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PocketPC GUI enhancement for one handed use?

After two months with my Magician, I have come to the simple conclusion that the PocketPC gui sucks in many ways. It's a great system overall, it's just that the GUI leaves a lot to desire.
Specifically, it is horrible for one handed use. I rarely use the stylus. To start a program, you're supposed to click the tiny Start menu in the top left corner, then click Programs. And yet I normally have plenty of room for program icons on the today page!
To close a program, they expect you to click an even smaller X or OK in the top right corner.
Many people would suggest mapping hardware buttons to do these things, but the Magician doesn't really have an abundance of those.
I've seen screenshots of alternative GUIs. For instance, the Asus what's-its-name has a redesigned GUI that works with the hatch.
What have you guys done to improve one handed usage? What are the options?
Skip

Work in progress
Something I'm working on, called VJEphemeris:
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Works well right handed, and surprisingly, also left handed...
V

Main Items i use to increase my one-handed use are found on this forum, which are Gabor Salamon's Blinkeys (Text entry)Blimkeys. and Mamaich's Phone Extension which adds a contacts button to the dialer screen Quick Dial.
both excellent add ons which should be implemented in future GUI's!! Other than that i use SPB pocket plus to clutter up my screen with items to tap on. Although Im starting to get drawn to wisbar. Only time I use my stylus is to reset my Magician when its locked up!
SpeedN

Virtual Keyboard

so in this forum is a thread about a preview of the g1 android rom.... well something caught my eye and it was this...
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that sure looks like a virtual keyboard to me...
can anyone confirm that there is a virtual keyboard....
and not shapewriter.. i'm talking like a iphone like virtual keyboard

We'll have to see. It's certainly possible that this is in the works, if not in the ROM supplied with the G1. Remember Android is a platform, not a single phone. Lots of the other hardware will not have a built-in keyboard, some won't have touchscreens, etc. It's a very flexible platform.

i understand that
i am just not happy with the current options for a virtual keyboard!
i know this will be implemented its must a matter of time
so with that being said... i was really just wondering if someone has written this keyboard into the OS already or if that is just a photshop of someones plans....

it would be nice to see someone make one and i am sure that they will soon....it wouldnt be bad; they could put it under the menu key so people have an option instead of it just poping up on them.....i have read a lot of complaints about this on the wing...which i have but i do use the virtual almost as much as the hard qwerty...

Virtual KP
Officially there is no VKP, all text entry must be done from the qwerty.

How about integrating Swype?

This keyboard looks pretty sweet, it would be cool if it could be loaded on the platform

i just recieved my G1 today and it doesnt have a virtual keyboard, i didnt see one in the market either

Virtual Keyboard coming in Q1 2009
According to the Android roadmap, virtual keyboard should arrive in Q1 2009.
http://source.android.com/roadmap

I didn't even see this but apparently they won the contest for the andriod development grant.
http://www.shapewriter.com/
I know most probably know about it but it looks kinda neat... similar to the locking mechanism

What application/plugin/whatever is this?

I remember seeing tons of screenshots for this and figuring/hoping whenever I upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.1, it would be there. Well, it's not, or at least not in Verizon's installation. What is this application or plugin and where can I get it? It is something I can install just like I've done with the HTC home plugin or is it something that has to be in the rom? Thanks, and sorry if I'm asking a question that's been asked a billion times before. I have no idea what to call this .
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The screen shots are both from a WM6.1 Standard device. Do you have a Standard (ie no touch screen) or a Professional (with a touch screen)?

Professional (with touchscreen). So you're saying that layout is only intended for non touchscreen models? That sucks. I think that's a much cleaner layout than the out-the-box layout professional offers. Any ideas or am I just out of luck? Thanks.

dougthug said:
Professional (with touchscreen). So you're saying that layout is only intended for non touchscreen models? That sucks. I think that's a much cleaner layout than the out-the-box layout professional offers. Any ideas or am I just out of luck? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could browse through the countless number of themes and launchers available.

Guess it's time to find a new HTC touch home launcher. Thanks.

If I were you I would invest in Wisbar Advance Desktop. You could easily achieve this with it.

Never heard of it before. Looks pretty sharp, thanks for the heads up!

There is also a throttle launcher skin which looks similar to this. I think it is the windows mobile 7 skin. If you do a search it should come up pretty quickly.

Office Suite Comparisons

Office Suite Comparisons:
The link below is a great thread containing information comparing several Office Suites.
Comparison of EIGHT major Office Apps
Sneak Peak:
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Sv: Office Suite Comparisons
I want to add one, the CloudOn app! As close as a full office (well, at least Word, Excel and PPT) as you can get with nearly all functions for free. It looks just like Office 2010, and you get a row with all the Ctrl and other PC shortcut buttons that works like Ctrl + D for subscript or superscript etc, Ctrl B for bold text etc.
There is some problems however, that makes it not just as great as it sounds at first. It lags sometimes and as far as I can tell there are only landscape mode avaliable. But it's really worth a try, and if you are an advanced user you'll be happy to see that even equations typed in is showing and working just like the PC version. Text and maybe images is something almost any .doc editor can handle but everything else usually becomes one big mess. With this one though, I find every component and the alignments very close to MS Office.
So, try CloudOn and see how it works for you compared to the above mentioned office apps is my advice
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

Fancy on Android phone with keyboard?

Good afternoon, community!
Some time ago I started to think about mobile devices with full keyboards - but all what I found were tablets like 2 in 1 and they still didn’t looked good enough. I remembered my Nokias 9 series with beautiful S80 on board, what I have used to write course assignment at Uni, to write job applications, etc. By the same time I’ve been working in retail and used to sell this kind of devices - as well as legends like Qtec 9000. People loved it. So, I’ve decided to move forward!
I have created a concept of smartphone in notebook form-factor:
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3d model can viewed here https://skfb.ly/RHDK
Inspired by Psion 5 series, so it would have a proper QWERTY, and as Nokia 9 series, it would have 2 screens - inside and outside.
According to concept, it should work on modified version of android with access to linux apps, with factory root access and open boot loader for community ROMs.
I have contacted some ODM factories to get estimation for production, and got some advice on cost reduction, to edit concept - for available mainboard and screens - FHD, because its too expensive to produce specific ones.
So, if there is anyone who is interested in such product - you are very welcome leave your suggestions, ideas and comments!
There is a massive work still to be done before I would go for crowdfunding, so any help would be appreciated!

What type of keyboard would prefferable, laptop type, when screen is on the lid, or sliding out? Or anything else?