[REQ] Better WM Search App? - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

Has anyone ever developed a better search program?
The one that ships with WM is crap in my opinion, takes forever, outdated (whats that nonsense about big files over 64k???) and is unreliable.
I used to have a Palm Treo and the Search function was both lightening fast and accurate, able to search the entire memory for anything. Thats what we need for Windows Mobile.
Anyone?

Related

Launcher Idea: Launcher from Treo 500v

does anyone have the launcher application from the new Treo 500v? or is it possible to extract it from the smartphone (WM6 - standard - non-touchscreen) then make it usable on our WM6 PPCs?
it looks uber cool and the category groups looks intuitive and easy to navigate.. and it's organized and looks neat..
i like the way that the favorite contacts is also integrated in the launcher and the recent programs used and running applications also have their own group..
here's a video of the treo 500v launcher
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/16/treo-500v-sports-a-revamped-windows-mobile-interface/
OR
can anyone make a similar carousel/ribonized app launcher like that of the Treo 500v?
with the ability to customize the categories/groups and its contents? and also icons..
Anyone?
...bump...
Anyone had a chance to look at this? Maybe strip it out of a Treo 500v and see if its compatible with other devices?
don't bother with the launcher... slow slow and cripples the phone
I have the Treo 500v and am not impressed by the improvements Vodafone/Palm have made through the launcher.
It may look cool, but in operation, it's slow and takes to long to get to what you need.. it also seems to have disabled any way of configuring the button on the side for quick access to apps like outlook..
If I could strip off the launcher and give it to someone I'd be happy.. otherwise it's back to my trusty old Blackberry which means I'm crippled on the calendar front wirelessly, but can at least navigate to the apps I want quickly.
I'd like to test it...
It could work better in our ppc then the smartphone version.....

this new phone?

I have had the phone for a day now. Loaded up agenda and discovered that it fights touch flow. Searched the forums for a solution. I now cannot run touch flo at all. This is really good.Touch flo sucks. Its slow, its quite ugly and it doesn,t make life quicker. We must be able to do better than this. Microsoft cant seem to and htc have given it a go.
When you use an iphone, yes i still rather have a pocket pc, you must agree that of the mark it is a nice experience plus its easy to load new software.
So whats the best front end. Its got to look nice. Easy to use. Big icons for this great screen and easy to customise to load programs.
I am not impressed so far with spb as it just seems to busy. But i do like the way it shows appointments etc. So suggestions. You name them i'll install them and by the time they have corrupted my system I will install a cooked rom, hopefully by then I will find one with easy operator setup(ORANGE).

Java JVM on HD2?

