Any good tips on carrying cases for the s740? Preferably for on my belt (I know, geeky, but I'm used to it...)

Will there be an official "Ask ... " topic?

What would be the best navigation software for a device like this (since TomTom is no option)?

And while I am at it: is there a better browser available than IE, something like Opera but optimized for Smartphone?

If that is the case, SE better tell the public, because many people are not waiting for the X1 and getting Touch Pro's and such. With WM7 in the pipeline, SE would have a trump card up its sleeve.

BTW, wasn't there a condition that WM7 phones should have multi-touch?

Xperia X1 delayed?

Xperia X1 delayed till end of the year

I can hardly imagine this is true. The Panels require serious power.
I have not read prove but the general consensus in a Dutch forum I follow is that thsi should be taken with a grain of salt for now.

And even then... the non-standard 800x480 ratio might prevent some software from running. I am not too sure all software developers will make the effort to make sw WVGA-compatible.

Mixed feelings... Smape states that apart from the keyboard, the X1 is superior to Touch Pro, but apart from the screen resolution, i am not too sure.
If you don't use the device as a mediaplayer, the 3.5 mm jack is not an issue, and the X1 does not offer a tilt sensor (admittedly, that is more of a gimmick). Furthermore, it is somewhat larger and bound to be more expensive.

But still, it's a nice device...

Whyyyyyyy, HTC, are you making my life hard....

I was all pumped up to get a Touch Pro (still am BTW), but this little guy shakes the foundations of my decision a bit. I'm using an HTC Tornado now, and what I like most about this smartphone is the ability to use it one-handed and that one can use the keypad to navigate the menus quickly (because most menus have corresponding numbers).
Upside of switching to WM Pro is increased support for applications. THE killer app for me, navigation, is increasingly difficult, since TomTom ditched Smartphone support.

Anyway, I would actually love the QWERTY-keyboard, because it gives the ability to sidestep T9, which is ok for the occasional SMS, but a disaster when typing e-mails.

One question BTW: does anyone know how the navigation input on the s740 is? I see a Diamond-like circle in the middle, but there does not appear to be any room for d-pad buttons around that circle (vertically at least).

Don't get me started .

One question I still had is, how is the compatibility of the WVGA screen with third-party software? I don't know if you use a lot of that stuff, but my concern would be that some software does not run out of the box on widescreens. Do you have experience with that?
For instance, have you tried navigation software, such as TomTom?

Cheers!

Still... now that we know that the button panel is touch sensitive as well, this opens up an opportunity to add functionality. I am thinking, for instance, about shortcuts when (double) tapping the hardware keys instead of pressing them. That would be neat...

Cool, how did you get a hold of it? Or you a beta-tester for the phone? Can you confirm there is no accelero in the X1?



In what sense is the keyboard hard to use? Is there enough feedback from the keys?



So, from your experience, the current Panels-interface is not one-hand-friendly out of the box?

Nice to have some actual experience in this topic

I understood that the X1 is supposed to have a dedicated button for toggling between portrait and landscape. This would make sense if the X1 lacks a tilt sensor. Then again, one would use a device like this in landscape with the keyboard extended anyway, so why bother with a button...



I agree the Diamond could use some more buttons, but it does have a power button, dedicated volume buttons on the side, and the OK key is represented by the "Back" key, which is not your classical-smartphone-like-back-key it appears.

I agree. One thing that does strike me as a possible problem (on either Xperia or Touch Pro) is the location of the Task Manager. When you say it's in the top right corner, I could not reach it with my thumb (I usually use the phone with my left hand).
Generally, I have noticed (having played with a Touch Diamond recently) that it is hard to keep the phone in your hand in one location. It seems you have to sometimes switch positions in your hand to reach everything with one hand. It probably takes some getting used to. I quite like that don't have to move around so much on a non-touchscreen Smartphone



Cool, I wouldn't mind to try out Panels, even if I decide to buy a Touch Pro. I hope you (or some one) succeeds. Did you try to run it on VGA instead of QVGA?

