MDA Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Questions Thread!!!

Originally Posted by jonazen

Hey MadDog -

I know you posted this a few days back (about 10,000 posts ago! This forum is on steroids it seems!)...but I just got around to testing what you're talking about. Right now, I've got a couple of different email accounts I look at with the MDA. My "normal" business account just gets synched via ActiveSync when I plug in via USB (I'll be changing that later - just haven't decide how i want to do it yet). I also have a decided "mobile account" on another ISP, and have that one being monitored by T-Mobile's "my email" server - so I can also check my 3rd party ISP email account "jonmobile" via T-Mobile's website or via the MDA (having imported the "my email" settings from T-Mobile to the MDA).

Anyway -- I tried both accounts: sent email to my "mobile account" with a link in it, and also sync'd with Outlook using ActiveSync to bring the email over to my MDA. Both email msgs had links embedded in them (links to HoFo, actually).

...and both links were completely "live" -- one tap, and they loaded up PIE and brought me right to the page that the link pointed to.

I wonder if the link's "default tapping behavior" got messed up on your MDA when you started installing other browsers?

Originally Posted by robpet2

my mda finally got some pep, downloaded omap overclock and my mda is smokin (set at 240), now I just need me another stylu for backup - does anyone know where to get the oem stylus???? now I need a backup for my backup

Originally Posted by jonazen

Sorry to beat this to death - I know we've touched on this in more than a few posts. But I'm having trouble locating them now, and the posts I'm finding aren't giving me any concrete answers.

I've got SPB Weather installed as a Today plugin. Looks great, and there are various skins available too to make it even prettier. I finally resolved the issue of which template to use. Seems that the WeatherNetwork template was pretty good -- but did NOT provide extra info such as humdity, windspeed and changes in temps forecast throughout the day. (you're supposed to see that kind of extra info when you tap on a day in the weather display). I searched a bit, and it seems that on the PDAGold website where there are about 10 templates offered, the one called "W_Channel" is really for the Weather Channel as a data source. When you read the explanations (very skimpy) for the fact that SPB Weather only includes a template that points to a Russian weather source, and then consider the fact that this template is called "W_Channel", it's easy to infer that there must be some silliness going on with WeatherChannel threatening SPB with some kind of licensing or trademark infringement legal action. ANYWAY - the W_Channel template is excellent.

I come back to the question, though, of "auto update over GPRS". I could have sworn that my install DID update itself a few times over the first couple of days. But for the past 24 hours, no matter WHAT I have my options set to, it will NOT auto update over GPRS -- I have to request the update (which works just fine!). Was there ever any resolution on this question???

With that in mind, I also started to look at SBSH Weather, Fizz Weather and WeatherPanel as potential alternatives. WeatherPanel certainly has a ton of features -- but I've read that it's HEAVY, downloading LOTS of info, sometimes tying up a device. Also - the lone developer seems to show his face perhaps once a year, so support is meager at best.

SBSH Weather sounds good, but I can't tell if it will auto-update over GPRS. Anyone able to comment on this? (i3onk - you have this, don't you???).

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

That's a good questions, cause you would think that is so normal, not sure, but I3onk had same issues, I remember discussing it with him in detail a few millinions posts ago, and also remember telling him when I got Spb Diary it worked nicely. Not sure, wish I knew.. Surprise you don't have your own POP accounts having your own website? My biggest pet peeve to that ordeal though, was the PB did not offer email links on Today screen. It seemed all the email was just text and links were not highlighted as links, unless that was an issue associated to the email issue??

Originally Posted by robpet2

the silent sms message/alert counts as a text message...(per convo with csr)

Originally Posted by robpet2

I thought the same thing but sometimes you have to check your msg balance- I asked this manager cause of a problem with an old damaged phone that I forgot to return, and asked them about all the hidden charges and stuff since you are kind of forced to get the 30dollar internet package, and he said you get charged for the silent sms text(so I have to check my msgs like everyday by dialing #msg# then send...
oh yeah question to all, I have a 256 mb card right now and my 2gig card is on its way(found one for 69bucks with 7dollars shipping) but can I just plain old copy all the stuff from my 256mb card to my PC then to the new 2gig card without losing the original paths/correct links to programs... don't want to have to go thru the problem of having to reinstall everything.

