Use phone without loudspeaker - Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo General

Is there a way to use the phone without a loudspeaker?
i Just got the Athena from a friend without users guide etc..
Searched the net for it but have not found anything.
I am pretty new to mobile devices (Exept ordinary phones)

Unfortunately its either SpeakerPhone, Bluetooth Headset or
Wired Headset only.
The phone was not designed for hold to head use
G

User guide is available online in PDF format. Also you might want to consider an LG Style-i. Lots of us use them with our 7501's etc. An excellent accessory, especially if you don't want to use a headset. When people see me using my Style-i they think it's a cell phone, not realising my Advantage is in my pocket or somewhere near by. Hth

Related

Using a BT mobile as a handset for the JasJar

I really don't like the BT headsets yet, still prefer holding a mobile to my ear but the Jasjar is a little big to use with comfort as a phone.
Has anyone thought about using one of these tiny mobiles with BT as a handset paired to the Jasjar? Can this be done.
I would like to holster or belt my jasjar and just drop a normal moby into my pocket???
Also anyone made a bluetooth handset instead of headset, like a mobile but just works as a BT handset?
Regards
I doubt it could be done with handsets at present as the bluetooth specification requires services to be available and for headsets, this is the handsfree/headset profile.
Current handsets look for this to be available on devices to allow audio to go to them, however the current handsets will probably only offer network access, dialup networking, file transfer and possibly a serial port to the jasjar
Interesting concept though, having a handset as a bluetooth headset and something I'd probably be quite interested in seeing developed myself!
er..this sound very odd to me - but then again I only use my Exec as a PDA at the moment.
Anyway, have a look at this as an option (I have ordered one but I know the Universal does not support all the functions yet): http://www.tekkeon.com/site/products-ez3000-specs.php
With the SE P910 you can load the Contacts database onto the headset!
I've just bought an O2 XDA Exec and has exactly the same thought, but could not get it to work.
It depends on the bluetooth "profiles" supported by the mini-handset. I tried it with my previous Sony Ericsson phone (can't remember the model number, but it's about 2 yrs old) and I could only use the handset as a modem (i.e. not much use). You might have better luck with newer handsets, but I would not rely on any mobile phone shop being able to tell you which incoming profiles the handset supports.
Note that there are likely to be problems with caller-display on the handset as the exec only appears to send the incoming number (not the contact name) to the BT device.
If you're set on this approach, I would suggest trying it on any handset you propose using. I can't see that it's worth spending money on this solution though - you may be better off with a phone and a separate PDA.
In order to get a small handset for day to day phone use, I ended up (yesterday) buying a Sony Ericsson HBH660 headset for £50. It has a small caller number display and the voice recognition system (on the exec) seems to work well for making regular calls. I keep it in my pocket and put the exec in my coat/jacket.
Good luck
jah said:
er..this sound very odd to me - but then again I only use my Exec as a PDA at the moment.
Anyway, have a look at this as an option (I have ordered one but I know the Universal does not support all the functions yet): http://www.tekkeon.com/site/products-ez3000-specs.php
With the SE P910 you can load the Contacts database onto the headset!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That looks right funky! Where did you buy it from?
@hollinshead
I contacted the ebay seller for this: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Tekkeon-Dig...ryZ15040QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I paid via PayPal. Should get delivery today or Monday next week.
Or you can buy it from Tekkeon's own online store at their web site (but becareful with import duty etc).
Thanks, I think I'll wait for some UK sellers to get some, and stick to my BT800 for now.
Hi
I badgered some headset manufacturers last year to make the following:
Bluetooth device with handsfree profile (client), included within a *tiny* mobile phone case together with a screen and a keypad, as well as the usual bluetooth headset electronics.
Make it tiny, and trendy - perhaps from brushed aluminium and I reckon such a device would do well. It would have more room inside than a mobile phone case so the battery could be large, and offer perhaps a month of use between charges. It should also charge directly via Mini USB socket and not require any docking stations etc which need lugging about.
Would anyone else here buy such a device, if it were priced at premium headset prices? £50-60 perhaps?
I want it cause holding a universal to your ear causes arm ache! and using a traditional bluetooth headset in a shopping centre make you look like a nob!
Does the headset 1.2 handsfree profile even support a bluetooth headset device with a keyboard?
Nigel
veletron said:
Hi
I badgered some headset manufacturers last year to make the following:
Bluetooth device with handsfree profile (client), included within a *tiny* mobile phone case together with a screen and a keypad, as well as the usual bluetooth headset electronics.
Make it tiny, and trendy - perhaps from brushed aluminium and I reckon such a device would do well. It would have more room inside than a mobile phone case so the battery could be large, and offer perhaps a month of use between charges. It should also charge directly via Mini USB socket and not require any docking stations etc which need lugging about.
Would anyone else here buy such a device, if it were priced at premium headset prices? £50-60 perhaps?
I want it cause holding a universal to your ear causes arm ache! and using a traditional bluetooth headset in a shopping centre make you look like a nob!
Does the headset 1.2 handsfree profile even support a bluetooth headset device with a keyboard?
Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will buy one no doubt!!
Let me know if you find it somewhere.
The max price should be 50£ = 80€
I am supprised there isn't such a device already, a blue tooth handset for skype VoIP is whats required and is probably in the pipeline already, but yes I would buy one.
I am supprised there isn't such a device already, a blue tooth handset for skype VoIP is whats required and is probably in the pipeline already, but yes I would buy one.
Well, I had a reply from Jabra saying that they passed email onto their product development lot.
Prob going to require more than one email tho, so badger away.
No reply from the others as yet.
Nigel
ANYCOM Blue Stereo Headset BSH-100 as a possible solution???
ANYCOM Blue Stereo Headset BSH-100
These Bluetooth-enabled stereo headphones are small, lightweight, and fold up for portability. They include a microphone and can be used as a headset for Bluetooth-enabled Windows Mobile Smartphones and Pocket PC Phone Edition devices. In addition, the headset supports the new High-Quality Stereo BT (A2DP) profile, which is built into the new Windows Mobile 5.0 software. The small, rechargeable battery in the headset powers it for up to 7 hours of continuous use and gives it a standby time of up to 200 hours. The headset weighs a mere 2.7 ounces (76 grams) including battery.
More information is available on the Anycom Web site (http://www.anycom.com). You can pre-order the device for $93.95 from the Expansys Web site (http://www.expansys.com).
Stereo wireless Bluetooth headphones that fold and fit into your pocket!

