jackvinson
1st August 2009, 09:34 PM
As everyone who has been trying the new ROM (or even looking at the screen captures) knows, the UI has been changed significantly. Since most of the providers don't plan on making 6.5 backwards compatible, this isn't a major problem for most users. We aren't most users: So THANK YOU to our chefs.
Anyway, there are a number of UI changes. Some I've figured out, some I have questions on. I'd love to keep a running list, if that makes sense. I'm also happy to move this post elsewhere or acknowledge someone else's work. (I did search.)
So, here is my list thus far. I'm happy to have links to additional information on any of these topics.
Touch. The touch-based actions feel much better. (I get the impression from reading XDA and other forums that AT&T limited access to some of these touch actions. With the "cooked" rom's, this goes away.) The faster I slide my finger, the faster the scrolling in long pages or lists of contacts. It's not perfect, as I sometimes find myself intending to scroll and getting a click instead. (This is not different from before.) On the browser (and other apps?), flick-scrolling gives you any angle, rather than strickly up/down or left/right. I would like a tutorial for all the touch actions, though.
Home page. This is quite variable. The default seems to be CHome, which has large text/graphic bars for each element on CHome. I like that each gives underlying status when they are the selected bar, and then you can go into them further of course: email, friends, weather, etc. Many of the CHome apps have a scrolling functionality that give you additional access without having to open the underlying application. CHome is modifiable with a special editor, called CHome Editor and located in various locations, depending on the build. This lets you set which bars show up on the list and where they are located. (It would be nice if this linked to the Today settings editor and visa versa.) As usual, there are many home page options, and one more graphical option is Manila2D / TouchFLO2D (possibly a standard option). It also takes some getting used to.
Start list. Rather than a simple list, this is now the hexagonal grid of icons. I've seen a number of people say this is a direct response to the iPhone icon / application list. While it may be easier to view, I don't like the UI and lack of flexibility here. I keep forgetting where things like the Photo Album are. My current ROM has three different places to find "settings" type of tools, and there is no way (that I can see) to move things between groupings and explicitly set what icons I want where.
Internet Explorer has a much better experience - mostly. It operates full screen, and a double-tap will zoom into a readable area. (I think it actually zooms into an underlying html section, which I find comforting.) I don't understand why IE seems to shut down when I have only OK'd out to the home screen (not closed it). Big question: on a web page with a data entry field, why won't the text entry area scroll with my typing? Other question: Should I use a different browser?
FYI: The keyboard map for function keys is different than the default for the AT&T Tilt. This can be fixed by following this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334911
Camera: The camera has never been anything to write home about, but it seems to have gotten worse. I see a thread on the main section for the Kaiser that talks about a new camera app that looks a lot like the one that comes with WM6.5 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=355587). Question: Is there any chance to improve the the options and operation of the camera?
Feedback welcomed.
Jack Vinson
Phone: 8925 / Kaiser
Current setup:
SPL: 3.29
ROM: RPC_Elite_V9 WWE
Radio: 1.59.46.12
Protocol: 25.89.30.08H
Anyway, there are a number of UI changes. Some I've figured out, some I have questions on. I'd love to keep a running list, if that makes sense. I'm also happy to move this post elsewhere or acknowledge someone else's work. (I did search.)
So, here is my list thus far. I'm happy to have links to additional information on any of these topics.
Touch. The touch-based actions feel much better. (I get the impression from reading XDA and other forums that AT&T limited access to some of these touch actions. With the "cooked" rom's, this goes away.) The faster I slide my finger, the faster the scrolling in long pages or lists of contacts. It's not perfect, as I sometimes find myself intending to scroll and getting a click instead. (This is not different from before.) On the browser (and other apps?), flick-scrolling gives you any angle, rather than strickly up/down or left/right. I would like a tutorial for all the touch actions, though.
Home page. This is quite variable. The default seems to be CHome, which has large text/graphic bars for each element on CHome. I like that each gives underlying status when they are the selected bar, and then you can go into them further of course: email, friends, weather, etc. Many of the CHome apps have a scrolling functionality that give you additional access without having to open the underlying application. CHome is modifiable with a special editor, called CHome Editor and located in various locations, depending on the build. This lets you set which bars show up on the list and where they are located. (It would be nice if this linked to the Today settings editor and visa versa.) As usual, there are many home page options, and one more graphical option is Manila2D / TouchFLO2D (possibly a standard option). It also takes some getting used to.
Start list. Rather than a simple list, this is now the hexagonal grid of icons. I've seen a number of people say this is a direct response to the iPhone icon / application list. While it may be easier to view, I don't like the UI and lack of flexibility here. I keep forgetting where things like the Photo Album are. My current ROM has three different places to find "settings" type of tools, and there is no way (that I can see) to move things between groupings and explicitly set what icons I want where.
Internet Explorer has a much better experience - mostly. It operates full screen, and a double-tap will zoom into a readable area. (I think it actually zooms into an underlying html section, which I find comforting.) I don't understand why IE seems to shut down when I have only OK'd out to the home screen (not closed it). Big question: on a web page with a data entry field, why won't the text entry area scroll with my typing? Other question: Should I use a different browser?
FYI: The keyboard map for function keys is different than the default for the AT&T Tilt. This can be fixed by following this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334911
Camera: The camera has never been anything to write home about, but it seems to have gotten worse. I see a thread on the main section for the Kaiser that talks about a new camera app that looks a lot like the one that comes with WM6.5 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=355587). Question: Is there any chance to improve the the options and operation of the camera?
Feedback welcomed.
Jack Vinson
Phone: 8925 / Kaiser
Current setup:
SPL: 3.29
ROM: RPC_Elite_V9 WWE
Radio: 1.59.46.12
Protocol: 25.89.30.08H