I wonder what commission they'll take.

With Apple, users can't get Apps from anywhere else, besides jailbreaking the phone and adding repositories to the installer, so the AppStore works.

With Windows Mobile, there's endless locations from where you can get Applications, and if the likes of Microsoft and Handango will be taking a huge chunk of the sales as commission, then IMHO I think it will put many developers off

Sweeeet. This one does indeed seem to have it all.

Do CoPilot/TomTom etc run ok on a VGA device?

Wouldn't it be cheaper to answer the call, and ask "who's calling?"

I'm guessing when you tell them "no, it's made by HTC" they say "Who? Never heard of them. Are they like Nokia or Motorola?"

Perhaps I'm stating the obvious, but don't show it off then

CNET have done an in depth review of the Touch Diamond, and they've not held back with their comments, and sadly confirmed what I didn't want to see - disappointment.

Full review is here: http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,390301...297107-4,00.htm

Is there anyone who owns one willing to comment or post a reply of their own experiences?

Ooh be careful though, the above link also adds one to your shopping basket, so careful not to order more than one
You on commission Paul?

I bought an iphone in January for £269, I didn't activate it on any o2 contract, and used the free tool to unlock, activate and jailbreak it. Once it's jailbroken (4 minutes with the unlock tool) it more or less open to do what you like to.

I've been using it ever since on O2 Simplicity for free minutes and data plan, and on Orange PAYG when abroad, so am not tied to any expensive contract.

I only use my O2 XDA for GPS and navigation, and since using the phone, the touchscreen on the XDA that requires pressure is just awful, in my opinion.

What I like about the iphone:-

• The O/S - never crashes or needed to reboot from any software issues
• SMS stored as a conversation
• Web Browsing - Multiple pages, zoom in, swipe to scroll, tap or pinch to zoom
• Email
• BBC iPlayer (works flawlessly over wifi)
• Music Player
• iTunes - Access to iTunes Store on the go
• The interface - swipe to view photos, contacts, scroll etc which works brilliantly
• Movie Player - awesome on the large screen
• You Tube - Stream only but excellent
• Google Maps
• TV out - I can play music or movies on a big screen, portable video player
• Ease of use - Everything is so easy and straightforward to use
• Decent Battery Life
• It syncs to my PC using ITunes flawlessly and everytime
• Also syncs with Outlook 2003 and higher for contacts and calendar

Installed Apps (After Jailbreak):

• MMS - Yes it is available for the iphone (SwirlyMMS)
• Video Recorder - that too
• Yahtzee (5 dice)
• iSolitaire - Card Game
• mxTube - Download and save any YouTube videos
• Navizon - Better virtual GPS Location detector in the UK than GoogleMaps built in version
• Mobile Chat - Instant Messenger
• Raging Thunder - Controlled by tilting device
• SNES Emulator
• NES Emulator

What I don't like:-

• Standard OK camera, no flash
• No Flash Player
• Most decent games won't be playable - the on screen keypad is ok, but it's hard to use as you only feel glass beneath your fingers, making any game hard to control or play
• Internet outside a wifi hotspot is too slow
• iTunes only works on Wifi
• YouTube outside a wifi hotspot is too slow
• No GPS or navigation software
• Fingerprints - constantly cleaning the device
• Slippery casing, so easy to fall through your hands and drop when removing it from a pocket

Obviously the requirements of other users differs from mine, so I've no doubt missed a load of other points. i.e exchange support etc.


I sit on the fence when it comes to the perfect device. I don't mind if it's Apple or Windows Mobile now, provided it's a device that caters for most of everything I listed above. I tried the Nokia N95-8GB black, but didn't like Symbian at all.
I've moved away from non-touchscreen devices now, as surfing the web on a smartphone is like surfing the web on a PC without a mouse

The iphone 3G v Touch Diamond are the current devices that cater for most of all my needs (as long as TomTom are allowed to release their iphone version).
Although the Touch Diamond only has 4GB of storage compared to the 16GB iphone 3G.