I have an HD2 (TMO USA) ordered, should come in a day or two.
Does the HD2 come with a JVM for running Java midlet (J2ME) applets?
If so, what kind is it? Any good, or better to use one of the hacked Jbeds that are available on this site?
What would I use with it? Probably mainly the Gmail java applet? Although one can access Gmail through a browser, or via Imap and the WM mail application, I have always found the Gmail java applet to be a handy way to access mail.
I used to use Opera Mini through java, not sure how useful that is now. For one thing, there is a WM version of Opera Mini 5, not needing java. Also, Opera Mobile is now very similar to Opera Mini, a version comes with the HD2, and one can download a newer version, and it is free. (Or--do any readers still find it useful to use java opera mini, on a wm phone?)
In any case, does a jvm come with the HD2? Any good? If people prefer using a different jvm (than what comes with it), which do you recommend?
The HD2 does indeed ship with a Java Virtual Machine...but in my opinion it is not a very good one. It's an official Sun Microsystems JVM, and I personally have always hated the ones made by Sun. I use an older Esmertec JBED one that I found here in the Wizard forums from back in 2006, and it works pretty well.
Again, in my opinion, Opera Mini is kinda useless seeing as Opera 9 works soooo well on the HD2. The speed between the two is about the same to me over 3G, though over EDGE Opera Mini is a bit faster because of it's server side rendering.
The only problem with the older JVM's that you find, is that they are made for devices with much smaller resolutions than the HD2, so the text and buttons are miniscule. So thats another thing to keep in mind.
Overall, I would just stick with the included Opera 9, and don't upgrade to 10 if you wan't to keep pinch to zoom as it is not supported as of yet, and if you REALLY need to use the JVM version of Gmail, just use the included JVM. I hope that helps!
Thanks, Ashasaur.
One nice thing about some of the Jbeds--the ability to create a shortcut in WM that will open up the applet directly (such as Gmail), without having to open up the java app first.
Also, with some of the jbeds, it is possible to hack it, so one doesn't get those damn permission questions about whether it is allowed to access the internet, etc.
Can the built-in JVM do those things?
As far as I can tell, no and no. I cannot make the built in JVM create out of program shortcuts, but there is a freeware application on the WM Marketplace to do just that that I use everyday. And no, I cannot make the permission messages go away either.
ashasaur said:
As far as I can tell, no and no. I cannot make the built in JVM create out of program shortcuts, but there is a freeware application on the WM Marketplace to do just that that I use everyday. And no, I cannot make the permission messages go away either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean a freeware app especially to go with that Sun JVM, and create shortcuts for its apps? What is it called?
No no, its a freeware app to work with ANY Java VM, including the built in Sun one. Its on the WM Marketplace, and its called JavaShortcut. Just like that, no space.
me, just FYI I've never been able to get any of the g-mail applets to work on the built-in JVM, so you'll at least need to try an alternative one, although I suspect that even that might not get it working on this phone.
Upgraded to HD2 from TP2 four days ago, really impressed with the speed, and do miss the hardware keyboard!
My 2 cents: it's easy to set up gmail with the built-in email client but I do lose the ability to search emails (somebody enlighten me!). I have tried using the java gmail app with built-in Sun jvm but no luck, gmail app won't even open.
As for browser, Opera mini is still my favorite. For 1 I have been using it for so long and really enjoyed the speed (and knows how to avoid all the pitfalls!). For 2 I don't have to clean cache as no cache files are stored on my phone!
But when it comes to anything requires a password, I switch to opera mobile. The auto-rotating is kinda annoying when browsing in bed
ashasaur said:
The HD2 does indeed ship with a Java Virtual Machine...but in my opinion it is not a very good one. It's an official Sun Microsystems JVM, and I personally have always hated the ones made by Sun. I use an older Esmertec JBED one that I found here in the Wizard forums from back in 2006, and it works pretty well.
Again, in my opinion, Opera Mini is kinda useless seeing as Opera 9 works soooo well on the HD2. The speed between the two is about the same to me over 3G, though over EDGE Opera Mini is a bit faster because of it's server side rendering.
The only problem with the older JVM's that you find, is that they are made for devices with much smaller resolutions than the HD2, so the text and buttons are miniscule. So thats another thing to keep in mind.
