Harrier, Apache, Falcon - Badly designed

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slippers

193 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 5620 12-Nov-2005 10:51

Having used all three of the Telecom HTC models, I struggle to understand why no improvments have been made on the actual phone interface.
To most users it is primarily a phone, I doubt most owners really even use the application functionality the Harrier or Apache are capable of.

Dont get me wrong, they are great devices, but it should be a phone before anything else.

HTC need to take a page from Palm's book.

The Treo 600/650 is a peice of crap, BUT the 1 hand, thumb-action keyboard design beats the HTC devices hands down as far as functionality as a phone is concerned.

Rather than having quick buttons for calender, browser, contacts etc - they should still have a basic number pad for dialing and sending text messages.
Typing an sms message up (particularly with the Harrier) is an ordeal. Not user friendly at all. Most of the time I just dont even bother using sms with the Harrier.

Without making any physical changes, the dialpad interface software itself should _definately_ be able to write text messages like any other phone.

I guess I'm trying to find out weather I'm alone or weather other users have similar experiences.

Id like to know how people think PocketPc phones should be designed and what needs to be changed...

freitasm

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Reply # 23088 12-Nov-2005 17:27

I think you are using the wrong device then. There's a fundamental design difference between the Pocket PC and the Smartphone: Pocket PC is a PDA with phone capabilities, and a Smartphone is the other way around.

The Windows Mobile Smartphone is designed for one-handed operation. The Pocket PC Phone Edition on the other hand (no pun intended) is for two hands: touch screen requires the use of a stylus to write!

This is slowly changing with the new models coming with a bult-in keyboard, but these keyboards are not to be used as a Smartphone (such as the Treo). It's to make easy to write emails, enter URL address, etc. You have keyboard shortcuts but not at the same level as the Treo - because the Treo is a smartphone with keyboard, not a PDA. That was always the original design idea behind it.

The Motorola Q is a Smartphone with QWERTY keyboard. It runs the Windows Mobile Smartphone OS, not the Windows Mobile Pocket PC OS. It's closer to what you want.

By the way, the Palm Treo Windows Mobile is made by HTC.

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riahon

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Reply # 23092 12-Nov-2005 18:00

80% of my Harrier use is sms. It pains me to use a 'normal' cellphone these days and try texting on it because it is so slow and painful. I love the fact I can 'write' a text and send it. The only consideration I have to worry about is keeping the text to less then 160 characters - no txt tlk 4 me, ;)

sam

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slippers

193 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 23557 19-Nov-2005 19:20

I dont use the handwriting or letter recognising features on the device - maybe this is why iv found it such a nuisence compared to you guys. Typing an sms message using the slide-down keyboard is an effort.

I'm a left-handed writer, Iv always found that software doesnt respond well to my style. As I write each letter my palm touches the screen and screws it up.

When using a Nokia I can send a text message while driving, without even looking at the screen cos I know that what im typing is correct.

Perhaps an application that overlayed the screen with a full-screen keyboard specificly for texting would be good... ? something that makes one handed texting easier anyway.

freitasm

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Reply # 23558 19-Nov-2005 19:22

I am left-handed and have no problems. But you can try Spb Fullscreen Keyboard.

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slippers

193 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 23559 19-Nov-2005 19:30

Ever since the days of Windows 3.1... the Windows scroll bar has been made to look and feel like an artificial button.... Why not make it a real button?

All Pocket devices should have a horizontal and vertical scroll bar _button_ that runs down the right hand side of the screen and the bottom of the screen.
This would make scrolling easier and there would be space savings on screen from not having the software scrollers.

slippers

193 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 23561 19-Nov-2005 19:41

freitasm: I think you are using the wrong device then. There's a fundamental design difference between the Pocket PC and the Smartphone: Pocket PC is a PDA with phone capabilities, and a Smartphone is the other way around.

By the way, the Palm Treo Windows Mobile is made by HTC.

I probably am using the wrong device.
I don't see why it has to be one or the other though - why can't it do both PDA and Phone equally as good?
An example of what I'm getting: The Real Estate industry was targeted by Telecom, alot of Real Estate agents own Harriers but the majority of them are unsatisfied with them.
I don't think this is because its a bad device, I think its because it can't do the fundimental things like a regular phone. It was marketed just a much as a phone as a pda.

I know hundreds of Falcons and Harriers are used as dispatch/field devices and they do that well. But can anyone tell me what practical uses theyv found for them?

Apart from voice/sms/email - What do you guys use on a PocketPc device?

Something the shape and design of the Treo but running Pocket Pc 2003 or 2005 would be the perfect device.

freitasm

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Reply # 23565 19-Nov-2005 21:02

slippers: I think its because it can't do the fundimental things like a regular phone. It was marketed just a much as a phone as a pda.

But the fundamental functions are there: place and receive voice calls, Caller ID, placing calls from Contacts, send and receive SMS (including from Contacts). With Windows Mobile 5 the integration with the built-in PIM is even wider.

slippers: Apart from voice/sms/email - What do you guys use on a PocketPc device?

I use my Pocket PC for lots of things:

Time recording during consultancy with BOnTime

Trip planning with Trip Tracker

Manual and ebook reading with Adobe Acrobat

RSS reading with Newsgator Enterprise, Newsbreak

slippers: Something the shape and design of the Treo but running Pocket Pc 2003 or 2005 would be the perfect device.

The Treo Windows Mobile is coming. In the meantime I like my Apache because of its size. I also like the Jasjar due to the screen size and resolution (albeit a little on the heavier side).

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tonyhughes

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Reply # 23590 20-Nov-2005 23:39

freitasm: By the way, the Palm Treo Windows Mobile is made by HTC.

So is the 650...

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