SPG - Editorials http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:19:20 +0000 120 Changing technology; Changing needs? http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/11144-changing-technology-changing-needs/
For the first time ever for me, the past two weeks has seen that trend reversed. I have ceased using my HTC HD2 and moved to the HTC HD Mini. I will not pretend it has been an easy decision- there is something that feels not quite right about 'downgrading' and my family cannot fully understand it! However, the realities of my pattern of use suggest that the HD Mini fulfills my current needs better than the HD2.

Why has this revelation occurred? Four weeks ago, I bought an Apple iPad, in the expectation that it would suit my pattern of home use; in this, it has far exceeded my expectations to the extent that it has become my primary source of information, reference and general entertainment, and in the process usurped those functions previously provided by my HD2.

This article is not about the strengths and weaknesses of the iPad itself, more of a commentary on how evolving technology can take one by surprise and unexpectedly reverse trends of usage. Had the 'slate' device been provided by Microsoft, HP or any other manufacturer, the principle would have remained. There is no doubt though that the ease of use, and massive catalogue of applications has made the iPad what it is for me.

Perhaps I should explain how my mobile device usage has evolved over the last few years, and why I have taken the decision to downgrade my primary mobile phone. Like most people, I started using a mobile phone for just that purpose- indeed when I first bought a 'mobile telephone' in 1989, that was all it was capable of. The development and rollout of additional services such as SMS, GPRS, UMTS and GPS alongside the development of hardware to provide bigger screens, more memory and improving user input methods has seen me trying to keep abreast of those developments in my own usage. My membership of Tekguru, 4WinMobile and now Smartphonegurus has been a significant driver in my progress and our relationship with O2 in times past meant I was often able to test pre-release devices to make use of the ever-increasing functionality.

Larger storage media and the advent of affordable mobile data saw me modify my mobile computing habits and move from notebook/tablet PCs to Windows Mobile based devices for much of my mobile 'reference' needs. These fall into some distinct categories:

  • Use of professional reference works: As a part time clinical medicine educator, I like to have quick and easy access to some often used reference books and charts, or the ability to quickly go online to check something
  • Home reference and entertainment: As a family we have become more and more reliant on use of a mobile device to look things up. This can range from looking at a TV guide, to checking Wikipedia for some biographical details of someone on TV, to using IMDB for the cast list or plot of an upcoming film.
  • PIM Functions: As with most people, I use my mobile device for email, contacts, calendar and tasks. Calendar functions are particularly important when I am away from my practice and the development of real-time sync with my office system has become a frequent use.
  • Ebook reading at home or while travelling.
  • Satellite Navigation in the car.

Over the last two years, all these functions have been performed admirably by a series of mobile phone devices: the HTC Athena (series 1 and 2), Toshiba TG01 and latterly the HTC HD2. These have all had screens large enough to be readable while remaining portable enough for mobile usage. I admit that the Athenas were too large to use for mobile phone calls so I adopted an HTC Diamond for that particular function.

Three months ago I may have expected to gradually move on to the next generation of Windows Mobile/Phone or Android device to continue fulfilling these functions, but circumstances change. I have to admit a degree of scepticism when I first saw the Apple Keynote presentation of the iPad- lots of hype, lots of hyperbole but little substance. It looked, and was presented as an overgrown iPhone, a device I had never personally aspired to. Subsequent independent comment and some emerging examples of its usage started to get me thinking more deeply about what it might offer me. The greatest draws were the 'instant on' nature of a mobile OS combined with the large screen and multi-touch capabilities. These seemed perfectly suited to the first three of my 'typical' uses. Adding the ability to store and view all my catalogue of digital photos was a further answer to some of the family's 'we take lots of photos but never get to see them because they are on the PC' comments.

So, I bought an iPad. From being an Apple 'sceptic' I am probably in danger of becoming an iPad 'bore' because every day I find new uses or new applications which seem perfectly suited to it. The medical educational programs designed for it are superb; the ebook reading, and general reference works perform very well and the ability to communicate with my Exchange server adds all the PIM functions I need. It isn't all sweetness and light. There are a number of 'features' of the Apple way of doing things that drive me to distraction, but that is not the subject of this editorial.

