WP7 Homebrew WIFI settings shortcut now available

January 3, 2011 | By Surur

CodeJoker, who have been instrumental in the creation of a number of homebrew apps, has just released another small utility reminiscent of Windows Mobile.

Their app is a simple shortcut to the WIFI settings menu on Windows Phone 7, saving exactly one tap. Of course if one toggle’s one’s WIFI constantly this may certainly be worthwhile.

Beau Allison is continuing his work, and his next project is a connection manager of sorts, combining WIFI and Bluetooth shortcuts. All the software of course needs developer unlocked devices.

Read more about his project at Codejoker here.

Leaving aside the debate about homebrew software, do our readers feel much need to switch their WIFI and Bluetooth on and off. I personally find power management is good enough on Windows Phone 7 that I am perfectly happy to leave both WIFI and Bluetooth running constantly, making this app not something I have been eagerly waiting for.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged homebrew, jailbreak, software, windows phone 7

j2inet

I leave Wi-Fi turned on. Since I use a lot of location services applications it works out better for me to leave Wi-Fi on since Wi-Fi location tends to give better results than cell tower based location and I may not always be in an area where I can get a quick GPS fix. Between the charger in my car and being at a computer most of the day for work I generally don't find myself worrying about battery capacity that much.
http://twitter.com/mayor4reel @mayor4reel

its sad to see software modifications to wp7 os made by homebrew developers instead of microsoft itself. It just makes me question microsoft's commitment to the infant mobile os.

Dave

I absolutely agree with you. Yes it is just a simple little setting, but when you add up all those simple little things that are not possible, they add up. After a few days of using my WP7 phone (LG Optimus 7), my Android Desire is such a relief because it does so much more. I'm really trying hard to like WP7, but overall the platform just isn't making it easy.

chmun77

Is still new. The C&P patch has not even been released yet. As compared to other requirements, having a shortcut to the connection settings is no big deal, at least for me. I agree that it will be nice to have, but not now. I will rather MS fix up all the other bigger bugs and functionality. This is a WANT, not a NEED.

As a matter of fact, at the very least WP7 does not send the sms to the wrong recipients as compare to Android, which the bug already exists since its birth.

chinch

YAWN.

saves one click.

if MS was wasting time on stuff like this WP7 would be doomed like wm was. thankfully sensible people are in charge of windows phone now.

President Obama

One click….LOL…..first you have to slide over to the programs list, then you need to scroll down two or three times to settings, then you need to click on Wifi, then you need to turn it on.
Dave

Are you sure about that one click, chinch?

First you need to swipe over to the programs list. Then you need to scroll down a couple of times. Then you need to click on settings. Then you need to click in Wfi, and networks. Then you need to turn it on.

chinch

i have deployed it to my focus. it saves one click. it simply opens right to wifi settings as opposed to opening settings then clicking wifi.

IT IS NOT A TOGGLE

if you pin both settings and "change wifi" you save ONE CLICK. Now you need two pinned tiles on frontpage if you want other settings handy.

as expected, the WP7 team's sensibility prevails. This is a "geek" setting an android zombie might lust after but in the real world not a priority, as i stated above.

Dave

NO….you are leaving out the part where you have to swipe over to the programs list, then scroll down a couple of times, then click on settings……this then gets you to where the shortcut puts you……….geee wiz….

and you don't need to put down others who see things differently then you. We all have different priorities.
chinch

you can pin "settings" just like this app. ONE CLICK SAVED.

Please be more informed if you wish to debate

KooKiz

I turn the wifi on only at home, so it's an app I was thinking about making myself. I'm glad someone else did
tom

I will certainly add this app to my phone when I can! Like KooKiz, I only enable my WiFi at home too so it will speed things up.
BCH

Don't really notice much difference in battery with Bluetooth and WiFi on or off. This was definitely not the case with Windows Mobile.

chinch

+1. also it connects instantly (wm took a half minute at times) and properly halts on power save so your battery life is spared.

overall there is no reason to turn off wifi for most people unless you're in the wilderness or constantly in wifi zones where you do NOT want to connect.

toddard

I turn off wifi at work since it requires a guest login ID and password each time the phone is turned on. At first I left wifi on, but the phone kept trying to use wifi (even though I wasn't logged in to it) and would not automatically switch to cell for data. MS should just allow me to tap the wifi indicator to toggle it on and off, or come up with either a time and/or location based awareness that I could use to configure settings based on when and where I am.
http://twitter.com/codeJoker @codeJoker

Thanks to everyone for their opinion. The real feat with this application was the ability to launch one of the external applications which is currently not possibly with the official API. This credit I give to RustyGrom.

The app mentioned above was for request I had received from a user. In terms of battery life if I turn off Wifi and 3G data I gain an extra few hours a day which is nice for the flick of a switch.
Davey

Toggle switch would be more useful. if its possible
http://www.facebook.com/Danny1966 Daniel Allemann

Would be nice, work it with HTC device.