Database Develop

Could Windows Media Player get any worse???

Before anyone mentions it, I am aware TCPMP is the preferred media player for a lot of folks. I am not a big fan, as it requires me to spend a lot more time converting Playlists and MP3 files (so I can trim down my home preference for 256kbps MP3 -> something smaller for on-the-go)
And... I am supposed to get these features out of the box with what I have already paid for and installed, however, I have been fighting with Windows Media Player syncing for 3 nights now.
I think the gist is that the sync is taking forever and keeps losing a connection part of the way into the sync. I used to have this happen with XP under several different permutations of Active sync and WMP but figured WM6 and Vista would have corrected this issue.
So it has not, and to try and get things moving, I thought why don't I just copy over my files from my old flash cards (since they were already converted to 160kbps wma). Still doesn't help as even though the song is on the flash card WMP still goes through the conversion step before checking to see if the song is already on the device. So I am stuck wating for over 700 songs to be "reconverted".
In addition, the few songs I mistakenly purchased via WMP in the pre Urge days pops up a rights prompt on my mobile device asking if I want to download the license. Clicking yes brings me to a web page that shows a button to validate "I already own this song" that can not be clicked!!!!
I mapped some buttons in WMP Mobile, and now when I try to navigate to the start menu with the buttons, the dPad up and down let me walk the menu items, but clicking the center button does nothing, as WMP will not transfer control of this button to the OS.
And, as if this isn't enough already, in the new WM6 version, you still can not navigate the library tree using the dpad, you must use the stylis, how funnoying!!!
Shouldn't MS be able to get this right??? How many iterations of both the PC and WM versions of this software have they made and I still can not do something so simple as to select a list of playlist to be synced and have it ork!!!!! It's no wonder Apple is kicking their butt. I am not a big fan of iTunes/iPods, but at least they work!!!
Is this just par for the course? Shouldn't we expect these programs to work out of the box as advertised?

jgermuga said:
Could Windows Media Player get any worse???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a word, yes, it could.
Don't know if it will though. How was this program advertized to work out of the box? I have read nothing about that.
Use Window Mobile Device Center instead to transfer your files. You mention something or other about playlists but I can't figure out what you mean or how you want it to work, but I hope you find an app that can do all that for you, to replace WMP.
The phone works great for me. Just think outside the box a little and stop relying on WMP to do so much work for you if you don't like the way it does it. Apple has a way of making products that have a WOW effect, but which will show severe limitations after the initial thrill wears off. TyTN II is much better in ways of customization, flexibility and features if you take the time to tweak and adjust stuff.

Dunno about playlists, but I just drag and drop mp3s over to the sd card using a card reader. No activesync file size issues, converting issues, ect. Heck, AT&T says the tilt can handle up to a 32 gig sd card, so why shrink them?

jgermuga said:
Before anyone mentions it, I am aware TCPMP is the preferred media player for a lot of folks. I am not a big fan, as it requires me to spend a lot more time converting Playlists and MP3 files (so I can trim down my home preference for 256kbps MP3 -> something smaller for on-the-go)
And... I am supposed to get these features out of the box with what I have already paid for and installed, however, I have been fighting with Windows Media Player syncing for 3 nights now.
I think the gist is that the sync is taking forever and keeps losing a connection part of the way into the sync. I used to have this happen with XP under several different permutations of Active sync and WMP but figured WM6 and Vista would have corrected this issue.
So it has not, and to try and get things moving, I thought why don't I just copy over my files from my old flash cards (since they were already converted to 160kbps wma). Still doesn't help as even though the song is on the flash card WMP still goes through the conversion step before checking to see if the song is already on the device. So I am stuck wating for over 700 songs to be "reconverted".
In addition, the few songs I mistakenly purchased via WMP in the pre Urge days pops up a rights prompt on my mobile device asking if I want to download the license. Clicking yes brings me to a web page that shows a button to validate "I already own this song" that can not be clicked!!!!
I mapped some buttons in WMP Mobile, and now when I try to navigate to the start menu with the buttons, the dPad up and down let me walk the menu items, but clicking the center button does nothing, as WMP will not transfer control of this button to the OS.
And, as if this isn't enough already, in the new WM6 version, you still can not navigate the library tree using the dpad, you must use the stylis, how funnoying!!!
Shouldn't MS be able to get this right??? How many iterations of both the PC and WM versions of this software have they made and I still can not do something so simple as to select a list of playlist to be synced and have it ork!!!!! It's no wonder Apple is kicking their butt. I am not a big fan of iTunes/iPods, but at least they work!!!
Is this just par for the course? Shouldn't we expect these programs to work out of the box as advertised?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're absolutely right, WMP mobile sucks in every which way. Don't let the purists tell you otherwise and if they do, suggest they try playing the same media file with HTC audio Player and compare the memory usage between them! WMP is on its Nth iteration, its part of Windows Mobile core applications and it still bites, how could this possibly be? I guess it's right up there with Microsoft's battery draining implementation of RIM/Blackberry push email.

borealcool said:
You're absolutely right, WMP mobile sucks in every which way. Don't let the purists tell you otherwise and if they do, suggest they try playing the same media file with HTC audio Player and compare the memory usage between them! WMP is on its Nth iteration, its part of Windows Mobile core applications and it still bites, how could this possibly be? I guess it's right up there with Microsoft's battery draining implementation of RIM/Blackberry push email.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't go pointing fingers at push e-mail for battery drain. I would look at for ISA server/NAT/Firewall for the battery issue. You most likely have the HTTP(s) timeout set too low. It is set too low by default on all of these solutions. So you have to manually change it. That WILL dramatically lower the battery consumption of push e-mail.
Here is some more information; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905013
activesync battery timeout direct push active sync exchange isa firewall

lewcamino said:
Don't go pointing fingers at push e-mail for battery drain. I would look at for ISA server/NAT/Firewall for the battery issue. You most likely have the HTTP(s) timeout set too low. It is set too low by default on all of these solutions. So you have to manually change it. That WILL dramatically lower the battery consumption of push e-mail.
Here is some more information; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905013
activesync battery timeout direct push active sync exchange isa firewall
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yay, registry tweaks for understaffed , overworked and underpaid IT departments. Here is some light reading for you as well: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=5915
The part where he says Microsoft's pings cost you 12 Mb a month and where RIM solutions get you 12 days of battery life is particularly interesting

Jim_R said:
Dunno about playlists, but I just drag and drop mp3s over to the sd card using a card reader. No activesync file size issues, converting issues, ect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I do. The easiest way.
Jim_R said:
Heck, AT&T says the tilt can handle up to a 32 gig sd card, so why shrink them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy crap! Are they serious, or is that market speak for "about 8 gig really"?

