When the NXT range was announced, many people wondered about the plastic strip that sits just above the capacitive buttons. In reading the original gumpf for the range, this strip contained some bits and bobs for the antenna and was referred to as the 'notification bar'. Of course, people took this at face value and assumed it really was a notification strip for SMS and the like. So far, so good, as the placement of the notification light on the Arc in particular was dumb.
Sad then, that my Xperia S didn't offer anything in the way of notifications through the strip, except for when I plugged the phone in to charge. SMS notifications etc still came through an LED, though this was positioned in a much better place on the handset.
Disappointed the notification bar didn't actually notify me of anything important - and didn't change colour like on the U - I was pleasantly surprised to read on Xperiablog about a third-party app from Rundgong that made the most of the bar.
The cunningly titled 'Illumination Bar Notification' app was released on June 11 2012, and allows you to light up the bar for SMS messages and missed calls. It's a fairly basic app on the XS, though it's a touch more elaborate on the U as you've got the various LED colour schemes to mess with. It does exactly what it says on the tin, it's a great little app and once again it takes hobby developers to really push the envelope for a Sony users.
The mind boggles as to why Sony never implemented this in the first place - yet another missed opportunity. I've a sneaking suspicion Rundgong way well get an email or twenty from developers on XDA and maybe even from Sony themselves, wanting permission to use his app. Here's hoping krabappel will incorporate this great app into his next ROM for the Xperia S, KA08!
