Related
OK, this is possibly going to be a very silly question, but please take me seriously (I guess the reason for this question is that I'm a new HD2 user, and so I'm still trying to set it up "just right")...
When I discovered that the contacts on the "People" tab are automatically sorted (alphabetically) and cannot be manually reassigned... I made this face:
What's the point of having a fast-dial tab if you cannot assign it the way you want to?
Shaamaan said:
OK, this is possibly going to be a very silly question, but please take me seriously (I guess the reason for this question is that I'm a new HD2 user, and so I'm still trying to set it up "just right")...
When I discovered that the contacts on the "People" tab are automatically sorted (alphabetically) and cannot be manually reassigned... I made this face:
What's the point of having a fast-dial tab if you cannot assign it the way you want to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're not automatically sorted alphabetically. I don't know what you've done to make it like that because there's no sorting option. Have you installed anything recently?
the people tab is there so you can put who you want where ever and choose call or txt option it should be in the order yu put them
johncmolyneux said:
They're not automatically sorted alphabetically. I don't know what you've done to make it like that because there's no sorting option. Have you installed anything recently?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you add them, they appear to be in the order in which you put them in... but if you restore contacts via synch with Outlook, they're in alphabetical order.
In either case, it seems impossible to rearrange them, which is why I'm baffled; does the system assume someone will fill that list perfectly on the first try?
the same if you use PIM Backup... i hate that too...
ccezar2004 said:
the same if you use PIM Backup... i hate that too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
personally dont see the point in the people tab anyway
Shaamaan said:
When you add them, they appear to be in the order in which you put them in... but if you restore contacts via synch with Outlook, they're in alphabetical order.
In either case, it seems impossible to rearrange them, which is why I'm baffled; does the system assume someone will fill that list perfectly on the first try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it's restoring from Outlook that is the problem then. You suggested that the tab itself was re-ordering what you did!
Yes, I'm afraid you're stuck with that. The people tab is somewhat lacking in some areas. That's why most people don't use it and just use the home tab instead. At lease you can rearrange the quicklinks on the home tab (with mods).
johncmolyneux said:
So it's restoring from Outlook that is the problem then. You suggested that the tab itself was re-ordering what you did!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apologies; on reflection, I see it may have seemed that way.
Yes, I'm afraid you're stuck with that. The people tab is somewhat lacking in some areas. That's why most people don't use it and just use the home tab instead. At lease you can rearrange the quicklinks on the home tab (with mods).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'm not alone in feeling that it's usefulness is limited. Cookie makes this such a far better deal...
I wonder if it would be possible to substitute the People page for a page of "cookie" links... While this one is kind of useless, tabs are generally cool.
Shaamaan said:
When you add them, they appear to be in the order in which you put them in... but if you restore contacts via synch with Outlook, they're in alphabetical order.
In either case, it seems impossible to rearrange them, which is why I'm baffled; does the system assume someone will fill that list perfectly on the first try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ahh now you mention it, some months ago when i set mine up, the next time i restored the order changed, but its not alphabetical, its based on with think is the contact reference number. it hasn't changed since.
in the registry, find
hkcu/software/htc/people/favoriteorder
and you will see what i mean.
i'm not at a pc so i can't examine what the numbers are.
I just use QuickLinks now - but if you want the tabs to stay in the right order, sync using the MS My Phone app - I'm pretty sure they come back exactly where I put them
I have found the registry link to keep your favourite contacts in the same order after a hard reset. Will post it in the new forthcoming update in the hints and tips thread tonight.
Hi guys and gals,
Im thinking about moving from WinMo to Android. I was thinking about selling my Touch Pro 2 and buying the Galaxy S I9000, while waiting for the real treat Epic 4G come to Europe.
If you could help me with few questions...
I dont use any Google services, no gmail as I rather use myowndomain.com... I want to sync with Outlook via usb; contacts, calendar and tasks... Is there good sync software out there?
The main reason for me to have a brick for a cell phone, is that I dont need always have a laptop with me. This brings me to opening and editing office apps; I found "Documents to Go" that seems to be OK, anyone using it?
To me its also important to automatically sync folders while syncing with Outlook, any good programs for that? Ive been using MobSync with WinMo and I guess it could work with this too? I found also Microsoft SyncToy, never tried it though...
Can I get my tasks listed on Android today screen like on WinMo? I need to have be reminded of my tasks, otherwise I would spend ½ of my day reading at XDA and not doing any of the things Im supposed to do...