Yes, WMP sucks. It doesn't save my playlists, bugs trying to do so and often loses playlists due to common error and requires me a few minutes to fix and a few hours to recover.
However TCPMP stops playback when I close the screen and I hate it just for that.

Mr.Clark said:
Holy crap! Are they serious, or is that market speak for "about 8 gig really"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What this means is that the Kaiser/Tilt is compatible with the SDHC format. The biggest capacity the SDHC format will ever be will be 32gb, however, the biggest one that even exists right now is 8 gb, and the biggest one that you can actually buy is 6 gb. Don't expect a 32 gb micro sd card anytime in the near future.
By the time micro sd cards reach 32 gb, I'm guessing the SDHC protocol will be old news anyway.

borealcool said:
Yay, registry tweaks for understaffed , overworked and underpaid IT departments. Here is some light reading for you as well: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=5915
The part where he says Microsoft's pings cost you 12 Mb a month and where RIM solutions get you 12 days of battery life is particularly interesting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a registry tweak. In this case it is a simple setting in ISA. There are registry tweaks as well, but most are covered in updates.
12 Mb is okay with me, our data is unlimited. So it is much cheaper then BB.
Later, Lew

How to ACE someone with an iPhone...

I'm sorry if this sounds a little mean, but I've just dealt with another iPhone user who tried to walk up to me and iPhone me to death.
I'm sooooo tired of these smug iPhone fanbois walking up to me and trying to slam my Sprint Touch Setup. I'm sick of dealing with the iSmug that comes with the iPhone. If you're tired of it too, here's a guide on how to handle some iPhone-equipped lemming... (guide is a work in progress and not all iPhone owners are smug idiots)
1. Windows Mobile phone (preferably Sprint Touch because of Sprint TV or use MobiTV)
2. Microsoft Voice Command
3. PointUI (or choice of snazzy UI)
4. Opera Mobile 9.5 beta 405 (or above whenever that comes out)
5. Conduits Pocket Player (Shoutcast internet Radio)
6. S2U2 (optional)
7. PocketCM software of choice
8. SPB Fullscreen Keyboard
9. Unlimited 3G data plan
10. Jabra BT8010 (or Stereo Bluetooth -A2DP- headset of choice)
11. MicroSD card (4GB or more)
12. Games (optional)
Step 1: Install and get used to using the above software
Step 2: use normally, iPhone-toting individual will approach you (They usually walk up to me while I'm enjoying some Live TV)
Step 3: Answer their questions
Step 4: Smile at any remarks
Step 5: (Only in quiet area) When they show off the iPhone's interface, ask them the following "You still need a touch interface?" and show off Microsoft Voice Command
Step 5a: Show them GPS
Step 6: Throw in how much you've spent on your phone and headset
Step 7: Walk away while listening to/watching media of your choice using A2DP headphones
Optional note: If they try to show off Multitouch and/or auto-rotate, just shrug your shoulders, show how your device rotates the screen/zooms, and tell them that, while those are cute features, you'd rather have voice command, 3G, true GPS, live TV, removable battery, microsd card slot, handwriting recognition, ability to record video, A2DP, etc.. instead.
Congrats! You've just helped them realize that they don't have the best mobile device on the planet!
Keep the world iSmug free!

Nice 1
+1

iPhone = ready to use out of the box, simple interface, no need to read instructions, limited functionality, does what you need it to do
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Windows Mobile Phone = useful, fun, needs a little work before it's up and running, requires people to read instructions before operating

Great list! Unfortunately most iPhone users will see Voice Command as a negative thing..the only reason they bought the iPhone was so they could be seen fiddling with it in public. Using it through BT with voice commands for true hands-free takes all the vouyerism out of thier $600 piece of eye candy.

so true... but I have to admit that when one iPhoner asked "where's the headphone jack on your little phone?" I couldn't help but smugly reply "jack? heh, I don't need... a jack"

+1
iPhone fanboys are lame, but good luck making them change their mind as Apple is a kind of religion for them.
Someday Steve Jobs will sue the apple trees for copyright infringment, and ask royalties to all peoples eating apples, then the fanboys will *maybe* realize...

ZOMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!!111one
What are you suxors talking about. You are all n00b Steve Jorbs pwns you h4rdc0r3! You don't even know LOLOLOL
"The dramatic recreation brought to you by JimmyMcGee"

nice Guide Draiko
i have to say that i'm seriously pissed about all those iPhoneys (that's what i call iPhone-toting Idiots).
Three of my Buddies own one of these things, and two of them ALWAYS take them out while we are at McDonalds 'cos there's a WirelessLAN HotSpot in there.
They order their food, take the tablets to our table and before they eat, they check their mails or look at stupid Videos on Youtube.
Meanwhile, their only lukewarm Burgers get cold, just like the fries... but hey, at least they were able to show off their stuff.
Take note that they have their iPhones for about... half a year now or so, and the fanboyism still has not lessened... not ONE bit.
Only one of the three is not taking his iPhone out on every occassion, just when he get an SMS or a Call... in which case i would also take out my WM6-Phone.
When he has something new on his Phone, he shows it to me but is not trying to stomp my Phone to the Ground in saying "my phone can do this and this and this".
iPhone Users like him i actually like, because they understood that it's a GODDAMN PHONE.

It is true that the I-Phone is a great device. It does not do as much as a PDA that is true but it does so the limited processes extremely smooth and I belive that is what Apple was going for. I personally love the fact that I can use MS Office apps on my phone. This means that I can do my homework before class and then print it out. I don't think I-Phone can do any of that. I can play just about any videogame rom out there on my PDA. I don't think the I-Phone can do that either. When it comes down to the bottom line, The PDA phones are more powerful and for more advanced users. My phone actually makes me learn and think when I use it.

To me, your forgetting one little new program: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=385227
proper youtube as well!

so far, two people I see on a regular basis have taken their iphones back after seeing my Sprint Touch in action. it's mostly due to Sprint TV and pointui.