Apple AppStore should provide a lot of software currently lacking, and Adobe is nearly there with Flash support.

I'm still waiting to see how smooth the interface on the Diamond is with the latest Production ROM as previous clips showed it was nowhere near the smoothness of my iphone.

The only thing missing from these two devices for me, are a decent camera + flash or DVD quality video recording, something which Nokia, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Eriksson seemed to have been able to do for a while now.

What I can say is, Apple are keen to improve their device and have a lot of worldwide coverage and support from 3rd party developers or companies wanting a part of it's success with their innovative add-ons.
HTC are the only ones improving the Windows Mobile devices at the moment, Microsoft haven't really improved anything between versions 5 and 6 of Windows Mobile.

Both devices benefit from 3rd party applications and add-ons to improve their appeal, which is why iPhone 3G and HTC Touch Diamond are the winners and only contenders for my next device. It will be after July 11th, when the new Iphone, AppStore, tariffs and prices are revealed, that I would be making my decision.

EDIT: Reading this back seems to indicate I'm biassed toward the iPhone 3G, but I'll still wait for some decent reviews of both devices before I commit myself

Yawn for all Windows Mobile users, but it works on the iPhone as I believe BBC customized it for that device, interesting for anyone thinking of buying the iPhone 3G

Hi Craig,

Sorry for the delay.

The error indicates your phone is not "Application unlocked".

Although there's many posts in this part of the forum on how to Apps unlock the VOX, I'm not sure it will work for the SMT5800.

You could try here

or use a registry editor, change the following values to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Security\Policies\Policies0001001 = 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Security\Policies\Policies0001005 = 40
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Security\Policies\Policies0001017 = 16

If that fails, try these posts:-


- Microsoft Device Security Manager

- Application Unlock Tool
- Search results of Application Unlock



I hope they help

I didn't specifically say "O2 was overpriced", just the "O2 iPhone tariff".

It's overpriced in the sense of it's a tariff only price, with no free handset.
Other networks offer free handsets with similar tariffs, so I think you get better value for money going for one of those, with a decent handset, selling the handset, buying the iphone with the cash, and unlocking it to use that tariff. That way you've not paid the extra money for the Iphone.

OK, here's a possible deal that will beat it.:-
Sign up to a Kaiser, N95 or high priced handset contract for 12 months, pay perhaps £50 for the phone (if it's not free)
Sell it on eBay for £300 +
With the cash buy an iphone, and unlock it for free and use your existing SIM contract
You'll still have cash left in your pocket....

So there's little point in still slating the iphone because of the so called "required" expensive 18 month contract, because it's not the only way to get one. Out of the tens (perhaps hundreds) of thousands of iphone owners in the UK out there, I wonder how many of them are actually using it on the official o2 iphone tariff. The O2 iphone tariff is overpriced, I completely agree, but in my opinion the £270 for the actual iphone itself is not.



It is, like we've all said and as with any device, down to personal preference and what features you do and don't need on a device.

You either love it or hate it, but I can forsee a number of great applications on it's way because it's new, and many software companies want to develop for the iphone, and it's slick interface.

"Horses for courses" I couldn't agree more

I'm also with the previous poster "metoo" on this one, except I'm on 02 Simplicity, I pay £15 a month for 200 Texts and 200 Minutes, and I can cancel at anytime with only 30 days notice. Add £7.50 bolt on for unlimited (200M) EDGE/GRPS.

My SIM works in both my iPhone and 02 XDA, but I rarely use the XDA now.

You can buy an iphone from an O2 shop for £269 (8GB version), take it home, no signing of contracts at all.
You then need to activate it, via Itunes they say to setup a contract, wrong. Google for Ziphone which is free

Forget the expensive contract, Ziphone can jailbreak, unlock and activate an iPhone in minutes for use with any SIM so all those knocking the iPhone for it's expensive contract, take note. Once Ziphone'd you can install all those freebie 3rd party applications, which include an MMS application "SwirlyMMS" 0.3 (send and receive MMS now), and a simple Video Recorder "ShowTime" (although only 4 seconds, early days until Drunknbass releases his version).

