Database Users

One-handed operation

Hi all.
I own a Qtek S100 for around 2 weeks, and have come to love the device for it's all around functionality and small form factor.
As a PDA w/stylus, I have absolutely no complaints. It's a great tool with hundreds of different pieces of software and games to play with.
As many of you, I want to use the Magician as my main phone as well. This is where the problems start. Windows Mobile does not seem be geared towards non-stylus use, yet when you are out and about, it would be nice if you could accomplish basic tasks without the stylus. The main reason being is that when you are out you want to protect the screen so you put the device in a case, so the screen isn't accessible.
Anyway, you guys know all this. Now here's the question. Is there software out there that's designed to make Pocket PC phone edition a better one-handed device? I am thinking of something like the following:
You click one of the hardware buttons, which opens this 'one-handed' program. This brings up a tree/menu of different functions. Anything you would need to do while you're on the road. For example:
Turn the phone to silent.
Turn bluetooth on/off.
Control the music you're playing (on/off/forward/back etc..)
Turn the device off.
Anything you can think of.
I realize you can do some of these things by mapping certain buttons to certain programs or by scrolling on the today screen or by trying to use the start menu, but I'm finding that you can only get so far before you're stuck and you have to use the stylus.
So is there any software of this nature? If not I might sit down and write something myself. If I do it would be cool if everyone can pitch and name things they'd like to do with one hand that they can't seem to accomplish.
Thanks!

What you need as a starter is Burr Oak HotButton Plus. This allows you to assign ONE hardware button that then pops up a list of programs that you can run. The list is configurable of course. You can navigate through the list of programs using your D-pad.
I would suggest getting a list of "Settings" shortcuts (available on the forum). Place these shortcuts in a folder and call them from HotButton Plus.
I also find Microsoft Voice Command a very useful software, especially when I'm driving. You can open programs, play music, etc. using your voice.

Also, this hardware-button tweak might do something nice. Haven't tried myself.
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,40355

I use AEBPlus in combination with Mortbuttons. AEBPlus is bound to a hwardware button, in my case Calendar. When I double press it, Mortbutton 1 pops-up a list of apps that I set in Mortbutton options. In this way, I can switch on/off bluetooth, phone, or launch apps. Mortbutton gives up to 12 apps per list and 5 lists are available. With AEBPlus I can bind 3 Mortbuttons per hard button, e.g. 36 apps per button!
Mortbuttons can be found on www.sto-helit.de

thanks guys. I will give all of these a try!

phoneplus for phone abilities
phonealarms for profiles

All those programs are not directly given what we expected - one handed operation.
jamijam,
Could you develop the program?
Cheers,

jamijam said:
Hi all.
I own a Qtek S100 for around 2 weeks, and have come to love the device for it's all around functionality and small form factor.
As a PDA w/stylus, I have absolutely no complaints. It's a great tool with hundreds of different pieces of software and games to play with.
As many of you, I want to use the Magician as my main phone as well. This is where the problems start. Windows Mobile does not seem be geared towards non-stylus use, yet when you are out and about, it would be nice if you could accomplish basic tasks without the stylus. The main reason being is that when you are out you want to protect the screen so you put the device in a case, so the screen isn't accessible.
Anyway, you guys know all this. Now here's the question. Is there software out there that's designed to make Pocket PC phone edition a better one-handed device? I am thinking of something like the following:
You click one of the hardware buttons, which opens this 'one-handed' program. This brings up a tree/menu of different functions. Anything you would need to do while you're on the road. For example:
Turn the phone to silent.
Turn bluetooth on/off.
Control the music you're playing (on/off/forward/back etc..)
Turn the device off.
Anything you can think of.
I realize you can do some of these things by mapping certain buttons to certain programs or by scrolling on the today screen or by trying to use the start menu, but I'm finding that you can only get so far before you're stuck and you have to use the stylus.
So is there any software of this nature? If not I might sit down and write something myself. If I do it would be cool if everyone can pitch and name things they'd like to do with one hand that they can't seem to accomplish.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HI
I use the O2 xdaI machine. I will get tmobile MDA COMPACT (= I-mate JAM) next week.
Hotbutton application is ok but the best so far for one hand operation is definitely Microsoft Voice Command ver. 1.5. It works increadibly weel on XDAI and I expect it will run even better on the JAM (I will let you know next week).
Cheers !

