Related
I had my XDA II stolen at gatwick airport last week (sniff sniff) and am now looking to replace it.
From the complete range of HTC PDA's the XDA IIi seems to be tickling my fancy the most but I haven't really come across a single comprehensive review.
So are people who have purchased it happy?
Whilst I am aware that there are problems with the camera I can live with it as long as it is not worse than the XDA II .
So what say you O Ye owners of the IIi?
Cheers!
I got mine last week and I'm honestly torn...
The camera is CR*P, completely so! But as I never used the one on the XDA2 for more than the odd picture message and photo record I'm not particularly bothered - though it's a cheek for O2 to pronounce it as a major step forward when in many ways it's a regressive one.
My major headache is the IR and Bluetooth...IR seems even worse now than on the XDA2 - unless I'm missing something - and the BT stack currently on my phone means I cannot use the O2 BT clip headset (made by iTech) due to this (in my opinion) stupid handsfree obsession. Surely it would be a good idea to have a headset AND a handsfree option that WORKS. I understand on some headsets it works a treat, but given I've got one being sold by O2 on their website I would normally assume it would work.
That said, the 2i is a great phone in itself and if I weren't already spoilt having had the XDA and XDA2 before it, I would be in absolute amazment.
They've finally managed to get the o2activeui thing in a state which isn't too bad and I may even consider keeping it - though it's harder to remove than in the past.
If you have to upgrade which it sounds as though you do given your circumstances, I'd choose the 2i over the 2s...at least the 2i is a better phone spec wise though without the keyboard (gimmick if you ask me).
Hope this helps (helped me to have the rant, anyway).
Cheers
Anthony
Thanks for the feedback Anthony. One thing that's slightly irritating me is a few places i've visited on the net state how previews often have some of the specs wrong on the O2 site it states that the IIi has 128MB SDRam and 128MB Flash......is this accurate?
Have you tried out the Wifi and if so what d'you reckon?
Does the faster processor make a noticeable difference? e.g on my XDA II I was running loads of today plug ins as well as several applications by default I'd do a soft re-set at least once a day
As for the IIs even though when I compare the II and the IIs side by side it doen't appear that much bigger it still has a bulky-ish look about it and I just don't find it appealing enough to contemplate a purchase.
Your feedback on the above would be appreciated
Cheers
This is on the box...
96MB ROM
128MB SDRAM
I have tried out the Wi-Fi and it seems OK to me, certainly it's a welcome feature. However I don't have a Wi-Fi card that I can compare experiences on...all I know is I didn't have one before and now I have a wi-fi connection. That can't be bad.
I don't have enough stuff loaded onto the phone to make a judgment on the processor. With the 2 I had lots of things running such as WeatherPanel and KitaraGenesis - also at one point Pocket Plus. From what I've seen so far the 2i does feel a bit faster...there's also a Turbo feature which does seem to further increase performance.
The 2i is exactly the same size I think, perhaps a smidge heavier. Having said that, if you compare most mobiles these days, the XDA series is no longer heavier than the majority. Besides, if you've got a PDA phone you're not expecting it to be light as a feather.
As I said previously, now you've got no option I would definitely go to the 2i...
Cheers
A
As to theWiFii hadaXDA2 witha SandiskWiFi Card, then changed to the XDA2s, then after 4 replacements i now have a XDA2i, ifind the XDA2i range and speed of reconnecting to WiFi very very good, the XDA2s worked as well asthe XDA2 + SD WiFi Card.
I like the 2ivery much, only problem is i gave away all my XDA2 bits when i got the 2s, so now i have lots of bits for a phone i dont have and a 2i with no spair bits, got i wish i haddent got rid of my old XDA2 bits
i still soft rest a few times aday, but i am used to donigthis now and dont have a problem doing it, The Bluetooth for headsets (jabbra 250) works as well on the 2i as it did on the old XDA2, where as the 2s was total crap
John
4 replacements???!!! care to elaborate?
Applecom, how do you find the camera?
Has the bluetooth improved at all? With my XDA II I also has a Jabra BT250 whilst I found it excellent at close range as soon as the device was in (or out) the metal proporta case and in my pocket I got alot of static...also can you now hear the different ringtones in your bluetooth headset or is it still the same generic one?
Finally, if I get the phone from O2 with their minimum line rental fee it works out to about 407 quid in total....anyone know of any cheaper places?
Thanks for the feedback once again guys.
After hearing about the new XDA2s i purchased a sim free PDA2k, but the microphone on it was crap and the bluetooth (headset) range was like 6 inches after that it sounded terrible.