Any comments and help is appreciated... Thanks!
i'm myself a WinMob convert.
I also use myOwnInsertDomainNameHere.com for my own business, however i use google apps, and i control my domain via Google.
Google Apps is free and easy to use, you gain all the great benefits, you should consider switching.
You can still use your own Exchange or whatever server you happend to be running, it doesn;t really matter, you don't really need Google to use Android
but using Google, will make the convert a heck of a lot easier, else you'll need to figure out a way to export / import your contact list to your new android phone.
by far the best and easiest way to sync contacts between WinMob and Android is via Google Contacts
you do not need Google Apps for that, just a generic Gmail Account.
Loco5150 said:
This brings me to opening and editing office apps; I found "Documents to Go" that seems to be OK, anyone using it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It comes with ThinkOffice, which is pretty much the same as Docs to go.
AllGamer said:
you'll need to figure out a way to export / import your contact list to your new android phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found HTC Sync, but it seems only to sync contacts and calendar.. I read that it should work on Galaxy too. Cant test it as I havent bought the phone yet.
The more I read in to this the more I get the feeling Android is not for me. I really hate any company trying to force me to do anything.
Loco5150 said:
I found HTC Sync, but it seems only to sync contacts and calendar.. I read that it should work on Galaxy too. Cant test it as I havent bought the phone yet.
The more I read in to this the more I get the feeling Android is not for me. I really hate any company trying to force me to do anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Htc sync works with samsung galaxy s too? Do you have a link to where you saw that? This is one area that piss me off a great deal, that I'm not able to sync my contact and calendar to my outlook on my PC. Had to manually reenter my calendar each time I do a hard reset now, and not all my contact records go over so now I only have partial picture. I have no intention of handing over my private data to the cloud.
http://androidforums.com/samsung-i7500/10804-htc-sync.html
I donwloaded htc_sync_2.0.33, found it right away with google. If you cant find it send me a PM and ill send you the link.
Samsung galaxy is not the same phone as galaxy S, but still it looks promising. Ive no idea how to make it work though.
if you use outlook a lot, you might find that samsung kies is not very good. It have a lot of problem connecting to your phone, let alone syncing with Outlook.
I would assume that if HTC Sync works with one Samsung Android phone it works with this one too...
Android seems like an nice operating system, but I aint about to transfer all my life to google. Im little paranoid like that, I dont think its a good thing to have a company in control of wast ammounts of people's personal stuff.
Dont get me wrong. I have no secrets and I know if someone wanted to they can get my data just as easily even if Im using myowndomain.com, but just the thought that so many people have their personal stuff at Google's servers make me feel little uneasy. Who knows what they decide to do with them in the future.
Glad you're not sleeping. How your calendar and contact could be used?
How about:
- government forcing google to hand this data to them, to find out what you were doing via your calendar?
- criminal taking the personal details of your friends and steal their identity, then commit all sorts of crime with it?
Syncing over the cloud is okay for business I guess. For personal use? No thanks. Nothing to do with whether I've anything to hide.
Yeah and you don’t even need to think about it on the personal level…
The thought of one company having the personal emails, appointments, contacts and everything of millions and millions of people makes me sick. Maybe even whereabouts (using Google maps! Haven’t looked at it, but I would assume they have the access to this info too)
Just knowing the greed people have, I see this type of thing bring problems in the future. Im not saying Google has a hidden agenda now, but who knows what and who will be running the operations in 15 years or something.
I don’t mind Google selling their operating system that has an option to use their services, but when they make it mandatory, there’s a problem.
Even if google is really not evil, what's there to stop evil people from hacking into their server? Google couldn't stop the Chinese and Russians from doing that in the past, and certainly won't be able to in the future.
I have a winning bid on Galaxy S closing soon... I made it yesterday before really reading about the android enough... I kind of hope that I wont win it, I probably only have to sell it if I do.
But if not android then what? WinMo7 seems to be a failure in many ways what I have read about it (which is not much though have to admit and I could be wrong)
I really hope Nokia gets their act back together and make their Symbian^3 / Symbian^4 operating systems GOOD... I read that Nokia made a deal with Microsoft to start having Office on Nokia phones, that with the real FREE navigation (Google maps is not free navigation, you need data, when out of your own country your better off hiring a personal chauffeur). If Nokia makes good hardware with the things mentioned above, they could be on their way again... If not, I dont know... The idea of using WimMo 6.5 much longer does not feel like a reasonable choice either.
