Chromecast screen saver

[Jequan_Sparxxx]

Hi,

Sorry to create a thread to ask this question but I couldn't find the answer anywhere.

Previously, whenever my Minix Neo U9-H would go into screen saver mode, it used to display random pictures from Chromecast or Chromecast built in or something.

However, since updating to Android 7, it no longer does this nor can I find a way to add it back.

Does anyone know how?

 

[ArcticWolf]

Hi,

Sorry to create a thread to ask this question but I couldn't find the answer anywhere.

Previously, whenever my Minix Neo U9-H would go into screen saver mode, it used to display random pictures from Chromecast or Chromecast built in or something.

However, since updating to Android 7, it no longer does this nor can I find a way to add it back.

Does anyone know how?

No need to apologise bud, (especially if you actually searched the forum first as many don't lol ).

What you're referring to is simply called "Backdrop", (or sometimes "Google Backdrop")....

....If you've replaced your stock official MINIX 6.0.1 firmware with the 7.1.2 CE ROM then the relevant package isn't included in the latter if memory serves. (The options for it are usually found in the device settings -> Display -> Daydream, then select your preference from there.)

(It was included by default in the earlier official MINIX firmware images for the U9-H but I think it disappeared from the official images too after FW006. Whenever I'd switched back & forth between the different ROMs for testing the U9-H etc., when done I always re-flashed initially with the official FW006 image specifically because it did still include the backdrop feature as I've always used it myself too . Then I'd just OTA the U9-H back up to FW008 again that way. (It's probably possible to simply pull the relevant APK itself from the official 6.0.1 ROM too but I've just never gotten around to it.))

It certainly has an awesome rotation of incredibly beautiful & interesting photos that are frequently updated doesn't it ? (Not sure why they now seem to have restricted the app/package to the actual Chromecast's themselves, or Chromecast enabled devices .)

Have a mooch around online using the search terms "backdrop" or "Google backdrop" for the APK, (or the specific package you want is "com.google.android.backdrop"). Give that a try & see if you can get it to successfully install & run with your 7.1.2 system . The package/version included with the earlier official 6.0.1 FW images is "Backdrop v 1.2.1" if that's also of any use. However, it certainly looks like there are some later versions freely available as well. (Try a couple of versions if one doesn't work for you initially.)

Hope that's a start at least. Let us know how you get on .

 

[Jequan_Sparxxx]

Thank you so much @ArcticWolf .

That actually makes a lot of sense. I felt like i used to see the day dream option but now I just see screen saver. It was driving me crazy but I couldn't remember what or how since it's been so long since I've modified it.

I'll definitely look around for the APK and see if I can get it or one similar to run on the box. Thanks again! I really appreciate it.

 

[ArcticWolf]

Thank you so much @ArcticWolf .

That actually makes a lot of sense. I felt like i used to see the day dream option but now I just see screen saver. It was driving me crazy but I couldn't remember what or how since it's been so long since I've modified it.

I'll definitely look around for the APK and see if I can get it or one similar to run on the box. Thanks again! I really appreciate it.

Thanks, & you're welcome .

Hope you're able to sort out either the backdrop package itself, or at least something very similar to it if the original is incompatible with 7.1.2 for some reason .

 

[Jequan_Sparxxx]

Thanks, & you're welcome .

Hope you're able to sort out either the backdrop package itself, or at least something very similar to it if the original is incompatible with 7.1.2 for some reason .

I was able to find and install version 1.4.0 successfully and can now see the option from the screen saver menu ?. I am able to select it and was also able to test it.

Now, I'm just need to find how to tweak the timing of when it gets enabled ?.

 

[Jequan_Sparxxx]

Ahhhh!!! So, "sleep" is the setting for when the backdrop kicks in ??.

Strange, I thought that would be when the box would go to sleep ?! Either way, you've fixed my issue @ArcticWolf .

Thanks again!

 

[ArcticWolf]

I was able to find and install version 1.4.0 successfully and can now see the option from the screen saver menu ?. I am able to select it and was also able to test it.

Now, I'm just need to find how to tweak the timing of when it gets enabled ?.

Awesome, glad you've found a working APK & the photos are displaying for you .

Check the droid settings, & go to the display sub menus. In there you'll hopefully find the settings for adjusting the daydream to display, & how long before both the daydream & sleep modes kick in. (Also check the standard Android settings interface as well, there may be additional options in there to configure the specifics for both the daydream & sleep modes. Hopefully, someone else reading this who does have access to a running 7.1.2 CE device can verify where things are for you if you're not sure .)

(I don't currently have my U9-H with the 7.1.2 CE ROM up & running to be able to verify the specifics for you unfortunately. (I'm trying to remember what options were available on the 7.1.2 ROM & my memory isn't really helping me at the moment at all lol.....))

