What's the killer app?

[Guest Confused Stu]

A couple of months ago I switched from a C500 to an M500, primarily for the extra screen size for watching films. I've got all the stuff I used to love on my C500 on the M500 - so I can watch my films, play my games and remote control my PC during presentations.

My problem came when I was trying to show off the M500 to a C500 owning friend. Showed him everything the phone can do and his reply to most of it was "my C500 can do that!". I know it can - I've spent the last six months showing him how to do them!

I need help guys. I need to come up with some killer app that the M500 can run that the C500 owner is going to go "WOW!" at. My credibility as a gadget geek is on the line here and I'm struggling. Please don't let me down! ;)

[Guest nickcornaglia]

I've been struggling with the concept of which is better for years no. I keep going back and forth from Smartphone to PPC to Spartphone to PPC.

I dont know which is better.

Both Sync with Outlook, though PPC has notes built in, though Smartphone can accomplish this with third party apps.

Today plugins are comparable, though there are more robust ones on PPCs.

Both have Bluetooth. More of each will have WiFi.

PPCs can edit Word and Excel files. I dont believe there is a strong enough equivelent for Smartphones to say they could do the same.

Both surf the web equally as well, though you can view flash sites on the PPC. And therefore run flash apps without problem.

I just bought an imate KJAM and have vowed to use it for a week or two before I decide if I like it or not. Despite it's small form factor, it's still considerably heavier and bigger than any smartphone I've ever had.

There is the benefit of the larger screen, the full keyboard, the touch screen...

...but the C500 screen suited me just fine, the keyboard isn't all that necessary and the touch screen is just a bigger screen to get face juice on.

You do have a better experience viewing movies on the larger screen and websurfing is a bit bit better thanks to it....but in reality, how much of each does one really do on such small devices when there is almost always a pc near by. Any other use is minimal.

I think I just talked myself out of a PPC again and may switch back to a Smartphone! :evil: Unless someone can persuade my fickle-self otherwise!

[Guest bretto]

For me there are huge differences.

Input for one!

On a smartphone you have the ability to enter info using the standard keys. sms style.

On a PPC youve got

- sms style

- qwerty keyborad style

- transcriber. Way too cool to be able to use your own had writting to enter info.

- older style PPC entry stuff, block recogniser etc.

Touch screen and larger screen.

Big plus!

Usage of apps is far more streamlined using the touchscreen rather than just dpad and keys.

Screen size doesnt even compare. I like to be able to see what Im doing. Translates into being about the use the apps rather than just muddling thru with cut down versions of software like on the smartphone.

Battery life.

Memory, processor, better more comprehensive standard apps.

Multiple alarms as standard.

Notifications and configurability.

Todayscreen vs homescreen.

Can you use a smartphone on a plane by going into flightmode? Cant remember.

My opinion is that a smartphone is a mobile phone (and a bloody good one) with some pda features whereas a PPC Phone Edition is a pda with a phone.

Thats just off the top of my head. Im sure I could build a better case if I really wanted to.

Im never going back to a smartphone. even gave my e200 away. (ok I might if they converge)

[Guest fraser]

My opinion is that a smartphone is a mobile phone (and a bloody good one) with some pda features whereas a PPC Phone Edition is a pda with a phone.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What he said. My PPC has pretty much relegated my laptop to gathering dust. I actually use it for surfing now (WiFi helps!), VNC, SSH and email pretty much exclusively unless I happen to be sitting at a PC.

Can't imagine doing any of that on a phone. Tried SSH once, T9 terminal entry? Yuck!

[Guest Palindrome]

I know the C500 can view databases with the correct third pary software but can it actually create and mantain a database, or even SQL?

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Thanks to this thread...I talked myself into selling my JAM and getting the SP5m. Looks like I'm back to the Smartphone. Just what I need without all of the size. Maybe the Muse in the future.

As a matter of fact...I'd get a RAZR if it sync'd Calendar and Contacts with Outlook. I'm just so Smartphone burned out.

[Guest Disco Stu]

SQL ? WTF ?

Back to Stu's mate and gobsmack factor.... :D

1. Virtual Pool Mobile on the PPC - won't get your baby back for hours.

2. MS Voice Command - "play TaTu Greatest Hits" (or whatever you may have on your card)

Sold !

8) ;)

[Guest Confused Stu]

Thanks a lot for the comments guys. I have to admit, I wasn't trying to start an intellectual debate on the Smartphone vs PPC thread (enough of those around). I was being incredibly shallow and simply looking for something to wow my friends down the pub!! ;)

I've tried the MS Voice Commander route and while this works great in a quiet room on your own, it doesn't pass the crowded pub test. Gonna have to investigate the virtual pool idea - but doesn't the Smartphone have one of them too?

Come on guys, go shallow and just come up with something (besides high quality video porn) that will allow a shallow bloke to impress his shallow mates! :twisted:

Edited November 7, 2005 by Confused Stu

[Guest bretto]

Is there a PPCPE wow factor if your already used to a smartphone? There is if your used to a nokia.

Lets face it the smartphone is awesome for a small unit. The clincher for me is the touchpanel and screen size. And for using applications the PPC is more like a PC.

I like to poke things with a stick. Say you got a list half way down the page...SP way is to click down, click down, click down, click action...but the PPC way is to poke it with a stick one time in the right place ;)

I converted a mate recently because he was blown away that the jam could recognise my handwritting on the screen for input.

If your mate wants a small compact phone with all the groovey stuff both can do then probably the smartphone is for him. Has he seen a Jam yet? Not a big unit by any mobile standard.

