T3 screen res

S

sleipner212

New member
Palm claims that T3 screen resolution is 320*480, but it is of course semitrue at best - some of that space is wasted by a crappy status bar. Two questions:
1. Is there a way to hide it too and get what was promised in the ads?
2. How much exactly is lost? Looks like the real resolution is less than 320*460 :(
 
A quick measure with my ruler makes the screen area 8 cm long, and the status bar 5 mm long. That would make the status bar a 16th of the screen height. 480/16*15= 450.
So anyway I reacon the screen is 450x320 without the status bar, making the status bar 30 px high.

When it comes down to usual usage, yes the status bar stays there (and is incidentally very helpful, especially with the graffiti area hidden)! However when looking at photos, and videos etc, the status bar can be made to disappear. So you can see, for example, true 480x320 photos, on screen.

iiicRuled
 
The screen resolution is indeed 320x480 (minus the status bar as iiicrules noted), however I don't see any reason you would want to get rid of the status bar. It's basically the only way you can navigate your device. Hiding it like Windows Task Bar would be nice in theory, however it makes no real sense as it would be quite awkward to 'unhide' it with a stylus.

Here's the best way to removed the bar...Go buy a Tungsten E. It doesn't have one. (Then again, it's grafitti area is built in so you get less screen real-estate. But hey, the status bar is gone!)
 
How?

And as for 'how would you live wintout a status bar?', I believe invoking it with a key when needed should work just fine.
 
The thing is, with old Palms there was a graffiti area. On that graffiti area were the "home" and "menu" buttons, amongst others, as well as the ability to enter data.
On the T3, you don't necessarily have the graffiti area, in which case the status bar is there to provide instant access to certain essential functions. (OS 5 gives you the ability to enter data without the graffiti area being open). Are you saying every time you wanted to access the menu, exit a program, or enter data, you would want to press a key to reveal the status bar and then click on the relevant funtion; instead of being able to access the funtion straight off? I wouldn't. I'm sure also that once you tried it, you wouldn't. I can understand your thoughts on this, but once you've tried it you'll realise it's essential and useful.
Incidentaly when the slider is shut, the screen area is 350x320, so you have access to the original 320x320 screen, with the status bar extra on the bottom.

As for how, I'll give you an example. I enter Splash Photo. I press on a photo. It appears fullscreen (i.e. the status bar has dissapeared.) Another example, I play a movie in MMPlayer. Upon entry to full screen mode, the status bar disappears. Upon exit of fullscreen, status bar reappears.

Hope that helps.
 
Don't like it - invoking full-screen graffiti causes palm to react to "ordinary" screen taps - buttons, selection, etc - with a noticable delay. I am using Graffiti1 - maybe this affects, but after toying with FS graffiti for a short time I've decided that this is not for me.


I definitely would. As a matter of fact, pre-DIA graffiti button functions can be accessed without a status bar - menu is invoked by tapping on a title bar, launcher - by hoding the select button.

IMHO screen controls using screen space *all the time* are evil and have no right to exist, especially on a small PDA screen.



Well, it is, but it is exactly what I feared - buy some more software :(
 
This is why on the task bar, there is a button to activate and deactivate the on-screen graffiti input. I switch it on and of a lot- I do it automatically in a split second.


Well as I said, it's not there all the time. The bar is much more useful than having one extra line to read in my e-books reader, or one extra line in memo pad.

But if it's not for you, it's not for you. That's fair enough. ;)
 
I agree with iiicrules. The status bar is essential. Go pick up a PocketPC, T3, T5, Clie, or any other device capable of virtual writing area is going to have some sort of bar like that. PPC has the infamous "Start" bar which displays all your programs. The PalmOS 5 devices with status bars use them to access common functions. I use the 'Screen Grafitti' on/off toggle all the time, just like iiicrules. In OS6 the status area will be somewhat customizable, being able to display Wi-Fi or smartphone-type information. It's also used to rotate the screen and give you detailed information about battery and memory.

Turning off the status bar wouldn't be a bad idea for things like full screen games, I agree. That's why it's possible for developers to turn it off. Even so, I would much rather be able to just hit the "apps" button rather than use a program's exit command, which could be buried deep within a menu, or some other screen.

Play with your T3 awhile longer, or upgrade to a T5. I think you'll find that the Status Bar comes in alot more handy than you may realize.
 
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