This started in this thread: http://www.blackberryforums.com/gene...ypad-lock.html but I figured I should post it here, as it's buried in there.

AutoLock automatically turns on the keylock on the Pearl after the blacklight turns off.

0.5:
OTA
alx/cod

After installation, all options are in Options->AutoLock. Current options are:

• Enable/Disable
• Delay after backlight turns off: 1sec,5s,10s,15s,30s,45s,1min,2min,5min,10min
• Action when plugged in: Lock/Don't Lock
• Action when on call: Lock/Don't Lock

Hi, other than OTA installation, is there a version I can download and install via the computer link?
Thanks

I used BBManager to create a .cod and .alx. I'll post if it's ok with the developer of the app.

That would have been fine with me, but I've put the alx/cod in a zip file: http://www.geekandproud.net/blackber...k/autolock.zip

Thanks! That's how I've been turning it on and off!

Interesting idea... would be very annoying for me to have to hit those two buttons to unlock the phone. However even though you hit the buttons, the lights still come on, but the phone is locked.

if you could make it go to standby that would be sweet. Think of energy saved....

I don't see any easy way to have an app put it in standby, but I'll keep looking. If I can do it, it'll be an option.

Version 0.3!

New in this version:

• Removed Icon
• Added Options
  • Enable/Disable
  • Delay after backlight shuts (1s,5s,10s,15s,30s)

To find these options, go to the Options app/menu and choose AutoLock.

OTA Download
ZIPped alx/cod for Application Loader installation.

Sweeeet, I was waiting for the enable/disable to install and try - works like a charm, thanks for the code-fu!

Awesome app! Makes my life so much easier Gotta say, I'm loving my first day with the Pearl.

-B

@metsfan:

Out of curiosity (mainly for my battery life), how often does this app poll for the backlight having gone off for it to countdown? For instance, I have mine set to 30sec (ps: next version, can we get 45 and 60sec added?) -- given it's 30sec countdown, I'm wondering how often it actually is checking the handset.

Once it's in locked mode, I assume it stops polling altogether and only "wakes up" after the keyboard has been unlocked? (or the display becomes active?) Is there a seperate poll for this that's... longer?

One interesting side effect of using this that might be hard to catch if you're not looking close -- when you wake up the device after the backlight+lock has occured, the screen "goes white" for a split second before the normal mainscreen UI is redrawn.

- set it to 30secs, let the backlight turn off then wait for a lock
- press the pearlball (sic) to wake up the screen, watch carefully for the white flash (only happens for a split second)

...now go ahead and Disable autolock, let it sleep again (either keypad locked or unlocked, doesn't seem to matter) and then press the pearlball to wake it up -- no white-screen-flash occurs. I'm curious why this is happening with AutoLock.

EDIT: with the above, I have a black background which makes the white flash appear more boldly. Linked below from where I found it, it looks awesome on the black Pearl with the T-Mobile Zen theme.

It doesn't poll at all. The RIM API includes a listener that will call the program whenever the backlight status changes. The delay option is how long to wait AFTER the backlight goes off. So if you set your backlight timeout to 30 seconds, and then the delay in AutoLock to 30 seconds, it'll be a minute before it locks the keys. For this, it just waits the additional delay, and checks again, doesn't poll either.

I can't see the white screen thing happening, but that doesn't mean it's not. Just means my eyes aren't fast enough.

New planned feature: Option to not lock if the device is plugged in to a power source.

Oh now that is one sweet hook, it means we're not wasting any battery life at all using constant polling. wooo.

Yah on the 30secs -- I was feature-requesting 45 and 60 because there are times when I'm using the device but get interrupted (got kids or pets? ) and didn't really want it to lock so quickly as 30secs. Just one of those things...

Sure, I'll add those for the next release.

0.4 out.

Adds longer delays, and the option to not lock the keys if the device is plugged in.

thanks! I love the smell of fresh code on a Monday.

*click* *download* *reboot*

So I just realized I have one more feature request, but I'm not sure if it's doable on your end or not (depends if there's an API hook, I think). Would it be possible to have a checkbox option "don't lock during voice call" ?