Heard some things about Micrsofot Voice command but I was finding it hard to believe that using voice could work well in most cases (what if it's noisy? etc...). Maybe I'll give it a try.
o2mn,
Gonna give all these suggestions a try before I think about doing something myself. The goal would be to create a program that lets you go through the menus, etc of ALL programs. Just using the buttons.

I don't know if i need to start a new topic about this but I'm trying to find out an easy way to create a launcher under a hardware button, like a bunch of people seems to wanna have.
In 'windows\appsbuttons' you can assign any hardware button to an *.exe. I want to know if there is an easy way to create a *.exe which
opens a *.link.
Something like:
IE2BUTTON.exe
» goto programfiles
»open IE2BUTTON.lnk
Hereby IE2BUTTON.lnk refers to the map IE2BUTTON where you can put every shortcut you want

Tried AEBPlus but it conflicts with application button mapping such as in TCPMP. Sometimes TCPMP gets the button press sometimes AEBPlus Plus got it - couldn't live with that so had to uninstall AEBPlus.
I use a combination of software:
PPCProfiles-Pro on the Today screen for switching phone on/off, bluetooth on/off etc via switching between profiles I've set up.
VJOKButton assigned to the memo button for closing apps, clicking OK.
MortButton for starting apps etc.
Application button mapping in TCPMP for one handed mp3 / video use.
The one thing I really want to be able to do still is alter the screen brightness one handed.

Questions From ex-Treo650 user

OK I had gotten board with the lack of wifi and decent web browser on the Treo 650 that I decided to make the move to the 8125. I knew about the speed difference and some of the other issues discussed in these forums because I researched the device for months before making the move. Therefore I wont say much about that. Unfortunately I have a few issues that I can't seem to find answers for in this forum and I was hoping other users out there could help.
1. Is there any way of making the navigation pad useful? I cant access anything on the taskbar and it would be great if I could. I installed magic button so I can close apps and switch back to home when I want. Furthermore there is almost no documentation on how to use the nav pad. All application instructions say tap the icon. It's very convenient to have one handed use. for example i have yet to figure out how to get back to the location bar in Pocket IE so I can enter a url without having to tap the screen.
2. Is it common that some applications just freak out when you switch to landscape mode (scroll bars not working and such)?
3. As mentioned I installed magic button but is there an application that will pop up a list of running tasks so I can switch between them easily with the navigation pad.
4. Backup. I may be very wrong on this but I fear that active sync does not actually backup my entire device like palm does. Could someone clear this up and if I'm correct is there a way for active sync to do this. I have more programs on this device than what is on my add/remove prog screen.
5. Notification reminders. I see a feature to have the led for a period of time but it would be nicer if it could be set to play its sound also. Like the pagers of old.
6. Notification of lost service. This phone never tells me I have no cell service. Last thing I want is battery draining searching or worse assuming I have service and miss all calls.
If anyone could provide some info on the above it would be a great help. i have already found many other programs that make up for the lacking features. Below is a list of what I have installed please make any suggestions you think would be helpful.
1. AnthaVPN - easiest and fastest to install
2. TN520 by mochasoft
3. Pocket Putty SSH client
4. Eyes On Call - Callfilter like program with many features still limited but the developer is very quick in implementing suggestions.
5. Info sharp - same developer as above but this provides sms capabilities that are very impressive. He almost has chat style sms with the way this program works.
6. OMAPclocker - for clocking to 220. I actually see the difference.
7. IM+ - Sametime/AOL instant messenger client.
8. Info apps I have Metro, Ereader, Bdicty, VadeMecum
9. TCPMP
10. Registry Wizard
11. Calc98 - the built in calc app is a joke.
12. Xpressmail - dont care what anyone says this app does what it says it will do. Pushes email to your phone.
Thank You
- Richard

sorry, you are in the wrong forum. This here is the Universal, not the Hermes (or whatever the 8125 is)

thx
wow didn't notice I posted on universal forum. well at least I can correct the typos and vgrammer before posting on wizard.
-Richard

