Farewell Palm - What Have I done!

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lyonrouge

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#10064 2-Nov-2006 09:49

Continuing from my original post about replacing me beloved T3, I have purchased an iMate JasJar. What have I done!! Support is worse than palm, at least Palm didn't make me erase the device to install the same ROM I already had. I have since installed the international ROM (without the Vodafone NZ extension, which removes Skype). The following list of disappointments follow:

Media Player can not stretch to full screen, so the idea of buying this device to converge phone, PDA & portable media device did not work. The only feed that fills the screen is WMV DVD (1MB/ps) which is too much for the JasJar processor to handle, even after a restart.

I have applications open even when they have an "exit" option. To close them you have to use the equivalent of task manager (normally used to kill rogue programs). MSN messenger does not support web cam (disappointing as it has one built in). BlueTooth headsets can not be used with Skype or Video Calling, iMate have not intention of fixing this, doesn’t match the marketing as a business tool, can’t really have speaker phone in the office. I never thought of it at the time, but it doesn’t have the rudimentary PDA buttons such as Calendar, Contacts, home, etc, instead you have to fiddle about with the touch screen every time, which means picking it up to retrieve. Powering on is tedious as you can only use the power button, i.e. doesn’t even power on when you open the screen (why else would I be opening the screen unless I want to use it). It’s flashy and has a nice screen, apart from the lack of dedicated buttons, the greatest weakness is the software, is this an iMate JasJar issue or does it effect all WM5 devices? I’m wanting to ascertain this before I swap to something else.

freitasm

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#50748 2-Nov-2006 09:57

The Media Player won't stretch the screen because content providers create their content for QVGA, not VGA. If the content was stretched you'd complain about the resolution. Blame the content providers in this case.

The [X] is not a Close button, but Minimise. If you want to close, I suggest using MagicButton, which is very small and works great. And FREE.

Don't use the Skype from the ROM, it's old and full of bugs. Just download from the official website. The new one has many improvements.

As for the power button, function buttons, not turning on when opening the device... These are not Windows Mobile problems, but design problem. The device is not created by Microsoft, so can't blame the OS, really.

The Vodafone Treo 750v, released yesterday and reviewed here on Geekzone allows you to use one hand to operate it, and has lots of buttons. But the screen is small, and the resolution is low. It doesn't even come with MSN Messenger!

It's up to the manufacturers to decide what to put on those devices...

chiefie

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#50749 2-Nov-2006 10:02

you should have waited for jasjam as it has hsdpa although qvga screen. And not as bulky and big as JasJar. I'm getting Jasjam, despite it has QVGA, I like the fact the HSDPA is available on it. Also another worth mentioning is the Palm Treo 750v, if you don't mind 240x240 awkward screen, and wifi-less, and HSDPA-ready with rom upgrade, and much boasted single hand operation, it is a good phone. See Mauricio's review.

Also, it is your first time on WM5 devices so you kinda expecting it to be like "windows xp" which isn't the case. Windows CE/Mobile are quite different. However you will need to learn how to use it effectively, same as you would if you start anew on different operating system/environment, take a while to sink into it. I can assure you, once you give yourself few days or weeks, you will grow accustomed to WM5. IT's not perfect, but it is definitely leading ahead of PalmOS's Garnet.

Where about are you? I suggest you try find a "WM5 tutor" to give you a good tour/run through it to get the best of use on WM5.

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lyonrouge

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#50753 2-Nov-2006 10:19

freitasm: The Media Player won't stretch the screen because content providers create their content for QVGA, not VGA. If the content was stretched you'd complain about the resolution. Blame the content providers in this case.

The [X] is not a Close button, but Minimise. If you want to close, I suggest using MagicButton, which is very small and works great. And FREE.

Don't use the Skype from the ROM, it's old and full of bugs. Just download from the official website. The new one has many improvements.

As for the power button, function buttons, not turning on when opening the device... These are not Windows Mobile problems, but design problem. The device is not created by Microsoft, so can't blame the OS, really.

The Vodafone Treo 750v, released yesterday and reviewed here on Geekzone allows you to use one hand to operate it, and has lots of buttons. But the screen is small, and the resolution is low. It doesn't even come with MSN Messenger!

It's up to the manufacturers to decide what to put on those devices...

Thanks, I will download these and see how I go (for some reason I can not download it from the device itself). Do you know of a update for MS Messenger for WM5?

lyonrouge

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#50756 2-Nov-2006 10:24

chiefie: you should have waited for jasjam as it has hsdpa although qvga screen. And not as bulky and big as JasJar. I'm getting Jasjam, despite it has QVGA, I like the fact the HSDPA is available on it. Also another worth mentioning is the Palm Treo 750v, if you don't mind 240x240 awkward screen, and wifi-less, and HSDPA-ready with rom upgrade, and much boasted single hand operation, it is a good phone. See Mauricio's review.

Also, it is your first time on WM5 devices so you kinda expecting it to be like "windows xp" which isn't the case. Windows CE/Mobile are quite different. However you will need to learn how to use it effectively, same as you would if you start anew on different operating system/environment, take a while to sink into it. I can assure you, once you give yourself few days or weeks, you will grow accustomed to WM5. IT's not perfect, but it is definitely leading ahead of PalmOS's Garnet.

Where about are you? I suggest you try find a "WM5 tutor" to give you a good tour/run through it to get the best of use on WM5.

