I just want to start a thread on what people genuinely think about the adjustments Microsoft© have made for the Windows Mobile 6.5 beta which was leaked everywhere.
Please dont just come on and say you hate it or just start complaining.
Just balanced and constructive suggestions. (could admins plz remove single minded complainst etc..)
Microsoft© wont ever learn anything about what people really want if there is nowhere that people can collate their ideas about improvements.
Please just state what device you have and which rom, then your point/s.
Ill start it off:
Im running wm6.5 (pdaviet rom) on my Elfin.
1) When i lock my phone, it hangs for a couple of moments before locking. Its only very short, but its still annoying. So, that could be faster.
2) When locked, It would be easier to use if you had the button at the top and have to move it down (or visa/versa) possibly an entry in the settings menu for editing the location of where you want the button to start and end to unlock?
3) I find if a problem when scrolling through the start menu and it stops after four lines of links. I think it would be much easier to remove this limit and let it scroll freely. The user can then stop it where they want.
4) seriously, make some new interface for the basics like the callendar app. They are always included, but it seems pointless making a more usable interface overall when you have to pull out the stylus the second you get into a default, simple app. Many people nowadays are simply resorting to 3rd party apps with better interfaces. (I have actually made my own design rework of the callendar app)
5) The menu given for start menu items needs to be extended to having an option for moving an item around. This should either have a selection of "move (up, right, left, down)" or you should be able to drag icons around.
6) The titanium today screen needs more options which should be customisable from the settings menu. This is what people on this forum have been doing, so i think it should be there by default with the ability to add more simply.
(This could possibly attract a little bit of attention from developers?)
7) Create a view for the contacts app where you simply scroll through a grid of the pictures associated with contacts. This would only be used by people who have pictures, but if this feature was available, it would prompt people to get pictures of the people in their phonebook.
8) Solitare - Make it look better. New backs for the cards? Better ending when a game is won - possibly more similar to the latest desktop version?
9) Make it easier to turn on/off/connect with bluetooth and wifi. I dont know too much about any other connections, but with these two, its more hastle than it should. What i currently have is an icon in my start menu. One with the bluetooth logo, the other with the wifi logo. These simply start and stop them. Also, when you connect to a bluetooth device, it would be nice if it displayed a menu of things you could continue to do, like "send (contact, file, etc)
10) Include a better way of turning the phone off or soft resetting it. Having to hold down the power button or poking the little hole with the stylus is reminiscent of having to hold down the power button on a PC when it crashes. A software alternative to this, included with windows mobile, would be well recieved.
11) some form of backup/restore solution. This would help reasure users that might be afraid of loosing their contacts or other data.
12) after going through the start menu into an program, or further into the settings and into a setting app, it would be nice to go back to the start menu upon closing the program. Its annoying when your altering all your settings and each time you go through a bunch of settings, you have to go through the start menu again to find the next lot of settings.
13) final thing: the scrolling is nice and smooth, but this added ease to scroll up and down seems to have sacrificed being able to select things easily. It takes several attempts to go into folders in the file explorer without scrolling up or down.
Positive things about 6.5:
The honeycomb menu makes the start menu easier to poke at.
The swiping between tabs in programs, and pictures in the "photos and videos" app is handy.
The enlarged menu lists are much more finger friendly (but the large buttons at the top and bottom hinder them slightly.)
Titanium is fun simply because of the three different ways of moving between tabs (its a simple thing, but it keeps me happy)
The calculator looks very nice
The little curves on the tabs is a nice change, more smooth looking
The whole UI looks better
I was a bit dubious of the start button going strait into the programs menu, but it grew on me very quickly and now i think its great.
Please add any ideas you have.
I hope Microsoft looks at this and takes the ideas people put into consideration before the official release.
I wish 6.5 have:
- A completly renewed UI that is really FINGER FRIENDLY in all aspects and in all menus, not just on the today screen...
- Totally removed the super ugly honeycomb
- A really noticeable better performance
Come on folks! give some more ideas!
Related
I love the new Touch flo interface. Perhaps I am asking too much but is there a contacts program with this type of interface? It is the biggest thing I notice when using the phone - most other programs are nice and black/grey but the contacts is plain old WM style. I have the random access installed which helps a little but I would prefer the whole interface. Any suggestons?
