I'm a bit disappointed with the phone

[Guest pezz]

Another newb here ! I've had my Pulse for a couple of weeks now and to be honest I am a bit disappointed with the phone element. I cant really set profiles like I am used to on all my phones eg to auto answer when connected to handsfree. I cant access the speakerphone without opening up the menu, also I am unable to select call center numeric options during a call. It also does not work in my car when plugged into a cassette adaptor as it seems to turn off the handset microphone - have tried an inline mic within a 2.5 to 3.5 convertor and this also doesnt work ( I used this approach with my two previous SEs).

That said I think the screen is superb and I like the WiFi and SMS options from the Market

Hopefully I am missing something with the phone because I really want to like this Device ?

[Guest boradev]

... also I am unable to select call center numeric options during a call. ...

I had trouble with this one when I rang t-mobile support ;) but there is a way to get the keypad up during a call. I cant remember exactly but I think I had to use the home key to get the screen back as it goes blank very soon after connecting a call. This brings the keypad back. If not there should be a tab at the bottom of the screen labeled Dialpad which can be dragged up to get the keypad.

[Guest Jason Patel]

Another newb here ! I've had my Pulse for a couple of weeks now and to be honest I am a bit disappointed with the phone element. I cant really set profiles like I am used to on all my phones eg to auto answer when connected to handsfree. I cant access the speakerphone without opening up the menu, also I am unable to select call center numeric options during a call. It also does not work in my car when plugged into a cassette adaptor as it seems to turn off the handset microphone - have tried an inline mic within a 2.5 to 3.5 convertor and this also doesnt work ( I used this approach with my two previous SEs).

That said I think the screen is superb and I like the WiFi and SMS options from the Market

Hopefully I am missing something with the phone because I really want to like this Device ?

Their is an app on the market called "car mode" http://j.mp/7gTYC that you can put a shortcut on your front screen to put loudspeaker on.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Jason Patel

[Guest pezz]

Their is an app on the market called "car mode" http://j.mp/7gTYC that you can put a shortcut on your front screen to put loudspeaker on.

Jason thanks for that. I have seen it referenced but whenever I look it is a dead link on the market !

Pezz

[Guest Amdathlonuk]

Also, you can access the dial pad when in a call.

I can't tell you how at the moment as the phone is wrapped for my daughter for Xmas.

However if you couldn't it wouldn't be any good.

I know on my Hero I hit menu and I can hit the icon on the left which brings the number pad up.

[Guest pmw1971]

I had trouble with this one when I rang t-mobile support ;) but there is a way to get the keypad up during a call. I cant remember exactly but I think I had to use the home key to get the screen back as it goes blank very soon after connecting a call. This brings the keypad back. If not there should be a tab at the bottom of the screen labeled Dialpad which can be dragged up to get the keypad.

In my experience you've got to be quick to get it and drag it up as the screen autolocks after a short delay otherwise, I suppose to stop your ear selecting some app :-D

S.

[Guest giryan]

The last time I received a call the phone app force closed ;)

I did have a tonne of other apps running at the time, but was surprised by that. Even Win Mo usually managed to let me tae calls ;)

[Guest le_lutin]

It also does not work in my car when plugged into a cassette adaptor as it seems to turn off the handset microphone - have tried an inline mic within a 2.5 to 3.5 convertor and this also doesnt work ( I used this approach with my two previous SEs).

I'm also hoping to use this approach for handsfree in the car (we're probably the only two people on the forum who still have cassette players in their cars!). 

Did you use 2.5mm to 3.5mm the adapter that was supplied in the box? If so, I wonder if this shuts off the phone microphone because it thinks you are pluggin in an external mic (the adapter has 3 black bands which would suggest it's compatible with combination headphone/microphones). I wonder if you used an an adapter with only two black bands (the same number as on your cassette adapter plug), would the phone then think that there's no external mic and then keep the phone's mic switched on? 

[Guest pezz]

Also, you can access the dial pad when in a call.

I can't tell you how at the moment as the phone is wrapped for my daughter for Xmas.

However if you couldn't it wouldn't be any good.

I know on my Hero I hit menu and I can hit the icon on the left which brings the number pad up.

Yes you can access the dial pad during a call - trouble is it does not work !! ;) (there is another thread running on this )

[Guest SSH]

There's an app called shake awake too that makes the pad magically appear when you look at the screen

[Guest pezz]

I'm also hoping to use this approach for handsfree in the car (we're probably the only two people on the forum who still have cassette players in their cars!).

