Database Users

Got a XDA Exec and loving it but a few questions

Hi guys, got my xda exec and been looking on this board for any improvements i can make to it. Done a hard reset a couple of times and not really noticed a big difference between Basic and Corporate installs.
One of my questions is around the movies though, download some movies off the net as normal xvid movies. Play them on my pda and they do jerk quite a bit, has anyone played around and found a max bit rate etc that videos play really well at? Also, when i'm using tcpmp player is it true VGA or just upscaled to VGA?
Another question, i installed OzVGA with the vga packs on here and the effect in IE is amazing, I'll keep it just for that but my personal opinon is that the text is just TOO small for the today screen. One problem i got though is that my delete key on the keyboard stopped working. Anyone else experiance this?
Also one final thing, going to be using this as my work phone (obviously) any REALLY usefull additional software i could get. I am aware that i want to keep things at a minimum, will be driving for about an hour each morning and night for work so plenty of time doing nothing in the car (well paying attention to the road i guess!!)
Look forward to your responses.
Ian Hardy

Cardy_X said:
Also one final thing, going to be using this as my work phone (obviously) any REALLY usefull additional software i could get. I am aware that i want to keep things at a minimum, will be driving for about an hour each morning and night for work so plenty of time doing nothing in the car (well paying attention to the road i guess!!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought about OZVGA, but holding off for now, although I'd love smaller text on my start menu, and smaller soft buttons at the bottom - already installed thinner scrollbars, which works well.
I'm on BASIC mode, because I'm a happy O2 customer, and didn't relish setting up MMS, GPRS etc on it... O2 Active is well uninstalled - who needs a useless interface on top of the good one we got already?
Using TCPMP for movies, getting them smooth. They all look well too. No more re-encoding necessary.
Had to play with settings to stop them pausing and loading every 15 seconds, but works well now - only streaming them over wifi makes them a little jerky, but not so much that it would annoy you - streaming al my music and movies from my PC downstairs at night is wonderful.
In terms of additional software, the Resco Media Suite is magnificent, all of it, Pocket Music is lovely, MS Voice Command will be fantastic when it's fully compatible, the VGA version of Ozi Explorer works a treat, Arvale II is good, Bejewelled is addictive, Egress is a great RSS Reader, GSPocketMagic is a must, Links plays well, Memmaid is well useful, MySportTraining is wonderfully motivating, Pocket Informant is still too slow, SCUMM brings the years back, SpriteBackup is now working, and Tennis Addict is as good as ever.
Also bought a GPS program, most expensive PDA product I've ever had, Prymenav Navigator it's called (used it on the JAM, not yet on the Exec), but it just doesn't play that well - horrible interface, not user friendly, some essential features missing. Works though. But sorry I bought it. No more penny pinching in future!

thanks for replying so quickly, can you give me some info on what settings you changed to make the movies run so smoothly as i'm forever getting that 15 sec pause thing. Can be quite frustrating when i'm in the middle of a good film.
Thanks again.
Ian

Cardy_X said:
thanks for replying so quickly, can you give me some info on what settings you changed to make the movies run so smoothly as i'm forever getting that 15 sec pause thing. Can be quite frustrating when i'm in the middle of a good film.
Thanks again.
Ian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check now....
Video/Smooth Zoom (only 50%)
Video/No dither
Video/Video Driver/DirectDraw
No Equalizer
(Hey - TCPMP is reporting my speed as a 104Mhz PXA27x?)
Auto prerotate
NO Microdrive mode
Normal Buffer size 2400KB, Preload at underrun 70%
Don't tick the following:
"no wireless MMX usage"
"Slow video memeory"
"Less rotation tearing"
"Prefer less bufering..."
"Override AVI frame.."
soft-drop tolerance is 55msec
hard is 700ms
tick "use blitting" and use device stret6cing"
untick "use hardware vertical zooming"
tick "use buffer flipping" and "allocate buffers"
Haven't a clue which of those is the golden settingmaking it all work, but those work for me!

