New VGA Screenshots of PI & Pixel Doubling in PPC2003SE

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketinformant.com/p_pocketinformant.php?tab=2' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketinformant.com/p_po...rmant.php?tab=2</a><br /><br /></div>Alex (of Pocket Informant fame) dropped us a line to say that there are some new screenshots of PI available. These show Contact with mini-text and the Month View in very small, yet readable text. I’ve included a great shot below – it shows how you can clearly read all the appointments for a whole month on one screen if you have the eyesight to take it. :drool: In <a href="http://www.pocketinformant.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3482">this thread</a> Alex has posted pictures of various apps showing how pixel doubling works and how the Pictures app works on high resolution pictures.<br /><br />He goes on: "These are random VGA screenshots mainly showing how non-VGA enabled apps still get the crispness and high res ability in built in controls, but without taking advantage of VGA natively. The purpose of these pics is NOT to show how a VGA enabled app takes advantage of VGA: See - only the apps built in icons are low res. All the text is very sharp. If the app was VGA enabled, it could make the font size much smaller for far more data on screen as an option."<br /><br />So, VGA, rather nice then! :clap: Have your apps the same size they always were (with sharper text) or use a VGA enabled app and set your preferences - normal, small or tiny sized fonts & controls. I’ve always used a hack to decrease the systems font size, so it's going to be great to have these options. VGA, it’s in my future – is it in yours?

[PJE]

Very nice!!!

One thing that strikes me is the amount of space, especially in landscape mode taken up by the menu bars. I'd like the option to condense the bottom menu bars into one when running in VGA landscape to regain some of the useable space.

And also the option to reduce the size of icon bars. I know halving the size would make them tiny, but half height (32hx64w) or 75% (48x48) may make them usable and again free up more working area.

We also need a WisBar type application to show a half height top bar when running on a VGA display.

But even with those reservations, roll on the new batch of VGA devices....

[David Johnston]

Whoa, cool! I'm SO glad it isn't just a basic 'pixel doubling' and actually takes advantage of the increased resolutoin.

Good work Microsoft!

It should be pointed out though that the pic posted in this news article has downsized slightly and lost crispness (480x640 downsized to 400x533)- and so it looks a bit crappy around the text. The full-size images in the linked thread look a whole lot better.

[Jonathon Watkins]

It should be pointed out though that the pic posted in this news article has downsized slightly and lost crispness (480x640 downsized to 400x533)- and so it looks a bit crappy around the text. The full-size images in the linked thread look a whole lot better.

Ummm, I did actually state that in the post David :) :

Bear in mind I have resized the picture, the original is stunning).

And it certainly is stunning!

[Fishie]

Quote:VGA, it’s in my future – is it in yours?

Not really, ive been using it for a while now.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Quote:VGA, it’s in my future – is it in yours?

Not really, ive been using it for a while now.

But, logically - it *is* in your future, as you will be using it in the future! (Unless you would like to give me your E805. :wink:)

[Fishie]

Over my horribly disfigured but not quite dead yet body.

[davenicholls]

A question, does anyone know what the 'month view' actually looks like on a device?

That screen image is 72 pixels per inch, on a 3.5" 640x480 PPC screen I think that turns into around 228 pixels per inch. While the resolution remains the same, I don't think my (admittedly aging) eyes will be able to read them that small.

Using a different measure, those characters are about 5 pixels high, which turns into something 1.6 point text on a 3.5" screen.

Or is my maths at fault?

Dave

[David Johnston]

Ummm, I did actually state that in the post David :)

Apologies - so you did. Damn me and my ignorance of text over pictures! :)

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Wow....this looks great. I've been holding off on a PIM replacement for years although folks seem to swear by PI. These screenshots may "push me over the edge" and take a closer look at this.....wonder how this will look on the e805.....

Nice work WebIS!
:clap:

KCT

[Jonathon Watkins]

wonder how this will look on the e805.....

I rather suspect that these were taken on a e805, but I am assuming that you are referring to the 4 inch screen.

I saw a e805 in a store (John Lewis) the other day. It was smaller than I had been led to beleive......... (in total size, ie. a Good Thing")

[Jonathan1]

Alex (of Pocket Informant fame) dropped us a line to say that there are some new screenshots of PI available.


Jonathon, you are, IMHO, one evil sadistic little sucker. :twisted: I was so preped to get myself a brand new iPod sometime this summer and you had to go and show those pictures. Those pictures....those...beautiful beautiful pictures.....mmmm high resgoodness.... :drool: :drool:

iPod...2003SE....iPod...2003SE....iPod...2003SE...iPod....*Brain explodes from the stress*

[jlp]

Jonathon,

Why not publish it in full rez then, or at least put a link to the image as it's usually customary?!!

[welmoed]

So is this something I will be able to see/get/use on my existing iPaq 2215? I'm so confused about updates and ROM flashes and such. Is this what the ROM upgrade of two weeks ago will get me? I downloaded it but have been too chicken to install it, because it will mean having to reinstall all my apps; what a pain.

Thanks!