Uhhhh, I am the proud owner of a new Galaxy S
Loco5150 said:
Uhhhh, I am the proud owner of a new Galaxy S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congrats! and welcome to the club
yes, WM7 sucks big time, i saw videos of it, it was all over the news yesterday.
and WM6.5 is not that great either if your device is already on WM6.1 it's just some interface change, and API coding change.
Nobody dares to suggest the most obvious option which I'm taking?
eaglesteve said:
Nobody dares to suggest the most obvious option which I'm taking?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please do..?
Loco5150 said:
Please do..?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha. You know that will start a war here. Just check all my previous posts.
Haha ok, iPhone... Well I want to use Office and also like I wrote before, I definitely want a HV keyboard and was just thinking of getting Galaxy S as a temporary phone before getting the Epic 4g when it arrives to europe.
Im not a MAC person... I feel their products are mainly for people who really dont know how to use computers etc. I bought an iPod for my girlfried for x-mas sometime ago... I dont get that, it makes you to sync everything with itunes, haha, well I would prefer drag n drop the album I want to my player. Now that she's getting annoyed by iPod/iTunes all her albums are in iTunes and i dont know can she get them back to normal mp3 anymore.
I think this is so funny and there is a small truth in it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg
Congratulations for winning the bid anyway, hope you like it. BTW, have you really owned all those truckloads of phones before ? Hahaha, which one had the longest life?
Just downloaded this game last night and when i launched it, it popped out Welcome back **** (Other ppl's account i guessed)
Then i pressed the Papaya and go to user page and saw that it was other ppl's account and at lvl 3 =.=ll
Why like this eh?
I get this too. I wonder if each build has some unique id tied to it, because this is not the case with my other stock android phone
LRT said:
I get this too. I wonder if each build has some unique id tied to it, because this is not the case with my other stock android phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I remember correctly, all HD2 android builds use the same device id so the app sees every HD2 user as the same person. I'm looking for a source. Not a very good way to save game status, imo it should have a login like WordFeud.
Ah, found it: http://htc-linux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Leo/Status at the bottom where it says "device id".
Thread dedicated to the initial challenges when changing from a Tilt 2 to an LG Quantum.
Why is this thread needed?
AT&T insurance for the Tilt 2 is now sending the LG Quantum as a replacement.
The phones are hardly comparable. Windows Phone 7 is vastly different than Windows Mobile 6.5. It is not HTC. Does not have Sense.
Windows Phone 7 has some very annoying characteristics that can be avoided if you set things up with specific care and knowledge originally.
I just got me replacement phone today. I will continue to update this thread with information as I find it. Hopefully it will help others in the process, since there will be more of us as insurance replaces people's phones.
Tips from day 1 of use
#1. Your intial live account can not be changed without a hard reset. Do not use an old hotmail account as you Windows Live ID. Create a new one. I recommend one that you will only use for this purpose. If you need to change it, you must wipe your phone (hard reset) to replace this. Your primary hotmail account cannot be removed and there is no way to not sync the contacts from it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2430020
I recommend telling no one this id. Do not use the email for anything. Include some number or something, so it will not be guessed. do not store information in this account, such as emails or contacts, if it can be avoided. Plenty of other options like gmail for this purpose.
#2. Common email domains are easy to setup. Even custom ones are. But it first will try, then let's you configure.
#3. There is a list that has settings. Swipe from right to left to get to the list. Then go to settings. Now you can change things how old of emails to get and how much of it.
#4. Open an email with an attached pdf. Get the viewer. better to do this earlier than later when you need it. By default, the phone has no ability to view a pdf. The pdf viewer lets you do this.
#5. Stop looking for tasks, you won't find them. They don't sync with Exchange.
#6. There is not a built in twitter app. I am downloading moTweets, because I liked that before. I am using the Try option. There is also a free Twitter and a free Foursquare.
Looks like there is some map software. Not sure if it costs money yet.
Not finding Bing or Google Maps.
Bing is built in. just press the button in the lower right. Not sure why that is the only way to launch it though.
#7. Installed Zune with no issues on Windows Home 64 bit. It updates the software on the phone. You do not loose settings during this. Not like a ROM flash. Synced Videos, pictures, and music.
#8 Blue tooth paired easily. Remember most devices are 0000 for the pin.
