Android 2.3.5/Sense 3.0 removes Car Panel - Desire HD General

I have a stock Desire HD on Orange UK, and I am still awaiting the 2.3.5/3.0 update. However, a colleague has received the same update for his Desire S.
Something that he has already noticed since the update is that the Car Panel has disappeared.
After a lengthy, but not particularly helpful, web chat with HTC Support, it would appear that they have not removed the Car Panel, but have instead integrated it into their Premium Navigation. In other words, if you still want/need to use the car panel after the update then you have to pay for premium navigation.
I personally don't know how they can get away with this. They have removed the completely free standard Android Car Home, have basically created a skinned version that points to their own default apps, and are now making us pay in order to use it.
Further still, because of the presence of the HTC Car Panel app, we cannot install the standard Google Car Home from the Android Market.
A couple of quotes from my web chat (a full transcript of which I have saved):
Georgina: I am sorry you feel this way. If you wish to use the car panel then you have the option to purchase the licence.
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Click to collapse
Georgina: I can pass this information on for you. This was a decision made by HTC themselves. They do not take changing things lightly. They look into them thoroughly and consider them first.
Georgina: They only make changes when they believe they are for the best.
Simon: for the best? best for who? those who want to drive safely? or best for the bottom line?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, basically "yes you can still use it if you pay for it".
I know I am not alone in thinking that the car panel is not simply about navigation. It is essential for the safe handling of calls within the car.
I don't think I was successful in getting this issue logged properly for escalation, so I doubt very much that anyone else at HTC will even see my concerns, let alone address them.
Am I just being too picky? Or does anybody else think that this is totally unacceptable?

I must confess I hadn't noticed, having always found Google's own Navigation app much better.
I do think that Sense 3 is a huge improvement over 2.5 though.

Related

Things that'll turn Android from Good to PERFECT

List things you wish Android would change (stock) that'll make it perfect...note, nothing about apps or third party skins...I'll start with 3 though I can think of a lot more
1. Better looking notification bar...I like the look of the icons, but the notification bar still has that 1.0 feel to it...not a fan
2. Better looking and more functional media app...and movie player
3. Better looking buttons and selection actions.
(doesn't matter if desired changes are superficial or system deep)
PS. I can't wait until this UI refresh that Gingerbread guarantees...ALSO...
am I the only person who loves when Apple announces new ****, because Android then does better and so on and so forth....the Apple, Android beef should be encouraged by fanboys on all sides...we all benefit greatly.
The dialer needs to be more functional. I cannot afford to scroll down 500 of my contacts to find a name, a simple keypad/numberpad on the contact section would suffice just like it works for sense ui.
mythamp said:
The dialer needs to be more functional. I cannot afford to scroll down 500 of my contacts to find a name, a simple keypad/numberpad on the contact section would suffice just like it works for sense ui.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried google gestures or voice dial? They work great but I dont have enough contacts to justify using them, wish I did but for me its quick to scroll.
Also the tab on the right is handy but im sure youve probably tried these things
mythamp said:
The dialer needs to be more functional. I cannot afford to scroll down 500 of my contacts to find a name, a simple keypad/numberpad on the contact section would suffice just like it works for sense ui.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Dialer One? It is pretty awesome.
But I agree, the default dialer should work a lot better.
To add to the general discussion, I dont think there is much wrong with the media player but I would like the addition of an EQ and the ability to scroll through the playing song with more accuracy - something the iPhone does particularly well.
I also think the market needs massive improvements to make Android truly great. There may be 50,000 apps but when so many are themes and porn, that number becomes meaningless. I would rather there were only a few thousand really good and useful apps instead.
The UI should natively support themes to change icons, colors, etc
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
gllu said:
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
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When it's something provided only by third-party apps on other phones, I don't think it should be called a "basic feature".
gllu said:
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
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I'm pretty sure recording a call, in America at least, is illegal unless you notify the person being recorded..
Wisefire said:
I'm pretty sure recording a call, in America at least, is illegal unless you notify the person being recorded..
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Negative Ghost Rider...
In the US, it is determined by the state that you live in. Many states have what is called "single party" laws, which means that as long as one person is aware the call is being recorded (you), then it's legal.
I cant take my android phone to work. The inability to go to work is easily the largest single weakness of the phone imo. Millions of people need exchange (fully functioning and not through a third party server work around) and to connect to stand alone installations of outlook, often both. It rankles that I am still going to have to buy a winmo phone when when 7 hits to replace my old winmo phone because my 39 mflops N1 is a no go for work.
Decent copy and paste functionality would be nice. yikes even apple gives you that
Sync Tasks with Google Calendar
Sync Sports Calendars
Set "Peak Times" for Google Sync
crachel said:
Sync Tasks with Google Calendar
[*]Sync Sports Calendars
Set "Peak Times" for Google Sync
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i managed to find a workaround for that one, i found an exportable calendar for my local baseball team that did the trick, shows up just fine on my phone, its only googles native sports calendars that dont work in android
I sure would like support for wireless proxy servers, and for the phone to properly pull default gateway information via DHCP like it is supposed to.
gllu said:
Perfect is yet far away. With basic features like call recording missing, it's take some time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since when is call recording a "basic feature"...wow
As much as I love Android, I think the UI could use a lot of work. It lacks cohesiveness, and can be quite bland.
