A few things I don't quite understand...

[Guest ShaunC193]

Hello, this is my first topic here! :D Seems like a great forum. :)

Anyway, for the most part this topic isn't device specific, so that's why I posted it in this particular forum. The other day I received a Toshiba G500 from an eBay seller - practically brand new for £100... real bargain! Yes, I've read your reviews and seen you complain about the T9 responsiveness etc., but it's been fine for me overall. However, there are a few problems I'm having...

The G500 has HSDPA built into it. At the moment I currently have a T-Mobile web 'n' walk contract, 10GB a month. I have a USB modem that I can connect to my PC or laptop that can receive HSDPA, at pretty fast speeds. (Best I've gotten's really been around 150kbps.) Now, when I used the SIM in the G500, yes, the Internet works. (And it's a SIM-free phone.) However, it doesn't seem to be very fast. I installed Skype and I can hear the test call voice okay, but when I speak, my voice is all garbled when it's played back.

I fear that - for some reason - it's only receiving GPRS speed. The G at the top-right next to the signal bar would indicate that, no? I've seen it change to an E a couple of times, but only for a few seconds. I assume that the G is for GPRS and the E was for EDGE/3G. If that's the case, I have yet to see a H for HSDPA. I don't understand. If the modem can receive it why can't the phone? Do I need to further configure the Internet settings? This is probably my most important question. I was looking for a HSDPA-capable phone and the G500 looked perfect, but it doesn't seem to be working. <_<

Another issue I have is compatibility... with applications. It really irritates me that every version of something with 'phone' features appears to be completely watered down. There are some applications that I really wanted to use on the move, which is why I purchased a Windows Mobile smartphone. However, even though it said the applications "work with Windows Mobile 5.0" devices, I didn't read the little disclaimer at the bottom of the product page saying "*doesn't work with smartphone edition." :D What's the point in having a 400+ MHz processor when nothing is compatible?

Furhermore, the applications I want on it don't even require use of the touch screen, so why a "Pocket PC" WM5 application that doesn't use the touch screen at all and works on PDAs with a 240x320 (like my phone!) won't work on the "smartphone edition" is damn well beyond me! I've found the applications that have worked best were installed manually, i.e. by copying the executables and other data to the phone and not using a CAB file or ActiveSync. Do you think if I could get the actually application data for these incompatible programs and drag them to my phone, they would work? (Okay, maybe a stupid question, but I wish.)

Another thing is, when I copy over program files manually, I have to use the file explorer to open them. Is there any way to create shortcuts in the start menu for them? Oh, and I'm looking for a decent MSN client. I tried Agile but it didn't work. :D Any other suggestions? (Preferably supporting file transfer, display pictures, etc.) One other question I can think of for now... I remember seeing this awesome software for WM5 that lets you customise home and group programs, etc. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Hope you guys can answer my questions. I appreciate it.

Thanks a lot,

~Shaun

Edit: Extra question. I've noticed the G at the top in the middle as well. I assume this means celluar Internet is activated. On the menu with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth I can also disable phone, but will this disable all phone functions (e.g. receiving messages) or just GPRS/3G/whatever?

Edit 2: I tried looking at the thread that said I can paste shortcuts in the Start Menu folder but it doesn't seem to work. I'll try manually creating a LNK file later tonight and see if it works.

Edit 3: Okay, sorted shortcuts out. Forget about that.

Edited January 16, 2008 by ShaunC193

[Guest SGH-i620]

I fear that - for some reason - it's only receiving GPRS speed. The G at the top-right next to the signal bar would indicate that, no?

I've got a WM6 Smartphone (SGH-i620) and if that thing uses UMTS (or HSDPA) it shows a "3G" both in the middle of the top bar as well as on the right where the antenna signal bars are. So I think you are right: currently your device is only using GPRS.

If your device runs WM6 go to settings -> 1 Phone -> 1 All calls -> 1 Band select and choose Automatic.

Another issue I have is compatibility... with applications.

That is something I also had to learn the hard way: there are only few good Smartphone compatible apps out there. I guess you'll have to live with that (and hope that more and more apps go Smartphone compatibel). Have a look what I use if you like, maybe there's something you need: My SGH-i620 Minisite

Is there any way to create shortcuts in the start menu for them?

You best use Total Commander for that. See the above link. And do yourself a favour and use SmartToolkit as Startmenu...much better than the built in.

Hope that helps. Welcome to the World of Smartphones and MoDaCo!

negg

[Guest Monolithix]

Welcome to the forum :)

Hello, this is my first topic here! :D Seems like a great forum. :D

Anyway, for the most part this topic isn't device specific, so that's why I posted it in this particular forum. The other day I received a Toshiba G500 from an eBay seller - practically brand new for £100... real bargain! Yes, I've read your reviews and seen you complain about the T9 responsiveness etc., but it's been fine for me overall. However, there are a few problems I'm having...

