Native (high-resolution) VGA on WM5 VGA devices – the long-awaited roundup and tutorial!
It has been a year since I’ve published VGA demystified - the definitive guide to OzVGA, SE_VGA and everything VGA-related (alternatives:MobilitySite, AximSite (the x50/x51 forum; the Tips and Tricks forum), PPC Magazine, FirstLoox, BrightHand), the definite guide to the native VGA mode. As the in the meantime released Windows Mobile 5 requires so-called ‘code signing’ for these kinds of things to work, there has been a lot of confusion about how WM5 devices should be run in native VGA mode. The situation was made even worse by the fact that AKU2 ROMs and ROM upgrades, released earlier this year, also added some new icons to repertoire of Windows Mobile, which resulted in old hacks’ not working flawlessly.
Because of the tremendous (and because I’m one of the guys that know the most about the secrets of the native VGA mode) demand for a new, updated version of the above-linked VGA demystified guide, I’ve allocated some time to elaborate on this subject a bit and to test all the currently available solutions and hacks. This means I’ve tested all the available hacks on all my three VGA WM5 Pocket PC’s (HP iPAQ hx4700 (2.01), HTC Universal and Dell Axim x51v (A12)), taking a LOT of time and effort (because I’ve kept hard resetting these devices between installing other hacks).
First and foremost, now that there are some really nice packages (I'll also refer to them as "OzVGA builds" or "versions" as they're all contain the OzVGA front-end to switch between the two VGA modes and for configuration) to make the installation easy, using the hack on WM5 devices is in no way more complicated than on the previous operating system version WM2003SE.
Note: The tested & linked distributions are only meant for US English devices!
As the vast majority of the Pocket PC’s have an US English ROM (and I, having no WM5 VGA devices with other languages, couldn’t test other versions), I’ve only linked in US English native VGA versions. Do NOT try to install the above-linked versions on anything else (for example, a French or German PDA) because the native VGA mode won’t work!
To get versions meant for Pocket PC’s having ROM’s in other languages, please read AximSite forum member makuu's excellent tutorial. He's already built a French package.
If you have a Dell Axim x51v (including the latest, A12 ROM version),
First, you’ll need to get and install this certification CAB file. Then, get and install this CAB file. You’re set: you can now use OzVGA to switch between the two VGA modes (see its icon in Start Menu/Programs).
If you have a HTC Universal or an HP iPAQ hx4700 updated to WM5,
you’ll need to use this file. As opposed to the x51v version, no separate certification import is needed.
Note that, on the hx4700, it’ll mess up some of the dialogs; for example, the iPAQ Wireless dialog will be displayed two times: once pixel doubled and once in the upper left quarter of the screen. It’s the latter that you’ll need to use. Also, the built-in, simple HP Today plug-in, TodayPanel, will use oversized icons. You will want to disable it and switch to something better (please see this article (alternates: MobilitySite, AximSite, PPC Magazine, FirstLoox) for alternate Today launcher/meter plug-ins). Still, it’s much better than the x51v-specific CAB: using the latter, the HTC Universal won’t display the speaker, the phone and the battery icons and the hx4700 won’t display the speaker and the connectivity icon. Also note that, fortunately, as opposed to the x51v / Universal (screenshot of them here), the Power applet is displayed properly.
If you have another WM5 VGA model,
give a try to the second-linked CAB file first. If you don’t see some icons on the taskbar, give a try to the x51v-specific version.
Please also post your remarks on using these OzVGA builds on your particular VGA device (if it’s not one of the three VGA devices I’ve tested the builds on)!
Always remember to backup!
Much as it’s very rarely that installing these applications can cause any harm to your Pocket PC, remember to backup before installing them. This is of particular importance with non-tested VGA Pocket PC’s, where you may end up having to switch to another OzVGA version. Then, you may need to hard reset and restore your previous backup to get rid of a particular OzVGA version.
To backup your device, I recommend the latest, 3.0 series of SKTools (review here), Spb Backup (current version: 1.5) or Sprite Backup (current version: 5.1) (comparison here).
MSN Messenger and Transcriber compliance
These two apps were rather problematic with earlier versions (Transcriber with WM2003SE and Messenger with earlier WM5 distributions). Now, both work flawlessly.
