Database Users

TODAY plug ins - yours and why, not yours and why....

I was just wondering what sort of today plug ins different people were using, or not using, based upon experience.
The main ones I was hoping for comments and discussion on are:
1. SPB (Pocket Plus, Calendar, GPRS, Weather)
2. SBSH (Pocket Breeze, Contact Breeze, Pocket Weather, Calendar Plus)
3. Wizbar (standard and advanced)
4. Omega One (journal bar, 1 calc, battery pack pro)
5. Resco (Explorer, Today, Media Suite)
What I am interested on each for those that use, are comments relating to:
1. Functionality
2. Performance
3. Geek factor....
I have SPB and Resco, tried Omega one, and havent made it to SBSH or Wizbar yet.
SPB I find functional, cost effective with plug ins that plug in to the plug in to consolidate the today screen into multi tabs. However, I do find the SPB suite of Pocket Plus, Weather, Play, GPRS and Diary to be quite hungry on the RAM and thus looses its close function effectiveness.
Resco is in the main, efficient and effective, though the media programs Pictures, Audio and Radio are quite resource hungry, and dont really want to many running simultaneously, but the features of being able to play radio efficiently over WIFI, using Audio to convert mp3 and wav to different formats, cut, chop and condense into ring tones adds some good features.
Geek factor isnt really geeky, but highly functional....
How about the impact of having all installed? or cross installation of different apps.
Feedback and comments on your experiences...

Hmmmm 105 people read this within 1 day, and not a single comment?!

My experiences
1. SPB Pocket Plus (not used the others, prefer built in) is very good. Wish it supported icon text but otherwise is very good. Does not seem to slow the machine down unless you fill lots of screens with icons.
2. SPSH seemed clumsy and buggy to me as compared with SPB
3. I've never had a good time with Wisbar - lots of strange problems, and some of the notifications never work as expected. There is definitely a speed impact. Also, I get the close functionality from SPB Pocket Plus & don't want to duplicate. I got bored of finding and applying skins in the end.
4. I use 1Calc but don't like the rest. Only issue with it is it's a bit slow to start up.
5. Not much experience of Resco. Last time I tested it didn't impress much. When I need that level of file management I use my laptop.
Hope this is useful.

TODAY plug ins - mine and why, not mine and why....
Hi Simon,
A lot to cover here as I have tried almost all the apps you mention with varying success.
I'll try to cover these in the order you listed them:
I was a long standing fan of the spb Suite of apps - on my M1000 (xda2) that was pretty much all I used, but I have found a few problems running on the M5000 (xdaExec). It really slowed the machine down - even after removing the SD Card meter from the today screen (recommended!). It was bearable for a while, but then one day I hard reset had forgotten how fast this wee beastie can run!
10 out of 10 for functionality of the spb software - I almost reinstalled it purely for the multi-PIE pages, the safe mode & close button are also two very missed utils - but the performance hit is just too much to take for me nowadays.
SBSH's Pocket Breeze never really appealed to me in the past. Partly due to my affinity with the spb crowd, and partly because when I tried using it on my M1000 I found it ghastly, ugly and really slow.
I returned to Pocket Breeze, etc when I was turned off Pocket Plus etc on the M5000. I installed Pocket Breeze, Contact Breeze and Pocket Weather. All ran pretty well and on the VGA screen - didn't seem to look as bad as I remembered. It's my today item of choice today. There are LOADS of options so you can customise to your heart's delight, and some pretty tasty skins online.
I also installed SBSH iLauncher which is a nice replacement for the shortcut launchpad found on the Pocket Plus today addin. You can use fantastic hi-res icons for your shortcuts making your today screen gorgeous.
SBSH is an all round winner for me!
I am currently running the beta release (for WM5.0) of Wizbar Advance on the M5000. I used it breifly on the M1000, but the slowdown has horrendous and promptly removed it. On the Universal - it does seem to run not too bad. Don't get me wrong - you really do notice a performance hit when it's running, but it's sooooooo beautiful
There are lots & lots of options to customise the display, and plenty of beautiful ready made themes available online. I also use the Wisbar Advance Desktop Add-In which gives your today screen a whole new dimension!
(BIG help for me: Uncheck Don't cache background images under Start Menu settings - uses more mem, but far more responsive)
I should say - I don't have wisbar advance running all the time. Usually I have a rather bare skin for speed's sake, but I occasionally flick it on when I am feeling lush (or someone asks to see my pda & I wanna show it at it's best! )
Can't recommend JournalBar for the Universal at all. I really liked it on the M1000, the RSS feeds were excellent I was really looking forward to having them on my Uni, but not long after installing it I experienced a lockup that needed a HARD RESET to recover from. Thinking I had just overloaded it with apps I started again - JournalBar on 1st. :evil: Same thing.
I have noted a few other threads where people have reported the same.
I do use 1-Calc though. It's a little slow at times - but I still really, really like it.
I have always used, and still am using - Resco Explorer as my main file browser. I can't rate it high enough - It's fantastic, and have never had a problem with it.
Can't say the same for Radio though. Tried installing it a couple of times but it kept crashing and closing itself on me. Also seemed really slow & sluggish.
To get my radio I use the free GSPlayer and find my streams on www.shoutcast.com. Works perfectly for me! Really light too.
All the other ones you mentioned that I didn't - I have never used them so I can't comment.
Hope these comments help (or at least start the ball rolling).
Here's a couple of screengrabs.
Used: WisBar Advance 2, WisBar Advance Desktop, Pocket Breeze, Contact Breeze, iLauncher.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

Hi,
I tried Wisbar but the icons at the top seems incorrectly positioned, what version do i need?
Thanks

I am using the following today plug-ins
1) SPB pocket plus: Mainly because it allows me to do a lot of shortcuts on the today screen and is possible to navigate to my excel files without the use of stylus. Regarding slow down the major impact is on boot time after a soft reset. Without SPB my Jasjar managed a shade over 1 minute but with SPB it is down to 1 minute and 25 seconds. However since soft reset is only occasionally required by me I don't mind the boot time increase. During normal running I don't notice a detrimental impact on speed. By the way I have not set up monitoring of the SD card but monitoring of battery and program memory is there. I also like the task switcher on SPB.
2) Hudson Mobile IP Dashboard: Mainly because I can at a glance see what speed my internet connection is working at. You can actually see a graph of the upload and download rate.
3) Hudson Mobile Phone Dashboard: To monitor my telephone costs
4) PocketMax PhoneAlarm Presently at Alpha 12: This is a profile manager and provides repeating alarms functionality to SMS, Missed Calls, e-mails, etc but NOT to calendar events and other general alarms. I have been following this since it was in alpha 8 and almost all bugs have now been resolved. The developer expects to soon release the beta and then the final version. For me (though I am still testing) it also seems to have resolved the Jasjar freezing on receipt of a new text message.
Kind Regards

simon_darley said:
1. SPB (Pocket Plus, Calendar, GPRS, Weather)
2. SBSH (Pocket Breeze, Contact Breeze, Pocket Weather, Calendar Plus)
3. Wizbar (standard and advanced)
4. Omega One (journal bar, 1 calc, battery pack pro)
5. Resco (Explorer, Today, Media Suite)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 SPB - I just can't get the hang of these as you have to buy so many apps to get all of the functionality.
2. SBSH - see above.
3. Looks absolutely stunning. Just can't get on with it. This turns my Exec into an OAP - slow and always getting in the way. Just unusable for me.
4. I use Journal Bar and the expansion pack - this is what I use all the time - includes everything in one package (as long as you have the expansion pack). Especially great when autoscroll is set to every 10 seconds and it cycles through all of the info. You can even add your own RSS feeds. Some people say it's memory hungary - but then aren't all add-ins. Can occasionally be a pain in the arse especially when it breaks - but the author seems to be quite helpful and gets fixes out reasonably quick.
5. Resco - quite simply a replacement for file explorer - but why use the today plug-in - I don't know - I use it because JB doesn't have a launcher yet (I live in hope)
HTH