#9 Found my WiFi and I connected it fine.
#10 Uninstall the bloat that AT&T puts on. It's not much, but you don't want apps that cost a monthly fee when free ones exist.
First impressions after 1 day
Allthough the look and feel is not customizable, it is very consistent.
A few things are not 100% obvious, but once learned is not difficult.
Things do just work.
Very fluid display. Nothing lags.
It's easy to get your stuff onto it. I need to still test copy and paste with Office.
I was thinking that I would be totally unhappy with the phone. But, I think it might just be doable. A non technical person should have no trouble with this phone.
Marketplace has alot of free apps.
Day 2
Not all clock alarm apps are equal.
Big Clock, which I downloaded from the marketplace failed to wake me this morning.
Tested the normal Alarms this morning and it did work with the screen locked.
As always test your alarm before you need it.
Annoyed that there are no snooze options. Just 5 minutes.
Glad Mango is coming soon. Mango gives all the snooze options we used to have.
Back in Windows Mobile 6.5 Digital Outcast gave us the snooze options that we were used to. M$ had taken them away.
For Win Phone 7, I haven't found a short term solution to this yet. Going to have to wait for Mango.
Liking the OS more and more. Marketplace makes the downloading and installing of apps very painless. Wish it was more clear about what has live tiles though.
AccuWeather weather app appears to be live. LG Clock and Weather does not appear to have a live tile, but lets you put in multiple cities.
Wish I could find the HTC tile with weather and clock. HTC Hub is not it.
Post #5
Intended to later have more info.
I like to have 5 posts of each thread I create.
As a potential future WP7 Device owner, I can't think of a better thread to follw than this one, so on behalf of myself and other TP2/Tilt2 owners who may one day move on, thank you very much for creating this thread...a lot of people move on from a deice earlier than the majority but don't leave the majority much of anything to work with in regards to what to move on to or to stay away from, or how to dial in the new device a better way than what the manufacturers have configured, so this thread is indeed very much appreciated...at least by me, and I am sure others as well.
While you will be missed in the Energy thread, I'm glad I have someone familiar to work with the new OS so should the time come, I will be versed as well as can be on what to expect, and do or not do...thank you for all you did for us with the Rhodium, and thank you in advance for all you will do for the WP7 community...you better the community here wherever you go or whichever thread you are posting in ....
Now for my first WP7 noob question...can the live tiles color be changed...and are there alternatives on this device to the live tiles?
GT247 said:
... Now for my first WP7 noob question...can the live tiles color be changed...and are there alternatives on this device to the live tiles?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. They can be changed, but you get to change them all from 1 color to another.
slide the panels to the left. This now shows a list. Slide down to settings.
In the section titled Theme, tap it and pick a different color.
Other tiles, like music and video, and pictures get the image from what you have played or viewed.
The Me tile gets it's image from Facebook.
And apps can choose to follow the theme or provide their own image.
For the pictures tile, you can manually set it, by: "Open the Picture hub and tap and hold on an empty space and you'll get the option to select the picture you want." source of quote
End of day 2
Realizing that I do not dislike the phone or Windows Phone 7. This is very hard to admit.
With Windows Mobile 6.5 and 6.5.3 and Sense 2.5 with Cookie 2.0. It was fun figuring out all the ways to make the phone do what it should just do. With Windows phone 7. It just does them the way it is supposed to do it. It might not do it how you are used to it doing it, but it does it and it does it well. It can't do everything you're used to it doing, but it does what you actually need it to do and want it to do.
I was expecting to be extremely disappointed in the phone. But I'm not. Things work. You rotate to landscape. They still work. Energy Roms are much prettierand NRGZ28 did a fantastic job at making it do what it should do.
But Windows Phone 7 does a great job.
The things it falls short on will soon be corrected with Mango.
And no M$ did not pay me anything for this post. I am totally surprised that I would feel this way after just 2 days.
I suspected this would be the case....when everything runs faster and smoother and better without having to tweak it to do so, and the initial worry of not being able to tweak to your hearts content to make something you want to work work...when that worry wears off because you dont have to tweak it...well...when any worry wears off and you realize the new phone with the new OS actually really does improve a lot of things.. when everything opens up as your finger is leaving the screen and just starts doing what it's supposed to do...really...how can that be beat?
