In my sigfile below, you can see what I am currently running on my T-Mobile Wing.
The XDA site, for a long time, has been incredible in terms of specific app development, ROMs, etc. But I am now looking for "the next step": Total configuration recommendations: specific recs on which apps to use together with which ROMs on a given device, to achieve a user's most important usability functions and requirements.
I am going to layout the current issues I have been having problems with, mention my priority requirements, and I'm seeking recs on a smart configuration suite that begins with the ROM, includes recs on the overall interface and app launcher, down to specific APP recommendations to best meet my needs.
I think it would be great to eventually create, for all phone models, a series of consumer-end-user "Configuration Profiles", so right now, this is a first request: Help me optimize my T-Mobile Wing for how I want to use it.
=================================
My current configuration:
ROM: OpenTouch 6.5 by ttran001
INTERFACE & APPLICATION LAUNCHER: iFonz 1.1.2 by ssj5trunks
BASIC PHONECALL FUNCTIONS:supbro's iDialer + iContact (via larna)
SOFT KEYBOARD: PCM Keyboard by tene w/ iPhone theme by 2manyphones /
PRIMARY BROWSER: Opera Mini (strengths: Speed, lightweight. Weakness: data input is 2-step process; no copy & paste of web content)
SECONDARY BROWSERS: Opera Mobile (but for some reason the SIP is always overriding my preference, and going back to Windows soft keyboard). Skyfire (great for Youtube; lacks setting your own startpage URL), NetFront (I think their zoom/context scroller is fantastic)
MUSIC PLAYER: A_C's s2p
VIDEO PLAYER: for YouTube videos I use Skyfire Browser; otherwise YouTubePlay by milesmowbray
PHOTO VIEWER/EDITOR/SLIDESHOW A_C's s2v and HTC Album
FILE EXPLORER: Total Commander (has drag & drop!)
==============================
I am having compatibility problems, and I can't seem to troubleshoot the conflict sources. So it's time for a new ROM install, and rebuild my suite of apps. I'm hoping I can get a few recs on ROMS, application launchers, dialers.
USABILITY REQUIREMENTS: I am a power user, but not a techie. I currently have been using iFonz, have liked it a lot. Large target areas for finger navigation is very impt to me, especially when driving. Any of the basic windows soft key areas, scrollbars, OK button, Top-bar icons are not big enough, creating for me constant flow of mistakes and "stalls" in completing just the baseline functions of "Speakerphone On/Off", Hide Keypad/Show keypad etc.
If I had my way I would never have to touch any aspect of the Windows Mobile Interface.. but alas, that is not yet a reality. But getting closer day by day, example: supbro just today released a "green button" app that ties his iDialer app to the windows default dialer. A major breakthrough in usability.
What's Impt to me and Not Impt to me: (for Recommendations' sake):
NOT IMPT: I never run games, don't care. Weather is nice, but not impt. SMS and MMS are lo priority for me, I rarely use them.
MOST IMPT:
1. Basic phone functions, that allow me to take the phone out of my pocket and not end up accidentally ending the call before even getting the phone to my ear. Similarly, not having something accidentally trigger DIALING A FRIEND's NUMBER, or last redial. Big large phone dialpad, with large phone number display, bullet-proof "speakerphone on/off", bullet-proof "SAVE TO CONTACTS" without all the windows mobile backflips of "select Save to Contacts" then do I press "NEW CONTACT" or what? Just terrible usability design. Easy to find REDIAL.
2. Contacts: Contact manager with THUMBNAIL PHOTOS list, jump to alphabet letter, LARGE target area for finger to tap-and-dial in 1-step, not going to a detail screen to select WHICH number, or do I want to send email or SMS.
3. MP3 player: big obvious target area for volume control, and timeline slider, next song, etc. Integration with hard keys for next song, pause, mute. (S2u2 already does this, but there are still some squirrely problems, which create that dreaded problem of wanting to turn it off asap but no, gotta do backflips to get to the interface.)
