A couple of pains... - 8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario General

Hello all
Right, so I've had my Wizard for a couple of months so far and it's struck me as a wonderful piece of miniaturisation. But I've found the OS lets it down - WM2005 tries to do too much and thus fails as the basic features, stability and user-friendliness. Anyway, bashing Microsoft isn't why I'm here today
I've managed to sort out most of the pressing concerns with the device, especially the sluggishness (fixed with a firmware upgrade from O2, my carrier). But there are a few things that bother me still:
1) When adding a new ToDo task or contact, the first field loses focus after a random amount of time, halfway through typing. This is incredibly annoying as I have to, after typing in thef first few letters, refocus the cursor at the end of the text to continue typing. This only effects the default (first) field selection, ie, the contact or task name.
2) When plugged into my PC, it appears as a network device. Fair enough, I can see the logic behind a phone being classed as a network device. What's annoying as that whenevr I plug it in, a network connection is set up which become the primary - overruling my LAN connection to the internet. Now I never use my phone as a modem, but I still have to unplug or disable it if I want to access the web or do other PC-based networking activites.
3) Hotmail. I can't believe this was built into the email client. How can it be removed? And can the 'Outlook' email be made to download email directly? It's completely pointless to have to maintain two email profiles for the same account - one for email received via Outlook and the other for directly downloaded messages. I need to reply to SMSs for them to be marked as 'read'. Anyone know if this is usual behaviour? Better yet, are there any decent alternatives to the messaging suite? I really loved the threaded SMS views of the Treo and its email client, but haven't found any PocketPC equivalents.
4) I'm really hating Outlook on my desktop - the only reason I installed it was to allow (half) my emails to by sync'ed. I've been yearning to get back to Thunderbird but have been held back by my phone. However, recently, I heard of something called FinchSync, which claims to allow Thunderbird-WM2005 email/contact sync'ing. Anyone used it?
5) Skype. I like Skype and would love to see it on my phone. I knew when I brought it that it probably wouldn't be able to run it and my tests (even if OC'ed to 252MHz) show that it doesn't really work (gets tantilizingly close). Yet I hear people claiming it works perfectly on their devices - I was wondering if there's a clever trick to this.
Phew - that's a load!
Thanks

F*SH said:
Hello all
Right, so I've had my Wizard for a couple of months so far and it's struck me as a wonderful piece of miniaturisation. But I've found the OS lets it down - WM2005 tries to do too much and thus fails as the basic features, stability and user-friendliness. Anyway, bashing Microsoft isn't why I'm here today
I've managed to sort out most of the pressing concerns with the device, especially the sluggishness (fixed with a firmware upgrade from O2, my carrier). But there are a few things that bother me still:
1) When adding a new ToDo task or contact, the first field loses focus after a random amount of time, halfway through typing. This is incredibly annoying as I have to, after typing in thef first few letters, refocus the cursor at the end of the text to continue typing. This only effects the default (first) field selection, ie, the contact or task name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hm never had that problem
2) When plugged into my PC, it appears as a network device. Fair enough, I can see the logic behind a phone being classed as a network device. What's annoying as that whenevr I plug it in, a network connection is set up which become the primary - overruling my LAN connection to the internet. Now I never use my phone as a modem, but I still have to unplug or disable it if I want to access the web or do other PC-based networking activites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it has to be related to your PC networking settings[routing i think]. right now my wiz is connected and I use net ;]
3) Hotmail. I can't believe this was built into the email client. How can it be removed? And can the 'Outlook' email be made to download email directly? It's completely pointless to have to maintain two email profiles for the same account - one for email received via Outlook and the other for directly downloaded messages. I need to reply to SMSs for them to be marked as 'read'. Anyone know if this is usual behaviour? Better yet, are there any decent alternatives to the messaging suite? I really loved the threaded SMS views of the Treo and its email client, but haven't found any PocketPC equivalents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is related to way of managing mails. Outlook is build in acount fo handling sync'ed mail's and standard pop3 is for handlig popped mails. Actually I am not syncing my e'mails (my inobx on pc is larger thn my sd card ) but imo there is another way of managaging (ie. on my pop3 account emails are deleted from device when read and older than settins)
4) I'm really hating Outlook on my desktop - the only reason I installed it was to allow (half) my emails to by sync'ed. I've been yearning to get back to Thunderbird but have been held back by my phone. However, recently, I heard of something called FinchSync, which claims to allow Thunderbird-WM2005 email/contact sync'ing. Anyone used it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope
5) Skype. I like Skype and would love to see it on my phone. I knew when I brought it that it probably wouldn't be able to run it and my tests (even if OC'ed to 252MHz) show that it doesn't really work (gets tantilizingly close). Yet I hear people claiming it works perfectly on their devices - I was wondering if there's a clever trick to this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
on my OC [240] wiz skype is working flawleseverything I've done is oc my wiz. skype was included on rom I am using.
Phew - that's a load!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iv that was a help, np. [/quote]

Hi savac
Thanks for the reply - I'm thinking you're right about the networking issues being on the desktop.
You got your Skype on a ROM - I downloaded mine from the Skype website. I opted for the 'low power' version, I assume that's the one everyone else uses?