So as soon as we could get a UK XDA2s we did ( we are a small phone shop) i got it sim free, This was just as crap as the PDA2k, Sothen i did a upgrade to a XDA2s with o2 Select, and of corse this was crap as well
(by crap i mean the mic was terrible people had problems hearing me, and the bluetooth headset only worked if you held the phone next to it, as a PDA it was sort of alright)
so after speaking to o2 about its problems and the fact the keybopard soon comes loose, it was changed probley every 2-3 weeks, never any better for phopne calls but of corse a new one the keyboard is still tight (for a while)
anyway after the 6th phone (4th o2 replacement) i changed it to a XDA2i
The camera in the XDA2i just gives a bigger crap picture, but at leat i can make phone calls on this one and people can hear me, and i dont have to drive down the road with my bluetooth ear piece in and have to hold the phone to the ear piece to use it
John
dear oh dear.....thats the strongest case i've EVER heard for NOT buying a phone... :shock:
Not to get on your nelly but can you now hear the different ringtones in your bluetooth headset or is it still the same generic one?
Cheers
Leroy
bump
my jabra 250 just makes the ring sound, just like on the old XDA2, no personalised ring tones, despite using IA Caller 1.2
Thank you all for the info
Does the movie function work better?
I know the camera makes a bigger "crap" photo but how is the video? On my XDAII, with all the today plug in's, the thing records crap even at the best settings. With a fresh ROM and nothing installed, I can get a decent video if I set the refresh rate and set it to daylight, (even for night shots), but after I install some programs, no settings can keep it from being choppy and slow or keep the sound in sync with the video.
Believe it or not, the video function, as bad as it is, actually saved my ass from going to jail.. If the XDA2i has better video performance, and it sounds like the BT is better, I want one... Is there any place besides eBay and O2?
Could someone tell us what version of the BT stack it is?
Any body try it with two serial ports yet? (One for a GPS and one for a Printer or POS device (like from Merchantanywhere.com).
Thank you for your time.
the bt stack on my xda2i is 1.0.0.3900
Mine is also 1.0.3900 and I can't use o2's bt clip headset with it....refuses to play ball yet others work fine.
Grrrrr
Need an update to sort this out.
By clip do you mean the earpiece, with a foot of wire then a clip on bluetooth reciever? If you do O2 sent one of them out to me but as i use a jabra 250 i never tried the clip thing.
Would you like me to try it with my XDA2i (also version 3900)
John
Have you made a decision on a purchase yet?
I have both an XDAII and an XDAIIi and would be willing to give some comparitive information regarding them. Or try to answer any specific questions you have about them.
On another note, what alternatives do we have here with regard to a Windows Mobile device?
Hi All,
I have been reading a lot of messages on both 8525 and 8125 trying to isolate the issue and there doesn't seem to be a straight asnwer anywhere and hence I am trying to get the attention of the users here...
I have a pioneer navigation system with a bluetooth built-in. My previous phone (blackberry) and my wife's treo650 both stay connected with car's bluetooth when on call (never a disconnect). But my new 8525 gets disconnected mid-call (usually after 2 to 5mins, but have also seen a disconnect within 1min). That is, it does pair with the car kit and when there is no call going on, the bluetooth connection never dies. This disconnect only happens mid-call, almost all the times.
I have the latest ROM (1,34.502...., radio: 1.16), got the phone about 2 weeks ago from Amazon.com. Called cingular and they say could be faulty phone and I have searched other forums like audi message board where their car kits are also having the same disconnect problem with 8525, so I doubt this is a single phone issue.
I have taken the 'band' hack and forced the phone to be in either GSM or WCDMA mode and in either modes, the phone still exhibits the same problem (there might not be any connection between the two at all, bluetooth with GSM/WCDMA, but thought there might be some weird connection...but not the case thankfully).
I read somewhere about some bluetooth tweaks on 8125, but never found what those were. I need some help here otherwise I am going to return the 8525 and stay away from it. I need the bluetooth to work efficiently.
thanks for all your help
Phal
San Jose, CA
please help
I really need some help, clue or direction on solving or at least isolating this bluetooth issue. I love the 8525 but if I cannot fix this bluetooth mid-call disconnect issue, I will unfortunately have to return, which I don't want.
What headsets the 8525 works fine with (no drops mid-call)? May be that is a starting point.
Please also give me some links to 8125 tweaks that some talked about? pof/other moderators/anyone?
thanks a lot in advance!!
Phal
I have an Motorola H700, and every once in a while it will disconnect, looking at the phone after that, BT is turned off, turn it back on and it works again...
There are problems with the hardware and the API used to access it, good phone, but I don't think it was ready for the market yet when they released it. It is likely to be corrected in the next ROM release, last I heard from Cingular is mid 2007, but by the way things go, prolly around late 07/early 08.
