Things I don´t like about the VOX/WM6

[Guest jjmartinez]

I have used my Vox (and therefore WM6) extensively over the last three weeks. Before I have owned and tested multiple smartphones with Symbian S60, Symbian UIQ, Blackberry and Windows Mobile operating systems.

As a conclusion, I think the VOX is a great smartphone but there are some things that HTC/Microsoft should correct in the next firmware update or next device release.

1) Random GPRS connections. Even though GPRS Traffic Monitor tells me the connections are not active, it makes me nervous.

2) After the phone has lost GPRS coverage (going into a cellar or the underground), it doesn´t re-establish the connection and the G icon at the top never appears back again, no matter how good the coverage is.

3) The rubber USB and microSD covers are a PITA and tend to break too easily

4) More customization options (shortcuts, menus, folders,...). Some basic options such as creating a new SMS/MMS or looking up and launching an specific application requires too many clicks.

I would be happy if HTC/Microsoft provides a solution to the first two things. I can live with the other.

[Guest arvind]

I have used my Vox (and therefore WM6) extensively over the last three weeks. Before I have owned and tested multiple smartphones with Symbian S60, Symbian UIQ, Blackberry and Windows Mobile operating systems.

As a conclusion, I think the VOX is a great smartphone but there are some things that HTC/Microsoft should correct in the next firmware update or next device release.

1) Random GPRS connections. Even though GPRS Traffic Monitor tells me the connections are not active, it makes me nervous.

2) After the phone has lost GPRS coverage (going into a cellar or the underground), it doesn´t re-establish the connection and the G icon at the top never appears back again, no matter how good the coverage is.

3) The rubber USB and microSD covers are a PITA and tend to break too easily

4) More customization options (shortcuts, menus, folders,...). Some basic options such as creating a new SMS/MMS or looking up and launching an specific application requires too many clicks.

I would be happy if HTC/Microsoft provides a solution to the first two things. I can live with the other.

As regards to the last point, sure you would be able to customize your phone , there are a lot of great ppl here in this forum to help you out with that in case you cant do it by yourself. Why dont you post a specific query on that.

Cheers

Arvind

[Guest paholman]

.....Some basic options such as creating a new SMS/MMS requires too many clicks.....

I've seen/heard similar comments about creating a text on this phone, and others (not necessarily smartphones) but has anyone actually counted the amount of clicks on any phone to send a test message, including putting in the telephone/name of who the message is going to?

With the Smartphone, there are many different ways to create a new message, via the Messaging icon, Text Messages plugin on the homescreen, via the Contacts, or replying to an existing SMS in the inbox.

Some people believe one click to go straight to a new message is enough, but add the amount of clicks of putting in the number or selecting the contact, and it could turn out to be longer than other methods, such as going via Contacts, selecting the contact, then Send an SMS option.

As previously stated above, don't give up on this phone. Smartphones have the advantage over e.g Nokias as they are more or less fully customizable, and with this forum, you should be able to tweak to work exactly how you want it.

The following can be found on this forum, but here is a way of changing the Contacts button to create a new SMS, via a registry edit:

Create the registry key called "keys" under:-

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\

You should now have: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\keys

Under this new key, create another key called "113":-

You should now have: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\keys\113

Now under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\keys\113, edit the "Default" Datatype "String" value and put: Create SMS (or whatever you want on your button

Then Create a new "String value", called Open

Enter the value: (including the quotes) \Windows\tmail.exe -service "SMS" -to ""-body""

There are other useful ones, I changed my Contacts button to "Create New..." which gives the list of message acounts, once I select one, it starts a new message.

I hope you find this useful :)

[Guest jjmartinez]

I've seen/heard similar comments about creating a text on this phone, and others (not necessarily smartphones) but has anyone actually counted the amount of clicks on any phone to send a test message, including putting in the telephone/name of who the message is going to?

With the Smartphone, there are many different ways to create a new message, via the Messaging icon, Text Messages plugin on the homescreen, via the Contacts, or replying to an existing SMS in the inbox.

Some people believe one click to go straight to a new message is enough, but add the amount of clicks of putting in the number or selecting the contact, and it could turn out to be longer than other methods, such as going via Contacts, selecting the contact, then Send an SMS option.

As previously stated above, don't give up on this phone. Smartphones have the advantage over e.g Nokias as they are more or less fully customizable, and with this forum, you should be able to tweak to work exactly how you want it.

The following can be found on this forum, but here is a way of changing the Contacts button to create a new SMS, via a registry edit:

Create the registry key called "keys" under:-

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\

You should now have: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\keys

Under this new key, create another key called "113":-

You should now have: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\keys\113

Now under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Home\keys\113, edit the "Default" Datatype "String" value and put: Create SMS (or whatever you want on your button

Then Create a new "String value", called Open

Enter the value: (including the quotes) \Windows\tmail.exe -service "SMS" -to ""-body""

There are other useful ones, I changed my Contacts button to "Create New..." which gives the list of message acounts, once I select one, it starts a new message.

I hope you find this useful :)

Very useful indeed. :P

Many thanks

[Guest hmoner]

paholman

where did you get the parameters list for the tmail.exe file ? is there a site available with specs ?

and where can we see a list of "hidden" apps (exes) available ?

[Guest paholman]

paholman

where did you get the parameters list for the tmail.exe file ? is there a site available with specs ?

and where can we see a list of "hidden" apps (exes) available ?

Modaco is packed with endless information, I guess it's either a case of searching, but most of the time, it's knowing where to look I guess.

Most tweaks I've manage to bookmark over the last few years after I stumbled across them.

This particular tweak is a combination of two posts here and here

There are loads of tweaks if you read this Daily Features topic and the TOTW posts.

There is also a great Registry Tweak page on the Modaco Wiki here

This page is for Windows Mobile 5, but plenty still work for Windows Mobile 6.

[Guest hmoner]

thanks a lot paholman

[Guest Griff_FFOC]

another quick way for the text message is:

On the main home screen, just type the letters (i.e. name) of the person you want to send a text to, as if you were going to call them. Then select the name from the list that appears if there are more than one. Then press "Menu >> Send Text Message".

This can sometimes be quicker than going into text messaging first.

Also if you use SMS the most, you can tell the phone to go straight into SMS (or whatever you used last) when you click on messaging on the start menu instead of showing the SMS/MMS/Email option. This will save you a button click if you are that desperate.