4. CLOSE ALL APPS: since the Wing has the crappy old processor of its predecessor (MDA), and limited RAM, there are always times when apps lock up, and you just want to close everthing
5. one-click WIFI ON/OFF -- I don't want to go through some cumbersome Communication Manager. When I get home to my network, or I am at a Starbucks and want to use Tmobile Hotspot, it should be a no-brainer: wifi is turned on, all available networks show by default, all in one step. Just as if I take my Macbook Pro to a cafe, click one icon, see all networks. To me it would be even greater if, when I was at a Tmobile Hotspot, 1 click would *turn on wifi, *launch Tmobile's hotspot utility
6. Voice Command, Handwriting SIP, and a bunch of other things.
=======================
I'm hoping someone will take me up on this big-picture request. Thank you
(reserved for photos/ videos of my current configuration)
saving this space to come back and add some photos and videos that demonstrate the problems I want to solve.
You've been a member long enough to know that "Recommend a Rom" threads usually get closed.
You've done a good job listing what exactly you're looking for but still the title is along the lines of a noobie swooping in and asking for the best rom.
Where you do differ is that you've obviously put a lot of thought into what you're looking for but alas the thread title doesnt accurately reflect the depth of your post.
Honestly this sounds like the idea that launched a project. The question is will you step up and coordinate the project?
If so I would recommend you retitle this thread and take the concept to the next step.
kyphur said:
You've been a member long enough to know that "Recommend a Rom" threads usually get closed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for replying, kyphur. Honestly, I actually didn't know that... but hold on -- there are 2 reasons why is this. So I will explain, because my intention is not to break rules & protocols -- i have too much respect for this community:
(a) I'm actually not a regular here to see those patterns. I started with an MDA, learned how to use XDA-dev site to try to find answers, went through my initiation of asking dumb questions, getting slapped to "use search, damnit", found my way to understanding the cultuyre and rules.. but even after a year I was too scared to ever try a mod on my MDA. And it wasn't til I got my Wing that I finally jumped in to do the whole shebang -- from hardSPL, to ROM installation, etc. With great help from various members here, like papamopps. And once I get something working, I am not frequenting the site, other than for subscribed threads to Apps that are still in development that I am using -- like for example iContact and iDialer. Because I really rely upon my phone for work, and once it's doing what I need it to do, I generally am not cruising looking for "the next great thing".
I want to add, though, that inasmuch as it may sound as though I am merely a taker and not a giver, the way that I give is by donating to the app developers and ROM chefs whose products I have used. And if you ask A_C and ssj5trunks, for example, my donations are large -- as my best way to compensate back. Also, I volunteer to host websites, and for example A_C hosts part of his new site www.A2-s2.com with me -- and I am happy to be of service that way.
(b) The second reason I didn't explicitly know that was a rule here is because I tend to mostly be in the WING/Herald "silo" -- and there, the user Pureskillz is known for doing thorough Reviews of Roms -- which are amazing -- and I have asked before in threads in that section for recs on which ROM might be fastest for me to use to run iFonz, and I have gotten really helpful replies.
This is all quite different from a newbie parachuting in to say "hey guys, what should I use on my Wing, i want to have an iphone type of phone". So thank you for letting me know - i honestly did not know this was verboten
You've done a good job listing what exactly you're looking for but still the title is along the lines of a noobie swooping in and asking for the best rom.
Where you do differ is that you've obviously put a lot of thought into what you're looking for but alas the thread title doesnt accurately reflect the depth of your post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha. Okay, I will go rename it: How would this sound?
Request: Suggested Apps for configuring my T-Mobile Wing for specific functions
I don't know if that's any better... but
Honestly this sounds like the idea that launched a project. The question is will you step up and coordinate the project?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, this is exactly part of what I want to do, but on a "clean page" so as to give newbies an easier pathway IN to understanding what is even AVAILABLE to them. But my interest is in mainstream users, not so much in the tricked-out overclocked custom registry code-writing userbase. Because to me, the whole site in its entirety is geared for those users.
So yes, I am wanting to create a website that places a mainstream-friendly "front end" to this amazing knowledge-base. All links would be attributed and linked to the actual XDA threads. But I want to provide capsule summaries that help users understand where they are being sent, and how they should approach a "Release" thread... What they can expect, the protocols for asking for help, etc.
So yes, I have given a lot of thought to what I think, as a Usability and Information Designer, is a huge gap between mainstream phione users who are finding out about XDA for first time -- largely thru YouTube videos which kinda blow their minds -- because its functionality is so beyond what is marketed to them as possible via carriers like (in USA) T-Mobile, AT&T, etc -- and the ability to comprehend this site -- which is gargantuan in nature, and a maze of complexity for a newbie.