Apologies if I break any forum rules regarding encouraging the hacking of phones, but knocking the iPhone device itself just because money hungry network providers want a hefty contract is unfair.

The iPhone has a 600Mhz processor, 8GB of built in storage, a great touchscreen interface, web experience, and iPod.
It also has Video-out capabilities so watching movies, youtube or BBC iplayer on your TV is simple with the right cables

£270 is about the right price for something that lacks 3G or GPS, but delivers something different from anything else out there.

"Don't knock it til you've tried it".

I was sceptical, tried one in an O2 shop, and wanted one.

If you're lucky enough to be in an area with that coverage, sadly I'm not one of them and have to resort to Wifi. Especially abroad

It's a nice looking device, but in my humble opinion, the 02 XDA orbit is just as good, although less RAM ,but it has WiFi, and can be picked up for a lot cheaper these days. Approx £200.

What device do you have?

I only know of the key entries for the Orange branded E650.

Has anyone else tried the startup/shutdown screens, and if so, which device do you have and which keys did you change?

I had the 8GB Black N95 version for 2 months, which had batter battery life and more RAM than the standard N95, and it was the best phone I ever owned for functionality and features. Battery life was no worse than any of the HTC models I've owned, and the GPS was very quick after frequent use, although Nokia maps was s***. The Camera was excellent, and the VGA Video Camera quality was also great, as was the TV out. I've also heard battery life and memory is now improved on the standard N95 with the latest firmware.

I've sold it since, not only was it the best phone I've ever owned, but also the ugliest. Heavy, bulky, and the sliders kept moving each time I removed the phone from my pocket. I also didn't like Symbian for some reason, perhaps it was too new to me, and I'm used to Windows Mobile. Nokia PC Suite was also dreadful and syncing made me lose data, which I never had with ActiveStink. I also missed Jeo Mobile Extender and the ability to text thru Outlook.

I'm still awaiting a device that would blow me away (oo eer missus), I thought the S730 would be it, but the lack of GPS and poor memory on it disappoints, although I'd still have one if the price was right.

I'm moving towards a touch screen device though, and think this year we'll see some pretty flashy pieces of kit.

Hi,

It's likely to be the phoneAlarm plugin, did you install that option?

Try the non-PhoneAlarm version to see if it eliminates the problem.

If it does, try an alternative homescreeen that also uses phoneAlarm and see if the problem re-emerges, then at least we isolated the cause, and can raise it with the Developer

Thanks

ha ha

They've even put a Windows Mobile sticker on their Games phone: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A815-3-BIG-SCREEN-VI...2QQcmdZViewItem

There's a few happy customers, so they can't be all that bad

You need the MOBILE version of TomTom 5.2 not a Pocket PC version unless you can somehow use FakeCursor or other 3rd party app to use the touch screen interface

Anyone willing to try it on the HTC S730 (Wings) and see if it has any miraculous affect on the GPS?

I no longer have this phone, but seem to recall that you could change the SMS settings to use GPRS instead of the usual network standard.

It may be in Start > Settings > connections > SMS or something similar, sorry I can't be precise

Hope it helps

Come on guys, give Looby a break.

Ripped off a device or not, he's taken the time to collate all these files together, and put it together to recreate the HTC home screen that can be installed on other devices.

He's done it in his own spare time and put together two great versions.
He's not asking for anything in return and he's done a great job.

We should be encouraging him to do more, not criticise or give a hard time about it.

I'm reading concerning reports about the lack of free memory on this phone. After a reboot, it's only got between 8 - 10 MB free memory available compared to the S710's 23-25MB. (program memory not storage)

Can new owners of the S730 confirm this?

If this is true, then as they say in Dragon's Den...."for that reason....I'm out"

You could pay £20 to http://www.imei-check.co.uk/ for their unlock which works very well indeed, and very quick.

or visit xda-developers where I believe there is way of installing other ROMs without CID unlock, but I've not personally tried that method.