Hello - C500, S710, N95 dilemma's

[Guest BustaK]

Hi everyone :P

Intro:

Thanks for the forum and everything guys, I've been a reader since early 2003 when Paul was worried he'd even get 100 members and they hit somewhere around 3000 (IIRC) back then. :D

However, I spend very negligible to no time online apart from what I need - too busy elsewhere in life.

Background:

I've lost touch with mobile phone technology since 2005, which is the last time I really messed around with latest phones. However, I've come back into the UK and would like some advice from the UK guys who'll obviously know better about the market and what's around. I've searched and read around this and some other forums, and am still yet not fully sure, so confirmations and advice is required please.

I bought an Orange SPV C500 January 2005 and unlocked it to all UK networks in late 2005 (around November). Currently use O2.

I absolutely *hate* the Orange logo on it, there should be a rebellion and a strike of Orange products with this so that they learn from profilt losses (hehe the best way any firm learns). Orange is one company that has been a PITA for me and everyone I've known. I've also had "elistist" attitudes from them regularly to say the least.

Anyway, the battery life on this thing (when the camera is not on in the background) is simply awesome. 8-9 days I'm averaging standby since 2006 that I can recall... and continuous talk time is probably near the 6-7 hour mark. I received a 6 hour call just 3 days back so that I'm sure of. This is perfectly what I need and I'm keeping this for my fiance to use while I travel abroad soon, because of it's simplicity, smallness, very nicely balanced screen clarity (not too deep seated like many phones, rugged and harder to scratch) lightweight, color combination, no bling bling, clear camera pictures with minimal blur, good set of applications to add and use especially picture zoom and pan, good overall connectivity and the Windows layout interface familiarity is something welcome (for some reason, I get better pictures than some 2MP cameras I've tested experiementally which is probably down to lens). I also love the layout of the menu I've rearranged into personal folders, the Task Manager, File Manager, voice recording sensitivity and loud speaker.

Other friends who have it, say battery life is not the same for their units, but heck, it is with mine. ;)

Queries:

My first problems is, when using Active Sync 4.2 the RAPI program takes 95-100% PC CPU usage and halts everything. How can this be resolved, or is this normal (I doubt)?

Secondly, I'm trying to upgrade the ROM to the latest I've downloaded... in the procedure of backing up, how do I backup and replace my contacts, messages and software? (using ActiveSync states both are synchronised but where are they stored on the PC and phone?)

Thirdly, the 200MHz processor, how and to what can it be overclocked safely?

Is there any decent (tried) GPS software available, and what would I need to run it? (bluetooth reciever?)

What's the maximum miniSD memory capacity? (contradicting claims, many say 256MB but some others state 1GB and 2GB)

Can anyone recommend a good theme/home screen?

I'm a fan of the S710 (HTC VOX) in design, layout, ergonomics, and overall color theme, and will be buying that pretty soon before I leave the UK. I've read pretty much everything formal on it around, even played around with it for a few minutes but can anyone who owns one summarize the camera/video and interface quality in comparison to say, a Nokia N93 or Razr? (I've heard about the bad battery BTW)

If we cancel out money as a problem here, which new smartphone would you recommend me for best and most stable camera/video quality, multimedia content management, email/document/PDF management, IM connectivity, voice recording, lengthy videos/large memory, WiFi/GSM/GPRS/BlueTooth/IrDA/USB global connectivity options and features, battery (standby/talktime) and decent ruggedness?

What's the size difference of the screen on a Nokia N95 to an S710?

Lastly, what's the average selling price of a C500 and a S710 unit in the UK nowadays?

Many questions, I know. :)

Thanks.

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Welcome back :P

My first problems is, when using Active Sync 4.2 the RAPI program takes 95-100% PC CPU usage and halts everything. How can this be resolved, or is this normal (I doubt)?

A would try installing the latest version of AS first (4.5) and see if that helps.

Secondly, I'm trying to upgrade the ROM to the latest I've downloaded... in the procedure of backing up, how do I backup and replace my contacts, messages and software? (using ActiveSync states both are synchronised but where are they stored on the PC and phone?)

Do you have OUtlook on your PC? That's generally where they get synced to.

Thirdly, the 200MHz processor, how and to what can it be overclocked safely?

