[Q] Is there any way to make keyboard letters bigger? - Windows Phone 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

The title explains it all, my mother is not able to see the letters in the keyboard clearly without her glasses. Is there any way to make them bigger?
Thanks.
[Windows Phone]

There's an keyboard on the play store called "Big Buttons Keyboard Standard". See if it helps
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using xda app-developers app

I know swiftkey has an option for larger or smaller keys in the tablet version. Not sure if it carries over to the phone version
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

I'm unclear how two different people apparently thought Android was being discussed here... but anyhow, the best option that I know of is simply to turn the phone to Landscape orientation (horizontal). The Landscape keyboard buttons are quite a bit bigger (although that also means the keyboard takes up most of the screen).
Alternatively, get a phone with a bigger screen? Even with the same resolution, a large-display phone like the HD7, Lumia 900, or Titan will be easier to read for those with poorer eyesight.

GoodDayToDie said:
I'm unclear how two different people apparently thought Android was being discussed here... but anyhow, the best option that I know of is simply to turn the phone to Landscape orientation (horizontal). The Landscape keyboard buttons are quite a bit bigger (although that also means the keyboard takes up most of the screen).
Alternatively, get a phone with a bigger screen? Even with the same resolution, a large-display phone like the HD7, Lumia 900, or Titan will be easier to read for those with poorer eyesight.
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Click to collapse
I was hoping there was a hack or registry tweak to make them bigger but guess not. Thanks for the reply!

abc905 said:
There's an keyboard on the play store called "Big Buttons Keyboard Standard". See if it helps
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you realize that this is the Windows Phone 7 section, and not android???

Not that I'm aware of. The binary that implements the keyboard could be hacked to make the button and/or text bigger, but it would take a fair amount of work and you'd only be able to use in on a custom ROM.

GoodDayToDie said:
Not that I'm aware of. The binary that implements the keyboard could be hacked to make the button and/or text bigger, but it would take a fair amount of work and you'd only be able to use in on a custom ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I see, I hope someone does it in the future. I'm sure my mother is not the only one with this problem. Thanks!

its not android but windowsphone!..
DUh! why people are so blur?
Anyway to the qn asked by the threadstarter, yes it may be possible but it take significant amount of work and not easy way as registry edit , probably u need to cook a new rom with the new keybaord and flash to yr phone
Some custom roms such as nextgen+ already did custom emoticons ( coloured) in their rom