I'm having similar issues with the BT headset I use, which is a Samsung WEP150. It'll drop midcall to the handset. I'll look and BT is turned off.
The only remote correllation I've found is that it seems to occur when I've received a new email or something a la ActiveStink.. And I haven't really been able to confirm that... But I have definitely noticed it happening then though.
my 8525 does this as well with my factory BT in my 05 Acura TL. Kind of frustrating, have not been able to figure it out yet.
Problems w/ Audi BT as well
Same issues with my Audi Q7 BT. I have seen posts in this and other forums blaming the MS bluetooth stack.
My 8525 worked flawlessly with my Garmin NUVI 660, never disconnected or failed to connect automatically. This is frustrating.
8525 Fix
I had the same problem with the 8525 and my Pioneer Avic-Z1 bluetooth kit.
I hacked the registry to force the bluetooth radio to stay ON, rather than going into sleep mode. This seems to have fixed the problem (although with limited testing at this point).
My calls would consistently disconnect with 2-4 minutes. After the hack, I've had 2 45-minute+ conversations with no trouble.
Here's the fix... install a registry editor (like PHMedit), and add a DWORD here:
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\State\ Suspend
Add a DWORD called btl1: (note the colon, the colon must be there), with a DWORD value of 2.
Good luck!
My Q7 as well i took the advice of wolfgram and did this to my phone i will let you know how it works it would be a shame to give up this phone but it is really useless if this feature does not work right.
Well this is what i did i did what wolfgram said and it still cut out but not as much so i took the checks off in the advance power mode and never let the phone go to sleep and it works all the time. HTC needs to upgrade thier bluetooth setting not to go to sleep. It must stay active at all times MY phone book and all other info posted into my Q7 with no issues at all and it even sees the bluetooth b4 the MMI system in the car Boots up..
Lance
Resolution I think
I turned off 'Making device discoverable to other devices' and it seems to have solved this problem, I am using the phone with a parrot kit and it kept disconnecting now it works all the time.
Treo 750 doesn't have this problem
Well, hopefully you owners of Hermes have figured out the fix. I had to return it and now got the Treo 750 and can gladly say the problem is not there. The treo 750 has the v1.2, but I guess following the replies here, that possibly Palm fixed the problem by keeping the BT radio on at all times.
In any case, here is the post I wrote in avic411.com forum - if you want to see any follow up responses by other owners..
http://avic411.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=24170
cheers
Phal
Bluetooth cut out
I am having the problem too with the garmin Nuvi and the Tytn - which is ineresting seeing as how one poster had no problem with the Garmin device. Here is something else that is interesting - I did not have the problem when I had the HTC 1.18 Rom installed. After I flashed the HTC 1.35 Rom, the problem began. I have already tried upgrading my firmware on the Nuvi - that did not help. I also use a Nokia 800 bluetooth headset - and that never cuts out with either ROM. I will try turning off the bluetooth discovery first. If that does not work, will try editing the registry. Keep you posted.
Turning off bluetooth discovery did not work.
Turning Off Bluetooth Did Not Work For Me Either
this worked for me.....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=247520&page=10
drains the battery quicker, but no more bluetooth problems.....
Hey guys, has anybody found a solution for the auto turning off of the BT in suspend mode? its gettin really annoying
(I moved this out of the widcomm bt stack post)
How hard would it be, to write a semi-universal application for the WinCE environment, to simply emulate a router? I know a little C/C++, but nothing else. I say bypass this BT garbage.
What you would need hardware wise IMO,
Have GRPS/EDGE or some other true 3G data connection... and 802.11b or g, with a chipset that can go into AP mode (which I think I read that the wizard's chip technically can, and same with the H6315 25 45 models).
Then enough ram and CPU left over to do basic routing and DHCP to any clients around you. Viola, handheld, portable router all in one! It would sell like hotcakes, especially for some of our companies events (outdoor sports promotions). It would also make it very universal, at least to clients, if not a couple PPC servers with the right hardware.
I really really hate bluetooth. The ONLY bt devices that have not given me much grief, is an old Jabra Bt200 headset, and an altina USB GPS mouse (with iguidance mapping software). I have had 3 sets/brands of A2DP headsets, another USB mouse that never worked right, numerous dongles to numerous PC builds to share different things... all worked not at all or mediocrely at best. I have also owned an Axim X50, and and X5 (with CF bluetooth).