My personal favorite is when I'm using my laptop and have my phone connected and they ask why.
"You can get the internet on your laptop through your phone at high speed without needing one of those PCMCIA or ExpressCards?"
If they're nice, I then ask if they want to use it as a router instead of paying for the stupid hotspot, and their eyes squint as they realize they've been left with an underpowered device.
But seriously... the ones who actually figure out how to access their files from anywhere and remote desktop their computers using the iPhone are actually mostly normal, since they are a step above the toy trike people I usually run into. These are the people that enjoy the device for bringing out some of its potential but are ALWAYS pissed there's no 3G and no support for editing common document formats (with the exception of word documents after hacking).
I do find it funny that the toy trike people will try to laugh about some WinMo interfaces trying to add functionality like the iPhone (mostly touch interfaces), but totally fail to realize that there are a lot of apps for iPhone trying to act like WinMo.
The iPhoneHacks site application section is just chock full of things copying WinMo apps... A few examples (with clarification of WM app when necessary): Handwriting recognition, MMS capability, copy/paste functionality, speed dial, internet radio (WMP compatible streams, resco radio), contact search, custom ringtones, VOIP apps, emulators, music apps (drum machine, etc), uploading photos to flickr (yahoo go), disk mode (wm5storage), instant messaging... I'll stop now.
Apparently, it's so innovative that it restricts you from doing basic things that all of our phones do almost from the get go.

well personaly i dont really get into
pissing contects / my dad can beat up your dad
situation with owners of phones
maybe thats just me

Rudegar said:
well personaly i dont really get into
pissing contects / my dad can beat up your dad
situation with owners of phones
maybe thats just me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally I don't either, but not only do some iPhone owners want to make sure they have the top Phone, they want to try and rub it in the face of any possible competition.
I had one too many iSmuggies bug me only to end up walking away crying because their $500 phone can't do as much.
One bit I saw on Family Guy sums it up...
Proud Dad: Hey, wanna see my kids?
Peter: No
*guy whips out his wallet, flips to his kid's picture, and starts punching Peter repeatedly in the face with it*
Proud Dad: Aren't they gorgeous?! Aren't they gorgeous?! Aren't they gorgeous?! Aren't they gorgeous?!!!!

Rudegar said:
well personaly i dont really get into
pissing contects / my dad can beat up your dad
situation with owners of phones
maybe thats just me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't either, but I will point out things to people that may not have all the information they need to make a good decision. I genuinely feel sorry for people that buy devices thinking they're buying the "best" because it's what everyone is excited about, and may not know what they're missing.

The iPhone does have a market... idiots and lazy people that don't like to read.

want to really put them to shame? heres a little list i came up with... (i can think of more but its my bed time)
• GPS Voice guided Navigation? – iNAV Guidance with Bluetooth GPS, aww the iphone doesn’t support serial over Bluetooth
• Google maps with GPS – aww the iphone only has crappy wifi location tracking that is usually 10kms off lol
• Sim contacts – aww the iphone cant copy your sim contacts to the phones internal memory
• MMS messages – aww have to pay for a 3rd party solution, and then after paying AT&T cuts off MMS from your account remotely due to your IMEI matching that of an iphone.. aww too bad
• Bluetooth OBEX transfer – aww you cant send pictures to your friend’s razr because your iphone’s Bluetooth stack blows chunks, cant send pictures, ringtones, notes, business cards or anything
• Bluetooth A2DP – aww have to use crappy apple headphones because the jack is recessed and you can use wireless headphones cuz the BT stack sucks a cow
• Its great when apple says the iphone has Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR and you can’t even use the 2.0 or the EDR part of it, (headsets generally don’t go past the 1.2 Bluetooth spec since its low quality audio and the pairing is the same)
• USB Card reader – aww iphone doesn’t show up as removable storage? How useless, not only do WM phones show up using WM5torage but they also act as a card reader (hot swap cards)
• 3.5/3.75G – aww the iphone doesn’t have HSDPA, not only that, EDGE is now 3 generations behind on wireless technology, the iphone has a lot of catching up to do
• Video calls – aww no 3g on the iphone so that means no video calling… too bad…
• Suggestive text – aww the iphone doesn’t help you type out long words, you have to do it all by yourself on a ****ty no feel keyboard
• Universal translator – aww the iphone cant do speech/language translations like WM phones can with ETACO universal translator
• Photo templates – aww the iphone only has a crappy 1 button operated camera, how ridiculous, no video, no burst shot, no color filters, NOTHING! What a POS
• LED flash – iphone doesn’t have any type of Led flash to light your way in the dark, I guess you’ll need to find someone with a TyTN to lead the way in the dark
• Batteries – aww your iphone died because you have a non removable battery where my tytn has the option of a replaceable battery as well as a 3000mah double sized battery
• Proprietary connector – aww cant charge your iphone at work cuz of the proprietary connector? I just use a standard usb to usb mini cable that I can find laying around from cameras, blackberries, Motorola’s, scanners, and pretty much any other usb peripheral device since they all use the standard mini USB connector.
• Headphone jack – hahaha you have to PAY again for an adapter to use your Shure headphones which you already paid $200+ on cuz the jack on the iphone is the worst design of mankind
• Keyboard sucks on the iphone since you cant rotate it in most programs? Well most windows mobile phones will give you a choice of keyboards in all modes of display as well as skinable interfaces, also if you don’t like OSK’s you can use the slide out KB found in most PDA phones 8125, 8525, 8925
• Non removable storage, too bad, the iphone flash drive is slow and non-upgradable, where as the microsd in my phone went from 1GB to 2GB (which was only $11.95 to buy) to 4GB now to 8GB with 16 and 32GB coming out this year, well looks like my 3 year old phone beats your brand new phone in the storage department. Also new Patriot MicroSD cards that have a class 6 rating can copy at 18MB/s, lets see your iphone do that, oh wait you can’t because your POS can’t even show up as a removable flash drive
• Getting tired of your iphone animation? Or just annoyed with it because most animations in general get annoying since it slows your productivity. Too bad no choice, on my tytn I can choose what I want or turn all animation off completely, hell I can even make it look like the iphone with the S2U2, S2P and S2V programs
• You spent $500 on a crippled phone that can barely make voice calls? Wow I only spent $200 on mine and I don’t have to pay a mandatory data fee, hell I don’t even need a voice plan since my pda phone(s) all start up even without a sim card.
• I can talk to my phone and it talks back to me (Cyberon or MS voice command) it even reads my appointments for me while im driving to work! Better pull over to the side of the road to fiddle with your iphone since you don’t have the tactile feel of buttons so you can navigate without looking
• You have to do WHAT to install apps? TFTP? SSH? Ridiculous, I just send an installer cab to my phone and tap it.
• I can RDP to email and files servers from my phone if needed (im in IT support BTW) with the iphone, you cant even get on the network since your not able to add the phone to a domain.