This brings me to the reason why I have decided to downgrade my HD2! There is no doubt that the HD2 is an exceptionally capable, reliable and sleek device. There is also no getting away from the fact that it is large and has some hardware attributes which can make it a less than wieldy device. With my HD2 getting so much less use as a reference device, and reverting more to a phone, PIM, SatNav with occasional reference use, I decided to buy a smaller phone to see how it suited me prior to selling the HD2. For me, the HD Mini seemed to offer the functions I need. The size is significantly more 'pocketable', the screen usable (after sorting out some of the 'out of the box' issues) and the overall speed just as quick as the HD2 due to the lesser hardware demands. There are advantages as well- the HD2 definitely has a propensity for unwanted power-ons in a pocket due to the sensitive front mounted power switch. The device lock for some reason doesn't always prevent unbidden dialling. The HD Mini has a more traditional top mounted power switch and I've yet to experience any issues with unbidden outgoing calls. Likewise, the form factor makes it easier to pick up in a hurry (by that I mean when half awake with the alarm going off at 6 in the morning!)

In short, I have now experienced first hand how the move towards convergence in mobile phone devices has, with the advent of a new technology, made a sharp reversal. I wonder what other developments may shortly have a similar effect?

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]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:19:20 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/11144-changing-technology-changing-needs/ What is the ideal mobile device ? http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10351-what-is-the-ideal-mobile-device/
This wasn’t intended to be a straw poll of the current crop, but instead an open question about what would be the ideal mobile portal to this information age that has evolved since the last years of the 20th century.

When i say Mobile, i mean a device that you would happily carry round with you at all times – if it is so heavy or bulky that you sometimes consider leaving it behind, then really it has failed its basic mission.

It should be a device that would be as familiar and indispensible to you as your wallet and would be a gateway to the vast amount of talk and information that we all now crave. Perhaps it might have “DONT PANIC” inscribed on it in large, friendly letters ?

For the sake of practicality i will only consider current or near future technology, so no talk of Neural Interfaces or holographic 3-D spectacle monitors !! I would propose confining this discussion to devices with physical screens that are viewed naturally.

It seems that display technology is getting slimmer, cheaper and more power-efficient almost by the day so that absolute screen size is no longer restrained by the limitations of battery technology. Mobile processing and graphics power to drive larger screens is also now available.

I will try to set the ball rolling by asking you to picture a current device like the HTC HD2 – its thin, light and has a big screen and fast processor.

How about having two of them joined at the hip and having different displays on each hinged screen? Maybe a full-screen virtual keyboard on one side when the situation demands it. Other times a single virtual screen split across both displays.

Or how about 3 screens ? Recently, telecoms chip-set manufacturer Qualcomm filed a patent application for a device featuring 3 screens hinged together which was described thus in the patent application:

“A multi-fold mobile device with a configurable interface is disclosed. When fully extended, the device may provide a panorama view, similar to widescreen televisions".

"When fully folded, the device may provide a small form factor with an abbreviated view similar to cellular telephones. In addition, the user interface (UI) displayed on the device may change based on the folding configuration of the device".

"Thus, based on a current folding configuration of the device, the UI may be a panorama UI, a desktop UI, an application UI, a web browser UI, an alarm clock UI, a media player UI, or some other UI".

: Tri screen.jpg

So the question is: What would constitute perfection in your pocket ?]]> Mon, 03 May 2010 17:48:49 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10351-what-is-the-ideal-mobile-device/ Which mobile phones have been your favourite to date and why? http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10289-which-mobile-phones-have-been-your-favourite-to-date-and-why/ We are overdue another editorial and this one’s for all you mobile phone owners for whatever device you own, or have owned in the past, which will be in keeping with our new site’s encompassment of all mobile phone operating systems.

Looking back over the years we’ve seen mobile phones develop from bulky slab like devices which were only capable of making a phone call if you were lucky enough to find a signal, into the sleek and sophisticated micro PCs we see today that are as capable in their own way as any home PC or laptop.

I have owned more mobiles than I care to remember, and probably followed a similar route to most other long term users. I was an early adopter of this mobile technology, and I used one of the first mass produced Motorola phones on an Orange contract, the phone itself was only able to make calls and send texts, and all on a tiny screen and at extortionate cost too!

The pace of technology since those pioneering days around twenty or so years ago has been astounding, mobile phones have now come of age and are a very important tool in the modern society we live in, business wise and socially, and I know I would find it hard to live without one, as no doubt most of you would too.

My phones over a long period of time since the early days have included various incarnations of Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Sharp, Samsung and other similar brands, plus of course many Windows Mobile and of late Android devices.