There is no standard interface, or guarantee with bt, it's just mostly bad luck and voodoo out of the box, and the company hoping you will forget to return their "best effort" product. I don't blame them. I blame widcomm, broadcom, and MS, for their stupid BT stacks, with separate capabilities, millions of version/build numbers, license issues, and general apathy for creating a solid standard product. In a way, MS tries to do this... by cutting out 90% of BT proported features it seems LOL!. If I wanted diversity (aka headaches) in something computer related, It would not be BT, it would be Linux, which somehow works most of the time, and if not, you can make it work... because it's OPEN. Dumb dll's.
This is worse than IRQ conflicts with ISA cards back in the early 90's. Then plug and pray came to save us... and it took like 6 years! How long has BT been out?
Werner, I've read about your PPC proxy thing, but I would like to use more than just HTTP proxy, I need to be able to orb, and try other things.
Thanks for the info new2city! (from old post)
So who remembers this? (I'm showing my age huh lol)
+++ATH0
NO CARRIER
This sounds like a very interesting idea. You may not even need a 802.11x chip that can do AP mode. As long as it can do ad-hoc, you should be able to do something simmlar to ICS in desktop windows.
Great news! Hope you do manage to do it!
I'm thinking it would be pretty hard to do or else someone would have done it already.
I had the same idea myself a while ago but as I have no PPC programming experiance I just let it go.
As 2007 draws to a close, I have - thanks in large part to the people here on this forum - got pretty much a perfect setup going. I thought I'd share it with you:
I use my Ameo mainly for organising my work and personal life (a Filofax replacement if you like). I upgraded to the X-Black WM6 rom provided by your goodselves and as a by-product had to unlock the beast with a well-known program also supplied here (programmer may be rude, but he is certainly talented). This enabled me to insert my work SIM and to fully utilse the exchange-based activesync provided from work.
- Work/personal life updates, sorted
- Work E-mail, sorted
I have set up my home e-mail as IMAP and the server there is configured to use dynamic dns. Home e-mail on the Ameo configured to use gmail as SMTP client, leaving it fully mobile.
- Home E-mail, sorted.
The Ameo is kind of clunky to use a a phone. Thanks to this forum I found the LG I-style to use as a handset (ebay) - by FAR the best option I have used so far
- Work/Home Phone, sorted
In the car I have Brodit holder wired in (using the much more elegant Dashmount bracket rather then the ungainly Brodit), giving me power and a great looking platform for GPS functionality. Also just installed is Blaupunkt radio with integrated bluetooth so I can utilise the phone "on the go". As I get in the car, turn off the LG I-style and the Blaupunkt connects in its place. Seemless.
- Car Phone, sorted
- GPS (car), sorted
For music on the move, I have an I-tec bluetooth/radio with some really decent earphones. When I am travelling listening to music, this can connect instead of the I-style, switching between music and phone calls
- Music/mobile Phone, sorted
And finally, in my airplane I have configured my Pilot knee-pad to use the magnetic points on the Ameo to hold it in place whilst I am flying.
- GPS (Aviation), sorted
So with all that in place, could it be better? Well I bought the Ameo in the first place due to screen size (for flying), so I am happy with that. The keyboard I love (ex Psion Netbook, so of course I would) and the ability to leave it aside when not required is great. The WM6 is a HUGE improvement in both speed and stability over the original ROM. The only thing I think I would alter is the micro-drive - would love to swap for SSD version to achieve lighter weight and speedier access time.
And what am I carrying? - well normally just the main unit (without k/board, slipped into inside pocket) plus the I-style hand set. In my briefcase is the I-tec and the headphones plus spare battery. Total weight around 400g and it will all fit into suit pockets without spoiling the cut (the beer-belly does that without any help)
Let me know if you have any thoughts for improvements. Either way, thanks for all your help, especially the talented ones (let me know if you appreciatee contributions as this sort of work should not go unpaid).
Have a great Christmas and a better 2008.
Robert
Thanks for the well-written info
This is a great post: helpful, informative, inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to give back to the community!
I might take a leaf out of your book and try some of your ideas. I have kept a bog standard Ameo from T-Mobile in the UK which I bought 6 months ago. I always wanted to try upgrading to WM6 but I haven't found anywhere that will walk me through step by step. I think you just convinced me.
The keyboard broke on my Ameo (now has poor connectivity) so I'm hoping to get a Bluetooth keyboard as a replacement for Christmas.
The microphone and ear buds also are a bit dodgy now - I bought a "Discovery 655 Bluetooth Headset" so I can make calls but I'm not too happy with it - I might get a "LG BLUETOOTH STYLE-i HBM-700 HEADSET" like you suggest.
I understand your reticence - I held back for many months before taking the plunge.
There are a few step-by-step guides to the upgrade (see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=347240) and it is worthwhile taking a few lunch-times to run through the threads here on the site. Then when you have a full evening spare, go through methodically.