I’ve tested MSN Messenger on the hx4700 and the x51v; both worked fine.
Transcriber works on all the three devices without problems (Universal screenshot here; it, incidentally, also shows the “incoming, unanswered call” icon is also displayed on the taskbar).
Other links
To understand the differences between the two (native and SE/standard) VGA modes, how OzVGA can be used, how you can swap the on-screen keyboard files etc., you will want to read the first-linked VGA demystified article.
Also see this AximSite thread on the x51v and this XDA-Dev thread on the Universal/hx4700 CAB. Note that the latter thread has a lot of additional, useless information and you will NOT need to read it to be able to use OzVGA. My old VGA demystified article will be sufficient for most people.
UPDATE (09/06/2006): PPCT Frontpage
UPDATE (09/07/2006): added a link to makuu's new foreign-language tutorial.
UPDATE (09/23/2006):: in this thread, there are some additional CAB files you;ll want to install if you have a non-hx4700 device. They will fix the power / brightness / microphone settings applets. (On the HP iPAQ hx4700, you won't need them.)
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:approve:
SolSie
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Thanks very much and it works fine in my x51v.
The only small problem is that the on screen keyboard is too tiny to function well for me. Is there any way to make it original size as in QVGA?
Thanks very much
Sheng, please check out this thread.
How do I install an rar file? When I tap on the rar file (axim x51v file) I get a message saying "There is no application associated with "MakuusRealVGA". Run the application first, then open this file from within the application"
Please help me remedy this situation,
thanks,
dave
Un-RAR it first. On the desktop, you can use many tools for this (for example, WinRAR); on the Pocket PC, with for example UnRAR for Smartphone (I know it's for SP; I've tested it on the PPC and it worked.)
for x51v,A12, when trying to download the first vga cab, it downloads and opens as text. when downloading the 2nd cab, i'm given the option to save as normal. why the text on the first cab? btw, I see this every once in a while. tia.
pcb, the first is an uncompressed CAB file, the second is a RAR file. The Web server considers the first textual and the second binary. Therefore, you'll need to use a browser that supports saving the contents of a link. There are some of them on the Pocket PC (for example, NetFront, the PIEPlus PIE plug-in etc); on desktop Windows, just right-click the link and choose Save As.
Great Helper !!!!
I'm in Hongkong....
Enjoy !!
On my Fujitsu Siemens N560 the second linked cab file ("a HTC Universal or an HP iPAQ hx4700 updated to WM5") works unbelievably great, thanks.
Bravo! That's solved my daily work as I do PDA web development and I was forced to use a 2003SE X50v to do high res screen dumping.
Now I can use my WM5 upgraded hx4700!
Great work!
Hi!
I want to thank you so much for making my little thingie work under WM5 - as I always told people asking me for WM5 support - it's just a matter of getting the right resources:pics and dlls into the package and I haven't got WM5 device to experiment on.
I am really glad that community went ahead and did a great job for the project picking it up right were I left it.
Thank you!
Oleg
You're welcome and, as usual, congrats on your excellent apps :)
Hi,
just to check the order I should do things in for Dell Axim X51v:
Download the .cab and .rar file mentioned above, and install these.
Then download OzVGA053.zip and install this (from the ozvga project page).
Am I correct in thinking that I don't need the VgaRes.zip file (from the ozvga project page)?
Is that the correct order, or should I install OzVGA053.zip first?
Thanks...
Is there a way to convert a German O2 Xda Neo to exhibit menus in English?
Can this be used on HP Ipaq hw6945?
I would like to have more screen resolution (more space), and smaller fonts, the "screen settings" of this device allow only too (almost invisible) small fonts...
JEA, this can only be used with VGA devices.
If you prefer high-quality web browsing on your screen, you may want to check out Thuunderhawk - they may have already come out with a square screen-compatible version.
How do I uninstall and go back to the original screen size on an X51v?
Alternately, How can I increase the fonts/sizes at least a little bit. In the default settings everything is way too small.
Shawn, just click the OzVGA icon (or start the EXE) and, then, click the SE_VGA button inside.
