08-07-2006, 11:00 AM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Writing On Your Palm's Thoughts On Tweaking Windows Mobile 5
http://www.writingonyourpalm.net/2006/08/tweaking-wm5_115483522220737376.html
"We've all heard it. Windows Mobile devices are more powerful than Palm OS, but they're harder to use. I'm actually not sure how true either half of that statement is. My switch to Sprint's PPC-6700 had more to do with screen size and syncing with Vista 64 and Office 2007 than any disenchantment with Palm OS. PC Magazine's review of the Treo 700w said, "No perfect smartphone solution is available right now, in our eyes. For power, we'd recommend the Sprint PPC-6700 or its Verizon cousin. Both are smaller and lighter than the Treo and have Wi-Fi, a faster processor, and a bigger display than the Treo's, but they aren't quite as usable one-handed."
Jeff Kirvin as switched back to Windows Mobile after returning to the Palm OS camp for a few years and has some pretty good recommendations on how to make Windows Mobile 5 a bit more useful when used with one hand. One thing I would caution you on though. I have been looking for a decent "Profile" application for a while, similar to what the WM5 Smartphone has. I immediately tried the one he was recommending as somehow I hadn't seen that one before. Upon installation, it proceeded to shut down my bluetooth radio, increase the volume levels on the phone and normal sounds to the maximum level, disable vibrate on my ringer and change the ringer sound. :evil: I am sure I'll find something else it did. I promptly uninstalled it, at which point it put back exactly zero of my settings. The first thing a Profile application should do upon installation is import your current settings as "Default", not proceed to put in place what a particular developer likes. I guess for now, I'll continue to use the limited two profile selection built into the Wizard.
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08-07-2006, 11:43 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,520
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Ed,
Have you tried PhoneAlarm? I haven't used it in a while, mostly because I haven't had a Phone Edition device. But once I'm converged again it will definitely be one of the first programs that I install.
__________________
Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii |
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08-07-2006, 01:24 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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I'm considering delving into the world of Windows Mobile (PPC) smartphones, but sadly the choices available today just aren't that compelling to me. The HTC Wizard/Apache never held much interest for me, and I have a strong mistrust of any device that has movable parts...they wear out over time. So that whole slide-out keyboard thing is lost on me. Also the design is simply too thick for my tastes.
So what does that leave me with? The HTC Prophet is a rather anemic device, with weak voice quality (from what the reviews say). So that's off my list.
The only device that looks really compelling to me is the Asus P525...but God knows when that unit will even begin shipping. And when it does finally arrive, I'll no doubt need to purchase a UK model because the darned thing will never officially reach North American shores. Grrrr!!!!!
The HTC TyTn looks vaguely compelling to me (I stress vaguely) but there's that blasted slide-out keyboard and chubby form factor to contend with!
*Sigh* what's a boy to do? :roll:
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08-07-2006, 02:01 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 454
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Me too! My old Orange Smartphone (c500) is breaking down, but I don't want any of the current devices enough to pay or get into a year-long contract for one.
I've been using an Acer n311 since Q1 this year, and loving it. The only thing missing, which would make it the only device I carry, is telephone/SMS capability. So I do finally see the merit of a converged device, but the crop of mobiles fails me on one of two points:
- Size. Those fat 'exec' things with the flip-around screens are like a briefcase for your pocket. A I would never, never use that keyboard for lengthy input. I'd rather it wasn't there.
- Tiny QVGA screen. I write on my Pocket PC, so I need a full-sized, VGA screen.
I haven't heard of any upcoming devices that fit into the Pocket PC Phone Edition sort of category, so I guess I'll stick with my two-device setup.
(I did buy a Motorola L6 for its flat form factor, but it was an awful, awful phone. People couldn't hear me on it, and the interface was painful to use. Suddenly I appreciated the Smartphone UI, which I hadn't been terribly fond of before!)
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08-07-2006, 02:15 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by hamishmacdonald
(I did buy a Motorola L6 for its flat form factor, but it was an awful, awful phone. People couldn't hear me on it, and the interface was painful to use. Suddenly I appreciated the Smartphone UI, which I hadn't been terribly fond of before!)
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Same here. I purchased your phone's sexier sibling, the SLVR L7, to carry around on weekends and occasions when I don't want to lug around a bulky smartphone. Much to my horror, the phone proved to be a true piece of fecal matter. Motorola's UI is a train wreck. The entire software experience is probably the worst among any mobile platform I have ever encountered. As a result I recently purchased a Nokia E61 smartphone, which is essentially a Blackberry done right. It's the finest smartphone on the market right now, and an absolute steal at $350.
But I do miss having a full PDA environment complete with touchscreen...hence my interested in WinMob PPC phones. I held on to my Treo 650, but without WiFi, it's little more than a paperweight.
Isis, hear my cry! Build me a compelling Pocket PC phone!
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08-07-2006, 02:48 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Phillip Dyson
Ed,
Have you tried PhoneAlarm? I haven't used it in a while, mostly because I haven't had a Phone Edition device. But once I'm converged again it will definitely be one of the first programs that I install. |
PhoneAlarm is actually now better than it has ever been. With the recent introduction of "PhoneAlarm Lite", and PhoneAlarm's subsequent porting over to that codebase, it now runs leaner and faster than I ever saw with the 1.3 codebase.
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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08-07-2006, 03:31 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 454
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Is Isis the one we appeal to about these matters now? I would have thought Mercury, but they keep shuffling the departments around.
My Smartphone is acting like it wants be ferried across to the underworld.
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08-07-2006, 03:34 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 23
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My ETEN M600 have a useful 'Scenarios' (aka Profile) tool w/ 4 options (General, Meeting, Outdoor and Silent mode). Nifty built-in tool they got for ETEN devices.
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08-07-2006, 03:48 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,734
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Just to defend my flippy twisty Universal - yes its big, but then you do get that lovely full-sized VGA screen. Also the keyboard is very very usable. It has been very favourably compared to the Psion 5mx keyboard (not as good, but very close) and was thought to be the best keyboard of any currently shipping smartphone, suitable for legthly text input.
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/featu...n_the_west.php
Like a laptop, its very much best used sitting down, but if one-handed usage is not a priority then its the best writers PDA, converged or not, currently being sold.
Surur
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08-07-2006, 05:41 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 137
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Surur
Just to defend my flippy twisty Universal - yes its big, but then you do get that lovely full-sized VGA screen. Also the keyboard is very very usable. It has been very favourably compared to the Psion 5mx keyboard (not as good, but very close) and was thought to be the best keyboard of any currently shipping smartphone, suitable for legthly text input.
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/featu...n_the_west.php
Like a laptop, its very much best used sitting down, but if one-handed usage is not a priority then its the best writers PDA, converged or not, currently being sold.
Surur |
Sure, rub it in. Not only are they not sold this side of the pond, but there's no CDMA version...
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