Thanks
Allan
Have a look at PocketCM Contact
Its not bad but feels a little buggy in use Any other suggestions?
Contact program
Try vito contact fun. amazing contact program. wery good and colorfull.
Bjørn
Norway
Do you have a link to it?
Thanks
Allan
Allan,
Link is here : http://iwindowsmobile.com/contact-manager.html
Although a little confused about why you say PocketCM feels buggy?
I've used it since it came out, think it's a lovely piece of software (and considering it's free it's a right bonus!!).
I installed it, changed the theme to Touch and my keyboard went down so I couldnt see the bottom menu options, the colours meant I could sometimes see the contacts, sometimes couldnt. I couldnt close it since it also got rid of the top start menu bar - just not nice to use really. I want something that feels familiar.
Get ya. The other link should be fine then, it's really nice, not used it much so don't know how customisable it is, but for about a fiver you can't really go wrong.
Had a look at the FunContact and it is better but 2 things wrong with it (1 Major, 1 Minor).
1) (Major) I do not want to wait a few seconds every time I access my contacts for the program to load - and I do not like the lack of button to close (have to select menu and then exit).
2) (Minor) Still doesnt fit in theme-wise with the HTC theme - customisable colours would be great.
So, I am still on the look for something to replace the boring old outlook-style contacts, anyone?
Thanks
Allan
this is the best, IMHO http://sunnysoft.com/software.php?idarticle=296
I have used both PocketCM and FunContact. I found PCM to run a bit slow on the TC even with the latest .20b version. FunContact is the more polished of the two but I found two annoying issues: 1) splash screen when loading the app, and 2) there's not a quick way to exit the app besides going thru several button presses.
The Sunnysoft app looks interesting but it has the same awful letter bar as the default contacts app. I like the finger-slide type of FC and PCM.
You could minimize it then the next time you open your contacts it will open without going through the prolonged startup.
One of the things I find annoying in browsing for apps through the Programs entry in the start menu is that if you browse sub folder in it (like Games) you can't go back without closing the Programs menu...
Is there any freeware and lite app or hack that can add a Back and Front options to the WM bottom bar only when browsing Programs?
Thanks in advance
Bump...
Come on it's been a week... Doesn't anyone know of an answer?
Sorry if this seems shameless but if I get it right this thread has only one week left and then will be deleted...
If nobody posts an answer, then it's probably because nobody has one.
I don't have an answer for your question, but a piece of advice instead: ditch the default start menu - it's crap Use QuickMenu, TouchLaunch or MortButtons (this one takes some time to configure properly but it's probably the most powerful), or more than one of them. They all have their pros and cons, but all are better than the default start menu that hasn't changed at all since windows CE 3.0 (probably since 1.0, but 2 is the oldest one i used ). QuickMenu is great because it behaves like the start menu on a "big" windows - it's cascading plus it has some neat options lik ebuilt in task manager, screen rotation and SIP selection. Also, it can replace the default menu entirely. But it's not very finger friendly and it's best used with a D-Pad, a stylus or with a finger where you're not in motion. But it's rather hard to use with a finger on a bike or on a bus.
TouchLaunch is still a beta, but works really smoothly, and is very finger friendly. Also, it can view all shortcuts you have in the start menu ignoring folder structure, so as long as you know program's name, it will be really easy to find.
All of them are free and availible here at xda-devs, just do a search. So my advice is to try them all and choose the one you like the best, but forget about the default menu.
Thanks for the reply
I realized that people might not now the answer but they might as well have missed the thread since it was burried by a whole week of q&a's...
I've actually tried QuickMenu and TouchLanch in the past but I removed both. The first is a lot less finger-friendly than Omnia's big screen implementation for the start menu and seemed kind of unstable (at least the version I tried. I switched to wktask as a task manager/lister/launcher (I keep only the most usefull shortcuts).
The second is kind of heavy, didn't fit to my whole screen (and I couldn't config it to... at least that version) and the Launcher that comes with Omnia has a feature very similar to it (which is also heavy... that's why I still use the default Program folder sometimes)...
