Database Users

Questions about the XDA2 from a novice

I'm about to buy one of these, but I've had trouble finding info about it. Everywhere just has the same basic list, so here's my questions:
1. Does it come with it's own cable/cradle, or other means of connectivity?
2. Does it come with a memory card? How big? And how much internal memory?
3. I am currently using a SonyEricsson P800, and the MP3 player is one of my favourite features. Can I play MP3s just as easily on this? And is it straight forward enough transferring them to the device?
4. Does it have MMS? If so, how functional is it? The P800's was excelent, allowing multiple pages, variable time per page, sound, multiple pictures, etc etc. But before that I had a Nokia 7650 which was limited to one picture with text, and no sound.
5. Flight mode?
6. Does bluetooth allow transfer of files to and from Symbian devices like the P800 and the Nokia 7650, 6600, etc?
7. Are any JAVA applications supported, or just the native Pocket PC format?
8. Anything else cool you wanna tell me?
9. Where can I find the full spec for this device? On here or another site?
Thanks in advance. I hope at least some of my questions can be answered

My answers..
1. Cradle, Ir and BT is included.
2. Mine comes with a dummy card, but try looking around for special offers. If i were you, I get a 256mb card. Why? When you do backing up, you are sure to use the Storage card memory to put it in. A 128MB SDcard is just not enough.
Internal RAM Size is 128Mbs, considered big for todays PDA standards.
3. MP3s? Simple to do it. But Infact, I dun download MP3s now to the XDAII cause the size is big. What i do is compress it to WMA (half the size) and still get good quality music. Just use your Desktop Windows Media Player to do it and even download it to the PDA from there.
4. MMS? Yes...but i'm not using MMS so can't really comment.
5. Flight mode? Yes. Just click on the Signal icon and select flight mode.
6. I really dunno. I use BT only for the Headset functions.
7. Depends on the ROM type. Mine does support Javas after downloading a software. But why Java? Pocket PC application and games are much more better...trust me.
8. Cool?..Yes, but wait for the XDAIII or even the new HP63XX?
Think that way.
If you still insist on the XDAII, I can say the screen, speed, memory and design is superb. The phone reception is comparable to any Nokia set.
9. You can try http://www.my-xda.com/ or look around in googles
I'm sure other members will help out.

Cheers Just remembered another one:
10. Does it come with a hand strap?

Nope, but it comes with a waist strap.
I think the XDA II is one of the fastest in it's class. 400mhz and the screen quality is great in comparison with other Pocket PC Phone. I was able to watch my 2 hour length movie just like I would with my iPaq.
It has fast bus, everything is much faster than my previous pocket pc. The great thing about this is that, which I just found out, if the OS crash, you can still use the phone function. Someone here said it's like 2 device, phone and pda.

Greetings fellow Nottinghamian!
Ex P800 and P900 user here, some points.
1. No, it doesn't come with a lanyard (hand strap) and I can't see anywhere to attach one. Looking back this would have been a good idea as I worry about the metal finish of the XDA2 slipping through my hands
2. It's slightly bigger than a P900, but the funtionality makes up for it. 400Mhz of raw power in your hand. Emulators, Games, flawless MP3/video playback and of course on the wonderful big screen.
3. The Px00 was a phone first, and a PDA second. The XDA2 is a PDA first, phone second. The phone side of the XDA2 is pretty good, especially when combined with a BT headset, but may lack features that you're used to, like T9 input.
4. SD memory is far cheaper and more available than Memory Stick DUO. Be sure to buy a fast SD card though, some people have reported problems with Sandisk cards. My cheapo Viking Interworks one from eBuyer works a treat!
5. Get a sync and charge cable or a second charger - the features on the XDA2 take their toll on the battery, but if you charge it nightly you'll be fine. I keep my cradle and charger at work and my sync & charge cable at home.
6. The camera on the XDA2 is still a VGA (640x480) camera like the Px00 but the CCD is far better and produces much nicer pictures. The camera also does a good job of taking video. There's no limit to video lengths either, unlike the stock P800.
7. There are several features in the pipeline for the XDA2. Windows Mobile 2003SE is a possible upgrade, featuring things like landscape mode and Blackberry support. Also, you can add a WiFi card to the XDA2 to access wireless hotspots (try the Broadway Cinema on Broad Street!).
I think that's it for now, but I'll post again if I remember anything.

Eeeeeehhhh!
What a coincidence. 2 P800-come-XDA2 users in the same city :lol:
Bit of an arse about the hand strap thing. I use mine ALL the time on my P800. You can't be too careful. Are you sure there's nowhere to attach one? Not even under the battery cover?

Ex-P800 user.
I used my P800 for 13 months before upgrading to an XDA2. Within hours of getting my XDA I felt like I'd just thrown my money away ever getting a P800 in the first place.
The XDA is FAR superior. The video and music capabilities as excellent.
As for T9 dialling, I have purchased PhonePlus II. It is superb and makes up for the only real weak part of the XDA 2 which was the phone functionality.
I also dropped my P800 a lot, 'cos I never used the shoulder strap. I haven't dropped my XDA2 yet but I'm sure the leather case will provide excellent protection. (Mine's insured anyway so I'll get a new one if I break it.)
Hope this helps...