answering machine software???

hi guys, i couldnt help noticing that when i previously used nokia 6600 (symbian s60) they had few 3rd party that is able to make use of their audio mechanism during callls. for example, one software can make selected background noise for opposite callers so they think that u are at a train station for example when infact u r silently at home. another software is an on board answering machine, which after the phone rang for a few times it answer the fonecall with your automated recorded voice and recorded a msg left by the caller on the fone. this is convenient for us so we dont need to call back our voicemail and reduce cost as well as some telco charge to use their voicemail service. im surprised these kind of software have not came out for our windows mobile device when its already available for symbian. im sure it shouldnt be that hard to make it. any coder expert wanna give it a go??
cutefox, what kind of searches have you made for this software on this board? Did you have much luck?
V
i already tried commercial such as handango and pocket gear.. even freeware sites also no luck.. jus dun understand why no 1 made one yet.. shouldnt b too hard to make one.. it will be a big market to sell such a software for our ppc phone device now that more devices is coming out..
Cutefox: have you tried searching this board? Let me save you the effort, but it'll be a good idea next time. It's not generally considered possible, at least on WM2003 devices because of both hardware and software limitations. It's not that no one has thought of it before: someone seems to think of it approximately every two days... but there are many many threads on this issue.
V
Look at what I said here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=9761
That sums up why we can't do it using the api's available to us now. The funny thing is the way bluetooth sends the audio stream to a headset. Obviously the data is getting there somehow but I suspect it is not (directly) via windows. Dose anyone know if the radio hardware for bluetooth is connected to the radio hardware for the phone? My guess is that if you could write a program that windows "sees" as a headset then you could get the audio that way. But thats a problem in itself.
I would love this kind of program myself. How is it that such usefull devices with so many capeabilities can be kept secret from us. We can't use the camera, we can't get the cell id on towers, we can't programatically controll the partnerships in blutooth, we cant get the audio stream of our own phone, the events on some ppc's that control brightness are secret..... the list goes on. This kind of #@!!$$ is going to hurt the future of these devices which I otherwise love.
OdeeanRDeathshead: I had read your previous posts, and as ever, very interesting and informative reading. I had the same idea regarding a "dummy" bluetooth device a while back, but mamaich put me in my place!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?p=179839#179839
V
thanks vijay555, thats what I have suspected about the hardware. What I want to do is a bit different. The bluetooth can communicate to many devices at once. If your program could appear to be a headset to the os, then the phone bluetooth hardware could transmit the audio to the headset at the same time your program uses bluetooth to receive it. Kind of like a loop out of the box to bridge the lack of functionality. This shifts the problem to how dose a hardware bluetooth headset communicate. Emulate this and we are on a winner. I don't think I have the willingness to pull my devices appart. I also do not have the money for some of the hardware (eg good digital oscilliscope) that I would need to measure whats going on. I did read that microsoft are about to expose some new api to allow control over the pairing process (but not the audio stream). I hope that we get some soon.
Is there going to be any new (for 2005) free development tools like the evc versions used today?
OdeeanRDeathshead: re eVC, I don't think so. The "express editions" are free, but they specifically omit the functionality to develop "mobile solutions".
Re the loop back. That's a good idea. I think mamaich is our best bet on schematics, I think that would be very helpful. As you "rave", it's mindboggling that Microsoft still haven't revealed or implemented a way to interact with the audio channels. It must have been one of the first things one could imagine doing once you develop a PDA with a phone stuck on the back of it.
Any idea if the bluetooth stacks could support transmitting and receiving simultaneously in this manner? I know some of the boys are working on alternative bluetooth support for the stereo headset profiles, so they might be able to shed some light on the issues involved. I guess the processor overhead could be hefty, but for the benefit it would be beneficial.
V

Question about using the Advantage as a phone.

