Hiya's, I found this site while looking up info on the HTC cruise as I have just received a hand-me-down Cruise from a friend (had a very old nokia..). This is a major upgrade for me (it has a 2 camera's unlike my nokia which has none). I am keen to get the most use from the phone as possible and at the moment it seems to be going ok but having read a couple of the forum messages it seems that there are various upgrades that can make it a better phone.
I have been accused of being a semi-ludite when it comes to using technology so would appreciate any advice on what can be upgraded as far as the operating system and other programs are concerned. I have used the CoPilot program this morning and think is is the greatest thing since individually sliced and packaged cheese..
The settings on the phone indicate it is ROM 1.26.710.1 WWE (date 12/17/2007), Radio Version 1.58.21.23 and Protocol Version 25.65.30.04H.
If any advice is forthcoming, please keep things as simple as possible or I will have to get one of my neighbors kids to come over and explain..
Cheers
Ian
Welcome to the wonderful world of a touchscreen windows mobile device.
Of course there are a lot of things you can improve, thousands of programs are waiting to be installed and so on.
IMHO the most important thing is: If you are satisfied with your current system DO NOT change it. If everything is running smooth there is no need to flash a new operating system or radio. If you notice slowdowns during using the device or if the radio in your area is not running perfect you should flash the latest upgrade from HTC. They are offering WM 6.1 (WM = windows mobile, the operating system) and a new radio. Its very easy to flash but you will loose all your data on the device.
If you don't like your today screen, you can check some replacements, Mobile Shell is one of it:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/pocketpc-software/mobileshell
And if you like this shell you can change its look with upgrades like this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3904948&postcount=2513
Of course you can flash one of the Roms created by one of the devs. You will find an overview here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=521961
But you should be aware that many of these roms are using stuff from other devices like Manilla, this might cause problems. And you have to be very careful if flash a self created rom, its not that easy like flashing an original HTC rom.
Last but not least you have to think about the way you want to use your device. If you just need a phone you need nothing else. If you want to read ebooks like wikipedia you need a reader and so on. Here you can find tons of programs for your device:
http://www.handango.com/homepage/Homepage.jsp?storeId=2218
You will also find a lot of freeware apps here:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/
And a very important thing is: Backup your device often if you are trying different applications, you are having a windows device
For a list of recommended software check my signature.
All are freeware except iGO, and easily found on this forums (or links from here lead to authors pages).
And welcome to Polaris owners club...
Thanks very much for the replies..
It seems to be going ok at the moment. I am not too sure whether it is slow or not (nothing to compare..) but opening an application only takes a couple of seconds so I am happy with that. I have been using it primarily as a phone (of course) but have been using the camera like mad. I even made one of my friends give me a video call..very cool...I have tried to use the voice commander application but it doesn't seem to want to do anything and eventually just says "Goodbye" and closes. I am going to look at the list of applications at some of the website that are list above and see what is available.
Cheers and thanks again..
IJ
I went from iphone to android to webos to comeback to android.
I use google voice. I use last.fm to scrobble. And pandora.
None of this are on windows mobile marketplace.
I just got the htc hd2 today while i love the hardware and everything. Comparing other mobile os's windows mobile sucks in terms of
app choices.
Can somebody please guide me in the right direction for replacements
or if the programs are available please tell me how to get them?
I also noticed my email inbox looks like it never left the 90's. Html emails are not being displayed and pictures are not loading automatically.
Trying to adapt need it for work so i must make the best out of it
GNOve said:
I went from iphone to android to webos to comeback to android.
I use google voice. I use last.fm to scrobble. And pandora.
None of this are on windows mobile marketplace.
I just got the htc hd2 today while i love the hardware and everything. Comparing other mobile os's windows mobile sucks in terms of
app choices.
Can somebody please guide me in the right direction for replacements
or if the programs are available please tell me how to get them?
I also noticed my email inbox looks like it never left the 90's. Html emails are not being displayed and pictures are not loading automatically.