I really like the accelerometer in the Touch Pro. The applications are a bit "playful" still, but there are interfaces in the making, with which you can scroll by using the accelero for instance. I don't know if this will be very user friendly, but it's fun none the less.
Now, is it absolutely sure the SE X1 doesn't have an accelerometer? There has been mention of a "motion sensor", but this does not have to mean a full accelerometer.

An other thing which was already mentioned, the screen compatibility. I like that the SE screen is larger, but it would be a total let down if you can't run certain software on it. Does anyone here has experience with this? For instance on a Toshiba 800x480 pixel phone?

The keyboard got some really negative press on the pre-production models. I hope (for SE) that they have done something about that in the production-model.

Now, about those Panels... At first I was really skeptical about them, but I have kept an open mind. But right now, there is just too little info about the applications.
I see it as sort of a fancy task switcher. You can switch easily between your media player and the internet application for instance. Task switching in TouchFlo3D seems rather more cumbersome (please enlighten me if I'm wrong).
The thing which bothers me about the Panels, is how fast you go into the standard WM 6.1 interface, meaning you need to get out the stylus. I'm looking for one-handed use 95% of the time.
Mind you, TouchFlo3D does seem to be all that either, but is does come across as a more complete user-friendly package.

BTW, what did you mean with "it won't work on QVGA"?

I was sceptical at first about live view, but I found out that people like when they are making pictures from difficult positions (for instance, photographing over a crowd while keeping the camera above your head). For run of the mill photos I would use the viewfinder.

The D80 is definitely less lower end than the D60. If you are starting out with DSLRs I would not buy a higher class of DSLR (e.g., Nikon D300, Canon 40D) immediately, but stick to the "lower" end and invest in lenses. Mind you, I'm no expert, but I'm in the same position as you (shopping around), and this is the general consensus around the web.

Having said that, I think I will not get an entry-level DSLR (e.g.,D60) but a "formerly-known-as-lower-end" class (D80/450D), just to be able to get along for a couple of years as I improve my skills. The difference in price between entry-level and low-end seems to be less that between low-end and middle class (at least subjectively). With entry-level camera's you could miss out on features such as live-view and dust reduction (for what that is worth ;)).

One note, I am only looking at either Canon or Nikon, that is just a personal preference. The other brands (Pentax, Olympus) seem to be cheaper, so you might get more features for the same money. But I decided to make it not too hard on myself and just stick with the basic two .

Hope it helps.

I agree too, though I'd really wish some specs will be more towards the Touch Pro than to the Diamond, i.e., 1350 mAh battery, microSD-slot. But then hopefully thinner than the Raphael. Maybe the keypad will have room for a 'start' and 'ok' key even . But now I'm just fantasizing.

Where does this rumor come from?

Like was mentioned... tough choice . I always figured I needed a numeric keypad, but a qwerty might be nice as well... It will depend on the final specs though. If the battery is like the Diamond, and at has no microSD, I would tend towards the Touch Pro. And there is still the Xperia of course.

Can you tell why you feel that way?

A major point for me will be the user interface. Onehandedness is a must, I only want to use the stylus when I go deep into WM.

From what I know right now, TouchFlo3D seems the more complete package with finger scrolling and such. I'm not sure if and how the SE panel interface will stack up against that.
Having said that, I love the idea of having a touch sensor plus D-pad on the SE. Decisions... decisions...

That's definitely the comparison I'm interested about: TouchFlo3D vs Panel Interface, VGA vs WVGA, keyboard comparison.

By the way, I remember somewhere (I think it was the Bengalboy review) there was a screenshot of I think it was CoPilot on the Xperia. But the widescreen-issue interests me as well. It would be a shame if you can't run every piece of software properly because of screen ratio issues.

1) How is the on-screen keyboard in single-handed use? and with a stylus?

2) Is there a provision for speed-dials in TouchFlo 3D or do you have to go into the standard contact list every time?

3) Do you use the "D-pad" controls often? How does it handle?

4) Do you miss (in daily practice) a jog wheel and/or the Start- and OK-buttons?

How does the 'directional control' work on the Diamond/Raphael? It looks like a round thingy, but is an iPod like touchwheel, or a standard d-pad like input device?

That was quicker than expected, the rise of the Raphael. Any sign of the HTC Titanium on the horizon?