I gave the JasJam a try, but the screen was too small (I chose the JasJar in part for the usability of Remote Desktop). The complication I have is that I've been given 7 days right of return, 2 of these days where wasted reinstalling ROMs (there was an initial problem when it would frequently fail to come ouit of standby mode and would need to be reset, which has been resolved with the ROM update, but chewed into my testing time).

I have read the little (thick) booklett which was helpful, the only alternative I can think of is an Axim with a 3G handset. The reasoon I like this is because I have 2 phones (personal and work). The work SIM is in the JasJam, so I can still wonder off with just a phone and be happy, previosuly I had 2 phones, the T3 and it's folding keyboard (which I would image would be what I will have to go back to with the Axim (Axim, phoine and bluetooth keyboard).

I'll try downloading some goodies as outline in the post above and see how I go.

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#50757 2-Nov-2006 10:24

There's no update for MSN Messenger. The next version is currently on Beta, and includes more functionality - but I can't say more than this.

Binary code for Windows Mobile is different from the binary code on Windows, as expected (same is true for the Palm's .prc files for example). You can install .cab files directly on your device, but again blame on developers for not making them available. If you download a .exe installer it's more likely to be a install program to run on your PC while your device is connected.

lyonrouge

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#50759 2-Nov-2006 10:27

freitasm: There's no update for MSN Messenger. The next version is currently on Beta, and includes more functionality - but I can't say more than this.

Binary code for Windows Mobile is different from the binary code on Windows, as expected (same is true for the Palm's .prc files for example). You can install .cab files directly on your device, but again blame on developers for not making them available. If you download a .exe installer it's more likely to be a install program to run on your PC while your device is connected.

Sorry, I was not clear. The providers web sites would not load on the JasJar, when I looked at the sites from my desktop I can see the files I want, but I can not get to the same page on the device.

freitasm

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#50763 2-Nov-2006 10:39

Can you get to any pages at all? If not, it sounds as the connection configuration is incorrect - the APN or the selected connection.

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lyonrouge

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#50764 2-Nov-2006 10:41

freitasm: The Media Player won't stretch the screen because content providers create their content for QVGA, not VGA. If the content was stretched you'd complain about the resolution. Blame the content providers in this case.

I don't complain when windows media player stretches the video on my laptop, so I would not expect I would complain if the same occured on the JasJar.

Ironically in this case I guess I can only blame myself, as I am my content provider. I purchased ConvertMovie (www.movavi.ciom) to convert TV programs from the DVD-R to content for my PDA (previously T3 using TCPMP) in MPeg format, which takes up a lot of space. I was hoping to use WMV at the same resolution using a quarter of the space, but when I encode it at VGA (DVD 1MBps) it is too much for the processor, maybe I should use AVI, it uses more space but should have a lesser processor load or should I use a third party player? If so, any recommendations?

lyonrouge

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#50765 2-Nov-2006 10:43

freitasm: Can you get to any pages at all? If not, it sounds as the connection configuration is incorrect - the APN or the selected connection.

Other pages are fine. When the ROM installed I followed the setup and selected VF NZ and have been surfing a bit (switching to full screen makes it relatively useable). The MSN site does not support NZ yet, but I've surfed about quite a bit, it's just the MagicButton and Skype pages that get upset.

chiefie

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#50772 2-Nov-2006 11:37

I take that you tried JAsjam and went for JasJAR... just want to clarify as you made the context a bit confusing by "not liking jasjam's resolution" and "you picked jasjam for resolution". hehe

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lyonrouge

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#50806 2-Nov-2006 13:47

chiefie: I take that you tried JAsjam and went for JasJAR... just want to clarify as you made the context a bit confusing by "not liking jasjam's resolution" and "you picked jasjam for resolution". hehe

ooops, yes, names are quite similar. I also typed JarJar (Binks?) which I had to edit and correct.

lyonrouge

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#50843 2-Nov-2006 21:12

It really is windows, I'm looking at having to re-install for a third time in 5 days. I now have 2 copies of Skype. After following the instructions to remove the old version, I now have 2 versions and a notification I can not get rid of and a menu I can not fix. Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not a unix/apple bigot, but I never realised how much of a drama I was heading into. So glossy, so promising, but sadly, so windows.

My humble view, pocket PC's have a very long way to go. buy one at your own peril.

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#50847 2-Nov-2006 22:11

Have you considered doing the hard reset, let the Vodafone configuration run and then install what you need? I told you the pre-installed Skype is not worth the worry.

What is not well known and publicised is that unlike the Windows desktop/laptop OS, Windows Mobile is very close to the hardware, and after Microsoft releases the base OS the manufacturer can do lots of modifications. In my experience, most of the changes implemented are poorly tested or not done at all.

lyonrouge

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#50880 3-Nov-2006 10:01

I told you the pre-installed Skype is not worth the worry.

Indeed, but getting rid of it was the problem. I used the instructions to remove it i.e. add/remove programs, but now I have 2 versions, and the one in the menu can not be removed. Do you know how to get rid of the preinstalled one (file manager hack & slash perhaps?)

I do believe you are right about third party mangling of MS O/S and MS getting the blame. My Vaio has some hacks from Sony, but they do seem to be better tested than those by iMate/Skype (who is actually at fault is impossible for a novice to determine).

ps. TCPMP for PocketPC has provided my video requirements nicely. It plays WMV (which it could not on my T3), is this due to the codec being supplied as part of Windows Media player and being reused by TCPMP? (the video playback/codec world is a bit of a mystery to me).