Draiko said:
I'm sorry if this sounds a little mean, but I've just dealt with another iPhone user who tried to walk up to me and iPhone me to death.
I'm sooooo tired of these smug iPhone fanbois walking up to me and trying to slam my Sprint Touch Setup. I'm sick of dealing with the iSmug that comes with the iPhone. If you're tired of it too, here's a guide on how to handle some iPhone-equipped lemming... (guide is a work in progress and not all iPhone owners are smug idiots)
1. Windows Mobile phone (preferably Sprint Touch because of Sprint TV or use MobiTV)
2. Microsoft Voice Command
3. PointUI (or choice of snazzy UI)
4. Opera Mobile 9.5 beta 405 (or above whenever that comes out)
5. Conduits Pocket Player (Shoutcast internet Radio)
6. S2U2 (optional)
7. PocketCM software of choice
8. SPB Fullscreen Keyboard
9. Unlimited 3G data plan
10. Jabra BT8010 (or Stereo Bluetooth -A2DP- headset of choice)
11. MicroSD card (4GB or more)
12. Games (optional)
Step 1: Install and get used to using the above software
Step 2: use normally, iPhone-toting individual will approach you (They usually walk up to me while I'm enjoying some Live TV)
Step 3: Answer their questions
Step 4: Smile at any remarks
Step 5: (Only in quiet area) When they show off the iPhone's interface, ask them the following "You still need a touch interface?" and show off Microsoft Voice Command
Step 5a: Show them GPS
Step 6: Throw in how much you've spent on your phone and headset
Step 7: Walk away while listening to/watching media of your choice using A2DP headphones
Optional note: If they try to show off Multitouch and/or auto-rotate, just shrug your shoulders, show how your device rotates the screen/zooms, and tell them that, while those are cute features, you'd rather have voice command, 3G, true GPS, live TV, removable battery, microsd card slot, handwriting recognition, ability to record video, A2DP, etc.. instead.
Congrats! You've just helped them realize that they don't have the best mobile device on the planet!
Keep the world iSmug free!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All that's nice, but you don't need any of that to put an iPhone owner down to shame. iPhone sucks by itself.

[email protected] said:
All that's nice, but you don't need any of that to put an iPhone owner down to shame. iPhone sucks by itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll pay fifty dollars for one that will suck.

JimmyMcGee said:
I'll pay fifty dollars for one that will suck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't get what you mean

What can a Diamond do?

I just bought a Touch Diamond -very nice phone with a couple exceptions.
Touchflo 3d is nice but Im finding it doesnt have much depth - it needs more functions. And the loudspeaker is not very good - not loud, not clear.
Anyways, its my first windows mobile phone and had a couple questions about what WM6.1 can do. Im using Vista btw.
1. Email - Im downloading ALL my email and its fairly big. Can I force it to save only to internal storage?
2. Music - How do you get the album photo to come up while playing through Touchflo music - the picture does come up if i just play in windows media player.
3. Is it possible to add/remove multiple contacts from the People Menu ie Favourite contact
4. Most important - connectivity. Is it possible to access the phone wirelessly from PC via router? The phone connects to the router wirelessly fine and I can use the internet. But what I want to be able to do is either access the internal storage or sync up with outlook without using the usb cable.
5. What kind of BASIC phone functions does it have?
Eg. Call timer during call
Stop it going to that call history page after a call - i want it to go straight back to home.
Theres more functions it seems to be missing....
6. How do you make it so it FULLY shuts down a program when u hit the top right close button? I dont want to have to keep re-hitting the top right button to open task manager and full close it that way.
7. Lastly, is there any secret tips that a newbie wouldnt know about eg. codes to get to secret menus etc?

1. I don't think so, but I don't download email, so somebody who does may be able to help.
2. Strange problem, probably to do with the version of ID3 tags each uses. But again I have no idea how to solve it
3. No idea with no device in hand
4. Microsoft, being twats, reoved sync via Wi-Fi with the upgrade to WM2003. So, sorry mate, no way that I know
5. My dialer on my other PPC has call timer I think, but the diamond's may not, a new dialer with it included may solve the problem.
Other stuff missing?
6. Get a proper x button, like WKTask, or Wisbar, or something similar. Its also probably possible to change the settings to make it close by tapping X. I also think that with the HTC program, you can close by tap and hold, or, from today, click where the x should be, and a menu comes up enabling you to close them individually.
7. Secret codes? Not that I know of.
Hope the small things I have known here do help
Rory

Yeah, 6 is definitely something that can be done in the standard Windows Mobile settings (unless they've removed the setting in 6.1, in which case a registry edit might do it).

I guess when the phone has been out for a while, a lot of registry tweaks and utils will show up around here to adress all kinds of small and big issues.

i was gona go for a diamond but look at htc touch pro. everything diamond plus hardware keyboard and memory expansion slot (minus front camera).

Found how to fully close the progam in one go - went to task manager - button - and chose "End Programs by tapping X"
Under this option is "End programs by tapping and holding X" which is the default.
I tried it and it does work but I dont like it. Coz u cant really tell how long to hold it. If u keep holding, the program actually just stays open until u release. And I guess if u release too early it wont fully close.
Anyways - thats not a huge issue - wireless sync is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Has anyone found a way to get around it?

Best you can do with WIFI is put the UNC name of your pc into the browser and bring up the shares.
If you want to sync wirelessly, you'll have to do it via bluetooth. You should be able to get a bluetooth dongle for your pc for about 20 bucks though.