HTC Touch HD for business use

Everywhere is announced the HD is great because of its multimedia functions.
For myself I have NO USE for multimedia (except taking good pictures for my work). What I need is:
a) a big screen for reading email, html email and so on
b) a big screen for my pocket office excel sheets (the more row/column I can see the better)
c) a touch keyboard not too small
d) a slim and compact device (I think that this eliminates devices with phisical keyboard)
e) a device that fits comfortably in your pocket: doesn't weight "a lot"
f) the best quality possible for pictures, the ideal would be that it can take pictures of documents and that later you are able to actually read them, looking at the picture taken
g) gps included
h) EXCELLENT battery consumption: so that with a "normal" use you can EASILY arrive at night without the need of having chargers all over (car/house/office)
In your opinion is the Touch HD good for the purpose? Maybe something else on the market is better?
Thanks for any comment.
P.S. so far I had Qtek 1010, 2020, Universal (in my opinion the WORST phone I had because of its bulky size and short battery life), Tytn, Cruise.

It's absolutely definitely the best thing you can buy for business if you don't need a qwerty keyboard.
As you mentioned before it has a big screen for web, email and office and it's still slim and light enough to fit in your pocket.
Windows Mobile is the only OS to choose for business (besides Blackberry) and the HD has the second best camera in a Windows Mobile phone which is absolutely sufficient for taking pictures of documents.
There's no better device (if you don't need a querty keyboard).

Hi claudioita,
I have exactly the same needs, and I am still unsure whether to go for the Xperia X1 or the Touch HD. I like the big display and the thinner device, but I think that TouchFlo will be quite annoying after a while (I prefer to see the time/date and my next appointments when I look at my device, not windscreen wipers ...). The X1 seems to be more flexible in installing other panels. On the other hand, it is not so flat ...
Well, at least here in Germany both devices are not available at the moment, so I think we have to wait and see if we can get hands on them once they appear in the stores around.
Eriol

You can disable TouchFlo if you don't linke it but I think it's the best interface IMHO even better than the iPhone.

Eriol said:
Hi claudioita,
I have exactly the same needs, and I am still unsure whether to go for the Xperia X1 or the Touch HD. I like the big display and the thinner device, but I think that TouchFlo will be quite annoying after a while (I prefer to see the time/date and my next appointments when I look at my device, not windscreen wipers ...). The X1 seems to be more flexible in installing other panels. On the other hand, it is not so flat ...
Well, at least here in Germany both devices are not available at the moment, so I think we have to wait and see if we can get hands on them once they appear in the stores around.
Eriol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"I prefer to see the time/date and my next appointments when I look at my device"
The Touchflo Homescreen shows exactly that. and if you scroll down to switch to the advanced home screen, the clock becomes smaller and the list bigger, so you will see even more appointments. Alsom the screen on the X1 is smaller and as far as i have seen, you will have to use the stylus quite often In that case, the Touch HD is much better. The bigger Screen is also good when working on excel sheets and more. Also, the X1 is said to be a bit laggy sometimes when switching to landscape mode and back. I really recommend that you watch some videos about the interface.
oh and: there is a new "customize tab" feature on the HD. so you may be able to delete tabs and rearrange them

its a good phone but its based on the same hardware as the Diamond, so do a bit of guess work and some math and its power consumption can only be worse than the diamond, so unless battery is proportionaly larger its going to suck. I dont believe its going to have a larger battery than say around 1350 so to put it simply it'll last about 2 hours less than the touch Pro...

dazza9075 said:
its a good phone but its based on the same hardware as the Diamond, so do a bit of guess work and some math and its power consumption can only be worse than the diamond, so unless battery is proportionaly larger its going to suck. I dont believe its going to have a larger battery than say around 1350 so to put it simply it'll last about 2 hours less than the touch Pro...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep.
Exactly what I think. 3.8inch with that resolution ..... I won't buy it first. Will wait 1 or 2 months and check review on power consumption

Why not use a fold -up keyboard instead. You can leave in your briefcase and only take out when needed. This combination will ensure portability- thin and lightweight. Unlike the Uni which I also use.
Otherwise we should wait for the HTC Omni - if it will ever be launched!
Calli

calli said:
Why not use a fold -up keyboard instead. You can leave in your briefcase and only take out when needed. This combination will ensure portability- thin and lightweight. Unlike the Uni which I also use.
Otherwise we should wait for the HTC Omni - if it will ever be launched!
Calli
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your comments wiil be greatly appreciated
Calli