All I use are these:
1-Spb Pocket Plus(because all of the good reason mentioned by the others before me)
2-Spb Diary(Having 4 plugin at the same time feels good but i don't like Pocket breeze,Spb Diary fells more original to the Pocket PC)
3-Spb Weather( for Weather Forecasting and Integrating with Spb Pocket Plus
Some of the time i use Wisbar but originaly the skins are mostly for Pocket PCs only not phone Edition

I use just the default today plugins that come with the OS
the main reason why I hate to install any today plugins is that it slows down the screen re-orientation process....if I flip my display, it ends up taking too much time for all the plugins to refresh and redraw. The idea....keep the today screen simple, and keep the basic everyday functioning snappy ;-)
cheers,
San

ive tried pretty much everything but found the following combo best for me
Wisbar - I know this slows my universal down some what however just look at the screenshot how can anyone not love the way you can skin every part of gui!
Calender+ - Its free and Ive found it dont have any noticable impact on memory or speed unlike Pocketbreeze which i loved on my I-mate Jam but makes my universal run far too slow (real shame because I really did love that program)
Phonealarm - Well this is THE only program Id really could NOT do without! Its got just about everything microsoft should of put into a phone based ppc, repeating alarms (mms,sms,email,missed calls ect ect) profiles, data costing! call costing! the list go's on!
Pocketweather - I just like it !?

chris reilly wrote:
I tried Wisbar but the icons at the top seems incorrectly positioned, what version do i need?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Chris - There isn't a fully released WM5.0 version yet, but there is a Beta WM5 version available which works very well.
On Lakeridge's homepage - go to the forum's, then into WisBard Avance 2 (under Pocket PC Software).
Near the top there will be a post labelled with the Beta version.
I'm running 2.4.1.16 at the mo, but just noticed (whilst writing this very response) that version 2.4.1.17 is available with yet more WM5.0 improvements (noticeably for notification icons) so I'll be installing that when I get home!

google from the Today screen
okay.... this has been around for a little while, but it's new to me, so i thought i'd mention it anyway
Google Today plugin - this puts a google search box on your Today screen - simple, but very cool
i came across this yesterday... although i cant remember where. (really hope it wasnt on this forum, cos then i'll feel really stoopid! damn, i read too many forums.... )

Pocket Breeze + Contact Breeze
Wizbar Advance 2
SPB Weather
PSShutXP
IP Dashboard
Pocket Breeze + Contact Breeze - works far better than the standard effort, also allows me to add PocketMSN, IP Dashboard and SPB Weather as tabs.
Wizbar Advance 2 - Only really using it for the Cascading menus and Task Manager. Went through a load of skins, but have ended up using the WA Default one .
SPB Weather - Just a gimmick so I can look at weather forecasts on the go
PSShutXP - Nuff said really
IP Dashboard - allows me to quickly check connection details on one screen.
Performance hit with all those installed, it is noticeable, but the benefits I feel far outway the hit. Compared to using the O2 Active stuff.... it is far quicker than the O2 Active stuff but then again, you'd be hard pressed to customise your today screen and have it run as slow
As for WAD, although I don't use it on the Universal, it is installed on the N50 (or was, battery has probably ran flat now )
It does add to the performance hit, although I am sure the Universal will be able to handle it better than the N50 did. To setup, it can take a while, especially if you are going to make the graphics yourself, even if you take a pre-made skin/theme, setting up all the pages you need etc can still take a while. However, I feel it is worth the effort, I'm just too lazy to do it on the Universal.
You can create virtual pages/desktops, on the N50, I have a main page with Pocket Breeze + Contact Breeze, a connection page with IP Dashboard + Pocket MSN, launcher page, where I can run all the apps that are installed.
You can also create docks on the pages/desktops. With these you can show and hide, so for example, the launcher page, I have buttons called Apps, System, Internet, AVG, Office. Clicking on each button would call up the dock which will have the links to the respective programs, clicking the dock or button will hide that dock.
SPB GPRS - gave it a quick whizz then uninstalled it, at home and work I have WiFi access, so GPRS is a moot point in that respect, and I tend not to surf the net etc whilst out and about, when I do use it, it is for the odd MMS so hardly bank breaking

I use cLaunch (has tabs like iLaunch)
Battery pack 2004 using Program bar (with date) & battery bar
Calender Plus
Tasks Plus
Tried a beta version of wisbar/wad...definitely makes the PDA pretty but be prepared to spend hours of time customising. Great feature is the multiple pages so you can spread around the plugins. Definitely worth looking at.

Trying everything...
I have been trying all of them to figure out my ultimate EXEC but it eludes me still...
Wisbar.. looks hot! Performance? NOT!
Spb... add diary and it too is bogsville..
Trying the others now... will let you know.
Anyone who has a great setup... LET US KNOW!!!
Cyb

I'm a Palm OS5 user, and I think the Today's display of agenda and tasks is a bit lacking. It seems that Calendar+ and Task+ plugins will solve the problem, but I'm just wondering, any one who uses these two, does these offer birthday reminder too? (Cannot test out the software yet, yet to get my device.. budget budget..)

-SPB PLus...Never get to work as this(today plugin) kept hanging the device..so I am using only the battery bar indication.I did install it on SD..
-WBA WAD, good, never slowed down, but if someone mught hv noticed, the smartdialing cannot be seen while making a call, one cannot see the latest miised call, as it is hidden beneath the Bar on today screen..everytime you come out of an application, the default theme changes and one has to either soft reset or reload the skin and this takes a lot of precious time.
--POcket Breeze and SPB weather are cool.Using Marsware News Panel, Smart RSS...I think I shall uninstall News Panel as it is very slow...These allow me to read the forum topics always.

hdubli said:
-SPB PLus...Never get to work as this(today plugin) kept hanging the device..so I am using only the battery bar indication.I did install it on SD..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a hanging issue with PocketPlus too until I unchecked "Safe Mode" as one of the feature options (it was at the bottom of the list box.) I think it might default to "checked" when PocketPlus is installed.
If you only have the battery incidator checked now then you've probably unchecked "Safe Mode" already, but you may want to try checking one or two of the other features to see if they work without hanging. My experience was that it was the Safe Mode's doing.

Finally U R in friendship with Universal??? :( Not me

Is there anybody who can't find his/her Universal veeeeryyyy veerryyyyy sloooow????
If yes, which 3rd party softwares installed?
I'm really thinking about selling it.
I really love VGA, 3G, and other things, but I feel I have 286 PC with a MacG5 hardware chances.
If I want my VGA PDA to run well, I should not install most of appications written nowadays.
I'm really really sad.
What to do?
Who is the hero who finds his toy acceptable?
And HHHHOOOOOWWWWW????
I'm not an amateur - very very not -, but I'd like to use the abilities of the Universal, but it seems, it can't give me its capabilities. I have to chose which app I want very well and which not.
HEEEEEEEELP!!!
SOMEBODYYYYY!!!!

As I said already in other thread, my Exec is running very fast, screen orientation change is very quick, I have no delay in answering phone calls, always over 21-22 Mb memory and it doesn't freeze at all.
I soft reset it every 4-5 days.
Applications that I have now installed (all of them in phone memory) after trying many others are:
- MohairSofa Calendar+ Today PlugIn
- Insignia Solutions JeodeRuntime
- Vijay555 VJOkButt
- Softick Card Export II
- Softatics Corporation xConverter Pro ( great software!!!!)
- Macromedia Flash Player ActiveX
- Handmark Monopoly
- Kasuei Hitchhiker
- Microsoft .NET CF 2.0
- TCPMP The Core Pocket Media Player
- PHM Registry Editor
- GreenSoftware GSFinder+
Everything is running absolutely flawless.
I have UMTS connection avaliable 95% of the times, I'm using Orange UK 3G Sim
My radio is the 1.04 version and I see absolutely no reason for update.
I had many problems before, which seemed to dissapear after a careful selection of software installed.