OH YEAH!!!!!!!! Going through Opera to browse my PC directory - You little beauty!!!
Now, how do I set up a name for the diamond so I can see it on my PC. Is there a setting you have to enable? I browse for "PCs" and it doesnt find the diamond - just my other PCs

Apps I cant live without on my Kaiser

I'm gong to share my favorite applications/games for the Kaiser. Some tips may be thrown in as well!
Applications:
Memory Map weather radar
Just what it says, fast loading animated weather radar. With zoom support and location settings.
BTSpammer
This little program will send out vcards, images, or text messages to any device in range. It is VERY useful for walking around the mall to send bogus messages such as: Welcome to our store! Please note that while in our store it is policy to record phone calls, sms messages, and contact lists while you are on our property to help deter theft. If you do not agree with this policy please see a store manager or leave at once. Thank you for your compliance, store management.
WiFiFofum
Best damn ppc wardriving tool out there! Honestly, the only way my laptop could beat this app is to have a external GPS unit. I keep it on while I'm in the car to find exciting locations around the city. I recommend exporting to memory card in a folder than merging files as you go along. upload the results to a wardriving map so others can benefit on your findings.
Tilt keyboard fix
Does what it says. Fixes hardware keyboard assignments for custom roms. No more will I have to guess where ! is at
Resco Keyboard
I love this keyboard! I can use it with my fingers if need be. My only gripe is that the . @ and other common punctuation marks are in the number page. It drives me crazy to switch between numbers and letters so I installed a new skin in the included skin downloader.
Resco File Explorer
This comes in major use on a day to day basis for me. It can browse network shares, do FTP, and modify my registry. Not only does it have a touch friendly interface option, I find it much more useful than touch commander for most tasks. Built in search is fast and you can populate the window with results for mass selecting and modifying.
Sprite Backup
I use this backup program (from the makers of norton ghost) between ROM upgrades. It is so good that if you don't configure your restore properly you run the risk of reverting changes made in that new rom release to the one you upgraded from. Nothing outside ROM is safe from this monster, I have had no issues with multiple backups and restores
Safemode
There is a program for ppc called safemode. What is does it lets you go into a limited shell (accessible from splash screen) to remove applications, browse folders, modify the registry, and some more. Why run the risk of having to hard reset when you can just remove that today plugin that's making it fail I hate having to reinstall everything over again, now you don't have to.
Magi Call 2
I use this program a lot more than I will ever know since it runs in the background with a nice GUI for configuring it. Don't want someone calling you? Block em! Want to create custom rules for sms and phone numbers? MagiCall it! I found out about this little program when a ex girlfriend would not leave me alone. Now I have all sorts of telemarketers and spam blocked. Owning a Kaiser for any reason would be the addition of this program! Every phone should have it! (might want to try callfirewall. free and it is also a nice program fro here at XDA!).
Opera Mini
Sure Opera mobile and skyfire is great for media rich web surfing but I hate waiting for pages to load. If I need flash, I'll start up my Nokia N810 or netbook. Very very unbelievably fast while still retaining my loved feature of double click zooming. Comes with a option to sync with your desktop version of Opera. Have not tried that out yet.
nueGPSSecurity
I don't know how many times I have lost my phone in my house and this free program has saved me! I just send a sms to my phone via e-mail and the alarm will go off giving me a beacon to save the Kaiser. It's also good for remote tracking if your phone gets stolen and other features but I have not tried these yet since my phone has not been stolen.
S2U2 (slide to unlock 2)
I don't use the unlock function very much like other people do (you know, to check the time, I wear a solar powered atomic watch), instead I love the slide to answer function. I no longer fear answering my phone my accident because it is in my holster or pocket. Something that looks cool and is functional.
Newsflash RSS reader
Siimply the best RSS and podcast reader on the planet for my uses. Sure, the included RSS reader is fine and all but I listen to a lot of RSS based podcasts. This will also work for video podcasts. How it works is it saves the mp3s and mp4s (or any other supported format) to a folder you setup in the settings and let it rip! I run it in the background at startup and use manila's media page to listen/watch my feeds. This functionality should of been made in the phone.
To manage all of these applications I simply turn on "view hidden files and folders" and go to my device on my PC, then in the "windows/start menu/programs" folder I categorize all my apps into folders. This way, when I go into programs, i don't have to search forever to find a program. TIP! Make a favorite in windows explorer of the start menu folder. Having to go into windows then your start menu folder takes forever for the file list in /windows to load. You will have one click access to where you want to go.
I may of missed some but check out my application install list!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=470519
It does not go slow with so many apps as others believe. After all, what is installed doesn't slow anything down, it's what's running that does.

Thanks, I will take a look at your list and try a few what's new for me.

rockerrock said:
WiFiFofum
Best damn ppc wardriving tool out there! Honestly, the only way my laptop could beat this app is to have a external GPS unit. I keep it on while I'm in the car to find exciting locations around the city. I recommend exporting to memory card in a folder than merging files as you go along. upload the results to a wardriving map so others can benefit on your findings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you mean "Navizon" not WiFiFoFum or not?

I agree with a couple of those.
I've found that I'm increasingly dependant on Kinoma for news and music. If you haven't tried it out, look it up on Google. They have a free version which allows you to listen to shoutcast, youtube videos, news broadcasts and such, The $30 version allows you to listen to 1,000s of live broadcast radio stations and watch live tv streams and more. Most stations on shoutcast stream at 96-128kbps and they connect and stream very well over 3G / HSDPA
Also, WMWiFiRouter is essential for me so I can share my connection with my laptop, other PDAs, and other people that are around me.
I use Barcorama when I'm shopping sometimes to look up the best prices, pretty quick usually.
GRemote lets me control my laptop when I hook it up to my big screen in my bedroom without having to have a gigantic wireless keyboard.
Google maps and Live Search are also essential, each having their distinct advantages (Street View and routes in Gmaps and speech recognition and gas prices in Live Search) Both use GPS very quickly.
QuickGPS updater. Simple. Get it.
MyMobiler... omg.. that app is such a lifesaver. I have a lot of devices and the last thing I need to do is have my phone in the middle of my desktop. I can plug it into the USB port and put it behind my laptop and forget about the actual device. Paired with my BT headset, I can do everything without losing the multitasking I so love.
RSS Hub is a great one too. My wife loves it too because I'm spending as much time on blogs at home anymore.
SKYFIRE and OPERA 9.5 Best mobile browsers out there. I have used Opera Mini, but I found it to be a bit quirky and I don't really have an issue with speed since my network in this area is typically about 1MB down and 500k up.
TOMTOM7 ... 'nuff said. Best nav out there. Now with speed notifications and HOV lanes
Remote Desktop. Great tool for when I'm not at my PC to do simple tasks, also good for managing my TED install so I can make sure I get all my tv shows
Ah, and Fring. Which leads me to ask, is there a plugin for fring, or an app for winmo that does facebook chat?

great apps
i already had some of them. I tried resco keyboard and im practically hooked now.
^^^Gremote is pretty amazing too!

imho newest spb keyboard (4.1.0) is waaaaaaaaaay better than resco's.
don't want to hijack thread, but I also luv: coreplayer, s2v, nebopad and total commander
most of them are quite well known and nebopad is the BEST notepad app on ppc.
thank You for Your attention. goodbye..
br
bro

bronx said:
most of them are quite well known and nebopad is the BEST notepad app on ppc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely not better than Phatnotes?

