Clock won't completely dim out in bedside mode

**blackrocker** · 11-12-2011, 01:44 PM

Once I plug in the charger my 9860 goes into bedside mode - clock pops up and soon dims. More times than not, it stays illuminiated dim and won't blank out. I have found that if I exit bedside mode and then re-enter bedside mode while plugged into the charger that it often blanks completely out within 15 seconds or so. Shouldnt the screen go completely blank all the time soon after being place on the charger? I have 7.0.0.440

**Swamp55** · 11-12-2011, 02:35 PM

The expected behavior is for the clock display to dim, but not blank, in bedside mode. My 9850 is functioning as expected, running .374.

Has anyone else experienced what the OP is seeing using .440?

**blackrocker** · 11-12-2011, 02:45 PM

I didnt know the clock staying on dim was 'expected'. The disturbing part is the lack of consistancy - sometimes it blanks out within 15 seconds of initially placing on the charger, other times I have to cycle out and back into bedside mode for it to dim out to blank. My goal is to have my phone automatically go to 'phone only' profile to eliminate sms and email notices and for the screen to black out when I charge at night. My 9700 did just that, I thought that was normal.

**Pete6#WP** · 11-12-2011, 02:52 PM

In Clock, Options, select the When Charging drop down tobe Enter Bedside Mode

scroll down the screen until you see Bedside Mode.

Check all three boxes there

Disable LED
Disable Radio
Dim Screen

Make sure that you have no 3rd party screen blankers or autostabdy/autolock software enabled to blank the screen. I use Addonis to force my phone into Standby 50 seconds after the screen blanks and this option sometimes needs disabling when I use Bedside Mode.

**Frank2029** · 11-12-2011, 02:53 PM

Mine always dims out. Always has on my Storms

**Swamp55** · 11-12-2011, 02:56 PM

See this link:

Turn on bedside clock mode - BlackBerry Torch 9850/9860 Smartphones - User Guide - BlackBerry Torch Series - 7.0

In describing this BB function, the User Manual states: "You can set options for bedside clock mode so that you can view the clock without being interrupted by incoming calls or messages."

The display options available for the clock in Bedside Mode include dimmed and not dimmed. A blank screen is not expected. (There have been some earlier releases of the OS, including OS5, that had bugs causing the blank screen issue for some devices.)

**bobaloo** · 11-12-2011, 03:16 PM

By exiting and going back in, you're taking yourself out of the bedside clock and just opening the clock app. The clock that displays when you plug in the charger is the only way to get it to stay on. If you back out and open the clock, the screen blanks out just as it would in any other case. Unplug and plug back in to get clock to stay lit all night.

This is consistent.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**blackrocker** · 11-12-2011, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by bobaloo

By exiting and going back in, you're taking yourself out of the bedside clock and just opening the clock app. The clock that displays when you plug in the charger is the only way to get it to stay on. If you back out and open the clock, the screen blanks out just as it would in any other case. Unplug and plug back in to get clock to stay lit all night.

This is consistent.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

When I exit from bedside mode, I just dont re-open the clock app, I also hit 'menu' and 'enter bedside mode' again - not sure if you understood the senerio I previously described.

**blackrocker** · 11-12-2011, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by 4Q2

In Clock, Options, select the When Charging drop down tobe Enter Bedside Mode

scroll down the screen until you see Bedside Mode.

Check all three boxes there

Disable LED
Disable Radio
Dim Screen

Make sure that you have no 3rd party screen blankers or autostabdy/autolock software enabled to blank the screen. I use Addonis to force my phone into Standby 50 seconds after the screen blanks and this option sometimes needs disabling when I use Bedside Mode.

From what I just read, 'Disable Radio' will eliminate phone calls to, sounds like they could have chosen a more appropriate name for eliminating phone calls.

**DoctorNeutron** · 11-12-2011, 03:29 PM

I love these forums - the clock and its bedside behavior for S2 were a minor problem, not part of the real critical issues when RIM boffed the clock support well after its initial release.

The truth: the 9850 is a BlackBerry and we CrackBerrians want it rite - not as an afterthought like for many phones that may or may not ever get working rite.

For me, this IS a critical issue and eventually you will get it rite: clock dims, but you can see the time and navigate around in an otherwise dark room. Also, you should be able to control voice and message reception at this critical time. My preference is to leave calls and messages ON. We are talking roughly 33% of the realtime behavior of our Berrys. Good luck. Doc Neutron

**blackrocker** · 11-13-2011, 03:25 PM

I found a simple work-a-round. When you plug in your charger and 9860 goes into 'bedside mode', simply press the screen lock at the top and the screen goes blank right away. In addition to a blank screen, the results I'm hoping for is zero texts, emails, or any other audible notification throughout the night with the exception of incoming calls. I'll let you know if I find otherwise. Thanks for you're opinions.