Overall, I would just stick with the included Opera 9, and don't upgrade to 10 if you wan't to keep pinch to zoom as it is not supported as of yet, and if you REALLY need to use the JVM version of Gmail, just use the included JVM. I hope that helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I wrote, there is now a direct WM version of Opera Mini 5, so a jvm is not necessary for that. And it is different from Opera Mobile. It starts up much faster, for instance. The other option is the new Opera Mobile, v 10. Three different Operas one can use.)
By the way, pinch to zoom can be added to practically any app, with tweak apps such as BSBTweaks. I don't really find pinch to zoom to be such a great feature though. Easier to use the zoom scroll bar.
Regarding using the Gmail midlet with the included JVM--there is a problem with that! (See other thread.)
ashasaur said:
As far as I can tell, no and no. I cannot make the built in JVM create out of program shortcuts, but there is a freeware application on the WM Marketplace to do just that that I use everyday. And no, I cannot make the permission messages go away either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're wrong on the permission messages. Highlight an applet in the jvm, choose permission settings, and you can choose for it only to ask permission the first time, never again.
One other nice thing about the Sun JVM included on the HD2--you can choose to install the midlet apps in either main memory or storage card.
The ability to go directly to the midlet app, without having to go through the jvm interface first, is important, a nice feature that one can tweak with many of the esmertec jbeds. If one can do that with this Sun JVM, using that freeware app you speak of, then this Sun JVM is looking pretty good,
Except--that so far I can't get the Gmail midlet to work with it at all!
Well, I would still like to know what JVMs people have found to work well with the HD2. Once again, I have the T-Mobile USA model, with the stock ROM (not the newest one, but the older one that came on it). (I haven't had time to flash to the new one and reinstall and reconfigure everything yet..)
I cannot get the built-in Sun JVM to work with anything involving the Internet. (By the way, has that been improved with the newer stock ROM?)
I use one of the Esmertec JBeds from here (XDA developers) for the Gmail app. It works, but not all the time. It doe not work for composing messages, as the text ends up too small and unreadable.
So, I usually use the built-in mail client. However, I like that Gmail app better, if I could find a good JVM for it to work on. (Sure wish they had a WM client!)
Opera Mini does have a WM cient now, for OM 5.1. I use that, works good. However, now there are two new Opera Minis--6.1, and 4.3. I would like to try them. Neither come with a WM client though, so one has to use java. The question again then-which JVM to use?
Also, with Skyfire no longer running on Windows Mobile, one of the only mobile browsers that can play flash video is the Bolt Browser. That also is a Java-only browser requiring a JVM.
What JVMs have folks found to run good on the HD2? (And please tell me if the built-in one has been improved in the newest TMO stock ROM?)
me said:
Well, I would still like to know what JVMs people have found to work well with the HD2. Once again, I have the T-Mobile USA model, with the stock ROM (not the newest one, but the older one that came on it). (I haven't had time to flash to the new one and reinstall and reconfigure everything yet..)
I cannot get the built-in Sun JVM to work with anything involving the Internet. (By the way, has that been improved with the newer stock ROM?)
I use one of the Esmertec JBeds from here (XDA developers) for the Gmail app. It works, but not all the time. It doe not work for composing messages, as the text ends up too small and unreadable.
So, I usually use the built-in mail client. However, I like that Gmail app better, if I could find a good JVM for it to work on. (Sure wish they had a WM client!)
Opera Mini does have a WM cient now, for OM 5.1. I use that, works good. However, now there are two new Opera Minis--6.1, and 4.3. I would like to try them. Neither come with a WM client though, so one has to use java. The question again then-which JVM to use?
Also, with Skyfire no longer running on Windows Mobile, one of the only mobile browsers that can play flash video is the Bolt Browser. That also is a Java-only browser requiring a JVM.
What JVMs have folks found to run good on the HD2? (And please tell me if the built-in one has been improved in the newest TMO stock ROM?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check this browser out and see what you think about it.
http://www.uzard.com/en/main/main.asp