Resco Explorer 2008
Total Commander (Always useful for copying over ROM files)
Resco Registry Editor
CorePlayer (i.m.o best video player)
PocketPlayer (i.m.o best audio player also shoutcast)
WVD (Handy for downloading the video as streaming can sometimes be a nightmare)
Opera Mini as only slow network speed
Opera v9.5
Skyfire
SU2U
SKTools (Handy for sorting out startup items and cleaning)
Mundu IM
Calendar Touch (Transfer from smartphone so wanted to keep same software)
Mobiion MagiCall
pTravelAlarm (Wouldn't get up in the morning without it)
SmartGear MAME
nodata (Piece of mind over data charges)
MochaVNC (Keeps me in contact with home when out and about)
WiFiFoFum (Keeps data charges down )
MyMobiler (Very handy for screenshots)
Spb Backup (All i can say is where would i be without it)
PIM Backup
SecilWeather (Like more info than M2D gives me)

stylez said:
WiFiFoFum (Keeps data charges down )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could someone explain to me what it is that WiFiFoFum does (other than have a great name)? When I turn on Wifi, my phone automatically scans for Wifi networks as it is, so what is the difference with WiFiFoFum?

WiFiFoFum!!!!
dancj said:
Could someone explain to me what it is that WiFiFoFum does (other than have a great name)? When I turn on Wifi, my phone automatically scans for Wifi networks as it is, so what is the difference with WiFiFoFum?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WiFiFoFum(agreed, a great name) always you to scan all Wireless Access Points broadcasted, including certain vitals as to their SSID's, WEP enabled or not, and other techie goodies. Plus, you can enable GPS and create an actual map of WiFi Hotspots for you and your friends. It also has a radar feature that shows WAPs in reference to you (I think it's just more for fun than practicality).
Also, I have never been able to get Barcorama to work on my phone. I have it installed with the netcf, but when i load the program and press the camera button, the whole thing craps out. even when i take a picture seperately and try to open it with barcorama it craps out. very frustrating cause it looks like it would be fun.

Sounds interesting - I'll give it a try. Thanks

l3it3r said:
Which leads me to ask, is there a plugin for fring, or an app for winmo that does facebook chat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For Facebook chat you might want to look over at this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=455263 Not tested myself, but know of it!
A useful post - seen some apps I didn't know about so will take a look. Will add my list another time when I'm not half asleep!

Stu_Can_Sam said:
Also, I have never been able to get Barcorama to work on my phone. I have it installed with the netcf, but when i load the program and press the camera button, the whole thing craps out. even when i take a picture seperately and try to open it with barcorama it craps out. very frustrating cause it looks like it would be fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to the settings for barcorama and check Live Scanning and Use Autofocus. Eliminates opening the camera and the whole clicking the shutter - i.e. inducing shaking. Just hold it over the barcode and it automatically detects it. Sweet program.

Java
YouTube
AudioManager
MyMobiler
HTC Album
Advanced Config
Comic Reader v1.2
GoogleMaps
Opera Mobile
Pandora
PocketRAR
TickerTape
Touch Response
wpbear_Proxy_Folders
Opera mini is very good whenever i'm on EDGE otherwise I prefer Opera Mobile.

pocket breeze - best today plugin for my tasks/appointments/messages
spb weather - best today plugin to show my current weather
ilauncher - great to show my favorite apps in today screen
pocket informant - best PIM
phatnotes - best soft to make text notes
phatpad - great to write in screen by hand
q3u - mail client with thread support
resco file explorer - best file manager
sbp finance - best personal finance manager
handyshpr - great to make lists
oggsync - sync google calendar with my pocket pc
powersms - with this app i can send multiple sms, status reports and more
worldcard mobile - create automatic contact by take a picture of business card
rss hub - great rss reader
spb backup - every day my devide is backed up at 4:00 am
wktask - show my apps opened like desktop computer
coreplayer - best video players
resco photo - best picture view
resco radio - great online radio listen
netfront - BEST browser
opera - great browser
opera mini - good browser
pexcel and pword - bests apps for sheet and large docs
pim backup - my second backup app, every day at 4:30am this soft be in action

renatomc said:
pocket breeze - best today plugin for my tasks/appointments/messages
spb weather - best today plugin to show my current weather
ilauncher - great to show my favorite apps in today screen
pocket informant - best PIM
phatnotes - best soft to make text notes
phatpad - great to write in screen by hand
q3u - mail client with thread support
resco file explorer - best file manager
sbp finance - best personal finance manager
handyshpr - great to make lists
oggsync - sync google calendar with my pocket pc
powersms - with this app i can send multiple sms, status reports and more
worldcard mobile - create automatic contact by take a picture of business card
rss hub - great rss reader
spb backup - every day my devide is backed up at 4:00 am
wktask - show my apps opened like desktop computer
coreplayer - best video players
resco photo - best picture view
resco radio - great online radio listen
netfront - BEST browser
opera - great browser
opera mini - good browser
pexcel and pword - bests apps for sheet and large docs
pim backup - my second backup app, every day at 4:30am this soft be in action
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my friend can you upload cab bc i want to instal in my tytnll

freshi said:
my friend can you upload cab bc i want to instal in my tytnll
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
No need to upload them again, there are many times on the the web or on this board, just need to search a little!
Check this out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=2276141

Does anyone have a working version of QuickGPS I can grab please? I tried the one in the Polaris thread but that wont install on my Kaiser...
Thanks

SPB Mobile Shell - Still the best and easiest to navigate today replacement
SPB Phone Suite - The ability to have the phone switch on and off automatically at set times is a godsend. I only have to charge every 5 days or so!

