You read that right, LED notifications! WebOS 1.2 has brought its fair share of pleasant surprises, and this certainly seems to take the prize. One little catch: the code for this feature is commented out. This is similar to the add/remove pages hack; all the coding is done, it's just disabled for some reason.
After the break, all the technical details!
Discovered less than 24 hours ago, all that's needed is to remove the commenting from lines 54-55 and lines 248-251 in /usr/palm/applications/com.palm.app.screenlock/app/controllers/securityconfig-assistant.js as well as uncommenting lines 92-97 and lines 101-103 in /usr/palm/applications/com.palm.app.screenlock/app/views/securityconfig/securityconfig-scene.html then voila, you've got the option to enable "Blink Notification".
We pray that by the time WebOS 1.2 launches officially this little modification will be ready in Quilt, D2GlobalInc, and WebOS Quick Install tweak formats.
Once "Blink Notifications" is enabled, missed calls and pretty well any notifications received while the screen is off, will cause the center button LED to blink.
Not only that, but WebOS 1.2 with its "Blink Notifications" toggle finally fixes the Mojo function indicateNewContent(). Sharp-eyed developers will remember that particular API was implemented just before the SDK went public and up until now, never did anything. Now it works!
Mojo.Controller.StageController.indicateNewContent(hasNew)Makes the core navi button pulsate if true. This is mainly intended to alert the user to dashboard events that desire user attention.
- Parameters:
- hasNew {boolean}
So developers, if you want to add LED notifications to you app, there you go. That single line will toggle the LED blinking, it's just as simple as that. And you hackers out there, no more need to rely on bulky methods like SH scripts and services anymore, just that single line of code will add LED function to that patch of yours.
I'm liking the sound of WebOS v1.2 more and more, every hour that passes by.
Thanks to Michaelw9 for the discovery and Jhoff80 for the video
Comments
Alright! This is really good news!
Hopefully 1.2 brings a lot of little changes to this phone. I like it a lot but some of the things missing from it were just silly.
Plus with our great community people have been working their asses off to make it work to the best of our liking, but this is great to see Palm get on the ball
I'm happy about this; unfortunately, my refurbished Pre has a center button that looks retarted when lighted.
Ok well call asurion and tell them ur phone is shutting down on its own and meke up some stuff. That something is wrong with the phone bad enough to not be able to use it well. Don't make up alot of stuff just enough and conplain they will just end up sending you a new one because they still hold a warranty on refurbished devices. That's how I've done it on the past good luck.
This phone is waaayyyyyyyy beyond anything I ever imagined. And just think.....only out 4 months. Though unofficial, added onscreen keyboard, landscape SMS/Email, changeable dialpad/password screens, automatic wallpaper switching, tethering, almost 200 homebrew apps with over 1 million downloads. Now, visual nitifications!!Folks, we are on the ground floor of what will become the best smartphone out there. Just imagine when we get to 3.0!!! And where I live Sprint rules...no dropped calls...the network can handle the extra PRE traffic!!! (hint: ATT/Die-Phone)
Not even 4 months, 3 as of tomorrow!
You do realize that every other phone out there has all these features (notifications, wallpapers, changeable dialpads) and many other basic things without people having learn how to be a hacker, right?
Seems like 1.1 was meant to appease the "business" user. And it seems like 1.2 is for the "normal" user.
I am thrilled, not just how fast these are coming, but that they are listening to the community.
Thank You Palm.
this is amazing. i love this damn phone so much. cant wait for 1.2. palm is moving into the fast lane with all the changes they are making based on user feedback.
Does anyone have any idea why these features are commented out. It's almost like Palm wants the homebrew scene to tweak the Pre instead of allowing normal users to decide whether or not they want these features on/off. I'm thankful that the coding is there but confused by the disable logic.
If Palm really wanted to make an impression on other smartphones, these features need to be available in a preferences menu so that even the non-geek population can enjoy.
Just my two cents.
There are a few reasons why a feature may not be released.
1. It might be because while it has been developed, it has not been fully run through the QC process.
2. Another possibility is that the developers are putting in the code in anticipation of it being a part of a future release; i.e. they're putting stub code for the function where they anticipate it will be needed to make sure that other programming takes the feature into account.
3. It could be because the feature set was frozen and the developers went beyond what they were supposed to.
4. Palm has a roadmap for features in mind. This feature is on the roadmap but while coded, it's planned for a future release. Palm will hold it in their hip pocket & release when they feel the time is right.
