Workaround | MMS Picture Mail not displaying correctly
 

***Update Jan 2, 2008: I just upgraded my phone's ROM to WM6 using the kitchen. Looks like our friends (Helmi and others) fixed the Picturemail issue altogether. MMS links now take you to a Sprint web site that actually works. I do not think there is any need for the workaround now, unless you're running a older OS. Cheers to everyone who made this work!***

***Update Oct. 1, 2007: Before u get too deep into this workaround, user myteematt reported yesterday he's solved the root issue. http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread...4893#post94893. I have not tried myteematt's method but it's possible that the workaround described below is no longer the best choice for most people now. There are probably advantages and disadvantages to both his and my methods, I don't know. Just wanted everyone to be aware.***

I've created a workaround for picture mails not displaying correctly after upgrades beyond AKU 2.2. The workaround displays the picture in large format (the original .jpg). It's kludgy but at least, for me, turns something completely broken into something worthwhile. I thought I'd share since I don't see anyone making any headway in this department.

Requirements...
1) It requires you install MortScirpt (free). Download here http://www.sto-helit.de/index.php?mo...ew&action=view
2) It also requires the Opera webbrowser (free trial) (not Opera Mini).
3) Requires an internet connection

By itself, the Opera browser enables functionality of the Sprint picture site that IE (and PIEPLUS) will not. You can get it to show you a larger version of the picture, but you still can't download it or view the original. My script will load the original .jpg within Opera, and automates the whole process. You also don't have to make it your default browser (I like PIEPLUS for most things).

I also played with NetFront. NetFront, when it works, enables even more functionality. You can actually download the original picture. But in my trials, I found I couldn't get it to work reliably.

Instructions
1) Install MortScript (if you don't have it)
2) Install Opera (if you don't have it)
3) Download the attached script. 'viewMMSpic.zip' Unzip it and put the single file 'viewMMSpic.mscr' anywhere on your PPC6700.
4) Open a MMS picture mail you've received (or send yourself one to test). Find the link in the mail, highlight only the link, and copy it to your clipboard.
5) Run the script. Alternatively, I have added the script to my left softkey using 'new menu for WM5' software. Eventually I think I want to add it to a hardbutton somehow.

The Script will launch the link (Sprint picture mail site) in Opera. It will then (transparently) grab the HTML and parse it for the link to the original .jpg. Finally it will open the link to the original .jpg in another Opera browser tab. No interaction from you.

If it doesn't work for you, or you get any errors, you might want to look at the text of the script. I tried to put some comments in there.
You might have to monkey with it a little to fit your personal setup.

That is it. I've tested it and it seems to work, but I imagine people could find some bugs with it. Also, I think there's room for improvement. For example, if I ultimately assign it to a hardware button, I might use Mortscript's keysending features to copy the link to the clipboard automatically.

Let me know your thoughts.

Changelog
Ver 1.1 (6.17.07 midnight CDT)
- fixed comments section that could have prevented script from running
- fixed the URL to display pictures properly


Known Issues
Ver 1.1 (6.17.07 midnight CDT)
1) If you installed Opera to ExtRom or Storage card you will have to edit a couple lines of the script.
___Line 31
Run( "Storage Card\Program File\Opera\Opera.exe", link )
___Line 59
Run( "Storage Card\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe", Url )
2) If you installed the new Opera Beta you will have to edit lines 31 and 59 of the script. Change Opera.exe to OperaLaunch.exe
3) Every single time you run the script, you must have previously highlighted & copied the URL from the mms message. Copy it then immediately run the script. If you try to run the script a second time, without copying the URL a second time, you will get an error message.

Nice job on that. I agree it's a lot of hoops to jump, but for people who really depend on picturemail this is a solution.

I am hopeful that Sprint will fix their site very soon pending the release of the 6800/Mogul--which should suffer from the same problem as it uses the same user agent string MS changed as of WM5 AKU3.

Not bad, I have to copy my link to the clipboard anyway. Clicking the link doesn't start PIEplus anyway.

Isn't the mogul going to have fully working vision allowing for picture mail directly on the device?

At least that was what sprint seems to be claiming, That it will be fully vision capable right out of the box...

Yeah, from the spec sheets people have been posting, i recall it actually specifying "Picture Mail." Hopefully that means what it sounds like it means.

will this work properly with JBabey's Mario rom... the 9.6 version?

I was running on Jbabey's latest kitchen rom (Reloaded) when I tested it but I can't think of any reason why the rom would make a difference. hope it works for you.

Hmmm I followed the instructions but then When I go to open the scprit i get a message saying:

Invalid parameter count for 'COPY'

Like: Copye the link to the picture (Placing it on your

what might I be doing wrong?