I'm glad you're giving us positive feedback, as I knew everything would run butter smooth, like yourself, I had reservations about liking the new platform and the new appearance and other changes you're going through with the new device could be overcome by functionality (lol)....
Yep....Mango should come out and lock you in my friend...I imagine after that you'll be glad that usb port died (just please, if you do end up happy about it, don't tell me so...cuz I'm bummed it happened still lol)
I'm curious as you explore...if there will be little things wp7 doesn't have, that the old winmo did...as I have two android devices and the tilt2, I'm finding some things lacking in "the other OS"...little settings (that are sort of kinda actually big deals, to me) are missing...one is...on the tilt2 I can select to show my caller ID to everyone, noone, or just to contacts...can you do that on the Quantum? Have you noticed a need to wonder how ram is controlled? Have you tried opening a zip?.....I'm happy you're on wp7 now (kinda)....I will want to buy a wp7 if someone I trust tells me theye tested it out, put it through it's paces and that it's a solid performer that's user friendly that I can count on to keep me connected to my customers and employees calls and messages and navigates me through my day and gives me awesome browsing and streaming media over the net between my appointments...yep...I'm paying attention to your thread my friend...my usb could go any day too....lol
Thought I found something that I could not do
Thought I could not accept an appointment from Outlook.
In the email, there is a link that takes you to your calender. You accept it from the tentative meeting. I like this better, because you can actually see what your day looks like when accepting it.
Have not found a free twitter program with a live tile.
For weather, the only free one with a live tile update seems to be The Weather Channel. Weather bug does not show anything on the tile. AccuWeather is not updated live.
As plain as the tiles look, they are clear too read. And everything scrolls so fast and smooth. I'll take plain with function for that responsiveness any day.
GT247 said:
I suspected this would be the case....when everything runs faster and smoother and better without having to tweak it to do so, and the initial worry of not being able to tweak to your hearts content to make something you want to work work...when that worry wears off because you dont have to tweak it...well...when any worry wears off and you realize the new phone with the new OS actually really does improve a lot of things.. when everything opens up as your finger is leaving the screen and just starts doing what it's supposed to do...really...how can that be beat?
I'm glad you're giving us positive feedback, as I knew everything would run butter smooth, like yourself, I had reservations about liking the new platform and the new appearance and other changes you're going through with the new device could be overcome by functionality (lol)....
Yep....Mango should come out and lock you in my friend...I imagine after that you'll be glad that usb port died (just please, if you do end up happy about it, don't tell me so...cuz I'm bummed it happened still lol)
I'm curious as you explore...if there will be little things wp7 doesn't have, that the old winmo did...as I have two android devices and the tilt2, I'm finding some things lacking in "the other OS"...little settings (that are sort of kinda actually big deals, to me) are missing...one is...on the tilt2 I can select to show my caller ID to everyone, noone, or just to contacts...can you do that on the Quantum? Have you noticed a need to wonder how ram is controlled? Have you tried opening a zip?.....I'm happy you're on wp7 now (kinda)....I will want to buy a wp7 if someone I trust tells me theye tested it out, put it through it's paces and that it's a solid performer that's user friendly that I can count on to keep me connected to my customers and employees calls and messages and navigates me through my day and gives me awesome browsing and streaming media over the net between my appointments...yep...I'm paying attention to your thread my friend...my usb could go any day too....lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had no idea that you could control the caller id being sent on a per contact basis with the Tilt 2. I imagine it was just inserting *82 or something before dialing. Ultimately the carrier needs to handle the *82 since they do know your number when sending from the tower to the rest of the phone network.
Still early in the testing.
I don't know WP7 settings, on the tilt2, to control caller id setting, I go to start menu>settings>personal>phone>services and then from there I can select "call barring" "caller id" "call forwarding" "call waiting" and "voicemail and text messages"....once an item is highlighted I can click "get settings"...once "get settings" is selected it checks the network settings and then displays the current setting on the network...on the TP2 caller id settings they can be changed on the network from the device...I'm hoping this is possible on WP7
Another question I have is if pinch to zoom works in emails and other apps, not just the browser
GT247 said:
I don't know WP7 settings, on the tilt2, to control caller id setting, I go to start menu>settings>personal>phone>services and then from there I can select "call barring" "caller id" "call forwarding" "call waiting" and "voicemail and text messages"....once an item is highlighted I can click "get settings"...once "get settings" is selected it checks the network settings and then displays the current setting on the network...on the TP2 caller id settings they can be changed on the network from the device...I'm hoping this is possible on WP7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GT247 said:
Another question I have is if pinch to zoom works in emails and other apps, not just the browser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pinch to zoom works when reading emails, but not when replying or text messaging.
