vB Easy Archive - Software Request Thread

Pages: 1

Software Request Thread - incl register of intent
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: craigiecraigie4

This forum is desperately in need of a central point to collate software requests. I've taken the liberty of scanning a few threads, and collating a list of things people want (search to credit original authors and get more details). The idea now is that us users can grow this list, and programmers can 'register' their intent to solve the problem, thus avoiding stepping on each other's toes to some extent. The big guys can come here for ideas on how to enhance Tracker etc.
Some rules to keep this thread useful:

Start off with a capitalised single line:
- NEW IDEA: your new idea TITLE (graded as below)
- AUGMENT IDEA: add to an existing idea using that idea's TITLE
- INTENT: the idea you intend to tackle using the idea's TITLE. Expect to be hounded, and further expect to be slammed if you don't deliver and are all talk!
- EXISTS: a brief explanation that the app already exists if U R completely sure you understand the request; many requests are for better products than existing stuff. Indicate TITLE
For new ideas, let's grade them as follows:
- (1) Nice n simple such as proggie to scan call register and present it in a sorted list
- (2) Requires reasonable expertise to interact with phone files, such as tracking call usage and presenting accurate cost information against a flexible tariff system
- (3) Pretty clever stuff requiring knowledge of phone foibles eg SMan
- (4) Truly the domain of Psiloc and Symbianware including sophisticated games and emulators
- (5) Stupid: see next point
Please please let's avoid the unrealistic bull I keep finding like "Turn my p800 into a zooming 3 MegaPixel camera" or "speech to text" (it's true!!!)
We'll avoid collating levels of interest and appetite for payment here - it'll just make the thread noisy
No idea bashing nor debate - the thread will just get messy and unuseable. Perhaps we can start a separate thread intended to comment on this thread (moderator?)

OK, so here's a start:

SCREEN LOCK (1)
Screen lock and on-screen clocks are a common request. Key criteria seems to be time based autolock, clock visible when locked, maybe HandDay/tracker dayview visible when locked, backlight not to come on when screen pressed, battery consumption checked, hardkey unlock, and optional code to unlock
TODO LIST (2)
Better to-do list including 2-level sort capability, and more 'show' or 'don't show' options, repetitive events such as monthly taxes and better zooming.
BATTERY GRAPH (3)
Graph tracking remaining charge over time, and able to show consumption rate at any point in time (to see if you have something funny going on). Log of mean time between charges etc etc
GPRS LOG ENHANCEMENT (2)
Most providers charge in blocks, and U can never B sure whether it's prudent to use HSCSD and "free minutes" or GPRS. It would show something like "xx bytes transfered, yy bytes until next f'ing hefty block of charge kicks in"
MINUTE USEAGE TRACKER (2)
Track of outgoing call time, divided into peak and off-peak times (user defined). Key requests include ability to track consumption of 'free minutes', with warnings when limit is being reached. Must self-reset every month (user defined date). Ideally, it would allow users to input tariff rates for free, peak and off-peak periods to accurately track costs, and would present lists of calls showing cost per call for client billing purposes. Ideally this should be printable (flat file export). Note: Many many countries have not implemented the phone's built-in tariff capabilities due to very complex customer segmentation policies.
Other user inputs: peak/offpeak flag on main task bar, free minute countdown tmer next to this flag, free sms coundown too,
SCREEN CALIBRATION (3)
ALL these devices eventually lose calibration badly! I've tossed 2 Psions and 1 palm when the calibration finally went so far out that the calibration proggie could not detect the first tap. A calibration prog that uses numbers to adjust device back into tapable range would be a lifesaver - but only when we actually get stuck.
MIND MAPPING (4)
Several requests for mind-mapping jotter (ie jotter that helps draw those spider webs of interlinked ideas)
ROM EDIT (3)
Some way to edit the ROM drive. No explanation provided on what this would be used for.
CALL HISTORY (1)
Application to interact with call list to show in tabular view, filter by number, date, incoming/outgoing, etc. Generally a better vew of existing info stored in and by the phone.
KEYBOARD LAYOUT (4)
Existing keyboard popup is daft; (') is on the number page instead of character page, silly accented characters have a page but there is no numeric keypad page, numeric page has no uppercase set of keys to give us more stuff, ability to rotate and increase key size, and I'm sure there's more...
LEARNING REMOTE CONTROL (4)
Several requests for a remote control that learns and has macros. Requests come from ppl who HAVE tried IR_Remote.
CONTACT MANAGEMENT (3)
Batch edit contacts (eg put +2711 in front of all numbers), export to SIM and back elegantly managing multiple numbers for 1 contact and adding (m)(h) etc
TIME PROFILES (3)
Turns on and off functionality depending on time of day. eg no calls after 8, no SMS when I'm asleep, only "family" group after 5, etc
P2P (3)
File sharing like Kazaa etc
MARINER CALCULATOR (1)
In fact, I imagine that there are several industry-specific calculators in existence that one can crib functionality from. I vote for a Casio p800 (I kid you not!) emulator. It certainly got me thro a degree or two.
CAMERA QUALITY (4)
Many requests here. Not sure it's truly practical and I nearly 5'd this one. But some ppl seem to believe that software cna be used to augment camera quality. Whatever.
TOUCHPAD OFF (1)
Ability to automatically turn screen touching off when on a call, and only activate it deliberately rather than thro ear (earing I imagine) press.
MIDI KEYBOARD (2)
Ability to edit/sequence would be a bonus
MOSQUITO REPELLANT (1)
Easy provided p800 can reach these pitches. Would have to be tested and would have to be battery efficient
IR PRINTING (3)
Ability to print via IR to IR printers
VCARD MANAGER (2)
Ability to receive and send Nokia v.cards
SHORTCUTS (3)
Several requests for shortcuts to common tasks including IR & BT settings,
CONTRAST (3)
Ability to dim backlight and save battery and adjust contrast for videos
MACROS (3)
Read up on Palm macro proggie to understand possibilities through plug-ins
DELIVERY REPORTS (1)
On by default for each SMS
T9 (4)
Obvious licensing issues here...

