My Dream Pocket Pocket PC Phone Edition Setup

[zlester]

I currently have an XDA and want to upgrade to something but I want to get a device that can do everything I want it to. I am going to list a description of what I want and specific questions I have for you guys about how I can achieve each:


The Phone

It should have bluetooth, wifi, sd slot, integrated or detachable (but usable) keyboard would be nice. The speakerphone should work and should be able to get loud. The phone should sound good; people should not say to me "what's up with your phone?"

1) I am currently playing with an HP 6315 but the phone sounds like crap, especially if you turn up the volume all the way on the speaker phone. Do other devices sound good as a phone?
2) The keyboard on the 6315 is also pretty useless. The buttons are just too small. Has anyone used a detachable or bluetooth keyboard with usably large buttons that works well?


Car Kit

I would like to be able to get into the car, "dock" the PDA and have it charge and connect to my GPS (Tom Tom of course, it's the best right?). I do not want to have to manually connect the cable to the bottom of the PDA; I want a cradle type connection. I would like hands free cell phone access through this same connection. This same connection would also connect the PDA's audio output to my stereo via an FM transmitter or possibly a direct connection. I would also like a 2nd touch screen display (either wired or bluetooth) that could be mounted up on the dash to make GPS easier to view and use.

1) Are there any PPC PE car kits with a cradle like I am describing?
2) Do any of these have the ability to connect to a Tom Tom GPS receiver through that same base? I just need to break out a serial connection right?
3) If the answer to #2 is no, can I just take the car kit apart and connect some wires to my Tom Tom GPS receiver? Are there just TX, RX, and GND connections that I can just wire up?
4) If there is not an FM transmitter, are there audio connections that I can break out and wire up myself to do that too? Maybe just wire the hands free speaker to the FM transmitter?
5) Are there any external VGA screens for pocket PCs? I know WM2003SE supports VGA now but do they exist and are they touch screen?


Bluetooth Headset

I would like a headset that I can wear all day without looking like a major dork. I think it is impractical to have a headset in your pocket when the phone starts ringing. There is no way you can get that thing out and on your ear in time. Is there anything that I can just wear around my neck that could pickup me talking without wearing anything on my ear? I would also like this device to turn itself on as soon as it hears any audio output from the Pocket PC device, especially when the phone is ringing. I would like it to turn on quick enough that I can actually hear the audio, not 2 seconds later. I would also like it to turn itself off when I hang up. It should also have a button that can initiate Microsoft Voice Command. Ideally I would use the bluetooth headset as my phone. I would answer calls, hang up calls and initiate voice dial all with the headset. I would only pickup the PDA when I wanted to use it as a PDA. I would never again hold that screen up to my ear! I would also like this headset to be able to pair with my pc so I can use my VoIP softphone on the pc to make phone calls.

1) So is there a headset that you don't have to put in your ear?
2) If the answer to #1 is no, has anyone considered getting a hearing aid just for this purpose and getting a loop set? I just don't want to be carrying a headset in my pocket all day then having to fumble around for it when the phone is ringing. Maybe this isn’t as big of a problem as I suspect.
3) I have never used a bluetooth headset so I don't know much about them. Do bluetooth headsets turn themselves on automatically when the phone rings?
4) Is there a bluetooth headset that I can answer and hang-up the phone with?
5) Is there a bluetooth headset that I can initiate Microsoft Voice Command with?
6) Even if my "over the ear" phobia can't be resolved, is there anyone who never has to put the screen up to their ear because their bluetooth headset works so well?
7) Has anyone paired any bluetooth headset to their computer to make phone calls via VoIP?


Synchronizing

I will be synchronizing with my exchange server with up to date notifications enabled. So WM2003 will be required. When I am at my desk I would like for the Pocket PC to stay on my belt, but detect that I am in the office and start doing desktop sync via bluetooth (or wifi). The device should be able to pair with the headset and the desktop computer at the same time.

1) Is this desktop bluetooth sync thing I am describing possible?
2) Can a device pair with multiple devices at the same time? How many can it pair with?

[Robson]

mate, some asnwers to your questions...others may have other opinions or ideas...

1) I am currently playing with an HP 6315 but the phone sounds like crap, especially if you turn up the volume all the way on the speaker phone. Do other devices sound good as a phone?

ANS - i use the xda2; though the loudspeaker isn't as good but generally i'm satisfied with it. but i never put the phone to my ear since i use a bluetooth headset (more comments on that one below)

2) The keyboard on the 6315 is also pretty useless. The buttons are just too small. Has anyone used a detachable or bluetooth keyboard with usably large buttons that works well?

