Possible new website. Checking for interest. - General Topics

These forums are great but I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a website for mainly wm5 and wm6 devices. I'll just list a few things I'd like to have on it and hopefully get enough good feedback and ideas that will inspire me to actually design the website.
- Overview of roms for various devices. Including user reviews, screenshots, and some detailed stats on the roms such as memory after a fresh flash. (will probably need help getting those numbers as I don't have access to all the phones)
- Downloads for roms (only if uploaded by the author) otherwise, links to the respective threads here.
- Downloads, reviews, screenshots, ect of popular software. Mostly freeware.
- Guides on things such as skinning programs like S2U2, rlToday, Wisbar, ect
- Skinning sections, upload/download skins for above. Ratings ect.
- Icon packs? If anyone wants to create and upload their own icons to share?
I'm only going to have more ideas as I begin this project but I imagine that I may need some help. Also, I would like to do as much as possible with the developers and with their permission.
No actual work has been started yet. Just been thinking it would be nice to have all of this on one website or at least organized information and links all in one place.

XDA THE BEST!!!!
I run a site personally, www.PocketPC-Live.com but the strength of inteligent people here who cook ROMs, release many small and usefull utilities make this place the best!
Regards,
Carty..

Related

Wiki redesign

hey guys,
I'm a regular on the HTC tytn part of this board and have been quite active in updating the wiki and making it functional.
I thought i'd wonder over to this board and took a look at the wiki and have to admit, was sort of shocked. it's one enormous page that's not very intuitive!
I'm going to shift around some stuff to make the wiki for your device easier to browse and navigate, would love for you guys to help out with this venture!
I've started with this:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=wizard_WM_6
WM6 definitely deserves a page of its own, complete with download links, links to threads etc. it does not deserve to be in the middle of some enormous page where most people can't even see it! it's linked back to the main wiki page under the contents page, which is easier to follow.
suggestions welcome, and please help in overhauling the poor state of the wizard's wiki!!
cheers
I don't know about others here in this forum, but I think you're doing us all a huge favor. Good start on the Wizard WM6 material so far.
Hi!
Ofcourse great job. I've learn from this site
I need to suggest to put some information about Not Big Deal 5.1.
I think, this rom is realy good. Realy. Not many ppl use it, but almost all of my friends that tried this rom, confirmed, that it's very ok.
You should probably rename the page to reflect the device it is for. The current name implicates it is a general WM6 page - which is not in fact.
Chatty said:
You should probably rename the page to reflect the device it is for. The current name implicates it is a general WM6 page - which is not in fact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
awesome suggestion, silly of me. i've renamed the page to wizard_wm_6
I've updated the Wiki (Thanks for setting this up) with information and download links to my Crossbow Released rom.
Also I would like to make an observation... I disagree with the description of The Core, in that it says this is the best rom for Newbies (or thats how I read it)... Since this is a Clean / "core" rom, I don't know that I would call this a good general starting rom for someone new. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying The Core 2.0 isn't good, I'm just saying the claim that its the best rom for newbies is maybe misleading as many newbies want more than just a base rom. XPlore 1.1 (IMO) is actually a better rom for someone just starting out as it comes with some apps in it. Then Wizard Mobile 6 Business Edition is very nice with the set of apps in it too... Its just all of the roms have strengths and weaknesses, so to me calling a single rom the best for Newbies may be misleading. Let them choose what fits for them (or setup some type of Matrix to compare the roms).
BTW: This isn't criticism of this new WiKi page at all? I just wanting to provide feedback so this can become a valuable resource for the Wizard community (and I really appreciate you starting this project for us. Now I need to get back to working on the WM6 Cooking wiki pages I was setting up)
mfrazzz - good point. there should be no "favouring" of roms, it should be up to the end user to decide.
I've removed the whole best rom bit. let the person choose themselves

Website to consolidate icons, tweaks, mods, etc. Assistance needed.