This guy can change all of that, however: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/palms-matias-duarte-has-joined-google-as-user-experience-direct/
How about these two simple features:
1) Native support for sound profiles. Coming from a blackberry this was shocking.
2) Unified gmail/hosted gmail inbox option. Not everyone would enable it but again a blackberry user is used to getting to all messages in one box. Currently I am constantly changing between 4 accounts in gmail. Super annoying.
Android is the best mobile OS out there but I think it isn't ready to be called perfect.
krabman said:
I cant take my android phone to work. The inability to go to work is easily the largest single weakness of the phone imo. Millions of people need exchange (fully functioning and not through a third party server work around) and to connect to stand alone installations of outlook, often both. It rankles that I am still going to have to buy a winmo phone when when 7 hits to replace my old winmo phone because my 39 mflops N1 is a no go for work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried Touchdown? It's a $20.00 app, and it's one time.
jmbrown32 said:
As much as I love Android, I think the UI could use a lot of work. It lacks cohesiveness, and can be quite bland.
This guy can change all of that, however: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/palms-matias-duarte-has-joined-google-as-user-experience-direct/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's only as bland as you make it.

Apps you would like to see in the market

I would love to see a music equalizer app created...preferably one that would integrate with Zune.
Yes, I totally Agree. I can't believe there is no eq.
Also. I would love to see a Pandora app. It was promised, but no one delivered.
i would also love this, and something that could also increase the max volume of the headphones
I would love to see a true VLC player that can play any video I put on my phone....I hate converting as it lowers quality and I can't always stream when I am not home
MeCanto has to be one of my favorite apps for both the iPhone and Android. Would also be nice to have tapatalk for browsing XDA ;-)
I am looking for a robust alarm clock app. One that will take into account which time zone I would like it set for, and one that will override the phones volume settings to ensure that it is audible.
The current stock alarm is good, but certainly not great.
For example, if I am based out of Chicago, but travel to London, I should be able to have an alarm set for a phone conference based on Chicago time and a wake up alarm based on local London time.
Basically on my alarm time settings there should be an option to account for Home/Local/ or any other arbitrary time zone.
BB's function a little like this except that theirs fo one further and will turn the phone on from being off at the alarm time. I was never sure that was great functionality. when I want the phone off, it should probably be off. The new BB software though will ask you when you turn it off if you want it to come on at the given alarm time. That could be elegant.
Any ideas? Any of you seen a great alarm app?
nerdslogic said:
I would love to see a true VLC player that can play any video I put on my phone....I hate converting as it lowers quality and I can't always stream when I am not home
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
VLC would be awesome
I know that its coming...
...but if the Kindle reader app doesn't get here soon, I'm going to go crazy.
I would even be happy with the Nook reader app.
chizzwhizz said:
I would love to see a music equalizer app created...preferably one that would integrate with Zune.
Click to expand...
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lol funny that the hd7 have a eq but i want to change to a focus because the camera features are a lot more on the focus .. we dont have brightness adjustment and other camera features that the focus have....
I WANT TUNEWIKI/ENGADGET/TAPATALK(I KNOW THERE IS A BOARDTALK) not the same tho...
ugh and no multitasking...lol i feel like im on the iphone again
I'd like to see a Meebo or Google Talk app. As well as a Google Voice app that isn't unofficial.
I really wish there was a free turn-by-turn navigation solution, but at least I still have my Fascinate for that.
One that translates speech to text and can send as text message or e-mail. The Insurance industry and National Highway Saftey Council ought to fund that one.
Better looking Compass apps than what's currently available.
Palringo and evernote and keepass
Or the ones I am really missing from my TP2
MHC48 said:
One that translates speech to text and can send as text message or e-mail. The Insurance industry and National Highway Saftey Council ought to fund that one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second that!!!
Also, I want a Text message encryption app, so only me and my recipient can read it.
I want Google Locator that works cross platform for android, Iphone, WP7 users.
All in one bar-code, QR, MS TaG, Shipping label scanner.
A sound profile app would be nice, I mentioned this in another thread. The basically the ability to set up preset Normal, night, silent, vibrate only, profiles. Which also give the ability to control and set different sound levels for the Ringer, Alarm, Music, System, earpiece, keyboard clicks, etc.
Also I'd love to have the following apps from the iPhone 4 and Droid Incredible
- Cardio Track (Android - great app for tracking your workouts)
- CBS Pro Football App - on iphone and Android, use it to track and control my fantasy football teams.
- USA Today App...
- XDA Tapatalk App!!!! Someone working on this yet?
- Amazon.com app
- Pandora!!!!!!!!!!
- Sport Tac - App for tracking scores of various sports. Like the Andorid one.
- A true flashlight app that uses the LED Flash!
- PhotoShop App
- Task app that synchs with MS Outlook/Exchange OTA using ActiveSync Why did MS leave tasks out up front?