Did you use 2.5mm to 3.5mm the adapter that was supplied in the box? If so, I wonder if this shuts off the phone microphone because it thinks you are pluggin in an external mic (the adapter has 3 black bands which would suggest it's compatible with combination headphone/microphones). I wonder if you used an an adapter with only two black bands (the same number as on your cassette adapter plug), would the phone then think that there's no external mic and then keep the phone's mic switched on?

le_lutin

Unfortunately no as in my very brief testing there is no sound being picked up by any mic. I need to have another go testing all the connections etc, but at the moment its not being picked up by the in-line mic or the phone mic although the other caller can be heard via the car speakers.

(PS ref the cassette yes you are probably right. I cant bring myself to put an after market unit in as it wouldnt look right, but i might look at a bluetooth input via the CD changer)

[Guest soopahfly]

Thanks for that Shake Awake app.

Just installed it on my Hero.

[Guest le_lutin]

Just to confirm what pezz said previously. I did some testing and no matter what sort of headphones/adapter you put in the headphone socket, the phone's microphone will then be shut off.

This is a bit of a weakness IMO as it means that you can't use ordinary headphones for handsfree calling and also means that if you plug the Pulse into the your car's AUX, you won't be able to make/recieve a call without unplugging the phone first.

The only solution I can see is buying an inline mic that would be compatible with the socket (like the mic on the supplied headphones).

[Guest MrJoshua]

Just to confirm what pezz said previously. I did some testing and no matter what sort of headphones/adapter you put in the headphone socket, the phone's microphone will then be shut off.

This is a bit of a weakness IMO as it means that you can't use ordinary headphones for handsfree calling and also means that if you plug the Pulse into the your car's AUX, you won't be able to make/recieve a call without unplugging the phone first.

The only solution I can see is buying an inline mic that would be compatible with the socket (like the mic on the supplied headphones).

I got really annoyed with the 2.5mm socket - the supplied adapter paused the music and a 3rd party adapter that I bought off eBay sounded scratchy and kept falling out.

Solution: I bought a Samsung SBH-650 Bluetooth Stereo adapter.

I can plug any 3.5mm earphones/headphones into it, it has an in-built microphone, it controls music playback, volume and can pick-up/end calls.

The battery lasts for absolutely ages, I can walk around the house with it (with the phone on the coffee table!) listening to music and it sounds excellent.

It is also able to pair with two devices at a time, so I can use it on my PC/Mac/PS3 as well as the phone ;)

[Guest pezz]

Just to confirm what pezz said previously. I did some testing and no matter what sort of headphones/adapter you put in the headphone socket, the phone's microphone will then be shut off.

This is a bit of a weakness IMO as it means that you can't use ordinary headphones for handsfree calling and also means that if you plug the Pulse into the your car's AUX, you won't be able to make/recieve a call without unplugging the phone first.

The only solution I can see is buying an inline mic that would be compatible with the socket (like the mic on the supplied headphones).

le_lutin, have just ordered one of these - after a bit of googling I think the iphone uses the same set up and like you said it has the 3 bands on the jack plug. I will have to use the supplied adapter as well but i thought it worth a try !

http://www.blueunplugged.com/p.aspx?p=135448

[Guest demusss]

I got really annoyed with the 2.5mm socket - the supplied adapter paused the music and a 3rd party adapter that I bought off eBay sounded scratchy and kept falling out.

Solution: I bought a Samsung SBH-650 Bluetooth Stereo adapter.

I can plug any 3.5mm earphones/headphones into it, it has an in-built microphone, it controls music playback, volume and can pick-up/end calls.

The battery lasts for absolutely ages, I can walk around the house with it (with the phone on the coffee table!) listening to music and it sounds excellent.

It is also able to pair with two devices at a time, so I can use it on my PC/Mac/PS3 as well as the phone ;)

Whats the sound quality of the bluetooth adapter?

I've currently got the 2.5mm jack plugged into the back of my car stereo and I have to turn the volume way up to get a decent volume and there is a quite a bit of background noise.

Also how is this powered? Is it possible to leave this plugged into car power all the time?

Thanks

[Guest MrJoshua]

Whats the sound quality of the bluetooth adapter?

I've currently got the 2.5mm jack plugged into the back of my car stereo and I have to turn the volume way up to get a decent volume and there is a quite a bit of background noise.

Also how is this powered? Is it possible to leave this plugged into car power all the time?

Thanks

I'm really impressed with the sound quality, I'm using Ultimate Ears Super-Fi 5Pro earphones with it.

It's got a built in Lithium Ion battery, which is good for 8 hours talktime/playback, but you can leave it plugged in to the supplied power adapter and it still works.

Maybe a ciggy lighter adapter might work?