10-01-2002, 01:27 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 274
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Whats new in Pocket PC 2003 (!)
UPDATE: I took the freedom to update my imagined readme file from the "Im off to see the wizards" (page 8.) tread by Jason Dunn. The updated version corrected some spelling (im sure there is more) and added some features. Edits are in italic
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README FOR POCKET PC 2003
User interface
New Look and feel:
With a refreshed look and feel, the Pocket PC 2003 is visually more
appealing, easier to navigate, and completely customizable for a unique,
"personalized" look.
"Skin-able" Title bars:
Pocket PC 2003 comes with the same (compatible) theme support as its
predecessor but now also includes the 3D color settings for title bars you
may recognise from WindowsXP (Standard (blue), Olive green and Silver).
Better navigation:
New navigation methods allow users to utilize the multitasking in a more
effective way ("Alt+tab" functionality can now be assigned to a hardware
button). Power users can now permanently turn off smart minimize (to normal close/exit).
Battery monitor:
Pocket PC 2003 comes with a new battery monitor accessible from the
navigation tray. A click on the clock in the navigation tray unveils a baloon as before but now also with current remaining battery power visually presented as a bar with % of power remaining.
Notifications:
Improved snooze settings for tasks and appointements. Users of Microsoft
Outlook will recognize the same slots in the dropdown list as on their
desktop. Adible alarms are now repeating. Number of repeats and volume can be set separately via the "Alarm volume" slider in "Sounds and notifications" under Settings. We also added the ability to set excact alarms on tasks directly on your Pocket PC, wich of course is syncronised over to your desktop when you Active Sync.
Tap and Hold close:
Users now have the option to easily close an aplication (as opposed normal smart minimize) via tap and hold on the Close button (X) (Smart minimize if the user had swiched to "Close" as standard mode of operation for the close
button.)
Better support for left handed users:
The Pocket PC 2003 now supports scrollbars on the left side of the screen.
Input methods
Enhanched Transcriber:
European users will be excited to find out that the Transcriber handwriting
recognition software has been improved to recognize international characters
International SIP keyboard:
Soft input keyboard will now show the users correct keyboard layout
according to his/her settings in "International Settings"
Application enhancements
Workday settings:
Users will be pleased to find that "work day" in Pocket Outlook are now
seamlessly syncronized from Outlook on their main computer.
Improved weekview:
Based on user feedback, the improved weekview in Pocket Outlook now displays a clear and highly effective presentation of your appointements and tasks.
Subfolder Synchronization:
Pocket PC 2003 now supports syncronisation of subfolders for other Outlook items as Contacts, Calendars and tasks.
Organize your work:
Organize your work even better. Save and open files in multiple subfolders to the "My documents" folder. Organize your work the way you want it, the most effective way.
HTML mail:
For your viewing pleassure, Inbox can now display rich formatted HTML mail messages
Outlook Express support:
The updated Active Sync now supports syncronisation of mail and news from Outlook Express. Syncronized news messages is presented as a service to the user, seamlessly integratining with the users existing POP, Exchange and SMS (new) services
Updated Mediaplayer:
Pocket PC 2003 comes with Windows Mediaplayer 9.0 for Pocket PC (WIMP9PPC) with 3rd party codec support.
A better Pocket Word
Pocket Word is enhanched and now retains more formatting than ever, including tables, when converting documents from your desktop
Smile with Microsoft Messenger
The newest version of Windows Messenger now supports smilys and file transfers directly to and from your connected Pocket PC.
Enhanched Connection Manager
New applications:
The latest version of Pocket PC now comes with Microsoft Powerpoint Viewer and Microsoft Pocket Access, Microsoft Pocket Streets and the award winning Microsoft Money 2003 readily buildt in ROM.
Better Internet Explorer:
Internet Explorer is strengthened with higher encryption support, Integrated FTP (folder view) and support for browsing 2 websites simultanously. We have also strengthened Internet Explorers "Fit to screen" function and also added the ability to browse the web fullscreen in ladscape mode
Hardware
Xscale support
Updated support for xscale processors. Your new Pocket PC now actually runs faster than the old one :lol: (had to fit in a smiley there )
Integrated Bluetooth drivers
Basic bluetooth drivers integrated (Supports Active sync and Desktop
Pass-Through)
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NOTE: This is not what it looks like, and is just my personal guesses and
wishes (rant) as an entousiast.
Guess im just having a lill fun daydreaming of a perfect PDA.
Now did i forget somthing in my list? Feel free to jump on the wagon. 2003 or not,
wish for the future.
Kindest regards WillyG
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In times of change, its the learners who will inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to handle a world that no longer exist.
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10-01-2002, 03:21 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 646
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Let's see...
How 'bout
Full MS Office compatibility
POP3 email support from any POP3 email program
likewise for html, imap, etc
MP3 conversion from CDs
the list could go on and on
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10-01-2002, 04:47 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 274
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Re: Let's see...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ironguy
the list could go on and on
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Exactly my purpose of this post. Im curious what other "fella" Pocket PC users want to see in Microsofts next release of PPC.
Microsoft is holding their cards tight, and not releasing any "thought food". Do they know what we want? Or where we want to go today? :lol:
Keep the ideas and thoughts coming.
__________________
In times of change, its the learners who will inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to handle a world that no longer exist.
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10-03-2002, 01:27 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 9
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Upgrade Speculation
Do you assume that it is safe to believe that the next version OS will be available as an upgrade to any Xscale processor unit currently available?
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10-03-2002, 06:12 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 274
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Re: Upgrade Speculation
Well, i would expect that since we are talking software here.
Taking into consideration Microsofts requirement regarding the PPC2002 devices regarding beeing flashable.