- I'm sure I can come up with more if given the time..
and what is with all the tip calculating apps out there in the market....
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it but an IRC client would be superb. even if its just something basic like irrsi, that would be God-like.
Am I the only one who thinks the Paid portion of the App market is a tiny bit inflated? Apps that SHOULD be free are a dollar (e.g. xkcd). And apps that SHOULD be a dollar are 3$ or more... even "Glow Air Hockey" is $5.49CAD (The much better iphone version is only 2$) and that's only singling out one of them.
Basically whoever releases an app on the market place has the monopoly for the time being which results in 50-100% markups and I'd even go as far as to say 200% in some cases. It's kinda rough... but with that being said, there definitely are some fair prices to be found if you search well enough.
All in all, I'd love to see discounts across the board!
in time, as you said when competition arrives the prices will drop.
glypmpse
I emailed them and they said they are working on it actively.
I hate to break it to you guys but much of what your requesting is not possible (yet) with the current sdk available to developers. For example, we can't access the compass at all currently. With that noted, I am a registered WP7 developer and I'm fishing for ideas on what to make, so suggest away.

Registered WP7 Developer looking for ideas!

As the title states, suggest away.
direct sync to outlook .pst
What the [email protected]#$% was MS thinking by leaving this out? Even the iphone syncs to outlook.
mightyeric said:
direct sync to outlook .pst
What the [email protected]#$% was MS thinking by leaving this out? Even the iphone syncs to outlook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jesus, how many times is this going to be brought up? The function is NOT there, and it was known BEFORE any device came out. Quit the *****ing and get a phone that supports it, or move on.
Anyways, I'd like a good sports app like Sportacular that has notifications when games start, during and after with the scores. Fantasy updates with custom rosters would be great too.
Not sure what the SDK will let you do, but is it possible to develop an app that can be pinned to the start page, that toggles 3g/wifi/bluetooth? I know we can just drop in to the Settings menu, but I would pay for an app that put those three in one easy place.
I would also like an app that rotates, like a slideshow I guess, all sorts of images from the various Xbox games I've been playing across the tile. That would look cool on the start page. Maybe it does a Bing image search to find the images to rotate, etc. I'm not a developer, but it was something I thought of earlier today.
dougp.me said:
Jesus, how many times is this going to be brought up? The function is NOT there, and it was known BEFORE any device came out. Quit the *****ing and get a phone that supports it, or move on.
Anyways, I'd like a good sports app like Sportacular that has notifications when games start, during and after with the scores. Fantasy updates with custom rosters would be great too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is comming in dec development almost done..
The direct sync with outlook is not possible with the WP7 SDK. That would have to be incorporated into the Zune sync software. The WP7 is meant to be a cloud device so I don't see this coming anytime soon.
The idea about toggling the radios is also not possible im afraid. The SDK does not give developers any direct access to the hardware like that. Hell, we can't even adjust the volume.
rruffman said:
this is comming in dec development almost done..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
love to see more on this...
JMackey said:
The idea about toggling the radios is also not possible im afraid. The SDK does not give developers any direct access to the hardware like that. Hell, we can't even adjust the volume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That really blows. Just thinking about what various iPhone and Android apps can do easily, it seems this platform is much more closed than even iPhone's. The key to both Android and iPhones success has been as much the developer community as it has been the solid hardware the apps run on, maybe even more so the developers. The new WP7 hardware seems solid enough so far. If MS doesn't open up the SDK to a greater array of components, this will just continue to lag behind, even fall farther behind.
...Hoping someone can cook up some nice WP7 ROM's
ability to take any music file and assign it as a ringtone!
an independent youtube app that doesnt simply goto a web page. Also bein able to watch high def on 3g, and not only on a wifi connection.
TOA Duck said:
an independent youtube app that doesnt simply goto a web page. Also bein able to watch high def on 3g, and not only on a wifi connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's already one in the Marketplace for free. You have to have the YouTube app installed to use it, but it allows for searching, etc. from within the App.
prubin said:
ability to take any music file and assign it as a ringtone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is supposedly coming in January according to reports this morning. See: http://www.wpcentral.com/rumor-january-firmware-update-wp7-include-custom-ringer-support-more
(Sorry, forgot to multi-quote.)
not sure if you can make do this or not, but I would like to be able to connect to hidden networks. Also be able to use the device as a wifi router.
Could it be made downward compatible? It would be nice to be able to run some of my already-purchased software.
As an alternative, the single-largest bummer of making this switch for me will be loss of the two coolest apps I have EVER had – “Pocket Earth”, and “Pocket World” by Bluepoint Studios. These apps, especially Pocket Earth, were stunning! I don’t know their status, but if you could buy the rights and the code and somehow rewrite them for WP7, I suspect you would do very well.
I need programs which are NOT web-dependent. Dictionaries, translation programs, an atlas, etc. which are device-based. Traveling internationally is where one needs the language converters and I work a lot on the plane. I’d prefer to give up space in the device than to continually pay for international data.