I'm still debating this whole custom rom upgrade (having a lot of bad luck ) don't want my phone to turn into a brick / or ruin the chances of using the warranty if I ever have to.

Originally Posted by i3onk

ok guys I have a problem, this is WAAAAY off topic but I am having a major issue today, and really need to get it fixed. I was working on my gf's brothers pc. Installed more ram and tried going wireless network. He is running windows me. Wireless didn't work, so I removed the nic and uninstalled the drivers. The ram works fine. when I went to dial-up it got a 46666 kb connection, and showed it transmitting and receiving data. When I went to go to a website, internet explorer doesn't see that it is online. won't pull up any website. Keeps giving me a dns error. Aanyone know what might be causing this issue? really don't want to let her brother down. I feel really ****** right now

Originally Posted by jonazen

I cut my weather updates to once a day with SPB Weather...main memory is "fair" now, I guess... It's 9:45pm and I'm down to 12.52MB, after starting the day at 1.98MB when I unplugged the USB cable at about 7am. Battery is down to 56% also, which is weird. I could have sworn it was lasting a lot longer before. I have to keep an eye on this.

Re: email - I DO have my own POP3 accounts -- about 12 of them. Also have 6 Comcast email addresses. I keep one these 18 dedicated as a "mobile" account. It's "registered" with T-Mobile's "my email" page -- they'll monitor your own POP3 or IMAP4 accounts and notify you via silent SMS when the new email arrives at your server. If you mirror these settings (e.g., POP3 and SMTP servers, logon and password) to your phone, T-Mobile's "my email" monitoring service sends the silent SMS messages to trigger a send/receive on your phone. It's ALMOST like push email -- the ONLY problem is that T-Mobile only checks your account once every 15 minutes, so there's a bit of a lag. Not bad for a free push email service, but I want to work on making it realtime (without having to worry about BB or exchange server).

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

I hate to make suggestions that may not help you, but I would tell your gf's brother to get away from ME. It was the worst OS ever. Windows 98SE was more stable. Anyway, lets see. I have not worked on a 98 in years too, since I had NT, and 2K, now XP. I have not worked with dial up for thousand years, so it seems, but I will assume your talking about an internal modem 56k that is not getting the job done. Also that your glr's brother is using AOL, or some ISP that logs him in, before u can use IE? The ISP software may be having issues now. The ISP has to log u in first to get server access to internet.

Old School bro, only help I can give u on this. In trouble shooting modems I would first reset PC, and hit the F8 key on startup, and see if there is a "last known good bootup file/configuration file, before the install of NIC.

Upon good boot, if that did not help, modem still giving issues, I would start Windows in "Safe Mode" and remove modem drivers, afterwards even remove the modem, then reboot. Then turn off computer and install modem again, well seeded. Why? Windows ME/98 was a weird animal, if you remove drivers in Safe Mode, and the modem, then install the modem again, windows Me will think it's new installation, and you can re install the drivers. Modems go bad phisically, even if they look like their working. You may have to re install newer driver versions for modem, and get them off another PC on internet. If I had another modem around with drivers, I would try another modem.

Sorry bro no easy answer, I trouble shot pc's for years, but always in a tech shop with extra parts, and other pc's around me with internet access, cause this can be frustrating without some resources around you.

This type of problem can drive you crazy, cause you don't know if it's a new phisical modem problem, or software corruption.

Good Luck

Originally Posted by i3onk

Actually using MSN dial up account. its just really weird man. The dial up works. Get connected at 46666 and getting data sent and recieved but the IE wont go online. I know my way around a PC pretty darn good. I would like to concider myself almost an expert. (Expert being someone who has made EvERY mistake and learned to fix it) but I havent hit every mistake yet, LOL.

I told my GF the same thing. That ME sux big time. he has a presario. P3, 700Mhz. he NOW has 256M of RAM(was 64M) until I hooked him up. Told her XP may be a bit slugish on his PC and that I could hook him up with 98SE with no worries. The modem is actually a card, and he has a NIC card as well. I figure I can get rid of both cards and just put in the wireless card. I walked a few houses down from him with the MDA out checking WIFI signals and pulled up 3 and connected to all of them. Im sure with a good DLINK like I gave him he will have no problems doing the same.

