Getting The Big Picture - A Look at Windows Mobile 6 Caller ID

[Mike Temporale]

With the latest and greatest version of Windows Mobile finally starting to appear on the streets, I thought it would be a good time to go back through my complaint bin and see if anything has changed. First up, Call Display.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-CallerID-WinMo2003se-Portrait.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br />The look of days gone by. The incoming call screen from Windows Mobile 2003 was nothing fancy. At least it showed you the number, right? ;)<br /><br />For those that might not recall, I've written two previous articles on the subject - the first one related to Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition devices, and the second one was focused on Windows Mobile 5 devices (Of course, this is on the Smartphone side only). The end result is that Microsoft chose a poor template to use as the default, expecting that the carrier or device manufacturer would customize this setting. In the end, I don't think any carrier ever touched it - beyond changing the colors. <br /><br />So, has anything changed? Does Windows Mobile 6 have a better template? Let's take a look at the before and after images. <!> <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20051213-CallerID.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br />Windows Mobile 5 was the first release where Microsoft had added in support for Contact pictures that are stored in your Outlook contacts. Until now, caller ID was only available as a third party add-on. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060628-CallerID-MotoQ.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br />Six months later we started to see devices with landscape screens hit the streets. These devices didn't make any better use of the space available for displaying a picture. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070628-CallerIDWinMo6-Default.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br />Which brings us to today. In my opinion, Windows Mobile 6 is a significant improvement. The pictures are larger and the screen space is used in a much better fashion. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-CallerID-WinMo6-Portrait.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />While I will give credit to Microsoft for improving the default template, there is still lots of room for improvement, like adding user customizable (via XML) caller ID screens. Or maybe just a couple templates that we can choose between. I'm sure those ideas are years away making it onto our phones. For now, I am happy that there is a more realistic caller ID layout. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070628-CallerIDWinMo6-Original.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20070628-CallerIDWinMo6-Final.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />For the record, I did have some problems getting the image sized just right. I took the picture using the camera on the device and found that it wasn't sized or aligned very well at all. So I had to transfer the image over to my PC and crop/resize it down to 77x106 and then load it into my Contact card in Outlook. Complete the sync and then everything was working nicely. It would be nice if there was a built in tool that would allow me to zoom and crop the picture I just took so that it would fit nicely in the Outlook contacts field.

[Janak Parekh]

Great article, Mike!

One feedback: next time, could you just blur the content instead of whiting it out? If the text (or a blob) isn't there, it's hard to tell the full extent of the changes and spacing over the versions.

thanks,

--janak

[Prosper]

While I will give credit to Microsoft for improving the default template, there is still lots of room for improvement, like adding user customizable (via XML) caller ID screens.
It's possible to use the homescreen xml file to customize the caller ID screens. I think there's also a way to do so using a xml in the Windows folder (so it isn't homescreen specific), but I don't remember the exact file name...

[onlydarksets]

Thanks for the comparison pix! Someone could make a fortune by replacing the caller ID screen with one that is customizable, but that also uses the in-built PIM data store. I don't think Photo Contacts lets you do that, I don't want to maintain this outside of Outlook.

[onlydarksets]

It's possible to use the homescreen xml file to customize the caller ID screens. I think there's also a way to do so using a xml in the Windows folder (so it isn't homescreen specific), but I don't remember the exact file name...

I thought that was just for the Missed Calls screen - not the separate Caller ID screen?

[Prosper]

I thought that was just for the Missed Calls screen - not the separate Caller ID screen?
It is - I think it's often called "In Progress" plugin. It let's you display a seperate background image, and the number that is calling. Though no pic of the contact that is calling (I think.. could be wrong though).

//edit
MS calls it the "Call Progress" plugin. Check this MSDN page (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms839391.aspx), right under table 11 (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms839391.aspx#sp02homescreen_topic12) for more information.

[Rocco Augusto]

I know WM6 has basic image editing abilities similar to WM5. It should be similar to the method I used when writing this article (http://www.nerdofsteel.com/basic-image-editing-with-wm5) :)

[Mike Temporale]

//edit
MS calls it the "Call Progress" plugin. Check this MSDN page (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms839391.aspx), right under table 11 (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms839391.aspx#sp02homescreen_topic12) for more information.

Call Progress would be a different screen - that's what you see while the call is connected.

[Mike Temporale]

next time, could you just blur the content instead of whiting it out? If the text (or a blob) isn't there, it's hard to tell the full extent of the changes and spacing over the versions.

Good point. I can do that. I might even be able to update these pictures. We'll see if I get a chance later tonight.

[Prosper]

Call Progress would be a different screen - that's what you see while the call is connected.
Oh sorry - mixed these two... :?

[Mike Temporale]

Oh sorry - mixed these two... :?

No worries. You got me really exicted for a minute. :mrgreen:

[bradmatejo]

I would love to have some options on layouts with varying pic sizes and justification (left, right, center, topright, midright, lowerright, etc)
And why not allow a full-screen pic with the caller ID info on top of it? I mean, if the pic was taken with the phone it'll be sized right. Just like using a pic for your homescreen bg. Isn't that the way photo caller ID is on most "dumb" phones?

[Prosper]

BTW

The German SDA II (I think it was a HTC Hurricane) provided a tool, with which you were able to modify the caller ID screen. I think it was a T-Mobile app, since the phone was T-Mobile branded.

[Mike Temporale]

BTW

The German SDA II (I think it was a HTC Hurricane) provided a tool, with which you were able to modify the caller ID screen. I think it was a T-Mobile app, since the phone was T-Mobile branded.

A long time ago, HTC bought a company called IA Style. IA made applications for Windows Mobile devices. The caller ID you see on HTC devices is the result of that purchase. Same with the file explorer, the task manager, etc... The extra apps on HTC devices are from IA Style.

To the best of my knowledge, there has not been any manufacturer or carrier that has adjusted the default caller id screen provided by Microsoft. Which is too bad, since Microsoft only does the most basic theme required and expects the carrier or manufacturer to modify it. :?

[yslee]

Oh no that's not true. You should see the incoming screen on my i600. It's totally trippy man!