I will be recieving my Exec from O2 this week and realize there will be some software on it that I will not utilize like Clearvue PDF Viewer, Powerpoint, Excell...is it easy enough to take these programs off....and I understand there is a choice of configuration for the individual or corporate user?......also some cast doubt on the benefits of O2 Active Synch?.....
I intend to install Skype and software to allow compressed movies to be watched...not sure if anyone has any experience of these?
I got mine recently and first I installed it as o2 intended, but I later did a hard reset and noticed that you can install it without the o2 stuff so I did that and it works alot better for me (I use spb pocket plus). I didn't use the O2 cd fro my active sync but instead downloaded the latest from the Microsoft web site and that worked fine.
Sorry don't know how to remove Powerpoint etc. There are some posts on this forum about unlocking the ROM but that will only allow you to alter what gets installed by o2.
Software I use:
SPB Pocket Plus
Pocket Informant
SPB Weather
Mobipocket
eWallet
1-Calc
Thanks, got my O2 Exec today and did a basic install only.
I will primarily be using this as a LAN access point at home and would want to synch it up to my laptop for the transfer of files purposes.
I also would want to utilise wi-fi capability 'on the go'.
I am hoping that by choosing not to install O2 Active that this would not be detrimental in any way? Its just some people seem to find O2 Active more of a pain than a pleasure?
All that sort of stuff is fine without o2 active. As far as I can see the only stuff you get with o2 active is a load of links to news and sport sites etc, plus links to parts of the system settings and functions (like phone settings and make a video call) all doable without the active interface. The only bit of functionality that I did spot that I don't get with the basic install is a profiles program that allowed me to set up times for the phone, wan etc to be off or on together with power settings.
As I said I had so much trouble with installing my software that I did not use the o2 active interface for very long. It should perhaps be noted that the people on this discussion board will have a tendancy to customise their pocket pc quite heavily and will, in the general course of things, rather not have software imposed, quite reasonably. However this may not suit you, but it sounds like it probably does.
Cheers
Right, had my XDA11 for a year and a half now and getting bored. Just got a few questions about the Exec to help me decide. I'm in the UK, and on O2:
1. Is the flip and twist gimmick useful?
2. Is there much software compatible with the sideways screen and the qwerty keypad? And does it have to be specially written for Windows Mobile 2005?
3. Will my old apps from my XDA11 work on it?
4. Would I have to resize all my videos from Media Player that are currently 320x240 or does it fit them to the screen size?
5. I'm clueless about WIFI. If I bought a wifi adaptor kit for my desktop PC, could I lie in bed surfing the net from my Exec on a WIFI connection?
6. Is Internet Explorer better featured than the previous versions? I always found it a bit lacking (no forward button, no side-on option, poor image viewing capability, etc). Or would you recommend a 3rd party browser?
7. Does Media Player support MPEGs yet?
8. Are MP3 ringtones supported?
9. Is it also called the Jasjar? I keep seeing that word spouted around
10. WHERE CAN I GET ONE THE CHEAPEST? It's £149.99 on O2 site, is that the cheapest? Also do I need to wait for my contract to come up for renewal again or can I get one now?
Thanks in advance for any help
1. Is the flip and twist gimmick useful?
- i don't use it. but it could be good if you don't use the keyboard alot
2. Is there much software compatible with the sideways screen and the qwerty keypad? And does it have to be specially written for Windows Mobile 2005?
- most wm software works on landscape, however not much is specially designed. Some games are. apps like ie and word use it automatically.
3. Will my old apps from my XDA11 work on it?
- most will. utilities not specifically made for wm5 probably won't work.
4. Would I have to resize all my videos from Media Player that are currently 320x240 or does it fit them to the screen size?
- it works by default in 320x240. Only programs that 'know' about vga use it. There is software (e.g. ozvga) which forces non-vga programs to work in vga. some work well, others have a font too small, others don't work.
5. I'm clueless about WIFI. If I bought a wifi adaptor kit for my desktop PC, could I lie in bed surfing the net from my Exec on a WIFI connection?