Thanx the answer.
"I had many problems before, which seemed to dissapear after a careful selection of software installed." - You wrote
Yes, you are right, but I don't want to be careful to select which software I can use.
I WANT TO USE ALL THE SOFTWARES I USED WITH MY O2 XDAIIi !!!
Why is it a big wish?
It is the same if you buy a laptop, and you can use just WindowsXP with Opera Browser, a 3rd party calculator and some ActiveX plugin.
If this device can use just these few apps without freezing or crashing and with acceptable speed, then this is just ten pence a schilling. ( ) (I just learned this in english)
In this case I'd rather buy a stable, fast and old Nokia phone.

OK. I'm trying to write what I'm using:
With the Storage:
- SBSH iLauncher 2.2
- SBSH Pocket Breeze 5
- Marsware WeatherPanel
- AlarmToday
- DKtoday
- PocketZenphone
- WisbarAdvance2
- Wisbar Desktop
- Dinarsoft HandyMenu
- Dinarsoft MemMaid
- Double Launcher
- Macromedia FlashPlayer
- Spb GPRSmonitor
- XCPUscalar
- PDAmill Topkey
- RescoExplorer
- Novosec SmartFilter
- Sunnysoft BackupManager
- PhatWare PhatPad
- Microsoft VB Runtimes for PPC
- RescoViewer
On Storage Card:
- Resco PocketRadio
- MobiMate WorldMate 2006 professional
- SKtools
- OmegaOne 1-Calc
- Astro WinCE
- PocketMusic
- Cash Organizer 05
- ListPro
- Bryht FlashPlayer
- Opera
- TomTom Navigator 5
- Aeromap VR3
- CheckNotifications
- Tweaks2k2
- PocketMechanic
- System Monitor Pro
- eWallet
- VITO MobileDownloader
- VITO SoundExplorer
- WiFiFoFum
- OutlookCleaner
- PocketEarth
- PocketWorldInfo
- SpbImageer
- XnView Pocket
- PocketArtist
.........and many more with a lot of games in 2GB SD
I know this is not a small list but I used all of these on my 2020i without any problem. I used PocketInformant too but I found it really slow on Universal so I decided not to install it.
Maybe You have a question: then why do not use 2020i?
Simple answer: I really hate HTC showing me what is a VGA PDA with 3G.
That is why. I fuc*ing love it and I feel I cannot live without VGA and 3G.
So, if somebody has some experience in upper softs and knows errors or bugs with using them on Universal, please write it to me.

Sorry, but I will never believe that you need and are using all of these applications. And this is definitely the list to slow down your universal.
I like to keep my PC and Pocket PC clean and install only what I need, not what I MAY USE ONE DAY. Clutter is not good in any situation!
And so far it works for me.
And another thing is that many of the applications you have installed are enormous in size: Pocket Breeze, SPB Pocket Plus, Wisbar Advance, MobiMate World Mate Pro,Wisbar Desktop. And there is plenty applications doing the same things which are not only many times smaller in size, faster, and free. Like for example Pocket Breeze and Calendar+ or SPB Pocket Plus and VJOKbutt and VJTrayLaunch.
And don't you think that you sound silly and childish when you say that because you don't want uninstall few of these applications you will stop yourself from using all of them and buy a Nokia. :lol: Go for it, in the meantime I will enjoy using my fast, reliable Exec with all the applications I need...

In one part you have right in other part you don't have.
If you believe or not I'm using almost all of these applications almost every day.
Maybe I can find some which I really don't need but which you wrote in your slowapps-list I really love and if these are forbidden softs with a PDA I'm not sure I'd like to use them.
BUT!!!!
I've been using PDA-phones for years!!!!
I have not any problems with speed and stability before.
I used all of these applications.
WHY IS IT PROBLEM FOR THE NEWEST AND MOST EQUIPPED PDA??????
I'm not able to accept this.

(Spb PocketPlus I'm not using, I found it slower than other slow applications)

Tuningszocske said:
I'm not able to accept this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that a threat? :wink: :lol:
Good night/morning...Enjoy your new Nokia :lol:

Yes, this is a threat.
Real problem is I'm in a special relationship with my Universal: Hate&Love.
I can't live with and without it.
Maybe I should find a specialist?
Is it a psychic problem now? :roll:

been smoking something? :twisted:

Frankly I understand your angst and kind of feel cheated myself after spending so much money on the Exec. Right now I am down to barebones in terms of the s/w that I have installed on it and inspite of that, it is really slow. One realises how slow the Exec is after having used the XDAII which was blazing fast with at least 3 times more s/w installed. I still have the XDA II and just checked it again... boy it is FAST!
Understandably, I too am dissapointed with this device.
Cheers, Vikas.
Tuningszocske said:
Yes, this is a threat.
Real problem is I'm in a special relationship with my Universal: Hate&Love.
I can't live with and without it.
Maybe I should find a specialist?
Is it a psychic problem now? :roll:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

@Tuningszocske
Same here. love and hate.
With my Nokia 9500 I never worried about how much s/w I installed (especailly with 80mb of user storage) but with my Exec I now only use Agenda Fusion, MS Reader (which is buggy), Opera & Mobireader.

Personally I don't think the problem is from the device itself, but the software. WM5 seems to run a lot slower than 2003SE, and even with faster CPUs and more memory, it's kinda like trying to run Windows XP on a Pentium 500... In other words, we'll need to wait for the hardware to mature and specs to be much more advanced to run WM5 at full speed. The hardware manufacturers also have to learn to use the new functions of the new OS, and learn to work around its quirks, but this can be solved by firmware updates.
So yeah, the Universal is great, as long as you keep things relatively simple with it.

Answering your question is a bit of a personal preference. But for me, I am very happy with my EXEC. This is my first Pocket PC coming from a TH55/E1 Palm OS. Anyone who owned a TH55 knows it only can run applications at 144 MHz, with tons of applications installed it was very slow in opening applicaions, but once opened it runs smoothly. So for me, coming from a slow device to my EXEC is like a blessing. PLUS, as mentioned above, I only install applications that I really use and tend not to clutter my 2GB SD card which I use mostly for keeping my MP3s and Movies. I have no complaints so far. I never had any of the problems described in some threads like being slow, delayed rings, bluetooth problems, etc...

more than happy with it, only a few gripes, but that is towards the 3rd party applications with exception of the lack of a backup function, in general it is fast enough, considering it is a pda phone.
for speed, I just whip out my Sony VAIO laptop not as portable nor as light, but each has there uses
this however looks very interesting
http://www.dualcor.com/photos.php

Blue Angel and V3i
Hi all,
Yes - despite having an SPV for over a year (Palm os Treo 600 before that), I must say I'm still forced to draw one conclusion:
Bloated OS on an underpowered device.
I had hoped that after the CE days they would have sorted this out, but had so many problems with my BA being slow and hanging (how cool is it to say "sorry, my ohone just crashed?!"), I did look at the M5000 (wizzard).
I may be wrong on this but I believe the main problems with the BA - namely battery life, memory and cpu speed - weren't upgraded for the wizzard. And, unfortunately, I had to decide that the Wizard is just TOO BIG.
IS it me, but does anyone actually NEED the h/wkeyboard?
So, am going on with a barebones BA, and have bought a motorola V31 as a "propr phone"! Hopefully when i come to replac my phone in 12 months time, things will have got much faster and better in PPC phones....
Yes, I know they can do some very cool things, but I really didnt find the BA a very reliable phone.
Perhaps it's too cumbersome for a phone, and too small for a laptop?
Right idea - keep going - lets see where we are in a year!!