Related

[Q] [q] HTC HD7 PRO POLL

THIS IS A POLL FOR THE HTC HD7 PRO.
Should HTC design, manufacture, and distribute an HTC HD7 PRO?
YES.
OR
NO.
Yes
Yes
Absolutely!
Of course!
Duh!
We don't even know what the HD7 is yet. How can we say there should be a "Pro" model?!?!
Although I do think there should be a "360 Supreme-Oh" or "360 Extreme-Oh" model. This would allow it to be used as a controller for an XBOX360 AND also automatically dispense 2 slices of bacon whenever you complain about there being no cut & paste.
I think screens are big enough and with new typing softwares such as swype, doubled with a sensitive and smooth capacitive touch screen, there isn't really a need for a tactile keyboard. That's just because Im comfortable with using the on-screen keyboard.
lavike said:
We don't even know what the HD7 is yet. How can we say there should be a "Pro" model?!?!
Although I do think there should be a "360 Supreme-Oh" or "360 Extreme-Oh" model. This would allow it to be used as a controller for an XBOX360 AND also automatically dispense 2 slices of bacon whenever you complain about there being no cut & paste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like this idea.
Sure. Why the hell not (even though we actually don't know what the HD7 is yet)?
I have played with the EVO and I don't like 2 things about it. 1. I don't like Android. The look and feel of the operating system on the phone you can not do as much with as with Windows Mobile, as customizing it and hacking it. 2. The capacitive screen. You either have to use your fingers or a special stylus to do anything. If you are wearing any type of gloves, you have to take them off. That really sucks in the friged winter, if you either want to do anything with the phone or need to do anything. Now all you Android fans, don't bash me for stating this. This is my own personal opinion. I am not bashing Android. All I am saying is that (I DON'T LIKE ANDROID). Notice I said ( I ). If you like it, that's fine. I know a lot of people who have the EVO, and I have also recomended it for a few people. I also want a phone that has a keyboard like my TP2. From the voting that has been done so far, I am not the only one who feels that HTC should have a PRO version of their phones, AKA physical keyboard phones.
theomni said:
I think screens are big enough and with new typing softwares such as swype, doubled with a sensitive and smooth capacitive touch screen, there isn't really a need for a tactile keyboard. That's just because Im comfortable with using the on-screen keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bu WinPho 7 won't have swype which makes me a sad panda.
I am hoping that HTC builds a monster of a phone with awesome specs and a sliding keyboard soon.
5 inches + FULL qwerty pls
HTC pro 7
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/htc-7-pro-makes-the-scene-with-a-slide-out-qwerty-but-not-yet
apparently its only going to be a sprint exclusive
^ photos look great. Specs not so great, rather a slap in the face.
chizzwhizz said:
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/htc-7-pro-makes-the-scene-with-a-slide-out-qwerty-but-not-yet
apparently its only going to be a sprint exclusive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one is HTC 7 Pro, Not HD7 PRO. So sad!
From what I have seen for the results of the Poll, the majority of people want an HTC HD7 PRO phone. The HTC 7 Pro will most likely make it to Sprint, but wether or not the HTC HD7 will make it to Sprint is unknown at this time. I said before that if we want HTC & Sprint to bring a phone to market, then we should E-Mail Dan Hesse at Sprint to show him that we are Very Interested in a specific type of phone. We should E-Mail him to let him know that we WANT! the HTC HD7 PRO. E-Mail him. His E-Mail address is [email protected] to show him that we ARE INTERESTED in the HTC HD7 PRO. If enough of us get together and E-Mail him, then our collective voice will be heard.
Ever think there might be technical/cost reasons why they won't do a HD7 Pro? The HD7 is the top-spec WP7 handset (actually, isn't it the highest spec phone currently announced?) so I doubt it's quite as simple as just strapping a keyboard to the back. There'll be size, weight and cost restrictions to consider.
Hopefully this is the HTC HD7 PRO that could come to Sprint.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/10/11/hands-on-with-the-htc-hd7-pro/
If so, I hope that it comes very very soon.
Mr.Sir said:
Bu WinPho 7 won't have swype which makes me a sad panda.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's throw a "yet" in there seeing as how we never know what's going to happen in the coming months.
Then again, if this Windows Phone 7 keyboard is as awesome as it seems, we may never need Swype. XD
gd761 said:
Hopefully this is the HTC HD7 PRO that could come to Sprint.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/10/11/hands-on-with-the-htc-hd7-pro/
If so, I hope that it comes very very soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The title is a typo. There is no such thing as the HTC HD7 Pro. That's just the HTC 7 Pro.
A huge 4.3" phone with a slide-out keyboard would make for a rather large phone. I suppose it could reach a certain demographic. I think it may be a bit too big for my tastes.
To prjkhack;
If you had checked out the link, it states there that it is an early prototype of the HTC HD7 PRO. So what you are saying is that not only the title of the link is wrong, but also the contents of the article. We should just wait and see. If it is an early prototype, then the chances of it really coming to market are good. HTC would not have made a prototype just to waste money. There was a reason why they made an early prototype of the HTC HD7 PRO. The reason is most likely that HTC knows that either there is a demand or will be a demand for it. There are many of us that want and need a physical keyboard, and there are the ones who do not want the physical keyboard at all. As I had said in the past, we have to let Sprint, or what ever other provider you have, and HTC know that we as their customers WANT certain features built into their phones. Both us and them know that it is something that can be done, since it has been done by them before. It is not like we are asking for HTC to build something totaly unrealistic.
As for everyone else;
We shal hope that this is something that will make it to market very very soon. Hopefuly, HTC would keep a lid on it and just suprise us all and release the HTC HD7 PRO for a Christmas release for Sprint.
I like how the voting is going on this. So, please keep voting.
I hope you can also run windows mobile on this device...i would buy it..if its only win7 it would be sad..

[Q] Should I Buy?