- yes. As long as your desktop pc is set as a gateway presumably to a asdl or cable modem. most people use a wireless router with built in modem, as this is more convenient and won't require your pc to be switched on (netgear 634, linksys dt614, etc)
6. Is Internet Explorer better featured than the previous versions? I always found it a bit lacking (no forward button, no side-on option, poor image viewing capability, etc). Or would you recommend a 3rd party browser?
- yes, but its still mostly behind the opposition. You are better off with something like netfront. Some people here use opera, but I find it crashes all the time.
7. Does Media Player support MPEGs yet?
- I use tcpmp (betaplayer) and pockettv (for mpeg 1).
wm10 support mpeg4 but not mpeg2:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/windowsmobile/faq.aspx
8. Are MP3 ringtones supported?
- don't know
9. Is it also called the Jasjar? I keep seeing that word spouted around
- yes. generic name is universal. also called orange m5000, qtek 3000, o2 xda exec, tmobile mda pro
10. WHERE CAN I GET ONE THE CHEAPEST? It's £149.99 on O2 site, is that the cheapest? Also do I need to wait for my contract to come up for renewal again or can I get one now?
- I found online cheapest for o2, £150 + £19 a month for 50 mins (12 month contract) + £30 a month for 200mb or £17 a month for 35mb. Tmobile does webnwalk (inc 40mb) for £22 a month, but tmobile mda pro is locked, xda exec is not. also you can get exec from o2 shop for £150 + £30 a month data only (if you don't want the phone).
Thanks in advance for any help
everything you need to know is on this forum. just read read read. Also look at pocketgear, clickgamer, freewareppc or handango (select o2 exec) for compatible applications
10. WHERE CAN I GET ONE THE CHEAPEST?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the T-mobile site they are doing the MDA pro on flext 30 (about £19 pm after discount) for £129
Add to that the unlimited data add on for £7.50 pm - and you're cooking !
Grrr, has to be on O2 I'm afraid Cheers anyway
Hmm, wondered where my other reply had gone. I posted it in the wrong thread, d'oh:
Cheers for that.
So if I use an older WM2003 app, will it stretch to fit the new screen size?.
Can the "open" mode (landscape, with keyboard) be used for anything or just for typing? I'd probably want it for texting, internet, and Word. Presumably I can still watch videos in widescreen without having to open it up?
Lastly, is the touch screen still active when open, or is all control given to the keyboard?
GaZ said:
Hmm, wondered where my other reply had gone. I posted it in the wrong thread, d'oh:
Cheers for that.
So if I use an older WM2003 app, will it stretch to fit the new screen size?.
Can the "open" mode (landscape, with keyboard) be used for anything or just for typing? I'd probably want it for texting, internet, and Word. Presumably I can still watch videos in widescreen without having to open it up?
Lastly, is the touch screen still active when open, or is all control given to the keyboard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apps by default see 320x240. So any app that uses 320x240 will work fine. In addition, if the app is written to use windows fonts, although it will only 'see' 320x240 its fonts will be smoothed automatically by wm5 for the 640x480 screen (if cleartype is selected). Whether an app works or not more depends whether it relys on a wm2003 characterstic which is no longer there. Most apps work, most utilities don't.
You are misunderstanding the difference between landscape and portrait. They are just presenting a different resolution to the app. 240x320 (or 480x680). Any well behaved app. will adapt fine, just as in Windows XP if you resize the window the app still works ok. Badly written apps or ones that were written for very old versions of the pocket pc might work, but you may find odd effects, e.g. the right 1/3 of the screen is unused in portrait mode.
You always have the choice of the 'pop-up' on screen keyboard or the physical one. Although its a bit silly to use the pop-up one when the main keyboard is available.
