BackMute v1.2

by John Pane


This free hack intercepts the playing of all sounds except for system feedback sounds. It mutes the audio, and inverts the backlight for the duration of the sound.

BackMute is based on TaleMute. Users with TaleDevices may prefer to use TaleMute or the auto-detect enhanced AutoTaleMute.

Like TaleMute and AutoTaleMute, BackMute will intercept the alarms generated by the new Datebook application (OS 3.0 and later), as well as the alarms generated by the Pager Card.

BackMute is distributed as Freeware. You may run this program without restriction, however you may not distribute it for profit.

Requirements

BackMute requires HackMaster, which is shareware. I encourage you to register your copy of HackMaster if you use it with BackMute.

BackMute requires a PalmOS device that supports backlight.

BackMute is compatible with all released versions of the OS through 3.2, and all PalmOS devices that support backlight including the new Palm IIIx, Palm V and Palm VII.

Details of Operation

BackMute is a HackMaster hack. After installing BackMute, you control its operation by turning it on or off inside HackMaster. BackMute has no configurable options.

When it is active, BackMute patches two operating system calls that applications might use to play sounds: SndDoCmd and SndPlaySmf. When either of these routines is called, BackMute intercepts the call, mutes the audio and inverts the backlight for the duration of the sound.

Note: by design, BackMute does not intercept the playing of system sounds, such as the clicks and beeps that are played in response to user-interface activities.

BackMute attempts to match the duration of the sound. Thus, you can adjust the amount of time that the backlight is inverted by selecting a sound that has a shorter or longer duration.

Disclaimer

This program is distributed "as is," in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty; not even the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Credits

The author would like to thank Dante Jones for his assistance in bringing this program into existence.

Download BackMute

Download BackMute in .zip format.

Download BackMute in .sit format.

Contact Information

The author can be reached at: JPSoftware@pane.net.

The latest version of BackMute can be found at: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pane/bm/

Version History

v1.2: Work around a problem on the Palm IIIx where the sound did not mute properly, and correct some bugs in the behavior when the backlight is already on.

v1.1: Initial public release.

Copyright

Copyright (C) 1999 John Pane
All rights reserved.


PalmPilot Software by John Pane

  • AutoTaleMute
    Redirects alarms to TaleDevices, with auto-detect.

  • TaleMute
    Redirects alarms to TaleDevices.

  • FlashLight
    Activates a TaleDevice while the Palm V hardware contrast button is depressed.

  • BackMute
    Redirects alarms to Backlight.

  • SilentRadio
    Disables Palm VII wireless chirp or another selected midi sound.

  • John Pane's Home Page

    JPSoftware@pane.net (last modified on 990629)