Best of luck,
Dave
Battery indicator showing remaining strength in percentage or bars.
A recorder...
There are a few out there, but I need it to either have voice activated start/stop, or stop/start control from my bluetooth. I am a sports photographer, and if I can describe what is on a picture that I take right after I take it, it is much easier to do my captioning when I get home. But I don't have time to take the phone out of my pocket and start/stop after each play.
It seems a lot of the suggestions are things to do with hardware. The only hardware access the SDK gives developers is the GPS, Accelerometer, and the radio. We don't even have direct access to the camera. (When an app takes a picture, it opens the camera app then sends the taken picture back to the app).
riceboyler said:
There's already one in the Marketplace for free. You have to have the YouTube app installed to use it, but it allows for searching, etc. from within the App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will we ever be able to watch high quality youtube vids over 3g. Now you have to be on wifi. I know on iphone the vids are HQ over 3g.
1) Something that bypasses Exchange-enforced password entry. Android has it; and frankly, PIN enforcement is a meaningless layer of security that does nothing more than inconvenience the end-user.
2) Something that let's you copy synced Calendar entries and Contacts to the Phone instead of forcing them to exist in the stupid cloud. <--I would pay good money for this. Again, something that Android let's you do that I like.
Edited to Add:
3) An app that keeps the phone on and unlocked. I don't like this forced lock/timeout thing, I'd prefer to have complete control of when it is locked and when it isn't.
1) A Remote Desktop Application compatable with MS's current RDP services
2) Something that periodically rotates the Logon Screen Picture
3) Something that would quickly display Battery Life, Used/Remaining Storage, etc...
- MEK

Windows Phone 8.1

So I've been inactive for a little while (partially because there wasn't really much happening that affected me). But I thought now would be a good time to talk about Windows Phone 8.1 and what it will bring (even though we're mostly speculating). The particularly interesting part to me is what will happen to phones such as mine (Ativ S Neo) now that Microsoft is buying out Nokia.
So here are my predictions (some of them are totally random):
1. Microsoft will make launching the camera faster by modeling it after Windows 8.1 (swipe down on lockscreen) however this could be replaced with a notification center, but either way, it will be used.
2. The notification icons can be touched as you're swiping the lockscreen away to launch the respective app. This is a more dubious prediction, but would be nice.
3. Nokia apps could be brought into the fold (integrated fully into Windows Phone). This is more likely to come with a GDR2 update or such since 8.1 is coming out right after the deal closes. It's also a hopeful prediction, but Microsoft had better make it happen.
4. Bigger square tiles. This is something I'm pretty confident about, and would love to see for things like Pictures and People apps, and would be awesome to see what developers do with them.
5. Group messaging. If they don't do this, I swear....
6. Notification center. This is of course going to happen, but what I'd love to see is not swiping down from the top, but perhaps swiping in from the left-hand side, and when you're on the Start screen, it would work beautifully with having the app drawer on the right (left notifications, middle Start, right apps).
7. Also, I'm guessing they'll integrate new app APIs in an effort to get ready for the move to one Windows store. This would also include APIs for Cortana integration, which I'll discuss in a minute.
8. Internet Explorer 11/sync with Windows 8.1. IE 11 is sorta given, but sync is one of those things they'd better do, because it would make my Windows experience even more seamless, and I love the way it happens on Windows 8.1 with multiple computers.
9. Cortana. This is something I can't wait for, and I just hope she integrates REALLY deeply into the Windows ecosystem, and eventually Xbox and Windows 8. First off, I realize Cortana is a codename, but I hope they let you name him/her. This way I can keep Cortana. It would also be sweet if you could make an avatar for her! For this section I'll be making sub-points.
I. However, here's what Cortana should be able to do: cue up music based on what she knows you want to listen to. This way when I'm biking to work, she can cue up some great Imagine Dragons radio for me. Or when I'm biking back I can just ask her to play music and she'll cue up some rap for me.
II. I should be able to talk to her in a natural way, instead of using keywords ("let my girlfriend know where I'm at" and Cortana says "I'm leaving work" or sends a map of where I am).
III. I also really hope the voice sounds natural and works offline. Working offline is probably the number one thing besides accuracy that I want. IV. Cortana shouldn't just be there when I ask her though, she should be ready before I ask. When my girlfriend texts and asks where I am, Cortana should say "your girlfriend wants to know where you are, should I tell her you're leaving work?". Or if I'm looking for a place to eat, Cortana should know from my texts that I'm going out with my girlfriend for a nice evening in San Diego and recommend somewhere based on the kind of food I like and the budget I work with, before I ask her. She should turn herself on before I go out the door and say "here's a place to eat at tonight".
V. Of course this wouldn't be an instant thing. She'd learn you over time, and change as your preferences change.
VI. She should also be situation-aware. For example, if someone from work sends me an email and I ask Cortana to reply, she should draft it in appropriate business language. When I send a Facebook message, it should include appropriate smileys and lingo.