Stu_Can_Sam said:
Also, I have never been able to get Barcorama to work on my phone. I have it installed with the netcf, but when i load the program and press the camera button, the whole thing craps out. even when i take a picture seperately and try to open it with barcorama it craps out. very frustrating cause it looks like it would be fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check to see what you have your image size set to. It doesn't work in 3MP mode. I just installed it due to this thread and it's pretty awesome.
Thanks guys!
I love TinyTwitter, Coreplayer, Pocket Alarm MP3, TomTom 7, Google Maps, Windows Live Search, VITO Zoomboard, Skyfire, 1Calc, Palringo, Power SMS, Resco File Explorer, Resco Photo Viewer Pro, My Moblier, Resco Radio, Pandora, Mobipocket, Advanced Config, ThrottleLock, Pocket RAR, Pocket Goo (really fun app), Slydial (call voice mail directly), Microsoft Tag (I hope this catches on), VsPainter, Weather Watcher, Web Camera Plus.

few problems, user fixable or need to wait for update?

Love Windows Phone 7, don't really love the hardware quality of the HD7. There are a few software issue that I am hoping are user fixable and not something I have to wait for an update to address.
1. Search button behavior in Internet Explorer - it irritates me immensely that when you hit the search button on the HD7, it brings up the Google desktop website. Similarly if you enter text in the address bar it searches Google, not Bing. If I wanted to use Google, I'd have kept my Android device. Is there a way to change this yet, and set the T-Mobile USA HD7 to default to the Bing app and not the Google website? Its especially annoying because the results bring you to mobile formatted pages.
2. This is more of a complaint than a fixable issue until copy and paste comes, but I have noticed that the text type recognition doesn't work all the time. In some places if I click an address it goes to Bing Maps but other times it does nothing, it looks like it highlights the word I touch. I haven't been able to find any pattern in which sites work and which don't, but its frustrating.
3. Sometimes when I get a text message the notification sound plays all choppy. It does seem to happen only where service is bad. Is there a fix for this?
4. Office and Skydrive. Maybe I am just retarded but I feel like there should be a way to access my Office files online, specifically through SkyDrive since I can save to it from Office on the computer. Do I have to have a Sharepoint server to do this? Can I really not access my SkyDrive files?
If I remember more I will post.
Also, is there an ETA for Flash?

I have been playing with the skydrive and I added a few files to it to try and see if I could open them on the HD7. The thing is I can open them but have yet to figure out how to open them with Word on the HD7 so that I can edit them and save them back to the skydrive(copy & paste would be nice...meh...soon I hope). But I opened IE and logged into my Windows Live account and I can open anything I have saved on the skydrive, PDFs, word files, excel sheets, ppt presentation, pictures, etc. Now the only issue is editing those files, I haven't tried sending files Word, Excel, etc. to the skydrive and trying to open them on my PC. Will update later with results of further tinkering.

My issues with HD7
Like many people I love this phone but coming from Windows Mobile 6.5 and donw (isn't that weird to say), this phone is really lacking.
1) The Zune software is crap for lack of a better word. No Smart DJ; No Artist photos; no random track play etc. These are not deal breakers but if you came from the Zune HD like me then you'll feel let down.
2) Font Size. It might just be me, but not being able to set a minimal font size is ridiculous. I use the word ridiculous because even my first pocket Pc phone edition in 2001 allowed font resize.
3) No ability to sync my desktop mobile favs. Yes! I know of the work around but wasn't the point of the new OS to avoid all that crap.
4) I want to be able to sync with my local address book. This whole facebook and windows live thing . . . .Look at it this way, if your contacts are based through FB then if one of those contacts cancels their FB acct then you automatically loose all that data. Of course this is not a MS thing.
4) With my HD2 and HTC Sense, I was used to seeing ALL my FB contact photos. Again not an MS thing but . . . .
5) This is really more of a gripe than anything but the battery icon doesn't tell much.How come I can't see exactly how much juice I have left.
6) Unified Inbox, flash, cut and paste. These are all things MS was kind enough to make us aware off so they get a pass on those.
Where is the File Explorer?

c0wb0ycliche said:
Love Windows Phone 7, don't really love the hardware quality of the HD7. There are a few software issue that I am hoping are user fixable and not something I have to wait for an update to address.
1. Search button behavior in Internet Explorer - it irritates me immensely that when you hit the search button on the HD7, it brings up the Google desktop website. Similarly if you enter text in the address bar it searches Google, not Bing. If I wanted to use Google, I'd have kept my Android device. Is there a way to change this yet, and set the T-Mobile USA HD7 to default to the Bing app and not the Google website? Its especially annoying because the results bring you to mobile formatted pages.
2. This is more of a complaint than a fixable issue until copy and paste comes, but I have noticed that the text type recognition doesn't work all the time. In some places if I click an address it goes to Bing Maps but other times it does nothing, it looks like it highlights the word I touch. I haven't been able to find any pattern in which sites work and which don't, but its frustrating.
3. Sometimes when I get a text message the notification sound plays all choppy. It does seem to happen only where service is bad. Is there a fix for this?
4. Office and Skydrive. Maybe I am just retarded but I feel like there should be a way to access my Office files online, specifically through SkyDrive since I can save to it from Office on the computer. Do I have to have a Sharepoint server to do this? Can I really not access my SkyDrive files?
If I remember more I will post.
Also, is there an ETA for Flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Apparently carriers can change the search engine within Internet Explorer, and we can't do anything about it. Once someone gets access to editing the registry, maybe we will be able to change that. BUT I do have some help for you: Search something in Google, and then scroll down to the bottom, find the "Settings" link. Then you can change it to NOT format sites for mobile phones. That should make the experience better!
2. Addresses have to be in a certain format: #### N Street Rd, Zip Code. Like this address, 6362 N Calle Campeche, 85750. If it doesn't have the zip code after the street, it sadly doesn't recognize it. Hopefully they fix that, it's a great feature otherwise.
3. Idk, never had that happen.
4. You can access your Skydrive files and download them to your phone by going to the SkyDrive website (they have a mobile version), but you can't upload any documents from your phone or upload the changes you make in a doc you download. It has been rumored that SkyDrive integration will be implemented at some point.
alabij said:
My issues with HD7
Like many people I love this phone but coming from Windows Mobile 6.5 and donw (isn't that weird to say), this phone is really lacking.
1) The Zune software is crap for lack of a better word. No Smart DJ; No Artist photos; no random track play etc. These are not deal breakers but if you came from the Zune HD like me then you'll feel let down.
2) Font Size. It might just be me, but not being able to set a minimal font size is ridiculous. I use the word ridiculous because even my first pocket Pc phone edition in 2001 allowed font resize.
3) No ability to sync my desktop mobile favs. Yes! I know of the work around but wasn't the point of the new OS to avoid all that crap.
4) I want to be able to sync with my local address book. This whole facebook and windows live thing . . . .Look at it this way, if your contacts are based through FB then if one of those contacts cancels their FB acct then you automatically loose all that data. Of course this is not a MS thing.
4) With my HD2 and HTC Sense, I was used to seeing ALL my FB contact photos. Again not an MS thing but . . . .
5) This is really more of a gripe than anything but the battery icon doesn't tell much.How come I can't see exactly how much juice I have left.
6) Unified Inbox, flash, cut and paste. These are all things MS was kind enough to make us aware off so they get a pass on those.
Where is the File Explorer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yeah, I miss SmartDJ too. I never looked at an artist's pictures however. Their picture does load as a background image, but I know that's not what you're referring to. By random track playing, you mean Shuffle? In the now playing screen, tap on the album art, and then click the shuffle icon.
2. Font size depends on the user of course. I'm good with it as it is, but they should have made an option to change it. Maybe a future update.
3. Eh yeah. I don't use favorites honestly
4. You mean how the HTC Album app in WinMo could access all of your friends online Facebook photo albums, right from their contact card? Yeah I loveeeed that in HTC Sense. I was really disappointed when my WP7 didn't have something like that.
4.2. Umm, if a friend cancels their Facebook account, you don't loose anything that you stored yourself. Just add a contact's info into your Windows Live contacts, it will never disappear.
5. Maybe someone will write a battery percentage app. Idk.
6. I personally can't wait for copy/paste!
7. Microsoft made it decetly clear months ago that there wouldn't be a file explorer.