man how people complain...
dont like it, sell it, simple
i dont have a hate relationship at all, i just love it all the way...
i use lots, but again selective, even my existing configurations can make the device run slow, so i just dont use them for a while and switch them back on when I want to change it.
I have the perfect, fast efficient machine, and if I want to make it look pretty, make it do more functions simultaneously, I accept that it will slow down. Try loading any computer up with 60% - 80% drain on its available ram and its gonna slow down.
The issues are nearly all with the third party applications, the bare bones machine with minimal extended rom installs means I also dont miss a call, rings on the second ring, screen rotation the first time is sub 2 seconds, and subsequently sub 1 second.
I love the bluetooth, keyboard, vga, 3 g, I also like the clam close to protect my screen so that I dont need a case, it just fits in the pocket if I am not wearing tight jeans....
Device is SPB PP (beta), SPB Diary, SPB Weather, SPB Backup (Beta), Resco Explorer, M$VC, KSE True Fax
Card... TCPMP, Resco Audio, Resco Radio, Resco Pictures, Wizbar 2 and Desktop (to play not use), 1 Calc, MS Reader, Bluepoint world and earth, and games
Yes you have to be choosy on your apps, but these are the software developers fault for not correctly utilising and keeping upto date with the change in technology, the permanent storage rather than pure RAM, and thus calling permanent storage information into RAM whn it is in storage.
We wanted permanent storage, but the developers have written applications for the the 2003/SE system and "adapted" to the WM2005 system, and it isnt that adaptable.
They must catch up , they will catch up, but dont whinge about your phone, it works, it works well, the apps are the are that screw it up.
Again, dont like it, sell it, stop whinging, some of you guys sound worse that my missus....
This is not a whinge forum, it is a help and contribute forum to share and develop knowledge.

@simon_darley, okay a balancing view. But lets not promote the Universal as being fault free because this is not true: SMS causing freezing, delayed call alert and loss of data after soft reset. Not making this up, I have suffered these problems.

jah said:
@simon_darley, okay a balancing view. But lets not promote the Universal as being fault free because this is not true: SMS causing freezing, delayed call alert and loss of data after soft reset. Not making this up, I have suffered these problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I have a QTEK 9000 and:
1. SMS never froze
2. Call Alert always rings in my phone mid-first-ring (i use a 50k mp3)
3. data loss after soft? not sure what this is about
What ROM are you using BTW? Just curious.

@Jorgee, suggest you have a quick look at this forum. There are lots of threads about the problems I mentioned. Regarding the call alert, I have now installed the new Radio ROM and there are significant improvements for finding a weak signal and call alert is also much better. The SMS freez was with my JJ which I have now sold. The loss of data - again the architecture of the Universal does mean this can happen. If RAM data is not written to ROM because of a fault. Again lots of posts on this here at this forum.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/vie...s=0&postorder=asc&highlight=sms+freez&start=0
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=34724&highlight=sms+freez

Oh my God, what have I done!!!!!

I think I have just made the worst purchase of my life.
Compared to my P910i, this O2 XDA MINI S is a piece of crap.
Where do I start:
No backup on active sync. :evil:
Contacts menu does not allow 2 or more mobile no's. :evil:
Contacts menu does not allow field changes. :evil:
Fax numbers are not directly accessible, only text. :evil:
Pictures of contacts are not worth having, due to size. :evil:
No ringer with vibration, how many calls will I miss due to some noise in the high street. :evil:
Doesn't play music, video, etc that P910i has no problem with. :evil:
I have many more gripes, but have just had enough for now.
It has one saving grace, wireless access. :roll:
I await comments on these matters.

Comments? Like what? Take it back? There ya go.

If you don't like it, be an adult and return it?

blatch said:
If you don't like it, be an adult and return it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's much more fun registering in an XDA forum then baiting other XDA owners it would seem....
why do people bother? Take it back! Get over it! Symbian works for them - great!
What were they expecting posting this topic?
'Horses for courses' methinks.
Richard

p800 said:
I think I have just made the worst purchase of my life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
crying gets nothing done... are you 3 years old?
p800 said:
No backup on active sync. :evil:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use spb backup
p800 said:
Contacts menu does not allow 2 or more mobile no's. :evil:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your so popular
p800 said:
Contacts menu does not allow field changes. :evil:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it does, you have to do it in outlook on the pc
p800 said:
Fax numbers are not directly accessible, only text. :evil:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why are you calling a fax, does hearing loud irritating beeping noises turn you on? buy a dial up modem then
p800 said:
Pictures of contacts are not worth having, due to size. :evil:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
theres 3rd party apps for that
p800 said:
No ringer with vibration, how many calls will I miss due to some noise in the high street. :evil:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
umm... yes there is
p800 said:
Doesn't play music, video, etc that P910i has no problem with. :evil:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
umm... yah it does
p800 said:
I have many more gripes, but have just had enough for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats right.. cry them off
p800 said:
It has one saving grace, wireless access. :roll:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha, yes.. it has Wifi
p800 said:
I await comments on these matters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
commented!

Jeesh, Give it a bit. I am the master of trying new phones. Over the last 6 months I have owned:
1. Nokia 6620
2. Nokia 7610
3. Treo 650
4. Nokia 9500
5. Sony P910
6. Nokia 6682
7. Cingular 8125 aka Wizard
Notice a common theme? Symbian. A good, solid OS. HOWEVER - In my opinion the 8125 is the better device. I hated the wheel for navigation on the P910. It would have been a keeper with a D-Pad. Plus, the form factor hella-sucked. That keyboard is dying to break. The 9500 was incredibly slow, The treo 650 Palm OS was not reliable at all, and all the others lack a full keyboard.
I am now settled in with my Wizard. If you dont like it, return it. BUT you wont find anything better. A few tweaks and it can be the phone you need it to be.

Ok guys I take your comments, but I expected a lot more from the xda than what I got. :shock:
I did not expect to have to buy backup software as the older activesync used to do this. A bit like XP home having the domain networking part of it removed, but Win98 had it.
I didn't want to have to sync with outlook to change fields, but if this is the only way to do this so be it. This would hopefully also sort out the people with 2 more more mobile numbers problem.
I have to fax certain clients info, so it would be nice to just be able to use a fax number with outlook to send it via a fax server.
Vibration and ring found in sub menu, the main controls just switched it from on to vibrate or off.
I tried to play an AVI and MPEG file that didn't work. Not a lot to ask from windows media player. But that is Microsoft for you.
I should probably re-phrase my initial comment to: XDA MINI S good as a unit, just that WM5 has many flaws in it.
Waiting to get shot down again

edit: removed redundant advice for vibrate+ring... I should read posts fully before taking aim...
try the (free) pocket core media player TCPMP for your audio/video stuff. There's a TCPMP plugin for just about everything now that you can locate with a bit of googling...

I got a P900 (no much difference between the P910 and the P900), used it for more then 2 years, I used it definitely once evey hour (only not when I am asleep) but the Wizard is much much better in my opinion!!

p800 said:
Waiting to get shot down again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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YIKES :shock: :shock: :shock:
And I thought my XDA was bit of an alien.

great that your sense-of-humor has returned. keep in mind that these things are just gadgets! anyday... a new one with more nifty gizmo doodads will tempt our wallets :wink:

I agree with pretty much everything you said.
Welcome to the world of Windows mobile. All the problems you have with your computer now make your mobile life difficult too.
I was just like you on moving from Symbian UIQ to WM. It's like Windows Mobile 2005 lacks many of the basic features and usability of Symbian's UIQ from 2001 on the P800. If you think the Wizard is bad, you should have tried the XDA2/2s. They're joke.
Symbian is certainly more user friendly, polished, well tested (ie. it works). If the P990 had come out in time I would certainly have got it instead.
HOWEVER, the Wizard in my opinion is the most functional device in its class until the P990 or Gsmart phone comes out.
Also, the media syncing on Windows Mobile is far better. Also, the wifi is awesome. It records in AVI format and has a useable qwerty keyboard. Also, it plays .WMV videos as a good framerate thanks to the better processor and has a proper file manager.
And (although I don't believe it should be the user's problem to do this) you can fix most the problems thanks to 3rd party software, maybe *borrowed* off yahoo groups or Limewire, although I am not recommending you use pirated software
Also, there's so bloody geniuses on this forum who make easy(ish) to follow guides on tweaking the phone to 'trick' it into working properly, and they're really helpful. I reckon you give it a chance.