A number of times I was kind of annoyed (not a lot, just a little) that the keypad autolocked while I was on a call; once I wanted to switch to speakerphone and had to unlock it mid-call, but the rest of the time I wanted to use the device right after hanging up.

This happened just 10 minutes ago while I was making a call during lunch, too bad I missed asking for the 0.4 release... Personally I want to not lock the keys while I'm talking (usually it involves hanging up, going into the calendar and adding a new meeting/appointment from that call).

I think I can do that. Initially, I tried to have that in there, but thought I had to have the program keep track of received and outgoing calls, and hangups, and just generally track the phone state, which would have been annoying and likely incomplete. Now, I think I've found a way to just check if the phone is on a call, so I should be able to.

Hey metsfan, what language are these apps written in? I'm not much of a programmer, but I was just curious to see if BB development is something I might be interested in teaching myself.

Also, thanks again for a great app!

EDIT: Ok, so I'm a big old idiot today... One would think that I'd realize its written in Java, with the BB being a java based platform LOL!

just wanna say loving your software, it's little apps like this that make everything seem to make your experience with the device so much better. keep up the good work and i'll be sure to drop ya a dontation in the near future

Would love to see the delays more configurable. Say 5-10 minutes.. 1 min after my screen goes out is too quick!

Thanks!

I really like this program. I just wish it would not lock the device when I am on the phone. I often have to look at my calendar during a phone call and with the device locked it doesn't help. Is there anyway to NOT lock the device as long as the phone is being used?

Thanks!

Doug

That's coming. Should be releasing it tonight.

I'll add 5 and 10 minutes which should be easy. Maybe at some point later I'll add a custom setting.

Thanks so much! Now if i could get you to write an app to delete all email/messages every X days!!

-Todd

Hey just a suggestion while you're in there, might as well add 2 minutes -- you know someone is going to come along and ask for it. 1, 2, 5, 10 sounds like a good pattern set that should satisfy most.

(45sec user myself)

0.5 release. Now has the option to not lock when on a call, and added more timeout options.

I edited the first post with the update.

This is a great little program as is Softreset. Quick question did you know these don't show up properly in the appllicaton loader..it just show a blank entry for the application name but if you click details your name appears.

That's just the way it works.

That's strange. I'll take a look at it. Did you install OTA or from the application loader? Is it only when you install OTA and then use the app loader later?

@metsfan - thanks for another release, works great.

Now for a strange one, tell me what you think. The Pearl has a small UI problem, if you have it set to:

- prompt for USB Mass Storage
- have the keys locked
- plug in a USB cable

...the UI issue is that the Pearl won't give you the popup to choose YES or NO for USB Mass Storage while the keys are locked; you have to unlock them, then you get the popup question.

The request then is if AutoLock could help solve this -- is there a way (user configurable setting of course) to hook into the USB cable just-plugged-in API and unlock the keys for us? Does that make sense what I'm trying to explain?

settings: don't lock while on USB, unlock when USB plugged in

scenario: keys locked. plug in USB, keys unlock and stay unlocked. unplug and the keys relock as usual with the backlight.

whatchya think?

I don't think there's any way to force an unlock without user interaction.

I installed OTA but noticed it in the app loader when i was installing another program. since it was blank I wondered what program it was.

ahh ok, darn. Thanks for taking a peek at that at least, it was worth a shot.

Wow great app, love it. Kepp up the good work.

You know at first i didnt notice this phenom, but when i started payimg more attention to the screen i did notice this issue. Its no big deal though.

Yeah, I've seen it a few times now too. Weird.

I've seen that just pulling from my holster or picking up when it's dark, even before installing autolock. I saw it more in my 7100t

...you thinking it has something to do with the ambient light sensor for the autodim? I will say where I sit at home here is ambiently lit, not direct light or anything so the sensor should be tripped to make it dim. I think I remember posting the above while here.

I don't know. I just know I've seen it once in a while. Not often, though.

Can you make a version for the 7290 with bblight?