Ahhhh!!! So, "sleep" is the setting for when the backdrop kicks in ??.

Strange, I thought that would be when the box would go to sleep ?! Either way, you've fixed my issue @ArcticWolf .

Thanks again!

No worries .

No, not quite lol.... "Daydream", & "sleep", are actually two separate & quite different things.


"Daydream" is the mode where the device will actually begin to display your screensaver of choice if you will. I.e. your "Google Backdrop" photo sequences will start to display at the set time interval. Or, before you installed the backdrop APK, if memory serves the 7.1.2 firmware still has the clock, colours, and/or the photo frame/photo table daydream's available to display, (does that sound about right?)

"Sleep" mode essentially puts the device into a standby state. (If the device has entered sleep mode, usually the blue LED on the front of the U9-H will turn green & obviously nothing will then display on screen at all until you wake the device again.)

Both should be able to be set independently of each other with completely separate timings.....

I.e. you can set the daydream backdrop photos to kick in after 15 minutes of no activity from you & they'll continue to display until there's activity from you again, or the device reaches the period of time that you have set for it to enter sleep (standby).

Sleep mode, again for example, you could set for say 2 hours. The device will then daydream as above showing your Google backdrop photos for those 2 hours & if there's still no activity from you with the device it will then automatically enter sleep (standby) mode.

Again, I haven't got a running 7.1.2 CE device in front of me to refresh my memory, so have another good look through the available settings as I'm pretty sure there were still separate settings for the timings of the device entering either the daydream (screensaver) or sleep (standby) states.

Make more sense now or even more confused lol??

 

[Jequan_Sparxxx]

Hahahah makes total sense @ArcticWolf and I recall it used to work that way (i.e. daydream after 5 minutes, sleep after 30 minutes) but for some reason on the current ROM, the sleep setting is the controller of when the "screensaver" turns on as there is no "daydream" setting. This setting can only be changed from "display" in settings menu as it does not exist in "display" in the droid settings menu.

I tested it by changing the sleep setting to 15 seconds and waiting to see if it would backdrop would come on or if the device would turn off.... after 15 seconds, the backdrop displayed lol. Same thing with the clock, colours or photos. Strange right??

I recently updated my X8-H Plus to 5.1.1 and it now functions in a similar way. When I try to click into "when to daydream" it just returns me to the previous men screen. It was configured to display after 1 hour and never sleep. But, since the update, I can no longer access the setting. So, I changed the timing of the sleep setting in the display settings menu and it now works. It also changed the text of the "when to daydream" setting to "after null of inactivity" lol.

I don't know why they now function this way but it works hahaha!

Hopefully this thread will help someone some day.

Thanks again!!i

 

[ArcticWolf]

Hahahah makes total sense @ArcticWolf and I recall it used to work that way (i.e. daydream after 5 minutes, sleep after 30 minutes) but for some reason on the current ROM, the sleep setting is the controller of when the "screensaver" turns on as there is no "daydream" setting. This setting can only be changed from "display" in settings menu as it does not exist in "display" in the droid settings menu.

I tested it by changing the sleep setting to 15 seconds and waiting to see if it would backdrop would come on or if the device would turn off.... after 15 seconds, the backdrop displayed lol. Same thing with the clock, colours or photos. Strange right??

I recently updated my X8-H Plus to 5.1.1 and it now functions in a similar way. When I try to click into "when to daydream" it just returns me to the previous men screen. It was configured to display after 1 hour and never sleep. But, since the update, I can no longer access the setting. So, I changed the timing of the sleep setting in the display settings menu and it now works. It also changed the text of the "when to daydream" setting to "after null of inactivity" lol.

I don't know why they now function this way but it works hahaha!

Hopefully this thread will help someone some day.

Thanks again!!i

Lol, well done . You've still found a reasonable workaround & you now have the backdrop actually functioning again, that's the main thing .

I thought something along those lines may be the case with the CE ROM but I just couldn't remember any specifics either way TBH.

The guys have done an absolutely awesome job with the 7.1.2 CE ROM as a whole & obviously they only have their spare time available to develop a finished product, not to mention they're also working on other CE ROMs for the benefit of others as well. Or, as you've also just highlighted, their past work on updated ROMs for some of the older devices too .

With this in mind, certain features do differ slightly to the official firmware images/ROMs. Obviously, MINIX also have significantly more time & resources at their disposal to perfect these smaller details in direct comparison.

As you've also pointed out, hopefully it may also prove useful to others in the future. (The backdrop isn't available with the newer U22 either, for example, & several users have requested its addition by default but they too may simply be able to follow what you've done here & apply it to the U22 as well .)

Glad you're sorted & happy