Database Users

Jam vs K-Jam....

Hi guys,
what's the big advantage of k-Jam vs Jam?
I've got the Jam and I'm thinking about changing it with the k-Jam but I don't know if there is a real and valid motivations (money/features)...
P.S: The EDGE it's the big advantage I'd like to have...

there are good and bad points to compare,
however, i could not survive without the k-jam keyboard.
But now that i think about it,
A2DP is now available for jam but not for K-Jam

I went from C500 to Jam and then because I couldn't love the Jam, to the K-Jam.
For me, the keyboard is the big obvious plus for the K-Jam, but also the soft keys.
The two at the top of the screen can be mapped to Close and Start which greatly facilitated one handed use. Wi-Fi is very handy for me.
The voice dialing is much better on my QTek 9100 (tag based) than my MDA Mini (fonix) and it works over bluetooth. The persistant storage is handy. If you're ever away from home and run the Jam's battery out, then you lose all of your contacts (I appreciate that you can back the Jams contacts up but that really slows down reboots, too). The battery life is much better on K-Jam (if you're not doing much Wi-fi). Due to the keyboard, you input data to the K-Jam whilst walking (no one handed SMS like smartphone, though).
The minus' are that the K Jam can be a bit sluggish. It is definitely too slow for Skype wheras the Jam could Skype with noise reduction and browse using IE at the same time. Depending on how you put the 9100 in the pouch, when you go to answer a call, the screen might change orientation twice (due to the magnets in the pouch) before you can answer the call. Due to the Jam's stylus dependancy, you can't input data whilst walking (at least I couldn't). The Jam feels better in hand because of it's metal casing and smoother lines.
On balance, I think that the K-Jam is much better (or rather much more suitable for me), but the guy that sits next to me much prefers his Jam due to it's smaller size :-\
Your milage may vary
M

Advantage Keyboard.. your opinions please.

Hi all,
For some reason the search function is not working for me (xp/firefox 1.5) as it always returns null searches.
Anyway, apologies if this has been discussed already in detail...
I'm almost ready to go ahead and buy the Advantage having researched numerous reviews online.
Everyone is in agreement its a marvellous device, let down by one main aspect... the keyboard.
Many report that the keys have very limited tactile feedback and one reviewer commented that the keyboard felt very rubbery like the old spectrum keyboard, making it sluggish for typing on.
I would see this as being a pretty major drawback, effectively slowing productively on a regular basis.
I currently use a Nokia E61 for work, and, while it has a small thumboard, tactility is excellent and with some practice, its responsive and fast.
While the larger keyboard is welcome on the Advantage I would really like to hear users opinions and thoughts, good bad or indifferent, about the keyboard in daily use.
Thanks!

i think the keyboard is much better than reviewed all the time. it has no definite pressure point but still you only have to touch it a little bit so you don't really need the pressure point anyway. i haven't typed anything wrong yet. quite impressive.
but still i think that the athena itself has a far too deep (and bad) when the keyboard is attached, if you wanna type in bed f.e. it's hard to see the screen right and good.
so keyboard is really good, but angle between keyboard and display isn't good for use with both hands, in bed etc. (just on a high table).
sry, don't really know how to say it in english.

I'm still prefer the keyboard of Universal's.....and it turns out I carried the U1000 without the Keyboard 90% of time.
BR
Tommy

I too prefer the Universal keyboard compared to Advantage keyboard. Not only for the typing (little "click" with Universal, nothing with Advantage), but for the number of keys as well. In fact in Universal keyboard the number 1 to 0 are typed directly, instead in Advantage you need the function key before.
On Universal there are more symbols that availlable directly from the keyboard (with or without the function key).
But, considering all, I can give to my Advantage keyboard a rate of 6.5 (in a range from 1 to 10) and to Universal keyboard a rate of 8.

Can we all look into the possibility of using a bluetooth keyboard..I think it will b a very useful companion with Athena

Cheers guys. I'll probably end up using my Think Outside BT keyboard which has served me well over the past couple of years. It seems a waste to use it though when you have a magnetic keyboard which also doubles as a screen protector.. and its another thing to carry and have spare batteries for.. I hope they introduce a more tactile feedback into future revisions..
I don't think I'd mind the fact that the number keys are not on the top row. Its an inconvenience but means more room for qwerty (and I'm used to it from the E61 layout).
Speaking of room..
Advantage looks just a little too cramped for 2 handed typing effectively so are you guys holding it like a thumbboard or huntin'/peckin' with two fingers while it lays flat on a desk..?

it's very, very tough to hold it like thumbboard (as I said before) , so most of the time I use it while it lays flat on a desk (which should be high enough to see the whole screen while typing because of the bad angle).