Picking out a few favourite mobiles from the many I have owned is no easy chore as each was at the top of its game at the time they were used, but after some thought I have come up with three that changed my views and thinking patterns.

The Nokia 8310 in my humble opinion broke the mould at the time of release as other devices were still quite bulky and quite ugly, it was so small and cute and was love at first sight for me, and I had to have one in red. I still own two of the little beauties and even now they make an excellent ‘pub’ phone if you only need to make calls and send texts.

Posted Image
My first coloured screen device was a Sony Ericsson T68 and this gave me a real buzz looking at a screen that had the grand total of 256 colours, and playing crappy games with the joystick! I must say it wasn’t the most reliable of devices but I didn’t really care at the time, and anyway it wouldn’t be long before I would change it for the next best mobile phone anyway!

Posted ImageLast on my list is the Sharp TM 100 which I bought on a T-Mobile contract, it wasn’t a very common device back in 2004 but I really liked the form factor and feel, in reality this was my first smartphone and ahead of its time I thought too, and had the makings of things to come. It had a slide out portrait keyboard; there was a decent camera and a lush 320x240 screen with 262,000 colours.

Posted Image

So these are my pick of my bunch, and an evolution really I suppose of how I came to be involved with smartphones.

Please let us know what your all-time favourite mobile phone/s are, be they old or new, and why you think so, we would be very interested in your thoughts. Posted Image]]> Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:17:40 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/10289-which-mobile-phones-have-been-your-favourite-to-date-and-why/ A year in review - why I came back to Windows Mobile http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8830-a-year-in-review-why-i-came-back-to-windows-mobile/ Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:27:03 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8830-a-year-in-review-why-i-came-back-to-windows-mobile/ Form Factor- musings on past, present and possible future. http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8437-form-factor-musings-on-past-present-and-possible-future/ http://www.4winmobile.com/reviewer/neilm/size_1.jpg[/img]Over the years since the advent of the Personal Digital Assistant, there have been a number of popular form factors, and this trend may be set for a shake-up over the next couple of years.

My personal involvement began in 1989 with the Microwriter AgendA, a handheld device with two lines of display and a unique method of entering text by the use of one handed finger buttons. It worked well but the limitations of its lack of connectivity, the 16Kb of RAM and the small screen saw it give way to a succession of Psion devices, all following the clamshell format. The Psion 5 remains the best physical keyboard I've ever used, but once again, lack of development and the advent of the Pocket PC saw me move on.

My first PocketPC was a Compaq Ipaq 3630, which was, in 2000 the first in the line of the sort of device we still see today, though various Palm Pilot models hit the market before the Ipaq range. These early PPC devices had limited memory by today's standards, but the form factor of the 3.6" 240*320 touchscreen remained the most popular for around five years.
The early PPC devices were hampered by a lack of connectivity, which meant they were mainly 'briefcase' devices. Size was not really an issue in comparison to the ease of reading the screens for the purposes of reference or document management. This started to change however, when in 2002, O2 released the first truly 'connected' device, the XDA (short for eXtended Digital Assistant!); While keeping to the same form factor as earlier devices, this came with the new Phone Edition of Pcoket PC 2003, and integrated the functions of PDA and mobile phone. GSM data connectivity became available for 'on the move' email and web browsing, at a price. This was still a 'tablet' type device with a 3.6" QVGA screen with the added size of the external GSM antenna but it became a niche device with an ever increasing fan base. I shall probably refer to subsequent devices by a number of trade names, but most were actually made by HTC under various development and model names for the various mobile operators.

The XDA 1 developed into the XDA II, then the XDA IIi and XDA IIs, each adding usability within a similar form factor. Very shortly after the XDA 1 appeared, Orange released the first in its line of SPV devices. The original Orange SPV was as much a milestone as the XDA 1, being the first to use the new Smartphone operating system. This eschewed the 3.6" touchscreen in favour of a much smaller non-touchscreen format, with an enhanced physical keyboard below the screen. The SPV begat a whole range of successors and development has remained in parallel to the PocketPC/Windows Mobile range.
Hence we see the start of the Form Factor debate- a larger touch screen devce with no keyboard or a much more compact non-touchscreen device with a keyboard. There have been crossover devices of course, and the merits of a hardware keyboard soon became apparent. The first of these was the XDA IIs with its slide down keyboard, then we saw the XDA Exec with its complex twisting keyboard and VGA screen but the comparitive form factors remained about the same- pocketable Smartphones or less pocketable PocketPCs.