Sounds good
I'm still going to look into attaching a wrist strap though. Coulda kept the one off my faulty digital camera, since the dumb ***** at argos never checked the box contents before she refunded me. I coulda kept the camera an' all :lol:

Have a look at the xda2 skin case here http://www.pdamods.com/proddetail.asp?prod=XDA2SCCS
I know it doesnt show it in the photos, but I think it has a tab for a wrist strap

Just ordered my XDA2!!!
I'll let you know how I get on

Me = Universal to Wizard convert

I am so amazingly happy since I made the switch from Universal to Wizard.
The Universal, whilst clearly higher spec, more powerful, more impressive screen etc - was an unusable bit of kit. I battled and battled and battled - I wanted this 'superior' equipment to serve me well. I upgraded and tested various ROMs, tried every minor registry tweak and software trick known to man. Despite everyone in the Universal forum saying it *was* possible to get a solid, fast, reliable setup - I battled hard but never got close. It was still impossible to do the important little things like make or receive calls reliably, perhaps with one hand.
The Wizard is a proper phone - you can hold it between your ear and shoulder whilst stirring pasta with one hand and sipping vodka in the other.
The Wizard has proper buttons, ones that get used. The Universal had a multitude of useless buttons on the side that got pressed by accident thereby hanging Windows so that when you wanted to actually do something you may as well reset. The Universal had stereo speakers for God's sake. STEREO SPEAKERS? Does anyone else see the stupidity of such a thing? The whole point of stereo is that one channel feeds sound to one ear and the other channel to the other ear. What's more, the Wizard's handsfree speaker is clearer and brighter than the Universal's stereo speakers.
On the Wizard, I can make phone calls with one hand. I can pick up calls straight away, with one hand - I press the button and I'm talking immediately. With the Universal, not so. It's a long process involving three steps, invariably failing in most cases resulting in my having to call the other person back. Useless.
Sure, the Universal has a 520MHz processor. And when it's all optimised you really can feel the speed. But frankly that processor power is wasted on the most basic and major functions: the screen flip when answering a call. With the Wizard, sometimes screen flip lags, but thankfully I don't need to wait for the screen to flip just to answer the call!
That little Wizard collapsing stylus is a gem.
Here's what I use my Wizard for. I'm sure we are all used to this amount of functionality from one device - I've had most of it for years. But finally I have something close to the perfect all-in-one, and I'm happy!
Phone
Text messages
Voice command and phone in the car
Alarm clock (using the app Chronos) - how brilliant
Notebook
Calendar
Email on the move
Satellite navigation - tells me to slow down for speed cameras and talks to me when I get lost in London!
Portable music player (gigabyte mini SD card for MP3s)
Camera
Checking the news with RSS reader
Checking the next few days' weather in London from Today screen
I've even experimented with streaming video from my desktop over wireless. Works a treat, can watch a whole episode of The OC.
Yes, I can get rid of my old sat nav unit, my old pda, my old phone, my ipod, my alarm clock. It's everything in one tiny but beautifully usable package. (Actually, not entirely true, see below.)
There is ONE thing I am disappointed with. I had really hoped to eliminate the need for buying myself a new ipod. I am happy with a gigabyte of music - it seems fine to copy music as and when I need it. However I connected up my lovely Shure sound isolating headphones and the quality of the sound wasn't what I had hoped for. So sad about this - good sound would have completed the perfect package. There's just too much noise on the output, and the sound is horribly mid-range distorted. Gutted.
Anyway, I had to get this all out of my system - overall I am a very happy Universal to Wizard convert.
Thanks for listening
Mat

I can confirm all that. I ditched my Universal a week ago and bought a Wizard: Its LIGHTYEARS better in ease of use., speed, etc.
DO NOT BY UNIVERSAL. IT SUCKS BADLY !!!

completely agree. if i wanted a proper tiny computer i would buy a toshiba libretto. not the flawed, heavy and unstable universal.

Sounds right - the thing to remeber is that threse units are no laptops.... they are PDAs with phones ( not phones with PDAs if you see what I mean ).
Having swapped form a Jornada 540 I probably wont see the difrence your talking about but as a I can access most of the major features - Sat Nav / Phone / PIM I'm happy - its a portable viewer and ideal for when I am not in my own car.
Re the Ipod - doubt you'll beat that in this case - thats an Audio device - this is one that can do audio if you see what I mean.
Glad you like the change.
Terran

I'm finding this a very interesting topic.
I've just switched from aHP iPaq hx4705 to a Universal and so far I have been very pleased. however the choice between the Universal and the Wizard was a difficult one for me as I wanted a connected PocketPC / Windows Mobile device as opposed to a phone with a PPC in it.
My iPaq has clearly paid for itself in 15 months and time was right for an upgrade to WM5 and full connectivity. However my decision between these two devices was clouded I had a small chance to play with the Wizard in Dixon's one day when there was no Universal to play with.
And I liked it. Small, responsive, good lucks, surprising good keyboard (I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest) - all in all very good.
However I need to run a couple of power apps - PI and Planmaker - and I wasn't sure how it would cope.
I then had a try on a Universal in a O2 shop and I liked that. Everything looked good especially the screen (smaller than my iPaq but possibly even better quality) and the general speed.
So I got to the point to go for one of these. Initial cost wasn't a big deal as I was getting it on a contract with only about £50 difference between the two. And at this price £50 isn't enough to worry about.
I've currently got a Universal and am typing this out on it now. I'm loving it but that doesn't mean that the Wizard wouldn't also suit me as well. I have another 11 days before I lose the chance to take this back and swap it and I would really like to know from those of you using the Wizard how it copes with things like Planmaker due to the processor and the smaller screen size.
What a difficult choice though?! Two great devices to choose between.