As far as setting the font size is concerned, please read my original (WM2003SE-related) native VGA article linked from the current one
The server is not responding when I go to download the cab files for my x51v! I can't download the files. Help!
I'm really new to thi stuff. I have an x51v and need step by step install guide. Is one available? Thanks!
Apologies in advance for a bit long story!
I have ipaq hx4700. Just installed OzVGA-HTC-Univ-WM5-Khashim.rar recently. Few question:
1. Should I installed VgaRes.zip will all *dll's and *.gif's? I assumed that this is only for SE2003 devices.
2. After restart/switch between SE/ozVGA everhing is OK but once the device is switched off and on the icons in the START menu looks distorted/dissapearing (sorry for lack screenshot but dont know how to do it). Is there a way to fix it?
3. Does VGA described themes worked in native VGA mode? It seems to me that most of them formed just a tile in the middle of today screen. How to stretch them to fit the native VGA screen?
Many thanks!!!!
Andy (Melbourne)
Additional comment re problem #2. Top bar (where start button and clock are) is affected as well. It is becomming more and more striped every off/on cycle until it is unreadable and requires reset. Same "progressive" destruction applies to start menu icons (NOT the programs names) and today screen icons. Will appreciate any advise. THX
Aussie_Andy, I'm afraid I can't help. I'm pretty much sure it's one of your apps (most probably, a Today plug-in) that is causing the problem.
Try temporarily disabling all your Today plug-ins to see whether the problem goes away.
THX Werner for quick response! After careful elimination process I have found some stuff I put on my PDA a while ago called "enhanced resolution". After updating with AKU3.5 all my problems seems to be solved. Just las q: Is Rhinocode known to cause any peoblems with ozVGA or AKU3.5???
Dunno about Rhinocode's native VGA compatibility. If you futher encounter problems and can't pinpoint the cause for them, let me know and I explicitly install Rhinocode on my hx4700 to find out how it behaves together with ozVGA.
Hello,
I'm working on an application for Windows Mobile 5 devices. Currently the software works only with PDAs having a 320x240 resolution, and I would like to support PDAs with a native resolution of 640x480 as well (dell axim x51v, for example). I would like to know if there is a relatively simple way we can have the screen resolution behave as a 320x240 screen when the application is loaded. Do you have any direction on how this can be done?
Thank you,
Daniel
Will this work on an updated X50v using the X51v version? I just updated my X50v to WM5 and want Real-VGA back.
What can I do for the HTC Advantage with a huge screen and just larger icons instead of more content? It running WM6.
Hello:
I also have a HTC X7501 Advantage.
I tried the old SE_VGA hack from my
Dell X50v, but it doesn't work. I
have read the posting above, but
none seems to give any info that
would work on my X7501. Is the a
"Real VGA" hack that will work on
it?
Thanks.
I might be misunderstanding this, but will this help with video playback performance?
DmdFreak, nope.
Thanks for the details!
Has anyone tried the CAB file on your HTC Advantage X7501? (Athena or Amio). Did it prove successful and wihtout any glitches?
Thanks!
Din
I just updated my X50v to WM6 (A03). Will the WM5 hack for X51v work for it? I'll probably give it a try to find out.
DaedalusIcarusHelios, I think it will, but I can't guarantee anything.
Yes, realvga works on HTC advantage but not all softwares will behave properly. For example, the comm manager will be messed up and need to be replaced by other comm manager. Go to xda-developer for a fuller description. Otherwise it is really good. The limitation is of course the lack of realvga themes.
Has anybody tried this on an HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion?
Abe, you can't - the rx5915 isn't high-resolution (VGA).
Tried the OZVGA package on my X51V, and cannot see Contacts (momentary flash when I tap it), and PIE claims memory full when I try to go to preferences. Most fonts are too tiny anyway. How about a package of fonts/dlls, etc for the half-VGA mode? I manually set that in the registry, and that is just about the perfect resolution, just like my Palm TX (think that had the same issue with Contacts not appearing).
FWIW
Has anybody tried on an HP
Has anybody tried on an HP iPAQ 211, the new one with WM6?
Have fun!!
Abe