a few things I can't stand

[trpenner]

My wife and I just got the T-Mobile Dash (s620, Excalibur, among other names) and we like it. However, we still have the following issues.
Can't turn off the backlight. (I think your right, I can deal with this.)
Backlight doesn't come on all the way in bright sunlight. (same here)

Can't find a slim, inward facing, plastic belt holster? (still looking)
Speed dial list isn't easy to get to (mapped to 2 - OK for now but would rather put this on my wife's Today Screen).
The 'touch' volume mechanism is silly. (will try setjogbar (http://dashapps.googlepages.com)-free to begin using it as scroll instead, thanks caramelzappa (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=680530) and phonealarm (http://www.mobiletopsoft.com/smartphone/download-phonealarm-sp-v1-0.html) -not free for vol ctrl, thx sergiopi (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=269853))
Can't I just set the phone volume to as high as possible by default while I am on the phone and perhaps set hard buttons to control this? (thx again)

Can't modify the today screen. (still no great solution here)
Can't create Excel files. (will try Modaco-free but can't find it, thx sergiopi (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=269853) or Documents To Go (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&osId=979&jid=149X7D6124DBC8X9E9BB9X2439E3336A&productId=207342&merch=download_page_crosssell&HDGO_ad=dpcs_207342&HDGO_au=1&HDGO_ae=c)-not free)
Can't set more than one alarm. (will try phonealarm (http://www.mobiletopsoft.com/smartphone/download-phonealarm-sp-v1-0.html) not free, thx sergiopi (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=269853))

Unlocking the keypad (press unlock > then *) is a bit of a nuisance. (I'm surviving)
Internet costs $20.00 - this is a rippoff, even at $6.00! (turning tzones into full internet access from the instructions found here (http://dashapps.googlepages.com/).
Any assistance with some of these items would be greatly appreciated.

[sergiopi]

My wife and I just got the T-Mobile Dash (630, Excalibur, among other names) and we like it. However, we have the following issues.

1) Can't turn off the backlight.
2) Backlight doesn't come on all the way in bright sunlight.
3) Can't find a slim, inward facing, plastic belt holster?
4) Speed dial list isn't easy to get to.
5) The 'touch' volume mechanism is silly.
6) Can't I just set the phone volume to as high as possible by default while I am on the phone and perhaps set hard buttons to control this?
7) Can't modify the today screen.
8) Can't create Excel files.
9) Can't set more than one alarm.
10) Unlocking the keypad (press unlock > then *) is a bit of a nuisance.

Any assistance with some of these items would be greatly appreciated.

1) Why? just in settings>power management choose the backlight time out!
2) If you live in Antarctica during the summer this could be a big problem! :)
3) just drop it in yout pocket, is strong enought!
4) ???? Set it then press the number you sat for a couple of seconds... done
5,6, 9) I agree, I use phonealarm, it does the job an much more!
7) This is your fault, not excalibur's fault, Home screen is fully easy XML and there are hundreds home screen already done for landscape WM smartphones on the net
8) Modaco has the freeware solution to create word and excel files on the dash-excalibur
10) IMHO I fount it safe and easy

and remember GOOGLE IS THE BEST n00b's friend! :D

[caramelzappa]

1) Why would you need to turn it off manually? You can set it to after a while, or you can hold the end call button and just lock the phone.
2)Why do you need the backlight in the sunlight?
3)Save yourself the humiliation and put your phone in your pocket.
4)Holding down a button is difficult? Seems the same as speed dial as any other phone.
4)Search for setjogbar, makes the touch pad much more useful.
5)Just set it to the highest volume and don't mess with it anymore. If you install setjogbar you can make it so it only controls volume in call, and works as a quick launch/scroll strip otherwise.
6)Search for homescreens. There are plenty available, caurasal is a nice one that last time I checked is on the front page of this forum.
7)There are programs that are available. Remember, it's windows mobile, and it relies on programs to do things the same way as windows does.
8)I don't know about your alarm problem, I don't use them.
9)How is the unlock sequence different than any other phone? A soft key and then * is pretty common for unlocking phones. The only difference perhaps is that the dash has smaller keys than most, but you get used to them quickly.

[ashasaur]

and btw, just because I can...its called an S620....not a 630, thats the uber cancelled HTC Cavilier...so HA!!

[trpenner]

and btw, just because I can...its called an S620....not a 630, thats the uber cancelled HTC Cavilier...so HA!!point taken, thx ash.

I have noted what I am still looking for. Thanks for everyone's help with my newbie list.

[trpenner]

Modaco has the freeware solution to create word and excel files on the dash-excaliburI'm not finding this one.