So I have my G1, and it's getting old. Support is there, but the hardware can only do so much. So I'm considering getting a MT4Gs. A good friend of mine got it, but she's want's an iPhone. So whats a good price to pay for this phone? I was thinking $200-350. Is this phone even worth buying? I'm getting it because I love hardware keyboards, and a good camera. Does this phone truly have that? Any help is good help.
Yes the keyboard and camera are great, and anywhere around $300 is a great price if it's in good condition!
For that price I would seriously consider buying a second one.
If you like video games, then you should take a gander through the tv-out thread. The future of video-gaming is here now, in this phone.
With a dual-core 1.2 snapdragon processor and enough ram to handle multiple anything you throw at it, this phone is insane. Anyone who's seen firsthand what I can do with it wants one.
If there's one of these in the hands of someone who wants a (comparatively) crappy iPhone, rescue it.
Yes get it. You still have your G1? Man you know how to take care of a phone.
Sent from my Supercharged Doubleshot Running Undead's Tweaked Doubleshot ROM using xda
Get the doubleshot. It's an awesome phone. And its smooth as butter. Stock ROM sucks ass but a custom ROM fixes that issue right up.
Sent from my Supercharged MT4G Slide Running Undead's Senseless ROM using xda premium
I actually think the stock rom isn't that bad, but I did change my launcher to Launcher Pro.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App
yellowjacket1981 said:
I actually think the stock rom isn't that bad, but I did change my launcher to Launcher Pro.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can second this. Now that I'm using Pure Calendar, I've got to see about using Launcher Pro again. The only issue is that I can't use the Sense Weather widget on LP+
raduque said:
I can second this. Now that I'm using Pure Calendar, I've got to see about using Launcher Pro again. The only issue is that I can't use the Sense Weather widget on LP+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also am bummed about the Sense Weather widget..but I have been using Fancy Widgets...the paid version....tons of weather clock skins....
I have one for sale in the marketplace. I decided to stick with my sensation. It's perm rooted and s off if anyone is interested.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA Premium App
I say go for it. I'm loving mine. Stock works great, but it's really awesome when you de-bloat it. Smooth as heck, won't be obsolete anytime soon (hopefully not).
And why hasn't anyone mentioned the super awesome CAMERA? Major selling point there as well. No lag.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App
I had a G1 before this phone and this phone is a huge leap ahead of the G1. If you can get one for that price I wouldn't hesitate.
Sent from my Supercharged MT4G Slide Running Undead's Senseless ROM using XDA Premium App
I have seen several on CL in the $300-$400 range
I pm you about the phone.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
This is the best android phone (with Keyboard) I found on the market... 8MP Camera + Many other features... a must buy for new comers + old ones.
First of all let me say that I'm Really glade I found this site! Kudos to all of you.
My motorola cliq got wet and died the other day and I was really trying to find another phone w/ a d-pad but they seem to be a thing of the past. I'm seriously considering getting the slide(Doubleshot), I really like the dedicated keyboards...I will say that if HTC had put a d-pad on the left side of the keyboard this phone would be a total no brainer!!!... Even better, put 4 or even just 2 dedicated game buttons on the right hand side and there would be no stopping this phone..can anyone say nes emulator godsend? Unfortunately the cliq's processor couldn't handle games and for some reason motorola deiced to do away with the d-pad on the cliq II, Why motorola, why? Wonder how easy it would be to swap in a d-pad on the slide, although my soldiering skills are a bit lacking. One can dream though
maxwil said:
First of all let me say that I'm Really glade I found this site! Kudos to all of you.