Galaxy S + Android - The missing features

Hello everyone,
I just moved from a Samsung Omnia II (WinMo 6.5) to the Galaxy S (Android).
Well, I'm really in love with this device. Android reminds me the good old Palm days but on steroids . I believe it took me too long to move away from Windows Mobile.
But, as any OS newbie I'm missing some features. Instead of writing them down I thought it would be better to post them here. This way I might get some help but I'll also update my solutions so other freshmen will have a reference.
Here it goes:
1) Usb webcam - (something like WebCamera Plus from WM)*
* it seems hard to find usb apps for Android. Everything is either web or wifi based.
[PARTIALLY SOLVED] - Using Placaware USB Webcam . Video is working on several PC apps (e.g. Skype) but no audio. And the development is "frozen".
2) Driver Free Bluetooth presenter - I've found many on the market but they all rely on driver installation. I can't understand since windows has a BT protocol for that by default.
3) Pdf Printer - (something like FluidPDF VPrint for WM)
4) Good/Fast Encrypt Tool - like FreeOTFE4PDA on WM or TrueCrypt in Windows
[SOLVED] - Or at least partially solved using GP Pro (thanks to Android Market)
5) HP12C Emulator - can only find HP48.
6) Fax send/receive solution - like KSE Software Truefax Phone Edition in WM (believe me, some people still send/receive faxes
7) Metro Maps - like MetrO for WM
[SOLVED] - Using aMetro (thanks to spyrale at post #7)
8) USB auto file sync solution - like MobSync in WM
9) IE Favorites syncing - used to sync the WM and PC directories using MobSync
10) USB Device controller - like MyMobiler for WM. Again I can only find wifi solutions.
11) Top Explorer solution - like Resco Explorer in WM. I've been using Astro and Root Explorer but was hoping for a one single app that does the full job.
12) Skype type solution - what going on with these guys? Are they out of their minds thinking that people will buy an specific device just because it has skype on it? I've got the Skype beta for Android but I can't get a dial pad on it????
[SOLVED] - Using Nimbuzz (thanks to Kalikot at post #2)
13) Full Backup Solution - like Spb Backup in WM -Perhaps Titanium Backup does the job but I haven't figured ou how to use it (still learning)
14) Good Travel Management App - like Spb Traveler - I know I know... search in the Market - I have done it but the search function in the Market is kinda poor don't you agree?
15) Palm Emulator - like StyleTap on WM - Am I asking too much?
Themes and Customization - I've been trying to have a full black solution. I've been using LauncherPro + Folder Organizer and it's 90% done. I'll post some screen caps in the next days.
16) The only missing feature is a black notification area.
[SOLVED] Of course the solutiong was right here at xda (thanks to MacaronyMax.)
Edited 11/Oct
17) Video Editor - can't believe it doesn't come out of the box (maybe on Android 3.0 )
18) Better Search - the search function in Android doesn't lookup on all contact fields. Sometimes I want to search by a company name (like my car's dealer) and it won't find. WM had the same problem and it was slow. With Android the search is fast but only on name fields. That's a feature I miss since the good old Palm days.
[SOLVED] Using Power Search (thanks to Android Market)
Well, I'll keep this post up to date. Or will try my best since I've got a 9 months cutie at home
I dont know about the others but the best Skype solution atm is Nimbuzz which also has its own VOIP service. It has a delay during calls but there arent any other better options other than the complicated SIP routing.
Titanium Backup does its job even if you move from other custom roms or other firmware. Its wonderful and its worth the price for the additional batch backup/restore options
Hi... I moved from a Samsung Omnia i910 withWM 6.1pro.
The BIGGEST thing I miss from wm over android 2.1 eclair (I have not flashed any unofficial 2.2 roms) is something as simple as installing apps to the external sd card.
I know some apps on wm 6.1 were forced to install directly to the phone memory but with MOST apps you had the option to place on the external card to save ROM space.
It suprises me that such a sophisticated device as the SGS and such a powerful OS such is Android did not come out of the box this way.
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
yiannisthegreek said:
Hi... I moved from a Samsung Omnia i910 withWM 6.1pro.
The BIGGEST thing I miss from wm over android 2.1 eclair (I have not flashed any unofficial 2.2 roms) is something as simple as installing apps to the external sd card.
I know some apps on wm 6.1 were forced to install directly to the phone memory but with MOST apps you had the option to place on the external card to save ROM space.
It suprises me that such a sophisticated device as the SGS and such a powerful OS such is Android did not come out of the box this way.
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Blame google and android pre2.1 , Froyo is said to be able to install to SD but frankly I've yet had need. Also what do you expect? Winmo has been out for what, 10 years or more? Android has only really started to take hold in last 3 years.
Post #1 Edited - two missing features solved and two more added.
unless there are others come from the sam Winmo background, else you need to provide the explanation of each WinMo apps
for metro maps have you tried aMetro?
for backup i use myBackupPro, simpler than titanium backup..
Boy I'm really enjoying Android. It's fast and clean like the good old Palm and still has all the capabilities of Windows Mobile.
I've been a handheld user since the very first Palm Professional and so far I've had only three killing devices:
1) Palm Professional - the good old one (still at home as a remote control hehe)
2) Palm Treo - I still miss the fun with that keyboard.
3) Samsung Galaxy "S" - loving it all the way. Android, great screen, swype etc etc....
One more Solved. USB Webcam (check post #1).