Trying to adapt need it for work so i must make the best out of it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay... look here for all the apps we use on our hd2
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=603880
On Windows Mobile.. you can look for apps outside of the "marketplace".. you download them as a .cab file (on pc or phone) and place them on the sd card if you want... which out the box is unique to windows mobile (doesn't eat up phone memory (but not that we lack it on the new hd2 lol))
Once the .cab file is on your phone/sd card... in the phone you go to file explorer (in the start menu)... click on it and navigate to where you placed the .cab file and run it. You can save the installation to the "device" because there is plenty of memory and tends to run better.
To awnser your questions;
[1] Google voice idk, but im sure google will have a wm app out soon (if not already, im not 'in' google voice so dunno)
[2] Last.fm Googling around a bit i see they (or someone) released a windows mobile app in 2008, but all links to it trow a 404, so check out their mobile forums, specifically this sticky
[3] Pandora, just read this; http://www.pandora.com/on-windowsmobile (Point your mobile phone's browser to www.pandora.com)
[4] Incomplete emails Thats just a setting since most people use gprs/hsdpa, im sure you can change it, either somewhere in the settings or trough a registry edit
Though i just have to say/write this, DONT GET ME WRONG but honestly, you shouldn't try to make this like your iPhone, although Microsoft/HTC are clearly trying to 'collect' some iPhone users, overall the HD2 isn't user friendly enough to be a iPhone (yes i sayd it) That doesn't mean you shouldn't stick with the HD2 though, just forget the iPhone
To put some strength behind my 'user friendly' statement, if your ROM is from before 1.66, the HD2 will have quite some silly bugs, like SMS messages that get stuck in the outbox but only (if your lucky) send 3 weeks later, problems with the camera, not beeing able to read/write large miniSD cards & more.
On the other hand, if your in any way IT related or just in general good with computers, this is currently the best phone on the market (counting HD2 and HD2b as one) it does the latest wireless connection methods, has build-in gps, compass and g-sensor, a 1ghz gpu, a 'gpu' (kinda) and more geeky features, and hey, it can emulate most psx games at full speed (www.fpsece.net)
I'd just strongly suggest you to get a new ROM from the HTC site, assuming you have a device with pre 1.66
I hope the above helped a bit, not trying to make windows mobile even more confusing for you, just trying to tell you that it cant really be compared to iPhone/Android, it can be compared to windows, there are actually millions of apps, nobody ever felt the need for a windows marketplace until iPhone got one and Microsoft had to compete, at which they currently fail hard i agree, the windows marketplace thing is a joke, just use google.
Hey Guys,
1) sorry if this has come up before, search-fu is weak and nothign relevant seems to come up with the "Similar threads" thing.
2) My provider has all but forced me off Windows Mobile, which is fine, since with sideloading being such a hard task on WM7, and that I would have to pay alot to get a WM7 handset and go up monthly fees too, i'm not too fussed.
So i've taken the plunge and gone for an Android phone, trouble is I have a few apps on my old windows mobile device I would love to run on Android... number 1 priority being TomTom Navigator, which yes, I could repay for, but I don't see why I should have to.
So, is there any software in the works that will let me run Windows Mobile based apps on an Android phone?
many thanks
Sorry for bringing an old topic back into the daylight, but I have the same thought. I definately need some apps of WM running on Android when I'll buy my new phone, so this kind of emulator would be a major reason to switch from my outdated Touch Pro. Couldn't something like Haret be created, just to run Windows Mobile, not Android?
There is no, for now
thanks for clearing that out, that's a pitty. But how about the future? Is it at least theorically possible to create something to have this kind of dual boot? Would Android community and developers be interesting in this?
Yeah I wish that was possible, but no.
It's just crossing my mind this idea to downgrade from WP7 to WM6.x. Yes, it has been told that this two platforms are completely different thing, on hardware and software base. But, after looking at the HD2 forum that is dedicated to HD2s update from WM6.5 to WP7 the idea just could be right.
Switching from WM6.5 to WP7 made me nostalgic for WM6.5 and it's programs, settings... Well, I guess that, as a lot of people, I haven't asked around about WP7 enough to see how it works and what it gives. But, I do like this phone, and especially 1GHz processor, 5MP camera, touch screen and other things (o yeah the battery is much better) that it comes hard to me to have this mighty thing that is all locked up. It could be that in a year or so, from now, it will be better than WM6.5 but considering all that time needed to get it close to WM6.5 and original idea to create WP7 (to make it easy-to-use and lot less custom) it stands on this OS just like gray cloud.