I used to be a massive p series fan having been a user and website runner ...
Anyway
P910i had the following faults that the wizard doesnt
Syncing with outlook was crap
Camera was horrific
Email client was horrible
GPRS had to be used to download email even though when docked browser could use broadband
No wifi
Media player was horrible, and compared to stock wmp on the wizard it played even less and needed 3rd party apps to play ogg and avi just like the wizard does
Stylus was flimsy
The sync software was awful and needed a pc reboot sometimes to work
Software support was no where near that of the wmobile 5 probably not even 5% the size of the ppc software library.
I could go on

I used to be a massive p series fan having been a user and website runner ...
Anyway
P910i had the following faults that the wizard doesnt
Syncing with outlook was crap
Camera was horrific
Email client was horrible
GPRS had to be used to download email even though when docked browser could use broadband
No wifi
Media player was horrible, and compared to stock wmp on the wizard it played even less and needed 3rd party apps to play ogg and avi just like the wizard does
Stylus was flimsy
The sync software was awful and needed a pc reboot sometimes to work
Software support was no where near that of the wmobile 5 probably not even 5% the size of the ppc software library.
I could go on

"Doesn't play music, video, etc that P910i has no problem with. Evil or Very Mad"
Did you even turn on Windows Media Player.
Guess you haven't heard of Tiny Core. :lol: Noob
I sold my IPOD Nano for 5 2GB's mini sd music and videos, and software.
Watching movie is great for watching movie's in class, BT Audio to the bluetooth headset is unnoticable.

"Contacts menu doesn't allow two or more mobile numbers"
Ok, this annoyed me a little bit after my girlfriend went to South Africa and I had to (*Shock* *Horror*) create a second entry for her so I could text one or the other. I guess I will cope....
Thing is, until now I had been using a Motorola V500 so this minor limitation is nothing compared to be able to use a "Proper" web browser.
As for backup - what sort of backup? Not tried wm5torage? Allows you to just copy all your files straight off your memory card and I thought ActiveSync copied off pretty much everything else important (Contacts, Calender, Tasks, Notes, "My Documents" etc...). About the only thing I could not get off it as-was was the SMS messages (which I could do on my V500 using MPT, and once you have used MPT most pieces of software are a God send!)
As far as playing files with WMP goes, it annoys the crap out of me (even the Windows version does, but the pocket one seems worse). I installed the core meadia player and have not looked back. I copy files over wm5torage to the SD card and any problem of "This requires you to organise your music in Media Player 10 on your desktop" is rapidly solved.
That said, I wanna put Linux on my Wizard as it wont come with all these MS bolt ins (like MSN/Hotmail appearing all over the place, Windows ****ing Media Player, only syncing with MS Outlook out of the box, ActiveSync for Windows and not linux), the only problem is I kind of need a working phone so wont be playing with any of these features until I upgrade (hopefully to TyTn's successor).
And dont get me wrong, I do not dilike this phone, but it is just with every operating system - you have to figure out how to get it to do what you want it to do. I'm sure I will get there in the end....
Oh, and for vibrating and ring tones and stuff, there is information on the XDA-Dev wiki here -
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=WM5_Tweaks_Other
about how to "Change ringtone/vibrate/LED flash characteristics" (it's about half way down). You need to use regedit (try PHM Registry Editor, it's not bad), but you can get it to do exactly what you want....

Cavey.co.uk said:
"Contacts menu doesn't allow two or more mobile numbers"
Ok, this annoyed me a little bit after my girlfriend went to South Africa and I had to (*Shock* *Horror*) create a second entry for her so I could text one or the other. I guess I will cope....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm sitting here with Mini S in hand and have just opened one of my contacts that has 6 different phone entries!
Mobile
Work
Home
Work2
Home2
Company

Not enough phone numbers???
I am looking at my wizard and see spaces for 10 Numbers:
Work tel
Work fax
Mobile Tel
Home tel
car tel
Home fax
Company tel
Work 2 tel
Home2 tel
Assistant tel
Eleven if you count:
Pager
Surely you can put a second mobile in one of the other slots. Just use the menu and you can send an SMS to any of them..

Re: Not enough phone numbers???
Vectre said:
I am looking at my wizard and see spaces for 10 Numbers:
Surely you can put a second mobile in one of the other slots. Just use the menu and you can send an SMS to any of them..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It only offers to send an SMS to the one which is listed under "Mobile".

WM6 vs. WM5 - Is it worth it?

Hello all, only been on this forum for a few days but have found it EXTREMELY helpful and useful thus far.
I've seen all the threads about upgrading your wizard to WM6, and would like to know from all of you that have sucessfully upgraded to WM6, is it worth it? I'm a little scared about having my phone turn into a brick if I screw something up, and wonder if the wizard seems to run any quicker or slower with WM6 and if the features that WM6 has is worth upgrading to?

Personally I felt the same way as well, until I decided go go ahead and upgrade, and it's definitely been worth it for me - WM6 just runs faster, smoother, looks better, and is overall worth the upgrade. Upgrading my 8125 to WM6 cleared up a lot of issues I had, and I actually had much better battery life using WM6 compared to WM5. On top of that, I experienced fewer slowdowns and hangs on WM6, and honestly, most of the custom-cooked WM6 roms on here are so customized with so many extra features that definitely make the upgrade worthwhile. If you read and follow directions you shouldn't have a problem. As for me, I'm glad I upgraded to WM6 and never looked back

so i am in exactly the same boat as tcestes, very intrigued by wm6 and wanting to flash, but if only there wasn't the nasty possibility of "misreading" the flashing guides as "how to make an expensive paperweight"...
I've read and followed a lot of discussions about flashing, so that isn't the issue. There's always this sense of fear of the unknown, i suppose.

Can someone tell me what features are gained by upgrading to WM6? I don't want to upgrade just so I can say, "Hey, I have WM6!" lol. What's to gain, feature-wise?

Actually there's a lot new on WM6...mainly new shortcuts to do things you do on WM5 too, new applications (office2007), windows live, etc... but IMHO, it makes my Wizard slower than when I have WM5... With the latest AKU (3.3), it almost the same thing as WM6 (not with that glassy look tho and cute new brand spectacular (you got the idea) icons.
My personal experience is... don't try to fix what ain't broken. Only if you are having problems, you should consider trying the cooked ROMs here ( many of them include new software and some fixes ).

As soon as i got my wizard i upgraded it to WM6 compared with WM5 its alot faster and looks nicer. Rom flashing wont go wrong if you follow the instructions on this site and dont try flashing with another devices Rom. Having WM6 is good cause u can have everything on it like all the programs avaliable where as with WM5 some applications cant run on it. You can upgrade without forking out money by using Shelltool (in the Wizard Mobile 6) forum if u follow the instructions you can flash any rom to your wizard by using it. Currently i have XDA Mobile 6 r2a which is pretty good.

I find that WM6 has much better networking. For example my WPA2 wireless setup was impossible to connect to with my KJam/Wizard with the Imate WM5. Once flashed with WM6 it connects properly, I think it's also quicker to pickup the wireless network. The IE browser even though still a problem with most sites seems a little more compatible with pages and faster. Office is newer and even though I can't put my finger on it, it seems better.

I just recently upgraded my 8125 running wm5 after many days of deciding whether or not to do it. It was definitely worth it for me. However, I must admit that I read hundreds of forum notes about upgrading roms. I'm currently running SeeNoEvil v2.0q - Thanks Wizeman! I also updated my radio to 2.69.11. The difference for me was very evident. I'm running more programs now and my wizard is still faster than before. If you guys decide to do it just read everything so you don't create a brick. Once again, I must give many thanks to Wizeman and all the talented developers here.

