G1 Screen lock issues: There must be a simple answer? Actually begging for help here!

[ktitcombe]

Dear fellow android users,

Thanks in advance for your time in reading. I have now owned my G1 for around 6 months and overall, am incredibly satisfied with all of its features/functions. I have encountered quite a few problems along the way, all of which I have manged to negotiate, and none of which have altered my oppinions of this truly great peice of tech!

That however, is is true up until my latest gripe, which (as a confident tech user) I am slightly ashamed to say, I have absolutely NO idea how I can sort out! My problem is such a simple one, and I cannot find any app on the market that even includes the function I need, that I wonder if I am just being blind and that the solution is right in front of my eyes! Even so, I'm hoping one of you guys can put me straight, perhaps not hoping, but praying! - This problem is killing my android/G1 experience and my frustration with this simple problem is just overwhelming!

Before I raise my issue, I apologise in advance if this is a topic that has been covered previously, I rarely use forums, only when I'm REALLY stuck with something and that is normaly only with my laptop. I am not familiar with this forum, so could have easily overlooked a relavent thread.

My issue is:
Since the 'donut' update last month, for some reason they have decided to remove the function that allows the user to lock the screen manually by pressing the 'End' key. As far as I can tell, since the update the screen can still be locked by pressing the 'End' key, but now with a 30 second delay. I can only imagine that this is an error or oversight, as I can think of no logical reason for why they would remove such a vital function. The automatic keylock can be set at 15 seconds, which is quicker than you can do it manually, but then leaves you with your phone being locked every 15 seconds, which is intolerable. I have searched for a toggle, that I could put on my home screen, press it to lock the screen, job done! - As far as I can see, there is no such app, not even one that includes this function. I have also scoured the new, updated settings menu, as I thought there may be an option to turn it on/off, as far as I can see there is not one.

I have seen this problem documented online, but have not seen any suggested solutions or fixes, all I want is to be able to lock my bl**dy screen again! I would even go as far as to say, that if I knew this feature was not included on future android phones, that I would regrettably be ruling android out, when upgrade time comes around! I simply cannot deal with having to stand holding my phone for 30 seconds before I can even put it in its case, let alone my pocket - its embarrasing: "wait a minute, I can't put my phone away yet..." Also, you may well think I'm being petty, 'its 30 seconds, deal with it...' but this problem is costing me too! I'm paying £35 monthly, for 750mins + txts + net. I estimate, that my phone calling people's answerphones from my pocket, (usually for around 7mins at a time!) has cost me in excess of 100 minutes since the update less than a month ago! Its where I've forgotton the recent change and put it in my pocket without waiting 30secs, with such a sensitive trackball... I'm getting used to it now, at first it was a nightmare, its hard to get out of drummed-in phone habits! I lost count of the amount of calls that I found in my call log, but that I hadn't made.

I'm sure this problem must have aggravated most G1 users, so I cannot believe there is no fix for it. Please people, feel free to put me straight if there is a fix and I am being thick/blind or not looking in the right places! I apologise too if this is a bit of a rant, I'm at the end of my tether with this one, please bear with me! 8) I would sacrifice all of those great new donut features and revert back to cupcake if I had to, and maps is 'the dogs' now, I wouldn't change it for the world! I'm hoping there is a quick-fix, and that I am just being dumb, but I welcome any suggestions that could help me.

Thanks for your time people, I have faith that you will be able to help relieve me of this gripe!

K

[jimczyz]

There is an app called spare parts and in it there in the change the end button function. That worked for me. And, it is free.

[ktitcombe]

Thankyou so so much! I already had spare parts, I downloaded it having had it suggested as a solution before. Because under the 'end button behaviour' option it says for 1.5 only, so I had assumed it was not to be used. I'm sure I did try the option, putting it on home, then sleep, and it made no difference! Now I have it set to just sleep, and it seems to work fine!

Thanks again. Pheeeww!

[jimczyz]

Glad I could help. I had the same problem as did many others. Spare parts is a nice little app to have.

[ktitcombe]

Glad I could help. I had the same problem as did many others. Spare parts is a nice little app to have.

And I'm so grateful that you did help! Especially after a day with no replies..! I was beginning to think that either I was being incredibly stupid (which I kinda was, as I already had the app on my phone) or, that it was an un-solvable problem! I had actually forgotton all about spare parts until you reminded me!

I really think that whichever donut-dev (no pun intended) is responsible for removing or forgetting that function, should be suitably punished for it. As I said in my first post, it'd really have put me off android when I next upgrade! It does beg the question though, of how many people are suffering from this problem, who don't have the know-how, or perhaps even time, to find out how to fix it? I would imagine there are probably thousands of people who have reluctantly accepted that it can't be changed, who have to stand like a tw*t for 30secs each time they want to put their phone away, not to mention all the wasted minutes from pocket-calls.

I know I'm whingeing on, but this really was a huge gripe of mine, I really cannot express how grateful I am to you for taking the time to put me straight! I had decided that asking on a forum was going to be the second to last thing I was going to try. If you hadn't rescued me, I was going to have given it a few days, if the forum failed, I was going to go and buy a cheap nokia to put my contract-sim in, I simply couldn't afford to keep losing the minutes! I would have got a pay-as-you-go sim to use in the G1, but I wouldn't have been able to use 3G to browse, which would have kind of defeated the point in having it!

I think perhaps it would be a good/sensible idea, if next time google/tmobile/android send a covering email with the update, detailing exactly what they have changed, why, and how to undo it if you wish.

Thanks for you time in reading my spiel(s,) I simply cannot express my gratitude enough! Keep up the good work too!

Before I go, it is the least I can do to recommend a few apps that I like: There's 'beebplayer' - an android version of 'bbc iplayer'. A wicked game is 'parallel kingdom' - a REALLY addictive worldwide online multiplayer hunter/gatherer kind of strategy game, where your virtual kingdom you create is super-imposed on top of the real world using google maps. Really cool! Be warned though, you need lots of free time to play it. Other fav's of mine are the 'barcode-scanner' and 'metal detector' mainly just for showing off my phone to friends! Also there's 'battery graph' 'phonalyzer' and the 'fastbright' toggle - all are v useful, there's 'aTrackDog' - for easy app management, 'cestos' - another addictive online-multiplayer, not half as time-consuming, 'handcent sms' - essential for sending long sms as multiple sms, as opposed to the standard sms app which converts to (expensive) mms, there's a great one called 'musicsearch' - allows you to serch the web for mp3's and download them for free. There is a limited amount of searches on the free version, but I've not hit it yet, and have downloaded at least 25hrs of drum n bass sets, a truly wicked app! And that is to list but a few.

No need to reply dude, I just wanted to try and be of some use to you, as you were for me! Lols. Once again, thanks, you saved my G1!
Kev

[ktitcombe]

[Moderator Edit: Please do not use profanity. Thanks -Danation] ****! Lmao: I just noticed how carried away I got, again - and ended up with another monster-post, again! Lol. Oh well, that's another hour or two notched up on the G1, which is good, or better I should say, better than doing almost anything else, as almost anything else costs money! I've happily wasted another couple of hrs of my life and it has cost me 0 £'s and 0 pence! 8)

Jeez, I could ramble on all night long, every night, not even to anyone in particular! Think of all the money I'd save! Unfortunately for you guys, (my scores of keen readers) my eyelids are now getting heavy, so, Android community, I shall reluctantly bid you all a good night and say farewell. - At least until next time I get stuck and can't fix my phone!

[Danation]

Lol, happy rambling is always welcome