I have a bluetooth keyboard with my current PDA and will pass this onto the HD when it arrives. It is (for me) ideal, the phone is that bit smaller and I have almost full full-size keyboard when I need too.

claudioita said:
Yep.
Exactly what I think. 3.8inch with that resolution ..... I won't buy it first. Will wait 1 or 2 months and check review on power consumption
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am wondering the same since i heard of this device. But, i will definitly get this phone. I often heard that the diamond had a very bad battery life, but on the other hand, i have got an LG Viewty at the moment. This phone is said to have a very very bad battery. people even said it only lasts around 2 days without doing that much. many people wrote a bad review about this on amazon.
strangely, i use the viewty on a daily basis, for checking mails and writing sms or doing calls. so i even use hsdpa at least 2 or three times a day. and i can get a battery life of around a week!
But ofcourse, if i keep running on hsdpa the whole day, by browsing the net for hours for example i get have to plug it in the next day.
i really think that many people just use their mobilephones without ever thinking how much battery life is trained away, when they use gps, wlan and more the whole day. i am pretty sure that, with a normal usage, i can at least get a week or more out of the HD, as it has a better battery and higher standby and usage time as my viewty has got now.

btw, as you mentioned bluetooth keyboards.
are there any good devices out there? can you recommend some?
i am planning to use my Dinovo Mini for my Touch HD (i know it works) but maybe there are better keyboards out there

Business usability of soft keyboard
Hi,
I follow the discussions on a "Touch HD pro" version, but I am convinced that this would not be a good deal: The Touch HD's size is acceptable because it is really flat. A Touch HD pro would be at least as thick as an Xperia X1 or Touch pro. Thus, the whole device would be heavy and - for many users, I am sure - too big in all dimensions.
I wonder why all the videos we can see do not show the progress of a software keyboard in Toch HD. They all mention that "there is a software keyboard", but -well - we expect tghis, don't we? But: How usable is it?
I writing this because I am still unsure about Xperia X1, Touch HD (and may be Touch Pro). I really need a good argument for the keyboard question because I will need it quite regularly for emails. On the other hand, the Touch HD beats the Xperia in many other aspects ...
What do you guys think or know about the software keyboard?
Eriol

Eriol said:
Hi,
I follow the discussions on a "Touch HD pro" version, but I am convinced that this would not be a good deal: The Touch HD's size is acceptable because it is really flat. A Touch HD pro would be at least as thick as an Xperia X1 or Touch pro. Thus, the whole device would be heavy and - for many users, I am sure - too big in all dimensions.
I wonder why all the videos we can see do not show the progress of a software keyboard in Toch HD. They all mention that "there is a software keyboard", but -well - we expect tghis, don't we? But: How usable is it?
I writing this because I am still unsure about Xperia X1, Touch HD (and may be Touch Pro). I really need a good argument for the keyboard question because I will need it quite regularly for emails. On the other hand, the Touch HD beats the Xperia in many other aspects ...
What do you guys think or know about the software keyboard?
Eriol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
at the moment no one has the HD so noone can comment on this. biut irecommend that you go to youtube and look at some tests there. you can see how the keyboard looks and compare it to the diamond videos

Raziel1 said:
at the moment no one has the HD so noone can comment on this. biut irecommend that you go to youtube and look at some tests there. you can see how the keyboard looks and compare it to the diamond videos
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this answer, well, I watched every and all videos about the HD on Youttube and other sites and in all avaliable languages (...). But I did not see any video that shows the soft keyboard in use (and esp. in landscape mode). All reviews I have seen stress the multimedia contents and the TouchFlo3D. For day-to-day business use, the keyboard is quite important, though. And I expect that there can be a quite useful soft keyboard implementation with such a big screen.
(BTW: Reading this forum, there are a lot of comments that make me think that the one or other must have seen the HD before posting comments! Some know many details that they can only know after having hands on the Touch HD!)
Eriol