Good luck
Robert
Mrsums said:
As 2007 draws to a close, I have - thanks in large part to the people here on this forum - got pretty much a perfect setup going. I thought I'd share it with you:
I use my Ameo mainly for organising my work and personal life (a Filofax replacement if you like). I upgraded to the X-Black WM6 rom provided by your goodselves and as a by-product had to unlock the beast with a well-known program also supplied here (programmer may be rude, but he is certainly talented). This enabled me to insert my work SIM and to fully utilse the exchange-based activesync provided from work.
- Work/personal life updates, sorted
- Work E-mail, sorted
I have set up my home e-mail as IMAP and the server there is configured to use dynamic dns. Home e-mail on the Ameo configured to use gmail as SMTP client, leaving it fully mobile.
- Home E-mail, sorted.
The Ameo is kind of clunky to use a a phone. Thanks to this forum I found the LG I-style to use as a handset (ebay) - by FAR the best option I have used so far
- Work/Home Phone, sorted
In the car I have Brodit holder wired in (using the much more elegant Dashmount bracket rather then the ungainly Brodit), giving me power and a great looking platform for GPS functionality. Also just installed is Blaupunkt radio with integrated bluetooth so I can utilise the phone "on the go". As I get in the car, turn off the LG I-style and the Blaupunkt connects in its place. Seemless.
- Car Phone, sorted
- GPS (car), sorted
For music on the move, I have an I-tec bluetooth/radio with some really decent earphones. When I am travelling listening to music, this can connect instead of the I-style, switching between music and phone calls
- Music/mobile Phone, sorted
And finally, in my airplane I have configured my Pilot knee-pad to use the magnetic points on the Ameo to hold it in place whilst I am flying.
- GPS (Aviation), sorted
So with all that in place, could it be better? Well I bought the Ameo in the first place due to screen size (for flying), so I am happy with that. The keyboard I love (ex Psion Netbook, so of course I would) and the ability to leave it aside when not required is great. The WM6 is a HUGE improvement in both speed and stability over the original ROM. The only thing I think I would alter is the micro-drive - would love to swap for SSD version to achieve lighter weight and speedier access time.
And what am I carrying? - well normally just the main unit (without k/board, slipped into inside pocket) plus the I-style hand set. In my briefcase is the I-tec and the headphones plus spare battery. Total weight around 400g and it will all fit into suit pockets without spoiling the cut (the beer-belly does that without any help)
Let me know if you have any thoughts for improvements. Either way, thanks for all your help, especially the talented ones (let me know if you appreciatee contributions as this sort of work should not go unpaid).
Have a great Christmas and a better 2008.
Robert
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
enjoy the phone and glad to hear another person is satisfied with this beast we call the athena.
It was kinda long fight but now i'm really satisfied with my Athena too.
The main reason for getting an Athena was the need to Remote Control of some Servers we got running under Windows and Linux. So i needed a device running Putty and Remote Desktop with UMTS speed.
A device with a Screen Resolution and Screen Size of the Athena is perfect for this.
When i got My Athena wich came as T-Mobile Ameo i was extremly disappointed with the T-Mobile WM5 running on it.
It was unstable, slow and nearly unusable for the things i really needed it to do.
So i tried the T-Mobile Upgrade to WM6 but still wasn't very pleased with it.
I decided to unlock the device and install the Athena Projekt Black WM6 ROM and it sorted out that running this ROM with RealVGA at the 128dpi setting made the Athena usable. It ran stable and with an acceptable speed but there was to much crap installed so i reinstalled the Athene Projekt ROM without the software in the EXTRom and finally had the device i wanted.
After setting up some extra Software like
- Navigon6
- Mort Player
- RemoteDesktop for WM6
- putty
- TCPMP
- HTC Home (the new one)
- Total Commander
- PocketVNC
- pBar
- Pocket CM (really stylish Contact Manager)
- PCM Keyboard (finally an usable OnScreen keyboard)
- SIM Display (really useful beacuse i use an Anlago DualSIM Adapter)
and some Registry Haking to get a German Keyboard Setting i had a really usable Device.
This setup runs for 8 weeks now. No Softreset since then, no SystemCrash.. just a really good working Device.
Usually i carry the Athena without Keyboard because the PCMKeyboard really works good and can be used with the fingers.
Only thing left is finding a good and usable Headset
If you know what to use it for, the Athena really rocks.
Hello all! I am curious if free GPS (no data plan, just free GPS service) is available on the HTC 8525? I am really liking the Tilt [8925] with the full-keyboard, GPS, wi-fi, and 3 Megapixel camera, but I see that the HTC 8525 has a full-keyboard, wi-fi, and a 2 Megapixel camera. I can live with the 2-MP camera, but I really would like the GPS for free, if possible. Is there a GPS freeware software made for the 8525? Could the 8925 GPS software be installed on the 8525 with no issues?