Stupid mistake by me. Original post has been updates with a new script.

I included comments in the script without delineating a few of them. One line started with the word 'COPY' so I think that was the problem. Mine didn't throw this error for some reason.

I also made a small adjustment to the script. All my testing was done with pictures I sent myself with the 6700. Pictures I received from a Sanyo PSC-8400 were not coming up. It seems to be fixed now.

I think in a future version I am going to try to save a copy of the picture in the "My Pictures" folder so that you can view it completely full screen.

One last note, if you're using MS Voice Command or even the default one that comes with the 6700, I find it's a good way to kick off the script.

Here's my workaround: Install the latest Opera Mobile beta and set it to be the default browser. Done.

Does the beta handle the Sprint Pic site any different than 8.6?

Yep. Everything just works. Download, View Slideshow, and View Original.

that's cool. I'll have to try it. I still think I'll use my script. It quickly opens the pictures full screen without all the rigamaro of scrolling, clicking and dropdowns.

I get the error... 'http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/? .... " couldn't be opened

Line:
Contents = ReadFile(link)


BTW, I have Opera mini 3.x, beta 4, and 8.65 on my phone. Just trying to figure out which one I like. :)

sticky this please. I'm tired of seeing everyone ask about the mms pic fix solution (or lack thereof)

[quote="dalsik"]I get the error... 'http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/? .... " couldn't be opened

Line:
Contents = ReadFile(link)
quote]


I'm getting this error and I'm using Opera 8.65. Please help. THanks

Bump
 

I'm still getting this error.

I'm Running Kirvin's new 1.0.4 rom with the attached .cabs from this thread. Does this workaround not work with this ROM? Thanks

dalsik, hwnstyle21 or anyone else reporting the error... 'http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/? .... " couldn't be opened

Every single time you run the script, you must have previously highlighted & copied the URL from the mms message. Copy it then immediately run the script. If you try to run the script a second time, without copying the URL a second time, you will definitely get this error message.

If you are still having issues, I can think of another scenario that might be causing this error. On your PC, open the script in Notepad, and go to lines 33 & 34. It will look like this..

# Give it 6 seconds open the page
Sleep( 6000 )

chane the 6000 to something larger, maybe 15000 (15 seconds). Copy the script back to your PPC and run it (remembering to first copy the URL from any mms message you've received). Let me know if that works.

Okay i've changed the line within the script to read 15 seconds (instead of 6 seconds) and Sleep ( 15000 ) instead of ( 6000 ). I'm still getting the same error.

I'm using this with the Palm Threading App. I would love for this to work.

I never tested with Palm Threading. Maybe that is the issue.

I sent you a PM hwnstyle21. Send me the URL you're using.

threading app
 

I just got around to trying this today...

And it works fantastic. No troubles at all and I use the Palm threading app.

Did you find a way to set this to a hard button?
That would make it almost seamless.

Erik

hwnstyle21. Where did you install Opera (device,ext rom,storage card)? The script is written for the default location (device - "Program File\Opera\Opera.exe").

You'll have to change the following lines in the script if you installed Opera somewhere other than default. For the storage card, you'd have to add the bold orange text below...

Lines 30 & 31
# Important, if you installed Opera elsewhere, you'll need to change this.
Run( "Storage Card\Program File\Opera\Opera.exe", link )

Lines 58 & 59 of script
# Again, depending where you installed Opera, you may need to change this.
Run( "Storage Card\Program Files\Opera\Opera.exe", Url )

dalsik, hwnstyle21. Please let me know if this fixes your issues.

Bonuts, Thanks for the info. I did install it to the phone, the problem is two fold. I downloaded the newest Opera Beta and the .exe is (OperaLaunch.exe) So I changed both references which you pointed to. That enabled the script to open Opera and get me to the main page but it give giving me an error. The second Error/part has to do with Palm Threaded program. For some reason the link gets cut off and the ending of the link (_frsthgl) isn't part of the actual link. I don't know if I can modify the script but what I did was open Word program and paste then close the spaces so it was part of the link. Once I did that the script worked perfectly. Now I just have to figure out that second part so I don't have to open Word all the time.

Thanks for your help and input.

Just to be clear, this is the part (and the only part) you should be highlighting.

http://upload2.postimage.org/276144/mmspic1.jpg

Hmmm... If that's the case then I'm still getting and error. If I clear off the error the first page (Sprint Picture Mail site) loads up. This makes me believe that the error occurs when the script tries to break down the link and open the second link. Do you know of any tweaks to the script which I could make to make this work without the error?

bonuts I've PM'd you the exact error I'm getting. If you have time can you please take a look. T.I.A.

is there a way to see video mail???

I suggest you post this in a new thread. The topic of this thread does not consider video mail whatsoever.