My motorola cliq got wet and died the other day and I was really trying to find another phone w/ a d-pad but they seem to be a thing of the past. I'm seriously considering getting the slide(Doubleshot), I really like the dedicated keyboards...I will say that if HTC had put a d-pad on the left side of the keyboard this phone would be a total no brainer!!!... Even better, put 4 or even just 2 dedicated game buttons on the right hand side and there would be no stopping this phone..can anyone say nes emulator godsend? Unfortunately the cliq's processor couldn't handle games and for some reason motorola deiced to do away with the d-pad on the cliq II, Why motorola, why? Wonder how easy it would be to swap in a d-pad on the slide, although my soldiering skills are a bit lacking. One can dream though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't even have to go that far.
My complaint lies along the lines of yours, which is no d-pad, but more specifically - no arrow keys.
Fear not, XDA to the rescue with a solution.
If you slide open the keyboard, you will notice at the bottom that you have 4 buttons:
Genius, Back, Menu and Home.
These are the same 4 buttons you have at the bottom of the screen on the front face of the phone.
When the keyboard is open, both sets of buttons work. This means that if you just took out the 4 duplicates on the hardware keyboard, you wouldn't lose any functionality of the phone.
Solution is at hand: Remap the 4 buttons at the bottom of the hardware keyboard to correspond with left, right, up and down.
The way I ended up making it was:
Home = Up ... It kinda looks like it's pointing up...
Menu = Down ... This one picture-wise is just off...oh well...
Back = Left ... It looks like it...
Genius = Right ... The tail of the G points right, right? ....
I can't tell you how much time, effort and energy this has saved me since i've done it.
Read through this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192282
It has everything you need to do what I just described. It's much easier to edit on the device with Root Explorer.
ETA:
Also, about game emulators - I picked up some a while back, to play my old NES and SNES games with on my Nook - this phone takes it to a whole other level. RCA cable plugged into the TV from the headphones jack, and the phone becomes an interactive controller for the game on the TV screen.
Original mario, contra, tetris? yep. Looking at the useless NES game cartridges physically sitting in front of me, with no system to play them on and my phone breathes new life into games I grew up with.
Starfox ... on my phone ... on a TV...I don't have to take my SNES with me to play it at a friends house...just my phone.
This phone is the future of gaming, right now in your hand. I've said that a few times, here and elsewhere, but it's true. The CPU and GPU on this device were built with precisely this idea in mind, to put the console/controller in the persons hand with direct access to a market 24/7. It works great for the consumers and the producers. This device is the first phone capable of this act interactively, with a live screen, and so sets itself apart as the prototype for a generation.
I am blown away with what this phone can do, and once we get kernel source it's gonna be a whole new game.
I ordered a bluetooth controller, should be here in a few days. I know it won't work, but that's going to force me to figure out how to make it happen. I dislike having to pass around my phone as a controller. For myself, that's fine...but at parties...
I also refuse to play games like mortal kombat, where i'm trained to use pressure while playing. I don't want to use too much pressure on the screen, and won't let others play who I know will. A bluetooth controller solves this problem, because then I could plug the phone in to the TV and leave it by the TV, and just pass around a $16 bluetooth generic controller. Much, much preferred.
Meantime, the phone acts as a fantastic controller, and with an ipod A/V cable you can plug into any monitor with RCA ( red, white, yellow ) connections.
Yea, I will definitely check out the tv thing sounds promising, I have read a few things about using a wii controller thru blue-tooth, looks promising...im not completely against re-mapping a few keys(easy enough to do) but I still think diagonal positions would be hard seeing as you would have to press 2 keys at once. That and growing up w/ a nintendo controller I have just gotten use to a d-pad. It would really suck to have to drag around a controller every where you go tho just to play a game here and there. I know I cant be alone in the thinking that the slide has plenty of room on the keyboard to put a simple d-pad and 2 game buttons on the other side, not really sure why the phone manufactures haven't figured this out as well, seems rather simple to me.