Can i just add that it is well worth try WM6, It added in some new stuff and fixes some old stuff!
Flashing a phone is so simple, and it is really hard to brick your phone now!! If you just follow what is said, you have close to 0% of brinking it!

After performing a clean hard reset (running on WM5), I did not allow my device to install all the stuff from extended rom so I would have way much more free storage space on my device.
All the stuff I needed, I installed myself manually, a well as windows live and some other stuff from WM6 that works fine on my device.
I did a lot of reg. tweaks, and added some third party apps.
Result...my device has almost everything that you guys have on WM6, and is working as fast as yours with minimum battery drain.
It is far better optimized for use with finger and D-pad than I found WM6 to be in any WM6 rom.
I see no point to upgrade this device as well to WM6.
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observer_wizard said:
After performing a clean hard reset
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
very nice screenshots, but i cant see point in using WA2 on wizard i.e...

ActiveSync and Internet sharing
1. In my stock O2 ROM, I could not figure out a way to turn off the 'advanced feature' of activesync - it tries to set up a network with the computer. With the very strict firewall that I am forced to install on my PC, I could not get activesync to work via USB. WM6 provides a simple way to turn off this feature. This may be possible in WM5 by registry tweaks, but I could not figure that out.
2. Internet sharing works well on WM6. I could not get this easily in WM5.
3. I definitely found the many ROMs on this site lighter and faster than the stock ROM on my PDA.
kernelguy

Nice features
I also have found some nicer features on custom built WM6 ROMS, that were not on stock WM5.
1. Office 2007 and support for docx, xslx, etc...
2. HTML support in emails
3. Easier shortcuts, like having a link to the folders in the Menu options for email, sms, etc...
4. Faster, more stable, more RAM, better choice of included programs.
5. Internet sharing is easier to use
6. Youtube support, and streaming media player.
In my opinion, the WM5 carrier ROMs had a low amount of program and storage memory, and a bad choice of included programs.
Upgrading to any custom built ROM whether it be an AKU 2, 3, or WM6 ROM was smarter just because you would be getting better programs with more RAM and storage memory. WM6 includes some features that I listed above, so that is why I believe its the way to go.
However, if these things don't matter, and you are happy with everything your phone currently does, don't bother. There are some bugs, and things you may not want to deal with, and if you aren't interested in the features WM6 has to offer, I agree in not going through the trouble of upgrading and finding the ROM that best suites your needs.
That's my 2 cents...hope it helps.

What are the bugs you notice in WM6, if I may ask? Any better than the bugs in WM5?
[edit] Thanks for the info =D Sticking with WM5...

MichaelTV said:
What are the bugs you notice in WM6, if I may ask? Any better than the bugs in WM5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I loved WM6, but the fact that the damn wizard misses half or *more* of its calls when using a WM6 rom is simply unacceptable. It's a PHONE, after all, if it doesn't receive calls I might as well just carry an actual phone and use this as a PDA, separately.
I really wish that call issue would get worked out, because if it did I'd upgrade in a heartbeat, but the bottom line is that the Wizard is a PHONE, and it needs to be able to receive calls reliably.
With WM6, it doesn't.

observer_wizard said:
After performing a clean hard reset (running on WM5), I did not allow my device to install all the stuff from extended rom so I would have way much more free storage space on my device.
All the stuff I needed, I installed myself manually, a well as windows live and some other stuff from WM6 that works fine on my device.
I did a lot of reg. tweaks, and added some third party apps.
Result...my device has almost everything that you guys have on WM6, and is working as fast as yours with minimum battery drain.
It is far better optimized for use with finger and D-pad than I found WM6 to be in any WM6 rom.
I see no point to upgrade this device as well to WM6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a copy of this image in a downloadable/flashable form? Or how about, worst case scenario, a list of the apps you used and how to set it up like that? Your screens rock!

nothin said:
very nice screenshots, but i cant see point in using WA2 on wizard i.e...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use WA2 because of it's specific features that I can't get from any other software or reg tweak
jasongw said:
Do you have a copy of this image in a downloadable/flashable form? Or how about, worst case scenario, a list of the apps you used and how to set it up like that? Your screens rock!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It takes some work to get this done.
I use a diferent dialer (zPhone), a new dark htc phone pad, windows live function, WA2 with dark vista skin (pretty modified, removed start menu and a lot of other things out of my way because I don't nead them...I can get to start menu when I press date for two seconds...etc.), modified iLauncher with modified black .tsk theme to get those tab's feeling on iLauncher, I moved SPB suite addon on bottom, removed tray, done a lot of reg tweaking, and replaced some WM apps with better ones.
For example...uder "Dict" lies Lingvosoft dictionary, under "Video" lies Core player, under "music" lies PocketMusic, under "Photo" lies Resco photo viewer, under "Record" lies Virtual Recorder, and so on (Resco explorer, PhatPad, Omega 1-Calc, Reg editor, Picsel Browser, SKTools, Bluezard, several GPS Navigational software, Opera, Stopwatch, several technical engineering programs...etc.).
Also modified Hard buttons...check http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/77/mojvariogm8.jpg
Removed markings ftom butons and changed their function's...so now top left button minimises an app, while the right one closes the running application.
Voice button is activated only after I hold it for 2 sec, while if I only press it it is then used for screen rotation...etc.
As you can see, I have done some work on the device, and for me there is no WM6 that serves me better than the system I have now.
Tried it before but...had a problem with incoming call's, some of option buttons and tabs missed text in them...phone sometimes restarted on it's own etc.
I do not want to see any of WM6 rom's again until (or if) an official one comes out.
My device is now stable as hell, fast as it can be, and has a very easy to use interface.
There is no one that can make me go back on some home made WM6 rom

Radio ROM ?
bilharri said:
I just recently upgraded my 8125 running wm5 after many days of deciding whether or not to do it. It was definitely worth it for me. However, I must admit that I read hundreds of forum notes about upgrading roms. I'm currently running SeeNoEvil v2.0q - Thanks Wizeman! I also updated my radio to 2.69.11. The difference for me was very evident. I'm running more programs now and my wizard is still faster than before. If you guys decide to do it just read everything so you don't create a brick. Once again, I must give many thanks to Wizeman and all the talented developers here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi bilharri.
Can I know from where did u get the Radio rom.I am now running:
ROM Version:10.1.0.811WWE
ROM Date:8/11/06
Radio version:02.07.10
Protocol version:413.1.03
Thinking of changing my Radio ROM.Hope what you have is a new version than what i am currently on.
Thankyou.

jasongw said:
I loved WM6, but the fact that the damn wizard misses half or *more* of its calls when using a WM6 rom is simply unacceptable. It's a PHONE, after all, if it doesn't receive calls I might as well just carry an actual phone and use this as a PDA, separately.
I really wish that call issue would get worked out, because if it did I'd upgrade in a heartbeat, but the bottom line is that the Wizard is a PHONE, and it needs to be able to receive calls reliably.
With WM6, it doesn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Experiencing the same problem here.What radio ROM version do you have ?Lets try to figure out a solution cause the performance is far better compared to WM5.So cant roll back

Going back to Athena? Maybe with a little help from my friends...