Another Way
 

Netfront 3.3 with JV-Lite will support PictureMail viewing of the webpage correctly, downloading the file, and viewing the originals without any additional configurations besides making it the default browser after installation.

everyone i think myteematt has found the answer.

i just downloaded netfront 3.4 beta and now i can download and view in coming picture mail on my 6700. you must leave it in normal view mode for it to work but it does work nicely. the best part is that my 6700 doesn't freeze up or slow down when using it. when you get a new picture mail just click the link and if you have netfront set as your default browser it will go to the sprint site and give you the thumbnail version with the option to download, view or order copies online.

i could not find version 3.3 anywhere and access has quit supporting it due to the up coming release of version 3.5. from their web site it looks like 3.5 is going to be everything we have all wanted in a browser.

With regard to picture mail, I state in the very first post that both Opera and Netfront by themselves enable basic picture mail functionality.

The reason I created the workaround is twofold...

First, I prefer PIE Plus and want kept it as my default browser.

Two, I want Picture mail to perform like my wife's SCP-8400 (a regular Sprint phone). Hit one button and the picture loads full screen. The workaround isn't quite as elegant, but it's close.

A little Tinkering
 

Well after getting the same error, I decided to take a look at the script and modified it. Not really knowing what to do I just deleted "ReadFile"
from the line: Contents = ReadFile (link). Surprisingly Opera opens up and the second tab opens displaying the page. Thank you so much for this Bonuts.

Sorry but I had to tinker with it a little more. I had netfront v3.3 from a while back and decided to load that up and change your script. The one thing about using your script (modified for netfront) is it only opens up one page with the picture modified to fit the page.

Thanks for the input and your work with the script.

sounds interesting. can you pm me a copy of the last script you ended up using (for Opera, Netfront or both)?

Problem Solved
 

I tried copying the older file browser.dll from AKU2.2 in the windows dir into the newer 3.3 kitchen to see if it would work and I also changed my UserAgent reg settings to revert back to the older AKU 2.2 useragent settings and now everything WORKS!!!. Will post files soon. Im a Sprint user so I would have to assume everyone here at least has MMS installed and is able to send. Im not very good with instructions or directions but I know once I post files the forum will help out. Basically all I did was pull the older browser.dll from the AKU2.2 rom that did receive pic mail properly into the new AKU3.3 Rom and also change the useragent settings. It now receives pic mail just like it used to. I knew there was an easier way to do this than use another browser. Personally I recommend using Resco Explorer to make the registry changes required and also I use PIE plus for Pocket Internet Explorer which made changing the useragent alot easier than it was before and has some useful features as well so you can revert back to non mobile viewing of webpages at a later time. I know alot of people with Sprint have been looking for a solution to this for a long time. :). Will post files within a few hours.

The FIX!!
 

Well here are the files. I made a quick cab file for the rookies. The cab file is inside the zip file. This ONLY applies to those who already have MMS installed and sending correctly. This ONLY applies to Sprint Picture Mail users. This cab will do the following:
1. Replace browser.dll in the Windows directory with the older one from AKU 2.2
2. Change registry settings to mobile viewing also from AKU 2.2
This has been tested with AKU 3.3 Kitchen and Kirvins Rom.
This will allow the normail viewing of received picture mail the way we used to with the older roms. This will "mobilize" your browser so that it appears as a mobile browser to websites specifically the Sprint site.

Awesome!! I've been waiting forever for a fix like this, it's nice to be able to view pic mails again.

wow
 

effing amazing, for sure. i thought i was just dumb for the longest time...

hmm
 

in a fit of joy, i installed the cab and it has seemed to freeze my phone at the WM splash screen now. im using colonel's 3.5 final aku. its been mostly solid until now.. just a word of warning.

I am running Helmi's WM6 ROM on a Sprint PPC 6700.

When I first installed this cab and viewed a picture mail (after the device soft reset), the proper page format loaded correctly for a few seconds, and then the page seemed to automatically reload itself pulling up the full web version (the problem we had before).

Anyhoo, uninstalling PiePlus, resetting the device, reinstalling PiePlus, resetting the device worked for me! Picture Mails now load like they used to long ago! It does make the little rotating "busy" circle for the WM6 Pie look funny, but who cares!

myteematt - thanks for the patch!

TomD.

Well, I spoke too soon. It seems the older dll makes my favorites look like folders :-(

For now, I have a copy of browser.dll on my SD card and can copy it over to view a picture mail, then delete it to return to the dll in ROM.

This is close to solved for sure!

Tomn8tr

sorry havent tested this on WM6 its not stable enough for me yet. I built this around the 3.5 Kitchen alot of us are using to build our own roms.