So many questions...so little knowledge - Orange M3100

First off...I am a new user of the SPV M3100.... and I wondered if someone could point me in the right direction? I have been lurking in this forum for some time and have run through the Wiki but I'm still confused about a few things...;
1) I seem to have the dreaded "non precis right hand side of screen" - I have had to reset the stylus position - Is there a Rom upgrade that might cure this if so which one?
2) My phone goes onto speaker mode when I get the engaged tone...seems others have had this problem - has any cured this with a Rom upgrade?
3) With a Rom upgrade, will I loose my Orange Scroll wheel menu (I'm sure I will) - as I rather like this..? Is there a file that I can save that will allow me to put it back onto the phone?
4) SPB Pocket plus doesn't seem to work when the "Orange" scroll system is selected under the Today Settings....I can't run both the scroll system and SPB pocket plus at the same time. Is there a way to may them run together?
5)Is SPB pocket plus responsible for a slow down in the SPV? Or is it the fact that I have 5000 contacts....(I know...stupid, but they are all work people - I have no friends...)
6)If I want to change the skin/look without using SPB, is there a way to do this with better programmes?
7)Where should I save themes to on the SPV?
8) What the hell are "Midlets"?
9) Is there a way to clear off all the Orange programmes that I don't need or want from a nice clean reinstal?
10) Why does there appear to be two parts to exploring "My Windows Mobile device" - as in; On the main PC explorer window I have "Mobile Device" and clicking on this brings me into another director with "My Windows based mobile device" heading up a list of directories, such as Business, Calls, My Midlets etc....
Ho hum...so many questions....and I would be really, really grateful for any help!!
Thanking you in advance...

Midlets are little Java-subset applications. Basically, simplified Java runtime which can host small apps, games, etc etc. I have some midlet games if you want to mess about with them (the O2 Music Player is also a midlet).
It comes on every device I believe. I have the runtime engine on my Vario 2, and I had it on my (O2) Alpine.
I bought (yeah, bought!) SPB Pocket Plus for my Alpine when it came out - however, I ended up having so many problems, either indirectly because or directly because of it (including stupid things like the ringtones stuttering and suchlike, which I think was due to a file association conflict but which I could never resolve). It also caused big slowdown on the Today screen, so I ended up pruning most of its features away and just using the bare minimum (but the O2 Plus software does all of SPB Pocket Plus which I ever used anyway, so in the end I just uninstalled it entirely.) Actually, in the end I hard reset my device, but that was cause I mucked up its registry.
I wouldn't bother using it to be honest.
You could always change the skin using the Today settings Theme page... Just go get some free themes off the web and bingo, sorted.

Thanks Chris,
I assumed as much about the SPB stuff....think it slows down the whole machine quite dramatically.

idiot mogul user desperately needs your help !!!!!

hello everyone ! I just got my Mogul about 2 days ago and im a freakin mess on trying to figure out how to use it. here are things i need your help with....
#1 how do i transfer my contacts onto my PC? I installed the program it came with but i cant figure out how to copy my contacts to my PC.
#2 I tried to upgrade my rom(i dont even know what rom is,lol) and before i updated the rom it read ROM VERSION 2.09.651.3 AND THE ROM DATE WAS 6/14/07. after the update was complete it still read the same thing !! And the mogul appeared to be slower, screens wouldnt open fast or shut down fast etc etc. (which rom should I use??)
#3 THE CUBE, I was checking out the cube for my mogul but i wasnt sure what the benifet was of useing this program...its looks a lot for user friendly and cooler then what the mogul has now....(how do I install the cube into my Mogul?)
#4 lastly, when my phone shuts off i have to push the power button to wake it up everytime...is there any way i can just touch the screen or push a face button to turn it back on?
any help would be awsome
stacy

anyone????????

