Vario - usability and tips

[Guest jecuk]

I am trying to make more efficient use of the phone and not rely on the stylus much at all. The board obviously has lots of experts, any tips on how to efficiently make the best of the phone (other than install new software)? What has turned me of these phones before (eg P900) is finding them too cumbersome to use for basic phone stuff. All advice appreciated.

Edited September 15, 2006 by jecuk

[Guest richard_d]

I am trying to make more efficient use of the phone and not rely on the stylus much at all. The board obviously has lots of experts, any tips on how to efficiently make the best of the phone (other than install new software)? What has turned me of these phones before (eg P900) is finding them too cumbersome to use for basic phone stuff. All advice appreciated.

I find the scroll wheel very handy - that combined with the dpad means most items are selectable without stylus, if you're not keen on stylus use.

Richard

[Guest timiano]

For basic phone stuff the VarioII is great. The phone keypad itself is great, and the searching contact search while you dial is even better. I either do two things, launch the phone, or lauch contacts (replaced running programs soft key) and find my contact, select and choose how I want to contact that person, SMS, MMS, email or call 1 of many numbers.

For application lauching I have installed spb pocket plus, and created 6 tabs (without text). They are as follows:

Main: Calc, eWallet, Map24, Tube 2, WModem (use these alot)

Apps: Word, Excel, PPoint, Notes, MSN

Files: Resco Explorer, Picture & Videos, Search, Resco Picture Viewer

System: ActiveSync, Terminal Services, Pocket Mechanic, MemMaid, Running Programs

Weather: Today Plugin

Games: 3 Games

All those use large icons so they are easy to lauch with thumb/finger.

I have removed the battery and comm manager icons, and replaced the running programs soft button with contacts.

I only use the stylus when I'm inside a fiddly application, and some time browsing. I wish I could hold a key down and use the scroll wheel for browsing in IE rather than it just moving focus on the next selectable thing. Only a minor niggle though.

My only gripe about spb pocket plus, is I would like to be able to hold the ok soft key down and activate the spb functions, as the ok key still only minimizes rather than closing. So when not using the stylus, the program stay resident in memory.

I'm so picky about PDA/Phone and this is the first device I have used that has had my seal of approval.

EDIT:

Screenshot for you added

Edited September 15, 2006 by timiano

[Guest Wozbacca]

timiano,

is that mobile office communicator you have running there?

[Guest]

Why dont you have the close button context menu mapped to a hardware button in SPB pocket plus (BTW ive got SPB Diary 2.0 as well) (ive got it mapped to the press and hold button normally associated with voice notes)

so that way you can decide whether to minimise or CLOSE a program or programs using the button and the wheel. completely stylus free use

My today screen btw looks like this.

these are a few screen shots of my Vario II as you can see i have contacts as my home screen so i can scroll down to the one i want with the wheel click and choose (email txt, mms, ring them etc etc) and the other tabs are all the proggies

JEREMY

Edited September 15, 2006 by Guest

[Guest randomelements]

Why dont you have the close button context menu mapped to a hardware button in SPB pocket plus

Excellent idea Jeremy :D I've now got the menu set to the press and hold and Alt-Tab mapped to just tapping button 5.

Must admit I'm not a great fan over Today plugins, I tend to keep my today screen fairly clear but I have got a number of items added to Tray Launch (PHM Power Toys) and have remapped the soft buttons for file manager and contacts for easy access.

[Guest rpopo]

I wish I could hold a key down and use the scroll wheel for browsing in IE rather than it just moving focus on the next selectable thing. Only a minor niggle though.

There's a registry hack for this somewhere - changing a dword from 1 to 0. Can't remember it off hand, but it's on the board somewhere if you do a search

[Guest NikLP]

There's a registry hack for this somewhere - changing a dword from 1 to 0. Can't remember it off hand, but it's on the board somewhere if you do a search

That there is, but it's caused me issues in other areas (or at least it appeared that way).

It seemed to me that I was getting a lot more problems with the screen kb popping up unwanted on scrolling, in e.g. messaging application.

[Guest timiano]

timiano,

is that mobile office communicator you have running there?

yes mate, it's mobile office communicator

[Guest stug]

6 tabs (without text). They are as follows:

Out of curio and laziness (ie can't be bothered to google as on train home ) what is Tube 2? I recognise all the other apps...

Main: Calc, eWallet, Map24, Tube 2, WModem (use these alot)

Apps: Word, Excel, PPoint, Notes, MSN

[Guest stug]

Sorry, on train on phone so can't edit - previous post was meant to say what is Tube 2? I recognise all the apps aprt from that?

[Guest Matt Kirby]

Sorry, on train on phone so can't edit - previous post was meant to say what is Tube 2? I recognise all the apps aprt from that?

Tube2 is a great tube/metro map with several cities available, available from visualit.com.