Just got my XDA Exex - A few questions

[GaZ]

I just upgraded from an XDAii, and obviously there are many advantages, but also many disadvantages. Let me run through a few of my qualms and see if you can help with any.

1. Less "toolbars" in programs
For example, the photo album app in XDAii had a row of buttons for slideshow, start, stop, full screen, rotate, etc etc.... Most of this is accessible through the menu system, but full screen seems to be missing comletely.
Also the calendar comes to mind. The row of buttons for day, week, month and year was a godsend

2. speaker screech
Anything over a certain noise level seems to come though in a really piercing way that I have to hold the phoneawayfrom my ear

3. Phone pad not working in messaging
The phone pad entry method, the one that replicates the keypad of a normal mobile phone, cannot be used for the thing it would be most commonly used for - SMS messaging. WHY?!?!

4. Phone "themes" missing
Remember in the photo contacts app, where you could apply different themes to contacts when they call, like the row of carrots, or the glistening heart? What happened to that?

5. Less hardware buttons
The contacts and calendar hardware buttons have been replaced by an extra row on the screen. Yes, there are buttons on the keyboard which link to them, but that doesn't help me when trying to configure 3 control buttons in Worms, does it.

6. Add ringtones?
Ok we have ups and downs here. On the plus side, MP3 ringtones are now supported. On the flipside, you can't file them into folders, they have to place in the My Documents route directory in order to be accessible. Is there a way round this?

I hope someone can help me. Any info you can give will be much appreciated

[Anjow]

1. Less "toolbars" in programs
For example, the photo album app in XDAii had a row of buttons for slideshow, start, stop, full screen, rotate, etc etc.... Most of this is accessible through the menu system, but full screen seems to be missing comletely.
Also the calendar comes to mind. The row of buttons for day, week, month and year was a godsend

This is an annoying one and I don't know of a fix for it. The first part is down the to album program I think, if it is just called 'Pictures' then it is the one which came with mine too and it isn't very good at all. I replaced it with Resco Photo Viewer. As for the calendar part, those buttons you mentioned are accessed through 'menu' - again, annoying and takes more time.

[GaZ]

Anyone? :D

[simon_darley]

hmmmm...... oki doki, not sure if i can help.... but lets step through....


I just upgraded from an XDAii, and obviously there are many advantages, but also many disadvantages. Let me run through a few of my qualms and see if you can help with any.

BEFORE WE GET TO FAR, THERE ARE ISSUES HERE, MANY OF THEM, AND THEY MAY OUTWEIGH THE ADVANTAGES.


1. Less "toolbars" in programs
For example, the photo album app in XDAii had a row of buttons for slideshow, start, stop, full screen, rotate, etc etc.... Most of this is accessible through the menu system, but full screen seems to be missing comletely.

THE M$ VERSIONS ARE EXTREMELY CUT DOWN, BRIEF FUNCTIONALITY, AND THIS IS THE FIRST THAT DOESNT COMPARE TO PURCHASABLE OPTIONS, AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THEM.

IN THE END, ITS STILL OK, BUT NEXT TO USELESS.

AGREE, USE RESCO, BUT BEWARE IT IN ITSELF IS MEMORY HUNGRY FOR THE FUNCTION.


Also the calendar comes to mind. The row of buttons for day, week, month and year was a godsend


ITS STILL IN THE OPTIONS, BUT IF THAT IS YOUR ONLY COMPLAINT ON CALENDAR, THEN YOUR DOING WELL.


2. speaker screech
Anything over a certain noise level seems to come though in a really piercing way that I have to hold the phoneawayfrom my ear

DONT GET IT, GETS A BIT TINNY AT HIGH VOLUME. GS PLAYER HAS A BASE AND EQUALISER BUILT IN AND PLAYS BETTER QUALITY SOUND THAN M$, AND IS FREE.


3. Phone pad not working in messaging
The phone pad entry method, the one that replicates the keypad of a normal mobile phone, cannot be used for the thing it would be most commonly used for - SMS messaging. WHY?!?!


DIDNT YOU GET THE UNIVERSAL THAT HAD A KEYBOARD!!!???


4. Phone "themes" missing
Remember in the photo contacts app, where you could apply different themes to contacts when they call, like the row of carrots, or the glistening heart? What happened to that?


NEVER USED THEMES, STARTED TO USE PICTURES WHICH IS AVAILABLE, ALONG WITH INDIVIDUAL RING TONES (INDIVIDUALLY THOUGH, NOT BY CATEGORY WHICH IS PAINFUL WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS). CANT YOU JUST APPLY THE THEME LIKE YOU WOULD A PICTURE? INSIDE CONTACTS.



5. Less hardware buttons
The contacts and calendar hardware buttons have been replaced by an extra row on the screen. Yes, there are buttons on the keyboard which link to them, but that doesn't help me when trying to configure 3 control buttons in Worms, does it.