I really dislike the keyboard, since it has absolutely no tactile feedback. It's very odd to type, and I make many errors. It was even nicer, and faster using the keyboard that came with my Cingular 8525, and I dislike Thumbboards. It does make a good stand when watching media, though!

I don't mind the keyboard for occasional use - you certainly wouldn't want to type an essay on it, but a quick e-mail, txt or even a forum post doesn't stress too much. Its easier than the soft keyboard on the screen anyway.
The bits that I don't like, are:- the telephone dial button is in the wrong place (top left) - I'll quite often start dialing someone, just because ive caught the button by accident as I'm holding the device up.
And sometimes it can get the caps lock stuck on, and I cant work out a consistent way of turning it off (usually a press of the dot, then the caps key does it, but not always).
Other than that, not too bad.

They keyboard sucks. The key spacing is all wrong. I continualy hit the wrong letter. For a good touch typist this is torture.
The lack of numbers it pathetic too. The universal fitted a considerably better keyboard into it.
The good thing? There is nothing to stop people making replacement keyboards!
I want a keyboard that works better as a screen protector, because if I dont use that stupid leather wallet, everytime I put it in my pocket, the keyboard slips off and scratches the screen itself.
Now, I look like something out of the 1980's with a huge leather filo-fax thing.
A good keyboard would be complete case, with flip up screen protector (or slide up) and a kb that flips around from the back (the contacts are wired such that its always connected when not totally flat on the back) meaning you can have it at any angle.
Hinge the KB at the bottom corners and screen protector at the top corner. It could be a complete life saver.

ok the keyboard in Athena is completely useless. Universal one is much better. I made so much typing error because I had to press hard on the keyboard. It is not responsive enough. Whenever I wanted to type fast, I kept on missing a character such as the A character. Even my Fitaly soft keyboard is 3x better.
It is annoying having to carry keyboard all the time because you need that to keep U1000 in the leather casing closed nicely together. but that is about it.

I too agree that the keyboard is next to useless. I've been using it purely as a way to hold up the unit at home, so that it looks like a PC instead of the screen lying flat. I still much prefer to use the enlarged on-screen keyboard. For more specialised typing such as word documetn, I have my Full Screen Kyboard activated hardware button that was once used for starting the browser. In that way, I can alway call up the Full Screen Keyboard anytime I need.
I don't actually carry my keyboard around. I've designed and made a belt pouch myself (yes, using my old notebook carrying case's materials) which can either take both the unit and keyboard or just the keyboard. In either case, I don't put the leather case into my pouch. It works very well for me.
At home, I would like to look for either a BT or USB keyboard.

Hmmm....
But for me athena keyboard still useful even not as good as universal one. But i still can feel it...

Actually I kinda like it.
Its better than I expected it to be. Rarely misses a key when I'm typing. I'm coming at this from keyboardless pdas though so can't compare with other smartphones (except Nokia 9300 which was ok but I actually think this is better.)
Its certainly handy having it there and it makes the pda sturdy when you want it sat up just to see the screen while playing music, watching movies etc.

I think all the above comments on the keyboard, the some good, and the some bad, are valid.
That being said, I do not think it's a deal breaker to not get the Athena. In addition, it can't be a deal breaker, as there are no alternatives. Yes, if all other things were remaining equal, and there was another device identical, except for a better keyboard, I'd obviously opt for it, even at a higher cost.
But, I LOVE the Athena. It is the portable computing device (plus GPS) that I've been hoping for. And I use in in CONJUNCTION with another phone (a Blackberry Pearl, for now). Comparing it to TyTN or the like, are too different. It runs faster than handheld pocket PCs, seems more stable, and quite frankly, when you mix too much usage at one time, like a phone, GPS, and PocketPC, is too much for any device. This is a PC with 3g data first, then maybe a GPS, and THEN a phone.

I have no complaints. I use it a good 3-4 hours a day instead of my laptop. It's good for emails and simple word/excel editing. Makes me able to sneak about without anyone noticing.
It could have had a little more tactile feedback, but the lack of it makes it dead quiet instead, which in my opinion is a wonderful thing.
I'm sure someone will make use of the extra space between keys... ie moving the main keys closer together and adding a numeric keypad somewhere in there. I wouldn't mind.
Perhaps make them round, and with a groove in the middle of each key so when the keys are tightly put together you still have high accuracy speed typing.