found the setting about sending caller id on the Quantum
Settings - Apps - Phone. You can pick send to everyone, no one, only contacts
when the device is on a call does the lockscreen lock the buttons and touchscreen? ie: is it a waste of time to try to lock the device while on a call? lol
GT247 said:
when the device is on a call does the lockscreen lock the buttons and touchscreen? ie: is it a waste of time to try to lock the device while on a call? lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The exchange server that I use for work pushes a policy forcing the phone to lock.
Pressing the power button on the top not only shuts off the screen but it also locks it.
When I answer the phone, it is easy to unlock, if I want. Just slide up, and enter the code. Then I can do anything while on the call.
The proximity sensor disables the touch screen when you have it by your ear, so you don't actidentally hang up.
Something the phone does not have is physical talk and end buttons. But, I honestly have not had a need for them.
Custom Ringtones and Alert Sounds
Although it's real eay for a developer add ringtones to their device or for anyone that has unlocked it. It is annoying that they have locked this down.
Mango is supposed to allow custom ringtones, so just need to wait.
Supposed to be on September 15th.
Wow...ringtones are locked down? Amazing....really. Please don't think I'm knocking them for doing it, I'm sure there's a reason for it, I just find it surprising is all. Have you examined the GPS Capabilities?
GT247 said:
Wow...ringtones are locked down? Amazing....really. Please don't think I'm knocking them for doing it, I'm sure there's a reason for it, I just find it surprising is all. Have you examined the GPS Capabilities?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS works great.
Good news is that the LG Quantum has a built in reg editor. Kind of clunky. Nothing like the good old Total Commander or Dot Fred Reg Editor.
And the location of there is an app the runs on your computer to make a xap files for ringtones.
And you can then sideload the xap onto the device and the ringtone remains.
First you need to unlock the device.
I have not unlocked mine yet. I should be able to unlock with just a few reg ediits. Haven't done it yet though.
On the 15th Mango officially will be available, and that allows custom ringtones without any hacks.
Some Good threads
Use your Windows Phone as a thumb drive.
Registry mods for WP7 - NoDo
Custom Ringtones
mp3 files work just fine, at least with the NoDo 7392 update.
All the built in ringtones seem to be mp3 as well
Lot of good links here
Hi. Here's the deal...my elderly parents are travelling this winter in another country. International roaming is expensive, as is international travel, and we're looking for as many ways as we can to save money. One of the ways we've considered to deal with both of these problems is to buy a sim card where they are at, rather than bringing their phone from home and paying outrageous international roaming charges. This is where Hero comes in...I have an unlocked HTC Hero that I could let them use. The problem is, they are intimidated by technology, and having a capable phone with lots of features is overwhelming to them. I was wondering if there's a way I can lock the phone down so it goes to the dialer and nowhere else. No lock screen, no email, no Android market, no text messages sent or received, none of that, just the dialer to make and receive calls. Ideally, I'd like to be able to return it to normal functionality when I get it back, but if this is a one-way thing, that's OK, too. It is currently running Elelinux-7.1-Hero-v3.6-Light.
I apologize profusely if this is a silly question...I'm new at all of this.
Tired_ said:
Hi. Here's the deal...my elderly parents are travelling this winter in another country. International roaming is expensive, as is international travel, and we're looking for as many ways as we can to save money. One of the ways we've considered to deal with both of these problems is to buy a sim card where they are at, rather than bringing their phone from home and paying outrageous international roaming charges. This is where Hero comes in...I have an unlocked HTC Hero that I could let them use. The problem is, they are intimidated by technology, and having a capable phone with lots of features is overwhelming to them. I was wondering if there's a way I can lock the phone down so it goes to the dialer and nowhere else. No lock screen, no email, no Android market, no text messages sent or received, none of that, just the dialer to make and receive calls. Ideally, I'd like to be able to return it to normal functionality when I get it back, but if this is a one-way thing, that's OK, too. It is currently running Elelinux-7.1-Hero-v3.6-Light.