How well do you think the Nexus S will handle ICS?

I'm sure most of you have seen this video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DvsXyeY0HVE#!
Of course this is running on the new Prime which has 1GB ram and a Dual Core processor
But, do you think that ICS will be as fast as Gingerbread was on the Nexus One?
I'm not looking for a definite answer, i'd just like to see your thoughts on the matter.
I fully expect it to run just fine.
It will be faster and smoother with hardware acceleration. Like how the stock launcher is on gingerbread is how the phone should be with ICS
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
It will have the same pathetic ammount of RAM, but HW acceleration should theoreticly make it much faster.
Here's another thing id like to add in. I'm thinking that Google may disable the hardware buttons. I noticed that when the screen is off on my Nexus S, you cant even see the outline of the hardware buttons. So if they turned off the hardware lights. It could look like a smaller version of the Prime
There are way too many ICS-ready smartphones I think to not have an ICS version that uses hardware buttons. ICS will run flawless on the Nexus S, even better if hardware buttons are disbled I'd say.
I say yes..... At least hope so. My question is.... will ICS be hardware accelerated? has this been confirmed?
Yes it has been confirmed.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Then honestly, I don't see a reason for ICS to not be smooth as long as long as it's hardware accelerated. If it can match the smoothness of the iPhone 4 then it would be pure epicness.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
I fully expect ICS to boost the value of the Nexus S on the used market. Then we sell it and get the Prime!
This was kinda my master plan when I came from the Captivate. Nexus will always have better value.
tylerwatt12 said:
Here's another thing id like to add in. I'm thinking that Google may disable the hardware buttons. I noticed that when the screen is off on my Nexus S, you cant even see the outline of the hardware buttons. So if they turned off the hardware lights. It could look like a smaller version of the Prime
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There would be benefit to disabling the buttons that are already there. It would just waste screen space, that unlike the Prime, we don't have to spare.
It should be fine since its hardware accelerated!!
063_XOBX said:
There would be benefit to disabling the buttons that are already there. It would just waste screen space, that unlike the Prime, we don't have to spare.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if ics has screen buttons to use then to me, there would be no point in theory for the buttons. yea you can keep them and have them running. but i'd much rather have them disabled and have a slicker / nice view of ics running on my phone.
to me its kinda like the same concept of people that use clock widgets when there is the time in the notification panel. disable one, no need for both to be running. ya know
Is hardware acceleration essentially guaranteed to be in ICS?
I thought I read something somewhere that it was possible that some "important" features were going to be pushed back to Jelly Bean. Just hoping hw acceleration isn't one of them if true.
mattkroeder said:
Is hardware acceleration essentially guaranteed to be in ICS?
I thought I read something somewhere that it was possible that some "important" features were going to be pushed back to Jelly Bean. Just hoping hw acceleration isn't one of them if true.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the same thing... I heard that from somewhere too. Is it really that difficult to make Android fully hardware accelerated? I know vanilla android is smooth but not as smooth as IOS.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
surveysays said:
if ics has screen buttons to use then to me, there would be no point in theory for the buttons. yea you can keep them and have them running. but i'd much rather have them disabled and have a slicker / nice view of ics running on my phone.
to me its kinda like the same concept of people that use clock widgets when there is the time in the notification panel. disable one, no need for both to be running. ya know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yeah, my assumption is that if the phone has hardware buttons that the software ones will be disabled. The point is that while it's dumb to have both, there's no reason to waste screen space on software buttons when there are perfectly good hardware ones. Thus, if it's a choice between disabling the hardware ones or the software ones, the sensible thing to do is disable the software ones. I would be very surprised if Google engineers it any differently.
zorak950 said:
Well yeah, my assumption is that if the phone has hardware buttons that the software ones will be disabled. The point is that while it's dumb to have both, there's no reason to waste screen space on software buttons when there are perfectly good hardware ones. Thus, if it's a choice between disabling the hardware ones or the software ones, the sensible thing to do is disable the software ones. I would be very surprised if Google engineers it any differently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo! Exactly what I'm talking about.
The buttons seem like they took up roughly 1/3 inch from the Prime's screen in all the videos I've seen. With a 4.65" screen that's no big deal but with a 4" that's a pretty significant amount of wasted space, especially when there are perfectly functional buttons on the phone.
zorak950 said:
Well yeah, my assumption is that if the phone has hardware buttons that the software ones will be disabled. The point is that while it's dumb to have both, there's no reason to waste screen space on software buttons when there are perfectly good hardware ones. Thus, if it's a choice between disabling the hardware ones or the software ones, the sensible thing to do is disable the software ones. I would be very surprised if Google engineers it any differently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea that is true. i didn't really think it all the way through
Hw acceleration is what I want. One thing about android that fails against the iPhone (for general reasons obviously) is the uneven experience across full use of the phone. Like launcher pro is buttery smooth. But scrolling down the menus in voodoo control is choppy and uncomfortable. Hopefully ics will fix this.
sent from my Touchwiz'd Nexus S 4g
Here's a true question... =_= besides the Prime, Which Version Of Nexus S Will Receive the ICS Update First .... <_< ill be super pissed if sprints receives it first
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

QWERTY Android phones in the UK?