Related

Mac OS X sync, notes sync, pre addressed sms and mms set up

Things I have learned regarding SPV M500 (magician) and Mac OS X
Pocketmac does not work. I have purchased both the pro and lite versions of this software and I can categorically say that it does not work. I managed to get it to sync with entourage contacts and address but the email support is very bad and after 24hrs of trying ity still does not work properly. The support system does not work either, I had several tickets started to try and resolve the problems but the support staff repeatedly requested information that I had previously stated in the original ticket requests. There is one redeeming aspect of my dealings with Pocketmac and that is that they did give a refund upon request; could this be because they are aware of the problems?
Switch to Missing Sync, it is the recommended software of mac and after using it I can see why, from the first connection to the first sync it was all plain sailing, it keeps you informed about choices it is making during the sync and was very stable. I can now sync ical with tasks and contacts. First class software. Once set up you can add and email account on the device and it allows a pass through with the settings for .mac auto detected. You simply set the delete period to 7 days on both the mac and ppc the messages are then synced on both. Avantgo works ok although you have to start the sync from avantgo, it is not automatic like on activesync.
The next problem was notes, I bet most of you work on the net on your mac and at some point want to some information from your mac to the ppc as quick and simply as possible, I searched and searched for software to do this but to no avail. Eventually I found some. What you need is an account with www.backpackit.com they allow a free account for notes, tasks and lists, it is a web based system that seems to work a treat, to allow sync between the systems you make their page an avantgo personal channel to be viewed on the device (the first time you sync do it while connected with the ppc, it will ask for a username and pass. The next thing you need is the desktop widget for os x, they connects to the backpack site and shows you previous messages in real time on the dashboard, you can add or edit items. Every time you sync avantgo picks this data up and adds it to the device. You can also add notes and lists etc through avantgo which consequently adds your data back to the widget.
How do you create an icon on the today screen which will open pocket outlook with a new message already addressed to your chosen contact. Again I looked high and low for a solution to this, my preivous post mentioned using wizbar and specifying mailto:yournumber as a command to start upon button press, this works well but as was pointed out by one of the replies it does use a lot of resources just to do a simple task, this is not necessary. I have been a calligrapher user for a while and have never really looked into the features too much, I now know that you can ad a command which can be activated by a simple written command with a circle around it, the command you need to open the mail app and address and txt is as follows:
<#start>tmail.exe
mailto:yournumber
This when activated will start p outlook with a pre addressed message.
Finally MMS message setup, I would guess that some of you have unlocked phones and need to set up mms, I am with virgin and tried the settings they provide although as you probably know the syntax is very different on a wm device so it can be quite confusing, this is a really simple tip but one that I overlooked for quite some time, I tried different settings over and over again and they would not work until I realised that the tele number you input to address the message must not have any spaces I know if sounds really stupid but I use calligrapher a lot and I was putting in the recipients number via the pen and there were obviously spaces in the number, all the messaged were being rejected for this reason and nothing to do with the settings, I felt very stupid but thought I must point this out to newbies like me.
2 other tips that I was not aware of until reading some other posts are: -
speaker phone on the magician can be activated by holding down the green call button in a call.
Pressing the green button followed by the : -
Right directional button gives call register
Left directional gives speed dials
I was not aware of either of these until reading the groups.
Hope the above helps, I am very much a newbie but love tinkering and will not rest until the device is how I like it.