Many many moons ago I initiated a thread telling all of the impending sale of my Ameo, and my reasons for doing so. Since then I have owned umpteen handsets including a Toshiba Portege G900, Nokia E90, Tytn ii, HTC Touch Diamond and finally (to my own surprise) an Iphone 3G.
I recall an overbearing distaste for the Iphone and its supposed lack of a software scene, however it seems that times have changed: the iPhone, for all its flaws now has a huge modding scene and an almost limitless array of applications to cover all of Apple's oversights. For what it's worth the iPhone is the most enjoyable handset I have ever used.
Now here's the thing.
I've been offered a very good price for my Iphone and have recently acquired an INCREDIBLY cheap HTC ADVANTAGE. From the quick look at these forums I've had there seem to have been some great developments and I WANT to fall back in love with the Advantage (though I accept that the device is in itself a completely different handset!)
I suppose on a deeper level I want to know if windows mobile can offer me the solutions that I have on my Iphone and enjoy every day. Obviously each device has HARDWARE differences that can never be changed - the Advantage will never have multitouch just as the iPhone will never have a VGA display; but considering the HUGE software library Windows Mobile supposedly offers can it provide solutions to the following tasks....
Google Contacts OTA sync - with Gsync I can synchronize my contacts every day and ensure I never lose a number. This also updates my contact photos stored on Google's servers. I don't use Outlook, never have never will and want a simple over the air solution.
Podcasts. With Mobilecast on the iPhone I can search for an download podcasts which download in the background and update as and when new shows arrive. It supports both video and audio podcasts.
YouTube downloader - allows the download of high quality YouTube videos to keep and supports multiple simultaneous downloads.
Email with properly formatted HTML support. I recall the Windows Mobile html email client displaying weirdly formatted and ugly messages, shifted to one side/ I will happily pay for a replacement email client if it is as beautiful and useable as the Iphone's.
Browser - the iPhone's browser is far from perfect, but I'm able to happily type out a new thread on Safari right now. I recall many problems with the Touch Diamond's Opera browser - most irritatingly the cursor moving back in the paragraph you're typing for no reason. Have most of the flaws with Opera Mobile been resolved? Is it now better than the iphone's Safari browser?
That's pretty much my list. They might seem pretty banal but they make me enjoy my iPhone, and if I can get the Advantage to do all those things then I'll probably sell up. I'm not worried about the size of the Advantage.

Hi Leoni,
Good to hear from you again after such a long period of absence.
I still give the same advice: define your requirements first, and be comprehensive in doing so.
- Do you need navigation software? If yes, iPhone is out, Athena is in.
- Do you want hugh screen and not mind the size? If yes, Athena has a tick.
- Do you do word, excel, and power point, or at least often receive attachment of such and want to read them on the device? If yes, iPhone is out, Athena is in.
- Could you tolerate weak signal strength? If no, iPhone is out.
- Do you have the habit of using handwriting recognition, or write Chinese/Japanese/Korean characters? If yes, iPhone is out.
- Do you want to use the GPS for traking, or prolonged use without access to power source? If yes, iPhone is out, as you can't swap in spare battery.
- Do you a extremely fussy person in wanting really really smooth video playback? If yes, consider iPhone. However, if you'r willing to wait, Coreplayer is going to address this issue very very shortly and poor video playout is likely to be history.
- Do you placed lots of value in internet browsing wihtout having to zoom in and out? If yes, nothing beats Athena. But Opera Mobile would never be as smooth as Safari. As to your questions on typing using Opera, it depends on which version you use. You need to try out all of them to see the difference.
- Are you a fashion conscious person who want to be "cool". If so, iPhone is a cool looking phone, but so is HTC Touch HD (Which I have just bought).
- Do you do presentation as required by your work? If yes, HTC Touch HD is out, and Athena is in, because HD does not have TV-out. Although iPhone has TV out, it does not have presentation software, so iPhone is also out.
- Do you want FM radio? If so, consider Touch HD.
- Do you want good camera (say 10MP camera) and video recording? If so, consider Samsung SBH B600.
You get the idea... You need to know what your requirements are, then gather information to see if your target phones meet your need.
Yes, a lot has changed for the better in Athena since you last left it, but there are still many areas which are unchanged. You could post all your specific question after you've considered your requirements, and we'll be very happy to answer your questions. You have already posted some of those question, but it's a good idea to think more comprehensively to make sure you cover all aspects of your needs.
I may not be able to answer some of the questions as your needs are different from mine, but I'm sure others would respond to your questions.
Cheers.

Hi Eaglesteve - I had a feeling you'd be in here - good to hear from you.
My circumstances are that I already have an iPhone and have an Advantage coming in the post today. I'm not after turning the Advantage into an iPhone, simply wondering if there are one or two bits of software which would sell the idea of keeping the Advantage to me.
I'm surprised you'd go for the Touch HD Eaglesteve as its screen is quite a bit smaller than that of the Advantage. The device does interest me, although its price is more than the combined costs of my iPhone and Advantage! I wonder if I'd just be better off keeping two devices once again. What are your feelings on the HD versus the Advantage? How does the overall responsiveness and also audio and video performance compare with the Advantage?
Regards

Check this out: http://www.goosync.com/

F2a said:
Check this out: http://www.goosync.com/
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Hi thanks for that. Unfortunately you have to pay, and 20 quid seems a rip-off considering I'd only be syncing my contacts. The solution I have for Iphone cost me £1 or something like that.
I'm seriously thinking of just throwing my Advantage straight onto Ebay. Windows Mobile doesn't seem to have the scope of free software it once had. I don't think the idea of free (or very cheap) Google contacts sync software is that ridiculous an idea - certainly it's enough of an issue for more than one iPhone developer to come up with free or cheap solutions. I bought the Advantage because it was cheap and i thought it would be something fun to play around with but I seem to have made a poor decision.
If every little solution costs me £20 then I'm going to be severely out of pocket by the end of the week!

It don't sync with google but....
Sync = www.dashwire.com is the best over the air sync up I've used. Photos, videos, contacts, photocontacts, emails and txt for free! Also snap2face (free) facebook app can sync up with your facebook contacts images too.
Rss video and audio = Beyondpod 3.0 (free) brilliant software. Use this in conjunction with Mort's Player and the Mypod skin (free). You won't look back with a 16GB SDMicro (w/adapter) in your advantage.
Browser = Netfront or even better Skyfire if you can get it. Netfront has so many different configs that you should be happy with one or two.
Email = I get by with outlook as any major media mails I get tend to need my home pc!
I don't download youtube vids but do use vTap as the wikipedia side of it is cool.
I tried to replace my Athena with an iphone and failed by a long way. I'll be using this Ameo for a couple of years I think. (Unless the 4g HTC Max kicks ass)
The one thing I would recommend is putting MichyPrima's 5.1 rom it as it is so damn rock solid and just works so good. All the sensors work with the new 'G' software knocking about and I have only hard reset once to clear out a couple of programs.
Long live the X7500. Best comms device I have owned, by a mile.

leoni1980 said:
Hi Eaglesteve - I had a feeling you'd be in here - good to hear from you.
My circumstances are that I already have an iPhone and have an Advantage coming in the post today. I'm not after turning the Advantage into an iPhone, simply wondering if there are one or two bits of software which would sell the idea of keeping the Advantage to me.
I'm surprised you'd go for the Touch HD Eaglesteve as its screen is quite a bit smaller than that of the Advantage. The device does interest me, although its price is more than the combined costs of my iPhone and Advantage! I wonder if I'd just be better off keeping two devices once again. What are your feelings on the HD versus the Advantage? How does the overall responsiveness and also audio and video performance compare with the Advantage?
Regards
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As for software for Athena, you should always have FtouchSL, Wktask and the like. But I'd strongly recommend SPB Mobile Shell as one of the most transforming software IMO. Not only it is finger friendly, it will also enhance the camera function, puts all the Opera mobile history and favoutries on the launch menu, but also give you lots of useful tools. Don't forget the latest Resco File Explorer and Registry editor. Of course Opera Mobile is a must, but you need to experiement with the various version to find out which is suits you. I find surfing with Opera mobile on Athena to be way way better than using Safari on iPhone, primarily due to the large screen and not having to zoom in and out. Try out FL3 and directly play youtube using Opera 9.5, something which was impossible the last time you had your Athena. When using Opera Mobile, go to the configuration to make minimum overview zoom 85 percent to allow you ability to activate links in zoom out mode if you so wish.
Don't forget youtubeplayer 1.0.0.10 which allows you to either play directly or download youtube videos.
I can't remember if I had already posted this info in my previous entry, so please excuse me if there's any duplication.
Regarding my using the Touch HD, it's the closest replacement available in the market today. I'm not sure if I could get used to the near 4 inch (3.8 precisely) screen or not, but would give it a try. I think 4.5 inch would be real nice, but let's see..
It has many things that I thought an Athena replacement should have: smoother rounder form factor, embedded ear piece, more dated 7.2mb/s download speed, FM radio, better camera (hopefully), and no keybaord (always much prefer without hardware keyboard).
I'm still waiting for my unit to arrive when I make this post. It is too soon for me to comment on performance, etc. I'd want to make sure that if I make a review it is going to be honest, truthful, and helpful.
I never let cost to influence my decision too much. I just want to the best available, if you know what I mean. Actually while considering HD, Mackaby influenced me to give iPhone a serious consideration, which I did. iPhone would have cost me nothing with a plan, but as you already know, it was a frustration and disappointment for me, so I chosed the HD, which cost me AUD1225, which is much cheaper than my Athena, that cost me about AUD1600.
I'd still keep my Athena, in case I could'nt get use to the small size in HD. Won't know until I try it. Unfortunately nobody in Sydney is selling HD, so the only way to try is to buy.
Enough rumbling. Will let you get back to your Athena. Welcome back, my friend.