I have an xda exec and xda mini s or wizard (two separate contracts). Both brill bits of kit. I use the exec for planmaker and textmaker and the xda mini just as a bit of fun. I like gadgets. You can't fault either device. I use both equally but for different purposes. I also used to have ipaq's for years but i wanted thephone functionality. The exec makes a wonderful mini laptop and the wizard a super ppc. If you shop around you can get bothdevices on contracts which added together give you a great deal in minutes+texts etc. yet give you the devices at a bargain price.
best wishes
Patricia

I agree. There really are some amazing devices out there at the moment and I am really pleased to be using one of them.
At the moment I can't see me getting rid of the Universal for a Wizard but that is because I have a clear idea of what I am after in this device. The Universal I know already after a few days is meeting my full needs.
Maybe if things go well I can buy a Wizard sometime late in 2006 when I guess they will drop in price! Just don't tell the wife!

dnt regret my purchase of a wizard. hope it stands the test of time and I'm using it for a long time. I think the trick to enjoying it is to remember in reality its your phone, everything else is a bonus.

i like to have 2 or 3 devices on the go and find if u shop around u can get really good deals recooping losses later by selling the devices on.the wizard is being offered for a small price on contract and like all similar devices will hold its value so why wait.i enjoy using the exec and wizardand find both equal as regards performance and functionality.planmaker, textmaker and tom tom work great on the exec whereas i use the wizard more for the phone side.
my other half uses tom tom but finds everything else a waste of time.i always have to explain that when we broke down in france this year in the motorhome my devices came to the rescue. tom tom for navigation and the predecessor to the xda mini a magician a great way to communicate to the rescue service and to find the nearest garage for repairs etc.
best wishes
patricia

Wizard v Universal
The wizard really is a great piece of kit but the BIG disadvantage for me is the missing 3G radio.
We have been crying out for this type of pocket pc ever since 3G was launched and I must say the breach has been filled admirably.
Obviously size is important and having owned both (and still do) I would agree that that the universal platform is not the most stable and the last thing you want to do is take a call on the Universal whilst in public
I have managed to incorporate all the settings taken from a symbian platform handset ie Nokia 6680 and managed to use the device successfully even browsing with the '3' homepage. The security of the '3' was the most difficult to crack and I can now download the various downloads offered by the cheapest network.
I also have subscribed to the £45 package which gives you 512mb of bundled data which allows me to visit other sites now the 'garden wall' has been demolished once and for all. This really is where the universal comes into its own.
One thing I will agree with is the size prevents use as a normal handset so I use a bluetooth headset with the appopriate hacks from the wi-ki developers page.
I cant help thinking that the Universal would be a far slimmer device if they hadn't incorporated the keyboard which I find absolutely useless due to my prolonged use of the graffiti facility(far quicker to write anyway).
I look forward to a new alternative to the Universal which may do away with the keypad once and for all. This should make the device a more suitable size instead of the similarities with the old handhelds ie HP 720 and the like which I'm sure many of us remember.
I think this is crucial given that devices like the Sony Ericsson P990i are just about to be launched with 3g capability and many people will see this as a more pocketable phone/pda. Not in the same league I agree as a windows mobile 5 device but still blessed with a good email client and now of course wi-fi.
Just my personal experience but I felt necessary to post in order to even things up a little bit.

Re: Wizard v Universal
jonboy8841 said:
The wizard really is a great piece of kit but the BIG disadvantage for me is the missing 3G radio.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2 things... is it '3' that no longer have a walleed garden ? Im just curious...
Re 3G ( and I know this is Off topic ) - is it me or is there no actual use for 3G for joe public ? Yes I can understand business use and to a certian point show off to your mates video calling but until its on all networks and all phones ( inc fixed ) in all contries its best feature wont be used... again another reason to go for the Wizard rather than Universal.
Terran
PS Before any one says 'but you can watch TV' DVB-H will kick that in to touch soon

3G makes a BIG difference if you actually go websurfing... (which is actually the only reason I find it interesting, I really don't care about video calling, actually I really hope it wont become standard for a long time)
I don't have a universal, but I'm guessing the bigger screen (and more importantly resolution), along with the 3G, makes it perfectly suitable to websurfing.

Universal is a great gadget, but it is not a usable phone. The way I see it it can be used as a small notebook, provided you don't expect too much. VGA and UMTS are great for browsing and mail. Also connected with BT mouse it can be used for Word or Excel (TextMaker and PlanMaker) and even Project. The issue is only that lack of USB Host and no Video out mean it can't be used as full laptop. So it comes down to personal preference and at least for Phone and PDA I'm going with Wizard for small notebook we'll see...

Finraziel said:
3G makes a BIG difference if you actually go websurfing... (which is actually the only reason I find it interesting, I really don't care about video calling, actually I really hope it wont become standard for a long time)
I don't have a universal, but I'm guessing the bigger screen (and more importantly resolution), along with the 3G, makes it perfectly suitable to websurfing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wizzard supports EDGE, it is more than enough to do web-sirfing..