Let me give a very tangible example: I would bet you that probably less than 1% of the users of Windows Mobile in the USA, who are using for example, the T-Mobile Wing, have any idea at all that they can get for free GPS location tracking on their phones, right now, today, just by using Google Maps. It's not ever presented to users. So you have this huge population of people who have a truly awesome function available for their phones right now -- that they have no idea is the case.
I was just discussing this in San Francisco the other day with the Product Development Manager at Google for the Google Maps product line.
So: re stepping up to the plate: one of the parts I have in mind is to help facilitate the assembly of -- the creation of -- these "Configuration Profiles" which would seek to create common function-sets that certain types of users would likely say "YES, THAT ONE, that's matches the kinds of things I am looking for.
So, with that in mind, I wanted to try it out here, and see if this would be something users here would support as being worthwhile, or more of just a pain in the ass. And, the timing is such that I really have had more and more problems having my Wing function effectively, and I know from my own experiences that the selection of a ROM is really quite critical to building the suite of apps & functionality I desire.
If so I would recommend you retitle this thread and take the concept to the next step.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am fine with your deleting the thread if it really isn't appropriate for the site. I was looking very carefully for where to post this, and this seemed like the best place. What are your thoughts?
thank you.
@ quicksite
The concept sounds great. I agree with you in that many people want functionality but who dont have the technical knowledge, (or want it initially) but who wish to maximise their devices usefulness. They also may not want to risk damaging something they have just paid £500 for. How many times have i had my friends come upto me and say, how did you do that? can i have it? can you do it for me? haha....
Whilst some may say this is not in the spirit of xda as one should not venture into the depths of winmo without technical knowledge, i believe it adheres to its basic principles and that xda should continue in its evolvement (sorry my spelling is crap today); the more the members the greater the knowledge.
Whilst i only have a Polaris and Prophet, i would be interested in this dev project as it could encompass all devices. It would benefit xda in that noobies who dont or cant get to grasp with the technicalities have somewhere (one place) to "glorify" their device. I think once the new members have blinged their device, their interest and curiousity expands... "mm i wonder what else i can do". THis leads to further reading and learning and such new blood and knowledge can only be of benefit.
Count me in.
@quick site
Sounds like you want to either get into cooking your own rom, or should grab an ultralite rom and install everything you want.
You may want to try task facade for a task manager. everything pops up with a large screenshot and to close apps you just have to long hold them.
You can set task facade to a hardbutton (or if your hardbuttons are all full you can use hbutton which allows you to map several programs to one key)
An introductory video example: to orient a new user
timmymarsh said:
@ quicksite
The concept sounds great. I agree with you in that many people want functionality but who dont have the technical knowledge, (or want it initially) but who wish to maximise their devices usefulness. They also may not want to risk damaging something they have just paid £500 for. How many times have i had my friends come upto me and say, how did you do that? can i have it? can you do it for me? haha....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying. ... Here's the video I recently added to YouTube just to show in a non-technical way WHAT one could do on their T-Mobile Wing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSc0Qz8tf_c
As I told the Google Maps Mobile product manager, I don't think a tiny fraction of people know about the GPS functioning just via Google Maps usage. This video would not appeal to the vast majority of XDA Members, however, because it is meant to be a soft-introduction to "outsiders", vs an information-packed walk-through or installation guide.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSc0Qz8tf_c
Whilst some may say this is not in the spirit of xda as one should not venture into the depths of winmo without technical knowledge, i believe it adheres to its basic principles and that xda should continue in its evolvement (sorry my spelling is crap today); the more the members the greater the knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My area of professional expertise is usability design, consumer content design, information design. I spent over a year getting the feel of XDA site before I jumped in to try to mod my Wing. I learned the culture, realized there were LOTS of preliminary things which I had no idea about, and had to first assemble a macro knowledge set up: what is Hardl SPL, what is an RUU, what is a radio rom, does a ROM have Windows Mobile OS in it? If so, Is it a legal license? what does "brick my phone" mean? ... I went to the Herald wiki, I saw guides for noobs to read, I read them, but then circular questions like: "Be sure to read XXXXX's great guide to flashing"... So I read this guide, many of them, and they'll say "be sure to make sure whether you have version x or version y; if X, never Hard SPL, if Y, it's okay; then a thread "Hard SPL working on WING!", then more guides how to Hard SPL your phone. Then you're supposed to pick a ROM.
