I posted this first in HTCpedia, and then had some discussion in xda, but I thought I would post this officially in xda.
HTC has, since manila 2.5, designed and developed a completely new text messaging application (HTC Messaging App) to replace the old Windows messaging application for the entire SMS/text messaging functionality. Some of you may not be affected by the poor performance of HTC messaging app. But for me, it's so poor that despite trimming my text messages to just 200, every operation (open message, compose a message, etc) takes a few seconds at least, and it is just not usable for me. It looks to me as if HTC has designed, developed and tested with just a handful messages in mind.
So I did some investigation, and found out a way to disable HTC messaging app, and revert back to the original Windows messaging application, i.e. pocket outlook, for text messaging.
Technically speaking, it's a combination of registry tweak and a small patch utility I wrote to overcome a bug/problem as a result of disabling HTC messaging application.
Update (29th September 2009) - Version 1.2
I have updated the CAB to be compatible with the latest manila version 2.5.1919xxx. This should fix the problem where the default application is still HTC messaging client, and not Windows pocket outlook. If you already have a previous version installed, please remember NOT to restart your device when the previous version is being uninstalled. Also, if your text message has "GSM" suffix, there's a chance where the tweak is not complete. I'm working on a fix for that but I would need confirmation from you registry values in the registry path (HKLM\Services\MSG, HKLM\Services\OutlookEnhancement, HKLM\System\Inbox\ExternalAccounts, HKCU\Software\HTC\bootlauncher\services\outlookenhancement)
Update (21st September 2009) - Version 1.1
I have updated to the CAB to include the latest version of patch utility, which would be more reliable (99% ,with the 1% due to scenario not tested ) detect dismissal of SMS notification, so that you won't end up with the count bubble still showing up after dismissing SMS notification or reading the new SMS. This CAB doesn't have the registry tweak discovered in 11th September, as I noted that not all ROM would have this problem. So if you have problem sending messages, you can manually apply the tweak yourself (see the update on 11th Sept)
INSTALLATION NOTE FOR THOSE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED V1.0: When you run the CAB (version 1.1), you will be prompted if you would like to restart when the previous version is uninstalled. DO NOT RESTART, so that version 1.1 can be installed immediately after that. If you choose RESTART at this point, your SMS may be lost as a result. RESTART only after version 1.1 has been installed successfully.
Update (11th September 2009) - First Release
In some ROM, there's additional registry entries found in the ROM which would impede the ability to send SMS in the Winmo text messaging application. You can find the manual fix here, while I work on implementing this fix in the CAB.
Update (5th September 2009)
I have updated the CAB not only to install the patch utility, but also to apply the tweak configuration at the point of installation (i.e. step 1 to 4 are automated by the CAB). You will be prompted to restart your device at the end of the installation, like this
The tweak is reversible by just uninstalling the CAB from Settings > Remove Program. Again, you will be prompted to restart your device to effect the changes, as below
However, take note that moving from one mode to another mode might lose your text messages, so please make sure you do a proper backup when you install/uninstall. If you are using myphone, you may have to restore the deleted messages from the web, before syncing back to your phone.
Tested to work in the following ROMs
(take note that if the ROM is not listed here it doesn't mean it won't work, it just been that it has not been tested/reported)
1. Dutty's Leo R2
2. PDAViet V58 build 23045, V59/60 build 23047
3. eXperience V 6.0
4. nrgz genesis
5. RTT LEET R4
HTC has, since manila 2.5, designed and developed a completely new text messaging application (HTC Messaging App) to replace the old Windows messaging application for the entire SMS/text messaging functionality. Some of you may not be affected by the poor performance of HTC messaging app. But for me, it's so poor that despite trimming my text messages to just 200, every operation (open message, compose a message, etc) takes a few seconds at least, and it is just not usable for me. It looks to me as if HTC has designed, developed and tested with just a handful messages in mind.
So I did some investigation, and found out a way to disable HTC messaging app, and revert back to the original Windows messaging application, i.e. pocket outlook, for text messaging.
Technically speaking, it's a combination of registry tweak and a small patch utility I wrote to overcome a bug/problem as a result of disabling HTC messaging application.