Goodlink on TyTn

Post #1 for me on this forum...here it goes:
First: I searched. I scoured. I actually read all the titles of all the posts on the 12 pages of this Tytn board to look for the answer to this question, so I'm feeling pretty good about not getting flamed. That said I am new to WM5 so forgive me if I'm asking a dumb question (usually that disclaimer precedes a dumb question). :wink:
Does the Goodlink software work on a Tytn? If I buy the Tytn and it doesn't work, I will have a $750 paperweight until Cingular gets around to releasing the device with a ROM with Goodlink pre-installed, whenever that's supposed to happen. I'm currently using a Treo 650 and Good basicly takes over all of the email functions and the buttons on the device so I imagine there has to be some hardware configuration that needs to be worked out. Since Good comes pre-loaded on the 8125 (and will probably come pre-loaded on the 8525), I know HTC devices work with it, but I need to be 100% sure it will work on the Tytn before I buy. I've never used WM5 so I don't know if Good has to be launched separately from Outlook to separate Goodlink from my pop email accounts. In that respect, I'm a total newbie.
btw- I HAVE to use Goodlink. My admins wont allow anything else and quite frankly I don't think we're running the latest version of Exchange to get direct push, and my cheap company will take 2 yrs to upgrade to it anyway once I suggest it. Like it or not, Goodlink is it for me.
It would be really cool if I could get a very straight forward answer to this question and preferably someone who 100% knows, as opposed to "I think so' or 'theoretically, it 'should'. The answer to this question will drive a $750 decision and that's a lot of moolah for a guy like me. Is anyone out there using Goodlink on their Tytn, or can download it from get.good.com to see if it works?
Your help and expertise is very much appreciated.
Respectfully,
MBN
It is Windows Mobile 5 so it should support it no problem at all. Just to be on the safe side though, I just got my TYTN today and hope to have GoodLink installed on it later today. I will let you know.
Joe
Thanks, Joe! It would be really helpful if you could post the results of your Goodlink install on your new Tytn asap. Also, if you don't mind me asking, where did you purchase the Tytn, and what model version did you get?
Looking forward to a positive reply so I can order one myself tomorrow! This truly looks like the device I've been waiting a few years for.
Thanks,
Michael
I have GoodLink installed on my JasJam and it seems to work exactly as it did with my JasJar. It is little buggy and not as reliable as I would like but it does do the job if you can live with the bugs.
I don't like the way GoodLink took over and make it difficult to have a clean uninstall process. I have been running it for a few days but I going to hard reset my device and install another software.
Also, GoodLink would be better if you could install it on a SD card.
Good luck,
Yep - I installed it and it worked fine. Two things: It needs to be a fresh install (no other apps) when you install, and it also needs to be installed to main memory (even the installer itself).
Now, the downside is that it disables ActiveSync. I had hoped that I'd be able to use Goodlink for my personal email, and continue to use activesync for my corporate mail account, but sadly not. I had to uninstall.
OK, so I installed GoodLink yesterday and here are my results and more info.
First off, I purchased an HTC TyTN Pro from NetworkingRus.com and this was my first purchase from them. Overall, I was very impressed. It was about the cheapest I could find it in the U.S. IN addition, shipping was LIGHTNING fast. I placed the order and 30 minutes later there was an e-mail that the item was ready for shipping. I was really impressed.
Second, I am using the default HTC ROM with the 7/22/06 date. It has been rock solid so far me, knock on wood. I run a pretty lean ship though.
SPB Pocket Plus
"" Weather (w/weather channel template)
"" Backup (Although I have to buy a new mini card)
GoodLink
So I installed GoodLink yesterday and low and behold, everything appears to be working just fine. I was previously using a Cingular 8125, but I wanted to run Mobile SQL and the 8125 doesn't have enough horsepower. I am hoping the TyTN will and so far it does. GoodLink has had issues from time to time in the past, but so far with the TyTN everything has been good, well for almost 24 hours.
The design of the TyTN is great. I have not had to remap keys so far, there are TONS of keys for me to use, and non so far I have not needed. I could do without the camera, but so far this thing is great.
If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Joe
battletank said:
Yep - I installed it and it worked fine. Two things: It needs to be a fresh install (no other apps) when you install, and it also needs to be installed to main memory (even the installer itself).
Now, the downside is that it disables ActiveSync. I had hoped that I'd be able to use Goodlink for my personal email, and continue to use activesync for my corporte mail account, but sadly not. I had to uninstall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battletank
Security is the reason why Goodlink must be installed to main memory. specifically when it comes to remote wipe. Since Goodlink is desgined for the enterprise it must have remote wipe feature. If app was installed to SD card and card was removed, remote wipe would be useless.
Also want to note Activesync and Goodlink should work fine together. Just use good for corp data and activesync for personal pop account. thats how I have it configured and its working fine.
Cheers
I've been using goodlink 4.8.1.14 for about a month without any major issues.
A hard reset of the device was required before it would install/sync successfully. In addition, I didn't activesync the tytn until after goodlink was installed and working correctly.
There are a few minor annoyances that I've encountered.
+Only some of the internal addressbook links have been set to goodlink. (i.e. sms, incoming call resolution, etc). This means I need to maintain both an outlook and goodlink directories
+Goodlink occasionally looses the ability to sync and a soft reset is required.