I generally overclock to 240MHz with no issues.

Is there any decent (tried) GPS software available, and what would I need to run it? (bluetooth reciever?)

TomTom 5.2 or Route 66 are your best options... and yes, you'd need a BT GPS.

What's the maximum miniSD memory capacity? (contradicting claims, many say 256MB but some others state 1GB and 2GB)

Pretty sure i've used a 2GB in it, but don't quote me on that ;)

Can anyone recommend a good theme/home screen?

Pass :)

I'm a fan of the S710 (HTC VOX) in design, layout, ergonomics, and overall color theme, and will be buying that pretty soon before I leave the UK. I've read pretty much everything formal on it around, even played around with it for a few minutes but can anyone who owns one summarize the camera/video and interface quality in comparison to say, a Nokia N93 or Razr? (I've heard about the bad battery BTW)

Much better than the RAZR in every respect, i've not really used a N93 to compare!

P

If we cancel out money as a problem here, which new smartphone would you recommend me for best and most stable camera/video quality, multimedia content management, email/document/PDF management, IM connectivity, voice recording, lengthy videos/large memory, WiFi/GSM/GPRS/BlueTooth/IrDA/USB global connectivity options and features, battery (standby/talktime) and decent ruggedness?

What's the size difference of the screen on a Nokia N95 to an S710?

Lastly, what's the average selling price of a C500 and a S710 unit in the UK nowadays?

Many questions, I know. rolleyes.gif

[Guest BustaK]

Welcome back :P

A would try installing the latest version of AS first (4.5) and see if that helps.

Do you have OUtlook on your PC? That's generally where they get synced to.

Good to see you around Paul.

I've installed AS 4.5, works a charm.. however, I actually removed 2 versions of Outlook totally from my system a while back because I use Thunderbird since many years now and have no need for it. It asks for the default client to be Outlook which I simply can't do since TB is everything I use. Furthermore, 4.5 only works with Outlook 2007, correct? I don't have that at all.

I generally overclock to 240MHz with no issues.

OK. I oc'd it to 200MHz from 180MHz and benched it using TCMP - worked fine. I tried 220MHz, worked fine, howevere on trying 240MHz, the mobile has stopped booting - it freezes on Windows Mobile screen. :) ;)

Any help here how to set it to default? If only I can get it on enough to edit the OMAP LNK...

Thanks for the rest of the answers - I'll checkout some GPS options. The screen size difference I know now, but I'd still appreciate some input on the price range of the two.

[Guest BustaK]

Just an update really:

My mobile would not go past that.... so I phase cooled my mobile in this 25C ambient down to near -20C. YES it turned on and functioned a little... it was fully picking up bars etc on the home screen...until you navigated the menu. I didn't need the menu, I just needed AS to pick it up but AS failed to pick it up totally when connected at those temperatures. If it did, I could've changed the clock speed and rebooted perfectly.

Time to lower the temps a little more. :)

[Guest BustaK]

Ah! I've had it working ever since freezing the damn thing, deleted the startup file after ASing and whoosh! :P

All is perfect now and boots up regular. On my particular processor, 216MHz starts to give erratic color changes and behavior. Anything lower is fine.

BTW, when I was able to move the startup file out onto my PC to check it, it wasn't set at 240MHz. LOL it was set at 300MHz. :)

Just the phone price query left now, thanks.

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Checking on eBay is your best bet ;)

BTW, you mentioned you use Thunderbird... have you checked out BirdieSync?

http://www.birdiesync.com/

P

[Guest BustaK]

Checking on eBay is your best bet ;)

Been doing that as we speak. :wub:

BTW, you mentioned you use Thunderbird... have you checked out BirdieSync?

http://www.birdiesync.com/

I've never heard of that before Paul, so thanks, I'll check it out right away!

BTW, I put 2GB miniSD in SPV C500 and it works perfectly, for reference.

[Guest MrCeee]

Been doing that as we speak. ;)

I've never heard of that before Paul, so thanks, I'll check it out right away!

BTW, I put 2GB miniSD in SPV C500 and it works perfectly, for reference.

If you don't want to buy anything then have a look at finchsync which I have had success in using to sync with Thundebird, it's not quite a polished as BirdieSync though.

Chris