It's really interesting to see how different members use their devices-I didn't realise when i first purchased the exec that i needed a different sim card and tariff to use 3g. I think 3g is also more expensive and as other members have commented limited by network coverage and most people still having basic handsets. None of my contacts use 3g-in fact they find my interest in these amazing gadgets bemusing, eccentric...This doesn't bother me but thankgoodness there are othersout there who share my interest.

I really didn't think that the difference between 3g and a good gprs was much. i played with both in the o2 shop and couldn't think of a reason to buy the universal, although it does have a few advantages.
FYI I have a vodaphone 3g motorola 770 as my main phone (cost £90 payg) and I successfully linked the wizard to it via bluetooth and surfed at 3g speed. So I have the option if needed.

One other advantage to 3G is that in a few months you will be able to dial into video servers that will have news, television, etc going over the circuit switched network, so you'll have much more reliable and responsive service, if you're willing to use your video minutes on it.

With the new ROM, i'm glad i didn't give up my universal. It is now worlds faster WITHOUT any tweaking, and even more with tweaking.
I also had the Universal or WIzard dilema and only one factor mattered to me : SCREEN REAL ESTATE!
Guess who won

Me = Wizard ---> Universal
Agree Jorgee.
The universal with the latest O2 rom is working super. With the next rom update, with radio version 1.09 and push email it will be even better.
I had a wizard for a few months and had to get rid of it.
Firstly note that I do not use either as a phone. i have a small cell phone for voice calls. I use these devices as my pocket pc with data only tariffs (a key advantage of o2 above all the other providers).
In this context the Wizard is really not a player:
1. Terribly slow cpu and os
2. Screen too small
3. No VGA.
4. Too slow to run skype well
5. Too thick (universal is thinner) - difficult to fit in backpack with papers.
6. Horrible stylus
7. Minisd card. All my deivces use SD. Its another std too far.
8. Non-std headphone socket
9. No 3g. GPRS web browsing is a joke.
Sry guys, but as a PDA there is no contest!

What is the Universal? Toy, Phone or Online Pocket PC

It has been really interesting over the months watching comments on this forum on the uses for the Universal. Those who wanted a top of the range phone generally seem to be dissapointed, and who blames them for that. Those looking for a games machine really should look elsewhere. For a pocket PC, and lets face it that is what this is it is a pretty decent job.
From my own point of view I have lots of gadgets and use each for what it is good at. I spend 80% of my time either in the car, home or office. At each location i have:
Universal
IBM Think pad T42p
Motorola Razor
And with these tools i can do anything anywhere. No hassles. If i need to get on to a network and fix something in a hurry the universal has generally finished the job before the laptop has even fired up Win XP. If I need to make a call and i am in the street i use the Razor. If i am in the office or car and need to call another cell phone i use the universal on handsfree. Personally i am very happy with this set up.
I also travel extensivly. I always carry my PSP with me to play games and take a selection of dvd to play on my laptop. I have a sd card reader on my IBM so i could get into ripping dvd's to play on the TCMP player but really never saw the point of this.
So generally i am very happy with the set up. It works for me.
Would i walk down the street making calls on the Universal..... No.
Would i play games on it.... sure but not graphics type. Something like Suduko would be good.
Would I watch movies on it.... one day, but i am too lazy to rip the films, I have over 2,000 dvd at home so i just prefer to take the disc with me. I keep promising to get a decent media server at home and start to rip all of these oin to it and stream them around the house. But where do you start with 2,000 titles.
Would I change things in Universal version 2 youre damn right.
Better fitting stylus
ozVGA as standard
Better made plastics
More memory- but personally this has never caused me any problems.
Speed up the phone answering
My set up-
T- Mobile MDA Pro
R 1.00.02
G 42.33.P8
D 1.12.42 WWE
1GB SD Card x 2
Web and walk 400 inc 40 mb data & 400 mins @ £23per month for 12 months and £46 for 6 months.
ozVGA
VJBig phone
VJ fullscreen TSC
Magic Button
Resco Explorer
Resco Photo
TCMP
Agile Messenger
Cambridge vxUtil & vxHpc
Stability for me is really good. I just dont seem to have issues. But i do a soft reboot every morning before i start the day. But am i just lucky or am I doing something wrong here, as i seem to be missing the dropdead and die feature!!
Next on my list Bluetooth sat nav. I would be greatful for an honest apraisal of the experience of others here. I plan to buy the Brodit active holder and sat nav in about 2 weeks time just really waiting to get some decent views on the best sat nav before commiting I still use navman on my old compaq ipaq 3700.
Finally I have to say without this forum I would be very disspointed with the Universal. I have learned lots form you guys over the months, I just hope that Microsoft and HTC are monitoring this forum and listening as much as I have been. XDA-Developers.com + MS + HTC rocks. You guys did the bits that they forgot!!
Views very welcome
Charlie

Things that I use:
- Sony TX1XP/XP, it has a 6.5 hr battery life, only weighs 1.25KG
- XDA Exec, used as a tablet/PDA (plus spare battery!)
- PSP, for watching videos (rented UMDs)
- 3G Razr (v3x), fantastic phone with superb call quality and rock solid BT, becoming my main phone as I find the communications capability of the Universal to be below par
Got a feeling when the SE P990 is released I may retire my Universal assuming there is good PIM s/w available for UIQ3. I find the ergonomics of the Universal and the need to use the PowerSave option a pain.