Go into an o2 shop (or any other mobile shop) which stocks the universal and have a play, they normally have demo versions available.
rgds
GaZ said:
Grrr, has to be on O2 I'm afraid Cheers anyway
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in that case ...
http://shop.uplands.co.uk/acatalog/XDA_EXEC.html
You ARE a business customer arent you ? :wink:
second from the bottom - £137 on a £13.99 24 month contract
Although it is a crap contract
I also recall there are some good offers on the o2 "student" site
( you ARE a student , aren't you :wink: ) :lol:
Ok, I was in the same boat as you, had the XDAII, hacked to WM2003SE, got sick of the bugs, and upgraded immediately for wm5 and the new tools. Never looked back. But to answer your specific questions:
1. Is the flip and twist gimmick useful?
Wonderful, love it, not for the flip and twist, but for the keyboard. I also like the clam approach to protect the screen. It also adds enormous geek factor. I really got sick of the tapping on the screen to type, and there is no way I could get into the sms or email thing tapping the screen. the keyboard makes typing and communication via a keyboard so much easier.
2. Is there much software compatible with the sideways screen and the qwerty keypad? And does it have to be specially written for Windows Mobile 2005?
There is a lot of software becoming now far more popular for WM5, but perhaps only say 50% of the software on the market, but those are usually the mickey mouse software apps, the serious contenders have updated most of the apps for this.
3. Will my old apps from my XDA11 work on it?
Some, maybe, but not all. Most of the apps usually have an upgrade policy. GPS systems struggle and need to be hacked. I was unable to get Navman to work. SPB has new releases for most apps, resco has been updated. So you may have to pay for an upgrade.
4. Would I have to resize all my videos from Media Player that are currently 320x240 or does it fit them to the screen size?
You can if you want them in full screen, change them to 640x480, but the existing camera still only uses 320x240 so they only use about 1/4 of the screen. This is the most common complaint, and my biggest gripe. An app called TPCMP will stretch the videos for you to full screen. Its free.
5. I'm clueless about WIFI. If I bought a wifi adaptor kit for my desktop PC, could I lie in bed surfing the net from my Exec on a WIFI connection?
Yes. You can also use it to share folders, copy your videos and pictures to your computer, stream music and videos from your PC to PPC. This is the biggest bonus and favourite bit for me, along with 3G fast internet.
6. Is Internet Explorer better featured than the previous versions? I always found it a bit lacking (no forward button, no side-on option, poor image viewing capability, etc). Or would you recommend a 3rd party browser?
It hasnt changed. You get a little bit more text to a screen, but no extra functions. There are 3rd parties, but I dont recommend or use any other. I find it is sufficient and acceptable, but not state of the art.
7. Does Media Player support MPEGs yet?
Not sure, but if you want full screen, you will probably use TCPMP anyway. Everybody else does.
8. Are MP3 ringtones supported?
Yes. I use them.
9. Is it also called the Jasjar? I keep seeing that word spouted around
Yes, O2 Exec, Imate Jasjar are the same hardware, and 95% same software. O2 has three different releases, useless, next to useless, and barebones basic, which is similar to the Imate. Both have crap support.
10. WHERE CAN I GET ONE THE CHEAPEST? It's £149.99 on O2 site, is that the cheapest? Also do I need to wait for my contract to come up for renewal again or can I get one now?
I paid $1,500 AUD to pay cash up front so that I could change and use whatever network and service provider I want, when I want. Its about 600 pounds (sorr my keyboard doesnt have a pounds symbol I am on the bottom end of the world).
I think you need to understand some of the other issues:
1. Speed, slower
2. Pemanent storage, limited but handy
3. Bluetooth better, but not good enough yet
4. Updated ROM has push email, but not the released rom
5. Landscape awesome
6. Camera, ok, not brilliant, but significantly better than XDAII
7. SD Card rather than Mini (on other devices)
8. No backpack, no VGA output
9. Two cameras, second for video telephone
10. Hot Keys for quick access to primary functions
11. Impoved Office tools word and excel
12. Better sound
13. Lacks external display, so you dont know who is calling unless you keep it in PDA mode
14. Extra size and weight makes it bulky
15. The case it comes with is crap.
Eitherway, no matter what, I do recommend the Universal device, though I was happy with the XDAII overall, I really really really wanted a proper Qwerty keyboard, and built in WIFI.