[ashasaur]

you could also update your ROM to WM6, you could then use Office Mobile...which lets you create docs, excels, whatever on your device.....and also, you can goto www.madbeetle.com, they offer a free homescreen makeing application that lets you make a homescreen(today screen aka) from scratch using a nice GUI...that may help you a little..

[trpenner]

you could also update your ROM to WM6, you could then use Office Mobile...which lets you create docs, excels, whatever on your device.....and also, you can goto www.madbeetle.com (http://www.madbeetle.com), they offer a free homescreen makeing application that lets you make a homescreen(today screen aka) from scratch using a nice GUI...that may help you a little..Ash, thanks. I'll try madbeetle and and see how that works. Documents to Go won't as I can't find the crack for it. I am using WM6 and just went back into the Excel it comes with and can't figure out how to do a new Excel doc. Perhaps I am missing something?

[ashasaur]

Yeah, what you need to do, is first make an excel document on your computer...name is like blank.xml or somethin, whatever you want, and leave it blank, then on your Dash...open Excel Mobile and select your Excel doc, then click on Menu, the Save As, then rename it to something else, and it will create you a new file with that name, in addition to the one that you already had. Not real elegant, but it works with the software that you already have...no cracks or anything required!

[newengland]

and btw, just because I can...its called an S620....not a 630, thats the uber cancelled HTC Cavilier...so HA!!

If the S630 is cancelled? Why do I have it on my desk as we speak?

[ashasaur]

Very limited release my friend, HTC sent *some* out, but then decided to work on different products such as the Touch 2 and crap instead of focusing on another smartphone...go figure, since the S620 is like their best selling WM smartphone ever.....

[tuantuti]

you could also update your ROM to WM6, you could then use Office Mobile...which lets you create docs, excels, whatever on your device.....and also, you can goto www.madbeetle.com, they offer a free homescreen makeing application that lets you make a homescreen(today screen aka) from scratch using a nice GUI...that may help you a little..

hi have WM6 ROM 1.33 without Office Mobile 6. I then installed Office Mobile 6 found in one of the thread, and tried to create a doc, but i don't think it would let u. can u walk me through how to do it ash, thanks a bunch (sorry 4 my noobie):D:D

[ashasaur]

Sure, it's not elegant, but it gets the job done. What you need to do is first using your desktop PC, make a Word, Excel, Powerpoint file etc, and name it something like NEW DOC MAKER or the like and leave it blank. Then, transfer it to your device. Now open up whichever program you created it for(Word, Excel, PP etc) and wait for it too load. Once its loaded, press MENU, then select SAVE AS....and name it something else..like FOODZ or the like and hit SAVE. It will then create a new blank document called what you just specified in the same directory or folder as the original document. Hope this helps!

[theformula]

My wife and I just got the T-Mobile Dash (s620, Excalibur, among other names) and we like it. However, we still have the following issues.
Can't turn off the backlight. (I think your right, I can deal with this.)
Backlight doesn't come on all the way in bright sunlight. (same here)

Can't find a slim, inward facing, plastic belt holster? (still looking)
Speed dial list isn't easy to get to (mapped to 2 - OK for now but would rather put this on my wife's Today Screen).
The 'touch' volume mechanism is silly. (will try setjogbar (http://dashapps.googlepages.com)-free to begin using it as scroll instead, thanks caramelzappa (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=680530) and phonealarm (http://www.mobiletopsoft.com/smartphone/download-phonealarm-sp-v1-0.html) -not free for vol ctrl, thx sergiopi (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=269853))
Can't I just set the phone volume to as high as possible by default while I am on the phone and perhaps set hard buttons to control this? (thx again)

Can't modify the today screen. (still no great solution here)
Can't create Excel files. (will try Modaco-free but can't find it, thx sergiopi (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=269853) or Documents To Go (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&osId=979&jid=149X7D6124DBC8X9E9BB9X2439E3336A&productId=207342&merch=download_page_crosssell&HDGO_ad=dpcs_207342&HDGO_au=1&HDGO_ae=c)-not free)
Can't set more than one alarm. (will try phonealarm (http://www.mobiletopsoft.com/smartphone/download-phonealarm-sp-v1-0.html) not free, thx sergiopi (http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=269853))

Unlocking the keypad (press unlock > then *) is a bit of a nuisance. (I'm surviving)
Internet costs $20.00 - this is a rippoff, even at $6.00! (turning tzones into full internet access from the instructions found here (http://dashapps.googlepages.com/).
Any assistance with some of these items would be greatly appreciated.

I found the freeware Schedy Mobile for creating multiple alarms with your own sound and display messages, check it out HERE (http://www.smartphone-freeware.com/download-schedy-mobile.html)