I'm used to the Wizard and Hermes, and they both have keyboards that give a little more response than Athenas keyboard. However, I see that this also is a good idea if you want to use the keyboard when you are en a meeting or in a lecture, or whereever you are where you have to be quiet.

anyone has tried Thinkoutside bluetooth keyboard with U1000 yet?

No, but I have tried the Freedom Keyboard (www.freedomkeyboard.com), and it works perfectly.
It's a little smaller than a normal qwerty-keyboard so it takes a little to get used to it, but I think it is rather good.
The Stowaway Travel Mouse also works perfectly.

If we are gonna go for Bluetooth keyboards, try the Apple PRO full qwerty kb. Its nice. I used it on my Nokia770, and my XDAII easily.
Not tried on the Athena, but no reason it shouldnt work. Great for using when you are at home/office for typing. Just dont expect to carry it around.

Touch Pro

Ok the touch pro has been revealed on the htc website now so who is thinking of trading there touch dual for it
It has everything that touch dual has + wifi and gps
It has a full slide out keyboard.
It looks very much like the diamond

I vote no again, even with more improvements over the Diamond
I have had keyboards that slide to the side. I prefer to type one handed easily while driving. Plus the screen orientation is not smooth in Windows Mobile with the device lagg when switching modes. How can you beat a physical 10 key layout for dailing 800 numbers with an auto directory <- even with the 20 Key Niki its a breeze.
Wifi I have had before and it the least used feature and only used when I first got the device. It is much easier to use the data connection and not drain the battery as much.
I already have a better GPS, and it works as a bluetooth headset with phone book retrieval.

i would but only over the diamond, as the pro has an SD slot, else i'd go for diamond :/

I've got a Touch Cruise, so my device is similar to the Dual in some respects. I wouldn't switch. WM7 is the only thing I could switch devices for. Fancy Touch Flo improvements aren't enough esp when WM6.1 is still under the hood.

way too expensive and not worth it atm

Buttons - question

Is it correct that the 3G doesn't have any hardware buttons, except for the D-pad and the phone buttons ?
My HTC Prophet has 5 buttons to which I have mapped (AEButton+) a lot of handy features. I think I would really miss them...
Please share your experiences...
Also I was wondering: does it have the same magnetic stylus as the Diamond ?

I've migrated from a Trinity which has lots of hardware buttons and yep I'm missing them. I don't like manilla/touchflow that much either; but I'm getting used to it.
Overall for me the better specs and the form factor of the 3G/Jade make it worth the learning curve. I've only had it for a couple of days and already the lack of extra buttons is starting to bug me less and less.
Hope thats some help

I´ve had my magician for ages now, and it was time to move on.
Bought the jade, and at first, i missed the buttons. No camera button, no contacts or calendar.
2 days using it, and now i don't miss them that much. Had to configure the answer button to access the contacts, by holding it a bit longer.
Still getting used to the touch flow software, but at first, it looks like a great little phone.

I have a Hermes before. At beginning I missed the buttons. But now I don't miss the buttons. The Jade is so small, light and beautifull.
Only the Softkay is missing, where is under the backcover.

Comparison of TD1 to TD2 for those thinking of an upgrade

Got my TD2 yesterday, still have my TD1 (until I sell it) here sre some comparisons:-
1) Unboxing
TD2 is in a much cheaper pack than TD1 simple outer box with simple inner "egg carton" tray, gone are the shiny cherger and usb cables to be replaced with functional but plain matte black ones.
2) Build quality
I would say about the same although the TD2 feels more solid in the hand to me
3) Radio
TD1 with latest official WWE ROM versus TD2 with ROM 1.39.405.2 (47382) WWE Radio 3.43.25.19 as I look at both devices in front of me both are showing 2 bars.
4) Interface responsiveness
Finger control is smoother and more responsive on TD2, interface feels faster. No lag any more when exiting Opera.
5) New Tabs
Stock Tab is nice deeper integration of TF3D (e.g. in calendar) is cool
6) Internet
Push web is a useful feature and it is easy to control how often pages update
7) People Centric communication
VERY useful (to me at least) only had the thing 24 hours and already used this feature several times!!!
8) Music performance
Have listened to about 1 hour of music with NO SKIPS, supplied headphones are adequate, device speaker is loud and clear
9) Video
The film "V" plays without skipping or stuttering at 927 kbps and 25 fps (which is how I encoded it). Don't know whether that is regarded as good or bad but it impressed me!!
10) Battery life
Not enough time to give a defintive opinion but seems good so far
In summary the TD2 is an evolution rather than a revolution, but if your TD1 is getting a little battered and tired and you have some spare cash, I would recommend the upgrade!