Charlie VOIP said:
Finally I have to say without this forum I would be very disspointed with the Universal. I have learned lots form you guys over the months, I just hope that Microsoft and HTC are monitoring this forum and listening as much as I have been. XDA-Developers.com + MS + HTC rocks. You guys did the bits that they forgot!!
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't you think that they deserved it? :wink:

Charlie VOIP said:
Would i walk down the street making calls on the Universal..... No.
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understnad and agree with you on most of the points, except your above quoted line ??
may i know why you cannot make call with universal in streets ?? is it due to security reasons .. as you are afraid someone may snatch it from you

I agree with most of the first post here. I primarily use my universal as a notebook replacement + portable video and audio device. When out and about, I use the phone features with a BT headset and M$ VC mainly because - yes - I think there is arisk of someone snatching it - it's so unusual.
I really do feel though thatif you are not going to make extensive use of the keyboard (i.e need to use it as a mini notebook) the it is not for you.

my universal if everything to me. sure i have a laptop at work, and two spare laptops at home, but these are used more in a work and professional capacity.
my phone runs beautifully, rings on the second ring. i have extended the ring period to 30 seconds in case its in the bag or otherwise, never ever missed a call.
use a bluetooth headset, works perfectly everytime.
i have a 1 gig storage card, and lots of music on it, have never made it to the end of the playlist.
i play 1 game, cause between work, a 2 yr old, a 3 yr old, a good looking wife that wants lots of servicing, and of course my phone and this site, who's got time for games....
i use my universal everyday for:
1. PDA / PIM manager for my calendar, tasks and contacts. dont bother with email, I have six accounts and cant keep up with them all anyway.
2. Music player
3. Camera and portable video camera for emailing videos to my parents 10,000km away, and they love it, they get to see the kids in motion everyday, not just a static picture
4. I use word and excel, and the pdf viewer to review various attachments, letters, correspondance
5. WIFI everyday for surfing, and managing my other 5 email accounts (none work)
6. Recording notes and quick messages while driving along day dreaming and suddenly remember or record information on a sign that I need to get straight away and dont want to write it down
7. i use it as my full time mobile phone, but i dont have many friends, and they dont find a need to pay mobile phone call costs to communicate, we have text and 6 email accounts... but I do use it whilst driving or out of the office, and have no problem holding the brick to my ear, my hands are so big its almost obscured by my hands anyway. i have more of a laugh looking at these big blokes using these dinky little phones that almost disappear between the fingers
8. size isnt everything, but bigger is better, just ask my wife
9. i also use a lot of the other inbuilt features such as ZIP and Bluetooth and just about all features on the phone
There is no way that I would be buying another phone, another camera, another game machine.
I have everything in one, it runs absoloutely perfectly, all day, every day, never fails, never crashes, and does everything that I want.
I refused to by a PDA until they came with a built in phone, so I got the XDAII. Sold that for this, and despite the differences in memory, have never looked back.
I use SPB PP (Beta), SPB Diary, SPB Weather, SPB Backup (beta), Resco Explorer, MS Reader, MSVC, and a **** load of other stuff installed to the 1Gig memory card.
Can I my satisfaction and wonder at such a brilliant multifunctional well built machine...

To look at your SatNav part, I use TomTom as the software, a Holox BT GPS unit and also have the Brodit Active mountinstalled in my car, and thus far this setup has done everything I need it to

simon_darley said:
a good looking wife that wants lots of servicing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
may be in future new models of HTC also perfom this function for you :lol:

I use my universal exclusively. I dont find any of the problems with weight that so many others seem to. I dont think the universal is particularly big either. Back when cell phones first came out, they were all this size and didnt have any nice 640x480 VGA screens. :lol:
You see sub ten year old girls these days running around with phones! If they can hold those without a problem, I dont see why I cant hold a universal. :shock:
Anyway, as far as games go, for me windows PDAs have the best games. I like strategy games the most, and some of my favorites work perfectly. Transport Tycoon is always fun, and OpenTTD keeps adding on new features. Pocket UFO - need I say more? As far as RPGs go, SNES and PSX RPGs are the best out there, and you can run them with emulators! (Morphgear for SNES, http://www.fpsece.net/ for PSX)
Using TCPMP you can run 640x480 XVID movies too, which look like a dream and are higher res than the PSPs movies.
Now all I need to do is getting a working DOS emulator so I can play Fallout DOS version! Does anybody know of any DOS emulators that work?

Nobody's mentioned reading books on your Universal.
Reading books on the gorgeous VGA screen is fantastic, and the unique ability for the phone to morph into different shapes makes it possible to put it into any comfortable position.

Currently using an MPV2000, but M5000 (universal) arriving on Monday.
Being a motorcyclist I don't have room for a laptop, 15 dvds, 2 phones, an i-pod, a PSP, a couple of books etc etc etc.
But a phone/pda that does all of that and more? Gimme!!