Hi I am sooo tempted to get the Advantage but the fact it doesn't have an earpiece really kind of kills it for me. I don't voice talk that much so if it had a earpiece I wouldn't mind holding it up to my ear and looking like a dork for the total of 5 or 10 mins a day I'm on the phone talking. Most of it I do in my car anyway which could be on speaker. But,... the times I may only have it on me and I don't want anyone to hear my conversation I'd like to talk. Bluetooth headsets are very annoying to me. It's something else I have to carry around try not to lose and keep charged. Another device to babysit. So I don't want to go that route.
Some people said if you put the volume way down to maybe one notch that it might work. Does anyone do this or have another alternative... That screen is awesome. And I think I could even front pocket it in cargo pants. But the voice talking is an issue for me. Carrying around a uber small voice phone isn't an option either as I'll need another plan because I'd like to take advantage(pun not really intended) of the 3G.
Thanks.
juiceppc said:
Hi I am sooo tempted to get the Advantage but the fact it doesn't have an earpiece really kind of kills it for me. I don't voice talk that much so if it had a earpiece I wouldn't mind holding it up to my ear and looking like a dork for the total of 5 or 10 mins a day I'm on the phone talking. Most of it I do in my car anyway which could be on speaker. But,... the times I may only have it on me and I don't want anyone to hear my conversation I'd like to talk. Bluetooth headsets are very annoying to me. It's something else I have to carry around try not to lose and keep charged. Another device to babysit. So I don't want to go that route.
Some people said if you put the volume way down to maybe one notch that it might work. Does anyone do this or have another alternative... That screen is awesome. And I think I could even front pocket it in cargo pants. But the voice talking is an issue for me. Carrying around a uber small voice phone isn't an option either as I'll need another plan because I'd like to take advantage(pun not really intended) of the 3G.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, even if you adjust the volume to the lowest, your conversation could still be overheard by those around you, especially in quite environment.
Another factor to consider is that because it is a speaker phone, when making VOIP calls, the voice of the other party coming out of the speaker will feed back to him again, hence creating the echo on the other side.
I overcome both of these problem without using blue tooth. I use wired headset, which I need for music anyway. It needs no charging.
I know that you have stated that you don't want to carry around another device. Personally, I don't like the 'wired' headset option. I too, think that the BT headset is uncomfortable, akward and most of the time annoying as it isn't right wearing it for 8 hours during a normal work day and to use it for 15 or 20 minutes of that time (or even for an hour).
I have been using the Dopod U1000 (aka Athena) since it became available in the US in April. I had the Plantronics 640, and the JawBone headsets but have since put them away. I use the Lg Style I during the day and leave the Athena docked at my desk uless I need to move out of BT Range, then I move the Athena with me but keep the Style-I at hand. It is smaller than a typical highlighter pen, shows caller ID numbers, has its own dial pad and holds its own for call quality, privacy and function as a 'micro-phone' handset extension for the Athena or any other PDA 'brick' phone. By the way, I also use JetWare Mobile BT extension to help the functionality with various BT car and hands free kits.
I will not hold the Athena up next to my ear.
BT Headset is the only way to go with the Athena
Just my 2 cents worth, but for me, a wired headset is far more cumbersome than sticking a BT Headset in my ear!
It really isn't that bad. Especially if you spend very little time per day making/receiving phonecalls.
I use the Plantronics 640 with vibrate mode, so never miss a call and only put it in my ear when I get a phonecall, or when I'm driving.
I don't get it. How is sticking a little BT device more cumbersome to stick in your ear for the duration of a call than holding a much larger mobile phone to your ear, for which you also constantly loose the use of your left/right hand?
Also, my BT headpiece lasts 3 days without needing a recharge when I make/receive limited calls, plus it has an additional lighter-like extention that keeps it charged for up to 15 hours, if your a heavy user. I've never even had to use it to date.
As for listening to music on the go, I quite like using the earpiece to route sound to it, as I have at least one ear free to be aware of what's going on around me.
Each to their own I guess, but IMHO if your not willing to use BT earpiece, the Athena is not for you.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm still tempted. If I do get it I will probably either end up caving in and using a Jabra jx10 I have or just not take calls in public...
Maybe I'll look into finding the flattest/smallest BT headset I can find and adding on a little compartment for it on the Advantage.
mackaby007 said:
Just my 2 cents worth, but for me, a wired headset is far more cumbersome than sticking a BT Headset in my ear!
It really isn't that bad. Especially if you spend very little time per day making/receiving phonecalls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does seem that a BT headset is the way to go, but battery life does concern me - what kind of hit is there on the Advantage battery as a result of having the headset on and connected the whole time? Do you get through a whole day with it connected but only light/moderate use (say 20 min of calls)?
FWIW I've had the Advantage x7500 for a couple months and routinely use it as a phone, although my call volume is low. In my car I have a BT setup so whenever I'm in the car the Advantage is automatically linked and I can control my "phone" from my steering wheel. But in the office or at home, I just use it as a speaker phone -- I move away from other folks so I'm not a nuisance, but it's really not much different from other folks using their cellphones, except if someone is close to me (2-3 feet) they could hear my caller. I've even received and made calls while outside and, surprisingly, no problem hearing the call or being heard. It's a really well-designed device.
Just buy an LG Style I.
http://reviews.cnet.com/front-door/lg-style-i/4505-1_7-31826853.html
It's the only way to go.
Ameo upgrade coming
My tmobile upgrade is coming up, (ive had the MDA vario and now using orange SPV m3100 a.k.a hermes) i am very much hoping to get a Ameo upgrade for free /average spend £38 p.m/ (or might end up paying supplement). But what is worrying me is the size of the ameo. I am convinced about the screen advantage and gps, but its just the size when voice call are concerned. However i would like to hear a bit more from folk using the LG i style solution and have stuck around with it for a while!. Ideally a manufacturer should create a mini phone like a bluetooth headset flip phone or small candy bar form factor!! am i just dreaming!
Had my Style-i for months now and i LOVEe it - very useful - plus there's a safety feature too... if you're walking along and you get your 'phone' snatched, all they'll get is a £30 bluetooth gizmo that is useless.... you Ameo will be safe. They'll assume the Style-i is your phone and wont mug you for the actual one so you can get away!​
Here's the ultimate solution. IMHO .