+There doesn't seem to be a way to exit goodlink. You can enter debug mode by typing 'DEBUG', but no command seems to fully exit the app.
Does anyone know of a site that contains goodlink tweaks or hacks? I've google'd around but haven't found anything yet.
--
Dan
why waste your time with Goodlink?? Emoze is free
And does all that and more, inlcuding syncing active sync etc.
www.emoze.com
dang said:
I've been using goodlink 4.8.1.14 for about a month without any major issues.
A hard reset of the device was required before it would install/sync successfully. In addition, I didn't activesync the tytn until after goodlink was installed and working correctly.
There are a few minor annoyances that I've encountered.
+Only some of the internal addressbook links have been set to goodlink. (i.e. sms, incoming call resolution, etc). This means I need to maintain both an outlook and goodlink directories
+Goodlink occasionally looses the ability to sync and a soft reset is required.
+There doesn't seem to be a way to exit goodlink. You can enter debug mode by typing 'DEBUG', but no command seems to fully exit the app.
Does anyone know of a site that contains goodlink tweaks or hacks? I've google'd around but haven't found anything yet.
--
Dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone know of a site like this that contains Goodlink tweaks and hacks? I agree, the biggest pain with Goodlink is that some of the phones functions specifically regarding contacts do not pull from the GL contacts db. It would be great if I could get my outlook to pull in info from my GL contacts...
Cingular 8525 and Good Link
Installed goodlink on the Cingular 8525 (aka Hermes) yesterday. Am really unhappy with the way this software takes over my contacts and calendar files. I run Pocket Informant, and would like for this to remain my default PIM just like I told it too. As things are right now, I usually get the Good contacts and Good calendar shown even when using apps like the phone.
If anyone here knows of an easy way to disable this, please let me know. I've found several postings about ways to do it on a Palm Treo -- including a cryptic on on the Good www site, but nothing about Windows Mobile 5.
Thanks
Use Cingular XPressmail if you just want to have push email from work. However, you need to have the client running on your work desktop.
ON my setup, I setup a VMWARE WinXP guest OS that connect to my office exchange via VPN and have the XPressmail running to push email to my 8525. The host OS still have it's own network connectivity to the Internet, online games, etc.
lanwarrior said:
Use Cingular XPressmail if you just want to have push email from work. However, you need to have the client running on your work desktop.
ON my setup, I setup a VMWARE WinXP guest OS that connect to my office exchange via VPN and have the XPressmail running to push email to my 8525. The host OS still have it's own network connectivity to the Internet, online games, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lanwarrior-
Many people have no choice on the method of push email coming from work, including myself. I don't have rights to run anything directly from our Exchange server and my IT admins frequently run sw updates to my office pc at night which shuts down my pc and reboots. I work at a bank and they're nuts about security so I'm a little bit of a slave to whatever my CIO wants us to use for email and do not have admin access to make any changes to it.
Does anyone know of a Goodlink developers forum such as this one where registry tweaks are listed? There are so many little things I'd like to change about the Goodlink software.
Thanks,
mbn said:
Lanwarrior-
Many people have no choice on the method of push email coming from work, including myself. I don't have rights to run anything directly from our Exchange server and my IT admins frequently run sw updates to my office pc at night which shuts down my pc and reboots. I work at a bank and they're nuts about security so I'm a little bit of a slave to whatever my CIO wants us to use for email and do not have admin access to make any changes to it.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you connect to your work email remotely via VPN? If yes, try to setup your home machine with the VPN software and Outlook configured with the Exchange setting. Then run the machine 24x7.
Does your bank allow Goodlink email connectivity? If yes, maybe you can talk to the IT admin.
Don't know enough about programing to know how to do this...but I know there has to be a way ... since I have the new Cingular ROM installed on my 8525 and when I re-installed Goodlink, mysteriously the linking between my good contacts and the dialer disappeard, and now, when I am in the dialer and hit "contacts", it links back to the regular contacts folder. Not sure why this is...
glee said:
Installed goodlink on the Cingular 8525 (aka Hermes) yesterday. Am really unhappy with the way this software takes over my contacts and calendar files. I run Pocket Informant, and would like for this to remain my default PIM just like I told it too. As things are right now, I usually get the Good contacts and Good calendar shown even when using apps like the phone.
If anyone here knows of an easy way to disable this, please let me know. I've found several postings about ways to do it on a Palm Treo -- including a cryptic on on the Good www site, but nothing about Windows Mobile 5.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had GoodLink on my 8525 and 8125 before that for a total of about a year.
There are very few hacks available. I currently do a few things, like sync my contacts via activesync as well as Good so that they are in both databases - for photo contacts, etc.
The most important hack though is here, how to remove a forced password requirement.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=264020&page=2
My wife finally got her company to install Good on her Tilt so I'm going to try and set up activesync tonight so she can have the good info and her personal pim info available. Hopefully I can get both to play well together. I'm not worried so much about the button mapping as I am of any possible conflicts between the two. I've heard some of you say it worked while others had no luck so I'm not sure what to expect. I'll post when I'm done though...