I apologize profusely if this is a silly question...I'm new at all of this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's kind of easy what you want...but not every thing can be erased
1ownload eles ROM
2. Open the archive with WinRar or other app that you use
3. Go to /system/apps and you will find all the app there with the extension .apk
4. Delete what you think that they won't use (but be very careful): for example market.apk (you said that they don't need it)
4. Close the program and you will see that the rom is more lighter
5. Flash the rom
6. Enjoy
For the part with the lock screen i don't think i can help you...
Hope you get work done
Stefan
The lock screen part is really the important part. The other apps can still be installed, just abstracted away from my parent's eyes, if they're locked into the dialer. I guess I wasn't clear enough when I described what I was looking for. I want to make it so that the dialer program is the only program accessible to the user...when they press the home button, I want it to go to the dialer rather than to a launcher. When the screen goes off due to inactivity, I want it to go to the dialer right away when any button is pressed rather than showing a lock screen. On iPhone (sorry, it's a platform I'm more familiar with), there's a jailbreak app called IncarcerApp that can do this...is there anything similar for Hero?
Lockscreen
Hi there! If you want to get rid of the lock screen what you can do is go into settings on the phone then Cyanogen mod settings then tablet tweaks and in there, there is a tick box or similar that you can press to disable the lock screen!
Hope that Helped
Thanks for the tip, PP337, but that's still not what I am looking for. I did some Googling last night, and I found a lot of developers refer to what I am looking for as 'Kiosk Mode'. Unfortunately, everything I found on that is in the context of creating a new app, rather than using an existing one.
I'm obviously not making myself clear enough, but I'm not sure how I can phrase it more clearly. I really hope we won't have to go buy a junky SIMlocked Nokia phone that we'll have to throw out in three months when they come home.
i can't understand one think....why is it so hard to unlock a phone??? especially when it's so simple...
Stefan
Unlocking a phone is indeed simple, for you and I. But for an elderly person, particularly one who is unfamiliar with technology, being confronted with a screen full of app icons can be intimidating. I tried to get my mom to use the Android phone as it is, and she is terrified of breaking something or doing something wrong, to the point where she won't use it for those fears.
I have to say, I hadn't expected it would be this difficult to make this 'open platform' do what I want it to. If it were iPhone, I'd be done by now. Disappointing.
Could you not just remove all the homescreen icons? Can't remember which launcher comes with that ROM, but if you install launcher pro for example, you can remove all the icons even the dock. You can then choose to have just one homescreen and just the dialer icon. Or you could leave it blank to just select the dialer button to make calls. Then disable the lock screen as described above. Would that be ok for them ?
Tired_ said:
I have to say, I hadn't expected it would be this difficult to make this 'open platform' do what I want it to. If it were iPhone, I'd be done by now. Disappointing.
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Click to collapse
how old are your parents that you say that they "can't unlock" a phone... Both my parents use android on their phones and don't have any problems....
Don't want to be rude or things like that but it's easy on android...
Stefan
stefpaul said:
how old are your parents that you say that they "can't unlock" a phone... Both my parents use android on their phones and don't have any problems....
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She's 72, and in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He's 70 and has a severe learning disability.
I tried the suggestion someone posted about LauncherPro with only one icon. She accidentally long-pressed an empty space and the menu came up and she didn't know what to do. I was able to tell her what to do because I am here now, but if that had happened when I wasn't around she wouldn't have been able to cope at all, for fear it was dialing some 1-900 number or doing something else she didn't want. I'm shocked that it isn't possible to lock Hero into a single app, but it seems it simply isn't. Thanks anyways for all your help.
Tired_ said:
She's 72, and in the early stages of Alzheimer's. He's 70 and has a severe learning disability.
I tried the suggestion someone posted about LauncherPro with only one icon. She accidentally long-pressed an empty space and the menu came up and she didn't know what to do. I was able to tell her what to do because I am here now, but if that had happened when I wasn't around she wouldn't have been able to cope at all, for fear it was dialing some 1-900 number or doing something else she didn't want. I'm shocked that it isn't possible to lock Hero into a single app, but it seems it simply isn't. Thanks anyways for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are they traveling alone? That sounds like something you should worry about more then just having a phone for them
You could use adw and lock the desktop by pressing menu and choosing 'lock desktop'. That would prevent any accidental menus popping up. You could also hide the status bar from adw settings and disable the lockscreen from cm tweaks menu. You could also download a dialer widget (https://market.android.com/details?id=dialer.impact) and set that as a widget on a single homescreen and lock the desktop on adw launcher.
Hope that helped
Car Home may help