A BT headset that fits inside the bigger device. Like it docks in or something. And charges while the host device is charging. That way you don't really have another devicer to carry around per se and/or worry about charging. I mean you do but you don't have to do it seperately. And you kind of dont' have to worry about carrying it around or wearing it when you not taking calls. Advantage rings, pick out head set, talk, hang up, put headset back in Advantage, done. I like that. I like that a lot.
You hearing this HTC?
Or just put the dang earpiece in there and let me look like a dork and call it a day. Sheesh.
adamelphick said:
Had my Style-i for months now and i LOVEe it - very useful - plus there's a safety feature too... if you're walking along and you get your 'phone' snatched, all they'll get is a £30 bluetooth gizmo that is useless.... you Ameo will be safe. They'll assume the Style-i is your phone and wont mug you for the actual one so you can get away!​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers, your response did make me feel better, although i still have some reservations on living with an ameo (read travelling)(p.s. gona be moving to London). Perhaps at some point the I style solution info+tweaks could be added to the wiki. Ive been following many athena posts (although im only a hermey for now(hermes) and reading the Tmobile business users thread makes me feel they might discontinue the phone by oct-nov 07; its out of stock on their uk website since over 10 days.
Update: Ok the Ameo is now in stock on the Tmobile uk website (just checked after posting)
juiceppc said:
Here's the ultimate solution. IMHO .
A BT headset that fits inside the bigger device. Like it docks in or something. And charges while the host device is charging. That way you don't really have another devicer to carry around per se and/or worry about charging. I mean you do but you don't have to do it seperately. And you kind of dont' have to worry about carrying it around or wearing it when you not taking calls. Advantage rings, pick out head set, talk, hang up, put headset back in Advantage, done. I like that. I like that a lot.
You hearing this HTC?
Or just put the dang earpiece in there and let me look like a dork and call it a day. Sheesh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BOOYA!
http://www.unwiredview.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/samsung-bt-headset-removable.jpg
stryker1355 said:
My tmobile upgrade is coming up, (ive had the MDA vario and now using orange SPV m3100 a.k.a hermes) i am very much hoping to get a Ameo upgrade for free /average spend £38 p.m/ (or might end up paying supplement). But what is worrying me is the size of the ameo. I am convinced about the screen advantage and gps, but its just the size when voice call are concerned. However i would like to hear a bit more from folk using the LG i style solution and have stuck around with it for a while!. Ideally a manufacturer should create a mini phone like a bluetooth headset flip phone or small candy bar form factor!! am i just dreaming!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've got no chance of getting it for free mate, I can promise you that. I've got two accounts. I managed to wangle it for 120 quid on my first which is flext 35 web n walk plus, however my newest upgrade (6 days ago) would have meant a 290 quid supplement. I don't know how their upgrade policy works exactly but I know that there really is only so much that T-Mobile will do.
What I do know is that if you go through a store rather than online or over the phone you'll be able to do a little bit more negotiation, but I'd be surprised if you got it for less than 100.
As an aside, I never bought the Ameo to use as a phone - purely an office utility and multimedia device so I don't actually take any calls on it. I use an N95 as a bluetooth modem, or put the sim in the Ameo if I'm planning long periods browsing. I actually find this far more convenient and adaptable than using a headset, either wired or bluetooth.
stryker1355 said:
My tmobile upgrade is coming up, (ive had the MDA vario and now using orange SPV m3100 a.k.a hermes) i am very much hoping to get a Ameo upgrade for free /average spend £38 p.m/ (or might end up paying supplement). But what is worrying me is the size of the ameo. I am convinced about the screen advantage and gps, but its just the size when voice call are concerned. However i would like to hear a bit more from folk using the LG i style solution and have stuck around with it for a while!. Ideally a manufacturer should create a mini phone like a bluetooth headset flip phone or small candy bar form factor!! am i just dreaming!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've got no chance of getting it for free mate, I can promise you that. I've got two accounts. I managed to wangle it for 120 quid on my first which is flext 35 web n walk plus, however my newest upgrade (6 days ago) would have meant a 290 quid supplement. I don't know how their upgrade policy works exactly but I know that there really is only so much that T-Mobile will do.
What I do know is that if you go through a store rather than online or over the phone you'll be able to do a little bit more negotiation, but I'd be surprised if you got it for less than 100.
As an aside, I never bought the Ameo to use as a phone - purely an office utility and multimedia device so I don't actually take any calls on it. I use an N95 as a bluetooth modem, or put the sim in the Ameo if I'm planning long periods browsing. I actually find this far more convenient and adaptable than using a headset, either wired or bluetooth.
veethree said:
It does seem that a BT headset is the way to go, but battery life does concern me - what kind of hit is there on the Advantage battery as a result of having the headset on and connected the whole time? Do you get through a whole day with it connected but only light/moderate use (say 20 min of calls)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at the below link
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1430475&postcount=36
leoni1980 said:
You've got no chance of getting it for free mate, I can promise you that. I've got two accounts. I managed to wangle it for 120 quid on my first which is flext 35 web n walk plus, however my newest upgrade (6 days ago) would have meant a 290 quid supplement. I don't know how their upgrade policy works exactly but I know that there really is only so much that T-Mobile will do.
What I do know is that if you go through a store rather than online or over the phone you'll be able to do a little bit more negotiation, but I'd be surprised if you got it for less than 100.
As an aside, I never bought the Ameo to use as a phone - purely an office utility and multimedia device so I don't actually take any calls on it. I use an N95 as a bluetooth modem, or put the sim in the Ameo if I'm planning long periods browsing. I actually find this far more convenient and adaptable than using a headset, either wired or bluetooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically you are carrying to devices and that I definitely do not want to do.
lpsi2000 said:
Technically you are carrying two devices and that I definitely do not want to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kind of why I don't want to carry a BT headset.
juiceppc said:
That's kind of why I don't want to carry a BT headset.
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Click to collapse
The BT headset is different for me, it is an accessory needed for the phone. I have been using BT Headset for a least 4 years with every phone I had within that time frame.
lpsi2000 said:
The BT headset is different for me, it is an accessory needed for the phone. I have been using BT Headset for a least 4 years with every phone I had within that time frame.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to mention that anyone not using a headset and calling while driving is certainly more prone to accidents holding and/or dialing from the phone.
Brad