Hi all, first of all sorry if this is the wrong section, it seemed to fit best here but I could've missed something. So I've been looking for a new phone with certain requirements and finding it insanely difficult to collate information and generally to find a phone at all.
I'm on an iPhone 4 right now and hate it. I've discovered that I hate typing on a touchscreen, so I've been looking for Android phones with QWERTY keyboards, but it seems like they're all US only. I was wondering if anyone knew whether a few of my preferences can be made to work fully in the UK, or even better, suggest a QWERTY phone that's Android 4.0 compatible (I'll want to keep it for a few years and not be left behind).
I like the look of the Motorola Droid 4, and found a thread here explaining how to make it work here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766479) but it's insanely complicated so I'd probably just pay someone to do it. If I were to do that would it work 100% without issues on a UK carrier though?
Second one I've been considering is the Samsung Captivate Glide. That one seems like it might be easier to make work over here, but I'm not sure how - would I just take it to a shop, get it unlocked, and be done with no more problems? And for both this phone and the Droid 4 would I encounter any issues with it being a US phone used in the UK?
Last one, and definitely my least preferred choice is the HTC Desire Z. It's available in the UK but every review I've read said it feels like cheap crap and the hinges won't last. I also can't find anywhere saying for certain if it will or won't get Android 4.0. Anyone know about that?
If anyone can offer any advice on my questions I'd appreciate it, or if you know of a QWERTY, Android 4.0 capable phone that's available in the UK without messing around with technical stuff (or can be made to work here very simply/by paying someone), I'd appreciate suggestions too. Again sorry if this is the wrong section.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro.(not mini pro)
Should be available
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
Hey, thanks for the suggestion, I'll consider that one too.
I've seen a few places mentioning something about importing a Canadian Droid 4 to work in the UK, does anyone know if this would work and how?
Forunikarasu said:
Hey, thanks for the suggestion, I'll consider that one too.
I've seen a few places mentioning something about importing a Canadian Droid 4 to work in the UK, does anyone know if this would work and how?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dunno about that,but I do believe there's an unlocked version of either the milestone or the Droid. If it says international unlocked on US sites,you can buy it comfortably
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
So the Xperia Pro looks like a decent handset physically, I think I could probably live with it. One thing about it though is the software; the UI looks a bit meh compared to reviews I've seen of phones with HTC Sense and the likes. I know absolutely nothing about these things so excuse such a noobish question, but is it at all possible to change that kind of thing on an Android phone? Could I get HTC Sense (or something similar) on it if I went with a non-HTC model?
EDIT: Also I'm seeing a worrying problem with the Xperia Pro; when upgraded to ICS it starts registering the physical keyboard as AZERTY rather than QWERTY. Does anyone know if there's an unofficial fix for this and how difficult it would be to apply? The only official "fix" I've seen is to take the phone into a Sony store to be reverted back to Gingerbread, and aside from not wanting to be trapped on an older OS I don't even think we get Sony stores in my country.
Sorry for such basic questions. The only smartphones I've had were a Blackberry Curve then my current Iphone 4: I've no idea how far the customisation/tweak-ability of Android goes.
Forunikarasu said:
So the Xperia Pro looks like a decent handset physically, I think I could probably live with it. One thing about it though is the software; the UI looks a bit meh compared to reviews I've seen of phones with HTC Sense and the likes. I know absolutely nothing about these things so excuse such a noobish question, but is it at all possible to change that kind of thing on an Android phone? Could I get HTC Sense (or something similar) on it if I went with a non-HTC model?
EDIT: Also I'm seeing a worrying problem with the Xperia Pro; when upgraded to ICS it starts registering the physical keyboard as AZERTY rather than QWERTY. Does anyone know if there's an unofficial fix for this and how difficult it would be to apply? The only official "fix" I've seen is to take the phone into a Sony store to be reverted back to Gingerbread, and aside from not wanting to be trapped on an older OS I don't even think we get Sony stores in my country.
Sorry for such basic questions. The only smartphones I've had were a Blackberry Curve then my current Iphone 4: I've no idea how far the customisation/tweak-ability of Android goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android is open source
If you want HTC sense you can as well put it,but then you'll void your warranty. (This can also be sidestepped ofcourse)