I ALSO APPLIED THE "VIDEO CALL" BUTTON TO CALENDAR, AND THERE IS A CUSTOMISABLE BUTTON FOR CONTACTS THAT ARE NEXT TO THE TWO SOFT KEY BUTTONS. THE MOMENT YOU GO INSIDE AN APP, THE SOFT KEYS CHANGE, AND I ALWAYS NEED QUICK ACCESS TO CONTACTS AND CALENDAR, SO IN EFFECT ON A TODAY SCREEN, I HAVE TWO BUTTONS TO ACCESS CONTACTS/CALENDAR.

6. Add ringtones?
Ok we have ups and downs here. On the plus side, MP3 ringtones are now supported. On the flipside, you can't file them into folders, they have to place in the My Documents route directory in order to be accessible. Is there a way round this?

\WINDOWS\RINGS

BUT STILL NO SUB DIRECTORIES, BUT AT LEAST THEY DONT CLUTTER A USELESS MYDOCS.

I hope someone can help me. Any info you can give will be much appreciated



AGAIN, THERE ARE MUCH GREATER ISSUES IN THE UNIVERSAL THAN THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE. I THINK IF THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, AND YOU ARE HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, BE GRATEFUL.

[GaZ]

I realise there are many side steps around my issues, but they're some of the thing that made me love my XDAii. Like the hardware buttons, made it so easy to use PocketSNES. You turned it sideways and instantly had a d-pad on your left, and 4 buttons on your right (just like a SNES pad). And calendar, I know it has the options on the menu, but I miss the quick functionality.

Oh, and yes my Exec obviously does have the QWERTY keypad, but this isn't always conveniant when walking, or holding many bags, or drinking in a crowded pub. The phone pad was the texting solution I've been waiting for for years, and doesn't work in the application it's needed most in :x

Thanks for informing me of the windows\rings folder. That's one bonus at least.

So what are your qualms with the Exec? I'm guessing deeper things like memory useage and stuff?

[simon_darley]

none really, I am happy thru n thru

weight n size perhaps. the price for a double thumb keyboard...

I just read a lot of negative comments and complaints and few people saying how good it is overall for price n quantity of gadgets in such a small package.

[sub69]

Ok, The toolbar thing is a bit annoying at first, but you get used to it and I prefer the aesthetics of a 'cleaner' looking screen without all sorts of icons at the bottom making everything look untidy (personal preference though). Lack of hardware buttons on the face of the phone when it's in PDA mode is not something I've even thought about, but I can see how it would cause issues for game-players. Bit of a shame, but I doubt if it's a consideration for many OEM's, they don't really build WM phones with gaming ergonomics as a high priority issue...

Not had problems with the speaker, and sticking ringtones in the \Windows\Rings folder is good enough for me - why would you need to sub-categorise them? Unless you have dozens of them that you change on a daily basis?

I'm interested in your comment that the "Phone pad" doesn't work in the Messaging app though? Mine works perfectly well...is this something that others have problems with? Maybe you have a dodgy ROM or something?

Oh, and I never knew that the theme could be changed depending on who was calling? Didn't that take aaaaages, and slow the response of the phone down to a crawl!?

[GaZ]

Ok, The toolbar thing is a bit annoying at first, but you get used to it and I prefer the aesthetics of a 'cleaner' looking screen without all sorts of icons at the bottom making everything look untidy (personal preference though). Lack of hardware buttons on the face of the phone when it's in PDA mode is not something I've even thought about, but I can see how it would cause issues for game-players. Bit of a shame, but I doubt if it's a consideration for many OEM's, they don't really build WM phones with gaming ergonomics as a high priority issue...

Not had problems with the speaker, and sticking ringtones in the \Windows\Rings folder is good enough for me - why would you need to sub-categorise them? Unless you have dozens of them that you change on a daily basis?

I'm interested in your comment that the "Phone pad" doesn't work in the Messaging app though? Mine works perfectly well...is this something that others have problems with? Maybe you have a dodgy ROM or something?

Oh, and I never knew that the theme could be changed depending on who was calling? Didn't that take aaaaages, and slow the response of the phone down to a crawl!?

I never knew about the windows\rings folder before posting this so that answered that one.

As for phone pad, it definitely isn't working in messaging, so I may try a newer ROM, but only if it can be downloaded from the official O2 site.

The phone themes, did indeed slow it down, but I thought rather than exclude them they'd work on it and make them better.

[beachmeat]

The phone pad was the texting solution I've been waiting for for years, and doesn't work in the application it's needed most in :x


Seriously, you must be the only person on this planet that was wishing for that - you have a keyboard and a keyboard on the screen... what the heck :shock:

[GaZ]

The phone pad was the texting solution I've been waiting for for years, and doesn't work in the application it's needed most in :x


Seriously, you must be the only person on this planet that was wishing for that - you have a keyboard and a keyboard on the screen... what the heck :shock:

As you may have read if you looked at my previous reply, the keyboard is no good for one handed use (ie: whilst holding a pint in a crowded pub)