I got a new xda orbit (WM6) at the end of August, and am delighted with it. There are a couple of minor niggles, and I am wondering if anyone can help?
1)I cannot find a way of finding out how much space is available on my storage card. The properties in File Explorer, Active Sync and even Total Commander all gave a zero value for the card, which I know isn't true, coz I've lots of stuff on the card and am using it, and the individual files are displayed!! Perhaps there is a freeware replacement for file explorer that would do the job, but it would also be nice if it could cut and paste, which was why I installed TC. Taking the card out and putting it in a card reader is a no-no, given its position behind the sim card, as you all know!
2)Are there any walkers out there(not car drivers) -esp. in UK, who have actually tried some of the gps freeware on a walk? There seems to be a few around and wondering which is best. All I want is a latitude/longitude and/or grid ref. though maps would be nice!
For info, I've been expirementing with various bits of software, available on the internet, and can recommend the following - No Data(to prevent the orbit using a chargable data service, when you are in a free wireless internet area) Flashkeys-touch screen keyboard, cut and paste to documents Boxworld and Freecell (Board Games) Alarm Clock (yes, its just called that, by GreenSoftware) Acrobat Reader, Conversion (by Mammoth Software) Magic Button (to make sure programs close) VSPAinterLE, Plamp and Pocket Flashy (find your tent and your friends in the dark at festivals!) I'm still testing Alreader which came highly recommended(you need to look hard for the English version, but the Russian one works a treat and the basics don't need translation)
Related
After trying all sorts of pdf readers, I come close to the conclusion that reading pdf documents on a PDA is not practical at all and even irrealistic.
Due mainly to the fact that one cannot view an entire page with a readable font size without having to scroll sideways.
I end up converting pdf to lit.
Please, give opinion and eventually solutions.
Thanks all, and take care
Come on folks, just a few words about your experience with pdf...
donno i read a book as pdf once
on my pda
only had to scroll down not sideways
depend on the doc in question really i suppose
pref lit though because of bookmarks and cleartype
and not being as much a res hog as acrobat reader which i used at the time
VGA a requirement
I use an older version of Adobe reader on a VGA screen. My eyes are still good enough that I can zoom out, get a full page on the screen, and still read it. I have read an entire book this way. I am sure there are better ways to do it on a PDA. But my goal is to be able to grab a document off of the web and read it as I travel. If there is going to be conversion between formats, it would have to take place on the PDA.
That being said, it is still easier to read a word or text document than a PDF. But if you have the screen resolution and size to work with, PDF's are not impossible.
Thanks folks, that was my impression.
Answers
There are ways to improve PDF experiance. Using reflow when creating PDFs (available as an option when saving PDFs from OpenOffice, for example) greatly improves things.
Anothr good option is Repligo - you can print / convert PDFs to that format. It uses less space, documents open faster and look better (less jagged fonts).
Believe me, PDFs are annoying even in actual, desktop environments. >_>
That said, I'm using Foxit for the PPC. It loads 15MB++ files faster than Adobe, follows the original PDF format faithfully (doesn't try to rearrange like idiotic Clearvue), yet it is a standalone program that requires no installation.
That said, PDF reading is only for devices with a big screen. Definitely bigger than a Mini, let alone an Atom. Otherwise, at a big enough text to be legible, scrolling to the side is necessary - and that tends to lag a bit with bigger PDFs for devices with only 64MB of RAM or less.
I have train skeds and the Tokyo Metro Map plus a crap load more pdf files
that I use on my X01HT and yes you do have to scroll both ways but I mean
have you seen the detail of the Tokyo Metro Map?!?
It works for me. I actually like it.
Plus I get 'really cool' nods from Japanese when they see me looking
through the Tokyo Metro map on my X01HT because most of them
use the low tech pocket paper fold out.
Yes, I am a gaijin otaku and proud of it!!!
imexp then big pictures makes pdf useless on pda's as they can move the text to scale but in there is a picture in the middle they cant really handle scaling the picture down to match the width of the pda screen
I think converting to repligo is the most elegant solution since images are conserved...but it is not free
Otherwise, if pics are not important, converting to text then to lit and using microsoft reader is an acceptable free solution.
To "AquiEsta!": why don't you use the excellent "metro" freeware?
You can use the free xpdf (pocketpdf). It at least has better zoom functions then adobe and it has the option to read pdf as text files with associated functions. You lose pictures but pure textfiles are a breaze to read...
elio said:
I think converting to repligo is the most elegant solution since images are conserved...but it is not free
Otherwise, if pics are not important, converting to text then to lit and using microsoft reader is an acceptable free solution.
To "AquiEsta!": why don't you use the excellent "metro" freeware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know such a thing existed. Where would I find that? In English
would be great too!