Eriol said:
Thanks for this answer, well, I watched every and all videos about the HD on Youttube and other sites and in all avaliable languages (...). But I did not see any video that shows the soft keyboard in use (and esp. in landscape mode). All reviews I have seen stress the multimedia contents and the TouchFlo3D. For day-to-day business use, the keyboard is quite important, though. And I expect that there can be a quite useful soft keyboard implementation with such a big screen.
(BTW: Reading this forum, there are a lot of comments that make me think that the one or other must have seen the HD before posting comments! Some know many details that they can only know after having hands on the Touch HD!)
Eriol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't think so. all the details are out there since weeks. full hardware specs and all the features. there are many videos which show the keyboard and explain it a bit. but as it is the same as on the diamond or touch pro, theres no real change. i hope that you know that you can't use the keyboard in landscape mode. only if you install Gsen or Gyrator or how it's called.

Raziel1 said:
... i hope that you know that you can't use the keyboard in landscape mode. only if you install Gsen or Gyrator or how it's called.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heck, no - I did not know that. I have a HTC Wizard at the moment running on WM6 and I surely can use the software keyboard in landscape mode with it (this also worked with WM5)! (Even though I do not use it because the Wizard has a hardware kbrd in landscape mode ...)
Why did they change this???
Eriol

Eriol said:
Heck, no - I did not know that. I have a HTC Wizard at the moment running on WM6 and I surely can use the software keyboard in landscape mode with it (this also worked with WM5)! (Even though I do not use it because the Wizard has a hardware kbrd in landscape mode ...)
Why did they change this???
Eriol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that was also in the diamond or pro. switching to landscape mode by using the g-sensor is only possible in opera and when viewing pictures. it should be possible to do it manually in windows, so what i ment was switching by using the sensor in touchflo3d. the good news is, that there are apps out like Gsen which activate full rotation in any app and window

Raziel1 said:
that was also in the diamond or pro. switching to landscape mode by using the g-sensor is only possible in opera and when viewing pictures. it should be possible to do it manually in windows, so what i ment was switching by using the sensor in touchflo3d. the good news is, that there are apps out like Gsen which activate full rotation in any app and window
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, understand ... so, installing Gsen and probably using a bluetooth keyboard if neccessary will make this device a good business solution (lack of TV-Out is not an issues to me as my experience is that in case of a presentation there will always be someone with a notebook around).
Eriol

Some specs show that there is a TV out. Far more impressive doing a presentation using your PDA though. I realy think that a software and a protable Stowaway keyboard is the way to go.
Calli

Got my Xperia. Phone is awesome, Panels are pathetic

Got my Xperia on Friday. I am amazed, it is easily the best hardware on Winmo. I have a Touch Pro also and have had every other previous decent windows mobile phone you can shake a stick at.
First thoughts.
It is great to get away from Touchflo as I didnt really like that but I am sorry, SE your panels are sh/*e up to now and are not fit for purpose. Unlike some commentators I think the concept is great but it is so buggy it is unbelievable. On certain panels once you open them you got a desktop that has delays of 30 seconds to a minute when you click on items. How can something like that leave the factory.
However, if you steer clear of the panels (or at least a couple of them) the hardware is truly amazing and really sleek. Way better than the sloppy touch pro. It feels like it is made of metal (it is of course), the screen is fantastic.
The keyboard is not as good as the one on the touch pro but it is only slightly different and I am quickly adjusting to it.
I have to say that I am delighted with it (bar the panels) but I reckon there is more to come once they release some updates (or someone else does a rom for it).
Has anyone else got problems with the panels like this?
My two worst ones are the silver home screen which goes really slow and the multimedia one that freezes altogether.

stuartforrest said:
Got my Xperia on Friday. I am amazed, it is easily the best hardware on Winmo. I have a Touch Pro also and have had every other previous decent windows mobile phone you can shake a stick at.
First thoughts.
It is great to get away from Touchflo as I didnt really like that but I am sorry, SE your panels are sh/*e up to now and are not fit for purpose. Unlike some commentators I think the concept is great but it is so buggy it is unbelievable. On certain panels once you open them you got a desktop that has delays of 30 seconds to a minute when you click on items. How can something like that leave the factory.
However, if you steer clear of the panels (or at least a couple of them) the hardware is truly amazing and really sleek. Way better than the sloppy touch pro. It feels like it is made of metal (it is of course), the screen is fantastic.
The keyboard is not as good as the one on the touch pro but it is only slightly different and I am quickly adjusting to it.
I have to say that I am delighted with it (bar the panels) but I reckon there is more to come once they release some updates (or someone else does a rom for it).
Has anyone else got problems with the panels like this?
My two worst ones are the silver home screen which goes really slow and the multimedia one that freezes altogether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The multimedia panel works nice for me without hickups, but Sony Ericsson Panel 1 and 2 are slow and unusable. But I don´t use the panels often, the phone is so nice even without the panel concept