I posted this over on PPCGeeks, but I thought I would post here to get more exposure and input. Here is the ppcgeeks thread. http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=53230
Okay, I've brought this up elsewhere, and I guess it's time to create a new thread and get this going. I've seen so many different threads with different tweaks, top icons, TF3D icons, Windows themes, Manilla themes, etc... and I also notice some people try to combine them into one post (which is very difficult, and still results in the addition of other posts/threads).
Anyways, something I've been wanting to see done for a long time is to be able to go to a webpage, pick and choose with pictures what we want on our phone, and download and install them. Rather than having people search to find several thread results, they can just go to one website, and view up to date info.
First example I will use is the top icons for the Touch Pro. I see several threads (3 of which I personally noticed to be predominately popular - http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=49827, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=437307, and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=437420). These threads are very long (one of which with 1,800+ posts). What I would like to do is have people who create icons submit their icons to this website (I don't have a name for it yet), and people can go there to see & download their work. All original work will be credited appropriately, and can also have a "donate" button as such. People can still post their work on the forums, but they can say it's been submitted to "the website", and people can visit "the website" to download.
What I've noticed is some people on the iPhone community have such things as Installer Apps, which is a compilation of various applications ready to be downloaded and installed to the device. This includes games, apps, icons, etc...
What I would like to ask is for some assistance from willing volunteers (you don't have to commit your time, but any help is appreciated). Maybe suggest ideas of what can be incorporated, gather information to be added to the site, etc... I do have a full time job, and I will be doing this on my own personal time as a way to give back to the community I've been a part of for 2 years.
I have some basic HTML skills, and I'm pretty computer savvy, but any help is appreciated. With that, I'll open this thread to any inspirational ideas and discussion.
Thanks, and let's make this a better community for everyone!
here's one for registry tweaks http://triton.homeip.net/RegistryChanger/
it's a start....
check my signature
Thanks to GhettoBSD (from PPCGeeks), I've been able to make additions to his WikiSpace. So far I've made additions to the Themes page. (Of course, all themes are referenced to the original poster, and notified of this submission).
Let me know what everyone thinks. Any feedback is appreciated. Remember, I'm trying to make this very easy for someone to go to the website, and view all available information for their Touch pro (and Diamond). http://ppc-repository.wikispaces.com/TP+Themes
bugsykoosh said:
here's one for registry tweaks http://triton.homeip.net/RegistryChanger/
it's a start....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very cool! I like the way you did it. Now, which regedits are specific (or can be used) with the Touch Pro (and Diamond).
nhvoltagenh said:
check my signature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see you've already started something similar! So far those are S2U2 themes & icons?
yes and some wad stuff, also weather icons.
s2u2 is whats the biggest contributor, but the site is only a month old
bugsykoosh said:
here's one for registry tweaks http://triton.homeip.net/RegistryChanger/
it's a start....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That site is awesome but it is over run with spam. I contacted the webmaster with some basic spam-fighting tactics. That site has a REALLY good foundation and is a great idea.
I'm pretty good with websites. I code all my html, php, SQL etc by hand in notepad. My site, http://miiwiichat.com is a chat room site for Nintendo Wii users. The site allows user submissions of articles, reader feedback, admin/mod pages, CAPTCHAs, lots of SPAM deterrent.
I don't have the time to code up a whole site, but I can help out.
@nhvoltagenh - Isn't your website a little ironic? A site dedicated for Windows Mobile graphics with a Apple OSX theme. lol. Don't worry, I like the glassy look and feel of OSX too.