I think it’s just straight common sense especially if you are a Touch Diamon1 user you buy the phone because of the size and its fully packed with great hard/software, and if there’s a new model almost the same but a little bigger but much faster and nicer it’s just common sense that you are going to upgrade to a Diamond2.
But I have to say the Pro2 really did get my attention. But still the Diamond2 won! Cant wait till tomorrow.

yuanes said:
I think it’s just straight common sense especially if you are a Touch Diamon1 user you buy the phone because of the size and its fully packed with great hard/software, and if there’s a new model almost the same but a little bigger but much faster and nicer it’s just common sense that you are going to upgrade to a Diamond2.
But I have to say the Pro2 really did get my attention. But still the Diamond2 won! Cant wait till tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All true. I would've prefered the Topaz, but oh well. HD here I come. 1 reason and 1 reason only. 3.5mm jack

Kraize said:
All true. I would've prefered the Topaz, but oh well. HD here I come. 1 reason and 1 reason only. 3.5mm jack
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the HD 's 3.5mm jack works as MIC as well?
I just use the diamond with a 3.5 adapter with MIC, handy when there's incoming calls.
About the TD2 , is the stylus got magnatic ends like the TD1 / T PRO / HD? and pull out stylus turn on the screen?
Does TD2 use MSM7201A? and no 5-minutes lag with speakers or wire headset when using music softwares other than TouchFLO3d / WMP (eg: core player / TCPMP / pocket mucic / pocket player)
Can it be use in landscape mode for 3rd party software without regedit?
The TD1 cannot rotate screen other than opera/album, and HTC support will yell at you complain about touchflo3d / phone pad / incoming calls not working in landscape mode.
Can it play RMVB files like the SAMSUNG OMNIA?
When you press CALL button , the phone pad will pop up with last few call history, in the TD1, there are some left and right arrows on the right side of the number for you to choose between mobile / text / work / home / email , it ONLY works with the D-pad in the TD1 . How to toggle between mobile / text / work / home / email in TD2 ?
Does the zoom bar work in most software?
How about the BACK buttons? is it as useless as the one on TD1?
Many thanks

To answer some of your questions about the TD2
The stylus is not magnetic, but pulling it out still turns on the screen like the TD1
The device information on my TD2 shows a 7200A fitted - I use core player, I get no lag
Landscape mode is available for Opera, Album, Email and You tube out of the box
No Idea on RMVB files
Pressing the call button still brings up a call history, there is an icon next to each which calls up the contact card for the person, you select home/ mobile/ email etc. from there, the whole process is slick and fast, no lag.
The zoom bar works in camera (video and still image), album, opera, excel and word - maybe others, haven't checked everything!
The back button does what it says on the box...
Hope this helps

how about the RAM usage? on startup and after opening and closing application?

After a soft reset - RAM usage is 37%, if I then open OPERA, navigate to bbc.co.uk and then close opera (completely), RAM usage is 52%. I don't think mine has got beyond 60% at any time so far.

adesonic said:
After a soft reset - RAM usage is 37%, if I then open OPERA, navigate to bbc.co.uk and then close opera (completely), RAM usage is 52%. I don't think mine has got beyond 60% at any time so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't get why people want their PPC to have free RAM not being used all the time. The unit should be bouncing off 95% used as much as it can.

adesonic said:
To answer some of your questions about the TD2
The stylus is not magnetic, but pulling it out still turns on the screen like the TD1
The device information on my TD2 shows a 7200A fitted - I use core player, I get no lag
Landscape mode is available for Opera, Album, Email and You tube out of the box
No Idea on RMVB files
Pressing the call button still brings up a call history, there is an icon next to each which calls up the contact card for the person, you select home/ mobile/ email etc. from there, the whole process is slick and fast, no lag.
The zoom bar works in camera (video and still image), album, opera, excel and word - maybe others, haven't checked everything!
The back button does what it says on the box...
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
many thanks!
Does word/excel work in landscape mode? Email works in landscape, does it mean SMS/MMS works in landscape too?
When using EMAIL in landscape mode, what happen when there's an incoming call?

