Turn off the screen on X51v but keep programs running?

axim4hiking · 11-12-06, 10:21 AM

I do a lot of hiking with my axim, using GPS recording programs to track my progress and make trail maps. In order to extend the battery life, I set the screen to dim after 30 sec and set the processor to Power Saving mode (208MHz). The Settings>brightness>Battery Power>Dim function only turns off the backlight, not the screen itself. So the question is:

Is there a way or program that will allow me to turn off my screen but keep all programs running? Ideally there would be a setting/program to turn the screen off after X seconds (similar to the Dim function) but turn it on again when I tap the screen or press a key.

Right now I am getting about 8 hours of runtime out of my X51v with a Haicom HI-305III CF GPS running. I would like to get at least 10 hours if possible.

control · 11-12-06, 12:12 PM

The screen itself uses very little power compared to the backlight so I doubt that there is much to be gained even if you find a way to accomplish this. See this msdn blog entry for some more info.

Kenster · 11-12-06, 01:08 PM

There are several freeware programs that do this and can be mapped to a hardware button,

e.g. http://www.freewareppc.com/utilities/screenswitch.shtml

axim4hiking · 11-12-06, 01:30 PM

Yes, I realize it uses very little power but I am trying to eke out every mAh that I can. When I am on a long trip, I will not be able to recharge every day. I carry multiple batteries to help compensate but that is not enough.

Following your link to another MSDN blog, I find the following info:

"Power Manager uses a concept called "System Power States" to do exert its control. The concept is pretty simple. PM has a list of drivers it controls, and, for each state, it has list of settings for those drivers. In one state, it turns everything on. In another, it turns off the screen and backlight, but leaves everything else on.

UserIdle: There has been a longer period of user inactivity. Both the backlight and LCD have been turned off. When you set the screen timeout value on a Smartphone control panel, you're setting how long the system should wait before going into this state. This state is generally not used on PocketPC. There's no reason to turn the screen off when the device is about to go to sleep (sleeping turns the screen off). However, if/when PocketPCs go to the "Always On" model, they'll start using this state.
ScreenOff: You go into this state when someone specifically says to turn the screen (and backlight) off. For instance, in Media Player you can assign a button to turn the screen off. When you press it, we go into this state. This state is different than UserIdle, though. This state says, "The user wants the screen off and doesn't want it to turn back on." UserIdle says, "The user hasn't touched any buttons in a while, so we might as well turn the screen off to save power." In ScreenOff, pressing a button (other than the power button) doesn't turn the screen back on. In UserIdle, pressing a button does turn the screen back on. Both PocketPC and Smartphone use this state."

There may be a method of triggering the ScreenOff state, but there is no mention of how to do this (other than the comment about media player).

Kenster · 11-12-06, 05:48 PM

axim4hiking:
See above - there ARE methods to do this, and freeware that employ them. Personally, I use the DisplaySwitch utility from psShutXP (http://www.freewareppc.com/utilities/psshutxp.shtml) for exactly the same reason - to minimize power drain while hiking or kayaking. It does just what you ask and works well.

11-13-06, 06:11 AM

SBSH iLauncher will turn off the screen.

jdeleon0526 · 11-13-06, 11:41 AM

psshutXP works perfectly fine 4 me. Im using my x51v to listen to my mp3's every morning with my screen turn-off .

athlonduke · 11-13-06, 01:12 PM

do you have access to large amounts of sunlight? what about offsetting some of the draw with solar backpacks?

axim4hiking · 11-13-06, 05:23 PM

Thanks all for the links to the programs. I searched both PocketPCFreeware and FreewarePPC several times, but usually in multimedia & graphics (think:screen). I will try these programs tonight.

Yes, I will have access to that ball of fire in the sky. I have been looking at the Brunton Solaris, which produces 6 Watts @ 12Volts, with a 433mA current. Following several power threads concerning data/power USB cables and cigarette adaptors, I am hoping to combine the solar panel with a Belkin or Boxwave adapter to get 900mA @ 5.4Volts. Lightweight is the key, as I am carrying everything on my back.

11-13-06, 05:36 PM

Why not get an actual backpack? Something like the Voltaic Solar Backpack. Check MY PDA for a link.

davidtm · 11-13-06, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by davrol

SBSH iLauncher will turn off the screen.

Out of curiosity, how does one set iLauncher to do that?