Do you bother with Windows Mobile anymore?

I said I'd never go Android because it looked silly and geeky and now I'm addicted to it. I can't believe I put up with WinMo for all the years and didn't use another system. Android (Mostly HTC Sense style) destroys Windows Mobile and the only thing I still like about Windows Mobile is the Windows Live Messenger official client.
Anyone still use WinMo who also uses Android? Why do you? What are your reasons?
Garmin Mobile XT. There is no Garmin GPS software on Android (and I have many Garmin maps)
4 days ago i installed andorid just to use 1 application. ONE!!!!
and today i just use winmo for 1 application only (garmin). ONE!!!!
and my default boot now is android. i even turn airplane mode on in winmo so that i can't use winmo as phone anymore. now i use winmo just to copy data.img and the default connection is usb disk.
after i buy igo/papago/ndrive/whatever i'll stop using winmo altogether.
its a choice really there are lot of good things on winmo and same time lot of good apps in android.some of us can have dual boot.its just a choice.
I actually like both android and windows, if windows had a better market place I wouldn't bother with android, I love the simplicity of windows, the multitasking is by far better in windows, I can have lots of apps open and simply switch between them, android does this to a certain extent, htc sense is far superior in windows the slick weather animations are more detailed, sense on android seems a slightly basic affair, on windows I love the bbc news app much nicer to use than the android one, now facebook app works a treat on windows, my memory map navigator simply syncs with my pc maps and works better than any of the basic ordinance survey map apps on android, there are lots of bird/wildlife guides on windows, hardly any on android.
Alas android has many more games and a vast marketplace, and flash works straight out the box on android whereas its a little hit and miss on windows.
I can run windows and never use my 500mb per month data limit, with android I have to be so careful of what its downloading in the background constantly.
So yes I still like windows, androids ui almost feels a little mobile shell to me and I found that a widgety cluttery hodge podge
Whats windows mobile? lol
maybe winmo is dead..but its true,i dont want to completely change to android bcoz of garmin
I haven't booted to Win Mo since October (and I was a huge defender of the OS).
If I ever do need to boot back into it, it's because I have TomTom remaining on 6.5, but as I'm not driving currently then it's not likely to happen! Indeed I may well go to NAND in the next week.
I agree with the above post that Sense was slicker/more attactive on 6.5, but (except TomTom) there's not a single App that's missed or not excelled by it's Android alternative - and even if there is one, it's outweighed by the sheer number of quality Apps available on 'Droid.
But 6.5 was never a bad platform, just Microsoft completely screwed it with no MarketPlace and no UI, until HTC and Cookie showed how it could be done.
Overall the experience of Android is fantastic on the HD2, so for me, no looking back!
Same here...I never thought I'll leave WinMo for Android at the early stages but here we are today. I havent used Windows Mobile as a phone for nearly 4 months now and cant simply understand the vast user interactivity and experience between the two OSes. Android totally kills WinMo but I still go back to it just because of Tomtom which I must say is quite good. Once they get tomtom on Android, I'll most likely ditch WinMO for good.
same here. I always used winmo since 5.0. I couldn t believe that i ever use another OS, but WinMo is dead specially after releasing phone7. After a long time i finally installed android and i don t see a reason to change back. Oh maybe sync with Outlook?!? Oh no wait, outlook can t sync with phone7 Make a pptp vpn with 6.5 oh wait microsoft don t support it s own encrypton mppe )
If you ask me WinMo is dead...
I've installed android to give it another go (tried before on my blackstone and thought it was "meh" ) and to be prepaired for any clients who use it.