Basics on how to change themes

Sounds daft & I'm sure the infos here. I just want to change the theme on my GSM HTC Touch Pro. I know all the software & links are here on this site. It's just there's no 'this software is what you need & this is how you change your theme' info.
Thanks
LOL, ok, google free wm themes, download it and transfer the tsk file to your device. Then simply goto settings/today and select the theme you downloaded... no extra software needed.
try this site, it has THOUSANDS
http://www.portablethemes.com/
Just realised tho, you might be wanting to change you manila theme.... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=470023 there are some themes on here
Thanks for the reply, what exactly in Manila & how do I use it. I've already seen lots of reference to it but don't actually know what it is.
I've uplodaed a few tsk & cab files & selected them in my today them menu but all I get are slight changes like different icon, I've manged to add a different wallpaper, but as soon as the touchflo starts, it's lost.
Getting there
Ta
halo1234 said:
Sounds daft & I'm sure the infos here. I just want to change the theme on my GSM HTC Touch Pro. I know all the software & links are here on this site. It's just there's no 'this software is what you need & this is how you change your theme' info.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh my goodness guys, the test is coming up and I don't know any of the answers. I know all the information to pass the test is in the books. But that would require me to actually read and study.
You guys have already read the books and studied. Can you just give me all the answers to the test, I really can't be bothered to actually read and study myself.
I'm sure the infos here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right all the info is in the Touch Pro Forum.
I understand your point. However this is not an interest or hobby of mine. I'm just a guy who doesn't like how my screen phone looks. Once this is done I may never look at this again. In the 24 hours I have each day I have other things I have to do first & then all the hobbies & interests I have.
I had a look through the first 3-4 pages of this forum & then I tried a few searches. Found a few things, but not enough to fingure it all out.
I've ran out of time for this now really. I might try again when I get some spare time.
Thanks for your help.
search for Replacing/Changing TouchFLO3D skins/themes.
here's some basic help for you, halo (and some commentary)
denco7 said:
Oh my goodness guys, the test is coming up and I don't know any of the answers. I know all the information to pass the test is in the books. But that would require me to actually read and study.
You guys have already read the books and studied. Can you just give me all the answers to the test, I really can't be bothered to actually read and study myself.
You are right all the info is in the Touch Pro Forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is so right-on... and yet ... at the same time I respect the Original Poster's comment framing:
I understand your point. However this is not an interest or hobby of mine. I'm just a guy who doesn't like how my screen phone looks. Once this is done I may never look at this again. In the 24 hours I have each day I have other things I have to do first & then all the hobbies & interests I have.
I had a look through the first 3-4 pages of this forum & then I tried a few searches. Found a few things, but not enough to fingure it all out.
I've ran out of time for this now really. I might try again when I get some spare time.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And because i think it's valid to have people want to utilize great resources here at XDA, yet not have to immerse themselves totally into weeks of XDA Culture in order to do so, I hope this helps the Original Poster. (see Commentary further below my effort to help halo1234)
=================
halo1234: Some Overview Help. It may or may not help your specific request:
1. IF you are running a version of the "TouchFlo" interface as the primary finger-controllable navigation tool,
then here's what you need to know:
2. "Manila" is the name of the interface system that HTC (phone maker) introduced which allowed the bottom-of-the-screen left-to-right finger-slider navigation system. That term, Manila, is synonymous with "TouchFLO 2D" ... and it took days for me to finally "get" that linkage. Later, HTC introduced what they considered a "new & improved" navigation system called "TouchFLO 3D" ... but many people here at XDA consider that its added eye-candy and transition effects were no real added-value. Thus most people here prefer the "TouchFLO 2D" navigation theme.
The prior "favorite naivgation scheme" was called "HTC Home" -- and one can debate their personal preference. I consider TouchFLO 2D to be miles beyond "HTC Home" in terms of a user-friendly navigation system and interface.
3. How to modify a "TouchFLO 2D" interface: M2DC utility
This has actually been made super easy thanks to the work of an XDA-developer who created a customization tool called "M2DC" -- which stands for Manilla TouchFLO 2D Customizer. It consolidates about 100 controllable factors for modifying themes:
Background images, tab systems and icon systems, font colors and sizes and faces, many other things.
SEARCH here for "M2DC" and you will quickly find it. DOwnload it and install it. Once you have M2DC installed (AND YOU SHOULD DONATE GENEROUSLY TO THE SOFTWARE AUTHOR OF THIS GREAT UTILITY!), then it creates a THEME folder. And various designers of themes here at XDA have used the author's file-format which packs all the elements for a particular theme change into an .m2dt file (m2d theme)
4. Find some themes you like, prefer:
XDA user KidnamedAlbert has a consolidated thread here at XDA which does nothing except show people's themes they have created and have made available to you to download for installation onot your phone, IF you are running one of the "TouchFLO 2D" Roms. Here. People who design themes package them in one of two ways: (a) as an .m2dt file which can be dropped into the M2D2 "Themes" folder on your device... or (b) as a .zip file which has all the graphic pieces for that theme, along with an .xml file which composes all these elements into a theme. I suggest you use (a).