Hi stuartforrest.
I ve one question for you. . Most of the Touch Pro users (included me) suffer of GPS lag (Not time to fix but arrow 3 or 4 seconds behind you). Could you tell us your experience with Xperia and GPS lag issue?
Thanks
Dani

danielherrero said:
Hi stuartforrest.
I ve one question for you. . Most of the Touch Pro users (included me) suffer of GPS lag (Not time to fix but arrow 3 or 4 seconds behind you). Could you tell us your experience with Xperia and GPS lag issue?
Thanks
Dani
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is already discussed here.
Please do not comment on the GPS in this thread otherwise the information gets lost.

Sorry. As you can see I asked in that thread too and only one answer and the owner hadnt a touch Pro so he couldnt compare. I wanted to know the opinion of a user who owned both phones. I dont really think my question is out of topic

why do you think the keyboard is better on the touch pro?
looks like the xperia would be easier to use with the spacing between keys which should them easier to miss. though it is lacking the extra row. do you find the loss of that row worth the added benefit of smaller size and better accuracy?
i have no idea since i have neither of the phones yet.

I suggest trying the Spb Mobile Shell panel.
I like it.
Working to get a proper install of TCPMP with decent plugins to play all media.
Currently flac, wmv, 3gp and avi, all play decently.
mp4 on the other hand does not.
Luckily the built-in WMP plays mp4 just fine.

I have been using my Xperia X1 for over two weeks now and I have to agree with stuartforrest, the panel function sucks. It is a really useless function.
easycure1974 said:
The multimedia panel works nice for me without hickups, but Sony Ericsson Panel 1 and 2 are slow and unusable. But I don´t use the panels often, the phone is so nice even without the panel concept
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, try this...
Say you want to listen to some music, start the multimedia panel and start playing the music that you want. Then why not look up the artist on google, lets go to the google panel. Press the X panel button, what the .... the music stops. So with the panels you can only do one thing at the time.
It is much more practical to use Spb Mobile Shell, I only miss a quick way to turn WLAN on and off.
Why do people call this phone Sony xperia X1 on this forum when the real name is Sony Ericsson Xperia X1? I would say that the "Ericsson part" has the biggest influence on design and development so I would rather call it Ericsson Xperia X1 then Sony Xperia X1.

SCtud said:
why do you think the keyboard is better on the touch pro?
looks like the xperia would be easier to use with the spacing between keys which should them easier to miss. though it is lacking the extra row. do you find the loss of that row worth the added benefit of smaller size and better accuracy?
i have no idea since i have neither of the phones yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try to explain..
The keyboard on Xperia is not good. The buttons are small and difficult to feel and when pressed the respons is bad. So typing is difficult, but I'm getting better on it every day..
My pevious phone was the Hermes whitch has a much better keyboard with larger keys.

Press the X panel button, what the .... the music stops. So with the panels you can only do one thing at the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed that too since the previews, that sucks so badly; but the important question is, will it also stop if you're using 3rd party music player like coreplayer? if so then it IS BEYOND HORRIBLE!

are you able to turn off the panels? like you can shut off touchflo? i'd rather use my mobile without easier, i think...
eric b

According to SE is it not possible to turn panels off.

No it is prefectly viable to use all third party software. In fact I would say it is much easier to do this than on the Touch Pro or Diamond where you have to get inot hacking touch flo 3d to launch a different calendar app etc.
The SE Xperia X1 is easily the best piece of hardware ever on WinMo. Why HTC didnt make their own device as good as they made this third party one I dont know.
The keyboard is not as brilliant as the T/Pro but it is still damn good and you do get more used to it.
I just need to learn how to reprogam the utterly sh*+e panels button to launch SPB mobile shell and I will be happy.

