Database Users

Diary of an O2 Exec

For background to this post read http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?p=175027#175027.
This is an experiment to see just how usable this device actually is. There seem to be differing opinions and experiences and all hold water. So I'm going reset my device and start from scratch. Each time I encounter a shortfall on the device, I'll post what I think is wrong and wait for responses/advice on what to do. On group concensus, I'll then make a change/install 3rd party software/change my way of doing things etc and post the results.
This, of course, may go absolutely nowhere.
The rules:
It's an academic experiment, I have no agenda here.

Ok, All gone! Also, did a soft reset at the point that the device started "Customizing for O2". It's come back all clean and new.
ROM version: 1.13.48 WWE
ROM date: 09/19/05
Radio version: 1.04.02
Protocol version: 42.37.P8
Ext rom verion: (nothing because I reset it I guess).
Off the cuff free program memory is 31.33, Storage is 40.12
Fiddled with a couple of standard settings (cleartext is on, fonts are smallest, O2 gprs settings set up etc, etc).
Is this a safe basis to start with, or do I need the ext rom for something?
What I really need right up front is:
1. A GPRS monitor (SPB Gprs monitor is supplied on the accompanying O2 CD)
2. Tomtom navigator
Any alternatives, warnings before I install these?

Installed a couple of applications:
- SPB Gprs monitor
- Clearview PDF viewer (provided by O2 along with the unit)
- Microsoft Voice command. This most definitely has a bug in that you're unable to see the contact you're about to call. It is still useful however.
So far things still looking fine.
Still, was reminded yesterday evening in a random conversation about the fact that windows 95 used to run (slowly but usably) on a 486 with 16 MB Ram. My Exec runs slowly but usably on a lot more.

daveb1976 said:
2. Tomtom navigator
Any alternatives, warnings before I install these?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YOU'RE D :roll: :roll: M E D
I decided to keep my old XDA (Wallaby) and continue to use TomTom on that. Better safe than sorry

daveb1976 said:
Installed a couple of applications:
-
Still, was reminded yesterday evening in a random conversation about the fact that windows 95 used to run (slowly but usably) on a 486 with 16 MB Ram. My Exec runs slowly but usably on a lot more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually had a 200Mhz (Gateway) computer with 64MB of RAM and 4MB graphics card and 5GB HDD. My monitor had a higher res then the JJ/Exec. This worked really well on Win95 and Office. It was also used with Win98SE later on.
What the hell has M$ with WM5? It has a 520Mhz processor on-tap and about 50MB of RAM. It really does not feel as snappy as my old (10 years old) Gateway!

TomTom 5.1 works Ok on the Exec - the only problem is what to do with the Exec in the car. The Exec doesn't have a holder. It just slightly too big for my cheap Halford holder that suited my XDAII and IIs. Blue Tac wouldn't last too long on the dashboard Exec - it'll proably dry out too quickly. Velcro might work....

JJ Tweaks
Would suggest the following quick n easy adjustments:
1. Turn off error reporting
2. Turn off aut accept beams
3. remove pocket skype if you dont use it, big n cumbersome, or at least move it to storage card
4. Did you remove the startup file to your original voice dialer sddaemon?
5. have you done any other registry tweaks for MSVC from bluetooth?
6. Consider setting your theme to simply, some of them are big.
7. I prefer to use SPB to close the application properly, but if you do not add monitors to anything other than RAM.
What speed do you get on screen rotation?