[BOUNTY][REQ]Notification / alertsound for direct push from exchange subfolders

[Added 30Euro Bounty]
Hello Everyone,
I seem to have run into a shortcoming of both WinMo 6.1 and 6.5.
Apparently (I have searched the forums for this quite extensively) there is no way to have a notification (sound or vibration) to notify the reception inform of an email that has been pushed from the exchange server directly to a subfolder of the inbox, based on a server side rule (i.e. having all the emails sent from my office go directly to my inbox subfolder that is labeled Work Emails).
I am sure plenty of people have exchange accounts with subfolders and would like to see this issue resolved. Moreover, I cannot understand how this feature is present on email clients for Symbian devices but is not supported in Microsoft's own Pocket Outlook (RoadSync for Symbian has this feature).
I am not a programmer, but it would appear bizarre that there is no way to associate a notification to an email, simply because it does not appear in the inbox but in a subfolder of the inbox. From a logical point of view, all that is required is to exted the notifications that apply to new emails in the inbox to ALL new emails both in inbox AND subfolders.
I am willing to pay 30Euros to whomever develops a hack/registry tweak/cab...whatever, that can:
1) make WinMo notify an email that has been pushed to a inbox subfolder;
2) integrate the solution in TF
So far the only solution that have been suggested are:
1) FlexMail 4, that is not compatible with TF or SPB shell
2) http://www.blackmonlabs.com/faq.html. However even this solution is not what I am looking for.
3) CheckMail 2.0 (http://www.soft32.com/download_234983.html) is an app that does exactly what I am looking for, I am now testing if it works with TF3d
Please help,
[I honestly cannot understand how this issue has not been addressed yet]
did you try second today or similar software that allows wmToday and touchflo to run at the same time?
it may work with http://www.blackmonlabs.com/faq.html.
Let me see if I understand this correctly.
I install second today, and for that today screen I install blackmonlab application; therefore, on my second today screen I would get subfolder email notifications.
However, if I understand correctly, I would still have no form of notification when in TF3D today screen. I would still have to switch to my second today screen and verify whether I have received new emails or not.
I don't know....this appears to be so strange. I cannot believe all the Microsoft Exchange users have not in some way addressed this.
Let's see if the addition of a small bounty attracts some good willed programmers.
I am sure there must be a number of people who could use this fix.
nsane said:
Let me see if I understand this correctly.
I install second today, and for that today screen I install blackmonlab application; therefore, on my second today screen I would get subfolder email notifications.
However, if I understand correctly, I would still have no form of notification when in TF3D today screen. I would still have to switch to my second today screen and verify whether I have received new emails or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah dude give it a try before dismissing the idea. it might work well for you
also, whats the name of the app that adds today screen as a tab in touchflo. it might work better than second today or mtoday
I don't know.
In fairness, I am new to WinMO as I recently moved from a nokia communicator E90; I also have some Blackberry experience, since my GF has one.
Honestly, I just love WinMO so far. However, the whole messaging system is pretty weak compared to other platforms and I am rather unsatisfied.
I have not tried SPB mobile shell 3.0, as of yet.
I have mainly used TF Rhodium version and Titanium.
I really like TF, however, I would get rid of both the SMS and Email tabs and replace them with one unique tab that incorporates a fast smooth messaging client. For someone who receives 30/40 SMS per day and about 80 emails, the TF is just very inefficient.
If there was a way to integrate a POWERFUL messaging client in either TF or SPB I would definitely try it. By integrating I mean a Messaging client that:
1) notifies me about SMS, Email (and subfolder emails) vibrating/ringing;
2) Visually modifies my TF3DHome/TitaniumToday/SPB now/ screen showing an envelope and the number of unread messages;
3) provides a pop-up preview (not necessary);
4) one finger tap from Home/today/spb now/ straight to the new Message (no scrolling/clicking to the tab, then clicking on the envelope).
Perhaps there is something like this and I am unaware of it?
hi, does the check mail 2.0 supported TOUCH FLO3D? i went to the description link it says only displays on Today screen.
CheckMail 2.0 does not support touchflo or any other Graphic shell.
Ok someone just messaged me with a solution which appears to be rather interesting.
Using BBconnect and BIS service from phone carrier or alternatively BBconnect and BES (for those who work in a company that runs a BES server).
Apparently BB connect can be integrated in TF3d without issues.
Can someone confirm perhaps?
Did you ever find a good solution to this problem? I too am dumbfounded that this is not natively supported, even in WM 6.5 which I'm running on my Fuze (Energy Rom 8/1 build).
Come on people, there has to be a solution!!!
that feature has never been supported by pocket outlook, nor the PC version of Outlook. ALthough the PC version finally gave the user the ability to create reminders based upon new email into a folder or email specifics. Likewise, PC version of Outlook will not give reminders on flagged items that are not in the inbox and you used to have to use an Outlook plugin to get to do that.
smittyofdhs said:
that feature has never been supported by pocket outlook, nor the PC version of Outlook. ALthough the PC version finally gave the user the ability to create reminders based upon new email into a folder or email specifics. Likewise, PC version of Outlook will not give reminders on flagged items that are not in the inbox and you used to have to use an Outlook plugin to get to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can definitely do this in the PC version of outlook with the built-in Desktop Alerts. It seems like it would be such a simple and useful piece of functionality to implement in WM. Anyone else heard of a good way to do this, especially in WM 6.5?
THe only solution I have found for this, that does not require a second today screen or closing down TF3D is a #rd party app called watch flag.
Here is the home page http://www.watchflag.com/
I used it with WM6.1, it did the job, I found the interface to be a bit clunky, and did not woirk entirely the way I wanted.
That is probably my fault becaue I could not get it to notify me on specific subfolders, I could only make it notify me on all subfolders.
In the programs defense it was over a year ago and has had revisions since then.
The other issues are the program is not free, but has a two week trial and while TF3D can be running , i think it just has regular on screen messages and does not integrate with TF3D message notifications.
Like i said I have not used it in a Year.