What I find tragic is how this thread has transgressed into a "Look at what electronics I own, aren't I cool" thread.
I own an Exec and a laptop plus other devices which both have their benefits in varying scenarios but why brag about it?

stickeresq said:
What I find tragic is how this thread has transgressed into a "Look at what electronics I own, aren't I cool" thread.
I own an Exec and a laptop plus other devices which both have their benefits in varying scenarios but why brag about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont know about that, thats how the thread started!
It has, however, transgressed into a "Look at how cool my Universal is!" :lol:

Not so sure about the brag bit I was really trying to say that there are many devices that can perform some of the functions of the Univrersal. But many of these do the job better in some situations, ie where you are at home in the office etc. But was keen to explore how others are using the device. What is interesting is everyone uses it in different ways. What is an acceptable quality sacrifice for one person is not for another.
For me the combination of connectivitiy capabilities and size are a major advantage for network monitoring and management. But many other people say they cannot really work on such a small device, for them they do not provide 24 hour / 7 day a week cover so the issue of a pc in the pocket as it were is not relevant for them. Therefore the small screen sacrifice is not worth it for them. If you get my drift.
So i really think this is a cross between how coll my universal is and 1001 ways to use a Universal.
Charlie

My Universal serves as my PDA, refernce books, infusion calculator, conversion calculator, DVD player, MP3 Player, weather reporter, instant internet access for email and other stuff, game box, and phone.

@stickeresq
it is useful to see how people use the Universal in combination with other devices. I cannot use any PDA for video after using a Sony PSP and given that ultraportable laptops can run for well over 3 to 4 hours for me shows the battery life of the Universal is not a plus point. Also, for me, having used a Mototola cellphone (wont mention the model!) for a week I have now decided the phone functions of the Universal are not "industrial strength" and therefore I will be using my Exec as a PDA, mini tablet and eBook reader.

Hermes or Nokia N95

I'm currently using a T-Mobile MDA Vario (HTC Wizard), and as my contract is up for renewal soon, I am wondering what phone to get next.
Originally I had my mind set on the Vario 2 (Hermes), but I'm getting second thoughts since I read about the new Nokia N95. It seems to pack a lot of features, most impressively integrated gps and a lot of maps. First impressions seem to indicate that it runs very smoothly (not always the case with windows mobile) and gps works well. It's also got wifi and fast internet browsing. On the other hand, not sure if symbian is any good (to sync with pc etc), and if I'll be able to install applications on it like a pocket pc (although I don't install much). More importantly, I'd have to live without a full keyboard and touch screen (but the device is therefore thinner).
Can anyone give me some advice on how good/bad your experience with the Hermes has been (or even with the N95 if you've used it or heard anything about it).
Thanks.

kkhalil76 said:
I'm currently using a T-Mobile MDA Vario (HTC Wizard), and as my contract is up for renewal soon, I am wondering what phone to get next.
Originally I had my mind set on the Vario 2 (Hermes), but I'm getting second thoughts since I read about the new Nokia N95. It seems to pack a lot of features, most impressively integrated gps and a lot of maps. First impressions seem to indicate that it runs very smoothly (not always the case with windows mobile) and gps works well. It's also got wifi and fast internet browsing. On the other hand, not sure if symbian is any good (to sync with pc etc), and if I'll be able to install applications on it like a pocket pc (although I don't install much). More importantly, I'd have to live without a full keyboard and touch screen (but the device is therefore thinner).
Can anyone give me some advice on how good/bad your experience with the Hermes has been (or even with the N95 if you've used it or heard anything about it).
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all comes down to the touchscreen... if you can live without it then go for the N95, if not then the Hermes is the way to go... but you must also know that the N95 isnt Tri-band UMTS, so if you were to goto another country with uses a different band for UMTS then you wont have access for it... Where as the Hermes supports 850, 1900 & 2100mhz WCDMA Bands

Thanks. I also read that the N95's build quality isn't so great, and that talk time is only a little over 2 hours (vs. a little over 4 for the hermes)!

kkhalil76 said:
Thanks. I also read that the N95's build quality isn't so great, and that talk time is only a little over 2 hours (vs. a little over 4 for the hermes)!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well there you go... you just answered your own question... mind you the build quality on the hermes isnt that much better.... they are all plastic...

Build quality is not related to just the materials of the housing but also how well everything fits together. Look at the SE P990i: very nice looking phone but squeaks and cracks when you're holding it.

Dunno about the N95, but my previous phone was a Nokia 6260 (S60 2.x).
I personally found the Symbian system more stable and more feature-advanced than the Windows Mobile OS. Some examples: choosing the account via which emails are sent is not possible in Outlook Mobile, synchronizing with Nokia PC Suite is robuster (and supports for instance SMS typing on PC), native support for Java midlets (Opera Mini!), ...
I personally went for the Hermes because of the keyboard: a GPS is easily added with bluetooth, but a keyboard that works handheld is not easily added; and also because I needed Windows Mobile for one application I wanted (PocketFMS).
But it is difficult finding a balance between what you need, want and like.
Jörg

Well I think my mind's made up, can't go back to a tiny keypad after having used a full keyboard for so long, so I guess it's the hermes after all. Also the battery life is a big issue for me, I thought the hermes wasn't great, but the Nokia is awful...