ANS: which is probably one thing why i think i won't be getting the mda3...but i have used a foldable keyboard or used my laptop (with a 3rd party software) to use the keyboard and mouse to control the xda2

Bluetooth
1) So is there a headset that you don't have to put in your ear?
ANS: i used to have the jabra but found it to be weird having to wear it on my ear all the time. plus if i wear it for long periods, i develop a "cramp" on my ear...and had some issues with bonding when activesync was being done. i NOW use the O2 headset; see attached pic. i like it because it's very discreet; it just clips on my collar / shirt and i let the headphone dangle inside my shirt pocket. or i can holster it on the clip-mike. the headset can receive or end calls, so when i'm driving i don't have to hold my pda. don't have any issues with it; no bonding issues, reception is great, mike is sensitive, etc.

23) I have never used a bluetooth headset so I don't know much about them. Do bluetooth headsets turn themselves on automatically when the phone rings?
ANS - yes, when the phone rings, it's immediately transferred to the headset and all i have to do is switch it on to receive the call (for my o2 the switch is on the headphone), or click it twice to reject the call.

4) Is there a bluetooth headset that I can answer and hang-up the phone with?
ANS - i think most of them do...

6) Even if my "over the ear" phobia can't be resolved, is there anyone who never has to put the screen up to their ear because their bluetooth headset works so well?
ANs - love my O2 headset and my bt is on 24 hours a day but when my headset is charging then i have to take the xda to my ear

Syncing
1) Is this desktop bluetooth sync thing I am describing possible?
ANS - yes, you're talking about the bluetooth-activesync method. i'm using it via my diffusi bt dongle; works great and no need for cables. the only limitation i see is possibly the range since the xda and the laptop can't be separated for more than 30 or so meters. but syncing is very easy and convenient via bt...oh and the great thing about bt-activesync is that you can turn off the screen of your pda and still the laptop is synced. saves you on battery time...

2) Can a device pair with multiple devices at the same time? How many can it pair with?
ANS: not sure here but my xda is paired with my headset, my laptop and my tomtom...oh and my wife's ericsson...

hope that helps.
2 pence
robson

[Mikkel]

I currently have an XDA and want to upgrade to something but I want to get a device that can do everything I want it to. I am going to list a description of what I want and specific questions I have for you guys about how I can achieve each:


The Phone

It should have bluetooth, wifi, sd slot, integrated or detachable (but usable) keyboard would be nice. The speakerphone should work and should be able to get loud. The phone should sound good; people should not say to me "what's up with your phone?"

1) I am currently playing with an HP 6315 but the phone sounds like crap, especially if you turn up the volume all the way on the speaker phone. Do other devices sound good as a phone?
2) The keyboard on the 6315 is also pretty useless. The buttons are just too small. Has anyone used a detachable or bluetooth keyboard with usably large buttons that works well?


Car Kit

I would like to be able to get into the car, "dock" the PDA and have it charge and connect to my GPS (Tom Tom of course, it's the best right?). I do not want to have to manually connect the cable to the bottom of the PDA; I want a cradle type connection. I would like hands free cell phone access through this same connection. This same connection would also connect the PDA's audio output to my stereo via an FM transmitter or possibly a direct connection. I would also like a 2nd touch screen display (either wired or bluetooth) that could be mounted up on the dash to make GPS easier to view and use.

1) Are there any PPC PE car kits with a cradle like I am describing?
2) Do any of these have the ability to connect to a Tom Tom GPS receiver through that same base? I just need to break out a serial connection right?
3) If the answer to #2 is no, can I just take the car kit apart and connect some wires to my Tom Tom GPS receiver? Are there just TX, RX, and GND connections that I can just wire up?
4) If there is not an FM transmitter, are there audio connections that I can break out and wire up myself to do that too? Maybe just wire the hands free speaker to the FM transmitter?
5) Are there any external VGA screens for pocket PCs? I know WM2003SE supports VGA now but do they exist and are they touch screen?


Bluetooth Headset

I would like a headset that I can wear all day without looking like a major dork. I think it is impractical to have a headset in your pocket when the phone starts ringing. There is no way you can get that thing out and on your ear in time. Is there anything that I can just wear around my neck that could pickup me talking without wearing anything on my ear? I would also like this device to turn itself on as soon as it hears any audio output from the Pocket PC device, especially when the phone is ringing. I would like it to turn on quick enough that I can actually hear the audio, not 2 seconds later. I would also like it to turn itself off when I hang up. It should also have a button that can initiate Microsoft Voice Command. Ideally I would use the bluetooth headset as my phone. I would answer calls, hang up calls and initiate voice dial all with the headset. I would only pickup the PDA when I wanted to use it as a PDA. I would never again hold that screen up to my ear! I would also like this headset to be able to pair with my pc so I can use my VoIP softphone on the pc to make phone calls.