Converted from WinMo - Please help me stay...

Ok, I already know all the benefits of Android over WinMo. I'm not here to start a flame war. I just want to get at least some of the functionality I had with my Touch Pro 2. I'm really struggling here....
I'll list the problems I'm trying to surmount, in order of most important to least:
1) In-Call Recording: It worked perfect on my TP2 (legal in Colorado). I just hit Menu > Record. Every app I've tried on the Market sucks. If it even records at all (without a Force Close), I have to have it on speakerphone. With the TP2, it didn't matter if I was holding the phone, using Bluetooth, or had it on speaker. It just recorded... and very clearly. I saw one developer mention this is a hardware/software limitation. Will this ever be overcome?
2) Lack of sync options (primarily, text messages): Windows ActiveSync with Exchange was PERFECT. I could sync not just mail, contact, and calendar... but I could also sync Tasks (which is how I get most of my work done) and text messages (which was great for archival). A benefit of synching text messages was that I could send/receive/reply to texts from Outlook or Outlook webmail. Plus, if I had to flash my phone, all my texts were back after I set up my mail account. Will Android ever get to this level?
3) Mail folders: All I see is a giant, alphabetical list of email folders at the top of my Inbox. If I want to get to my "Mustang Stuff" folder (where all my Mustang-related thread notifications go), I've gotta spin the begeezus out of that list until I get to it. I don't want every folder in that list. There are archival folders (that start with the date in number format) that of course show up first. Not to mention, I have so many folders, that getting to the end (where Sent, Deleted, and Drafts) are, is a real PITA.
4) Bluetooth Functionality = Fail: I can't voice dial from my earpiece. I need this or I'll be running people off the road. This is something so fundamental, I can't believe Android was rolled out w/o it working. I've heard Froyo will fix this. Is that true? Will I be able to touch the button on my earpiece and "call, friend" without having to pick up my phone?
5) Answering calls on headset while BT earpiece is on: Again, something so fundamental.... With a Windows phone, if my earpiece is in my pocket and I answer the call with the phone itself, I can talk through the phone. Windows was able to tell if I answered the phone with the handset. If I wanted to switch to BT, I simply put it in my ear and hit the button. With the Android phone, I have to answer the call, then press the "headset" button. Not a huge deal, but definitely annoying.
That's about it for now. There are others, but they're pretty minor. These are the big ones.
Can anyone help/provide advice?
Sadly its all down to drivers. I don't even know if the sgs has hardware to record voice as early HTC phones didn't have like my Titan. Also you must understand android is not as mature as winmo (8 years for phone edition), like all new software it will have teething problems. Hell winmo 6.1 had heaps more problems then Droid 2. 1. We just need to be patient. Also what do you expect with syncin as ms controlled the OS and your apps. Shame we don't have that with but goggle isn't a OS company. There's always 3rd party apps to help you sync exchange. Ask around. I miss task and notes from Outlook but I've converted over to springboard, give it go as desktop ver is coming out soon. Evernote is good also with great desktop but sucky Droid app.
'Backup to gmail' is a good paid app that backs up sms/mms and call logs. Also does kies not do Outlook sync? I don't use kies or outlook anymore so I don't know as I've converted to using cloud based apps which ms is already trying to do with winmo 7
Sent from my Apple Newton 2100
coming from HTC WM phone i'm extremely happy about the move.
1 - just keep checking out difference call recording software from Market, personally i've not found any good one yet.
2 - to "sync" or backup SMS messages, i use the titan backup, which you can backup to your Gmail account
3 - no problem here as i use gmail
4 - working great for me for Audio and Stereo and Remote features
5 - same as 4 works perfectly out of the box
Car Deck is a Clarion CZ509 (sub, amps, & speakers... off topic ), stereo ear piece is Jabra BT8010 and/or Moto HT820
@ickyboo
Of course, I have to agree with a lot you've said. WinMo has been around forever. 6.1 was kind of a fail, but so was 1.5-1.6 on Android. 2.x leaves us in a much better state.
When I compare WinMo 6.5 and Android 2.1, I feel WinMo is still the better OS. I'll have to see what 2.2 brings to the table, though. All that voice activation should be good.
As for the drivers, I hope this is overcome... just like it was in Windows. There are still many phones that can't do it. All of my latest phones have been HTC phones, and all could do it without issue.
@AllGamer
Are you running Android 2.2? There is a rumor that answering from a headset with a BT device on will now act "smart".
no 2.2 yet,
still on stock firmware JH2
i9000M
3) voice dial via Bluetooth is in Froyo as is http://www.google.com/mobile/voice-actions/
I just found another ridiculousness that needs resolution.
I cannot download a .rar or a .zip file using the Android browser. Seriously... wtf?
My son was playing a game on his DSi Acekard that needed updated software (a legitimate backup, of course). So I head over to GBATemp.net to get the latest software. It was in rar forum, so I figured "No problem, I'll just hit the market after".
When I go to download, it says something to the effect of "this type of download is not supported".
So using an RDP program, I log onto my home PC, download the rar and convert it to .zip (thinking the problem was with the rar file itself). In addition, I put it on my own web server.
When I go to download, same message.
On my Windows phone I could download/extract Rar/Zip files all day long. How can something so fundamental be blocked by Android?
Flapjack said:
1) In-Call Recording: It worked perfect on my TP2 (legal in Colorado). I just hit Menu > Record. Every app I've tried on the Market sucks. If it even records at all (without a Force Close), I have to have it on speakerphone. With the TP2, it didn't matter if I was holding the phone, using Bluetooth, or had it on speaker. It just recorded... and very clearly. I saw one developer mention this is a hardware/software limitation. Will this ever be overcome?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a hardware level restriction, Android requires that the call steam be un-interceptable at a software level. It simply cannot be recorded like you want. The best apps can do is set the mic to record one side of the conversation (using speakerphone loopback) and actively record what you say at the same time. It's defiantely not ideal.
You might want to look into using something like Google Voice, that lets you record all your calls sever-side.
EDIT: Some phones allow this, in which case try using this... http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.killermobile.totalrecall.trial/
Flapjack said:
2) Lack of sync options (primarily, text messages): Windows ActiveSync with Exchange was PERFECT. I could sync not just mail, contact, and calendar... but I could also sync Tasks (which is how I get most of my work done) and text messages (which was great for archival). A benefit of synching text messages was that I could send/receive/reply to texts from Outlook or Outlook webmail. Plus, if I had to flash my phone, all my texts were back after I set up my mail account. Will Android ever get to this level?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install an app called SMS Backup+, it automatically syncs your SMS with Gmail as proper threads, and you can both read and reply to them in GMail, aswell as import them into another android phone. ( The sync is only active in one direction however, you need to manually 'restore' from GMail if you use another phone. )
As for tasks, you should give Astrid a try, it has full RTM (Remember The Milk) sync support and can manage your tasks very well.
Flapjack said:
3) Mail folders: All I see is a giant, alphabetical list of email folders at the top of my Inbox. If I want to get to my "Mustang Stuff" folder (where all my Mustang-related thread notifications go), I've gotta spin the begeezus out of that list until I get to it. I don't want every folder in that list. There are archival folders (that start with the date in number format) that of course show up first. Not to mention, I have so many folders, that getting to the end (where Sent, Deleted, and Drafts) are, is a real PITA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously you aren't using GMail. I can't vouch for the crappy (others) e-mail client that comes with this phone.
Flapjack said:
4) Bluetooth Functionality = Fail: I can't voice dial from my earpiece. I need this or I'll be running people off the road. This is something so fundamental, I can't believe Android was rolled out w/o it working. I've heard Froyo will fix this. Is that true? Will I be able to touch the button on my earpiece and "call, friend" without having to pick up my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was under the impression that this worked already, but I guess not. You could setup shortcuts to otherwise bring up voice dial by pressing a shortcut, then it would work... :\