SO,How is XpErIa?

After using the device for last two weeks now i want to think does it really made us happy,if it's then how much? Haven't you guys think for a single moment that it is not worthy. Is there any real competitor or better out there?

i was actually skeptical in the beginning, but the more i use it the happier i get with it.

aaahhhhh................ I love this phone. i bought it this afternoon. i think te best thing about this phone is the 3,5inch jackplug (my last phone was a hermes with an mini usb audio plug GGGRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr!!! for 4 times i had to buy a new converter cable because of the crapy quality.)
For a phone with a qwerty keyboard it a pretty slim phone, not?
simply love this one!

i like it.
and i dont..
there are a lot of things that i would have like to see a bit different.
the software things i can change with time
not the hardware, so gues i have to get used to that.

boinger66 said:
i was actually skeptical in the beginning, but the more i use it the happier i get with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True
Very very happy...

anheuer said:
i like it.
and i dont..
there are a lot of things that i would have like to see a bit different.
the software things i can change with time
not the hardware, so gues i have to get used to that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also own a Diamond and a X1 - I thought the SE would be an great evolution from the Diamond.
The Diamond was the revolution - a great phone. The SE is not really great in any way, however it's - quite good in everything.

I originally upgraded to the C905 but decided to changed it for the X1. So glad that I did as I'm loving it. Had it for 2 weeks now and I'm still finding out new things about it. It's my first WinMob phone so there's so much more you can do with it. Can't wait for more apps to be released and a system upgrade would be nice.

I'm even happier now i've given up on trying to use the TouchFlo CAB's.
I think if you embrace the phone interface as it was intended you'll get much more enjoyment from it.

x1 + tflo3d rulez... quick phone, quick gps, good wifi, hw keyboard needs only some time to get comfortable... I'm very happy

It's great, just... great
I had an Iphone 3G before so even if the screen is more little, the WVGA is great.
The battery is good, the keyboard is nice and at last I can use Real VNC or Remote Desktop to access my servers without a laptop and with a decent resolution.
And of course, it's fast.
There are still some problems (wifi password lost, BT disconnecting) but I guess it can be solved by an updated firmware.
But in the end, I just like it

The Xperia is my 4th. HTC device and the 2nd that I am happy with. The first was a Palm Treo 750W.
The other 2 HTC branded devices I have owned (touch Dual & Touch Diamond) were junk with poor support for any technical issues from HTC.
It appears to me that the major handest manufacturers like Palm & Sony who OEM thru HTC, actually specify, test and produce a much more professional product.
I certainly will never buy another HTC branded product again

The only gripe I have with it is the crappy signal, but that should be amended with a radio upgrade.

From a total package perspective, the X1 is a very good smartphone.
Sure there are some areas that needs more work, but they are not fatal and do not detract from the overall high quality of the device. It is well designed and well built, and the specifications are about one of the best in the market right now.
I am very happy with my X1, and is one of the better buys that I've made over the past year or so.

I'm not too happy with the panels. They are so slow and they are not even real representations of the screen. My appointments are all default made up ones and it takes like 5 seconds just to change from the fake panel to the real one. Panels don't even remember where you were in the panel which is retarded. For instances if I am on the main today screen of the SPB panel and i leave the panel and go back it defaults back to the programs page. There is not even a setting to make it always show the today page. Dumb. Also, there is no Start menu on the panels screen so I always have to select a panel just to select the start menu. STUPID.
Device is cool, but panels are not the reason. Who cares if I can move a bunch of fake panels around the screen in different ways if they are not even real representations of the screens just look the same all the time? Also, screen orientation does not change anywhere near instantly. Sure, faster then my old qtek 9100, but still not instant and has plenty of delays for some strange reason.