Day 2
Day 2 I guess (only the first full day of actually using it)
Here's what I've found so far. My overall opinion is that things ARE running more smoothly than before. I LOVE a couple of the features - particularly MS Voice command when it works. I've used it extensively to check email, a bit to browse the web, once to watch a couple of small windows media videos. So it's been useful, but that's not the point of this excersise. I want to see if it works as we should be able to expect a device and an OS that we're paying good money for. Here's what I'm not happy with so far. Please post suggestions to whether you agree or disagree with my opinions, and suggestions for how I should be things better.
Bugs:
1. I have on 4 occassions been given an error stating that there is not enough memory to perform an operation. Once was when I tried to open the camera, once when I tried to access the MS Voice command config, once when trying to use Voice command to access contacts (I didn't actually get the error, but it didn't work. A quick look on MSVoice command troubleshooting says this is a memory problem. Now, the whole point of this is to use the device as MS planned us to. SURELY if within a day of user testing the device complains about memory issues, then their memory management DOES NOT WORK. Showstopper in my humble opinion. Of course, I'm bound and chained so they'll release anyway. This was the same problem with 2003SE, so why did they release 2005 with the same problem? Don't tell me I need to go into settings and shut down all the programs. What kind of end-user should think they needed to do that?
2. Bluetooth has switched itself off about 4 times. I know this is a well known bug on this forum, my question is how did the device make it to release with this so easily identifiable? Showstopper.
And appart from the fact that it's ludicrously slow for what it is accomplishing there are these annoyances - but not bugs.
1. No task switcher. This may only be me, but I think going through the menu to switch between applications every time you need to copy and paste or something like that, isn't great design. This is just my opinion of course, not a bug.
2. Decided to search for large files to see if I could free up space. Lovely option to search for files bigger than 64k (although it takes damned AGES - Google could search the entire web 100 000 times in less time). Finally get a list of files...but I CAN'T DELETE THEM from here. And there's no way to find out where they exist that I can see. Please someone tell me I'm doing something stupid here and that there is a way. Not a bug of course, but TERRIBLE design. Showstopper
Ok, now hit me...[/b]

Just to address a couple of other posts:
Would suggest the following quick n easy adjustments:
1. Turn off error reporting
2. Turn off aut accept beams
3. remove pocket skype if you dont use it, big n cumbersome, or at least move it to storage card
4. Did you remove the startup file to your original voice dialer sddaemon?
5. have you done any other registry tweaks for MSVC from bluetooth?
6. Consider setting your theme to simply, some of them are big.
7. I prefer to use SPB to close the application properly, but if you do not add monitors to anything other than RAM.
What speed do you get on screen rotation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Have turned this off
2. Have turned this off
3. Didn't get installed. I made sure this was JUST the MS supplied CAB. It has no O2 software installed that I can find - not even the smart dialer (which is a pain). Strangely, the menu option for smart dialer options is there, but does nothing when i click on it. But this might be because SD is expected to come from the OEM.
4. No i didn't, but it doesn't appear there anyway. But I'm not trying to tweak the device anyway, I'm trying to use it like an end user.
5. No, no tweaks. I don't believe you should have to tweak things like this within the first few days. I do, because i find it interesting, but my argument here is that MS have released a rediculously low quality product.
6. Standard windows theme.
7. I'm trying to use it as they intended.
Xiama: tomtom not installed...yet. I've had it running a few times though and it seems pretty good.
Darkblack: I've found a standard gps holder from Maplin worked fine.