If you ask for advice, you're told "start reading; everyone has different needs". SO you read up, use search, end up on a thread you think applies to ROMS for your phone, only to be 12 pages into the thread before you grasp the concept that this thread and this ROM is only for an HTC Himalaya. ANd it's completely irrelevant to my quest.
But senior people here would say "It's obvious, you were in the wrong area; look at the wiki, it has a list of phones, only search for ROMS for that phone"... but some ROMS are for many phones. Anyone, this is nothing new to those experienced with XDA. And I understand the frustration of senior members who keep posting stickies to help Newbies prep properly and not just dive in to ask "how do I get iphone on by HTC Touch?" etc.
But as can be seen very clearly from THIS SEMINAL THREAD, "Let People Ask Whatever They Like", that there is a culture "war" developing on XDA between those who feel adamantly: this site is for tinkerers, and if you've come just to get "kewl" stuff for your phone, you're in the wrong place. While other senior members are adamantly in the other corner of "why not help people? So what if they ask stupid questions? Just move on, ignore them, you don't need to chastise everyone."
Whilst i only have a Polaris and Prophet, i would be interested in this dev project as it could encompass all devices. It would benefit xda in that noobies who dont or cant get to grasp with the technicalities have somewhere (one place) to "glorify" their device. I think once the new members have blinged their device, their interest and curiousity expands... "mm i wonder what else i can do". THis leads to further reading and learning and such new blood and knowledge can only be of benefit.
Count me in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is nice to hear. The biggest problem with any knowledge base is in formation design. Despite the wiki, despite the sticky threads, despite the SIG LINES with links to Help Guides, despite the warnings, it is my professional opinion that this spectacular knowledge-base called XDA-Developers, is like a big tinker-toy project with new arms constantly being added, and nodes that even everyday users don't even know about, because they are specialized areas for particular phones etc. And now there is a whole new initiative ( A GREAT ONE!) to develop for the Android platform.
To me, creating some landing pages that help orient newcomers without overloading them with a huge maze of a dense site -- helps everyone:
* for sure helps the newbie
* helps the senior members (who will see yet another 100 threads open per day with same old new questions) from having to constantly look at "101" type questions.
* helps the software authors in getting donations for their works by more easily shuttling newcomers to the specific kinds of apps they have been looking for.
I think we are seeing a crossroads right now, with the launch of the Apple Apps store, the Android Apps store, Blackberry's store, and Windows' expected entry (what's it called, Skyapps ?)... Critical mass has now been reached in the marketplace for owners of toucscreen devices to now embrace specialized apps and functions that fit specific needs, and manufacturers and carriers are finally figuring this out. XDA sits is a very unusual place amongst all this, given the open-source spirited "knowledge-share & donate" philosophy of the site. I think there will be longtime veteran members here who will not be happy with influxes of even MORE news trying to get the latest & greatest. I just believe the dam has broken, and it might be good to filter newcomers and orient them (my interest), vs having them flood in and irritate the **** out of the people who built this community...
Sorry for the lenghts of these posts. I'm just wanting to be clear.
joel2009 said:
@quick site
Sounds like you want to either get into cooking your own rom, or should grab an ultralite rom and install everything you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Yes, that's what I have done to date. I started with a PapaMopps ROM, then moved to an OpenTouch ROM, and now am trying to consider WHICH ultralite woud work best for my configuration. It's these snags like dialers that confound me. AND which topbar is overriding another -- for exmaple, when iFonz is in use, it overrides the top bar with access to windows start logo, etc.
You may want to try task facade for a task manager. everything pops up with a large screenshot and to close apps you just have to long hold them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the rec. i will search for Task Facade.
I also just found WkTask from a thread here at XDA -- and tried it out. Now THAT's what I'm looking for... but again, it's the conflcit with apps or interfaces that overlay that top bar so that it is not a constant.
You can set task facade to a hardbutton (or if your hardbuttons are all full you can use hbutton which allows you to map several programs to one key)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh, I never new until now about Hbutton. That's exactly what I need! I will search for it too. I am guessing it is context sensitive -- and offers a different default action depending on which app is the one in use?
thanks very much.
@ quicksite
Assume you are going to set up your own site for this project or is this something you are going to do on xda? im interested in assisting in this in which ever direction you want this to go, so let me know and i will find some time and buy some more coffee....