Just wanted to write this, and if someone shares my opinion I would be most glad to hear about it.
Maybe it will be possible to get to WM6.5...
nope cant be done sorry. just install the mango beta it blows wm6.5 out of the water.
Yes, I do try to think like that, and then I realize that I need SatNav. And, no GPS navigation software can't be installed, for time being, there is no Garmin, IGo, TomTom...
I'll definitely stick to this phone, and Mango I'll update. Hope it'll make my life simpler.
mendoza1 said:
Yes, I do try to think like that, and then I realize that I need SatNav. And, no GPS navigation software can't be installed, for time being, there is no Garmin, IGo, TomTom...
I'll definitely stick to this phone, and Mango I'll update. Hope it'll make my life simpler.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Garmin StreetPilot is now in Marketplace for a hefty $39.99, but unfortunately still does not include fully installed maps. Maps can however be downloaded ahead of time to the phone for the relevant route.
for unlocked device you have Navigon select...
My Arrive came with TeleNav. And the built in Bing stuff does turn by turn (with an upgrade coming in Mango). I don't see GPS apps as being an issue.
Yeap, now the future looks better.
as longer I use WP7 the more I wish a downgrade to WM6.5!!!
Where is my (momentary VERY needed) possibility to use tethering!? How do I synch "get away ALL your music and videos, blahblah..." all my things WITHOUT the scrapy Zune-SW, and (haha!) how I can increase the memory for it!?
****ty menues (just 5 stupid icons -what I there are several, much more options!?!?), it's not possible for the developers to install a dedicated database (so you have to make it "in the cloud") -yeah!!!! It's SO stupid on a MOBILE phone, as there often is the possibility that you're NOT online, or with GPRS or EDGE only -and it is SO funny if you're in a train and all 5 secondy it switsh from G to E to G3 to G to HSDPA. The last ****! :-(
The IE on it often don't work. Hmmm -let's use Opera. Uuuh -damned -I forget: you can't install ANYTHING!!!
OK -exceptional jailbreak, but I never did it before, and I don't want it -but I HAVE to do it, if I want to USE my phone.
I think it's better to reactivate my HD2 -there is ALL functionable, without any problems. And: it contains much data that i need -and there is NO possibilty to migrate SMS (i.e.) to WP7 -VERY poor performance Microsoft!!!!
Groby said:
as longer I use WP7 the more I wish a downgrade to WM6.5!!!
Where is my (momentary VERY needed) possibility to use tethering!? How do I synch "get away ALL your music and videos, blahblah..." all my things WITHOUT the scrapy Zune-SW, and (haha!) how I can increase the memory for it!?
****ty menues (just 5 stupid icons -what I there are several, much more options!?!?), it's not possible for the developers to install a dedicated database (so you have to make it "in the cloud") -yeah!!!! It's SO stupid on a MOBILE phone, as there often is the possibility that you're NOT online, or with GPRS or EDGE only -and it is SO funny if you're in a train and all 5 secondy it switsh from G to E to G3 to G to HSDPA. The last ****! :-(
The IE on it often don't work. Hmmm -let's use Opera. Uuuh -damned -I forget: you can't install ANYTHING!!!
OK -exceptional jailbreak, but I never did it before, and I don't want it -but I HAVE to do it, if I want to USE my phone.