The G500 has HSDPA built into it. At the moment I currently have a T-Mobile web 'n' walk contract, 10GB a month. I have a USB modem that I can connect to my PC or laptop that can receive HSDPA, at pretty fast speeds. (Best I've gotten's really been around 150kbps.) Now, when I used the SIM in the G500, yes, the Internet works. (And it's a SIM-free phone.) However, it doesn't seem to be very fast. I installed Skype and I can hear the test call voice okay, but when I speak, my voice is all garbled when it's played back.

I fear that - for some reason - it's only receiving GPRS speed. The G at the top-right next to the signal bar would indicate that, no? I've seen it change to an E a couple of times, but only for a few seconds. I assume that the G is for GPRS and the E was for EDGE/3G. If that's the case, I have yet to see a H for HSDPA. I don't understand. If the modem can receive it why can't the phone? Do I need to further configure the Internet settings? This is probably my most important question. I was looking for a HSDPA-capable phone and the G500 looked perfect, but it doesn't seem to be working. <_>

The poster above is correct, you will only see the G icon in GPRS areas, it will change to a 3G icon when in a 3G area, and an H when downloading over HSDPA. As above check the band settings.

Possible, yet unlikely. There are many, many Smartphone apps available and a number for both SP and PPC, was there anything specific you were looking to use? Check out the Smartphone section of sites such as www.handango.com for a wide range of software :D

Again as above, use an app like Total Commander (a personal favourite of mine!) to copy and paste shortcuts into \Windows\Start Menu. You can also do this from your PC by going to My Computer > My Windows Mobile Device.

The larger icon indicates the connectivity is available, the smaller icon by the signal meter indicates a connection is active. Disabling the phone will disable all phone functionality, it's called flight mode and used when on an aircraft, for example.

[Guest ShaunC193]

Thanks very much for your reply! The layout in the screenshot is somewhat similar to the WM5 (you asked which version I used and I use WM5, not WM6 sadly) layout, despite the fact my smartphone has a 240x320 resolution. It's quite similar at the top-right too, except the "G" or the "E" are small square icons, so there's probably not enough room for it to say 3G in the icon.

Edit: Ah, interesting... but annoying. >_> I managed to find the 'mode' settings in the phone settings, and I could change it from automatic to HSDPA. I did that and got nothing. Then I changed it back and I got GPRS signal. Then it went to 3G (I assume it uses the 3G icon for HSDPA too) but had no bars of signal. So basically it's not strong enough to receive the HSDPA? :) Because my USB modem can. Man, that sucks... It's the main reason I bought the phone.

Anyway, that aside, thanks for the link, some of those apps look great. I'll test them all out when my memory card comes, probably tomorrow. I'm glad I got Duke 3D working though. But really unhappy that my phone won't receive HSDPA. I mean, GPRS? I feel like I've been robbed.

Thanks for your help.

EDIT: Sorry Monolithix, as I was replying I didn't see your post. I'll reply to it now, let me just edit this... :D

Welcome to the forum biggrin.gif

Thanks. :D

Possible, yet unlikely. There are many, many Smartphone apps available and a number for both SP and PPC, was there anything specific you were looking to use? Check out the Smartphone section of sites such as www.handango.com for a wide range of software biggrin.gif

Yes, actually. If you go to www.vidaone.com they have a range of diet and fitness software. I wanted to use MyPersonalDiet to track my calorie intake and my progress, and I believe I can input exercise information too, then synchronise with the VidaOne Diet and Fitness software for the PC. I e-mailed them and they said smartphone versions should come around April. But alas, that's a bit of a wait for me...

Again as above, use an app like Total Commander (a personal favourite of mine!) to copy and paste shortcuts into \Windows\Start Menu. You can also do this from your PC by going to My Computer > My Windows Mobile Device.

Yeah, that's what I did in the end. (The latter method.) Total Commander sounds pretty good though. I'll go and download it now. :D

The larger icon indicates the connectivity is available, the smaller icon by the signal meter indicates a connection is active. Disabling the phone will disable all phone functionality, it's called flight mode and used when on an aircraft, for example.

Ahh! That's very useful. Thank you very much.

Edited January 17, 2008 by ShaunC193

[Guest ShaunC193]

And now I'm having yet another problem! Wi-Fi is often completely disappearing from the connectivity menu! It's there, then it just hides itself, etc. :S

[Guest ShaunC193]

Okay, small update. This morning I started receiving 3G signal (possible HSDPA but I guess it's hard to distinguish), but it isn't terribly consistent. Is there any kind of speed test application I could use?

[Guest Monolithix]

Mobile speed test here: http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed?jisok=1

HSDPA will pop up a H or 3G+ symbol rather than the normal 3G one when in use :)