VII. Cortana should be part of the camera experience. If I pull out my phone to take a picture on the beach with my girlfriend, it should already be on the camera app before I unlock (I don't press the camera button, just turn the screen on.) and be able to take pictures when I give my phone to someone else on the beach without them pressing a button. It would be even crazier if I could prop my phone up and Cortana can tell someone to move left or right to get better in the picture.
VIII. She should recognize me. When I speak, she should know by my voice that it's me, or even discretely use the camera now and then to make sure it's me and if not lock someone out.
Anyways, those are my insane Cortana expectations, and they also include many other system features.
10. All-in-one Windows integration, not just sync. Obviously this would be later in the year, with GDR2 or 3 and another Windows 8 update. However, this is when I'm playing music on my phone and open my computer, then the computer automatically starts playing it. I move into my living room and my Xbox turns on and starts playing the music. This wouldn't be just music, but that's an example of what I want to see.
So yeah, my expectations are insane, but I'm guessing I've hit a couple things right.(especially with Cortana, though she's the thing that I set my expectations most ridiculously high on ha). But what do you think? How much of this will be a reality? Is there something I've missed?
And Microsoft, if you're reading this, just do it. Make Cortana blow everything out of the water. :good:
Group messaging has been built into Windows Phone since WP7 (maybe it was Mango, but I think it was actually a release feature...). If your phone doesn't "support" it, that's a problem with your carrier, not the OS or the hardware. (I'm not entirely clear why anybody would use Sprint, honestly; at least AT&T and Verizon have the advantage of network coverage).
I like the notification center ideas. Swipe (pivot) from left could be useful on both the Start screen (opposite of the app list) and on the lock screen (opposite of Kid's Corner), quite possibly.
IE11 is already part of GDR3, I believe... probably IE12 by the time WP8.1 comes out.
New APIs are much needed. I reallllly hope they move towards less lockdown (make it more RT-like, at a minimum, with file pickers and whatnot). Well, or let us bypass this lockdown BS altogether...
Your "Windows integration" thing is kind of weird, for a few reasons. First of all, your phone can already do this (again, this applies all the way back to WP7) by using Bluetooth. I can play music through my laptop, control it through my laptop, etc. automatically; if my desktop had BT it could do the same. Second, the thing that I really want to see with regard to Windows integration is the ability to work like a Windows machine instead of some special second-class-citizen "device". Things like Homegroup support, ideally domain-joining support (not likely, but it would be really nice to be able to sign my phone into the work network and access internal resources seamlessly; this *may* come as part of the VPN functionality), printing support (not sure if WP8 currently supports printing at all, although it can "see" BT printers), Favorites/documents/settings (where applicable) sync (some of this is coming via Skydrive integration, but it *should* be at least as good as Win8.0 managed), solid built-in Remote Desktop support, and that kind of stuff.
GoodDayToDie said:
Group messaging has been built into Windows Phone since WP7 (maybe it was Mango, but I think it was actually a release feature...). If your phone doesn't "support" it, that's a problem with your carrier, not the OS or the hardware. (I'm not entirely clear why anybody would use Sprint, honestly; at least AT&T and Verizon have the advantage of network coverage).
I like the notification center ideas. Swipe (pivot) from left could be useful on both the Start screen (opposite of the app list) and on the lock screen (opposite of Kid's Corner), quite possibly.
IE11 is already part of GDR3, I believe... probably IE12 by the time WP8.1 comes out.
New APIs are much needed. I reallllly hope they move towards less lockdown (make it more RT-like, at a minimum, with file pickers and whatnot). Well, or let us bypass this lockdown BS altogether...
Your "Windows integration" thing is kind of weird, for a few reasons. First of all, your phone can already do this (again, this applies all the way back to WP7) by using Bluetooth. I can play music through my laptop, control it through my laptop, etc. automatically; if my desktop had BT it could do the same. Second, the thing that I really want to see with regard to Windows integration is the ability to work like a Windows machine instead of some special second-class-citizen "device". Things like Homegroup support, ideally domain-joining support (not likely, but it would be really nice to be able to sign my phone into the work network and access internal resources seamlessly; this *may* come as part of the VPN functionality), printing support (not sure if WP8 currently supports printing at all, although it can "see" BT printers), Favorites/documents/settings (where applicable) sync (some of this is coming via Skydrive integration, but it *should* be at least as good as Win8.0 managed), solid built-in Remote Desktop support, and that kind of stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately Group messaging got dropped from Windows Phone on Verizon and Sprint from 7 to 8... I have no idea why.And with the music, I have desktop speakers hooked up to my laptop most of the time, but yeah, that was more a want than a prediction. And I have GDR3 and I don't believe it is an updated IE (I never saw something about that... But I could be wrong. Never noticed any improvements though) and yeah, I think you're very right on the VPN and domain stuff, they'll want to get businesses to want these for employees, and advertising it as working with existing infrastructure would be HUGE.