I think it's better to reactivate my HD2 -there is ALL functionable, without any problems. And: it contains much data that i need -and there is NO possibilty to migrate SMS (i.e.) to WP7 -VERY poor performance Microsoft!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow where to start. this is probably the most ignorant post I've read on here thus far and with poor grammar at that. my arrive has had wonderful performance since the day I got it and it has improved even further since I installed the mango beta. the live tiles are awesome makes android and iOS seem like nothing but app launchers, the whole concept of apps is overrated and I can do a lot of things without having to even launch an app. and IE9 runs circes around opera. especially the one on WM.
eric12341 said:
wow where to start. this is probably the most ignorant post I've read on here thus far and with poor grammar at that. my arrive has had wonderful performance since the day I got it and it has improved even further since I installed the mango beta. the live tiles are awesome makes android and iOS seem like nothing but app launchers, the whole concept of apps is overrated and I can do a lot of things without having to even launch an app. and IE9 runs circes around opera. especially the one on WM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... It's not the performance that is question. But, it's functionality. Migrating from WM6.5 to WP7 should, at least I thought, have been compatible, eg. SMS, Connection settings (WiFi, Phone...), Contact (I've had to do it the old fashion way, by typing contacts manual / an then I found out about sync with WLive ).
It feels like I have powerful thing (excellent hardware), but it does non better than Nokia 3310. Just raw speed, for basic things.
Hi eric -I'm not a native speaker (english) -but give us some probes from your netherlands, german and french
But as I can see, you're able to read what I wrote, and thats what matter.
But back to topic: What sense is in a phone that is unusable in much functions DIRECTLY. For everyone -not just for people which have the time, the skills und of course the desire to make an jailbreak (which causes lost of guarantee), rebuild the phone several times, have so read several manuals, howtos and search for betas, previews.
I'd tried the Desire Z (just because of the same why I buy the 7 Pro -it's a type & touch) -and send it bach 2 days later to amazon. It's exactly what you wrote: just app-launchers! I hate apple., because of their "we tell you what to do" -and with WP7 it cames to me. I don't wanna do a jailbreak -but I didn't have an alternative (if I want to USE the phone) :-(
Maybee other people have the possibility and time to try the mango beta -and it seems that I MUST do it, or I have to sell the phone (what will make me very sad -a VERY good piece of hardware!!)
Groby said:
Hi eric -I'm not a native speaker (english) -but give us some probes from your netherlands, german and french
But as I can see, you're able to read what I wrote, and thats what matter.
But back to topic: What sense is in a phone that is unusable in much functions DIRECTLY. For everyone -not just for people which have the time, the skills und of course the desire to make an jailbreak (which causes lost of guarantee), rebuild the phone several times, have so read several manuals, howtos and search for betas, previews.
I'd tried the Desire Z (just because of the same why I buy the 7 Pro -it's a type & touch) -and send it bach 2 days later to amazon. It's exactly what you wrote: just app-launchers! I hate apple., because of their "we tell you what to do" -and with WP7 it cames to me. I don't wanna do a jailbreak -but I didn't have an alternative (if I want to USE the phone) :-(
Maybee other people have the possibility and time to try the mango beta -and it seems that I MUST do it, or I have to sell the phone (what will make me very sad -a VERY good piece of hardware!!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
odd,i didn't have to do any of that when I got my Arrive. just open the box, enter my live ID and I was good to go. wp7 is not an app launcher as almost everything can be done without even having to go into an app. with the mango beta which is easy to install i can identify a song that's playing, a product for the best price,get directions somewhere (even in malls),find something to do in the area, buy movie tickets,search the web and watch html5 videos in HD quality,check my Facebook,chat on Facebook and check in. and many other things. install the mango beta and u'll feel much better about it.
Hold on. The core of any smartphone are applications. Staring with earliest versions of WM, Symbian, iOS, Android, Droid, WP7, they all the same with a final porpoise, and that is an application/s.
Therefore calling other systems "apps launcher" is contradiction. Because doing anything with a WP7 is being done via apps. Home screen is, just as in any other mobile system, a pile of shortcuts with a weather and the clock. The truth is that some systems are doing it, app launching, better than the others.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
With all of its hardware, as WP7 requires to run, this phone, or any WP7, will in the future be something good.
If you've played with WP7 enough, you'll find that the live tiles really preclude you from needing to actually launch the associated apps unnecessarily. Because of this, the commenter was calling the other Mobile OS versions more of an "app launcher" because, in general, you need to launch the app to interact with it. (Google has widgets, but those widgets aren't quite the same.) With WP7, you can glance-and-go (one of the tenants that MS imparted into the Metro design) and only launch apps when there is a required interaction. It really is a different approach, and one that I think works very well.