I hope they get an update out soon. Its kindof frustrating that my new beautiful LOOX is slower@some.tasks than my old 3660 iPAQ :?
Does anyone know or have heard any rumor out about an interim patch/update with support for the new processors (before the next major release)?
__________________
In times of change, its the learners who will inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to handle a world that no longer exist.
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10-18-2002, 08:42 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 345
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Support for more PCcard devices e.g. A portable DVD player for those long trips
__________________
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Hamletwww.coreyjf.com
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10-18-2002, 09:47 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 174
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Higher resolution displays a la Sony Clie. Some people need to visualize a lot of information on the screen, and 320x240 just doesn't do it. Anything higher would be useful.
__________________
Charles Pickrell
Sacramento Mobiole Computing SIG
A chapter of the NorCal Mobile Computing SIG
www.mobilecomputingsig.com |
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10-18-2002, 10:24 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,506
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This is just a repost of my earlier thoughts. I didn't want to write another long winded post:
Here’s my list of things that need to be done to improve the PPC experience. Many of these items are things that I’ve touched upon before, so my apologies if I sound like I’m repeating myself (I know, I never do that).
* Improve the UI. If the plan is to keep the current UI, then a number of features need to be added. First, an option should be added to allow the X button to actually close the app down at the user’s discretion. Having multiple apps open at one time can quickly overwhelm the OS and bog the system resources down. “Smart minimize" is smart in name only. This is a very inefficient solution.
* Multitasking: The current method for multitasking is simply worthless. The row of six icons at the top of the start menu only represent the last six apps accessed from the start menu or Programs folder. They don’t indicate which programs are currently running. As I see it, there are two opposing solutions to the multitasking and app handling dilemma. Either have a separate “minimize” button next to the close button. And then place a tap’n’hold function on the minimize button to activate a pop-up menu that lists all currently running apps with an option to “close all”. Or leave the current UI as is, and build a “tap’n’hold function into the close “X” that toggles the same afore mentioned list of apps.
* Add an option to the Start Menu settings called “Expand Menu items”, which enables cascading menus. This will appease folks like Rob Alexander who prefer the old school way of doing things.
* The Programs folder also needs some help. Why not add a “sort” feature to this folder to show “Games, Apps, Utilities, and so on. Instead of burying everything away in subfolders. This makes accessing applications much faster.
* Work with third party developers to create a set of tools that make porting PalmOS apps over to PPC simple and seamless.
* Launch PPC as the official Xbox Mobile gaming device platform. Create a scaled down version of DirectX for WinCE.Net (and PPC) and set up a list of standards that game developers must meet to qualify for the Xbox moniker. Game developers can sell their products on SD cards in blister packs hanging in retail stores shelves right alongside Xbox gear.
* A marketing campaign (TV, print) needs to be put into motion, presenting PPC to consumers. Why not market the Pocket PC as a “Lifestyle” device that puts “Your life, in the Palm of your hand”? Some glitzy TV commercials would be a good start.
Start pushing PPC devices into locales other than geeky consumer electronics stores. Retail stores like Target are a good way to target mainstream consumers. And put in-store displays similar to Palm’s old showcase displays that used to appear in Staples.
* Tie Pocket PC into Microsoft’s MSN services. Create a special section of MSN’s web site for Pocket PC users that offer Windows Media Content and other goodies only to PPC users. The official club for PPC users. The current “Club Pocket PC” is not effective at all. Work with partner sites like PPCthoughts to offer daily news and contests.
* Windows Media Player for PPC is in desperate need of an overhaul. Speed improvements are needed, but most of all it needs to be seamlessly tied into Windows Media Player on the Desktop. Maybe having PPC sync to WMP the way Apple’s iPod automatically syncs content and playlists to iTunes would be an excellent way to simplify and improve the multimedia experience offered by PPC.
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10-18-2002, 11:04 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 110
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Two things on my wish list for Pocket Outlook.
1. I like to have my sent mail with me as well as Inbox plus sub-folders. Sometimes I send an email and then arrange a follow-up meeting to discuss it - so it's good to have the sent box on my PPC. Currently I can only do this via an Outlook rule to copy (move doesn't seem to be available!) from sent items to a sub-folder called "sent items".
2. Far more thought being put into wireless e-mail. I'm not sure what currently happens on a wireless email sync but the whole process takes far longer than surely it could do. Why can't there be more sync options? For example - from (one extreme) full sync (ie check both the device and server for differences and delete/add both ways for full consistency - this is what seems to happen now) through to (other extreme) "just give me the headers since the time we last sync'd 30 minutes ago". Maybe there could be other options in between (headers vs full message etc). If you actually use GSM based e-mail (as I have for the last four years) it gets really frustrating having to choose between sorting through emails that could have easily waited until I was back in the office and regularly checking in case there's something important there.
As an extension of 2 - it would also be good if Bluetooth was smarter. If I use a T68 with a bt enabled iPaq - why can't the iPaq check for what's been updated to the t68 before connecting to my mail server? So the iPaq gets any new information from the T68 and only then looks for new information from the server.
I haven't upgraded my phone contract to GPRS (as I still use a Nokia 9210 as well!!!) so maybe this works better. However, I suspect it only helps partially. In the main GPRS is just changing payment by time connected to payment by data volume. Obviously this does mean that you can (server permitting - and assuming you're not moving in/out of coverage!) stay connected. Presumably, therefore, the full sync only needs to happen on initial connection. But I still think it would be far more sensible to only full sync on request.
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10-19-2002, 12:29 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 431
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for me i just want microsoft to make support for xscale processor, and a better media player for now. because at some time i quite disapointed for the fact that pogo flipster play a better video than my beloved ipaq 3900 series :x
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Be careful with what you wish, it might come true!
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