compare WM03 and WM05: many problems and limitations

Dear All
I am very disattisfied from WM05 compares to my (XDA) WM03. I wish you can share some suggestions and advices.
PROBLEMS with Wizard T-mobile Vario (=Qteck 9100) and Windows Mobile 2005, version 2.17WWE:
1. Memory limitations:
Only 47 MB of Storage and only 44 MB for Program! Total 91MB
At startup, after hard reset, even with pressing soft reset within 3 secs, you have no more that 25MB of storage and 30MB of Program, very little!
It should be 128MB ram to 64MB rom, totale 192MB
Not only we are missing 101MB, what is worst is that the new OS don't let you allocate RAM or ROM
In my case some application (for example Chinese fonts) are heavy (8MB) and cannot be installed on mini-SD card. Simply you cannot choose, they install in main memory.
After a minium batch of required software are installed I end up with a super slow machine, with just 11MB Storage memory and 16MB Program memory
2. Memory cannot be re-allocated
I would be more that glad to get rid of most native applications (like intellidial, skype, etc). But it seems NOT possible.
Nobody was able to cook External ROM
3. TotalCommander
Even cooking external rom, what benefit?
By using TotalCommander it seems that cab istalled to external rom are very little in size.
So my question again: where is all the 192 memory gone? Who uses it, which programs? How can the OS be so large?
4. MS Contacts Problem
If you filter by using categories, the filter is NOT retained!
In wm03 it was (until next software reset, of course).
I mean if you filter using "business" categories, then you (without soft resetting) make calls, or do something else, at next time the filter is gone. You must re-select it
5. Installing application with Active Sync
Very funny: I have tested all my apps and they are ALL compatible with WM05. Also the software house confirmed to me.
Now look at Spb Backup V1.1.2. It is compatible to wm05, right?
Or Lingvosoft dictionaries 2006
Or Slovoed Dictionaries 2006
These sfw are fully compatible and in fact no problem with them.
But if you run low in memory (for example Storage free 15MB and Program free 16MB, like now) what happens is:
5.1 either the program install and then NOTHING appears in startup memu. Simply they are not there, even if no error messages appear.
or
5.2 the desktop active synct installation sees that your internal memory is too short and ask you where to install. You choose STORAGE CARD and INVARIABLY AFTER INSTALLATION THE RESULT IS: INSTALLATION IS UNSYCCESFUL!
Then you can free memory or erase previous software: YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO INSTALL THE FAILED APPS ANYMORE!, UNTIL YOU MAKE A FRESH HARD RESET.
After a fresh hard reset the application can be installaed without problem!
CONCLUSION: IF ACTIVE SYNC ASKS YOU WHERE TO INSTALL, THEN SURELY THE INSTALLATION WILL ABORT.
5.3 Active sync DOES not ask where to install the application.
The installation completes and then a message says: installation unsuccessful, because it WAS NOT digitally signed!?!
If this is the case, NO WAY to install the application, until next HARD RESET
After hard reset, the application may install and work flawlessy!
6. Installing application from mini-SD card
I tried with TomTom 5.21
Don't even start!
7. Zone Alarm
I still have to shut down Zone Alarm 6.1.744 in order to Active Sync to sync with Wizard. No way to accept the virtual LAN network. Do you know a solution?
8. OmapClock
how yo make omapclock to retain the new speed (say 240MHz)?
Sometime it will retain. Sometime after few minutes the speed reverts to 180MHz. I did not make any soft reset in between.
Please let me have your suggestions on some of these strange behaviours
Thanks and waiting
saulo866

any suggestions? Any solutions to these problems I mentioned?
I am c0nsidering to sell out my Wizard with WINDOWS MOBILE 2005, and look for an older WM03 model
Thanks a lot
Saulo

Memory problems: The whole concept of Storage and Program memory is removed in WM5, so most of your moans about memory are not valid when applied to WM5 - especially the part about allocating memory between storage and programs. Basically, now you have RAM, and Storage space - they are seperate, and unrelated. I suggest you read up on this major change in WM5.
4. True - a minor niggle though, in my opinion.
5. When I install by ActiveSync, I do not get asked by AS where I want to install the program (that's a WM03 thing) - I get asked by the device where I want to install it - and it either installs it in \Program Files or \Storage Card\Program Files - which is a major benefit, because before, if I wanted to install to Storage Card, it would often install just in the root of the card, which was invariably messy.
My suggestion to you is to keep a good chunk of your phone storage free so that the .cab files can be copied to the phone in the first place, from there you can decide where to install the program to. I can't believe you have that many programs filling up your phone storage that can't be moved to the storage card.
6. TomTom is a pile of nonsense, which was obviously programmed by idiots. It requires a number of hard-coded paths to be present. Install it to your phone, and the maps to the card, and leave it as it is, and you'll have no problems.
7. Add the ActiveSync network to your Trusted Zone, and make sure the 3 ActiveSync programs have full control in the Program Control section. See the MS website for more info.
8. Dare I say it, RTFM. There is a MASSIVE thread on OmapClock, where I'm sure you downloaded the program from in the first place. Try reading it before asking the same question that's been asked numerous times before.

saulo866 said:
8. OmapClock
how yo make omapclock to retain the new speed (say 240MHz)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search for "SmartSKey". Freeware. Works great together with OmapClock and does what you want. By switching the device on, it works with e.g. 252 MHz. Switching off = fallback to lower MHz. Great piece of software!

thanks to all for your kind ideas...
Any more suggestions?
Saulo

I suggest you sell your WM5 device and go back to WM2003. It seems most of your issues aren't really issues. I agree, RTFM.