5. Launch the M2DC utility; find the theme file you just inserted into its theme folder. Then follow the wizards "next steps" of the M2DC utility. NOTE: it is highly recommended that you find the bottom tab of that utlitity called "Backup" or "Restore" (i cant recall which). There you can Backup all the custom settings and files you have adjusted, and M2DC saves them for later restoration.
6. Top-bar and bottom-bar of the screen:
These are, generally, separate elements from the whole "TouchFLO" or Manila theme. You can search for these separately on this site. Search for .tsk files .These control the color scheme and gradient-quality of the top and bottom bars on the screen. After you find ones you want to try, then the way you implement these is:
(a) copy, or place, the .tsk file(s) you want to try into the \Windows folder of your device. Use "File Explorer" for this, to show the directory structure of the files on your phone.
(b) then, to access and switch between those .tsk themes, go to: Start > Settings > Personal > and find the "Today" icon. "Today" is the setting you will be changing. You'll now see in the left-hand box on that page the names of all the .tsk files you just loaded into the Windows directory of your phone. Now you select the one you want to try, click "OK" at the top-right of the screen, and in a second or two, the top-bar and bottom-bar will change. If you like, keep it. if not, try another.
7. Now, all I ask from you is this:
Tell me: Did these instructions help you. Or not. It's okay if the answer is "they did not". I just want to know, so please reply either way. Thanks and good luck.
=================
My Commentary re the Complexity of This Site's information design:
The truth is, XDA comprises an incredible, 2nd-to-none, knowledge base and dedicated developer community, and yet, because of those 2 things, the site is so sprawling and dense that even with using SEARCH and reading Sticky Threads and following links to HOW-TO's, and Newbie Guides, it takes weeks sometimes, just to assemble and/or decode some basic answers. That's a sign that even with the flexible & powerful hierarchical structure of prob the best forum software out there (vBulletin), nevertheless, there is a baseline INFORMATION DESIGN PROBLEM here.
It's not an easy solve by any means. But just for the record, I am taking on that task, since my area of professional specialty is Information Architectire and Customer Usability.
/qs
he was talking about the Touch Pro.. that is not M2D.. but TF3D
for M2D i've written a guide in the guides thread in the Q&A section..
nir36 said:
he was talking about the Touch Pro.. that is not M2D.. but TF3D
for M2D i've written a guide in the guides thread in the Q&A section..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent stuff you've assembled & written. I really value those kinds of guides. Thanks. So i guess the answer to my #7 will be: nope, sorry, i am not using M2D... hah hah, well i had a good time wasting my time writing it up!
No not a waste of time. I read through your post & becasue you spent some time & effort on my post & decided to try again. So 2, 4 & 6 were useful, plus a few other links. Evetually I found some easy .cab files that worked without a problem from the Rapheal section & it's all working fine now.
If you hadnt bothered to respond I wouldn't of had another go, so it was worth it for me! Your right this forum is by far the largest I've useds & with so many variants of product & methods it's easy to get lost. My issue was that I new what I needed, but didn't know why or how.
Thanks
Peter
halo1234 said:
No not a waste of time. I read through your post & becasue you spent some time & effort on my post & decided to try again. So 2, 4 & 6 were useful, plus a few other links. Evetually I found some easy .cab files that worked without a problem from the Rapheal section & it's all working fine now.
If you hadnt bothered to respond I wouldn't of had another go, so it was worth it for me! Your right this forum is by far the largest I've useds & with so many variants of product & methods it's easy to get lost. My issue was that I new what I needed, but didn't know why or how.
Thanks
Peter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey I am really glad you got some value from it. And that you found a solution overall for your Raphael. I'll tell you the OTHER value from it: I hadn't even known of nir36's outstanding GUIDES til he referenced them here. So there are multiple outcomes from asking questions. And I could spot that in your case you weren't the more typical "I need this now, i don't have time to look, so could someone just email me the answer?" user who parachutes into XDA-Developers forum land and expects to be handheld for their specific request.
There's a continuum here of what new users ask for -- and thus I think it would be way more realistic for some veteran members here to sometimes see new user questions from the ground level of someone coming into this land of knowledge and, as you sort of said, not even knowing how to frame the question, since the density of information is sometimes impenetrable, and just frame it out for a new user, vs just the standard reply to read read read read read.
As an information designer, I have never ever understood the impulse of some early-adopter people who have had to dig dig dig and read read read to finally pioneer the understandings and piece-together solutions to complex questions, to then want others who follow to work as hard at it as they did. My philosophy is build a better gateway to the knowledge storage, vs chastising people for using the wrong entrance.
For sure it's a 2-way street, and there are hundreds-a-day justifiable reasons for frustrations from knowledge-holders seeing the level of laziness and entitlement coming from the OTHER end of the new user spectrum. They give human beings a bad name
P.S. -- people hate my philosophy comments on a tech-board. I know. I don't try to be verbose, but I know it drives some people batty. In which case, sorry !
hah, i actually like these.