The form factor question took it's next step in late 2005 with the release of the HTC Magician and it's keyboard equipped brother called the XDA MiniS in O2 guise. These saw the start of the reduction in screen size, and therefore overall bulk. Both sported a 2.8" QVGA screen and using Pocket PC 2003 Second Edition were capable of working in portrait or landscape orientations. Both were resounding successes and resulted in a general reduction in the screen, and overall size of Pocket PC Phones. The 2.8" QVGA screen became the norm until July 2008 when the HTC Touch Diamond was released.

The form factor of various devices has evolved parallel to the abilities of the operating system and also to the ongoing rapid development of the chipsets and memory powering them. Over the last three years, devices have tended to become smaller and lighter, rivalling the more traditional 'dumb' phones whilst continuing to add features like GPS, 3G, WiFi and enhanced storage. For the last two years the attitude has tended to be 'smaller is better' and this has definite benefits for those using the devices for telephony. There is of course a trade off. Reference, ebook reading and web browsing become ever more difficult as screen sizes decrease and resolutions increase. A VGA 2.8" screen looks great but the text can sometimes be unreadable for those of maturing years like me!

Things however were starting to change! Something called the iPhone came along in late 2007; a device unashamedly aimed at media usage and simple navigation. This sported a mid resolution 3.5" screen and proved to be a major success. The iPhone bandwagon has charged along with enhancements to the underpinnings but little change in the form factor. What it does, it does exceptionally well and has resulted in a massive endorsement of its presentation. It is a little smaller than the early XDA's but it no longer had the 'nerd factor' of holding a slightly oversized device up to the ear to make phone calls.

So, this now begs the question- where to from here? The success of the iPhone appears to have Microsoft running to compete, possibly at the expense of those who want a smaller device. 2009 has seen the release of a number of devices compatible with or supplied with WM6.5. A large number of these sport 3.8" screens or larger. There are some notable exceptions in the Xperia 2 and the HTC Touch 2 but the provisional specifications for Windows Mobile 7 would suggest that these are a dying breed.

The Windows Mobile 7 minimum specifications, if the leaks are to be believed, are for a WVGA screen of 3.5" or greater. As screen size is the major determinant of actual device size, where does that leave those who want something like the HTC Magician or Touch? Where are the potential specifications for any Smartphone (ie non-touchscreen) variant?
Will Microsoft continue to support a parallel line of devices running a form of WM6, allowing the continuing production of devices which don't conform to the WM7 specification?

I am personally happy with a larger screen device but I may not always be of that mind. Will I be able to buy a compact, highly specified smaller phone like the HTC Diamond if I so choose? Time will tell, but unless we start asking questions now, we may find ourselves forced to use iPhone clones, or perhaps move to a different platform. Do we really want that?]]> Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:34:34 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8437-form-factor-musings-on-past-present-and-possible-future/ Carrier customizations http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8146-carrier-customizations/
I can understand from a branding point of view that T-mobile are the pink company, Vodafone are the red company, o2 are the blue company, Three are the green company and Orange are... well you get my drift.

The problem i have is that on their devices they seem to concentrate on filling them up with branded roms containing a great deal of normally unnecessary software.

Has anyone ever pressed the t-zones button?

The time and money spent on rom customization would be far better spent on making sure devices are released with up to date roms and the subsequent support of updates.

Additionally, and this really irritates me, why do they feel the urge to lock them down so that you cannot replace their roms with ones of your choice such as a stock manufacturers rom or even, dare i say it, a cooked rom which removes the bloatware you don't want and includes the freeware you do.

I know that the argument is that by allowing customers to tinker with the firmware there is a possibility they may receive a larger number of returns/repair requests but surely it would be less than they currently recieve from customers returning bricks they have flashed without correctly unlocking first.

In fact i'm sure that in the contract they could even write in a clause staing that firmware flashing voids the warranty.

Whilst i'm having a mild rant i will also never understand the policy to sell devices sim-locked.

If i have signed up to a contract with a carrier i am unlikely to go over my allowance as they throw minutes and texts at you nowadays. Why should it bother them if i choose to use my phone with a different sim card in it from time to time? They're still getting paid and most nowadays will not allow you to reduce your contract until near the end if at all.

I'd quite like to be able to take my device on holiday and buy a localised sim card with some credit and data rather than pay over the odds for the priviledge when i get home, worse yet have to pay when people call me.