C-Lang said:
Unfortunately Group messaging got dropped from Windows Phone on Verizon and Sprint from 7 to 8... I have no idea why.And with the music, I have desktop speakers hooked up to my laptop most of the time, but yeah, that was more a want than a prediction. And I have GDR3 and I don't believe it is an updated IE (I never saw something about that... But I could be wrong. Never noticed any improvements though) and yeah, I think you're very right on the VPN and domain stuff, they'll want to get businesses to want these for employees, and advertising it as working with existing infrastructure would be HUGE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
group messaging was added again on the 928 since gdr2 launched a while ago. I'm not sure if its been corrected with any of the others yet.
On top of that, I'm not all sure what MS has done between GDR3 preview and GDR3 RTM. (NOTE: it auto suggests the word preview after typing GDR3.)
I don't think that way can bet on anything yet for the 8.1 update... MS still is battling uphill, when it comes to a seamless integration with the "one windows experience".
My beef still:
Why wasn't Xbox video integrated at launch and why is MS touting finally as "coming soon" by word from Nokia, not MS announcing the news?
Why isn't MS leaving an option to "unlock" our phones beyond pushing development apps? There is still a quite a large amount of functionality that's missing from WP that's in your good old WM6. I can understand that started from scratch after seeing that the T-Mobile Sidekick UI worked well, while the Kin and the kin 2 for that matter was a flop.
I also have to agree wit @GoodDayToDie about some of the Domain features,, but I'd one up by adding DirectAccess support, after all MS hates being limited to VPNs.
I also recall seeing drivers inside the registry for printing while thinking,
What would I want to print directly from my phone? Photos?
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Click to collapse
I'm just not quite sure what Windows Phone's future is yet...
Essentially, I didn't find anything interesting coming out of Abu Dhabi.
Sent from my RM-860 using Tapatalk
Just another wishlist, that wont happend.
You should be more realistic and read more infos about, what microsoft is going to do with there OS. A wishlist, what u would like to have and how they should done it, is just a wishlist that never will be happend.
dergutehirte said:
Just another wishlist, that wont happend.
You should be more realistic and read more infos about, what microsoft is going to do with there OS. A wishlist, what u would like to have and how they should done it, is just a wishlist that never will be happend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me, I've read everything there is to read and included it in my list. I included many realistic expectations, but all threw in a bunch of random stuff that could happen, whether its in the next update or not. Have you even read about Cortana? She's kind of what I described, albeit probably not THAT smart, but that's Microsoft's goal sort of from what we currently know. Now go do some reading before you speak up next time.
According to what has leaked so far, I still see 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, some of 9, and something like 10 as extremely realistic. Sure not everything will happen that way, but from Microsoft's goals and my extensive use of Windows 8/8.1 on multiple laptops/Surface and Surface 2 and my use of WP from WP 7.1 on and my Xbox and what I've seen of the Xbox One (which I've preordered, and watched every video there is to watch) this all could very well happen, although some of it will no doubt be an update or so away.
And as for my Cortana predictions, here's a great article to sum up what I've said and how it lines up with facts as we know them (Microsoft's goals and statements, leaks etc.) and it lines up PRETTY DARN WELL. And I quote Steve Ballmer "deeply personalized, based on the advanced, almost magical, intelligence in our cloud that learns more and more over time about people and the world". I don't know about you, but my predictions sound pretty reasonable to me.
This is not a "preview" in the sense of a "beta". It is, in fact, the RTM build... but in the proper sense of RTM (Release To Manufacturing) where "Manufacturing" here means the phone OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). The OEMs may further customize things at this point, adding additional packages to the update. It then goes to the mobile operators, why may make yet more tweaks (usually, in my experience, this involves removing some stuff, like the ability to lock the phone to 3G only on AT&T, for example, but they also add their own ringtones and boot screens and similar cruft).
However, the bits from Microsoft are final and released. Those are not changing. I'm sure MS runs pre-release programs (betas) internally, and they had a public beta program for Mango (WP7.5), but it appears that no part of WP8 had any such external program.
1. Microsoft will make launching the camera faster by modeling it after Windows 8.1 (swipe down on lockscreen) however this could be replaced with a notification center, but either way, it will be used.
No yet. Only as second option.
2. The notification icons can be touched as you're swiping the lockscreen away to launch the respective app. This is a more dubious prediction, but would be nice.
Already has this since GDR2 as I know. You can tap on it to open that app from lock screen, swipe notification message in top from left to right side, to hide it.
3. Nokia apps could be brought into the fold (integrated fully into Windows Phone). This is more likely to come with a GDR2 update or such since 8.1 is coming out right after the deal closes. It's also a hopeful prediction, but Microsoft had better make it happen.
No. Nokia wants to be independent and leader. So if all OEM apps will be available for all other WP devices, than Nokia gonna lost part of market share.
4. Bigger square tiles. This is something I'm pretty confident about, and would love to see for things like Pictures and People apps, and would be awesome to see what developers do with them.
Developers, developers, developers only can do with own apps to make similar as People, Pictures. Go ahead.
5. Group messaging. If they don't do this, I swear....
What you mean Group Messaging? SMS or Social Messaging (Twitter/Facebook/Lync/Outlook?) Will be.
6. Notification center. This is of course going to happen, but what I'd love to see is not swiping down from the top, but perhaps swiping in from the left-hand side, and when you're on the Start screen, it would work beautifully with having the app drawer on the right (left notifications, middle Start, right apps).