5. The feature was written but Palm has not fully studied the impact of the feature. For instance, running the LED will take some small amount of power. That will impact the battery life (granted, not significantly in this case). Palm may be waiting for other features to get more power-efficient to compensate before releasing this feature to the users. The last thing they'd want to see is a new feature causing problems with the existing users.
By no means should we be expecting Palm to code features for the "root" crew to find.
aww, you beat me to it, and with much more detail. . . I accept defeat. . . this time O_o
( fushigi ) has great points. If I may add. Take most of your points and add that Palm may respect this group so much and they know that we will run it through the ropes and then give feedback. They also know we will accept an amount of bad situaions where the general public will not. The way I see the LED turned off is that it is a gift to these members.
Deleted. Duplicate post. Sorry
Perhaps since this might not be the actual final build of 1.2 (as many people believe the case to be) Palm just has this, along with a few other, as of yet undiscovered, commented out/hidden features, disabled for the time being. I'm not sure why they would, but perhaps they are just still bug testing and what not to make sure of things before they enable these features when they officially release 1.2.
Any news of enabling WMA for the browser?
Any news of enabling WMA for the browser?
I think email search is still the biggest improvement.
Any idea if there's any options for different colors, or if the leds on either side of the center button could be used as well?
If the phone would add WMA support that would be awesome.
To me this isn't great news. Its okay news because its thought of but if the average user can't just turn it on or off then it is stupid. Ugh I'm growing so impatient for this update... The phones lag is starting to get to me... Stupid GFX pirtion of the arm chip isn't even in use because Palm didn't write a drive for it.... Why do we have a nice processor witha good GFX chipset built in if we aren't going to use it?? Does palm think we enjoy the lag? Sorry about the rant but HTC Hero is coming to sprint and I was eligibal for iPhone 3GS and I went with the Pre and some of its short comings are bugging me. I still have hope the things I need will come... Come on Palm!
I just think you need to realize (along with MANY upset consumers) that you are still an 'Early Adopter' of this newly-released phone & should be a LOT more patient.
This phone is MUCH better than MOST devices out there -and even the precious iPhone still has MANY complaints from users after THREE YEARS of being out in the market.
Palm is the ONLY company I know that supports hacking/homebrew of their system in a way that compliments their business -AND they are the best company when it comes to listening to their users.
Just be patient or switch. We know there are limitations...they're working on it...
You should probably return the phone and get an iphone or HTC Hero.
I'm glad to see that led notifications has been enabled...this is great news...Now if we can only get palm to let us change the alert tones, have a better facebook app and enable video capture, I'd say that this phone is pretty much perfect.
Have they brought back any way to open a link in a new card? I would describe the ability to open multiple "tabs" from search results a pretty essential component to a web browser.
Yes, watch my other video.
We pray that by the time WebOS 1.2 launches officially this little modification will be ready in Quilt, D2GlobalInc, and WebOS Quick Install tweak formats.
No. We pray it is implemented so we don't need a hack.
We pray it is implemented so we don't need a hack.
Amen, brother!
can we get a youtube link for the video, for those that are checking this out from their pre?
Longer video of most of the updated functions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cCJNcXfddE
Just the blinking notifications:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWoR9H46MNQ
So if I am using homebrew apps or patches like in the "perware" program, what do I need to do to get my phone ready for the new update? Or should I not be concerned? I basically have virtual keyboard enabled right now and some other homebrew apps as well as the ability to add multiple pages to my launcher. Any info would be appreciated
how do i remove the patches and/or hack exactly? The only program I used was Preware and the patch for the keyboard.
Also, if i remove the patch for the virtual keyboard will the keyboard no longer work?
Oh yea?#*% . I'm just looking for a reason to move all my icons back to three pages. Should only take 20 mins of my life. Lol
Thank you. I stand corrected. I was just worried that the update might set it back to 3 pages and I would loose the icons on the outside pages.
It's lose, not loose. I see this same mistake in hundreds of posts -- it drives me nuts.
You 'lose' something when it is lost (just remember both lose and lost have 4 letters).
The other one is the opposite of tight, as in loose change, loose shoelaces, etc.