kiwiandy said:
The Xperia is my 4th. HTC device and the 2nd that I am happy with. The first was a Palm Treo 750W.
The other 2 HTC branded devices I have owned (touch Dual & Touch Diamond) were junk with poor support for any technical issues from HTC.
It appears to me that the major handest manufacturers like Palm & Sony who OEM thru HTC, actually specify, test and produce a much more professional product.
I certainly will never buy another HTC branded product again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This I agree with you regarding the poor support of HTC even in Singapore. Before using the X1, I have tried out Diamond which is my first WM device and after Touch Pro launch, I switch to Touch Pro due to the lack of memory and laggy of the Diamond.
Touch Pro is a little better than Diamond as both are also using Touch Flo 3D and Touch Pro has little memory more than Diamond.
I have no regrets switching to X1 as it is a lot faster and responsive than HTC device as SE has a better after sales support in terms of service centre and phone support compared to HTC.
I don't think I will ever buy any HTC product in future too cos after sales support is important to me as there are no product which is perfect and problem free in this world.

contaygious said:
I'm not too happy with the panels. They are so slow and they are not even real representations of the screen. My appointments are all default made up ones and it takes like 5 seconds just to change from the fake panel to the real one. Panels don't even remember where you were in the panel which is retarded. For instances if I am on the main today screen of the SPB panel and i leave the panel and go back it defaults back to the programs page. There is not even a setting to make it always show the today page. Dumb. Also, there is no Start menu on the panels screen so I always have to select a panel just to select the start menu. STUPID.
Device is cool, but panels are not the reason. Who cares if I can move a bunch of fake panels around the screen in different ways if they are not even real representations of the screens just look the same all the time? Also, screen orientation does not change anywhere near instantly. Sure, faster then my old qtek 9100, but still not instant and has plenty of delays for some strange reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dude you have failed to internalise the purpose of panels. It's a desktop profile based on the time of the day. You don't switch panels like you switch windows!
before you call the concept stupid, understand it first. Using it for wrong purpose is like buying a 2 door sports car for cargo delivery purpose and claim the car manufacturer stupid for designing the car that don't meet your needs!

I miss something between "very very happy" and "just about OK".
It's better that "just about OK", but it's not perfect.
I love the small overall size, the stylisch metal cover, the keyboard, the good standby time, the good performance, the big memory, the hi-res display, ...
But then again, the panels aren't that great, I miss some application buttons, the soft reset button location is plain stupid, the screen resolution causes troubles with some programs, the screen size is only just big enough, I miss an option to disable the optical DPad per application (it's great in many apps, but esp. in some games, it really sucks...), ... Mostly only minor things, but stopping me from being "very very happy"...

i m proud of using xperia

akechi84 said:
i m proud of using xperia
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Me too, it is so sexy and light compared to my previous Touch Pro, just like bringing out a BRICK.

contaygious said:
They are so slow and they are not even real representations of the screen.
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The "screenshots" in the panel selection screen are only rough examples. They're really only something like "improved icons" for selection, and do not represent the actual contents.
Panels don't even remember where you were in the panel which is retarded.
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The device does remember the last panel, if that's what you mean. Just press the red phone button to go back to that.
Though I admit it would've been a way better idea to return to the last panel with the panel button and then open the panel selection with another press of the button. Or even better, show the next panel after a short press and show the selection with a long press.
For instances if I am on the main today screen of the SPB panel and i leave the panel and go back it defaults back to the programs page.
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That's probably up to the panel itself. If SPB doesn't save the last panel contents, you can't blame the panel concept. For example, the SE panels do remember the selected blocks. But I think SPB wanted it that way, just like the Now screen in "normal" Mobile Shell always initializes with the same contents.
Device is cool, but panels are not the reason.
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Agreed, but not (only) because of the reasons you named.
I think panels are more or less an unnecessary reprogramming of the Today screen (esp. the SE panel "blocks" would have made great plugins...).
With good plugins and a way to have more plugins than just the currently visible ones (e.g. with UltimateLaunch, PocketPlus, some SBSH plugins, ...), you get similar results way faster, more easy to handle, and using less system resources. OK, no nice 3D animations, but except for showing off they've got no use there, anyway...
Who cares if I can move a bunch of fake panels around the screen in different ways if they are not even real representations of the screens just look the same all the time?
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As said, it's more like shuffling around hi-res icons...
Also, screen orientation does not change anywhere near instantly.
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Usually, it takes not even a second on my device.

Newbie-HTC Mini-Can I go for it..Pls help?

