Seeking intrepid, advanced users to test PocketPrioritize

Greg_G · 08-15-06, 08:14 PM

Hello folks,

Several years ago I needed an app to allow me to adjust process priorities on my Pocket PC. At that time none existed so I wrote one. However, because of the reasons I'll explain below, I never had the guts to release it publically. But since it works fine on my newest PDA, making for a grand total of 2 Axims tested upon

, I figured I'd go ahead and release it into a private beta test, and if that goes well, then publically.

The reason for the caution is because (a) the Pocket PC wasn't designed to do this and I had to use several undocumented interfaces to bend the OS to my will

and (b) messing with priorities is in itself a dangerous thing in the hands of a novice.

But if anyone else is at all interested it this, is an ADVANCED user (someone who knows what apps are doing what on their Pocket PC, does backups, etc.), and you're brave (since other than my 2 newest Axims and the Pocket PC 2003 SDK x86 emulator this has never been run anywhere else), then you are welcome to give it a try. PocketPrioritize requires Pocket PC 2003 or later.

PocketPrioritize not only allows basic adjustment of thread priorities, but can adjust the priority of all threads of a process at once (which gives a similar effect to changing the process priority of a Win32 app in Task Manager). It also can sit and watch for applications to run and apply the priority adjustments you told it to remember automatically. That's just a quick explanation. For full details please look over:

PocketPrioritize Product Page
PocketPrioritize Documentation (Primer)

Feel free to look around at my other projects there to get an idea of what freeware I write.

I only release these in CAB form (I hate Windows installers) so you'll need to know how to copy a CAB to your device and run it to install.

Additionally, I'll make available my build for the x86 emulator, in case you want to test it out on a software emulator before your beloved hardware. I should also mention that I'm still developing in eMbedded C++ 4.0 with the Pocket PC 2003 SDK. I don't own Visual Studio .NET 2005 so I can't use the WM5 SDK, however, PocketPrioritize works fine on my Windows Media 5 device.

As for the danger of needing a hard reset, well I can't promise anything. While I personally have run PocketPrioritize from the Startup folder for years, I'd say don't do the same until you are comfortable that it behaves. However, to calm your fears a bit, on my system at least, I've never had to so much as soft reset the device due to PocketPrioritize.

So for anyone who I haven't scared away yet, please post below and I'll contact you soon. As I mentioned in another thread, I just got a new project from a client this week and it's due by the end of the week, so I might not be able to work too heavily on this until next week. But I'm not going to put it off because plans change and I've had this sitting around doing nothing for anyone but me for far too long.

Thanks all,
Greg

klomp10 · 08-16-06, 12:58 AM

I am willing to give it a go, since no one else is. XD

Greg_G · 08-16-06, 03:08 PM

Thanks Klomp10 :)

Aye it appears my scare tactics were a little too effective. And with the already small audience this utility will appeal to, I'm getting a few less volunteers than I had hoped.

I personally use it to adjust a whole bunch of priorities. I have PocPri automatically increase the priority of my taskmanager, audiobook reader, and pocpri itself by one, while lowering the priority of some games (that continue their processor intensive game loop when minimized) by one so the system remains responsive. Been working well for a couple of years now.

I have one other volunteer besides yourself who I've spoken to by PM. I'll have the download ready within a day or two (late today if I can manage it). I'll send the details via PM but I'd like to put any other discussions in here so that others can benefit from your input.

Edit: I just got a third volunteer via PM. So that's good. My target was only about 4-5 for this initial private test, so this is great. :D

w3iner · 08-20-06, 10:00 PM

LOL, I will use it, just to make sure it works, I have no real use for this kind of stuff. I will help you out, tallmidget81@hotmail.com

Beweglich · 08-20-06, 11:39 PM

Hey what the Heck!
I would love to try this on my rx3115.
That way you'll have some ipaq input as well
bliss149@msn.com
are you going to email it or can I download it online from your link?
IF not you can keep me up to date by email if you wish!

Edit: Yup download from the site sorry!
I'll report back this next friday with the results1

Greg_G · 08-21-06, 04:23 AM

I'm really happy to be getting more replies on this (including one or two by PM over the past two days). I promise to get the info to y'all as soon as I can. I'm just pressed for time as this client project is getting close to presentation to the client. Now it's after 4 am here and I've been programming all day and night, so I've got to get some sleep.

Again, I'll reply to everyone who has contacted me as soon as I'm able. And thanks again.

Edit: Okay, emails and PMs have been sent out to everyone who contacted me via this thread and PMs. If I missed anyone, let me know. Thanks.

Beweglich · 08-22-06, 04:38 PM

Could you try to emial me again or PM me I don't think I received it.

Pocketbrain · 08-22-06, 04:44 PM

Hey, wait, how did I miss this last week? I wanna try it out. Give me a ring.

(X)

Greg_G · 08-22-06, 04:59 PM

Beweglich: I resent the email. It should arrive from "Beta Administrator" with the subject "PocketPrioritize private beta test (Aximsite) [Resend]". Let me know if it still doesn't come through.

PocketBrain: Glad you spotted it. :) I sent you the details via PM. Thanks for your help.

paolofat · 08-23-06, 11:41 PM

Greg G, I'm interested and have a specific need for process priorities, namely to see if raising the priority of the BT stack reduces artifacts on my logitech headphones.

Greg_G · 08-24-06, 12:04 AM

Details sent by PM. :approve:

bigbop · 08-24-06, 08:06 AM

Hi Greg. I'd be willing to test this out. My Ax is loaded right now and would probably make a good test bed (yes I make regular backups).
Your Confabulation app also looks interesting. Are you looking for beta testers for that one as well?

Thanks

Greg_G · 08-24-06, 02:14 PM

Bigbop: Sounds good, I'll send you details on PocketPrioritize by PM within the next 30 minutes.

As for Confabulation, it's a WONDERFUL program. Unfortunately, I looked into the legality of my releasing it the other day. I had thought it was the decision of the 3rd-party mp3 decoder library I chose to use who had gone from free for freeware users to paid only, but, in fact, it was a change in the license agreement from Thomson (who owns the mp3 patent) that screwed everything up.

Originally (when I wrote Confabulation) Thomson allowed people to write programs that decoded mp3s without paying them royalties as long as that application was freeware. Unfortunately, about two years ago (after they had made mp3 the ubiquitous audio format through this technique) they revoked this. There is now a minimum of $15000 a year in royalties should I want to release my app, even as freeware. So Confabulation can never be distributed, even though it is just about the most perfect audiobook app you'll ever use (except for those bugs in the mp3 decoder library I used, they are a bit annoying but out of my control). My only option would be to rewrite it to only support an open format like Ogg Vorbis, but we all know few people would use it and that'd be a lot of work to replace the decoding library at this point. I'm very discouraged about this, as I really think people would have loved Confabulation. :( In the unlikely event Thomson ever allows free freeware mp3 decoders again, I'll, of course, release Confabulation.

eriberg · 08-26-06, 12:30 PM

Greg,

I'd like to try this as well. Can you bump up bluetooth and bump down wifi?

Thanks

permalink · 08-26-06, 01:05 PM

I too would love to try this. Please send me the details as well. Thanks!