Flapjack said:
5) Answering calls on headset while BT earpiece is on: Again, something so fundamental.... With a Windows phone, if my earpiece is in my pocket and I answer the call with the phone itself, I can talk through the phone. Windows was able to tell if I answered the phone with the handset. If I wanted to switch to BT, I simply put it in my ear and hit the button. With the Android phone, I have to answer the call, then press the "headset" button. Not a huge deal, but definitely annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that if your bluetooth headset is paired and you want to answer the call using the phone itself and not the headset, you have to click a button to disengage the headset? Again bluetooth is not very well integrated, it's a shame but at least it's not impossible to do what you want. :\
Flapjack said:
I cannot download a .rar or a .zip file using the Android browser. Seriously... wtf?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem here is the stock browser doesn't want to download files that aren't compatible with the android system, the easy fix is to install any file manager in the market that can handle ZIP or RAR. You won't need to open them (of course you can though) when you download them but it will certainly download the file for you.
Alternatively you could choose another browser that doesn't care about compatibility in downloaded file types.
There might be an option for this but I'm not aware of it.
Flapjack said:
2) Lack of sync options (primarily, text messages): Windows ActiveSync with Exchange was PERFECT. I could sync not just mail, contact, and calendar... but I could also sync Tasks (which is how I get most of my work done) and text messages (which was great for archival). A benefit of synching text messages was that I could send/receive/reply to texts from Outlook or Outlook webmail. Plus, if I had to flash my phone, all my texts were back after I set up my mail account. Will Android ever get to this level?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's an app in the market called GTasks. It syncs two-way with Google tasks (which you can find in Gmail, Google calendar, and which you can also access on your phone by going to gmail.com/tasks. The app is ad-supported, but you can also buy a key to remove the ads. It also comes with a very simple widget.
A lot of your comments seem to be related to Androids handling of Outlook integration.
You have to realize, Android is not made by Microsoft. Third party outlook integrations will never be as good as theirs. Android is geared to sync with google apps and the cloud.
That said, I have heard the best exchange client for Android is TouchDown http://www.nitrodesk.com/dk_touchdownFeatures.aspx It's not free though.
As for all your bluetooth questions... I am not having any problems with Bluetooth at all. Maybe it is your headset?
I came from Windows mobile and I too find a few things in Android annoying, but trying to go back is not even an option. Downsides of WinMo are far fewer than downsides of Android.
I'd rather just get an HD2 and be done with it. You are too much dependent on Windows Mobile and that's not a bad thing since it's pretty much worked for you well. I'm just saying, if it's become too much of a hassle to stay on Android, why bother?
Or you can have a WinMo device AND an Android!
Ok, I'm back. Overall, I love the phone. I've had some nasty episodes with )(*#$Y% Google's shoving of contacts down my throat. Apparently, anyone I've ever sent an email in Gmail to becomes a contact, whether I like it or not. On top of that, all those contacts got sync'd to my Vibrant when I first logged into the Market (which requires a Gmail account). Nowhere did it ask if I also wanted to sync my Google contacts, calendar, etc.... Well, the point is that I had almost Google 1000 contacts that I had to delete. I only want my Exchange contacts showing up. Freaking duplicate city. This was after I went into the synchronization settings and removed all synching of google mail, contacts, and calendars.
So, for the most part, everything has been fine. I even convinced my fiancee to give up her iPhone today (which is running like crap since an iOS 4 update) and get a Vibrant as well.
So I'm setting it all up and went in right away and set up Exchange email, only to find that I could not even open the built in "Calendar" App without adding a Gmail account? WTF? This phone is marketed as having Exchange Mail, Contacts and Calendar support.
Giving in, I add her Gmail account, which she NEVER USES, which of course automatically tries to take over her email to remove the Google synchronization. I get all that cleaned up and the only thing left is trying to make appointments work.
Setting up a new appointment, the phone always defaults to "My Calendar", which exists nowhere but the phone. I've been told that once I select my Exchange account, it should remember that. It doesn't. Occasionally, I'll forget to select my home mail and the appointment will stay on the phone. Another gripe... I don't think it can be fixed.
Finally, calendar invites allow you to select participants, but the invites never go out. I have to wait until the appointment syncs with my Exchange account, then go into Outlook on my PC, open the appointment, click on "Invitees", then click on "Send Update" (which returns an error that nothing has been changed). Once I've done that, the other invitees get the calendar invite. WHY?
Sorry for the long rant. I just don't see how this OS can ever be marketed as a corporate solution. I won't be going back to WinMo simply because the hardware in the Vibrant is fantastic. It does MOST of what I want... it just has some serious shortcomings. I'm hedging my bets on Froyo now. Does anyone have a good link that details the differences for Exchange on 2.2? I mean, really... Apple bit the bullet and paid the licensing to put true Microsoft Exchange Activesync on their iPhones. Can't Google do that too?
PC App that I love and works with outlook is Google Calander Sync give you the option of 2 way sync and one way sync. Works for me
Well for me the Samsung bloatware handles Exchange Accounts very well.
I'm syncing (by WiFi or 3G) 3 Exchange Accounts and just one of them with Contacts and Calendar.
Woolios said:
PC App that I love and works with outlook is Google Calander Sync give you the option of 2 way sync and one way sync. Works for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you use that on your PC to sync Outlook to Google Calendar? Then Google Calendar syncs to the phone?
But then you'd have to have it running on one PC that is always on, correct? I don't leave my PCs running 24/7 (nor am I going to), so this will be an issue.
If there was a program I could install on my Exchange server... that'd be a different story, as it does run 24/7 (obviously).
gmc said:
Well for me the Samsung bloatware handles Exchange Accounts very well.
I'm syncing (by WiFi or 3G) 3 Exchange Accounts and just one of them with Contacts and Calendar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have agree with that
i'm using the samsung hub, and it's amazing how it can handle all my 5+ different other accounts just using 1 simple app
and the most amazing thing is, it actually works!
back in the windows days, i had to dance up and down, and jug left and right just to be able to find 3 or more Apps to accomplish the same thing
AllGamer said:
i have agree with that
i'm using the samsung hub, and it's amazing how it can handle all my 5+ different other accounts just using 1 simple app
and the most amazing thing is, it actually works!
back in the windows days, i had to dance up and down, and jug left and right just to be able to find 3 or more Apps to accomplish the same thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree, too. Funny that WinMo only allowed one Exchange account. The rest you had to use IMAP or POP. Pretty lame.
I'm also seriously considering trying RoadSync or TouchDown. Not sure how well they'll integrate, though. I tried an early version of RoadSync on the MyTouch and it was a PITA.
**EDIT**
Trying TouchDown now...
Well, Touchdown is pretty nice... most of the time. Since last night, I've had to force close it about 5 times. It locks up the entire phone... I can't even turn the screen on/off. Eventually, the screen will come on and a "Force Close/Wait" option will be up.
Damn...
AllGamer said:
i have agree with that
i'm using the samsung hub, and it's amazing how it can handle all my 5+ different other accounts just using 1 simple app
and the most amazing thing is, it actually works!
back in the windows days, i had to dance up and down, and jug left and right just to be able to find 3 or more Apps to accomplish the same thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find the native Android outlook support to work way better than Samsung hub. Same with the native facebook sync.
I wish I could just delete Samsung hub. I don't know why companies feel they have to re-invent the wheel when Android already does this stuff.
brunes said:
I find the native Android outlook support to work way better than Samsung hub. Same with the native facebook sync.
I wish I could just delete Samsung hub. I don't know why companies feel they have to re-invent the wheel when Android already does this stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can, using Titanium Backup, to uninstall Samsung Hub