Thanks
AquiEsta! said:
I didn't know such a thing existed. Where would I find that? In English
would be great too!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://nanika.net/Metro/
You will love it
elio said:
http://nanika.net/Metro/
You will love it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"more than 350 cities covered now"... I'm already in love with it because
I travel a lot and this hopefully will save me time and advils.
THANK YOU!!!
off I go to set it up...
Adobe Reader for PPC 2 works with my HTC Athena/Advantage VGA screen without legibility problems using its reflow function which wraps the text to your screen - no sideways scrolling needed.
Even if your documents were not prepared specifically for this Active Sync will do the necessary conversion when you transfer the docs from your PC (turn it on in file settings). If you bypass ActiveSync your reflow button gets greyed out.
For documents like maps you can switch to sideways scrolling whenever you want.
My only gripe is that the characters are a little fuzzy, so I'm looking for a fix for this.
UPDATE: fuzzy characters fixed:
Switch resolution to 95 dpi using RealVGA before opening Adobe Reader. Now works as it was meant to. Only downside is the the resolution switch involves a reset.
For reading articles and such offline I use ScrapBook (a Firefox extension) to capture the page/selection and delete ads/sidebars and then 'Save Page as...' and copy the html and corresponding images folder to my SD card. It's a pain but it's the best solution that I could find.
I use Mobipocket Reader to do the conversion and reading, it's free and works well for me www.mobipocket.com
For PDFs Picel Browser, and Foxit Reader for Windows Mobile are pretty good.
I second the picsel reader. http://www.picselpowered.com
Don't let the number of Cons over Pros put you off.
Even with these problems I still use it on a daily basis, and preferred to buy it over using free alternatives like Adobe.
Proof that mobile apps don't have to look like clunky old windows apps.
Pro
Excellent rendering of PDF files
Fine control over zoom, can use a gesture (tap & drag)
Cons
Out of memory errors with just a few other apps running
Remembers last document opened, but not page
No Search
No way of jumping to a page
pdemoore said:
I second the picsel reader. http://www.picselpowered.com
Don't let the number of Cons over Pros put you off.
Even with these problems I still use it on a daily basis, and preferred to buy it over using free alternatives like Adobe.
Proof that mobile apps don't have to look like clunky old windows apps.
Pro
Excellent rendering of PDF files
Fine control over zoom, can use a gesture (tap & drag)
Cons
Out of memory errors with just a few other apps running
Remembers last document opened, but not page
No Search
No way of jumping to a page
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I back this as well, it is bar far, THEE most impressive on a PDA.
It has no rendering lag, making it the fastest PDF reader on WM.
I would only recommend that VGA users view PDFs, QVGA isn't practical.
Here is my post on French
and here a quick translation :
Well, the step is again crossed. I say again because I had made an attempt with Ipaq a few years ago and had quickly made a return behind .
But this time Palm with Tréo (750) under WM5 help me to cross the river.
Here thus the report of my first steps of beginner under WM5.
I write this Post because I will have agreed to find some contribution for beginners.
Certain points will seem to you very basic and even useless but if I had had them under the hand that would have helped me a lot to begin.
Installation.
Relatively simple to install.
But a problem was obvious dice the beginning: how to recover my data managed by PalmDesktop (8 years of appointments and contacts).
Well I needed to invest . I bought PocketCopy from Chapura. Main issue at the beginning. The transfer of my appointments did not pass. An e-mail with the log to the support of Chapura and a very complete response in 12 hours which allowed me to solve it (I really recommand this support ), but sad to have to invest 25$ just for a one shot.
Until there all goes well but I very quickly realize that synchronization is not highly reliable . (very often my PC does not recognize any more my Tréo). After bad issues I downloaded ActiveSync V4.5 (it is the preceding one which is delivered out of standard) and since that seems more stable.
After the installation you have on your PC an application which opens when you connect the Tréo to the cable.
It is possible on a simple click to explore ithe Tréo (simpler than under PalmOs)
Two ways of installing a program:
• downloading a exe file, while launching it on PC and while validating its installation on the PDA,
• downloading a .CAB file, copy it in the MyDocument folder in the PDA and while launching it in the PDA (with the file explorer of the PDA)
First steps:
Dammed, why PalmOne did customise its Tréo without taking account of the advantages of ease of use of these past Tréo models?
Where are the icons? Where are the buttons which make it possible to telephone, to send a SMS in some clicks without stylus?
Well, very quickly learned how to appreciate the menu to start and the button X which closes the programs (or rather very often minimizes them) but at this stage I am still very disappointed.
Finally I quickly wanted to recreate me a Tréo 680 like.
To build me MY Tréo.
The calendar: it is as bad as the one of PalmOs. Thus I wanted to choose a good PIM. I tested PocketInformant, Agenda Fusion 8.07, diary one, Agendus (never been able to install it). For the moment I retain PocketInformant.