-------- No comments --------
7. Also, I'm guessing they'll integrate new app APIs in an effort to get ready for the move to one Windows store. This would also include APIs for Cortana integration, which I'll discuss in a minute.
-------- No comments --------
8. Internet Explorer 11/sync with Windows 8.1. IE 11 is sorta given, but sync is one of those things they'd better do, because it would make my Windows experience even more seamless, and I love the way it happens on Windows 8.1 with multiple computers.
Will be. This calling ecosystem.
9. Cortana. This is something I can't wait for, and I just hope she integrates REALLY deeply into the Windows ecosystem, and eventually Xbox and Windows 8. First off, I realize Cortana is a codename, but I hope they let you name him/her. This way I can keep Cortana. It would also be sweet if you could make an avatar for her! For this section I'll be making sub-points.
I. However, here's what Cortana should be able to do: cue up music based on what she knows you want to listen to. This way when I'm biking to work, she can cue up some great Imagine Dragons radio for me. Or when I'm biking back I can just ask her to play music and she'll cue up some rap for me.
II. I should be able to talk to her in a natural way, instead of using keywords ("let my girlfriend know where I'm at" and Cortana says "I'm leaving work" or sends a map of where I am).
III. I also really hope the voice sounds natural and works offline. Working offline is probably the number one thing besides accuracy that I want. IV. Cortana shouldn't just be there when I ask her though, she should be ready before I ask. When my girlfriend texts and asks where I am, Cortana should say "your girlfriend wants to know where you are, should I tell her you're leaving work?". Or if I'm looking for a place to eat, Cortana should know from my texts that I'm going out with my girlfriend for a nice evening in San Diego and recommend somewhere based on the kind of food I like and the budget I work with, before I ask her. She should turn herself on before I go out the door and say "here's a place to eat at tonight".
V. Of course this wouldn't be an instant thing. She'd learn you over time, and change as your preferences change.
VI. She should also be situation-aware. For example, if someone from work sends me an email and I ask Cortana to reply, she should draft it in appropriate business language. When I send a Facebook message, it should include appropriate smileys and lingo.
VII. Cortana should be part of the camera experience. If I pull out my phone to take a picture on the beach with my girlfriend, it should already be on the camera app before I unlock (I don't press the camera button, just turn the screen on.) and be able to take pictures when I give my phone to someone else on the beach without them pressing a button. It would be even crazier if I could prop my phone up and Cortana can tell someone to move left or right to get better in the picture.
VIII. She should recognize me. When I speak, she should know by my voice that it's me, or even discretely use the camera now and then to make sure it's me and if not lock someone out.
Too much.................
Anyways, those are my insane Cortana expectations, and they also include many other system features.
10. All-in-one Windows integration, not just sync. Obviously this would be later in the year, with GDR2 or 3 and another Windows 8 update. However, this is when I'm playing music on my phone and open my computer, then the computer automatically starts playing it. I move into my living room and my Xbox turns on and starts playing the music. This wouldn't be just music, but that's an example of what I want to see.
Read my answer of question 8.
Notification icons != notification toasts. The ability to tap on Toasts to open the app has existed since well before WP8.

New U8

Got my U8 today and here's my initial impression:
Plus - 1. Immediately went to English, no Chinese. EZ setup. 2. Several choices for watch faces. Several choices for menu icons. Some are color and big. 3. Love the vibration for notification. 4. Speaker while on phone good. 5. Phone pick up works good.
Cons - 1. Washes out in sunlight bad. That's a show stopper for me. 2. Have to turn off phone Bluetooth and use handset for a private call. Switch is in my phone app and simple but still. 3. I use Touchdown for email and it doesn't notify on the watch. Working on that. 4. Band seems a bit 'soft', not hard rubber.
Added Con - Not having the watch face constantly lit is driving me nuts!
rogerperk said:
Got my U8 today and here's my initial impression:
Plus - 1. Immediately went to English, no Chinese. EZ setup. 2. Several choices for watch faces. Several choices for menu icons. Some are color and big. 3. Love the vibration for notification. 4. Speaker while on phone good. 5. Phone pick up works good.
Cons - 1. Washes out in sunlight bad. That's a show stopper for me. 2. Have to turn off phone Bluetooth and use handset for a private call. Switch is in my phone app and simple but still. 3. I use Touchdown for email and it doesn't notify on the watch. Working on that. 4. Band seems a bit 'soft', not hard rubber.
Added Con - Not having the watch face constantly lit is driving me nuts!
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Click to collapse
Hi rogerperk,
Some image to your statement is very much appreciate.
Thanks
I was just looking at one of these on ebay today. Are you able to reply to text messages through it? Does it have voice input as well as a keyboard?
Artimis said:
I was just looking at one of these on ebay today. Are you able to reply to text messages through it? Does it have voice input as well as a keyboard?