As far as the battery is concerned: I manage to have the Hermes running for about 4-5 days (not frequently making calls, but frequently connecting via gprs/umts) or 2-3 days (when playing back .wma through BT headset).
Jörg

walshieau said:
It all comes down to the touchscreen... if you can live without it then go for the N95, if not then the Hermes is the way to go... but you must also know that the N95 isnt Tri-band UMTS, so if you were to goto another country with uses a different band for UMTS then you wont have access for it... Where as the Hermes supports 850, 1900 & 2100mhz WCDMA Bands
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How often does one go to other country and really use a different UMTS band or UMTS at all?
And what goes for the build quality, I can honestly say that N95 is better after owning a hermes for about 6 months now.
But the hermes beats it with the touch screen and keyboard, and has better software support in its own special way, N95 has better phoning software because the main idea is to use it as a phone and the OS is tailored that way. Hermes in other hand is a phone pda hybrid.
And personally as a software developer i can honestly say that symbian os is more crap that you guys could imagine ;D
And embedded linux seems to keep pushing it's way quite hard. Many companies I know, started to look into that matter.. (won't list any names here).
[EDIT]
The battery seems to be quite good for Hermes considering the fact that it's a PDA like phone at has alot of features.
And the more I use Hermes, the more conviced I get with it, it just is a damn good device
And you guys should try Route66 Navigate 7 for Pocket PC. It's the damn best GPS software I ever used
Doesn't lag at all (this is what really impressed me), is VERY accurate even in this little town I live in, very good POI information (TMC to) etc.
I tested alot of GPS software and this is just the best atm.
I have a bluetooth GPS, it's very small and has a neck collar
[/EDIT]

My Jasjam with Direct Push on all day (50 e-mails sent and received) and checking the news for 20 minutes, a game of chess for 15 minutes, using it as a sat nav for 30 minutes and 1 hour on the phone it still has 60% battery left at the end of the day. I would recommend the Hermes over the N95 any day.

What about the simple fact that one has a keyboard and the other one does not? Are you expecting to do any typing?

agovinoveritas said:
What about the simple fact that one has a keyboard and the other one does not? Are you expecting to do any typing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not that simple... look at the 3G bands for example... for me anyway im in australia where there is 850Mhz and 2100Mhz 3G Bands... where the N95 only supports 2100Mhz....

N95 for sure. The touch-screen of the hermes sucks anyways, and yes, this is coming for a Hermes owner.

xpimperx said:
N95 for sure. The touch-screen of the hermes sucks anyways, and yes, this is coming for a Hermes owner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd rather have a sucky touchscreen than no touchscreen. FWIW, I think the screen on the Hermes is just fine.
Having to enter all my emails with the dpad or number pad is just nothing something I'd ever consider anno 2007.

I was a previous Nokia man through and through until the N80. The battery life and bugs made it unusuable, so I sold it and bought a Hermes. I've never looked back!
With the improved Radio 1.40 I now get around 3-4 days standby. You'll be lucky to get 3-4 HOURS from an N80 or N95 (reviews seem to suggest they still haven't learnt their lesson from poor battery life with the N95 either)
I won't touch Nokia again until they sort out the appalling battery life of their new phones. What's the point of putting all these neat features in a phone if you have to leave it almost permanently plugged into the mains?

N95 vs Hermes
Well, I've got both the Hermes and the N95... I'm probably going to end up selling one or the other... but I have the same choice to make - which one to keep, and I have to say, it's a hard choice.
The main factors for me are:
Battery life - everyone is talking about this, but the Nokia N95 battery life is abysmal. You really need to take your charger with you anywhere you go with it. Hermes battery life is not great, but at least you can use it for half to one day without it running out of battery! Also, the Hermes charges off USB, so when you use it as a computer modem, it charges at the same time!
Software & touchscreen - undoubtedly way better on the Hermes - push email, messenger, internet explorer, Cleartype, it all just works - N95 is flaky in places and the interface / software is just not up to the hardware. You have to pay extra for word, excel, push email, messenger, etc (well if you want any half-reasonable solution) and they don't work as well as WM5/6 even when you do pay! Also, the community support and the **ahem** hacked software is WAY WAY better for Windows Mobile.
Hardware - Nokia is way better for this - N95 has a beautiful camera, built in GPS, is smaller, lighter and prettier than the Hermes and has a 3.5mm jack socket built in (no adapter). But - no keyboard, no touchscreen and NO ROLL-WHEEL! This gets really annoying on the N95 for reading/replying to emails when you've used the Hermes.
So: The question really is - what will you use the device for? Phone? N95. Emails? Then definitely Hermes. Camera? N95. MSN Messenger? Hermes. Portable GPS? N95 (Hermes is better for car GPS when paired with a decent SiRF Star III GPS unit.) All of the above? AARRGH! Too difficult to decide. Neither is perfect - A smaller, thinner Hermes, with a 5MP camera, built in GPS, 640x480 resolution, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a nice-looking flat touchscreen that is flush with the casing WOULD be perfect... but we're going to have to wait for a while before that happens...

possible, First time Cingular 8125 owner.