Then I wanted to recreate me a true telephone keyboard with simple buttons (mute, wait, etc).
I found a track here. I then downloaded the excellent Memmaid program and all these accessories (I could recreate me menu with my own shortcuts and the possibility to simply make softreset (and hardware) without opening the small trap door which hides the button reset of which I fear brittleness).
With Memmaid I was able to unsinstall the standard phone’s functions of Tréo 750 in order to install anew Dialer which I have chosen here. Be careful the manipulations are a little it “hot” and you must all backup well before .Danger !!!
I maid so many manipulations of this kind that I completely crashed my Tréo 750 (no more telephone, no more synch). I have to make a complete reset (more than an Hardware Reset) (pressing lengthily on the red button + button reset then pad upwards)
All returned perfectly in the order. It is really well done.
Other customization:
There exists as a native a tool of assistance to the writing of the words which proposes at the end of some letters the appearance of words to be clicked. Quite practical except that the dictionary of words is incremented automatically even for not desired words (careful with the confidentiality) or with mis-spellt words. I found a small freeware very practical Dictionary Editor and well done to remove or add words.
Another point: it is not possible (or I did not find) to protect a note as under PalmOs what posed Pb to me to protect from the leading notes. I thus installed another small freeware well fact which manages and makes safe the significant data: cryptocard.
Here I am now. At your disposal for your questions.
Have a nice Sunday
1. There is a brand new HTC CAB (program) collection HERE. It’s, to my knowledge, the largest and most up-to-date collection of HTC’s own programs, ready to be installed on any WM5+ phone. It’s really worth reading the descriptions of the CAB’s to quickly find out what these small utilities really do. It’s REALLY worth – some of these apps are excellent; for example, HTC Equalizer reviewed HERE and HTC Streaming Media reviewed HERE. There are tons of other, useful utilities in there – do check them out!
2. There is a new music player at works, Lumen. Also see THIS MoDaCo thread.
It, right now, is totally useless and nothing really more than some screenshots - it's unable to play anything, as can also be seen HERE.
As the player is written using the, for multimedia / gaming, sloooooooow Compact Framework 2 (CF2), I don’t think you can expect it to be fast at playing back anything, unless it calls native code. All in all, I don’t think you should bother.
3. There are several threads on adding SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) support for models that, officially (not even via official ROM upgrades), don’t support this technology. The latest of them is HERE. Note that there are a LOT of (sometimes contradicting) reports of it NOT working on some models – that is, you WILL want to backup your device before installing the patch. I’ll also report more on it as soon as I receive my brand new 6 GB microSDHC card.
4. Several people use the built-in Pictures & Videos program (note that its previous, pre-WM5, as can also be seen in THIS pretty much important article, name was Pictures) to quickly watch their pictures. (Not that it is of any good – there are MUCH faster, MUCH better image viewer apps out there; the brand new PQV 4.0, Resco and Spb Imageer are the three most important & recommended ones, as has also been explained in the Image Viewer & Editor Bible. Note that Glass Lantern has just gone out of business; therefore, I no longer recommend their PocketLoupe any more, no matter how excellent it was. RIP Glass Lantern, yours was a great product!
Now, MoDaCo forum member mandt has published a quick tip on how you can make Pictures & Videos use a default directory different from \My Documents. If you use these LNK files (you can safely edit them to point to any directory), you can greatly speed up the startup and the initial directory lookup of your pictures.
5. Fring, the most revolutionary, multiplatform, real VoIP client (see THIS article for more info), didn’t use to work on the Qualcomm-based HTC Kaiser (AT&T Tilt), the current flagship model of HTC – the speech became complete garbage, independent of the transfer speed (not that Fring were as dependent on the speed as Skype – actually, it’s perfectly usable over EDGE connections and, if only one party speaks, even over GPRS). The current version, however, fixes this problem. That is, you can safely download the new version into the Kaiser. To do this, the easiest is navigating to http://www.fring.com from your handset and just click the download link.
Ok i got the usual spam through the hotmail account today but one thing caught my eye. Garmin have release a new software product for pda's called 'Mobile XT'.
First thought was great to see some competition for the likes of TomTom and since Garmin has a very good world data base of maps it could be a very useful tool any where in the world. Now I'm not saying that will be available in this product but so far I haven't found anything saying no?
Oh but wait, one BIG But!!!! (This is a lesson on 'always read the small print')
In the small print it tells you the software is only available on MicroSD card but you can't / NOT allowed to copy onto a larger memory card!
Its obvious their designers have never used a pda! I have a Touch and there is no way I would consider pulling my memory card in & out every time I want to use 'Mobile TX' We now have 8GB Micro SD cards which is great I have all my music, TomTom(inc. all of Europe) and a host of other applications and files at my finger tips. with out changing a single memory card.