I'd suggest you visit ppcgeeks.com titan forum. Many more titan users over there and there are several custom roms available.
As far as answering your questions....
1. Not sure, i don't use activesycn for anything other than transferring programs to by phone to install.
2. I've posted a few custom roms on the ppcgeeks ftp and have had numerous compliments. My most current rom is UTCG.2.2.2 and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with it. I don't add in all the extra "crap" some one people do. I use a stable base rom and update some of the features as well as tweak it for performance. My most current ROM runs with ~28mb free ram and is very quick. EDIT: I will post link here shortly.
I'm assuming that you're new to the whole "flashing" thing so I'm uploading a complete file with the rom and flashing software in it right now. I'll update this thread with the direct link to download once it's done.
3. The real cube is not functional on the mogul. There are many hybrid cubes that other members have made. Some are Adobe Flash-Based programs and others are stand-alone programs. I like the idea of the Cube when i got my mogul just like you. But, after messing with it so much and realizing the amount of resources it uses I personally don't think it's worth it. It's just another "gimmick" to compete with the iPhone.
4. I'm not sure why you would want it to "wake-up" by tapping the screen but if this is a necessity than here's how to do it.
Tap "Start" on your mogul.
Tap "Settings"
Tap "System" Tab on the bottom
Tap the "Power" icon
Tap the "Advanced" Tab on the bottom
uncheck the box "On Battery Power: Turn off device if not used for ____"
That will keep the mogul from turning off. BUT, it will also kill your battery really quickly. Personally, i slide by mogul in and out of my pocket all day that it would be a problem if i had it activated by the screen.

You can get my newest rom here:
Download Now
Unzip and run the RomUpdateUtility.exe

utexascg said:
You can get my newest rom here:
Download Now
Unzip and run the RomUpdateUtility.exe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would highly recommend reading the Flashing Basic Guide over at PPCgeeks http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=9927 before attempting any of this.
There are a selection of ROMs available for different needs/tastes, and you'll also need to unlock your phone first (its all in the guide).
But, all this is only necessary if you'd like a customized ROM instead of the stock Sprint release. Most people feel that the custom ROMs perform better, but to be honest, if you don't know what a ROM is or why you want it custom, I'd just leave things as they are. As long as everything works for you, just leave well enough alone.
Now as far as your questions:
1) This is a basic PPC question and not Mogul specific. You need 2 programs installed to do this: Outlook to view/access/edit your personal information (comes on the disc) and Activesync to talk to your device and actually make sure to keep all info in sync (also comes on disc).
Each program will work without the other, but it won't sync your info unless both of them are installed and the device is plugged in.
2) The Sprint releases have bugs. There was an updated ROM (2.16) that caused more problems than it fixed, so they pulled it. Now we're back to 2.09, so that's why nothing changed. There are custom roms that combine the best "fixed bits" of all the releases so far, but don't do these unless you feel comfortable messing with it for now.
3) Cube is a fancy interface designed for the HTC Touch phone. Its supposed to make easy shortcuts for one-fingered use, and has some nifty scrolling 3D effect that they call a "cube" (even tho it has only 3 sides. I guess calling it the "extruded triangle" wouldn't have gone over as well). But, it only works on the touch, so some folks have tried to mimick it by writing their own application that looks just like it. Most of them don't work, or are too slow to be useable, only the real one on the actual device called the "touch" seems to be any good. Its still cute to show off. Not all that functional on the mogul, and I've tried many versions.
4) YES! There's a setting somewhere to wake up on power key only, or for any keypress. The screen touch thing would set it off WAAAY too easily and kill your battery as utexas said. I feel the same way about all the buttons since there are so many that accidentally get pressed when taking it and out of holsters. However, the options is there if you want it.
Good luck!