1) So is there a headset that you don't have to put in your ear?
2) If the answer to #1 is no, has anyone considered getting a hearing aid just for this purpose and getting a loop set? I just don't want to be carrying a headset in my pocket all day then having to fumble around for it when the phone is ringing. Maybe this isn’t as big of a problem as I suspect.
3) I have never used a bluetooth headset so I don't know much about them. Do bluetooth headsets turn themselves on automatically when the phone rings?
4) Is there a bluetooth headset that I can answer and hang-up the phone with?
5) Is there a bluetooth headset that I can initiate Microsoft Voice Command with?
6) Even if my "over the ear" phobia can't be resolved, is there anyone who never has to put the screen up to their ear because their bluetooth headset works so well?
7) Has anyone paired any bluetooth headset to their computer to make phone calls via VoIP?


Synchronizing

I will be synchronizing with my exchange server with up to date notifications enabled. So WM2003 will be required. When I am at my desk I would like for the Pocket PC to stay on my belt, but detect that I am in the office and start doing desktop sync via bluetooth (or wifi). The device should be able to pair with the headset and the desktop computer at the same time.

1) Is this desktop bluetooth sync thing I am describing possible?
2) Can a device pair with multiple devices at the same time? How many can it pair with?

Interesting reading, you certainly have put some decent thought into this. Let me share my experience with a bluetooth headset:

I have the Jabra BT200. It is a very comfortable unit, more comfortable than anything I have tried out there. I am using it with my iMate PPCPE and it works pretty well. 1 out of 20 times when the phone rings, the call for some reason won't get transferred to the BT headset. -But I can live with that. The sound quality is not as good as a regular wired earpiece. Using the BT headset will put an additional and noticeable strain on your phones battery resulting in less battery life before you need to recharge. I can answer and end calls from the Jabra BT headset but it does not work with MS Voice Command (Which I would discourage use of for other reasons: It's Not stable on the iMate, makes it hang needing hard reset) meaning you can't press a button on the headset and speak to the phone through the headset. The battery life of the Jabra is about 1 hour of talk time or abuot 1 day of standby with a couple of brief conversations during the day. The only complaint about he Jabra BT200 pertains to how I choose to use it: I usually don't waer it unless I'm on a call. When the phone rings, it sometimes takes too long to get the headset out of my pocket and properly on / in my ear. The little gel-like thing that goes in the ear rotates too easily.

[Robson]

mate,

regarding:
"The battery life of the Jabra is about 1 hour of talk time or abuot 1 day of standby with a couple of brief conversations during the day. The only complaint about he Jabra BT200 pertains to how I choose to use it: I usually don't waer it unless I'm on a call. When the phone rings, it sometimes takes too long to get the headset out of my pocket and properly on / in my ear. The little gel-like thing that goes in the ear rotates too easily."

i guess this depends on a mate's usage; but are you sure about the 1-day battery life? like i mentioned i used to have a jabra (bt200) and the standby would be around 3-4 days...that's why the bt250 came out which boasts a standby power of around 8-10 days. just curious...

oh and i didn't like fiddling around in my pocket when the phone rang...specially with the ear gel/bud sometimes rotating...or even coming off when i did get it out of my pocket.... that's why i changed headsets.

[Mikkel]

mate,

regarding:
"The battery life of the Jabra is about 1 hour of talk time or abuot 1 day of standby with a couple of brief conversations during the day. The only complaint about he Jabra BT200 pertains to how I choose to use it: I usually don't waer it unless I'm on a call. When the phone rings, it sometimes takes too long to get the headset out of my pocket and properly on / in my ear. The little gel-like thing that goes in the ear rotates too easily."

i guess this depends on a mate's usage; but are you sure about the 1-day battery life? like i mentioned i used to have a jabra (bt200) and the standby would be around 3-4 days...that's why the bt250 came out which boasts a standby power of around 8-10 days. just curious...

oh and i didn't like fiddling around in my pocket when the phone rang...specially with the ear gel/bud sometimes rotating...or even coming off when i did get it out of my pocket.... that's why i changed headsets.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure about the 1 day usage. I usually get right around 1 days worth of standby, talk w. BT headset, checking email and playing a couple of games. -But that's fine for me. I have never found myself in a situation where I couldn't charge my iMate overnight so 1 full day of somewhat serious use is just fine for me.