--Welmoed

[drop]

Wouldn't it be very hard on the eyes, given the screen size?

Or did I just date myself :wink: ?

[Marcel_Proust]

wonder how this will look on the e805.....

I rather suspect that these were taken on a e805, but I am assuming that you are referring to the 4 inch screen.

I saw a e805 in a store (John Lewis) the other day. It was smaller than I had been led to beleive......... (in total size, ie. a Good Thing")

I picked one up on the weekend, my Jornada 568 was finally giving up the ghost.
Impressions, like you, not as large as one would think, except the 4" screen, which is wonderful. CFII, WIFI, everything works perfectly, but the screen. It's hard to use anything in regular mode once you've used VGA, it's like having a tablet computer in front of you. I do think you need the 4" screen though. With MyVGA the only problem is that some programs, Inbox especially, the text is just too small and can't be increased. Once SE is out, hopefully this will be fixed.

[Jonathon Watkins]

So is this something I will be able to see/get/use on my existing iPaq 2215? I'm so confused about updates and ROM flashes and such. Is this what the ROM upgrade of two weeks ago will get me? I downloaded it but have been too chicken to install it, because it will mean having to reinstall all my apps; what a pain.

Sorry Welmoed, you only get VGA resolution if you have a VGA screen, and the 2215 doesn't. :? Anyone care to comment on what the 2215 ROM upgrade would give him?

[Jonathon Watkins]

Why not publish it in full rez then

Becuase it is larger than our max image width guideline of 400 pixels.

, or at least put a link to the image as it's usually customary?!!

It *is* linked - click on the title of the post - i.e. click on "New VGA Screenshots of PI & Pixel Doubling in PPC2003SE"

[Jonathon Watkins]

Jonathon, you are, IMHO, one evil sadistic little sucker. :twisted: I was so preped to get myself a brand new iPod sometime this summer and you had to go and show those pictures. Those pictures....those...beautiful beautiful pictures.....mmmm high resgoodness.... :drool: :drool:

You know, when Alex mailed us about this - he did say he was not sure if it was newsworthy. :rotfl:

Well, I know what things I like to see at PPC, and this is one of them. :mrgreen:

Me, one evil sadistic little sucker? Surely not! :angel:

:lol:

[Jonathon Watkins]

Wouldn't it be very hard on the eyes, given the screen size?

Or did I just date myself :wink: ?

Nah, not at all. :wink:

Well, that's why I would want a 4 inch VGA screen. I like the e805, but would rather like that new 520Mhz processor. Maybe Toshiba are planning a e810...... I don't know, but it will be interesting to see who next throws thier hat in the VGA ring.

[joelevi]

So is this something I will be able to see/get/use on my existing iPaq 2215? I'm so confused about updates and ROM flashes and such. Is this what the ROM upgrade of two weeks ago will get me? I downloaded it but have been too chicken to install it, because it will mean having to reinstall all my apps; what a pain.

Sorry Welmoed, you only get VGA resolution if you have a VGA screen, and the 2215 doesn't. :? Anyone care to comment on what the 2215 ROM upgrade would give him?

No, the ROM update that you got recently is just an update, not WM2003SE... That's going to be released "soon" ;) I'd hold off on installing it until HP releases WM2003SE... no need to reinstall all your apps twice... ;)

But you will get screen rotation... Hurray for landscape!!!

[Marcel_Proust]

Wouldn't it be very hard on the eyes, given the screen size?

Or did I just date myself :wink: ?

Nah, not at all. :wink:

Well, that's why I would want a 4 inch VGA screen. I like the e805, but would rather like that new 520Mhz processor. Maybe Toshiba are planning a e810...... I don't know, but it will be interesting to see who next throws thier hat in the VGA ring.

e800 400 mhz speed so far seems fine. a little bit slower in vga mode.
now everyone what about SVGA?

[joelevi]

now everyone what about SVGA?

I think they have that already: http://www.TabletPC.com ;)

[alex_kac]

Actually...I'll say that the e800 to me seems faster in High DPI mode than it did in plain VGA mode using Resfix. And that battery seems to run longer for me...I have it plugged into my laptop for hours on end doing testing with USB (I can't get the wifi activesync to work at the moment) and the battery is going strong.

Definitely PI's screens are faster. Possibly due to the ATI card's direct involvement. Not sure....

[imagine]

VGA is nice and beautiful..but when is the next gen of ppc's with this feature due out? april/may was supposed to be the a730 release, but i guess we'll have to wait till june, then another month for the wifi edition.

Still no news of prototypes from HP or toshiba though...

[PPCMD]

The VGA is nice but it will be sometime before the converged devices see either VGA or WMPE2003SE since some of us are still waiting for WMPE2003 thank you Verizon.

But I do have one question, the PI site seems fit to show screen shots of WM2003SE but they haven't updated (site still says) screen shots not updated for PI 5.0 I would like screen shots of that someday soon.

[ctmagnus]

Hmm...

These screenshots have different-style icons than PI5.02 build 0088 has. Is this a newer version that's still in the pipes, or a result of the new OS?