I am very new to PDA and SmartPhones. Right now I am using to plain razr v3 to check email and talk on. I am having issues with it buzzing when I talk. Cingular is making it possible to get the 8125 (new) for $0.00 (free). Is this Pocket PC a good deal for me to use as a phone in my everyday use. I also will be using it with and without media net over my WiFi. If I can get it to work.
I cant afford the 8525 right now nor can I justify it. But to get on free I might.
A few newbie questions (please)
1. Is the phone quality equal to the Razr V3 and other cell phones?
2. Can the sd card be filled with music or movies to be listened to with a headset and when a call comes in will it interrupt?
3.Is there an airplane mode on this unit?
4.Battery Life, how is it?
Please dont flame me for asking some questions over by I am limited on time and need to order soon.
Thanks,
Redneck

Answers:
1. The phone quality is not as good as on my K800i but good enough for every day use.
2. Yes, you can put movies and mp3 on the SD card. The device has a 2.5" stereo headset in the box. The standard players on the device stop automatically when you get an incoming calls. 3rd-party players might not ...
3. You can turn off the phone part completely (AIR PLANE MODE) and only use the PDA while traveling ...
4. My standard battery lasts with lots of playing around during the day for 1 and a half day. I bought me an extended battery which lasts for more than 4 days. It all depends on how you use your device (WLAN & BLUETOOTH enabled or not - backlight level and so on ...) I am a power user, so, I do as much as I can on that amazing little machine. A friend of mine has the same device but he 'survives' with the standard battery for 2 days and longer ...
The performance of the device is not that great but it won't effect you. I only mention this because of I had a DELL AXIM X51v before with a 640MHz processor, so, I felt the difference to the 195MHz within the WIZARD series - I still can do what I want to do with it, so, I am happy ...

I cant compare to the K800i becuase I dont know what that is nor have I ever used one. Is it worth me getting for 199.00 and 100.00 rebate and then a 99.00 credit from Cingular?
All I have to compare to is the razr I have and an old Nokia 6010.

redneckms said:
I cant compare to the K800i becuase I dont know what that is nor have I ever used one. Is it worth me getting for 199.00 and 100.00 rebate and then a 99.00 credit from Cingular?
All I have to compare to is the razr I have and an old Nokia 6010.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the RAZR myself for a while, liked it but it wasn't enough for my needs. The audio quality is almost the same.
The question you need to answer for yourself is if you have use for a pocket computer! Never forget: this is not a cell phone with integrated PDA - it is a Pocket-PC with cell phone capabilities! You won't have a number pad like on a regular cell phone nor will it fit easily in your pocket. It is quite heavvy and therefore it only makes sense if you really want / need a PDA.
Seeing the price I would say: go for it!
I just bought mine a fewe weeks ago for US$200.00 on eBay new in the box ...

Well I do plan to keep my razr. But my second business is in web design and hosting and I need to check emails and I also work on PC'
s quite often. I think it will be a great tool for me. I just want the phone part to work as well as the razr.

do you like gadgets? if you're like me you'll will fall in love with being to do pretty much anything you want on a handheld device. It's not that heavy, compared to a razr, then yea it is. But the razr doesnt weigh anything so i dont think its fair to compare to that.
I do put it in my pocket and i don't find it to have too much difference between my old "regular phone" carrying wise
and there is a phone pad, but it's touchscreen, and it's always one button away.
I love it and think pocket pc phones are 100% percent better then any other regular phone.
oh and does it play music and videos? It had windows media player...literally!

redneckms said:
Well I do plan to keep my razr. But my second business is in web design and hosting and I need to check emails and I also work on PC'
s quite often. I think it will be a great tool for me. I just want the phone part to work as well as the razr.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep,
that way it makes sense!
I am using it for writing programs on the go and just compile them later on a desktop.
There are 2 investments you might consider:
1.
I bought myself a desktop cradle on eBay which keeps the device in a comfortable 'typing position'. It came even with an additional stylus and a car charger for only US$12.00 ...
2.
Almost a 'must have' if you want to be productive: a 2nd battery ...
Like I mentioned before: the phone part is acceptable and you can even place and answer calls without using the stylus at all (as long as the person you want to call is in your address book).
The only draw back is the plain text-only email. But there are solutions available: either FLEXMAIL with full html support or upgrade the ROM to WM6. Also: don't expect anything good from the integrated camera - it is not better than the one in the RAZR.
I hope it helps you to make a decission. Maybe you have a Cingular store nearby and can check out the device if they still carry them?

I have a friend that had one and now has the 8525. he says other than the 3G he liked to 8125 better. But for free I can always sell it on ebay and recoupe money to get another.

LOL,
before you list it on eBay save the money for listing and contact me first!

A few more questions if you please.
A few more questions if you please.
1. Right now I have a Media Net unlimited data plan. I assume I can use this with the 8125 with no more charges than the 19.99 charges now? If I turn this off and decied to use the WiFi for internet, I hear of people getting charged high rates from cingular for data. How can I get around that? (explain)
2. On the 8125 I assume there is a way to lock the touch screen. If so is it a pain to do this or can the keys be remapped?
3. I saw on a friend 8525 where he had his call contacts photos on the screen to tap them to make calls. Can the 8125 do this as well?
just a few questions before I buy.
Redneck

Hmmm,
I am a little bit confused by reading your first question! WiFi and GPRS are 2 complete different things, so, my question in retour: How can Cingular charge you for data trafic on a WiFi connection?
2.
You will have a link on the TODAY screen for locking your device's screen and buttons. To unlock you will have to press the left soft key and confirm in the display.
3.
I asume your friend is using something from the Spb warehouse or similar software: SPB MOBILE SHELL and also SPB MOBILE PHONE SUITE are capable of doing that. Check out the screenshots at the site below:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/