Thanks for the tips, and I'm really hoping someone figures out how to change the search option. It's annoying when my bosses WP7 (HTC Surround) pulls up the bing app in IE, and mine goes to the Google site. You can remove all carrier and manufacture apps (1 step forward) but can't choose your default internet search while your carrier can (2 steps back.)
Hardware wise, the issues I have are these:
After a couple days, the back and battery color have some discoloration. I don't have particularly dirty or clammy hands, so I don't know why this is. It weirdly also doesn't look like where my fingers actually are, so maybe it's heat related. I've seen similar issues on the Touch Pro and the G2. I think it has something to do with the soft touch material.
There is also a gap between the two pieces of the battery cover. This I have seen on literally every unit I've touched. Mine, my boyfriends, the demo unit at T-Mobile, and the ones at Best Buy.
Likewise, if you press search a little hard, you see like a ripple in the bottom right hand corner. This also was on every device I played with, so it's a general thing.
These things, for me at least, aren't deal breakers, but they are annoying, especially compared to the absolutely astounding build quality of the HD2.
...
anyway.
All of this stuff aside, I must say, my actual general usage experience with the device (again, more WP7 than the HD7 specifically) has been honestly, wonderful.
I've found that in my experience,true to Microsoft's goal, everything just works, and works quickly. Coming from Android (recently, after the HD2 I just couldn't deal with WM6.5) and having had every phone in between (iPhone, Palm Pre, a crap ton of Android phones, even a Symbian phone) I must say that I have had the fewest problems, and most fluid experience of all, on WP7. General usage stuff like calls, texts, e-mail, web browsing, social networking etc. are all just super fast and efficient (with maybe the only exception being Facebook's annoying load time, but its not horribly necessary with the "what's new" section in People. Also, despite some issues (like it taking me a week to realize you can click on the song list under now playing) the media and gaming is hands down the best I've had on a phone.

Ugh, is the T-Mobile HD7 locked into Google?
I thought the whole idea of the Search button was to get quick access to the Bing Search Application. Is this so or is it only the search in IE?
Hoping they'll add a way to change that ASAP.

Jonno2343 said:
Ugh, is the T-Mobile HD7 locked into Google?
I thought the whole idea of the Search button was to get quick access to the Bing Search Application. Is this so or is it only the search in IE?
Hoping they'll add a way to change that ASAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only in IE. Press Search from the start screen and it'll work like you expect (opening Bing)

Jonno2343 said:
Ugh, is the T-Mobile HD7 locked into Google?
I thought the whole idea of the Search button was to get quick access to the Bing Search Application. Is this so or is it only the search in IE?
Hoping they'll add a way to change that ASAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T-Mobile US variant of the HD7 works like this, in all places other than a) Internet Explorer or b) app that override the search button (like contacts) when you press the search key it bring up Bing. When in IE, it goes to google.com. When in an app with an override, it searches within that app.

c0wb0ycliche said:
The T-Mobile US variant of the HD7 works like this, in all places other than a) Internet Explorer or b) app that override the search button (like contacts) when you press the search key it bring up Bing. When in IE, it goes to google.com. When in an app with an override, it searches within that app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About your part B... that's how the search button is supposed to work, Windows Phone was designed like that. The T-Mobile USA HD7 is only different than other phones in part A.

as a few more days have passed, I also noticed that sometimes the Marketplace will lock up. The phone doesn't, I can still go back to the start screen, use all other apps etc, but when I go into Marketplace again it says loading and then goes back into to start unless I restart the device. Not a big deal, not too common, but still a bug. I think its related to the small freezes while browsing apps when it's loading the icons.

To clarify, you can upload and save your changes to SkyDrive. Simply tap down at the application settings and select synchronize. That will sync any changes with SkyDrive.
Sent from my HD7 using Board Express

Edit: it just works with OneNote.
But I think if you download excel doc from SkyDrive and make changes it will sync with SkyDrive?
Sent from my HD7 using Board Express

c0wb0ycliche said:
as a few more days have passed, I also noticed that sometimes the Marketplace will lock up. The phone doesn't, I can still go back to the start screen, use all other apps etc, but when I go into Marketplace again it says loading and then goes back into to start unless I restart the device. Not a big deal, not too common, but still a bug. I think its related to the small freezes while browsing apps when it's loading the icons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, that's a problem with just about everyone that has an HTC phone. I'm not sure if it affects Samsung and LG too, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does too.