About the Q into A issue,I guess you'd have to update your device and hope for the best,though it must've been fixed by now. Sony aren't ones to entertain mass complaints.
There's Sony stores in the UK, that I'm certain. Check their site for the nearest one.Perhaps shop from one physically,have them update it themselves there as you wait,and make sure it works fine before you leave. It would also guarantee you an unlocked phone, which update faster than carrier models.
Also,seeing as your coming from blackberry and iPhone, I'm sure you'll love the customization room on android. On ICS the Sony skin is just a launcher,which you can change with a different Launcher app.
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
The Droid 4 process to work in the UK is not complicated at all, once you understand rooting, tweaking, and nodding you will read it and realize how easy it is. It may only seem complicated since you are new to Android.
It's either that or the Captivate Glide for high end phones, the Glide should work unlocked as long as the bands it supports matches your carrier bands (which I'm too lazy to research right now).
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro is nice, but it has a smaller screen and a single core processor.
Desire Z/G2 is definitely now a budget phone, 800mhz processor, 512 mb RAM, and same screen size as Xperia Pro. Once its rooted, however, it is the most overclockable phone, able to run at 1.9 ghz, although it is extremely unsafe to do that.
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium
are you sure you just don't a phone with a bigger screen? Iphone screens are tiny and have terrible keyboards...
skells said:
are you sure you just don't a phone with a bigger screen? Iphone screens are tiny and have terrible keyboards...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ALthough its a tiny screen, the iPhone keyboard has gotten amazing reviews. Despite being a big Android fanboy, I have to agree. Using an ipod touch, I feel like I can "trust" the keyboard (sounds weird I know).
I still prefer qwerty Androids though
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium
gagdude said:
ALthough its a tiny screen, the iPhone keyboard has gotten amazing reviews. Despite being a big Android fanboy, I have to agree. Using an ipod touch, I feel like I can "trust" the keyboard (sounds weird I know).
I still prefer qwerty Androids though
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love swype. It's a beta but damn.
Also Motorola Droid 2 A956 is the international QWERTY moto phone.
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
I don't have a problem with the size of the Iphone keyboard, I think it's literally just me. I can't seem to click with the touchscreen keyboard and develop muscle memory, so typing is a matter of looking and tapping, as opposed to on my old Blackberry, where I could touchtype messages out at a decent speed without having to look.
@ Gagdude thanks for the breakdown of the various phones. For buying here I think Xperia Pro is my Hobson's choice, but I really like the Captivate Glide and if it really would work just by unlocking it instead of going through all that Droid 4 stuff then it's perfect. Wikipedia claims it's just a matter of unlocking it to use elsewhere and I can easily pay someone to do that for me. (it's the Samsung Captivate GLide page on wikipedia, it wouldn't let me post an outside link)
Do you know if I'd encounter any problems using a US phone on a non-US carrier, like updates to Android etc?
Forunikarasu said:
I don't have a problem with the size of the Iphone keyboard, I think it's literally just me. I can't seem to click with the touchscreen keyboard and develop muscle memory, so typing is a matter of looking and tapping, as opposed to on my old Blackberry, where I could touchtype messages out at a decent speed without having to look.
@ Gagdude thanks for the breakdown of the various phones. For buying here I think Xperia Pro is my Hobson's choice, but I really like the Captivate Glide and if it really would work just by unlocking it instead of going through all that Droid 4 stuff then it's perfect. Wikipedia claims it's just a matter of unlocking it to use elsewhere and I can easily pay someone to do that for me. (it's the Samsung Captivate GLide page on wikipedia, it wouldn't let me post an outside link)
Do you know if I'd encounter any problems using a US phone on a non-US carrier, like updates to Android etc?
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Click to collapse
No. If it's unlocked and has the correct sim card and apn settings for your home network it will work fine.
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
Brilliant, thanks! Any idea how I'd go about finding if it has the right "APN" and stuff? I'd like to triplecheck before I pay for anything.
Download from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=950980
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
I really, really hate to be so noobish, and I promise I googled everything I could think of before posting again, but I really have no idea how to use that list. Can you tell me how I'd figure it out? I googled "samsung captivate glide APNs", "samsung captivate glide compatible frequency" and stuff but didn't see anything that looked like anything on the list.
Forunikarasu said:
