MrT · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 9:51 am Post subject: Automatic

How about setting to automatic so its brightness is determined by the ambient light level?

agibbs · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 10:39 am Post subject:

IMO:

1) On my desk when the power is left on to my PDA I like the backlight to turn off after a while (I'm normally not looking at it, and don't want to wear out the bulb!) In the car I'd like it to stay on so that I don't have to prod it back on at a crucial moment of unclear directions/oncoming safety camera or whatever. I'd rather this was automatic by TT so that I don't have to ferret into the menus to change the settings back and forth (exactly the same argument as TT overriding the automatic power off settings, which you could also have done yourself)

2) For the night time dimming, the automatic brightness on my PDA (Loox) does not solve the problem as in the dark it turns the backlight on full! Arguably this is a fault with the loox algorithmn, but hey - if TT could do this on it's night settings that would be easier!

Maybe in TT 3?

murphwiz · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 7:01 pm Post subject:

What I'd like to see...

Select night mode...
Backlight goes off after 5 secs...
When a voice instruction comes up or a flagged poi, the backlight comes back on until poi is passed or turn etc is complete...
To me that seems fairly simple in the granc scheme of programming sat nav software!

I hate having the backlight on all the time at night..
I drive a saab with night mode, so all un needed lighting is off, only coming on when the car feels you need to know! Thumbs Up

Pagemakers · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 11:39 am Post subject:

MrT · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 12:00 pm Post subject: Power

You really should be running on power from your car. Why aren't you, it would make your backlight problems go away?

Pagemakers · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Power

Darren · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 12:45 pm Post subject:

I can understand you're dislike of wires. I use a Brodit powered mount in-car, it has no visible wires and looks like an OEM cellphone cradle.

All I have to do is drop it into the cradle and switch on the BT GPS, no more than you have to do, no wires to offend the eye and I can rest assured that my PDA is always charged ready for use out of the car. I also then don't have the backlight issues that niggle you. You're in a very small minority in not wishing to use 12v power in-car and as such I see little hope of TomTom catering for such use Sad

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Darren Griffin

MrT · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 1:10 pm Post subject: Car cables?

Does the brodit unit have an audio out connector built in?

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