WM6 Today Screen auto-return problem

[Eriq Cook]

I use a T-Mobile Wing, but this "problem" also applies to all other WM6 Pocket PC devices with password enabled. The problem is that whenever my screen turns off after the set # of seconds (on battery power), when I turn my device back on it always automatically returns to the Today screen instead of the last app I was using. There seems to be no way to prevent this from happening. And before anyone responds it's NOT related to the Today screen time-out option. That option has no effect on this issue.

Picture this scenario: You downloaded driving directions on your device using Google/Live Maps, and you're in the car driving to your destination. Periodically you'll need to turn the phone on to see the next few turns. But each time the screen goes off after any # of seconds, when you turn the device back on, it automatically returns to the today screen, making you take your eyes off the road a few extra seconds trying to get back to the last screen you were reading. It's very irritating and there seems to be no way to adjust it.

I am aware that this only happens when you have a password enabled in WM6. Is this a bug? I see no reason to automatically return to the Today screen EVERY time after the screen goes off. Does anyone know of a registry hack to prevent this from happening?

One other question: Does anyone know how I can post feedback directly to Microsoft on issues like this related to Windows Mobile? Is there a link I can go to do this?

[Don't Panic!]

While you can't just post a comment like you can in forums like these the Microsoft Windows Mobile Team maintains a blog of their own. Windows Mobile Team Blog (http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/)

[phmurphy]

I would have to guess that if you need to have your pda password protected, then you wouldn't want it to pop open to the screen with all of your clients social security numbers etc. I don't think there should be a workaround otherwise you could break into any PDA.

Setting your power shutdown time to something longer might work for you. You could just disable the shutdown I think. I do that when I am doing GPS work and recording long tracks.

[Eriq Cook]

Setting your power shutdown time to something longer might work for you. You could just disable the shutdown I think. I do that when I am doing GPS work and recording long tracks.

Actually there's a known bug with the T-Mobile Wing that causes the shut-off time to automatically revert back to 5 seconds no matter what you change the time to. It works the first time, then for no apparent reason the setting changes itself back. So it's even more frustrating. I just deal with it :evil:

I think they should give users a choice on what to do when the password option is enabled.

[Sven Johannsen]

Picture this scenario: You downloaded driving directions on your device using Google/Live Maps, and you're in the car driving to your destination. Periodically you'll need to turn the phone on to see the next few turns. But each time the screen goes off after any # of seconds, when you turn the device back on, it automatically returns to the today screen, making you take your eyes off the road a few extra seconds trying to get back to the last screen you were reading. It's very irritating and there seems to be no way to adjust it.
You are concerned about the few extra seconds it takes to get from the today screen to IE (with google maps/live earth running) but you aren't concerned about the concentration and time it takes to punch in your security code? Your not concerned about the appearance of using a cell phone, i.e. dialing, while driving? Don't know what state you're in but many discourage that. Not sure your method of using the device for navigation, getting a route, putting it down, letting it go off, picking it up, turning it on, keying codes, etc. is the safest process.

Maybe you could invest in a cradle that supplies power to the device and puts it in a convenient position to look at it. With power applied you can have it not turn off at all, and hence not revert to the today screen. At minimum get yourself a car charger, and if you are going to be navigating, plug it in and have your 'on power' settting set to not turn off.

[Eriq Cook]

You are concerned about the few extra seconds it takes to get from the today screen to IE (with google maps/live earth running) but you aren't concerned about the concentration and time it takes to punch in your security code?

You do realize that it only requires you to type in the security code when the device is completely off (not sleeping) or off more than 2 hours, right? If I had to type in a password after each time the screen timed out after 10 or so seconds, that would be unmanageable. So not sure how that comment ties into this smoothly.

On top of that I only pull up driving directions if I'm on foot en route to the car (before leaving office for example) or at a safe stop in the car. Can you imagine the concentration needed to pull up driving directions while the car is moving? That's impossible without easily getting into an accident.

You are concerned about the few extra seconds it takes to get from the todYour not concerned about the appearance of using a cell phone, i.e. dialing, while driving? Don't know what state you're in but many discourage that.

Just FYI I use a bluetooth headset in conjunction with Microsoft VoiceCommand 100% of time, which is the #1 software app on my Pocket PC and it doesn't require me to take my eyes off the road. I just tap the button on my headset and start talking ("dial john smith" or "dial 720-888-9999"). That's pretty darn safe. I can't dial (or wouldn't attempt to) phone numbers by hand while driving because I'd have to look at the screen. And to throw it in this is the #1 reason I'd never get an Apple iPhone because it has no voice control whatsover (what were they thinking?).

I guess I could plug it in each time I get in the car to keep the device on. Not my #1 solution to this but it would work.

[RedRamage]

I have the same problem on my ASUS a696 (running WM6).

For me it's just annoying. If I turn off my device for a minutes and then want to go back to it, I get bumped to the Today screen no matter how long it's been off. Granted, this isn't earth shattering, but it's an annoying thing for me.

It is definitely related to the password protect function. When I turn that off, then I'm not bumped to the today screen. It's only when password protect is on that I get this issue.