Sorry if this sounds too easy. I am very inexperienced in "modding" a cell phone (my latest is making an old Motorola v120e WAP-enabled -- 4 years ago before cell phone carriers charged for it!). Back to the topic, if the GPS software requires modding the 8525, I would like a "modding for dummies" step-by-step instruction in layman's terms, and hopefully a guarantee that it won't fry the cell.
Lastly, if anyone has the 8525, would you be so kind as to critique it, compared to the 8925 if possible?
Thanks in advance!
Sorry for any confusion here. I overlooked that the 8525 is made for T-mobile. I didn't win it or bid on it yet, though. I don't believe that it's unlocked, but I'm sure there are some unlocking software out there. Point being, is the 8525 really worth the effort in unlocking it to AT&T, or should I just stick with the 8925 Tilt? The biggest difference is the 8525 costs $169.78 (used), where the Tilt starts about $250 (used).
ohpfan said:
Sorry for any confusion here. I overlooked that the 8525 is made for T-mobile. I didn't win it or bid on it yet, though. I don't believe that it's unlocked, but I'm sure there are some unlocking software out there. Point being, is the 8525 really worth the effort in unlocking it to AT&T, or should I just stick with the 8925 Tilt? The biggest difference is the 8525 costs $169.78 (used), where the Tilt starts about $250 (used).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GPS software that you can use on the Tilt can be used on the 8525. That's not really the problem. The issue is that the 8525 has no built in working GPS hardware. So this means you have to use a small bluetooth GPS receiver. It actually works well but you have to carry the bluetooth receiver in your pocket / car.
Mike
Interesting! I never knew that Bluetooth GPS existed! A BT-359 costs $46.95, which isn't too bad.
Sorry to get slightly off-topic, but what are the requirements for a handset to have, to be able to use that Bluetooth GPS device? I have the Samsung A707 Sync currently, would it be compatible with that handset? If so, would I need to get on an unlimited data rate plan [$30/month], or just by buying the GPS device, it covers all costs to using it? Is the software to put into the Sync included, or do I have to pay for it? I just use the Sync for voice calls (no texting/data messaging), but a hand-held GPS is pretty cool, especially when it's built-in to the cellular phone!
Thanks for your help!
Sorry, can't say about your Samsung A707 but if you connect via bluetooth there are NO charges to use the GPS software (apart from getting the sodftware and maps) as long as its not something that constantly requires updating through the GPRS system. But thats just crazy to do... Better to get a standalone GPS program, I've got Tomtom, and purchase maps.
Cheers....
mikechannon said:
But the advantage of having a program that you can buy a map/s for is that it will operate more smoothly in my experience as the map is held in your device.
The GPS Sirf III receiver I use is:
http://www.blueunplugged.com/p.aspx?p=120534
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the info! This is still all new to me, so forgive any stupid questions. Is there a difference between different Bluetooth models, besides the obvious rechargeable battery or included AC or DC power adapter?
I'm still unsure how this all works. What exactly does the Bluetooth adapter do, if the maps are stored on the cell phone? Like does it have up-to-date POI (points-of-interest) or are those required to be downloaded?
By the way, I have decided not to go with the 8525 at this point. I am still considering buying a Tilt (8925) if the Bluetooth adapter sounds too difficult to match up to my cell phone. (I understand that neither of you know for a fact if the Sync can get the maps loaded into it.)
Thanks again for any new info!
As stated, I use a STANDALONE program... It has maps loaded onto an sd card and can be purchased from off Tomtom(if I wish to update to the latest).
As for the bluetooth adaptor, EASY to sync. Like a bluetooth headset with 1 or 2 more steps. I prefer my hermes to the tilt as /8925/variio III( the names go on 4ever) as it has EXCELLANT graphics drivers the other model doesn't, apparently there have been issues about this and it doesn't look like HTC give a damn about fixing it.
If the GPS is all you're after the bluetooth option is a good way to go but make sure you have at least 25 channels on your GPS receiver as I had a 16 channel receiver and it took up to and over 10 minutes to lock sometimes. Got a 52 channel receiver and it makes a HUGE difference. People say it shouldn't as there are only 25(?) GPS satellites but it makes a HUGE difference in lock time(< 1 minute) and signal strength...
Cheers...
Just to clarify a little for the Original Poster.
Because the Hermes does not have a built in GPS receiver you need an external one. So the Bluetooth receiver receives the satellite data and then uses bluetooth to beam the data to the phone. (it is not using bluetooth to receive satellite info, but using it to send the info to the phone).