Please give some comparison for WP7 and other mobile OS (mOS).
As hard as I try, and I do like to play around with WP7, I just can't find anything that makes WP7 better than other mOS.
Eg. When email or SMS arrive, on WP7s homescreen shows a count of these items, and on the other hand, Symbian do just the same. So, where is the difference?
So far, the only thing that is obviously better are things-apps that have something to do with the internet (Windows Live, Email, Internet Explorer, Youtube) or with the 1GHz processor (apps do work better with stronger processor, so by having stronger processor apps work better and it isn't because of WP7).
you sound like you're determined to be underwhelmed by wp7. yes, when you get an SMS, the homescreen tells you that you have one....that's what phones do. What more is there for a phone to do with an sms?
WP7 is highly innovative from a UI standpoint. What you seem to be interested in, however, is the menu-heavy micromanaging style of old school winmo. If you want to be able to micromanage every last little thing about your phone go to a different platform. WP7 does everything it is purported to do, if you are not getting what you wanted, then you didn't do your homework before you dropped god-knows-how-much on a phone. these days, it's not about which platform is better, it's about preference. It's getting to the point where every platform can do all the really important things really well. so how do you want your phone to look? that's what you're buying.
Don't get me wrong, but what you are saying is what I've been saying. That is, WP7 as any other mOS is not new in functionality but it is different in GUI. Other qualities are not available to be seen, since there are no apps which can show it.
For now, WP7, only offers basic features.
I have been wondering the same thing since the 1 st rumors of windows phone 7 but still a no go. Its ironic ms stripped away so many of the things that made wm only to get beat out by the former clone of themselves....android. I love the form the tp2 & wish they wouldve released an hd2 with a keyboard. They shouldve stripped the name windows,hired a special team that managed themes system wide so that u have eye candy without it being resource heavy & hired a marketing team that would make apple & google have nightmares.
pimppoet said:
I have been wondering the same thing since the 1 st rumors of windows phone 7 but still a no go. Its ironic ms stripped away so many of the things that made wm only to get beat out by the former clone of themselves....android. I love the form the tp2 & wish they wouldve released an hd2 with a keyboard. They shouldve stripped the name windows,hired a special team that managed themes system wide so that u have eye candy without it being resource heavy & hired a marketing team that would make apple & google have nightmares.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's what they are doing with the mango update that's near release and the beta is already out and I find that im able to do just as much if not more than WM6.5 and android (former TP2 owner and loved it, had an EVO **** for a week and hated it).
Hi,
I followed eric12341's suggestion and have the mango-beta installed (and have buyed a developer account, to make side-loads possible). And some things were better (slow was it not before -hey, it have a 1GHz CPU, it HAVE to be fast ), but there are so many things which waste time. If I want to have a (exact) look of charging, I have to go through some menue-points. As I often in transit by railways, I have to set date several times, and the WM-calendar (and to set the time) is MUCH more effective, as I didnt't have to use the annoying slider-gadgets. Maybe it looks nice, but it waste much time. Before it was just 3 tips, no it's an orgy -the possebility to change the style would be great! And local database for apps -to find the connecting-train while you have no network (and EVERY thing have to be found over network when you want to set start and target of you travel, because of the impossebillity of local databases) is a horror! Before: 10 seconds, now 3 minutes -or longer, as often there is no network in the train. :-(
And unfortunately many very good (sideload)-apps will not longer work after mango. And when I can make a backup from my data, if I want to upgrade memory, or have to change it (because of defectivs, i.e.). And not all of my friend have Zune installed, but they have good music, pdf's or anything else for me. The next thing I was wondering: why I can only set my own ringtons for calling? What'a about SMS, email, and so on?? ^^
Sorry for the bad english -hope it was not to hard to read. :-(
Groby, thanks for the info. I was looking for some info about Mango.
Navigating via online updating is absolutely annoying. It takes for ever to download map, and there are no detailed maps, but only hi-ways and few byways.
I looks like this operating system is way out from it's time, for about good year or so.
If developers could make downgrade to WM 6.x, it would make this phone a dream.