Who thinks the Athena is good as a phone?

One of my reasons for dumping my Athena was that i found it was a complete nightmare as a phone (amongst other issues)
Does anyone think it is a Good Phone, OK Phone, Crap Phone or Bloody awful Phone
This is about MAKING CALLS on it not the other functions
Ive only been using mine for a couple days, but its just fine for me. I'm not holding top secret phone conversations, and if I do need to keep a call under wraps, I just use my bluetooth.
To answer that you'd need some criteria as to what makes a phone good.
It can make and receive calls ok but after that there are many things that could be percieved criteria that make a phone good.
IMHO a good phone is one that you can put to your ear when it rings and talk to the person on the other end. It is small enough to comfortably fit in the pocket of a pair of jeans. Has good battery life. Has a good radio (phone signal reception).
These requirements are a must for a phone for me.
The Athena does not fit all of these criteria but then again it is not primarily a phone.
It is a top notch all round communications device/office and if you buy it expecting a "comfy phone" you'll be disappointed.
In a word, is it a good phone? No.
I love the x7500 best one I ever had. Love the GPS the huge screen and all the cool stuff and software that ís to come
I suppose i should make it clear what i meant by this thread Ahem.
Im talking about Making Actual Calls on it not not the other functions
The problem with the Athena as a phone is that it takes a while to figure out how to set the volume control correctly.
It's better now that I know to set the phone volume to zero, and then hold the edge of the device to my ear with the little hole (which I assume is a mic) roughly in the direction of my mouth.
After doing that I can just about have a conversation (as long as I'm in a quiet room).
WHATS ????
I,m REALLY HEAT THIS...too many words...about?
Whats made this post here..., plase get out... write in a PHONE forum !
This Forum in about POCKET PC..if some of all in this site...wants a phone...so simply....write in phones sites !
But...at anyone ...a simply phone is not we need!
Beacuse we buy..P O C K E T PC (Pocket PC) !
FranCOKE!
ClashOfThe said:
To answer that you'd need some criteria as to what makes a phone good.
These requirements are a must for a phone for me.
The Athena does not fit all of these criteria but then again it is not primarily a phone.
It is a top notch all round communications device/office and if you buy it expecting a "comfy phone" you'll be disappointed.
In a word, is it a good phone? No.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
francoke said:
I,m REALLY HEAT THIS...too many words...about?
Whats made this post here..., plase get out... write in a PHONE forum !
This Forum in about POCKET PC..if some of all in this site...wants a phone...so simply....write in phones sites !
But...at anyone ...a simply phone is not we need!
Beacuse we buy..P O C K E T PC (Pocket PC) !
FranCOKE!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sir need to learn how to read and count.
I think i made it quite clear the device is much more than a phone and also stated it was top notch.
Also I only wrote 12 or so more words than you and none of mine were wasted.
Athena's phone functionnality is OK, nothing more, nothing less.
BUT I find the integration into the entire environment pretty awesome, really.
I rate the Ameo 1 out of 10 for using as a PHONE.
Other uses (e.g. Mobile Internet, Sat Nav, Watching Video Blogs) I would rate it 10 out of 10 but for actually talking to people I have had so many problems:
1) The hands-free headphones+microphone that are supplied no longer work for me (my voice intermitedly cuts out - like a loose connection).
2) Whenever I use my bluetooth headset ("Discovery 655"), I get complains from whoever I'm trying to talk to about low volume.
3) And if I try to use the Ameo without plugging in some kind of microphone, everyone in the room gets to listen to my conversation.
The Ameo is not a good phone (in my opinion).
I heard The "LG style-i" is good but I can't get hold of one in England.
francoke said:
I,m REALLY HEAT THIS...too many words...about?
Whats made this post here..., plase get out... write in a PHONE forum !
This Forum in about POCKET PC..if some of all in this site...wants a phone...so simply....write in phones sites !
But...at anyone ...a simply phone is not we need!
Beacuse we buy..P O C K E T PC (Pocket PC) !
FranCOKE!
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Click to collapse
the athena isnt a pocket pc - its a phone. it is sold as a phone by phone companies in phone shops. it is a windows mobile phone and, by design, a convergent device. unfortunately one of its primary functions - the phone - is poorly designed and doesnt give very good clarity without the help of a bluetooth headset. sadly windows mobile doesnt like bluetooth headsets very much so i think overall the athena fails as a phone quite badly. other aspects of the device are not relevent to the question in hand.