I really, really hate to be so noobish, and I promise I googled everything I could think of before posting again, but I really have no idea how to use that list. Can you tell me how I'd figure it out? I googled "samsung captivate glide APNs", "samsung captivate glide compatible frequency" and stuff but didn't see anything that looked like anything on the list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol. APN is the settings your network uses for internet connectivity. From your android phone
1. go to settings
2. Wireless and Networks
3. Mobile Networks
4. Access Point Names
5. Press Menu and then "new APN"
6.Fill in the blanks as described in the PDF as per your network.*if on prepay it's better to leave proxy details blank,saves on data charges*
7.press menu and "save APN"
8.click the round dot so it's green on your new settings.
9. Reboot
As for frequency, captivate glide supports all GSM frequencies. So the only problem would be a locked sim,or you being in a CDMA network.
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
Allanitomwesh said:
Lol. APN is the settings your network uses for internet connectivity. From your android phone
1. go to settings
2. Wireless and Networks
3. Mobile Networks
4. Access Point Names
5. Press Menu and then "new APN"
6.Fill in the blanks as described in the PDF as per your network.*if on prepay it's better to leave proxy details blank,saves on data charges*
7.press menu and "save APN"
8.click the round dot so it's green on your new settings.
9. Reboot
As for frequency, captivate glide supports all GSM frequencies. So the only problem would be a locked sim,or you being in a CDMA network.
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
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Click to collapse
Thanks, but I don't have an Android phone to do that. But if the phone will work I don't need to anyway. Thanks for your help!
Forunikarasu said:
Thanks, but I don't have an Android phone to do that. But if the phone will work I don't need to anyway. Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know so your phone will browse on your local data plan when it arrives and not roaming. You're welcome.
Sent from my U8150 using XDA
I went from a UK Desire Z to an unlocked Samsung Captivate Glide from the US and can confirm that it works over here. I bought an unlocked version and put my Vodafone SIM in with almost no problems. My SIM was a few years old and when I went to make a call it would cut off after about 3 seconds but all I needed was a new SIM from Voda which came in a couple of days. The only real problem that I found was that the phone will try to find US satellites for GPS instead of the European ones and it won't be able to establish a lock, the only way I found to resolve this was to root the phone and edit the satellite config file so that it looked for the correct ones (still takes ages to get a lock but will now work). Other than that, I haven't really had any other problems getting it to work. Message me if you have any specific questions and I will be happy to advise if I can.
I had never rooted a phone before and just used Google as my friend and it was all pretty quick and easy.
Gaz
Oh, I kind of need GPS, I'm hopeless at getting around. I wouldn't want to risk messing around with the insides of the thing either. Also if GPS takes ages wouldn't apps that require your location all take ages too? Guess it's back to the picking a phone stage after all. Anyone have any suggestions other than Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro?
EDIT: also can anyone confirm for certain whether the Xperia Pro has/will get ICS/Jelly Bean? All I'm finding in google is the exact same speculation in a million different blogs from months ago.

[Q] Can we get Premium Suite for our TF101?

Hello,
So I saw this on engadget today http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/23/samsung-teases-jelly-bean-premium-suite-for-galaxy-note-10-1/
Now first off, I know a lot of people here probably hate it as it's similar to Onskreen in that it will mess with application display sizes, possibly be propriety and undermine the whole point of standards.
That aside, can we get it on our TF's? I'm guessing it'll probably have to be baked into the ROM on some level....
Any ideas?
Thanks.
MrGuy said:
Hello,
So I saw this on engadget today http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/23/samsung-teases-jelly-bean-premium-suite-for-galaxy-note-10-1/
Now first off, I know a lot of people here probably hate it as it's similar to Onskreen in that it will mess with application display sizes, possibly be propriety and undermine the whole point of standards.
That aside, can we get it on our TF's? I'm guessing it'll probably have to be baked into the ROM on some level....
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer, no...
It seems to be proprietary. Thus, Samsung will have it on their tabs only. Just like HTC has the sense UI for their devices. Yes sense can be mimicked, but I see the premium suite needing a special stylus with button. I don't see the TF101 using such a device. Maybe a basic stylus, but not one that has mufti-functionality. So, even if we can port the UI to the TF101, I seriously doubt you can get the entire experience that it can offer.

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