Mike
ultramag69 said:
As stated, I use a STANDALONE program... It has maps loaded onto an sd card and can be purchased from off Tomtom(if I wish to update to the latest).
As for the bluetooth adaptor, EASY to sync. Like a bluetooth headset with 1 or 2 more steps. I prefer my hermes to the tilt as /8925/variio III( the names go on 4ever) as it has EXCELLANT graphics drivers the other model doesn't, apparently there have been issues about this and it doesn't look like HTC give a damn about fixing it.
If the GPS is all you're after the bluetooth option is a good way to go but make sure you have at least 25 channels on your GPS receiver as I had a 16 channel receiver and it took up to and over 10 minutes to lock sometimes. Got a 52 channel receiver and it makes a HUGE difference. People say it shouldn't as there are only 25(?) GPS satellites but it makes a HUGE difference in lock time(< 1 minute) and signal strength...
Cheers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the detailed reply! I don't currently own the Hermes 8525; I seen it on eBay for the price I mentioned earlier and was considering buying it. About 15 minutes later, I realized it's intended for T-mobile service, which I know can be unlocked to any SIM-card compatible company (i.e. AT&T/Cingular in the States) for a fee.
I am a bit unsure what you mean by "Standalone" though. I presume you don't have a "ready out of the box" GPS system with viewing screen, but the only other option I can think of is you put the memory card into the cell phone (or a PDA / laptop PC).
My Bluetooth-compatible cell phone has a MicroSD memory card slot on it, and I have the SD card adapter where I can put songs, pictures, and text files onto my cell phone via the memory card. Therefore,all that is needed is a memory-card compatible cell phone, and then download maps to the memory card and insert it into the cell phone. If that's the case, then I should be set! I would only need to find a Bluetooth GPS adapter (with 25 channels for best results). Am I correct on this understanding?
I heard that there are a few free map sites online, do they offer POIs for free too? I am going on my honeymoon in Los Angeles, CA and would really like to just use my cell phone with the above features on it with the Bluetooth adapter for convenience as well as not having to carry a full-size GPS with me.]
Another silly question, if you don't mind. Do the Bluetooth adapters work on more than one device at a time? For instance, my Sync A707 cell phone and my fiancee's Blackberry Pearl could each have a copy of the maps. Would the receiver work on both cells at the same time; or is it only pairable to one at a time? For the above scenario, we would have to both be within the amount of feet required to receive the Bluetooth signal, of course. [Since we're on our honeymoon on the other side of the U.S., I doubt we'd be separated that far away.]
ultramag69 said:
Just to clarify a little for the Original Poster.
Because the Hermes does not have a built in GPS receiver you need an external one. So the Bluetooth receiver receives the satellite data and then uses bluetooth to beam the data to the phone. (it is not using bluetooth to receive satellite info, but using it to send the info to the phone).
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that helped me understand it much better than before. Not to belittle ultra, but I was thinking the cellular phone had to have 25 channels, but he meant the Bluetooth adapter should have 25 channels for best results.
I am considering a Hermes and probably will be getting one shortly within a week. I am not the OP, but either way thanks for the info. Which TomTom version is best on the Hermes - and which reciever is best with TomTom. Or is there a better GPS software for the hermes. Thanks again for all the info. I have been active on the Excalibur section, but have been interested in getting a Hermes as my next phone.
To the OP, the 8525 is actually an AT&T/Cingular phone here in the US, not a T-Mobile. The Wing is the only PPC on T-Mobile. If it says T-Mobile -then it is unlocked as it already comes Cingular/AT&T capable.
es_bih said:
To the OP, the 8525 is actually an AT&T/Cingular phone here in the US, not a T-Mobile. The Wing is the only PPC on T-Mobile. If it says T-Mobile -then it is unlocked as it already comes Cingular/AT&T capable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that info! I read that on the eBay listing, I just presumed it was accurate on the listing.
If I can get the Bluetooth adapter to work on my current cell phone I won't need the Hermes (as I would have to buy that adapter anyways). My current Samsung Sync has a 2-MP camera and music player, so the only thing I would be adding is the full QWERTY keyboard with the Hermes. I don't really think the Hermes is worth the $170 or more to me just for the keyboard (for text messaging).
I do like the Wi-Fi on the Tilt, so that the keyboard would be useful, to type online. That's why I am still leaning toward the Tilt, not the Hermes, if I do upgrade my cellular phone.
ohpfan, is your mobile a windows os phone?
Thats why we are using GPS on ours. We can load the software on easily. You need to do a google search and find out if you can use the GPS software on your current phone. All phones are not the same and can't do everything another can. Nokia N-series has GPS, HTC too. You will have to check to see if yours is capable.