This is where vodafone have been smart and i have several friends and colleagues who remain customers of theirs simply because their WM devices come sim-unlocked.

Just to clarify i'm talking about devices on contract and not subsidised pay as you go deals (still if you're policy is to sell phones cheaper in the hope people won't unlock them for use with a cheaper carrier more fool you).

I guess what i am saying is if i sign up to a contract for 18-24 months and agree to pay a set sum of money per month for the duration to cover the cost of the handset and price plan is there really any need to worry too much about what i do with it once i get it home?

Rom development/customization costs money money that would would be far better passed on to the consumer as a reduced cost in contract or in a better quality of support for updates. The fact you'd get a stock rom as the manufacturer intended would just be an added bonus ;)

Also just because a device is unlocked and supported by the carrier it won't mean people won't renew their contracts at the end because their device is up to date. I would go so far as to say that if in receipt of competent support the customer would be looking forward to renewing for another couple of years with a new device/toy to tinker with.

I wonder if any of themn are listening?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225218&d=1252335398 http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225217&d=1252335398

(cooked touch hd rom from pdaviet. MUCH NICER)

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]]> Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:23:40 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8146-carrier-customizations/ The best OS is out there, but.... http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7991-the-best-os-is-out-there-but/
Does what can be classed as a 'perfect' or at least enjoyable functional OS exist?

The answer is yes, but for me at least it only exists if one could mix and match OS's.

For this to be clear certain aspects of the devices need to be looked at in comparison with each other and see which is best.

Multi-tasking: Engendered on the WM and Android platform, but not particularly well. Both OS's natively want to manage open apps themselves, closing when memory / resources are tight. At least in WM HTC (and others) give the option of closing applications. Is OS3 there is no real multi-tasking as far as users are concerned. So winner: WM

Notifications: Apples notifications stink they can not be snoozed or easily monitored or controlled globally. WM's notifications can be viewed via the ageing bubble system, but as standard using the system tray the stylus comes into play especially if you hit the 'more' notification. On Android you get similar notification icons in the status bar, but joy of joys you can drag that try down and view each notification as text and interact with each one individually. Winner: Android

Finger Friendly OS: We'll not even consider WM here as WM6.1 and below is not finger friendly, WM6.5 may be better. Android is pretty close to being good with lots of drop down lists that allow you to control most aspects of the device. OS3 does very much the same but with a better 'house' style. Winner: OS3

Corporate Email: All three OS's support Exchange mail sync - so all win ;)

Personal Email: POP3 / IMAP and Google support, all three OS's score, but on Hotmail the Android platform lacks. Winner WM & OS3

Store / Market: At the moment ruled by Apple, but the Android market is developing nicely. Microsoft are tailing behind as we all know. Winner OS3

Main home screen: Very difficult one this as the OS3 home screen is primarily a series of launch screens with notification counters. MS is in transition between the flexible 'Today' screen, so a 'standard' XML based sliding system, launching via the start menu option. Android as on the Hero has the powerful multi-page, pretty but laggy HTC front end. Android as standard has one launch screen but you can add widgets and shortcuts. Winner: Difficult but I'd say Android

Lock screens and unlocking: OS3 has the famous slide to unlock. WM has the ancient keypad / keyboard unlock or a slide notification system in WM6.5. Android has a configurable patter to unlock gesture system which is great to use. Winner: Android

Alarms: In WM you are limited to 5 alarms and as standard you need your stylus. In OS3 or android I've not found the limits yet. Both Android and WM are finger friendly and flexible. Winner Android & OS3

Corporate Control: Controlling devices in the Corporate environment, WM scores here, with OS3 slowly catching on. Android, nothing as of yet. Winner: WM

Lots of other examples too; web browsers, input methods, types of screen, resolutions, SD card mounting, tethering, Bluetooth, removable batteries, etc

So ...................

You get my drift? The perfect machine is out there, but not in one single OS. You'd have to mix and match to get there.

This makes one think, will an OS ever be developed where every aspect is ideal, no, not possible as everyone's needs are different and so are corporate aims and ideologies.

But if you had YOUR choice... What bit of each OS would you choose to be in your device, and why.... ?