It's still meh to be honest, feels clunky, I've no idea if the back arrow is closing an app or leaving it paused in the background, web browsing doesn't work for some of the pages I visit (with link redirects) using either the built in browser or opera mobile, I hate that you can select hyperlinks without zooming in. The email client sucks. I'd check out gallery but I always give up after 5 minutes of it trying to load all the folders with images rather than taking me to a default location and then letting me decide which folder to look in. Album under WM is so much better.
Can't stand the keyboard, god knows why MS copied it for WP7. Having to go to a seperate overlay to get numbers? Come on that's crap. If I can hold a key down and get a row of alternate characters, why can't one of them be a number?
So far I use it mostly for kindle. I've got angry birds installed but prefer huff n puff on WM (just wish it had more levels).
Recently I've been using winmo for fpsece... its so much better and more customizable than psx4droid is. Sometimes I just prefer using winmo, too. I've been using it 8 years... i can do anything I can do on Android with winmo. But sometimes now I prefer Android, too. But my hd2 is perfect, cause I can have both. I just hope magldr gets support for winmo soon.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
As Android has been ported to the HD2 using the SDCard I started to test it, and I noticed that my Android HD2 was much more fast and smooth than using WM.
As soon as the NAND Android version was available, I flashed my HD2 with MAGLDR and installed Android, and I think I'll never rollback, maybe to test WM7 on HD2, but that's the only real reason that would make me rollback to WM.
Not used WinMo once since i first tried out an Android SD Rom in October, and just switched to a NAND build.
Used WinMo since i got my first XDA, an XDA Exec, but i sure wouldn't go back now
If only winmo had better native UI, more finger friendly, and more official support from the popular services (e.g. twitter, dropbox, better facebook app, whatsapp, etc). Then I'd still think winmo is a better and more professional os than android.
luffyp said:
If only winmo had better native UI, more finger friendly, and more official support from the popular services (e.g. twitter, dropbox, better facebook app, whatsapp, etc). Then I'd still think winmo is a better and more professional os than android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried SPB mobile shell? Give the free trial a go then look up version 5 and try not to drool and shake your fists in frustration that it's not available to consumers yet
hachuah said:
Garmin Mobile XT. There is no Garmin GPS software on Android (and I have many Garmin maps)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This!
I'd feel much safer out in the boondocks with Garmin than I do with Copilot. I tried looking up directions to a golf course once and it wasn't in Copilot - the course has been open more than 10 years!
Even though I've gone full nand android, I certainly wouldn't mind if I could giving up say 50-75mb of nand space for a slim winmo 6.5 dual boot.
xaccers said:
Have you tried SPB mobile shell? Give the free trial a go then look up version 5 and try not to drool and shake your fists in frustration that it's not available to consumers yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I tried it and have used it on my MDA, Wing, Omnia I900 and even have it installed and running on my HD2. However, SPB has been saying since October 2010 that it will be supporting Android soon. Well here it is, Jan 2011 and soon apparently is still not here. LOL
So, what is the point of 'drooling' at something that is not there. SPB demonstrated V5 back in Feb 2010. One more month and its been 1 YEAR.
I use Android on my HD2 and would not go back to WM regardless of version and whatever SPB has or will have. Their support is non-existant.
I use LauncherPro Plus and it far exceeds SPB Mobile Shell.
hachuah said:
Garmin Mobile XT. There is no Garmin GPS software on Android (and I have many Garmin maps)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 same reason for me, IGo or Sygic maps are far from being as good or up to date, copilot map doesn t even exist where i live. I switch to winmo when i take the car to use garmin.
Also i miss a few dictionaries not yet available in Android. And here with edge available only , online dictionaries are really to slow.
WTF is Windows Mobile?

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