How to: Device/Key Lock (4 Different Ways!)
 

For those who have the ROM update, you've no doubt noticed the "Device Lock" Today Plugin. Enabling this plugin will allow you via the Today Screen to "lock" the device (w/o password) so you don't accidently dial out or kill your battery.

But lets face it, it's kind of a pain to do. You have to have the plugin enabled (wasted space) and then you have to click the pluggin via 5 way navigation or stylus. That is method #1--default.

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Here are 4 other useful ways:

(1) Vijay555's DeviceLock:

Pros: creates icons for locking the device via your program menu or you can map the function to a hardware key for quick access.

Cons: Have to have TodayPlugin enabled! Have to create/use a new hardware key

(2) Matt Armstrong's DeviceLock

Pros No TodayPlugin needed! :D You can map the function to a hardware key for quick access.

Cons: Still have to use another hardware key to activate. No method to map functions to icons/links.

Jussi77's DeviceLock

Pros: No TodayPlugin needed! Program monitors when the device goes to "sleep" or is PoweredOff (via your powerbutton), so no need to map it to a hardware key. Can be set to automatically run (place in startup folder) and can be disabled.

Cons: Your device locks every single time it turns off. Still in development (To do: - Hide window from task lists & MRU - Prevent WM5 MM from unloading application)

Finally, there is also (4) BatteryStatus Today Plugin, which is a nice freeware plugin that combines a battery meter, service operator and device lock all into one plugin. The device lock on this is simple: you enable it so that every time the device "wakes up" (either by you or on its own) it enables the device lock system. Plus the other features are nice as well.
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So with all 4 options, you really have a choice on how to lock the device. Unfortunately, none of these replaces the actually locking program which is kind of a pain to unlock (e.g. touch the screen).

Using programs 1 or 2 allows you to have a custom key to only lock when you want to, like say a trip, while retaining the original no-lock option (via power button).

Program 3 is very comprehensive: no plugin is needed and it just locks every single time, which I actually prefer.

Progam 4 is nice if you don't use PhoneAlarm or just want a nice battery plugin and operator info (for roaming purposes), plus an easy way to initiate DeviceLock w/out touching anything.

Remember, use these at your own risk! (Though I've tried all 4 and have had no problems.)

:thumbleft:



*Note: In AE Button Plus, there is a function "Disable Power off if not used..." which overides your PowerOff settings, say if you're using GPS an do not want the device to shutoff/lock. Real handy to overide, especially number #3.

nice, I'm gonna checl these out. thanks for sharing the pros and cons.
~mike

Nice right up keep them coming :wav:

I guess locking the device is so important that people thought of so many ways to do it. Hey Malatesta, does 'batterystatus' count as another one? It also has the lock function.

Yeah, it does...I was contemplating whether I should add it or not.

I'll probably just link to it as it's a nice alternative too...

I just updated the original post.

I pulled the 3rd option, Jusi77's lock, as twice I've had to hard reset because of an endless boot! :(

Thanks for updating it. That'll save lots of trouble for many of us here. :thumbleft:

yeah, this point I'm not even 100% sure that's what was causing the issue...in fact, I'm leaning towards it was something else (either a BT sniffer program and/or SPB Imageer, both of which I compressed with UPX--that's a lot of factors to consider!)

I'm now back up and running with that DeviceLock on sans those other programs, so we'll find out soon enough and I'll update as necessary.

Ok, not sure what happened I had 2 new programs loaded. One was from this thread the (2) Matt Armstrong's DeviceLock. The second was lvtime_123 from WM5 Registry Hacks: Huge Collection thread. I was minding my own business fixing to get ready for bed when I noticed that some icons in my devstate on my today screen had turned to red X's. Thats strange I thought, I checked these were all programs that were loaded to my storage card. My 1 gig card would not show up any were, after several soft resets I tried it in my Wifes PPC. No good, but her 256 card worked in my PPC just fine. I had to reformat my 1 gig card to get it to work. Lucky I keep my card data backed up in my PC so all I have to do is reload the card after the reformat. But thats 45 minutes I will never get back. If anyone else has the balls to run these programs let me know if anything like this happens to you I am scared to try them again. :x

very strange.

I've been running Matt Armstrong's devicelock (still have it loaded too) for weeks now, no issues.

I have had in the past the same issue with my storage card, but this was like 7 months ago and I've heard others with this issue, so I'm not ready to say it's that combo. It's even happened with my Treo.

But I sure understand the paranoia! :lol:

Just a quick update: I put back up Jusi77 device lock. I've been running since Sunday and have no more issues--so I'm attributing the problem to another program (probably SPB Imageer).

Quick question--there's a Buttons Settings that locks all buttons except Power when the device is off. What's the purpose of the Today screen device locks?

Some times, like if you miss a phone call, the PPC can come on in the case. If it is unlocked the PPC screen can be taped opening applications and even make phone calls without your knowledge. Hope this helps 8)

thnx--makes sense

got a kinda dumb question for any of these ock progams to work do u have to have latest rom installed?>

Indeed you do need the ROM upgrade in order to do any of these--they all play off of the built in device lock that comes with AKU 2+.

couldnt someone build a cab with the device lock registry keys built in so u dont have to do the rom update? its looking more and more like ill have to do the update but i dont wanna

it's been looked at but I don't think it has happened/can be done. You can search around at the XDA forums for something:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/index.php

I've been looking into it but can't find any good how to info.
~mike

Correction: You can do a lock without the ROM uprgrade. Get a program called pLock and you'll be all set. It's bastically the same thing.

its ok i sucked it up and did the rom update

hey malestesta are u running jussi lock and is there anyway to have it lock and unlock using the power button or can u do that with any of those?

I'm not currently running it but I did for a couple of weeks. Once I got my Seidio leather case I stopped having accidental dial-outs w/my extended battery.

But yeah, it works by enabling every time the device goes to standby. So if you power-off with the power button, when it wakes up it will be enabled automatically. That's the most comprehensive system: it will lock 100% of the time.

The only issue is sometimes WM5 unloads it, so you'll have to make sure it'll still "on" (running in the background). Gonna check if he has a new version...