Your awsome !! could i ask you one more thing? when i want to make a phone call and i go to my contacts list all of my friends names are backwards...meaning that their last name is showin first and this is annoying because i not showing up as it used to in my old filp phone...should i download some sort of firmware to change my contact ist set up??
Dishe said:
I would highly recommend reading the Flashing Basic Guide over at PPCgeeks http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=9927 before attempting any of this.
There are a selection of ROMs available for different needs/tastes, and you'll also need to unlock your phone first (its all in the guide).
But, all this is only necessary if you'd like a customized ROM instead of the stock Sprint release. Most people feel that the custom ROMs perform better, but to be honest, if you don't know what a ROM is or why you want it custom, I'd just leave things as they are. As long as everything works for you, just leave well enough alone.
Now as far as your questions:
1) This is a basic PPC question and not Mogul specific. You need 2 programs installed to do this: Outlook to view/access/edit your personal information (comes on the disc) and Activesync to talk to your device and actually make sure to keep all info in sync (also comes on disc).
Each program will work without the other, but it won't sync your info unless both of them are installed and the device is plugged in.
2) The Sprint releases have bugs. There was an updated ROM (2.16) that caused more problems than it fixed, so they pulled it. Now we're back to 2.09, so that's why nothing changed. There are custom roms that combine the best "fixed bits" of all the releases so far, but don't do these unless you feel comfortable messing with it for now.
3) Cube is a fancy interface designed for the HTC Touch phone. Its supposed to make easy shortcuts for one-fingered use, and has some nifty scrolling 3D effect that they call a "cube" (even tho it has only 3 sides. I guess calling it the "extruded triangle" wouldn't have gone over as well). But, it only works on the touch, so some folks have tried to mimick it by writing their own application that looks just like it. Most of them don't work, or are too slow to be useable, only the real one on the actual device called the "touch" seems to be any good. Its still cute to show off. Not all that functional on the mogul, and I've tried many versions.
4) YES! There's a setting somewhere to wake up on power key only, or for any keypress. The screen touch thing would set it off WAAAY too easily and kill your battery as utexas said. I feel the same way about all the buttons since there are so many that accidentally get pressed when taking it and out of holsters. However, the options is there if you want it.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Contacts can only be listed by Name or Company. You can however edit the contact to change the way the contact is filed in the edit screen there is a field labeled "File as:" it's here that you can change the way the name is displayed in the contact list.

[Q] My Omnia 2 is breaking down and I need your help to fix it

Awhile ago, I posted this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=781137
No one has given a viable response to it in 4 months.
Now my phone is actually breaking down. It's running extremely slowly, even on high performance. I still can't access any other skins or themes because the problem in the other thread persists. When I view text messages, they appear blank the second time I open the text message application and I need to restart the application after closing it in the task manager to read them.
I want to fix my phone. I want to flash, hack, do whatever's needed to change it and improve it. I've never flashed it before and I haven't done anything to this smartphone ever since I received it. It is not acting like a smartphone at all right now and I need to fix it.
Unfortunately I can't find any help on this forums. Where do I start? I've been to the Wiki and all it gives me is details on what to do with no starting point or references. I want to reformat, flash, whatever this phone so that I can switch between different themes and OS' on it. I can't do that right now because I don't know how.
My phone is the Samsung i8000 and I'm running Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional (CE OS 5.2.21856(Build 21856.5.0.65)). Please help me.
EDIT: After running a format through the hard reset, my text messaging is fixed and the phone seems to be back up to speed. I'm still unfortunately having problems accessing any sort of Windows Mobile themes though, as seen in this thread(http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=781137).

Hi, as an owner of the Omnia II (i8000) I found the Modaco forum very useful, have a look!
http://www.modaco.com/category/410/i8000-verizon-sch-i920-omnia-ii-http-i8000-modaco-com/

It appears that you have problems with memories. We must close the applications as and by long pressing the middle button, or assign "close" to the cross in the top cooin: go to settings, regional settings, then click "button" select "button X "and activate it to really close the programs and no longer turn in the background