I'm not sure quite what you want to achieve, but I think what you want is a less technical (i.e. suitable for normal people) way to access the information here.
This sub forum was brought about because it was decided that new users probably wouldn't have a huge technical knowledge, so it woul be better to let them ask about "what's x" somewhere where people want to help rather than hack. So in a sense, this sub forum goes part way to achieving that.
So I am going to post this here, because the development section is ferboten to people trying to offer useful suggestions. Geez, I hope this is the right section.
Let me set it up. ANDROID IS BASED ON THE LINUX KERNEL. Everything, and I mean everything after that fact becomes android and bloat. Given this as the basis of all things android, I have a simple set of guidelines that should be used to create a solid, reliable, bullet proof operating system for devices able to use the android operating system.
#1. Create the kernel boot section of the basic platform that supports the very basic hardware features, including touch screen, radios, power/charging/battery management, wifi, bluetooth, nearfield, audio, microphone, s-pen,etc. Basics only. Root access is standard and can be turnd on/off just like developwer functions. No special tricks or addon hoops to jump through.
#2 At this point STOP. Every single process or service to be run on the device from this point forward should be able to be individually selectable - or not. Yes, I understand that individual services or apps may have dependancies to other processes and that thouse need to be functional in order for a particular app to work. That is why, each additional service or app must list the dependencies and in the selection process, the installion will be required to verify you have the proper services installed and functioning, if not to list them and allow you to make the decision to proceed. Viola, we have NO MORE BLOAT WARE.
#3 Make selecting additional services/apps selection process a menu driven, tag selectable process. Make the unselection process smart to verify and identify the other apps dependant on the item you are killing/removing.
#4 Allow a built in snapshot option to capture the entire system as you have customized it for yourself and allow it to be backed up to external memory with the ability to bring it back, AT WILL. With no big hassles.
Those 4 items are a good start. By themselves alone, it would put all of us in the drivers seat of controlling and living with our devices.
I am aware that such a system is not for everyone. It does require some basic technical understanding of the process. But for the vast majority of users, I am certain, that an a la carte system is far superior to the bloated monstrosities being forced down our devices.
I would appreciate any refinements to my suggestions.
The silence is deafening. It has been days. Kind of says something, don't you think?
I am so very happy (not) that these boards a compartmentalized to the point where you can't get through.
Pretty much a waste of my valuable time, especially considering the fact that if my suggestions where applied, people would be clamoring for an installation with those features. I guess there is not much true "developer" in xdadevelopers anymore.
Funny guys, with the pay to remove ads spam here. Really? Why? For what.
I leave here disappointed. Not angry. Just sad.
I'm not a developer so I have nothing valuable to contribute to your suggestions in your original post but I can offer an observation regarding your perception of the level of contribution to your thread and that is the fact that is particular area of the forums probably isn't the ideal spot to have a discussion such as this. You figured that out already so sure you can call me Capt. Obvious if you wish but I'm just pointing out that yes the forums are compartmentalized (as you've stated) in such a way that development for each device is separated out. This development is centered around AOSP based ROMs or "stock" ROMs (using manufacturer released source) so if you're looking to have higher level discussions about what AOSP should look like then deep down at this device specific level probably isn't where you want to be. So there's that . . . then there's the fact that for this particular device you can basically hear a pin drop in the sub-forums as it is since nothing much is going on by way of development.
Where specifically such a discussion would see more input I'm not sure, perhaps the main general discussion section?
Thank you for your sobering reply. I get frustrated. Already had my post bounced out of "wrong" forum while trying to speak directly to "developers" (i wanted air quotes because the term does not accuratly describe its target) So I tried this. The note pro 12.0 is still the best hardware giving the ipad a run for its money. The problem its monkeyshines kiddie software running it, or not running, or barely running it. ANDROID, indian word for crappy wannabe software, developed by clueless kids.
Again, thanks for the gentle nudge. I appreciate someone willing to conduct a conversation
Are you looking for an Ubuntu or SUSE type of setup?
I think what you are looking for is similar to apt-get type of installs, I could be wrong of course. This might be helpful for many "users". I think one of the barriers is that there are slight differences between the models of tablets, and creating the logic to put in for the sub-dependencies might prove problematic. You might get more answers to this possibility by asking one of the developers directly and sharing with them. Not a developer myself.