I just feel bad, feel like I let them all(mom, dad, brother, and GF) down. I calim that PC's are "MY" thing, and I "F" it all up.

I am going to talk to him and let him know, that if he gives me his PC for less than a week(prob 2 days tops) I will have him up and running with 98SE, wireless, and I thing I have a 40G HDD to hook him up with to accompany his 20G that came with his PC.

I just wish I could have done it all today. Spent way too long on the IE issue.

Thanx for the input MadDog, you just confirmed what I was thinking anyways. winME "OUT" 98SE "IN"

Originally Posted by i3onk

I just feel bad, feel like I let them all(mom, dad, brother, and GF) down. I calim that PC's are "MY" thing, and I "F" it all up.

I am going to talk to him and let him know, that if he gives me his PC for less than a week(prob 2 days tops) I will have him up and running with 98SE, wireless, and I thing I have a 40G HDD to hook him up with to accompany his 20G that came with his PC.

I just wish I could have done it all today. Spent way too long on the IE issue.

Thanx for the input MadDog, you just confirmed what I was thinking anyways. winME "OUT" 98SE "IN"

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Just curious about you bro.. >>snip<< Now I use technology to the tilt, but only for me, and my mortgage busines.

Originally Posted by jonazen

Been in my own business for about 14 years, after stints working in banks, manufacturing companies (in IT and management) and three consulting firms (IT and management consulting). In my own business, it's been everything from software development through management consulting for some Fortune 100 clients (e.g., IT strategic planning for the CIO, enterprise architecture, organization evaluation, etc). Neat stuff - never boring.

A lot of the software work that we used to do frequently has started to be outsourced, so that part of the business became far less profitable. The effort to sell management consulting work is also a challenge because I'm competing head-to-head with billion dollar consulting firms like McKinsey and KPMG -- and as good as I might be, they have far deeper resources to throw at large complex projects. So I'm very close, now, to considering setting my own business aside (or having a relative and/or colleague take it over), and taking a senior role with another company. If I do this, it will just be hard after so many years on my own to think about being somebody's "employee"....has to be a compelling offer...

Originally Posted by nyvram

LOL Jon...I'm starting to wonder how many of us MDA geeks were developers in a former/current life. I think that has something to do with how patient we are with these phones and how we don't freak out when we have to do a hard reset.

Originally Posted by i3onk

Actually using MSN dial up account. its just really weird man. The dial up works. Get connected at 46666 and getting data sent and recieved but the IE wont go online. I know my way around a PC pretty darn good. I would like to concider myself almost an expert. (Expert being someone who has made EvERY mistake and learned to fix it) but I havent hit every mistake yet, LOL.

I told my GF the same thing. That ME sux big time. he has a presario. P3, 700Mhz. he NOW has 256M of RAM(was 64M) until I hooked him up. Told her XP may be a bit slugish on his PC and that I could hook him up with 98SE with no worries. The modem is actually a card, and he has a NIC card as well. I figure I can get rid of both cards and just put in the wireless card. I walked a few houses down from him with the MDA out checking WIFI signals and pulled up 3 and connected to all of them. Im sure with a good DLINK like I gave him he will have no problems doing the same.

I just feel bad, feel like I let them all(mom, dad, brother, and GF) down. I calim that PC's are "MY" thing, and I "F" it all up.

I am going to talk to him and let him know, that if he gives me his PC for less than a week(prob 2 days tops) I will have him up and running with 98SE, wireless, and I thing I have a 40G HDD to hook him up with to accompany his 20G that came with his PC.

I just wish I could have done it all today. Spent way too long on the IE issue.

Thanx for the input MadDog, you just confirmed what I was thinking anyways. winME "OUT" 98SE "IN"

Originally Posted by jonazen

Been in my own business for about 14 years, after stints working in banks, manufacturing companies (in IT and management) and three consulting firms (IT and management consulting). In my own business, it's been everything from software development through management consulting for some Fortune 100 clients (e.g., IT strategic planning for the CIO, enterprise architecture, organization evaluation, etc). Neat stuff - never boring.

A lot of the software work that we used to do frequently has started to be outsourced, so that part of the business became far less profitable. The effort to sell management consulting work is also a challenge because I'm competing head-to-head with billion dollar consulting firms like McKinsey and KPMG -- and as good as I might be, they have far deeper resources to throw at large complex projects. So I'm very close, now, to considering setting my own business aside (or having a relative and/or colleague take it over), and taking a senior role with another company. If I do this, it will just be hard after so many years on my own to think about being somebody's "employee"....has to be a compelling offer...