I generally use the default Start menu Programs browser for apps I use less often.
Will try MortButton though I don't know if this is what I'm looking for (or if I can even use it)... I always thought there would be a small .exe or scipt to address this WM flaw.
I don't understand what do you mean?
When I go to 'Programs', then 'Games' via the start menu, if I press OK it takes me back to Programs.
Maybe you have a task manager set up that closes windows when you press OK.
Strange... Is there an "OK" in your system? Mine is WM 6.1 (oficial rom). I don't have any buttons in the bottom bar while browsing Games and on the top bar there's an "X" in the right.
It doesn't seem to be the task manage. I'm pretty sure I remember this behavior as the default and I just double checked after exiting wktask and even after a soft-reset (with it's autorun feature disabled)... Even without a task manager that folder is closed without returning to Programs...
For anyone who would love to increase our joy in using Android by allowing us to multi-task more seemlessly and dynamically, as well as help Android keep up with next-gen multi-tasking platforms such as webOS, here are some ideas:
Here is a method of graphically presenting a task switching application. Imagine presenting thumbnail screenshots of all open application, lined up in a row, being zoomed out to take up about half the normal space on the screen, to be scrolled through with a flick of a finger. Think switching between windows in Steel (after tapping the window button which displays all of your open web pages in a row).
Now, the method for bringing up these apps to be scrolled through gives room to a bit of creativity as well. One could give the option to simply press the camera button (a la Task Switcher). Another option, should one not want to monopolize the camera button, would be to long-press the trackball. still, a more creative method would be this; the user gives the handset a quick shake, and BOOM, the current app zooms out and the other apps appear in line to the left and the right. Of course, games and apps that use the accelorometer would be given priority, requiring the user to pause the game or go to the menu screen before shaking the device to bring up the app switcher (something that makes sense anyway. You wouldn't want to leave a game in progress).
Hope someone somewhere likes this idea, finds it feasable and can invest their time and programing skills (of which I have none personally) into enhancing our Android experience this way.
Thanks!
I dont know what this has to do with multi-tasking as its only a visual aspect of it... but have you ever tried holding your home button? Voila a task switcher
like there isnt 1/2 a dozen ways to do this?
download task switcher, it uses the camera button to bring up a nice visual task switcher.
of course i should point out that android by default comes with a task switcher, just hold down the home button. also you can set up quick lauch shortcuts for apps. i dont see how it can get any better then that.....
I wouldn't mind if they were to put the apps that are running on the notification bar.
rogro82 said:
I dont know what this has to do with multi-tasking as its only a visual aspect of it... but have you ever tried holding your home button? Voila a task switcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a list of the last 6 recently used programs instead of currently running programs?
jaroque i think it depends. that IS the list of the last 6 used programs, however the way android works is it closes programs only when it needs memory so a lot of times some (or all) of the programs in that list are still indeed running because they dont require too much memory.
Hello,
I'm asking this here, I hope it's the right place...
I've been searching for two days for the best look/interface on my HTC MEGA. After trying SPB Shell for a while, I decided to switch back to the original TouchFlo 2D which I find the most elegant look for the phone so far.
I would have three demands though to make the experience perfect :
1. Sort the Start menu beyond the highly limited and frustrating Move Up/Down option. I'd like to be able to sort things my way, possibly with sub-folders and deleting options.
2. Rearrange the horizontal scrolling bar, most notably to place the "Programs" page earlier in the order.
3. Being able to add more icons to the "Program" page.
Is all that possible, without having to switch to SPB Shell ?
I'm sure the info is over here but I don't know what tags to use in my search. I'm eagerly waiting for the wiki's comeback !
Hello everyone,
I went recently to a device and more specifically to a wp7 7 omnia,
I created this video concept on the management of a multitasking wp7 keeping the style of the loose tiles without too many effects, such as MS has created a minimalist.
It works like this:
holding down the "back" button for 1-2 seconds, under a bar will appear with your open applications represented with the same tiles, dragging down the application quits, while clicking on it opens the'applicazione selected.
What do you think?
I like the idea of dragging down to close the program
Just very nice concept, yes.
Thats very good!