Does anyone know how to:
1. make CC and BCC fields appear in TEXT messages? (SMS)
I found no hint in help file...
2. How to make filter on categories persistent? At the moment when you select filter, on, say, BUSINESS or FRIENDS, the filter disappear after you change focus on aother apps
Thanks and waiting
Saulo866

WHY IS MY EXEC SO DAMN SLOW??? PLZ HELP!ITS ANNOYING THE HEL

OK HERES THE THING I FLASHED TO LATEST ROM WITH A2DP AND AKU AND EVERYTHING THE QTEK VERSION AND ITS WORKING PRETTY FAST , AND THEN I INSTALL SPB POCKET PLUS AND SPD WEATHER , NOW EVERYTIME I TURN ON THE PHONE OR FLIP THE SCREEN, THERES A 5-10SEC DELAY ON THE TOUCHSCREEN/BUTTONS
WHY IS THIS?
AND SHOULD I GET RID OF SPB
AND HAVE ANY OF YOU HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEM
PLZ LMK

got a similar problem (although after installing Pocket and Contact Breeze), but learned to live with it.... i think its a memory issue and the today programs using too much memory.

First thing to do is to turn off the SD memory card checking in all today plugins - this should get rid of the main part of the delay...

Hi rancorp!
Where did you install these plugins? If you installed them on the SD-card you should
reinstall them to your Execs flash. I've experience similar problems with SBSH Pocket Breeze
and its Plugins which basically do the same SPB does.
Since I moved the installation to the device everythin ran much better.
I suppose this corresponds to Lordsmiffs advice since a PPC inits its hardware on
wakeup and if he has to init the SD and start things from there it takes time.
Have fun!
mikrolinux

universal speed
operation in most areas should be sub 2 seconds.
some good advice above.
1. Remove memory readers of SD card
2. Install all applications that you use on the today screen to device
3. Remove all icons that look at the sd card for their picture
4. Do not put pocket skype icon anywhere visible, it is a known really really slow bug
5. Common ones well known.... Remove antivirus, turn off error checking, remove auto accept beams
6. If you dont use video call methods, use the original simple phone skin (details are available on wiki)
7. Look at your SPB application, and ensure that you are using what you need... I found I the extras of spb slow it down, the basic today plug in is fast
8. Look at anything else in your startup
9. Look at how much data you are synchronising by referring to your .vol file in the root directory of your folder system
I think a bit more information on your device is necessary. It should be fast. What does your system ram run at on a fresh soft reset.

Excuse me for asking... how to turn off the SD memory card checking in today plugins? Thanks.

stanip said:
Excuse me for asking... how to turn off the SD memory card checking in today plugins? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe they were referring to 3rd party applications that have SD card memory capacity indicator plug-ins. I don't think any shipped ROM has a SD card indicator plug-in.

Thanks cktlcmd.

Strange Issue - Device does not show "free space left" when installing apps. - help?

Strange Issue - Device does not show "free space left" when installing apps. - help?
Bit of a strange one this, but can anyone shed any light.
With my other WM5 devices, a Vario, and a MDA Pro (Wizard and Universal), whenever I install applications to the device via the .cab file, I am asked where I want to install to, Device or Storage Card, and it shows the amount of memory required for this install, and the free storage remaining for that location, which obviously changes as you press the relevant radio button for Device or Storage Card.
However, as best I recall since day one of owning it, on my T Mobile Vario 2, whenever I install applications, it never shows me the free memory remaining bit, so I simply have to make a guess as to where to store it.
Is this a known bug for the Hermes with the standard T-Mobile ROM... or can other normal T- Mobile ROM users state that this behaviour does NOT occur for them, adn that it DOES show all the necessary information whilst installing...?
Thanks in advance.