Originally Posted by osa500

here is a calender plug in that lets you view more than one appointment on the today screen....works pretty good i had it for my old ppc

http://www.mohairsofa.com/Default.aspx/document/10

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

So I take my hat off to you Jonazen, cause computer industry is a mystery to most, hard to crack, especially in those big arenas, and hard on your mind. Just keeping up with technology at your level can drive a man to drink .

Originally Posted by jonazen

How's your free mem working? I was surprised to see my free mem from from about 20mb on restart down to about 9mb as of 3pm today. I restarted my MDA about an hour ago and confirmed that I had just under 20mb. Now I'm down to 13mb already.

Is there a memory leak in SPB Weather???

The ONLY other change I've made in this device in the last couple of days was the settings for ContactBreeze (static and default = "full").

Worrisome! Prior to yesterday, there was a slow leak, but I'd still have 14mb or more after 12 hours of use.

Originally Posted by jonazen

New day, new experiences. Seems that WM5 does some odd things on its own from time to time -- probably just to keep us on our toes.

I have made NO changes to my phone in a couple of days, so imagine my surprise when I booted it up this morning and saw the error message pop up indicating that it could not execute "pzptoday" (that's the program that starts up the PocketZenPhone today plugin). Huh? I thought it was a fluke, so I did a couple more soft resets, and it happened every time.

I did some searching, and found that all the files are in the right place. Then I looked at the Today screen settings (since PZPToday IS a plugin). I rearranged them a couple of times -- but that should only affect that visual ordering on the screen. Then I rebooted -- and it flew through with no error message.

Go figure!

Just for kicks, I checked available memory -- 20.07MB. Gets more interesting -- last time I did this, I started out with about 19.5MB, and it dropped to 13.5MB in just about an hour. My MDA has been on now, since the last restart, for about 2 hours -- and I'm still showing 20.06MB.

Not complaining! Just wish I knew why it seems to change from boot to boot. Almost as if this is a crude multi-tasking operating system, various processes are seeming to start up at their own pace -- which can vary depending on a variety of factors, and when the sequence is right it works, and when the sequence is NOT right, things blow up.

I don't think the world is ready for "Windows for Pacemakers" just yet...

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Not sure about Spb Weather leaks. I would have to remove it for a couple days, or restore without it. I am having some weird stuff happen too. My today screen changed on it's own today. Stuff re arranged on it's own. I have same issues with RAM. I have not gotten mine over 20MB at all, so your ahead. I boot up to just over 17MB, and have to use SKRam Up immediately after soft reset to get just under 20MB, about 19 something. Weird! My Ram also goes down drastically to 12 or so during day, sometimes for no reason. Weird! My backlight keeps defaulting back to 10Sec for no reason, weird!

Also have had some lock ups lately. Just like you, not complaining, just weird stuff. Enouph to possibly cold boot and reload everything in different order, or just keep some things off for a while to see if it's not Spb Diary, Spb plus, weater, what ever. But I have come such a long way with modifying the MDA, that it hurts to think about doing it all over again. An I am really happy with the look and feel, just a hassle with some of the issues.

Originally Posted by Nasty111

okk....sorry about this but I'am way behind on this thread and I tried reading some of the pages to help me with my questions but 189 pgs is killing me....One of my questions was do i have to buy that $30 data plan to get access to the internet and Aim??....i have the phone and i purchased it around 3 days ago and there telling thats the only way to access the internet and Aim, but from some of the pages I had read here, I herd that there is a possible way that i can access it through t-zones for a much cheaper price....if anyone could help me i would appreciate it....thanx...

~Chris~

Originally Posted by i3onk

I have always told everyoen I know. DO NOT BUY a PC, build it.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

The answer is very clear NO! But here's the detail.