Cheers...
ohpfan said:
Thanks for that info! I read that on the eBay listing, I just presumed it was accurate on the listing.
If I can get the Bluetooth adapter to work on my current cell phone I won't need the Hermes (as I would have to buy that adapter anyways). My current Samsung Sync has a 2-MP camera and music player, so the only thing I would be adding is the full QWERTY keyboard with the Hermes. I don't really think the Hermes is worth the $170 or more to me just for the keyboard (for text messaging).
I do like the Wi-Fi on the Tilt, so that the keyboard would be useful, to type online. That's why I am still leaning toward the Tilt, not the Hermes, if I do upgrade my cellular phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you know that the
8525 has wifi
abc12345 said:
I hope you know that the
8525 has wifi
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Click to collapse
Well, geez that eBay member sure didn't do his research then! Thanks for that info too!! I even looked on CNet to compare models and it didn't mention the 8525 has Wi-fi in it.
To ultra: I will check tonight about if my cell can support GPS. Been a busy weekend here, so not much time online.
ultramag69 said:
ohpfan, is your mobile a windows os phone?
Thats why we are using GPS on ours. We can load the software on easily. You need to do a google search and find out if you can use the GPS software on your current phone. All phones are not the same and can't do everything another can. Nokia N-series has GPS, HTC too. You will have to check to see if yours is capable.
Cheers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just found out that the Sync uses a proprietary firmware, so I would say no to Windows OS . From my understanding, the Java in my Sync phone doesn't accept Bluetooth is why the GPS isn't able to work. Unless there's an updated Java that supports Bluetooth, I am not able to use my current cell. Which leads to the question: Is there a "universal" Java update for Bluetooth support, or is it cell phone specific?
OK, I found a nice price for a 8525 on eBay, only $115 (including shipping) for one that is sold "as-is," but it doesn't sound like anything other than a battery or charger is wrong with it. I purchased it, and should be shipped on Wednesday. I will keep you all informed on what happens with it when I get it! Once I get it working, I'll go for the Bluetooth adapter later on.
Just a little update ... there is another Sync user who is trying to get the Samsung u600 firmware "altered" so that the Sync can use the Bluetooth GPS adapter.
Hi, I'm back again, with an AT&T-replaced reconditioned 8525. It's really strange, that I've made a full circle once again, after about a month of asking this question! I am now a bit wiser, and hopefully not as naive, as before!
As mentioned in other threads, I've updated to WM6 already. I am back on eBay looking for Bluetooth GPS adapters. Ultra mentioned earlier to look for a 25+ channel model, which I found two that meet or exceed that data.
My research has found the lowest price [shipping/handling-included] at $39.90 for a BT-5 (12 channels); the next one up at $44.48 for a Sirf-3 (12 to 16 channels); and the last at $44.99 for a BT5721 (44 channels).
The obvious choice is the BT5721 for only $5.09 more than the cheaper BT-5 model, but has anyone had experience with any of the 3 models mentioned? Also, it seems that the TomTom brand is predominant in the U.S., but how reliable is the software -- does it hang, lock up, etc.? I don't want to first experiment with it on my honeymoon and get the other half upset for being lost in the 'hood.
I will consider any suggestions for what models to buy, be it from any of the 3 above, or other ones. I would like to spend no more than $45, as the BT5721 seems the best deal right now!
I sincerely recommend the one with the highest amount of channels. I know people will say that there are only 24 gps satellites BUT I had a 16 channel receiver and got BAD signal coverage (around urban environments especially). At one point my GPS software was telling me I was in the middle of Sydney Harbour (but to take the next right - don't ask me Tomtom did it...).
I updated to a 52 channel reciever and have had no problems since.
Others may have a different opinion but I believe the one with the most channels is money well spent, and the petrol you save running around in circles trying to get a GPS fix & trying to work out WHERE THE HELL YOU ARE (not to mention the high blood pressure and hair replacement costs) more than make up for the "extra" $$$$$...
Cheers...
ultramag69 said:
I sincerely recommend the one with the highest amount of channels. I know people will say that there are only 24 gps satellites
. . .
I updated to a 52 channel reciever and have had no problems since.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! After I posted on here, I located a 51-channel solar Bluetooth GPS -- the BT2.3MR (not available "Buy it Now" but first one I monitored sold for $56). To see the item I'm talking about, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Solar-Bluetooth-GPS-Receiver-51-Channels-free-ship_W0QQitemZ300246493051. Are there any issues with solar-powered GPS devices? Or are they too new to even get feedback on?
I will keep looking for a 52-channel GPS receiver, as I'm pretty frugal with my money on eBay. Thanks again!