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]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:45:08 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7991-the-best-os-is-out-there-but/ How long could you survive without the internet? http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7680-how-long-could-you-survive-without-the-internet/

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]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:02:07 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7680-how-long-could-you-survive-without-the-internet/ Why I despise the iPhone. http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7475-why-i-despise-the-iphone/
I'm not anti iPhone, ok actually I am anti iPhone but it's because I just don't think it's as good a device as everyone seems to think it is. Apple have cut many corners to make it child proof. Too many in my opinion. I really wasn't that impressed with the hardware (not bad just nothing special) and I think the software is too limiting to do what I want to do. I'm just really hacked off with people telling me that it's so great when it CAN'T do what my Zest or my Touch Pro does for me. Period. I will not sacrifice the functionality I hold so dear because it has a pretty interface. I've got nothing against Apple, but as far as I'm concerned my WM device is a tool, and an iPhone is a toy. It's like the whole EAS functionality. I wish Apple had just left it right alone, or even that MS had just said no. It is not an Enterprise quality email device from neither a functionality or security perspective. It's like because it's really "cool" everyone has forgotten about functionality and security now.

Glad I got that off my chest. Actually there's more and this goes deeper.........one of the things that I find strange and another reason I despise the idea of the iPhone is that here at 4WM, I always felt we were all kindred spirits. The iPhone says we aren't. Back in the day we all had our XDA2's that needed a soft reset every 30 minutes but we knew, through all it's foibles we had the best tech. It did it all. We said no way Nokia, and up yours Sony Ericcson because it was all about the functionality. We hacked, reflashed, spent nights scouring the interweb for cabs and reg files, but we loved it, it was like taming a wild beast but once your device hit that sweet spot there was nothing to touch it. So what's changed? WM is still the only platform that does it all, and it's prettier and easier to use now than it ever was before. So why do you guys even tolerate the lack of bluetooth stereo or GPS navigation software or a hardware keyboard. What happened to you all? I feel like I'm a dying breed, soon to be extinct. It's getting lonely in here, will the last one out turn the lights off.......? ]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:59:02 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7475-why-i-despise-the-iphone/ Backup and running http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7310-backup-and-running/ Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:39:29 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7310-backup-and-running/ PHONEtography http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7170-phonetography/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:25:27 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7170-phonetography/ Editorial 4Winmobile Viigo CAB now available http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6910-editorial-4winmobile-viigo-cab-now-available/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:44:49 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6910-editorial-4winmobile-viigo-cab-now-available/ Editorial Exchange 2007 and WM6.x task sync broken http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6752-editorial-exchange-2007-and-wm6x-task-sync-broken/ Editorial: Exchange 2007 and WM6.x task sync broken

One of the selling points of the Windows Mobile devices is that they are designed to work with the Enterprise marketplace. That is that the devices can be synced over the air (OTA) with Exchange Server 2007 to gain benefits such as push email.

All well and good, Push Email, Contacts and Calendar sync all works wonderfully.

One area that does fail unfortunately is that of task synchronization. This used to work perfectly in WM5 and Exchange 2003, but somewhere in the 'update' process of Exchange 2007 and WM6.x being developed the sync process was broken.

If you use non-repeating tasks then you'll be fine no problems occur, but if you create a repeating task, either in Outlook or on the WM device and let it sync onto the device (if created in Outlook) you will have issues when you come to complete the task on a WM device.

When a repeating task is completed on a WM machine the task on the device itself is indeed checked off properly and a new occurrence is indeed generated..... but .....

When that task syncs back to the Exchange 2007 Server and Outlook 2007 you end up with one instance of the task shown as non-repeating and completed (which is correct), but the new task instance is created on the same date as that of the completed task.

If that task is examined then it can be seen that the effectivity date in the recurrence editor has been set with the correct date, just not the Start and Due Dates.

You can see this by looking at the 'Clean Tiggy' task in the attached images.

It is important that Microsoft take action on this issue and resolve it as Task Management is a very important part of the Enterprise management system.

If you are a Microsoft Connect member you can see the bug reported here - and it would be appreciated if you have seen the issue yourself if you can validate the bug report!]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:21:08 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6752-editorial-exchange-2007-and-wm6x-task-sync-broken/ My perfect device and other ramblings http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6536-my-perfect-device-and-other-ramblings/ Editorial: My perfect device and other ramblings

For those of you that visit the forum from time to time you will notice the speed at which most of us change our devices and the amount of debate on what a device does well and more so what parts of it are lacking be it the sluggishness of the fancy new shell, the intermittent connectivity of the internal gps, looks like metal feels like cheap plastic, awkward keyboard….. well you get the idea.

This got me to thinking what have been my favourite parts of devices I’ve owned or had a play with and why.

