Okay all you Java programmer types of people out there, is it possible to come up with a real flashlight using the photo flash/video light LED on a Curve or any other BB equipped with a similar device?

The Curve, and other models no doubt, is equipped with a fantastic and efficient little LED that puts out a lot of light. It is very useful during low light video and actually works quite well.

I have done a ton of research on the web and all I have found are some very useless apps that use only a whited out screen and backlight to approximate a flashlight. Now this technique is marginally useful so that you can perhaps find your way to an area where a real night light is working, but if one could harness the immeasurably more powerful nature of the photo flash then our Blackberrys would find themselves in the role of a very useable flashlight. Don't worry about the battery life on your phone. How long do you really think you'll be needing the light to find your keys, or the bathroom, or the lightswitch anyway? And those little LEDs are designed to last for many thousands of hours so don't worry about it burning out either.

So how about it guys? So instead of having to keep our video cameras bound to the convenience button, all we need is a basic little application that is bindable to a convenience key and will allow us to switch on and off that nice little LED on the back of our Berrys.

Is this doable?

i loved my sanyo's on sprint for the flashlight. my 9000 was killer bright

i would love this also.

same here

Wirelessly posted (8100 Strike 2)

Good luck.

Anyone ever remember the kyocera Rave k7 from virgin mobile. This was my first cell phone and it actually had a LED built in to the top of it made just to be a flash light. It even had its own key on the phone to activate it. The Kyocera Rave K7 Special Page: Review, Kyocera Ringtones and more Kyocera Rave K7 links

Not possible with the currently availible API set.

Simple, just go to record video and the light comes on if the flash is set to "auto". It's not as bright as it is when you take a pic, but overall it works great. I use it for that all the time.

Hmmm... Okay, so I guess that an "API set" is something that is critical to the flash coming on?

I know how to read a 12 lead electrocardiogram, I can run a continuous dialysis machine, I can obtain pulmonary wedge pressures and cardiac output from a Swan-Ganz catheter, I can run a cardiac balloon pump, I can even perform an emergency surgical crycothyrotomy, but I have no clue what an API set is... sorry.

That's what I currently have my left convenience button set to do. But using the video there is a delay while it loads. It would just be nice to have a small application that would turn on the light.

+1000000000 this option would make this phone awesome (I have a fascination with flashlights) Somebody figure this out!!

An API set is a collection of functions and declarations that the Operating System (BlackBerry) provides to the developer to make him use system functions (like placing a call, creating text messages, switch on bluetooth, .... ) but unfortunately there is no function to activate the camera flash...

+1.

It seems to me that, because RIM isn't releasing certain information, or giving appropriate permissions, many functions that would be very usable by 3rd party programmers are unavailable.

I really love my Blackberry, but this unavailability of proprietary info sucks.

You would think that since the operating system has the ability to control the light that we could manipulate that even if the API doesnt give us the hand fed ability.

I want a flashlite too on my 8130

The API is the omly way for 3rd parties to access OS functions. It is part of the BB's security model.

what about just using key stroke injunctions? not the prettiest, but i owuld still do the job. the screen just doesn't qite do it.

Hmmm..so whats the problem with just opening up the video recorder function and turning flash on? Or did you guys just want a quicker easier way. +1 for that though hehe.

oh come on they have it for the iPhone

*ducks*

You don't need to 'record'.. just activate the video camera and press the spacebar..

The LED will turn on.

What is surprising to me is that the LED on the 8120 pearl is brighter than the one on the 9000 bold.