Athena is a primarily a mobile data device which also does phone, adding value to it as a convergent device. If you're looking for a phone, go somewhere else. This will not be the best size as a phone, but it is the best sized convergent device, with phone function.
As a VOIP phone it is excellent. As long as I use a headset and have good signal, I get quite good voice at mere 8 cents per call untimed to anywhere in the world. Using headset on it as a normal mobile phone of course gives very good voice quality.
The SMS aspect of the phone is absolutely top notch because of the large screen.
The debate always comes down to size. It is crazy to try to rate it only as a phone and proves nothing. It's like rating a PC with TV tuners as only a TV. Or Athena only as an MP3 player or only as a Camera.
If I have a TV tuner in my computer, I don't expect an intelligent guy to come up with a survey that says "who thinks this PC is a good TV". The result is meaningless. If a guy is looking for a TV and nothing else, he would of course dump this computer. But if TV is not his primary focus and computer is, then he is happy with the TV.
Similarly, if the future version of Athena decides to incorporate TV, it does not make it a TV per se. If you have a survey that says "who thinks Athena II is a good TV", its a meaningless question. The screen would be deemed too small by a guy looking only for a TV, much like Athena is viewed as too big by the guy looking mainly for a phone.
Does it mean that one should never incorporate phone feature into a convergent device? Or that one should never incorporate television into the PDA? By no means. There is a very niche market segment who longs for these all in ones. If you're not one of them, then this is not a product for you. That does not make it a crap phone or crap tv.
One of the key values of Athena lies in it converging all these technologies together. While it does not take the best picture in the world, the picture quality is okay. While it is not the fastest computer, it is okay. While it is not the best mobile phone in the world, it is okay. I've seen much worst dedicated Nokia phone than Athana.
Everything taken as a whole, it is stil the best.
Athena is closer to PDA than a phone. What's a PDA? I'd quote Gartner's definition:
Gartner defines PDAs as "data-centric handheld computer weighing less than one pound that [are] primarily designed for use with both hands." The devices use "open market" OSes and can be equipped by the users with third-party applications. Additionally, PDAs "offer instant on/off capability and synchronization of files with a PC," in Gartner's view. Although the PDAs included in Gartner's data may offer voice capabilities, they are "data-first, voice-second devices."
DATA FIRST, VOICE SECOND. If Francoke's pocket pc means PDA, then using Gartner's definition, he's right. This is a pocket pc (PDA). In Gartner's eye, this is not classified as a phone.
eaglesteve said:
Athena is a primarily a mobile data device which also does phone, adding value to it as a convergent device. If you're looking for a phone, go somewhere else. This will not be the best size as a phone, but it is the best sized convergent device, with phone function.
As a VOIP phone it is excellent. As long as I use a headset and have good signal, I get quite good voice at mere 8 cents per call untimed to anywhere in the world. Using headset on it as a normal mobile phone of course gives very good voice quality.
The SMS aspect of the phone is absolutely top notch because of the large screen.
The debate always comes down to size. It is crazy to try to rate it only as a phone and proves nothing. It's like rating a PC with TV tuners as only a TV. Or Athena only as an MP3 player or only as a Camera.
If I have a TV tuner in my computer, I don't expect an intelligent guy to come up with a survey that says "who thinks this PC is a good TV". The result is meaningless. If a guy is looking for a TV and nothing else, he would of course dump this computer. But if TV is not his primary focus and computer is, then he is happy with the TV.
Similarly, if the future version of Athena decides to incorporate TV, it does not make it a TV per se. If you have a survey that says "who thinks Athena II is a good TV", its a meaningless question. The screen would be deemed too small by a guy looking only for a TV, much like Athena is viewed as too big by the guy looking mainly for a phone.
Does it mean that one should never incorporate phone feature into a convergent device? Or that one should never incorporate television into the PDA? By no means. There is a very niche market segment who longs for these all in ones. If you're not one of them, then this is not a product for you. That does not make it a crap phone or crap tv.
One of the key values of Athena lies in it converging all these technologies together. While it does not take the best picture in the world, the picture quality is okay. While it is not the fastest computer, it is okay. While it is not the best mobile phone in the world, it is okay. I've seen much worst dedicated Nokia phone than Athana.
Everything taken as a whole, it is stil the best.
Athena is closer to PDA than a phone. What's a PDA? I'd quote Gartner's definition:
Gartner defines PDAs as "data-centric handheld computer weighing less than one pound that [are] primarily designed for use with both hands." The devices use "open market" OSes and can be equipped by the users with third-party applications. Additionally, PDAs "offer instant on/off capability and synchronization of files with a PC," in Gartner's view. Although the PDAs included in Gartner's data may offer voice capabilities, they are "data-first, voice-second devices."
DATA FIRST, VOICE SECOND. If Francoke's pocket pc means PDA, then using Gartner's definition, he's right. This is a pocket pc (PDA). In Gartner's eye, this is not classified as a phone.
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Click to collapse
Well said. And If I might say, asking a question where the answers are (1) crap (2) crap (3) ok and (4) best ever doesn't strike me as being particularly balanced!
I don't make many phone calls, but those that I do are fine. Speaker phone is fine as long as you're calling a landlines (mobiles and handsfree kits tend to generate too much noise and confuse the phone as to if it should be 'listening' or 'playing' the sound). Wired / Bluetooth headset works perfectly. The issue that we've had time and time again though, is that its not really a 'pocket' phone, and unless you have a handbag or manbag, you feel like a bit of a twonk carrying round this brown wallet. I usually give the phone to the missus to carry then have a bluetooth in my pocket ready to shove in my earole.
For me the diference between not using the X7500 at all as phone and using the X7500 as phone has been the LG Style-i HBM-700.
I tried an BT headset first but the trekky look is not for me then I tried the Style-i and now X7500 is my only cellular.
Athena is not a phone in a traditional way you could think it.
My experience is good even with cheap bluetooth headset (far better than Universal...)
mahjong said:
For me the diference between not using the X7500 at all as phone and using the X7500 as phone has been the LG Style-i HBM-700.
I tried an BT headset first but the trekky look is not for me then I tried the Style-i and now X7500 is my only cellular.
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Click to collapse
Completely agree with this post. If you use LG Style-I, you end up having the smallest phone in the world!
As a phone by itself the Athena is Crap. The LG Style-i certainly helps.
I use the other features far more than just the phone which is secondary to me but as the T-Mob Ameo is sold as a 'phone' I can see the OP's point.
As eaglesteve points out it is far more than 'just' a phone but if you buy one primarily as a phone you would probably be disappointed.
Confucious said:
As a phone by itself the Athena is Crap. The LG Style-i certainly helps.
I use the other features far more than just the phone which is secondary to me but as the T-Mob Ameo is sold as a 'phone' I can see the OP's point.
As eaglesteve points out it is far more than 'just' a phone but if you buy one primarily as a phone you would probably be disappointed.
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Click to collapse
With LG style-i, it does not matter what the "host" is anymore. That's why I voted it to be as good as the phone best ever. Athena gives very good 3.5G reception, far better than any other phones I've used. Also, like eaglesteve said, it is very easy for me to create SMS messages on this device, which is another aspect of the phone features. I highly recommend that those who had found it tough to use this as a phone because of its size to consider LG style-I. I guarantee your opinion will change.
eaglesteve said:
It is crazy to try to rate it only as a phone and proves nothing. It's like rating a PC with TV tuners as only a TV.
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Click to collapse
Excellent comparision, couldn't have put it better.
And yet, I think some extremely useful (at least for me) phone-related functionnalities are very usually overlooked with PocketPC PDA-Phones in such polls.
What about seamless synchronisation with Outlook content ? This functionnality alone saved my *ss more than once when I had trouble with my phone. Instant search for directory numbers ? Etc. etc.
I once had a Nokia N92, an excellent multimedia device. Well, I returned it as soon as I saw that the "conduit" between the phone and Outlook mixed numbers up, and didn't synchronise properly (most of my contacts are business contacts, and have more than one phone number. The Nokia conduit handles this extremely poorly, mixing numbers for a same contact when they are synchronised on the phone until it is almost impossible to find a contact through his / her phone number).
Confucious said:
As eaglesteve points out it is far more than 'just' a phone but if you buy one primarily as a phone you would probably be disappointed.
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Click to collapse
True. But I always have trouble imagining how ANYONE would get an almost one-pounded, 5-inch screened *phone*. Who needs a 5-inch screens only for phoning ? To see 1-inch wide numbers ?? :-S