Now as you know absence makes the heart grow fonder so my memory might be clouded but here is what I’ve liked and disliked from the devices I’ve owned and what I would do if I was making my perfect convergence device.

I do like a hardware keyboard and out of the 4 qwerty horizontal slider devices I’ve owned I think the Kaiser is the best. From Wizard to Hermes to Kaiser they seemed to improve slightly each time. To this end I expected the Raphael to be better also. It’s not that I dislike it mind you, the extra row of buttons is a nice addition, but it’s just down to me preferring the feel of the Kaiser for typing.

I had an Advantage but the keyboard was awful for me. Too big for one handed use and too small for two handed typing to the point of causing pain.

The Touch Dual on the other hand, which is a T9 vertical slider, was very good and using it for texting was perfect, for me though for emails etc I need a qwerty so I can type quicker.

Talking of typing though the new sips on the HTC devices such as the Diamond are very good at what they do and also very intelligent and intuitive. Whereas previously I would never have been without a hardware keyboard now I only notice it missing when I need to use word or reply to emails etc.. (that’s what the netbook is for :)).

I guess what I’m saying is a design similar to the S740 would suit me, with a bigger screen, but it would have to wm professional as I’d go nuts pressing the screen with nothing happening if it was standard. Unfotunately I can’t see a way to incorporate the two keyboards into a device with a screen the size I would like.

As for screens I very much like the look of the new Blackstone with its 3.8 inch wvga screen. There is nothing wrong with the vga ones they are very nice but this just seems better.

Additionally as devices have developed so has the connectivity options. So obviously I’d want HSDPA, HSUPA, WI-FI, GPS, DVB-TV, BT, TV OUT, USB HOST and many more that escape me at the moment oh I suppose quad band would be useful too.

What I don’t understand is the poor quality of recent in built GPS on the HTC devices. The Kaisers GPS just seemed much more consistent than that of the Diamond or the Raphael. Give me a built in sirf star III please. They just work and work well.

With new devices comes bigger rom and ram allocations which are a godsend. No more installing apps to sd cards and getting conflicts leading to soft/hard resets and draining the life out of your battery. So without being greedy I’d settle for 256mb ram and 512mb rom oh and chuck in 16gb internal storage with a micro sd slot to.

Processor wise it’s a bit early to ask for a tegra so I’ll stick with what’s about from Qualcomm a 7201a will do. It works well in the Diamonds.

One thing that does bug me about the devices I’ve owned is the lack of a decent camera. It’s all well and good putting one on the front for video calling but if the quality of the two are the equivalent to a Kodak chuck away compared to other devices available, the 8mp Samsung pixon springs to mind or the LG Renoir, it really isn’t worth the effort. I mean yes they have improved but get rid of the front facer and sort out the main one and treat us to a flash, not a light a proper flash. Who uses video calling anyway?

As far as styling goes I like my roms black and my devices either black plastic like the front of a T-mobile compact IV or metallic similar to the Advantage, which had a solid feel to it. The Touch Duals matt plastic finish was nice too, it knew it was plastic and didn’t try to be anything else. Wasn’t a fan of the Kaiser, looked like metal but felt like a plastic spoon. It felt like it was ready to fall apart with the slightest of knocks and for a device of it’s quality it just felt a bit cheap.

It’s also not really necessary to include a shell for me as there are plenty around to choose from but for ease of use and slick looks it would have to be HTC’s touch flo 3d.

Going back to the wizard I did like it’s hardware buttons around the edges of the device as they were not flush with the surface so could be found and pressed without looking. I also like the scroll wheel from a couple of the other devices I’ve mentioned.

Bring back the 3.5mm audio jack too.

Finally one thing I’d like is a g-sensor as they seem to be all the rage now too.

So here is my ideal device:-

:rd:3.8 inch wvqa screen.

:rd:Horizontal slide out qwerty keyboard which tilts or locks flat with spaced and raised buttons (no additional hardware T9 as the sip on a 3.8 inch screen would be ample for texting).

:rd:Qualcomm 7201a processor

:rd:256mb ram 512mb rom

:rd:16gb internal storage with additional micro sd slot

:rd:Quad band, Hsdpa, Hsupa, Blue Tooth, Wi-Fi

:rd:Dvb-TV

:rd:Sirf Star III gps

:rd:8mp camera with flash and zoom.