Lioni,
Forgot to mention podcast. I've never used this myself, but there should be two ways of doing this in winmo devices. You could do it in Opera mobile
In the address bar, enter the URL address of the web page that contains the RTSP link to the desired *.3gp, *.mp4, or *.sdp file, then click on the RTSP links.
Another way is to to use the Streamin Media program. The media is sent in a continuous stream to winmo devices and is played as it arrives, along with the audio. You could play 3GP, MPEG-4, and SDP files. To use this program, go to start/program and start the streaming media program (I think most of MiChy's ROM has it, if I'm not mistaken), then click connect. On the next screen, enter the URL for the website, then tap connect. You can play/pause, rewind, fast forward, etc.
Hope this helps and hope it satisfies your need.
Cheers.

Regarding Opera mobile versus Safari, my opinion is that Safari is still better in terms of being fluid and smooth. Opera tends to be jerky and unsteady in comparision. However, speedwise, there is probably no difference. Safari tends to require some waiting for the blurred webpage to turn clear before you could take control of it (during this time, it is temporarily frozen). Opera also has this pause. I would rate Safari the better browser overall. However, Opera on Athena clearly triumph over Safari on iPhone in my honest opinion, because of the big screen.

I'm currently using my athena again, as my x1 developed a serious flaw yesterday. It jumped under the wheels of a lorry!
Awaiting replacement device from Vodafone as their insurance department is a bad joke.
Anyway, I'd got used to the comparitively tiny screen of the X1, but having gone back to the athena there's a couple of observations.
Both Screens are fantastic, the X1 is noticeably sharper (small screen hires), but using the athena again I can't see how I can cope with the X1 when I eventually get the replacement. It's like using realvga on a screen half the size of the athena, yet I have been coping with it, it's amazing how much you adapt really quickly.
There's a massive speed difference, the x1 does things nearly instantly, all that memory does it I suppose, it's like running an XP machine on 256mb then sticking 1gb of memory inside instead.
Gps is near instantaneous, screen rendering is the same,opening applications don't bring up the spinning wheel of doom, the athena crawls along in comparison yet it didn't feel that slow when I was using it before. It's all relative I suppose (it's not really that slow, maybe 1/4 of a second or so).
But having said that I love the athena, I mentioned before that I don't find it too big to use as a phone, and the screen is amazing. It's a pity we can't squeeze a newer motherboard in there ;-)
When I get my replacement X1 through I'm not certain what to do, I'm very tempted to sell it and get a touch HD, the form factor certainly works better. But then I could keep using it and have the Athena as a wifi tablet for websurfing.
As for browsing speed (noticeably this forum), I find Netfront on simple browsing to be the fastest there is especially across gprs, not very pretty but who cares about the backgrounds when the info is so important!
to throw a spanner in the works, I had a decent play with the blackberry storm while waiting for Vf customer service and their insurance & repairs dept to sort out my x1. The hardware is the best I've seen, not sure how long the funky screen would last, but the form factor is great and build quality looks good, but the OS doesn't look amazing, and I'm not sure how much you can get access to change stuff, plus there's no wifi !
how stupid is that?

Sorry to hear about your SEXXI mishap.
Are you using MiChy's ROM? His ROM should be noticeably faster.
The screen size is the thing that I would miss most about Athena. No doubt about that. A larger screen with the same resolution would off course appear to be less sharp. I hope just like you I could adapt to the tiny 3.8 inch screen in HD.
You should be able to get almost instant GPS signal with Athena. There is a thread that I started on this on how to get that result.
Talking about speed, Asus has just released a 800 mhz winmo phone. This is the fastest on a winmo phone. But sadly it has only 2.8 inch VGA screen, which I would never be able to live with.

yep im running michys latest, and with gps ive never been able to get less than a 35second fix, usually its much more like 5 mins, despite all the tweaks

Beyondpod 3 looks to be EXACTLY what I'm looking for - well done Arctic Matt!
Now here's a stupid question....
I've relied on my iPhone and 'sync in a blink' (a Google OTA contacts sync application) to back up my phone contacts. Now I know that I can back up all my contacts to my Windows Address Book with Itunes, but does anyone know how to put my contacts from my Windows Address Book OR my online Google Contacts onto my Athena (just as a one-off)? I feel stupid even asking this but in the past I've always relied on having my contacts on the SIM card but a few weeks ago I got a new sim and threw the old one away. I don't use Outlook or anything like that, wondered if perhaps I could just do it with Activesync.
Thanks in advance.

leoni1980 said:
does anyone know how to put my contacts from my Windows Address Book OR my online Google Contacts onto my Athena (just as a one-off)?
Thanks in advance.
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I have an account in Live.com, when I setup Windows Live in my X7510, there is an option to use another email account. I am not sure though if it can use Google (GMail), but to make the story short, upon setup, it will ask you if you want to syncronize your email and contacts to your device.
If Windows Live won't work with GMail, how about creating an account in Live.com. They might have an option to copy your contacts from GMail to Live.com then use Windows Live from your device to syncronize.
Just some thoughts...

fards said:
yep im running michys latest, and with gps ive never been able to get less than a 35second fix, usually its much more like 5 mins, despite all the tweaks
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Which GPS Navigation do you use???

cktlcmd said:
Which GPS Navigation do you use???
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memory-map

eaglesteve said:
- Do you a extremely fussy person in wanting really really smooth video playback? If yes, consider iPhone. However, if you'r willing to wait, Coreplayer is going to address this issue very very shortly and poor video playout is likely to be history.
Cheers.
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what's the core news?

Don't forget to....
leoni1980 said:
Beyondpod 3 looks to be EXACTLY what I'm looking for - well done Arctic Matt!
Now here's a stupid question....
I've relied on my iPhone and 'sync in a blink' (a Google OTA contacts sync application) to back up my phone contacts. Now I know that I can back up all my contacts to my Windows Address Book with Itunes, but does anyone know how to put my contacts from my Windows Address Book OR my online Google Contacts onto my Athena (just as a one-off)? I feel stupid even asking this but in the past I've always relied on having my contacts on the SIM card but a few weeks ago I got a new sim and threw the old one away. I don't use Outlook or anything like that, wondered if perhaps I could just do it with Activesync.
Thanks in advance.
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Go into the advanced settings of Beyondpod 3 and access Beyond Scheduler! You can automate so much stuff on your Athena without having to program in Mort Script. Via this software my x7500 goes into flight mode at 11pm, wakes up at 6am, connects to my home wifi, downloads all my podcasts, downloads all my emails, syncs with dashwire, switches on realplayer and wakes me up to live BBC radio (I live in Norway - NRK would send me back to sleep.).
Oh and
Once you have all you contacts on your phone I really think you should give Dashwire a go. It is rather spiffing.