is it possible???

Hi Guys
I've got a questions to all you guys who cook the roms as I don't and I think of my self as a strict end user of the HTC devices.
It is possible for you to create a nice and simple rom that will be ready to go after flashing and will contain a few things that I will alow my self to point out below:
- weather plugin on today screen (in WM6.1 or 6.5)
- a web browser that will display flash and all the rich content on the websites including youtube, vimeo etc
- favorite contacts with photos
- a set of nice games
- divix player with all the plugins
- google maps
- facebook, twiter etc
- MS office
- pdf reader
I think all those above are essential for any rom to be useful
Rom like this wold be ideal for people like me who just want to use it not constantly looking for all the bits and bobs to make it working. Call it whatever you want but this is why HTC don't appeal to that many people which is sad really coz it is a damn good piece of equipment.
Well i hope someone will get interested and maybe some of you guys will create rom like this for everyday user. and don't forget to make the theme sleek and sexy so my girlfriend will be jealous that her iphone can't look like this
Thank you
Tom78 said:
Hi Guys
I've got a questions to all you guys who cook the roms as I don't and I think of my self as a strict end user of the HTC devices.
It is possible for you to create a nice and simple rom that will be ready to go after flashing and will contain a few things that I will alow my self to point out below:
- weather plugin on today screen (in WM6.1 or 6.5)
- a web browser that will display flash and all the rich content on the websites including youtube, vimeo etc
- favorite contacts with photos
- a set of nice games
- divix player with all the plugins
- google maps
- facebook, twiter etc
- MS office
- pdf reader
I think all those above are essential for any rom to be useful
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WELL everyone have there own preferences and when cooking rom the cheif have to think of everyone as a whole... so some might not want weather, or some might not need divx player or browser with flash or some one might use igo instead of google map.... so in short if you want you can install other app to get all of the above..., and just search this forum and you should get all of the above app....
Cheers
Rajiv
Tom78 said:
Hi Guys
I've got a questions to all you guys who cook the roms as I don't and I think of my self as a strict end user of the HTC devices.
It is possible for you to create a nice and simple rom that will be ready to go after flashing and will contain a few things that I will alow my self to point out below:
- weather plugin on today screen (in WM6.1 or 6.5)
- a web browser that will display flash and all the rich content on the websites including youtube, vimeo etc
- favorite contacts with photos
- a set of nice games
- divix player with all the plugins
- google maps
- facebook, twiter etc
- MS office
- pdf reader
I think all those above are essential for any rom to be useful
Rom like this wold be ideal for people like me who just want to use it not constantly looking for all the bits and bobs to make it working. Call it whatever you want but this is why HTC don't appeal to that many people which is sad really coz it is a damn good piece of equipment.
Well i hope someone will get interested and maybe some of you guys will create rom like this for everyday user. and don't forget to make the theme sleek and sexy so my girlfriend will be jealous that her iphone can't look like this
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might think those things are essential, but others may disagree. The best solution to your request is to flash an ultra-vanilla ROM and install everything as .CABs. For example, Facebook and FIM are both available as .CABS, as well as Google Maps. TCPMP plays my divx files and handles other formats very well indeed. Office and PDF readers are uncluded with quite a few ROMs already. Twitter widget came as part of SPB MobileShell, I don't use Twitter, but I am sure it works fine and is most likely available as a .CAB for a separate install.