:rd:Usb host

:rd:Tv out

:rd:3.5mm audio jack

:rd:G-sensor

:rd:Raised hardware buttons on the edges for on/off, comm. manager and a scroll wheel

:rd:Completely flat front face (like the Blackstone)

:rd:Touch flo 3d

So if you are listening HTC it is nearly Xmas ;)]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:46:51 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6536-my-perfect-device-and-other-ramblings/ Editorial Why are Windows Mobile Apps falling behind IPhone ones? http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6469-editorial-why-are-windows-mobile-apps-falling-behind-iphone-ones/ Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:54:56 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6469-editorial-why-are-windows-mobile-apps-falling-behind-iphone-ones/ Editorial Proof of ID to buy a UK Mobile Phone http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6468-editorial-proof-of-id-to-buy-a-uk-mobile-phone/ Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:11:48 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6468-editorial-proof-of-id-to-buy-a-uk-mobile-phone/ Editorial Notifications http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6441-editorial-notifications/ Editorial: OS Notifications

One aspect of a phone, be it smart or otherwise has to be some sort of notification system, whether it be purely audible (ring or SMS) on a 'standard' phone, or more complex involving pop-ups giving you a brief slightly more detailed information snippet.

On Window Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 we have the ubiquitous pop up at the bottom of the screen which appears and then vanishes into the notification tray as an icon. Each time it pops with an additional notification then we get scroll arrows allowing one to scroll through each notification. Once a notification has been viewed it clears. Basic but it works.

On my iPhone (cough) notifications are a mixture of pleasure and pain..... Basic notifications are split in to varied types, those which give on screen messages which vanish when the machine is unlocked (Calendar), those which vanish on unlocking but give a count indicator on an icon (SMS), and events without any notification reminder (alarms). There is no way to snooze or file any notification for later reference, once it has reminded it is gone from the main screen.

One both platforms the notifications systems bug (bother) me intensely. What I've always wanted is a notification system that sits nicely on top of the OS and yes gives you the notification, but if not cleared or if it is 'put away' or filed should still be there until explicitly cancelled.

Once a notification has been filed but not cancelled it should then be stored in an advanced notification queue whereby one can view those notifications and deal with them in detail and with confidence.

If an appointment reminder is in there then allow it to be cancelled or snoozed. If an alarm is in there allow it to be snoozed or a new time chosen. If an SMS then be able to view the message contents but retain the notification as one may not have time to respond to it then.

Give us the ability to take a notification and turn it into a task so that we have freed it from the queue but still have a task to complete to finish that activity.

Is it so difficult to achieve a flexible purposeful and useful notification system? Maybe, or may be not....

I've just been reading Engadgets review of the T-Mobile G1 Googlephone and whilst not impressed at all that much generally one part does stand out - notification handling.

The section of the review reads as follows:

Android's notification system is world-class. In fact, it's the best we've ever seen on any phone or any platform. The first piece of the puzzle is a totally average-looking status bar that appears at the top of basically every screen. To the right, you get the standard information every self-respecting phone is going to provide you: time, battery charge, signal strength, data network status, WiFi, and silent mode. To the left side, though, is where things start to get interesting. Over here, any app can place an icon to indicate that something interesting has happened -- instant messages, emails, voicemails, schedule reminders, and so on -- and optionally scroll a brief message (say, a snippet of a received SMS). Already, you're looking at a system that beats Windows Mobile and the iPhone, and we haven't even gotten to the good part.


Posted Image



That's just the start, though. The real prize is the pull-down curtain, actuated with a downward drag of a finger from the top of the screen, where notifications go to live on a more permanent basis until you delete them. The great thing about this screen is that each notification has room to stretch out and display plenty of details: who sent you the text message, what did it say, who called you, when did they call you, and so on. And because the curtain is part and parcel of the status bar, it can be accessed from anywhere in the G1 that you can see the status bar (which is basically everywhere). It's brilliantly executed, works really well in practice, and makes Android the only platform that takes alert organization seriously.

Seriously impressive handling. We can only hope that the forthcoming WM7 as well as future updates to the iPhone take notifications seriously and elevate them to the next level.

Thoughts: Are the notification systems in use enough for you? Do you need more notification power? What notification needs do you have that are your current OS is lacking?]]> Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:53:42 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6441-editorial-notifications/ Editorial antivirus for htc touch cruise http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6467-editorial-antivirus-for-htc-touch-cruise/ Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.smartphonegurus.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6467-editorial-antivirus-for-htc-touch-cruise/