Do we need to uninstall services? Like for the LED flashlight, my tether, and package manager service? I got rid of my tweaks from quick install and the virtual keyboard
I hope the blinking rate gets increased. LED notifications are a wonderful (essential?) feature, but they're not too useful if it takes more time between blinks than it would to just turn on the screen and check for notifications manually. The repeat rate looks to be about 4 seconds right now. I would be happier with a higher repeat rate coupled with a faster brightness-ramping speed.
If there was a faster blinking rate it would be nice to be able to control that rate then. A fast rate would be fine for someone with it on their desk of at home but in a group setting ie..meeting, it might be bad with a fast bright rate.
I would like the option to leave the light ON as a notification, like on my Treo.
Why is it taking so long for them to add the options for text alerts? Plus why can't they add a feature so I can delete all my email?
because the joy of swiping your emails off the screen to delete them would be lost =P
check this out NO TOUCH SCREENS ANYMORE you just use any surface
fast forward the video to 2mins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6f6IBZI4CE
Two words... KICK and %@#$&!!
This is too sweet for words. Seeing what Palm and the "Root Crewz" have gotten us in only 3 months, if we extrapolate this trend out to 1 year, the Pre will decimate all phones!
The Pre is like the "lowly" 2JZGTE Toyota motor that ended up being modified to over 1400bhp by the tuner community!
Full speed ahead guys! :)
Are they releasing a virtual keyboard in web os 1.2??
How do the LED notifications work, and what are the benefits?
Do we need to uninstall services? Like for the LED flashlight, my tether, and package manager service? I got rid of my tweaks from quick install and the virtual keyboard
I wish they expanded IM clients, but I did try pre dot mundu dot com today at the sprint store and it seems to work for MSN. At least that is something. I had nobody online to chat with so I am not sure how well it works.
Dear PreCentral,
Please include links to the videos directly under them so Prē users can follow along.
Thanks.
It's so sad that we're all getting so excited for a blinking notification light that should have been included out of the box, like on so many other dumb and cheap phones that have had this extremely advanced function for YEARS now.
Too bad the feature will be nearly USELESS for many of us who can't SEE the Pre at all times or don't want to actively search out the device and look at it all the time.
WHY couldn't they add an audible nag??? Is it really that difficult? My pager has an audible nag. All the Motorola phones have an audible nag. Even my ancient answering machine has an audible nag.
I suppose I should be happy about the LED nag, but it is just hard to get excited, knowing I am still going to miss important text messages and voice mails. :(
This is fine as long as you can turn it off once it is fully activated in on the phone. I personally can't stand those stupid blinking lights on my phone. Hate it.
im still much happier with treoalert on my treo with colorful blinking LEDs, with the LED in a practical place. i dont want to take the pre out of my pocket i want tos hoot it a glance and know what event took place. green for voice mail, orange for sms, blinking slow for email, red missed calls, COLORS.
Too bad if you miss the single audible alert or vibe you won't even know to look at it (with the Pre- assuming LED is enabled). TreoAlert has audible nag...
There are three LEDs down there. What about controlling them individually or together or in sequence to indicate different types of alerts?
Flash Player 10?
And that has something to do with LED's or notifications??
When I bought this phone, NOBODY told me that I would have to be a friggin hacker to have the basic functions. THIS IS BS !!!!!!!!!
i love my pre but i totally agree!!!! now we gotta become hackers to get basic functions or better ones and in the process perhaps mess up the phone because we're not actually hackers in the first place!!!
What about the virtual keyboard????
Just a little confused but 1.1 files don't appear to have lines relating to this blog post. Someone PM me on the forum and let me know what I'm missing? :confused:
Not to sound like a smart alec, but it's not in there - it's in 1.2 and that's why this post is about 1.2
Yes but the way it is worded in the blog commented out like the add remove pages makes it sound like it has been there all along and we didn't know about it and that they removed the comment tags to enable it in 1.2. So you can see how I was confused. Oh and thanks for not contacting me privately. I just happened to check back to the blog post for something else and checked the comments for some other info to see the reply. I don't follow comments like forum threads since that isn't really what commenting is about in my book and why I asked to be contacted by pm on the forum.
Ok a 2 day old newbie and I jsut update my phone to webos 1.2.1 is this notification blink here some where and I just haven't found it yet? or do I need to do this hack thing? any help would be great. I miss the blinking notify.
newbie as well. I'd like the blinking notification without having to hack my own phone. I'm fine with homebrews and have figured that out, but I'm not so fine with patches/cracks that I have to remember to undo every time there is a software update.
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