Ok, let me put it another way...
Can ANYONE tell me if on their Hermes based device, they DO get an indication how much free space is remaining, when they install an application...?
If so, what ROM/Operator...
Almost this entire forum has a Hermes, if you are reading this, likely...
If so, can you do me a quick favour and try this by going through the motions of installing an application, and see.
You don't even need to install the application (any application cab file will do to test this). Simply CANCEL the install, once you ascertain whether it does or doesn't show you how much free space you have, whilst it tells you how much room it will need.
Come on, help me out here - you all have Hermes' - is this just me with this issue...?

Well, just for you I re-syncd my pda and no, it doesn't tell me on my Vario II how much space I have left, only how much space the app will take up.
I don't think it ever has told me.
Hope that helps

On mine it shows spaced required and space available.
I think my sig shows what else I have.

Thanks both...
It sounds to me like it's a ROM issue then... Marissa, is yours T-Mobile or what?
Curious that the AKU 3.3 and thus possibly cooked rom (or the beta one that got released semi-officially), DOES work properly in showing the space required AND space remaining...
That's what makes me think it's a ROM issue...
So can anyone else contribute...?

marisa4755 said:
Well, just for you I re-syncd my pda and no, it doesn't tell me on my Vario II how much space I have left, only how much space the app will take up.
I don't think it ever has told me.
Hope that helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Er Marisa, having re-read your message, I'm now a bit confused...
Not sure what you mean by "having re-synced my pda"...
Can I clarify, this has nothing to doing with a sync...
I merely mean that if you go to install software on your PDA, usually by way of clicking on a cab file using File Explorer on the device, the device will then sometimes prompt you with a warning, do you wish to install untrusted source etc etc.
If you say yes, the next thing that will happen, is that you will be asked by the pda, where you want to install, if you have a storage card inserted, and have a radio button choice of Device, or Storage Card.
And as you tick one or the other, the text below this will tell you how much space is REQUIRED, and the killer>>> on all previous devices, also how much is REMAINING on whichever storage type you tick - device or card.
But on my Vario 2, it DOESN'T show any info at all about how much is left remaining...
On a vario 1, and a universal, and all my previous windows smartphones, it DID tell you this.
So were you meaning something else, as this is what I was referring to. Or did you just mean you installed an application initially via a PC .exe file, with your device connected, so it then triggered a normal install as above, on the pda...
Just not clear where the bit about PC sync came in.
This has got me a little frustrated, as all I am doing now is banging everything on card, as I now have no indication of how much free memory is on my device, while I install.
(I can go in to check via System Tools from time to time, but this is not the solution...)
Cheers all.
S.

Hi I always install software if possible through an exe file through activesync, most people do.
It does just the same thing, and you get the same messages when you install, and on my install message, it asks on the pda where I want to install the app, main memory or storage card, and how large the app is. But nothing about how much space is left.
It's a T-mobile with the original rom, radio etc etc.
Hope this helps.

I Found That It Doesn't Show How Much Room You've Got Out Of The Box, But When I Unlock My ExtRom Or I Must Enable Some Other Tweak Using HTweakC, Then The Amount Of Free Space Gets Shown.
Cheers

When I install cabs directly from the phone (not activesync), it always shows the required space / remaining space for each medium. I haven't done any ExtROM or CID unlocking, just SIM. Sounds like a rom thing...see sig for details.

marisa4755 said:
Hi I always install software if possible through an exe file through activesync, most people do.
It does just the same thing, and you get the same messages when you install, and on my install message, it asks on the pda where I want to install the app, main memory or storage card, and how large the app is. But nothing about how much space is left.
It's a T-mobile with the original rom, radio etc etc.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Marisa - yes that's great thanks, as what you describe is just another way to trigger the installation - using activesync etc - it just copies the cab across and triggers the install itself, as I do manually.
So you have confirmed that T-Mobile ROM has this problem. Cheers.