Word and Excell do not switch to Landscape, SMS/MMS do not switch to landscape. When on email in landscape, an incoming call results in caller ID being displayed in portrait mode.
One important note, the annoying delay before the phone rings on an incoming call that was present on the TD1 appears to have been eliminated on the TD2

adesonic said:
Word and Excell do not switch to Landscape, SMS/MMS do not switch to landscape. When on email in landscape, an incoming call results in caller ID being displayed in portrait mode.
One important note, the annoying delay before the phone rings on an incoming call that was present on the TD1 appears to have been eliminated on the TD2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SMS does go into landscape! i tought it also but if you tilt the phone to your left it goes into landscape
This phone rocks! that i even tought about have a full keyboard

I actually liked the TD1. I also have a Nokia 5800 & the wife has a LG Renoir, I tried so hard to like the Nokia but S60 is total ****e.
Anyway only a few things annoyed me about the TD1 most significant being low speaker volume & low memory warnings. After reading the posts here and on a few other sites it seems the TD2 has addressed most of the failings of the TD1 so thats reason enough for me make the upgrade.

i was also a big fan of the original diamond and upgradef mainlu for the official route to wm6.5. i am glad i did, this phone rocks!

adesonic said:
Got my TD2 yesterday, still have my TD1 (until I sell it) here sre some comparisons:-
1) Unboxing
TD2 is in a much cheaper pack than TD1 simple outer box with simple inner "egg carton" tray, gone are the shiny cherger and usb cables to be replaced with functional but plain matte black ones.
2) Build quality
I would say about the same although the TD2 feels more solid in the hand to me
3) Radio
TD1 with latest official WWE ROM versus TD2 with ROM 1.39.405.2 (47382) WWE Radio 3.43.25.19 as I look at both devices in front of me both are showing 2 bars.
4) Interface responsiveness
Finger control is smoother and more responsive on TD2, interface feels faster. No lag any more when exiting Opera.
5) New Tabs
Stock Tab is nice deeper integration of TF3D (e.g. in calendar) is cool
6) Internet
Push web is a useful feature and it is easy to control how often pages update
7) People Centric communication
VERY useful (to me at least) only had the thing 24 hours and already used this feature several times!!!
8) Music performance
Have listened to about 1 hour of music with NO SKIPS, supplied headphones are adequate, device speaker is loud and clear
9) Video
The film "V" plays without skipping or stuttering at 927 kbps and 25 fps (which is how I encoded it). Don't know whether that is regarded as good or bad but it impressed me!!
10) Battery life
Not enough time to give a defintive opinion but seems good so far
In summary the TD2 is an evolution rather than a revolution, but if your TD1 is getting a little battered and tired and you have some spare cash, I would recommend the upgrade!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And: TD 2 better camera (5 MP), larger screen 3,2" WVGA 480x800, much more memory, micro SD-card, stronger battery.
But also: no select/scroll wheel, remove the backcover to softreset and to get the sd-card in and out, a little bit thicker...
My new baby...

TD2 actually has removable memory. That's a huge plus IMO.

pietrucci said:
And: TD 2 better camera (5 MP), larger screen 3,2" WVGA 480x800, much more memory, micro SD-card, stronger battery.
But also: no select/scroll wheel, remove the backcover to softreset and to get the sd-card in and out, a little bit thicker...
My new baby...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great to see you here pietrucci!!! Got mine yesterday as well. The out of the box speed of this thing is quite impressive... look forward to some of your benchmarks when we get cooking! This is going to be fast...

FM radio?
Was wondering if anybody has tried to use the FM radio? Does it exist in the D2? Thanks in advance.

christonge said:
Great to see you here pietrucci!!! Got mine yesterday as well. The out of the box speed of this thing is quite impressive... look forward to some of your benchmarks when we get cooking! This is going to be fast...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi christonge, will perform my first tests tomorrow. It feels fast, hopefully it also benchmarks fast...
I'll be back.

fm radio present and correct1

when i compared D1 with D2, i saw that the D1 has a proximity sensor for auto turn-off (when putting it to the ear during a call), and it seems not to be mentioned for the D2.
is it true that the D2 does not have the proximity sensor? so when you call, while putting the phone to your ear/face, you can accidentally press "buttons"?
this would really suck imo... :/