Try something with lots of program memory available that includes only basics, each proper ROM will come with the list of things included and screenshots, so you can decide whether you want one.
After awhile, like most of us, you will have a small collection (or large) of .CABs you find absolutely necessary, my suggestion is to store them all on your SD card, that way if you flash ROMs frequently everything you need will be available within a few clicks.
Or.... you can ask nicely, donate to our fine chefs and get someone to create a ROM for you....
Tom78 said:
and don't forget to make the theme sleek and sexy so my girlfriend will be jealous that her iphone can't look like this
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AHA! So it's a competition...
Ah! you are totally right about all the cabs ect. honestly I was going to do this but here is a problem. to find what I need is almost imposible, half of the download links doesn't work some of the stuff is not on the forum. It would be nice to have a ftp server where all the cabs and roms could be stored. Also is hard to find a 'plain' rom on which I could install the rest. It is to much of all this themes plugins ect and without proper ftp catalouge/folder filing system is just taking too much time That's why I 've asked coz whoever is actually cooking roms already have all that cabs and plugins on his/their computers nicely sorted But if there is no other option i will start building my own colection.
btw could u post a link to the facebook cab. It is inc in tomals 8.10 ver i can't find it plz help
Here you go.
Tom78 said:
Ah! you are totally right about all the cabs ect. honestly I was going to do this but here is a problem. to find what I need is almost imposible, half of the download links doesn't work some of the stuff is not on the forum. It would be nice to have a ftp server where all the cabs and roms could be stored. Also is hard to find a 'plain' rom on which I could install the rest. It is to much of all this themes plugins ect and without proper ftp catalouge/folder filing system is just taking too much time That's why I 've asked coz whoever is actually cooking roms already have all that cabs and plugins on his/their computers nicely sorted But if there is no other option i will start building my own colection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or... you can learn to use one of the kitchens provided by our chefs and create your own ROM...
You are not looking hard enough - simple basic ROMs are available, they come with no plug-ins or themes, FTP is also available, while you can look for .CABs you need in corresponding threads or use Search function.
Yeah agree, people just want to ask and ask to everybody supply their needs, but they don´t really do a research or donate or help in anyway.
This is nothing personal to anyone, just what I´ve seen along this years on this great site!
----------------
Greetings Enigma!

I need major help!

This is my first windows mobile and im struggling to understand a lot of the jargon that is on this website, also struggling to find out were the apps are to download???? thanks
Fear not ...
A good place to start understanding things is the Wiki: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/ there's a glossary, FAQs and a whole bunch of other useful info
For the apps, well there are many in this very section, also have a look in there http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=528 for more generic WinMo stuff (some of which may or may not work on the HD2, read the threads first )
Apart from here, there are plenty of places to get freeware or paid-for software from, Google will help you find them . Also a form of XDA-Marketplace is currently being worked on, more info on that here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=611653&highlight=xda+marketplace
Edit: make a note of your OS, ROM and Manila version - stuff which works for some variants may not work for some others. To check that, go to Settings> About Phone> Software Information
There is a few websites out there for applications, one of which has its own catalogue style application for easy browsing:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/opnmarket/

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