Hope it helps
Cheers
Simon
THAT was the reply I was looking for I needed it laying out for me in idiots terms, lol. I'm getting so pumped about this now. Thank you
Lastly, does anyone know if I can upgrade to this on my current contract NOW rather than waiting for renewal time again? I'm half way into my 2nd 12 month period but I took £70 credited to my account in place of a new handset at the 12 month mark. I'd be willing to pay the £149.99 up front but I understand this is a subsidised price, and common sense would dictate to me that I can't do it
Just phone O2 and ask them when you are eligable for the upgrade from the mobile its 202, landline 08702 410202, The Exec is a great device, very impressed with it - worth the outlay without a doubt - Mike
Just a hint for the Internet. Use the NetFront, it is an awesome browser. It supports true VGA resolution (640x480) without any registry hacks/SW resets and it shows almost all the webSites as on the normal computer ! (if they are wider then 640px, then you have the horizontal scroller, so the site layout doesn`t get broken)
Bundled Internet Explorer is absolute crap. When you`ll try NetFront (or Opera), you won`t come back
Gaz you will probably want a data alowance, considering O2 claim to be about to charge us for GPRS access. You could consider getting a new data only contract at the level you require and then swap the SIMs for phone use and heavy data use.
So you end up with 2 contracts, but it's only the same as adding a data bolt on to your current contract in terms of monthly recurring cost. The SIM swapping is a pain, but potentially worth it as O2 will not entertain an early upgrade.
Gajet said:
Gaz you will probably want a data alowance, considering O2 claim to be about to charge us for GPRS access. You could consider getting a new data only contract at the level you require and then swap the SIMs for phone use and heavy data use.
So you end up with 2 contracts, but it's only the same as adding a data bolt on to your current contract in terms of monthly recurring cost. The SIM swapping is a pain, but potentially worth it as O2 will not entertain an early upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can add a data bolt on to a monthly contract with no implications for contract period. you can also ask o2 to raise the data speed to 384k. this is far preferable to having 2 sim cards.
rgds
Well, phoned them the other day and they said I need to wait til July. Not too bad I suppose, but I'm not known for my patience, lol.
I might look into getting a data bolt on as well. Cheers lads
Recently got my Touch Dual from TMobile and wanting to know what software is worth having on there?
So far i just use Pocket Controller Pro, and CoPilot.
Wanting an MSN Client that is fairly quick, and as full of a MSN Client i can get really.
Also wanting something else to browse the internet, although IE is quite good i think.
So what is the sofware to have?
Can anyone recommend something to keep track of my internet activity, mb downloaded etc?
Thanks for any input guys .
kiwiwaka said:
Also wanting something else to browse the internet, although IE is quite good i think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Opera Mobile or Opera Mini
kiwiwaka said:
Can anyone recommend something to keep track of my internet activity, mb downloaded etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should be a copy of spb GPRS monitor on one of the CD's that came with your device.
hello,
First of, as for msn, i use windows live mobile, its quite fast, and doe have most of the features the normal msn on pc has, but i sometimes have trouble signing in, wich is quite frustrating:S
link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334621
As for browsing, i reccomend the new opera mobile 9.5 beta, it is really fast and very user-friendly, altough it crashes sometimes..;(
For tracking your download speed and usage, you should try spb gprs monitor (altough it is not free)
Hope this helps
I've wanted the HD2 since it was announced last year. It was to be my replacement for my iPAQ hx4700 (4" VGA pda). It was primarily my pdf reader + media player during my commute, while I had Razr as phone. Unfortunately it started having screen issues and not always detecting release of click (drag), so it's harder to use now. The HD2 would be the replacement for the iPAQ and my phone, which is now a HTC Dream.
Now that it'll really be showing up at T-Mobile US, I have some questions. Hopefully you guys can sort them out.
1. How well does it work as a phone? Sound quality, reception, microphone, bluetooth..etc
2. PDF reader - I currently use mobilexpdf and it works great. The options are perfect for what I need. Great zooming and image quality. Ability to set DPI so I can get exact zoom. Very important so I can zoom enough to 'crop' out the empty side space. (I tried the pdf reader on iPhone and while pinch-zoom was cool, it wasn't exact enough for me.) Also bookmarks. Did everything I needed and was bloat free AND it was free. Does mobilexpdf work on HD2?