Update (29th September 2009) - Version 1.2
I have updated the CAB to be compatible with the latest manila version 2.5.1919xxx. This should fix the problem where the default application is still HTC messaging client, and not Windows pocket outlook. If you already have a previous version installed, please remember NOT to restart your device when the previous version is being uninstalled. Also, if your text message has "GSM" suffix, there's a chance where the tweak is not complete. I'm working on a fix for that but I would need confirmation from you registry values in the registry path (HKLM\Services\MSG, HKLM\Services\OutlookEnhancement, HKLM\System\Inbox\ExternalAccounts, HKCU\Software\HTC\bootlauncher\services\outlookenhancement)
Update (21st September 2009) - Version 1.1
I have updated to the CAB to include the latest version of patch utility, which would be more reliable (99% ,with the 1% due to scenario not tested ) detect dismissal of SMS notification, so that you won't end up with the count bubble still showing up after dismissing SMS notification or reading the new SMS. This CAB doesn't have the registry tweak discovered in 11th September, as I noted that not all ROM would have this problem. So if you have problem sending messages, you can manually apply the tweak yourself (see the update on 11th Sept)
INSTALLATION NOTE FOR THOSE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED V1.0: When you run the CAB (version 1.1), you will be prompted if you would like to restart when the previous version is uninstalled. DO NOT RESTART, so that version 1.1 can be installed immediately after that. If you choose RESTART at this point, your SMS may be lost as a result. RESTART only after version 1.1 has been installed successfully.
Update (11th September 2009) - First Release
In some ROM, there's additional registry entries found in the ROM which would impede the ability to send SMS in the Winmo text messaging application. You can find the manual fix here, while I work on implementing this fix in the CAB.
Update (5th September 2009)
I have updated the CAB not only to install the patch utility, but also to apply the tweak configuration at the point of installation (i.e. step 1 to 4 are automated by the CAB). You will be prompted to restart your device at the end of the installation, like this
The tweak is reversible by just uninstalling the CAB from Settings > Remove Program. Again, you will be prompted to restart your device to effect the changes, as below
However, take note that moving from one mode to another mode might lose your text messages, so please make sure you do a proper backup when you install/uninstall. If you are using myphone, you may have to restore the deleted messages from the web, before syncing back to your phone.
Tested to work in the following ROMs
(take note that if the ROM is not listed here it doesn't mean it won't work, it just been that it has not been tested/reported)
1. Dutty's Leo R2
2. PDAViet V58 build 23045, V59/60 build 23047
3. eXperience V 6.0
4. nrgz genesis
5. RTT LEET R4
Manual Steps
Step 1.Disable HTC messaging service by either removing the registry or rename the DLL in HKLM\services\MSG. e.g. I rename "MessagingService.dll" to "MessagingService.dllx" This will enable Winmo to take over the entire messaging send/receive function, without this, you can only receive text messages but not able to use winmo app to send terxt message (Although you can still send using the slow HTC messaging app, but it'll create some inconsistency).Step 2.
Change the default text messaging app from HTC messaging to Winmo's Pocket outlook (tmail.exe) by removing the registry or renaming the account in HKLM\system\inbox\externalaccounts. In my case, I rename "SMS" to "SMS.htc"Step 3.
Install the attached cab file to fix the missing unread count status (read below for more information)Step 4
Soft reset your phone, and you are set to go!
Something to note (as a result of the tweak)
1. Missing Unread count on the Messaging tab
First thing you will notice if you do not execute step 3 (as above), is that the messaging tab will never show any unread count bubble, even if there is a new incoming SMS. That said, you will still get SMS notification (i.e. notification sound, notification icon in the taskbar, etc)
Step 3 basically is a workaround fix utility, that fixes the problem by monitoring new incoming SMS and set unread count appropriately. It'll monitor the notification queue, and unset the read count once you processed the SMS notification. However, due to the way HTC implements its notification manager, which takes over standard Windows notification management, in some rare cases, the notification queue might be missed, and as a result you might see the read count not unset even though you have taken the necessary action (i.e. open the new SMS, dismiss the SMS notification, or set new SMS to read). When this happens, just soft-reset your HD, and you should be fine.
2. Missing MMS function
I have a temporary solution to enable MMS function in the Windows text messaging application. However, there's abit of problem in the time of the message transmitted, so I'm not posting the solution yet. You can however, do a google search on "arcsoft MMS" application, if this is one area you cannot live without.
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