mousey_ said:
I Found That It Doesn't Show How Much Room You've Got Out Of The Box, But When I Unlock My ExtRom Or I Must Enable Some Other Tweak Using HTweakC, Then The Amount Of Free Space Gets Shown.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers mate - so it sounds like the base Orange ROM also has this issue too.
Unless you do some magic -jiggery pokery...
Don't suppose you can have a better think what it was you did to fix it...?
But cheers - another confirmed issue.

Toleraen said:
When I install cabs directly from the phone (not activesync), it always shows the required space / remaining space for each medium. I haven't done any ExtROM or CID unlocking, just SIM. Sounds like a rom thing...see sig for details.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, another Cingular user with an updated ROM, that is NOT having this issue.
So it's more and more sounding like an early ROM issue...
Cheers mate.

Thanks to everyone on this site!

Hello! Me and a friend of mine just purchased the tmobile wings....i upgraded from the dash and him from the horrible SDA....well so far this is what we have done.
HTC Homescreen plugin + homescreen edit
Slide to UL (AC)
Iphone Window Theme
HTC Audiomanager
P Browser
TCPMP + Flash Video Software that allows utube among other sites -=)
Changed sliding keyboard sounds
Vtap (also allows utube, but tcpmp is the shat)
PSShtuXP
Icontacts
Pocket CM ( I don't have this anymore)
Overclocked to 247MHZ (not really sure what overclocking is, but hey most of you on here have done it, so why not)
We have both kept WM6 because it seems like Touch Flo still has editing, and i am attached to the microsoft voice sync program.
So all in all just making myself known on the forum, thanks again for turning my wing not only into a greater phone but now I want to call this isht a Tmobile Jet Wing.
I still don't understand some terms, don't know what flashing is, and wanted to know what other programs we could add to make our device function even better.
Is there a way to upgrade device storage? It seems to be my only concern. Thanks again.
Batman
__________________________________
TMO WING WM6 + Upgrades
NOW MY OWN TMO JET WING

Awesome. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask ... but please be sure to look through the forums first in order to answer most of your questions.
Flashing is installing a new operating system on your phone ... so think of it like taking Windows XP off of your computer, and installing Windows VISTA on your computer.
You should run the Quick Page Pool changer to get more device storage
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=324955

Cool, i try to read as much info as possible before posting...so yeah ive read the newb's guide and all the links within...thanks i will try to pagepool again...lastime didn't work...but ill try hopefully this is a better file.

directions are sort of...or reall fuzzy for installation..so i am really confused...any other helpful links on this?

all you have to do ....
-connect your phone via activesync
-copy the EnableRapi.cab file over to your phone
-thru your phone's file explorer, find the EnableRap.cab file, and run it.
-SOFT RESET
-connect your phone to activesync again, and run the batch file for the pagepool size you want to have (4, 6, 8, etc...)
-Reset again
and voila, you should have the new pagepool settings now.

think i did it lol.....how much space should i have?

Stock memory settings were the following on my Wing
Storage
39.44
8.09
31.35
Program
43.87
32.20
11.67

duprade said:
Stock memory settings were the following on my Wing
Storage
39.44
8.09
31.35
Program
43.87
32.20
11.67
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
11.6 MB free RAM after page pool fix??? that's way too low buddy. which page pool setting are u using? 4,6,or 8? but then again, is that on idle, or did you were running some other application on the background?
I remembered when i first found out about the pagepool fix, I was able to get 21 MB free ram on start up and running around 18-19 on idle. (i was running the 6 MB pool setup)
Now, i flashed my wing with Touch IT ROM v2.3 and i get 25 MB free RAM at start up and 20-22 on idle.

as I wrote on there .. those the STOCK memory settings ... meaning from a factory wing.
So obviously, you look at the stock settings, and compare them to the settings you see after running the pagepool app.