3. Media player - I use TCPMP. It supported all my videos and even had subtitles. Also free. I did a search and it seems like it works but it needed some tweaks. Anybody use it?
4. Can I use the HD2 without a data plan? It is possible to shut off ALL data? I don't really need a data plan, though it has been cool to use google maps and web browse. I think there is 'NoData'. How well does that work? Can all (included) apps just use a wifi connection instead?
5. How does the googlemaps app compare to the Android version? I know it doesn't have the nav feature, but I don't really need that now.
6. Possible to unlock screen with button presses instead of swipe? It doesn't seem like it's possible to unlock with 1 hand.
I essentially want to use this phone as a phone that can handle my stored media/ebook files. I'd want to pay for it in full and not get a 2yr contract. I have an unlimited data plan now, but don't need it if I can entertain myself with ebooks or videos offline.
The HD2 has the screen, speed and OS to let me do what I need to. Android didn't really have any pdf readers that worked as well as I would have liked. Maybe it was the screen size/resolution. Some apps even sent the pdf file to server to be converted.. It also only supported a few codecs so video viewing wasn't fun. The google killer apps were nice, I only really needed googlemaps.
Thanks for your insight.
Hi,
I need a new HTC. My current Jade is getting old. It was a great device for me. I really liked the small size of it, I don't want a 3,2 inch screen.
Now the Wildfire caught my eye. But is it really the phone for me.
I'm a Windows Mobile kind-a-guy. But am willing to switch to Android.
Here is what and how I use my phone:
I don't have an internet connection (3G) so no surfing, no emailing, no facebooking, etc.
I wanna have good reception in the Netherlands.
I use my phone to keep track of birthdays and use my calendar.
Currently I'm using the SPB mobile shell and I love it.
I'd like to create my own mp3 ringtones. I use a bluetooth carkit.
I sometimes use the camera, notes and the calculator.
Tomtom is my favorite GPS navigational software.
If i plug my phone in any windows PC (XP/Vista/7) I want use it as a storage device.
Can someone please tell me what functions will be diferent of not possible on the wildfire?
Thank you, I'll appreciatie it.
hi... of course the wildfire is a social networking phone... but i also don't have a 3g connection ... and spb mobile shell isn't out jet for android... the rest of your list is possible i think so...
the wildfire can do i think pretty much everything there, except for maybe that spb thing i duno about, and there are plenty of gps navigation software like copilot or some others.
if you dont plan to use 3g why to go for a smartphone at all ?
an btw no tomtom release for the wf now.
i had different wimo devices before the wildfire an the killer-feature at that time
was to me tomtom. what i like with the wf is the 3g stuff, social media, apps, internet.
if i would not use these feature i would go for a "normal" phone
because of better price and longer accu time.
but not to be misunderstood, i like my wf very much,
because it does the things i want it to do, very well ;-)
Thank you guys for your replies
stavro said:
if you dont plan to use 3g why to go for a smartphone at all ?
an btw no tomtom release for the wf now.
i had different wimo devices before the wildfire an the killer-feature at that time
was to me tomtom. what i like with the wf is the 3g stuff, social media, apps, internet.
if i would not use these feature i would go for a "normal" phone
because of better price and longer accu time.
but not to be misunderstood, i like my wf very much,
because it does the things i want it to do, very well ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't necessarily need a data provider to own a smart phone. They all come with WiFi so it's not as though you're cut off completely. The data is only really useful when you're out of the office or away from home without your Wifi hotspot. As far as I know, more and more cafés and restaurants are installing free Wifi hotspots so the 3G is really for when you're moving from place to place. I have a 1gig cap on my plan but i barely use 100mb a month because I stay on wifi most of the time.
But I would recommend the phone. It's cheap, has some great apps built in and can sync with your computer or be used as a storage drive. I've personally never used the sync function, so I don't know how good it is, but if you set up your calendar and address book on Google, you won't need that. Use something like Thunderbird or Evolution to put all your accounts and contacts in your google account so you can sync flawlessly without having to connect to your computer.