8.2 ADDING SIDES TO THE CUBE
Adding sides to the cube is also not as difficult as you would think. Most of our editing will be in the Second Biotouch
folder of the registry. You will notice that there are App1-App3 Values and that each one starts with a name and a program
path. This is important. For the Cube to reconize an App it must have an identifier and a program path. The identifier tells
the Cube how to treat the application when it is opened. The program path points to the program you would like to open.
So far the only Applications that work seamlessly with the Cube are the Appliations that come with the Cube: APLauncher.exe,
MediaHubMini.exe, and QuickDial.exe. There have been attempts by myself to add Internet Explorer as one of the sides, and
while it will open Internet Explorer, it will cause the Cube to crash. Another program also comes pre-installed on Sprint
Touches, CustAPLauncher.exe.
To add a side the first thing we will need to do is to add the value "App4" to the second Biotouch folder. We are going to
add an Application Launcher, so we set the value to "APLauncher \Windows\CustAPLauncher.exe".
To activate this new side we need to go down the list in the second Biotouch folder and find the value "TotalCubes" and
change it to "4".
Next go to the first Biotouch folder and add the value "CustAPLauncher" copy the number you see next to the value
"APLauncher" and put it as the data for "CustAPLauncher".
If you were to reset your phone right now and bring up the Cube you would find that you would have to swipe your finger twice
to get to the QuickDial screen from the App Launcher screen. A black screen would appear after the AppLauncher. That is
because you have not yet added any buttons to your new Cube side.
Add the Key CustAPLauncher to the first Biotouch folder and create the value "Background" as a String and set its value to an existing BRN. Inside create the keys App0-App7 (we're going to make our second App Launcher have 8 buttons as well). Create the same values for each "App" that appear for those in APLauncher (Height, IconPath...) and give them the same data (except for the Icon paths and program path).
Now that you have created your 4th side, try it out! I'll wait here until you get back.
What? It looks like you're going to the QuickDial screen and then your CustAPLauncher shows up? Hmm, I guess you'll need to
check down below fo the answer.
8.3 THE CUBE ANIMATION, INCLUDING THE BINARY DATA
As explained previously the Cube animation is made up of static images. These can be placed anywhere on the device and still
be displayed correctly as long as the registry value points to the correct image.
Animation Image Files' Registry values are found in the Second Biotouch Folder in the registry and have the name "Path#"
replacing the # sign with an actual number. On the stock Cube there are 33 animation frames, and so there are registry values
Path1-Path33, each with a Path to one of the Animation frames (ie. Path1 value = "\Windows\A0.brn").
Now the next part is a little tricky and you need to have a HEX to DEC translator to completely see what I will be talking
about. There is an online translaor found here:
http://www.paulschou.com/tools/xlate/
The Binary Values Cube1 - Cube3 are what the Cube looks at for a guide as to what images to display in what order.
So, let's say you have a binary sequence for Cube1 of 07 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 0A C8 C9 CA CB 19 1A 1B 1C 1D 01
When you put it into the HEX to DEC translator you get the number sequence:
7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 200 201 202 203 25 26 27 28 29 1
Most of these numbers point to a Path number.
The first binary set (07) tells the Cube "the next 7 binary sets are the left/right animation". So the images that Path1 -
Path7 point to will be used in the Left/Right Animation for the first side (QuickDial). The First Frame is actually the
"Static" Frame for the Side that is showing, and the last Frame is the "Static" Frame for the following side.
The set right after the left/right animation (0A in Hex, 10 in DEC) actually tells the program how many frames are in the
up/down animation + the four filler Binary sets.
The Four Binary sets (C8 C9 CA CB in HEX, 200 201 202 203 in DEC) are some sort of filler/identifier for the Cube and as of
yet their purpose has not been fully understood.
The last sets (19 1A 1B 1C 1D 01 in HEX, 25 26 27 28 29 1 in DEC) are the identifiers for the up/down animation + the Static
Frame for the Side coming up (Path25,26,27,28,29,1).
09 F.A.Qs
Q: How can you add more frames to an animation?
A: Decide how many frames you want, then plan out what Path names they will have (Path# - Path#). Then go to the HEX-DEC
translator and change the first DEC value to the number of frames you would like the left/right animation to have, then put
in the number values for the Paths you have planned for the left/right animation. Next add 4 to the number of up/down frames
you will have (make sure you include the final Static Image in your count) and put that number directly after your left/right
animation Path numbers. Then type in 200 201 202 203 followed by the number values for the Paths you have planned for the
up/down animation.
Q: This is way too technical for me. Is there an easier way?
A: No.
Q: You suck.
A: That's not a question.
Q: Thank you!
A: Again, not a question, but you are welcome