Help - Bluetooth and Voice Dialling

As it says.
I have an HCB 150 BT car kit which has workred well with other SE phones and it imported/used the phones phone book and allowed BT voice dialling Safe and legal.
X10 connects easily and reliably but no phonebook available (is this PBAP?) Thinks bum! but OK I can live with that as voice dialling is available. Er. apparantly not
Can't believe that a flagship phone can't do these things even worse the documentation does not make these issues clear.
I really like the phone BUT had I known this I would have waited.
I hope (really really really) that it will be the subject of an update.
Leaving BT aside has anyone got the voive dialler to work? I can't. It does not seem to be able to recognise anything.........................dimwit ding.
Oh, and battery life sucks - I know i've read the thread..........all of it.
I tried it once.. and failed.. but thought nothing of it as I wasn't really bothered to use it.. never really had a lot of success with voice dialling on any handset i've had... so I downloaded oftseen gestures which allow you to swipe a gesture to call someone.. I've used that for my main numbers..
No good for driving though................................................
What about that phone book access...........can you help?
Voice dialing using a bluetooth device is not supported by Android 1.6. I don't know whether 2.1 does, but it is one of the major drawbacks of Android devices.
Tons of complains about this feature that Google somehow failed to do. This is specially bad in places where it is illegal to hold a phone while driving.
Edit: Did a search. Apparently, 2.1 does not support bluetooth dialing either. Some people found a solution by using bluetooth headsets that store the contact list in the headset.
Is that 2.1 that shifts the phonebook to the headset? Or is 1.6 supposed to be able to do it?
Help, about to crash whilst attempting to illegally dial..................
Google feels a law suit coming on.............
Bump..............
I meant that I found somewhere, someone stated that there are some bluetooth headsets that store the phone list in the headset's own memory and it is the headset itself that recognizes your voice and instructs the phone to dial. I have searched the web and can't find such a device.
I don't think you will find an answer here or anywhere. You can go to a Google hosted forum and complain over there. This issue has been around since the first Android phone, and I am like you, at a loss why Google can't write a piece of software to deal with this.
Thanks vistador. I assume that in the US hands free is mandatory whilst driving, in which case I foresee law suits against Google?Android for not providing somehting that has been readily available for years.
How do i COMPLAIN DIRECTLY TO gOOGLE?

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