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Click to collapse
I bought a Pebble. Regardless of whether the U8 has voice input or not if I can't see the face they it's useless to me. And outside that is the case. If that doesn't matter then I'd be willing to sell you mine for a cheaper price than you'll get on line. Wore it a total of 2 days.
rogerperk said:
I bought a Pebble. Regardless of whether the U8 has voice input or not if I can't see the face they it's useless to me. And outside that is the case. If that doesn't matter then I'd be willing to sell you mine for a cheaper price than you'll get on line. Wore it a total of 2 days.
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Click to collapse
Thanks but I'll pass. I'm going to stick with my MotoActv for now unless I can pick up a cheap Galaxy Gear or either the LG G-watch or Moto360 convinces me when released.
Artimis said:
Thanks but I'll pass. I'm going to stick with my MotoActv for now unless I can pick up a cheap Galaxy Gear or either the LG G-watch or Moto360 convinces me when released.
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Click to collapse
LOL good choice! The longer I have my Pebble the better I like it.
Just got mine today
Hey Roger,
Been following another thread ("Elegance U8") and now this one since ordering mine off Ebay a week ago. Got it in the mail today, and I can see your points for both pro and con.
Here are my questions, if anyone knows. (yet)
I remember seeing what the actual phone OS is called somewhere, but can't find it now. EDIT: It's called "Nucleus." Have found some info and a sample download online. Might try and see if I can learn how to develop for it.Though the device plays nice with Android and ios, it's actually neither of those things. If someone knows what the name of it is, is it possible to find a tutorial on coding it somewhere?
The initial reason I ask is:
Not waiting for the manufacturer to patch the "shut off screen" function. I'd like to see if I can figure out how to do this myself, and
Enabling texting. Rather than a traditional keyboard, am thinking a sliding alphabet. A - slide to B - slide to C, etc. A pain in the butt, but probably less so than trying to use a keyboard. Picture the "carousel" from the Kindle Fire series, but with letters / numbers / symbols. Also, as suggested earlier in this thread texting with use of the mic, if possible.
Not saying I'd be able to do any of this, but I have limited experience doing some dev work in Android (through Unity) and am wondering if it's possible to self teach this OS, figuring that we quite probably won't see a lot of feature updates from whoever the manufacturer is of this product.
Thanks, and God bless.
If you do develop, please keep us updated. i like the watch but would love to be able to reply to messages. let me know if i can help any also in the development
Does anyone have the latest firmware for the smart watch?
Mine is: M28_KHR.FN1.V04
Regards.
Conect, was wondering if you'd gotten anywhere with OS development for this watch?
Is this the one you got,this is the one i have but the icons and analog faces are different... ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311154443880?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Conect11 said:
Hey Roger,
Been following another thread ("Elegance U8") and now this one since ordering mine off Ebay a week ago. Got it in the mail today, and I can see your points for both pro and con.
Here are my questions, if anyone knows. (yet)
I remember seeing what the actual phone OS is called somewhere, but can't find it now. EDIT: It's called "Nucleus." Have found some info and a sample download online. Might try and see if I can learn how to develop for it.Though the device plays nice with Android and ios, it's actually neither of those things. If someone knows what the name of it is, is it possible to find a tutorial on coding it somewhere?
The initial reason I ask is:
Not waiting for the manufacturer to patch the "shut off screen" function. I'd like to see if I can figure out how to do this myself, and
Enabling texting. Rather than a traditional keyboard, am thinking a sliding alphabet. A - slide to B - slide to C, etc. A pain in the butt, but probably less so than trying to use a keyboard. Picture the "carousel" from the Kindle Fire series, but with letters / numbers / symbols. Also, as suggested earlier in this thread texting with use of the mic, if possible.
Not saying I'd be able to do any of this, but I have limited experience doing some dev work in Android (through Unity) and am wondering if it's possible to self teach this OS, figuring that we quite probably won't see a lot of feature updates from whoever the manufacturer is of this product.
Thanks, and God bless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had my watch for about a week now, and I gotta say, for the price, it's pretty killer! I wish there was more development for it besides distributing firmware and flash tools.
I've noticed that when you activate Google Voice search and texting with the watch connected, it uses the watch mic to pick up your voice. I was thinking it might be cool to find a way to trigger voice search and voice texting from the watch, since you can already use it for voice input as long as you trigger the feature on your phone. Have you made any progress on trying to develop for the u8?
Also, I believe I read that they're going to release an SDK for MediaTek devices, such as this watch. Might be interesting to see if anything comes of that.
Wish there was a way to add a count down timer to this watch. It needs to have the timer with a start/stop button on the screen as well a reset button for the timer. so If I set it to 30secons, when I hit the reset after the 30s is up it will reset it back to 30secs again.
I need to root my phone so I can turn off a few notifications that I do not want to transmit.
driver instalation problem
helo,
maybe in wrong thread, but if anyone could help i would be grateful. my windows 8 dont recognise u8 watch, and i cant install provided drivers for vista. i'm stuck, and i would like to instal firmware, but without watch been recognised its not posible. thanx
Is there a way to make the U8 vibrate when you receive a text message or have a phone call?
I was wondering if anyone has found a way to get different faces on this watch. I believe mine may be a clone.

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