Hi guys,
SO glad tat I was able to find up this forum...I have a SE walkman series phone for the past 4 yrs and feel its time to change to some touch screen mobile. I have zilch knowledge abt smartphones and wat ever i know r based frm my 2 days of browsing this forum.
My issues are
1)Basically am not appl freak and want my phone to stand out from others..Does mini fit the bill..?that is I want a phone with touchscreen,decent cam, very good multimedia playback capacity,something sleek...and thats how I zeroed in on HTC Mini..
but after reading this forum., got 2 know tat not much appl's r developed for Mini becos of the screen size..(Is tat right..?)..
SO, after some point of time, after launch of Win 7 mob, will the case be like HTC Mini left alone..? I am investing close to 480$(Indian money) and want to find out that does HTC mini really have some shortcomings applications wise or is it enough for a normal user..?there r no smartphones among my friends...
2) we do not still have 3G networks here in India, but expected in 1-2 yrs..IS MINI WORTH SPENDING TAT AMOUNT (480$=24000 Indian rupees) wihtout 3G? Or can I go for low-end models like Nokia 5800 or HTC touch.. and jump the 3G ship wen it comes later?
Again, i am asking too many questions, but pls guide me...
THANKS..........

HD mini, regarding my point of view, a very nice device with a lot of preinstalled very nice apps.
The resolution is effectively a bit strange in Windows mobile environment, but it was the same and even worst when I purchased my Diamond with VGA screen.
Regarding applications, most of them work. Some qvga ones do not fit on the screen, it remains two black bands on top and bottom of the screen because of aspect ratio. But the applications, even a lot of high graphic games run well (secret of Da Vinci, return to mysterious island,...), even emulators such ScummVM.
I found a lot of chess games (majestic, Kasparov,..) they run really fine. I nevertheless had some difficult to find a good Sudoku, “Panoramic ultimate Sudoku” works very fine but it do not have problem solving mode.
In brief, screen resolution is not really an issue, but if you want to play some specific games such Play station emulator or other resource consuming games. In this case, HD2 should be a better choice.
You could also consider other OS such Android. For me there are not an option, because I live in a small town without 3G and downloading and syncing via phone line costs an arm and a leg. With winmo, I can natively upload all the things trough my PC, and it is just fine.

Each customer has different taste, that's why there are hundred of million of different phones out there. But from my personal point of view and for my needs, the Mini is just perfect for me.
Any other smartphone looks like a damn brick next to it, so yeah, it does stand out from others.
About the apps, I was worried about them, but for some reason all the apps I need work without a single problem in the Mini. iGo 8, MSS Converter, ClearTemp, Opera Mobile 10, Skype, Dictionary, TCPMP, Shazam Music, BSB Tweaks, JWMD IconChanger, PocketRAR, Midomi...
Personally I don't give a sh!t about Windows Phone 7, since it's gonna be more "phone like", while WM 6.5 is like having a small Pentium III in your pocket and that's why I like it.

Thanks a lot moscard and NitroNitrous. Positive comments do matter a lot for me..since its a one-time big "investment" for me.
I know its upto me to decide but just want to be well informed and do not want to be over excited.....also wat do you guys think abt the multimedia handling of the phone..does the processor seem dragged in case of heavy multimedia usage..? I would want to listen mp3's, check out tracks in radio and video songs..tat's it......

I do not think so, regarding my old Diamond, the HD mini is way ahead in performance. It is very responsive for all the daily tasks including photo, video, music, multi-media and so on. I use a Bluetooth headset and it connects almost immediately against the 10s used by my old Diamond.
Internet and remote desktop that I use often are simply wow. Do not worry about that. Some leaks, but nothing dramatic: Led flashing is less visible than on Diamond, there is no native voice tag for contacts, there is no native close or ok button especially for office applications. Nevertheless it is a lot nicer with real glass screen and crisp colours.
Another thing that annoying me a little bit regarding HD2, there is no electronic compass. This would be really usefull in hiking using navigators or google map.

I watch a movie almost every night in DVD quality and it handles it with no problem. Besides, with TCPMP player it can reproduce almost any video format. As for the music you just need a proper player like PocketPlayer 4, which is the one I use. It has everything you can ask for a music player. I have around 300 songs in the playlist and scrolling the list with the finger is always smooth.
There are some bad points also, but nothing new for someone who has used WM before and is not hard to get used to them.