Ideas not included as they seem to be under development:
Blacklist (Psiloc)
Profiles (Esato's Dragonfly??)
Many unrealistic browser requests ignored (Opera)
Spreadsheet/Word
Answer machine (Psiloc)
Autoclose programmes after time (SMan 1.2)
Video camera (CamApp or whatever)
Change icons

Posted by: Drait

heh, I like the mosquito repellent idea

I just got done downloading the SDKs... going to play with them a bit and see if I can't hack together some sort of active flip program, another feature left out, but frequently requested.

No promises of course

Posted by: Dimitri

Maybe it doesn't matter if the MOSQUITO REPELLANT drains the battery. -Well at least here in holland- because the only time mosquito's annoy me is when I'm trying to sleep and then my phone's right there on my bedside table charging...

Posted by: virtualrain

REMAP BLUE BUTTON FOR BLUETOOTH ON/OFF (1)
Allow remapping of the blue button to turn bluetooth on/off with each press.

Posted by: plevyadophy

@Craigiecraigie4

Firstly, I must complement you on starting another excellent thread. You really are becoming a star of this community (I now look forward to reading your posts and threads). Great stuff. Keep it up.

Anyway......

1) CALL RECORDER. (program grade. 2)

I think this has been requested numerous times on this and other forums. And it is a feature that exists on other SE phones.

Essentially, the abilitiy to record an entire phone conversation (i.e. both sides) or just portions of it.

Yes, I know it would be illegal at worst in some countries and excite the civil liberty groups in other countries, but there are ways of implementing it. For example, a little beep sound every 10 seconds to warn the caller that the conversation is being recorded or a automatic voice at the start saying "this call will be recorded"

2) SMS SEARCH/FIND (program grade. 1)

At present if you have lots of SMS/text messages, to find anything you have to wade through hundreds of messages. A real bloody pain!!!! GRRRRR!!!!

It would be nice to be able to enter a search string to search a particular SMS folder or all folders, for a particular message, a particular message title or a word within a message.

Perhaps other sophisticated features would be info on who you send the most messages too, the time of day most messages are sent, to which other mobile networks messages are sent etc etc

Posted by: craigiecraigie4

Thanks dude.

NEW IDEA: SMS MONTHLY COUNTER (2)
The T68i told u how many SMS's u had sent. You could set a reminder to reset the counter every month. A simple piece of s.ware could track usage by date, providing aggregated reports of weekly, monthly and cumulative totals. Logs could allow u to delete old sms's without negating the history. Sort functions could allow u to see how often u send to certain destinations etc. Ideally, the log would have a clever way to jump to the sms itself is still stored - or perhaps even a persistent record of SMS's sent and received in a compressed storage format!

Posted by: Drait

Quote:

Originally posted by plevyadophy
2) SMS SEARCH/FIND (program grade. 1)

At present if you have lots of SMS/text messages, to find anything you have to wade through hundreds of messages. A real bloody pain!!!! GRRRRR!!!!

It would be nice to be able to enter a search string to search a particular SMS folder or all folders, for a particular message, a particular message title or a word within a message.

Does this built-in find function not work through multiple folders or something? If I go to Messages, then Message, there's a Find, which allows me to put in text to search for.

Posted by: plevyadophy

@Drait

Well spotted pal

I like to pride myself on mastering any piece of equipment I have; so that I don't ask silly questions regarding functions that I ought to be able to find or know about.

Well, hands up I am guilty. The first time I have ever asked about something that was there all along. Caught red handed!!!

I guess the P800 is so feature rich that even I overlooked/forgot about a particular feature.

Just to point out/confirm, the FIND facility will find a given word no matter where it appears. So if you enter "Dave" it will find the word in the heading, the text body and the contact name of person you sent SMS to.

Only thing is you cant selectively opt to search only in title, text body, addressee's name.

And yes, it will search through all folders.