Anyway would love to here other opinions or some experiences of this product.
Olly183
This product is not new, but there are some (illegal) serial key generators which will allow you to move the data from one card to another.
Such a post would not be permitted here.
I do have the program though and can say the coverage of NJ is decent, but not the best. Even with the 2008 maps that I have, there are a few streets in my area that other systems have and garmin does not. It's a good application though and gets you from A to B if your lost.
Hi guys,
I've searched this forum and haven't found an answer to my question, so I'm gonna post it here. (Hopefully I did the search right and didn't commit the felony of a double post. )
I'm planning on buying a new phone, mainly because my old HTC Charmer (WM 6.1) doesn't support SDHC cards and the maximum of 4GB of the cards I can use with it is just not enough any more.
So far, I've read quite some disappointing details about Windows Phone 7:
- No more "free" apps (by which I mean apps programmed by someone and offered somewhere, now it's the same sh** as with an iPhone or an Android phone)
- No direct USB-sync, which means you have to send your private information to the cloud in order to sync
- No "real" support for SD-Cards (and getting more storage space is the whole da** point here, otherwise I'm quite happy with my Charmer)
So, basically I thought about getting a second hand HTC Touch Pro II running WM 6.5 AND supporting NORMAL SDHC cards (meaning ALL cards which comply with the standard, not just the ones "certified by Microsoft").
But there might be one killer feature which could make me, well, not really forget, but maybe turn a blind eye to WP7's SHAMEFUL flaws: The new Microsoft Office Mobile. Often, I have some Excel spreadsheets which I need for work at different places. This is the only reason I have to take a laptop computer with me, apart from that my phone would be fine.
Office Mobile in WM 6.1 (or 6.5) couldn't display / make use of all the features the Desktop-Version offered (like extremely complicated formulae or spreadsheets and of course macros), and, moreover, after having worked on and saved an Office document on a phone, the features would even have been removed from the file in the conversion process, so the file was useless on the desktop as well.
Thus, I'm asking the following questions (which surprisingly haven't been answered on the net so far, or am I just too stupid to google it right?):
- Is the Office in WM 7 fully functional, meaning you can work on Excel sheets with the most complicated formulae and macros, or, asked more simple, can you do everything you can do with the Desktop version on your phone as well?
- If it doesn't offer everything the desktop versions offers, does it at least keep everything that was there in the original file after you change and save it on your phone? I mean, even if I can't use macros on the Windows Phone, it might still be helpful to open an .xls file on the phone, make a few changes (which don't require macros), save the file on the phone and after putting it back on a desktop computer having the file "unharmed" (meaning except for the small change I made on the phone everything else is as it was)?
Hopefully, I made my point clear enough, if not, I'm happy to answer questions on what it is exactly that I want to know. I think many users here already having a Windows phone will have tried working on Office documents on their phones and I hope those will share their experiences with me.
Many thanks for reading my post and even more thanks for answering.
Peter
Firstly,in terms of the functionalities of the excel,I don't think WP7 is suitable for you.
Furthermore,personally I prefer USB drag and drop the documents to my device,maybe you can call me old school.I just find the office useless for me since I don't have sharepoint,I don't want create a dropbox account just to upload my file to cloud and download it to my device again and I don't have a data plan.Therefore,until now, I still didn't use the office app once.
In your situation,I think you need an android phone to handle your job this moment,you can just purchase quick office,docs to go,depends on your personal preference.In addition,the only office app available is just microsoft office,no other choices.furthermore,as you said,you want transfer it back to your desktop unharm,therefore it is good to have drag and drop file transfer function rather than rely on dropbox,upload to the cloud and download on your desktop again.
On the other hand,there is no clear information about the mango updates which add more features to the office.So,I'll would suggest you to go with Android or iOS for this moment.
Thank you for the answer.
No more "free" apps (by which I mean apps programmed by someone and offered somewhere, now it's the same sh** as with an iPhone or an Android phone)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Free, in cost, there are plenty. Free as in not first checked by MS, kinda but no. You can developer unlock your device and sideload apps. However, that being said, MS are pretty good, they're only blocking apps which don't meet quality control standards (which I think is a good thing) or, somewhat contentiously, are "adult". They're not playing the same game as Apple.
I'm confused by you saying Android though. You can easily download and install programs (apk) on your device from any source (you just have to choose that option in the settings).
Office in Mango is improving - specifically:
1. Better support for formulae
2. Skydrive sync
So, yes, formulae can be created and manipulated in Excel, though I wouldn't say it's a replacement for the real Excel. It certainly can't run macros.
Skydrive is still "in the cloud" however, you're automatically registered to the free account by the virtue of having a live id. I still believe we should have USB file transfer but at least this is better than nothing.
Casey