**BEARD GANG** · 11-13-2011, 05:53 PM

Never had this problem

**jelp2** · 11-13-2011, 06:44 PM

Since the days of my original Storm, my clock always fades and goes to black. I wouldn't want it any other way. I like a dark room. If I want to check the time, I reach over and push a button.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**TurboTiger** · 11-13-2011, 07:21 PM

If you guys remember, the most recent official OS update to for the VZ Storm2 (.1015) hosed the bedside mode screen dimming feature.

Good Luck

**Swamp55** · 11-13-2011, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by TurboTiger

If you guys remember, the most recent official OS update to for the VZ Storm2 (.1015) hosed the bedside mode screen dimming feature.

The screen dimming (not blanking) feature worked fine on my 9550 using the final Verizon .1015 OS. One of the earlier OS releases, however, (I can't remember which one) caused the screen to intermittently blank out instead of dimming.

**blackrocker** · 11-13-2011, 08:42 PM

I think the most disturbing part is that directly under the 'when charging' place phone in 'bedside mode' is a check box that says "dismiss clock automatically" - why isn't this occurring?

**Swamp55** · 11-13-2011, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by blackrocker

I think the most disturbing part is that directly under the 'when charging' place phone in 'bedside mode' is a check box that says "dismiss clock automatically" - why isn't this occurring?

The Dismiss Clock Automatically setting just determines whether the clock app is closed when the phone is disconnected from the charger.

Here's a nice CrackBerry video describing various settings of Bedside Mode:

A Quick Look at Using Bedside Mode on your BlackBerry | CrackBerry.com

**ross778** · 11-13-2011, 11:06 PM

Mine dims but stays on. This has been this way for me on the Tour, Bold, and now Torch. The same happens for everyone that I know that has a blackberry with the bedside mode feature. I set the profile for phone only while in bedside mode.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**blackrocker** · 11-14-2011, 06:12 AM

So, I guess its perfectly ok for the screen to be illuminated, albeit dim, for 6-8 hours and will cause no harm? I shouldn't loose sleep over this bedside mode, but for the past 2 years my 9700 would dim for 10-15 seconds and blank out every time I placed it in the charging cradle - I got used to that and liked it that way too.

**CharlesH** · 11-14-2011, 01:23 PM

What hasn't been mentioned in this thread is the notion of "Smart Accessories" in OS7. With OS7, the charging dock is not just passive passthrough from the charger; it is recognized as a device in its own right. When the charging dock is plugged in the first time, you need to go to the Smart Accessories option screen to tell it what you want to do with that specific device. To get the legacy behavior (what you get when you plug the charger directly into the phone), you tell it to "launch clock". Otherwise, it will do NOTHING. The idea is to give you the flexibility to do something other than launch the clock, which can be useful if you are, for example, using the dock plugged into your computer as a synching station.

**rkopsie** · 11-14-2011, 03:15 PM

Yep +1 on the comment above me

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**blackrocker** · 11-14-2011, 03:31 PM

Are you suggesting that using a charging dock will open the door to options I can customize to my tastes that I don't currently have now charging directly from the supplied charger?

**CharlesH** · 11-14-2011, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by blackrocker

Are you suggesting that using a charging dock will open the door to options I can customize to my tastes that I don't currently have now charging directly from the supplied charger?

Exactly. You can specify the app to launch (or none), the sound profile, and radio options when you drop the phone into the dock. Go to Options/Device/Smart Accessories with the phone in the dock and the dock plugged into the charger or computer. The dock should show up in the list.

**DoctorNeutron** · 11-14-2011, 06:44 PM

After patiently watching and working through this thread on several occasions,
I am reminded of Judy Collins's song "Hard Lovin' Loser". One verse goes

He's the kind of guy
Goes to drive a Maserati
Puts his key inside
The wrong little hole

Nuf said !! Doc Neutron (after ONE AND ONLY ONE glass of champagne).

**TurboTiger** · 11-14-2011, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Swamp55

The screen dimming (not blanking) feature worked fine on my 9550 using the final Verizon .1015 OS. One of the earlier OS releases, however, (I can't remember which one) caused the screen to intermittently blank out instead of dimming.

Swamp,

Are you sure you didn't use the hack (available somewhere on CB) that someone posted shortly after .1015 hosed the 9550?

Good Luck