Guarantee if show him a pornographic powerpoint presentation I bet he wants to see it on your PPC rather than his smartphone. :D

[Guest Disco Stu]

Gonna have to investigate the virtual pool idea - but doesn't the Smartphone have one of them too?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Smartphone is 2D, PPC is 3D.

I've not seen a game that is more of a jaw-dropper on the PPC

[Guest Confused Stu]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm definitely gonna get that pool game - either to impress my fellow saddos or to whie away the time I spend on my own when they desert me! ;)

Thanks everyone.

P.S. You mention about impressing Nokia owning mates. Try this, setting your phone's bluetooth name to:

"tab1tab"

with tab being the tab key, not the letters T-A-B! (Even easier, download this text file, open it in Pocket Word then copy and paste the contents into HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Bluetooth/Settings/LocalName)

Now whenever ANY Nokia does a bluetooth search near you, the Nokia will switch off as soon as it picks you up! It doesn't even need to try to connect, it just needs to pick up the name during a search! It does no permanent damage, just triggers a "switch off" command.

I only found this recently on another site (MoDaCo won't let me type the name I'm afraid), and didn't believe it would work, but it has on every Nokia I've tried it on! So far, I've convinced four friends their phones are broken to the point that two have replacement phones coming out for their "broken" ones! :twisted:

Bluetooth_name.txt

Edited November 8, 2005 by Confused Stu

[Guest furby]

^ haha sweet. I just tried this on a friend, still funny. He can't work out what's going on

[Guest bretto]

Thats a terrible trick to play on someone, could really freak them out.

Im gonna try this out on someone as soon as I get home ;)

[Guest Palindrome]

SQL ? WTF ?

Back to Stu's mate and gobsmack factor.... ;)

OK, fair enough. SQL may not be the biggest WOW factor in the world but it could be to a person who's job is to use SQL and who's bought the wrong phone.

[Guest fraser]

I only found this recently on another site (MoDaCo won't let me type the name I'm afraid)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why? Is Modaco censoring competing sites? If so, you won't see me around these parts again...

Could you elaborate? I'm wondering a) what this site is and ;) why it's blocked/banned.

[Guest Disco Stu]

We don't worry about competition but we do fret about file-sharing and other forms of lawlessness. We fret even more about losing valuable members so don't do anything rash Fraser ;)

@ Confused Stu : care to elaborate by PM ?

[Guest Confused Stu]

Sorry guys, didn't mean to cause any problems in the ranks! I still love MoDaCo and find it to be the best and friendliest forum I've ever found. ;)

Disco, just about to PM you but doesn't appear to be sinister - it's just that when you put in this particular (unofficial ROM heavy) site's name it comes up as BAD LINK. My guess is it's a very sensible safeguard on MoDaCo's part to avoid people killing their phones. If you don't know what site I'm talking about then you shouldn't be going there anyway! :D

[Guest Disco Stu]

Aha !

Yes, you're right on all points, particularly the last. ;)

[Guest RobertCeuppens]

P.S. You mention about impressing Nokia owning mates.  Try this, setting your phone's bluetooth name to:

"tab1tab"

with tab being the tab key, not the letters T-A-B!  (Even easier, download this text file, open it in Pocket Word then copy and paste the contents into HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Bluetooth/Settings/LocalName)

Now whenever ANY Nokia does a bluetooth search near you, the Nokia will switch off as soon as it picks you up!  It doesn't even need to try to connect, it just needs to pick up the name during a search!  It does no permanent damage, just triggers a "switch off" command.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can I get this to work on my C500? I haven't got a tab key and I can't find anywhere to paste the line :cry:

Edited November 12, 2005 by RobertCeuppens

[Guest Jamma14]

Yeah sorry to invade the ppc topic but any idea how to get it in your bluetooth name for smartphone? I tried opening the text file in Orneta Notepad to copy the text accross to the reg key using Imenu but it seems that orneta notepad cannot handle the tab character...

[Guest rodg98133]

I have a C500 aswell and would love this nokia killing name?? Any way round this?

[Guest Hawko]

I have a C500 aswell and would love this nokia killing name?? Any way round this?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

does the nokia bluetooth killer thingy only work if it picks up a nokia then? or just that name??

[Guest argh]

Smartphone is 2D, PPC is 3D.

I've not seen a game that is more of a jaw-dropper on the PPC

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Virtual Pool Mobile is 3D on the Smartphone too. Looks _very_ nice on a C500 (including the level intro video clips from your opponents).

[Guest shanedean]

I know it's been a while since this topic started, and indeed it's last post, but I can't get the Nokia-killing thing to work :)

I use Resco Reg Ed to go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Bluetooth\Setting

but can't find the LocalName folder. I can't even create one. I just have some (Default) thing and ScanMode :?:

And even if I try to Paste anything from Word into this folder it won't allow me to :|

What am I doing wrong? Oh and it's an XDA2i if that makes any difference.

[Guest RobertCeuppens]

I know it's been a while since this topic started, and indeed it's last post, but I can't get the Nokia-killing thing to work ;)

I use Resco Reg Ed to go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Bluetooth\Setting

but can't find the LocalName folder. I can't even create one. I just have some (Default) thing and ScanMode :?:

And even if I try to Paste anything from Word into this folder it won't allow me to :|

What am I doing wrong? Oh and it's an XDA2i if that makes any difference.

Well I've got a new MDA Pro and I went to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Bluetooth\Setting

but in settings I have LocalName. I pasted the name in but when I checked the name with my other phone on Bluetooth it showed up as my name still. So I pasted it into owner details and now it shows up on bluetooth. :)

Now to find a Nokia and see if it works :) I hope it works on a 8800 he he