Exchange Sync unreliable, almost useless

Hey guys
first off, I know all the BS posts i'm going to get so let me head them off right now:
- i'm working and living in exactly the same locations
- i've had Android 2.3.3 on my HD2 and this issue has not occured
- i've used Windows Phone 7 and this issue has not occured
- both my Exchange server configs has NOT changed at all
- i'm working and living in exactly the same locations
OK so, something I personaly have experienced is really poor Exchange sync with this phone. I have contacts sitting on my laptop (Outlook), PC at home (Outlook) and on OWA on my server which are just not coming down to the phone, no matter how many times I reboot. Thing is, and this makes this hard to solve, its only a few of them - in fact, VERY few of them.
I've also noticed Emails are sometimes very slow to appear on the phone from either of my two hosted accounts even though they are both set to push on peak and off peak schedules.
Baseband - I9100XXKDH
Kernal - [email protected]#2
Build - GINGERBREAD.XWKDD
I am new to this Android malarky so it could be something i'm doing (?) or there might be a newer firmware out there by now but, with the strange naming convention I don't really know.
Not sure if anyone else has seen this? Any clues? Any newer firmware?
Thanks in advance!!
Just to summarize
- You can sync alot of the contacts from the server to your phone, but not all.
- Those you can sync, are those consistently working fine (ie if you make any changes to them server-side, are those changes always synced to the phone)?
- The few contacts that cannot be synced, can you see any differences between them and the ones that do sync (the info added to them, certain symbols used, or similar)?
If you edit one of the contacts not synced, and remove all the info from them except for the name "a" and possibly the phone number 012345, does this in any way change the sync behavior?
- If you add a new contact, and give it exactly the same info as one of the unsyncable contacts, does that sync aswell, or does it also not sync to the phone?
- Probably not the case, and I'm not sure about behaviors across several different phone all running 2.3.3, but are your contacts all in the same folder on the server, or have you sorted them into different folders?
- Try adding your Gmail account, or a gmail account, to your phone as a new exchange account, and see if the same unsyncable outlook contacts, if you could possibly export them from your outlook and import them into your Gmail account, also fail when synced from the Google servers.
- try downloading either NitroDesk touchdown or RoadSync from the market, and try adding the same account to either of those and see if the behavior changes. Atleast that will show if the problem is general with the server, or if it seems to be only the stock/samsung exchange client causing this in some way.
Not sure at all what is going on, but some of the above might give some results that are useful.
TechNoir said:
....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, JUST before your post came it I discovered a tick box that corrected everything! Some how I had turned off Sync'ing but yet that still enabled mail!? I honestly couldn't remember how I got there or where it was, sorry
Although that doesn't explain why mail is unreliable....
Thank you for your detailed steps though! I hope they come in useful for someone
I'd imagine the Samsung e-mail app is just an overlay on the native Android client. All my Android phones have worked great with Exchange. If Samsung completely re-wrote the e-mail client and it doesn't work I'll be distraught. I rely on Exchange heavily and think TD sucks because it flattens the databases.
To be fair to it, it does work now ... maybe the tick box I discovered will encourage mail to be a little more prompt
For me it was Unuseable if I could not reliably sync contacts and schedule... which looks like I now can.
...and Tasks, which is an unexpected bonus for me!
I've been impressed with the speed with which the phone handles data, even on non-3G networks. No problems with Exchange either.
All good so far, in fact.
Worth adding a [SOLVED] to the title of the thread?
Gustopher said:
...and Tasks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, I'm thrilled. I read somewhere that Samsung really sweated the details on the Exchange app. In addition to tasks, it's supposed to be able to use the company directory and do a calender busy search. There's also Citrix integration and a lot of VPN feautres they've added to the phone. I'm guessing, especially in the U.S., that high-volume corporate accounts are going to be a big audience for the phone which is why Samsung included so many upgraded connectivity features.
Monty Burns said:
Sorry, JUST before your post came it I discovered a tick box that corrected everything! Some how I had turned off Sync'ing but yet that still enabled mail!? I honestly couldn't remember how I got there or where it was, sorry
Although that doesn't explain why mail is unreliable....
Thank you for your detailed steps though! I hope they come in useful for someone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems at all mate, glad you got it working.

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