Multitasking (or should I say 'appswitching') on iOS is, imo, worse than that on Android and winmo.
On iOS, hate how you have to first double click the home button, then hold on one of the background-running apps on the taskbar until it gives you the option to close it. I liked iOS before that implememntation, because the 'taskbar' just easily gets filled up with apps.
On Winmo, once you tap the taskbar drop down menu and the list of background running apps appear, you have an x right next to it already. Alot more efficient.
Nice Concept :] I would like that too
Too much like iOS. I am sure MS can come up with the nicer way.
digger1985 said:
Too much like iOS. I am sure MS can come up with the nicer way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, It is good, it doesn't interrupt your work and it's easy to use.
spippo said:
Hello everyone,
I went recently to a device and more specifically to a wp7 7 omnia,
I created this video concept on the management of a multitasking wp7 keeping the style of the loose tiles without too many effects, such as MS has created a minimalist.
It works like this:
holding down the "back" button for 1-2 seconds, under a bar will appear with your open applications represented with the same tiles, dragging down the application quits, while clicking on it opens the'applicazione selected.
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it would be perfect if M$ do it like This way propose it to Redmond company
hd2leo_fusion said:
it would be perfect if M$ do it like This way propose it to Redmond company
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? M$? 1995 called and want their meme back!!
As someone in the UI design field, non obvious actions are actually bad design. Holding down a button for 2 seconds is not obvious, a simpler more intuitive solution would be to have an arrow (or icon) at the bottom to do the same.
Like the bars at the bottom tho, and the dragging down thing (also non obvious)
pillsburydoughman said:
As someone in the UI design field, non obvious actions are actually bad design. Holding down a button for 2 seconds is not obvious, a simpler more intuitive solution would be to have an arrow (or icon) at the bottom to do the same.
Like the bars at the bottom tho, and the dragging down thing (also non obvious)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so holding down the home button to voice command is also bad design???
You would prefer more icons on screen to do what a hard button can accomplish?
thank you all!
If you give the other suggestions I can make another video concept and maybe send it to Microsoft like an idea! What do you think?
I looks very nice, but the icons are too big.
pillsburydoughman said:
As someone in the UI design field, non obvious actions are actually bad design. Holding down a button for 2 seconds is not obvious, a simpler more intuitive solution would be to have an arrow (or icon) at the bottom to do the same.
Like the bars at the bottom tho, and the dragging down thing (also non obvious)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
holding down the start key for voice controls isn't obvious to users as well...unless they mistakingly do it, or read the booklet! Its fine! Humans are smarter than you think.
Seriously, this is almost exactly how iOS's appswitching works. And it's not a bad thing.
But probably Microsoft wouldn't use that layout for obviously reasons.
Android switcher sux. I would like to see something as easy as iOS. This one is nice, though smaller icons would be better
What a nonsense. Don't forget in WP7 navigation looks like this:
- Open software1
- Navigate to software page1.
- Navigate to software page2.
- Press Win
- Open software2
- Navigate to software page1.
So, after last step, let's assume i switch app to software1, then press back 2 times, and after that if i press back one more time, where i will go?
In Android, if you press 'Back' several times it just takes you to Home launcher. Do the same here.
Good
my congratulations to spippo, this is the first video that I see on a WP7 multitaskink...
I hope that Microsoft may look and begin to think on it!!!!
I love your idea but i think, that multi tasking should look like the Zune HD's pin/history section where you swipe to the right and that pane come up.
Barbbachello said:
I like the idea of dragging down to close the program
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works in WebOS and Blackberry Tablet OS because those systems use a gesture to "minimize" the application to a card that can be swiped up to be closed. WP7 doesn't do this. Apps are full screen. If I'm in Twitter, 50 results down in my feed; you want me to go all the way to the top so that I can drag the program down to close it? How exactly will I drag this program down to close it? What's wrong with an X in the upper right corner to close it, or simply backing out of it?
I think pre-emptive Multitasking has its usage, especially for stock applications. But I think the need for them in third party applications is limited to some pretty obvious use cases and Microsoft should be uber strict when it comes to allowing applications to do it.
Tombstoning + Push Notifications should be the de facto standard for third party applications, IMO.