Android Apps
LCD Density Changer super-sizes your screen (Root only)
September 7, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
Tools
It’s not enough for some people to have large screens; some want to pack in a few extra pixels and expand their viewing space even further.
LCD Density Changer can increase how much space is available on the phone by altering the density of the screen (root required). By changing the compression settings, the app creates an artificially high-resolution setting. In layman’s terms, LCD Density stretches a phone’s screen to create more room.
Lowering the density value will then expand the screen, allowing text to appear longer and not have to scroll or wrap as soon. It also increases spacing between home screen icons, which might come in handy if someone uses Multicon Widget or ADW Launcher’s columns change to pack in more shortcuts.
Be warned that LCD Density Changer may make the display look awkward or even create problems with certain apps/functions. It is advised that users create a Nandroid backup before installing the app and be ready to go back to the last known working conditions if problems arise.
Here are some comparison shots that show how LCD Density Changer affects the Android display.
Notice that top image, without LCD Density applied, fits only five columns while the bottom portion with density applied fits six .
Text in the Android Market is able to display without having to wrap lines around. This makes it possible to see the full app title and see more titles.
ADW Launcher allows users to create 5 home screen columns rather than the standard 4. The right side with density altered creates an effect that shows smaller looking images with better space distribution.
You get the point by now, I’m sure. More lines, wider space, and more information.
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Just to clarify, this in no way increases the resolution of the screen. As for “Super Sizing”, I think a more accurate description would be “Super Shrinking” your text and graphics.
Keep in mind that actual screen resolution is defined by hardware, there is absolutely no way software can increase res. Yes, the developers are tricking the device into thinking the resolution is higher than it is, but they’re not actually increasing resolution. I can only imagine they’re doing it this way because it was an easy method to achieve their goals of text and graphic smallification.
If you want smaller text and smaller graphics, this is the hack for you. Remember, nothing comes for free, the resulting text and graphics will be represented by fewer pixels, meaning text and graphics will have significantly LOWER resolution.
Actually the terms used in the article is correct. No one is saying the resolution is increased.
In fact all the app does it changes the density of the text/graphics to better match the actual screen resolution. Case in point : Compare the Dell Streak to the Nexus. They both have 800×480 screens, yet on the Streak it is obvious that because the screen is noticeably larger in dimensions, it's density has been tweaked to allow more text/graphics to fit. On Nexus, because if it's smaller dimensions, it's density is tweaked to be of a higher value to inversely result in bigger icons/text.
The resolution is still the same. Instead of a single straight line occupying 3-4 pixels across the screen, with this edit it not occupies 1-2 pixels across the screen. In a weird way, this is basically getting the same effect as what is happening on Iphone 4's retina display. By making actual text align more to a 1:1 pixel ratio, and especially on a smaller screen with the same pixel density, you get text that you cannot see jaggy edges on.
that's why I call it an artificial effect.
A bit off topic, but what's the wallpaper you have in the 2nd 2 screenshots? It looks like the Zune Desktop software – I really like it!
actually, you just reminded me of an article i was supposed to publish and just did. http://androinica.com/2010/09/07/10-great-android…
the wallpaper is called Living Music Wallpaper. a download link is available in the link that I just posted.
Awesome, you're a legend, thanks!
how to change the app resolution which are smaller in size after changing resoultion??
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Hi,
I tried changing the density of my Galaxy 3.later when i tried to restore default settings. The screens are not properly formatted. seems to be out of place. I tried resetting the phone to factory settings but didn't get the original settings back.
The dialer screen, the lock screens everything looks out of place.
never set the value to more then yours if you havent mechanic buttons
dont play with it if you have resolution 240×320
is there a particular calculation on how you go about with changing the lcd density? i use blade buddy but never had the the know how on change the ro.lcdensity andor the qemu.lcddensity values. any hint?
how can i restore it without backup? im using galaxy y and i tweak my lcd density using room toolbox?