You have the POWER to get on Wi-Fi without TMO's Hotspots. The key is, finding a FREE BEE wi-fi. Now I use something that helps me a lot, I have reffered it to others here, as I3onk can testify to it's worth while buying. That's Wi-Fi Companion http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=20127

The 30 pkg from TMO gives you access to HotSpots using Wi-Fi, case in question, Kinkos/FedEX places, Starbucks, too many to mention, google TMO Hotspots. But for me I don't pay! For others who need Wi-Fi on the road all the time, they pay, like Jonazen, and I believe I3onk pays too, they uses his wi-fi more than I do, and also use Edge/GPRS also. Mind you Edge is slower than Wi-Fi, so if ur at a Starbucks Wi-Fi takes place over Edge. But if your in a remote area with no Wi-Fi Hotspot at all, Edge can be a blessing.

I get away with using Free Bee Wi-Fi at libraries, my favorite breakfast place, many Free Bee wi-fi, even the Oralando Airport has Free Wi-Fi access. What does Free Wi-Fi mean? It means no Encryption Key required. You will find many routers and wi-fi around town, even in neighborhoods, but many are Encrypted, like mine. But many are also not. Wireless is a free radio frequency, no one can stop u from using it. Just like am/fm radio. But companies like TMO, who are a business, will charge you to use their routers at locations where they know you hang around. They use broadband, just like your using, with a router and some configuration to keep you out, unless you pay. If I go to Kinkos, for example, I immediately get access to TMO's wireless on MDA, but soon as I click on my browser, I get a nice little welcome msg from TMO, something to the fact that I am not a registered user, but can nicley charge it to my crdit card right there and then. Also keep in mind TMO offers FREE BEE Wi-Fi at Hotspots some weekends on promotional deal. After Frinday Midnight, you get same msg but this time they send you a free key to get on, on Sun even 12M the free bee ends.

The wi-fi built into your MDA is not designed by TMO. It is a technology available on many devices, like laptops, computers, ppc's and others. Anyone with built in wireless can get on TMO's Hotspots, if they have a key, or pin, or what ever they call it. The built in Wireless utility with the MDA is mediocre, not as good as wi-fi companion when it comes to graphically making sense of what I just said.

I use AIM often for FREE! I don't use the IM that came with the MDA, that is not for FREE. It uses your cellular to allow you to send txt msgs, and you get charged. Anytime you send a txt msg to another person, no matter what TMO charges you. So if I go to my contacts, it has a nice TMO feature to send a txt msg to any person, I can choose to, or not, but get charged a minimal fee if I do.

I use AIM 2.0 to get on line and chat, or send msgs via AIM 2.0 which is the Internet version that uses my MDA Wi-Fi broadband from my home office,or from any Free Bee Wi-Fi. I have a wireless router so can get my wi-fi FREE anytime from any location in my home that gives me a good signal. I sometimes get my neighbors FREE BEE wi-fi, in some areas of my home that my wirelss does not reach clearly, and can get on internet for a while using my good neighbor router, but I respect that and don't abuse it, but he has no Idea I am on Net over his wirelss router. How is that possible? He does not use 128 bit encryption to keep others off his router.

You can get AIM 2.0 on google, but I have made it easy for board friends at my ftp site. http://www.jcvlending.com/maddogx007/index.html

Good luck.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Here's what I was talking about earlier, not sure how "normal" people deal with this.

Oh well..

Originally Posted by nyvram

Hey Jon,

What is your opinion on the fact the JUNI skin doesn't support the E and G icons. Does that bother you or do you know if he's planning to update them? I'm just trying to figure out which way I want to go on 'skinning' my PPC.

Originally Posted by Nasty111

thanx a lot madDog....i understand more about the wi-fi connection and how to use it for accesing free interent at certain places....with that wi-fi companion i downloaded the free trial version but i get an error message saying "ONe or more components of WLAN Tools were not found, or there are too few resources available to start the program. Please verify proper installation of WLAN Tools and try again."...i havn't purchased a mini sd yet, could that be the problem??.....also the reason i bought this phone was more for lyk a sidekick2 use because i didn't feel lyk waiting for the sk3....i now understand that they have much different uses and that the mda is at a much more complex level, at least for me.....i also think I'am going to go ahead and purchase that $30 data plan juss for the reason that I'd lyk to have aim and internet service where ever I go....I also have unlimited txt so I dont think the OZ Aim Program that came with the MDA will affect my bill....I really would lyk to learn more about all the features this phone has that i have no clue about....about the RUU 2.17 ROM Upgrade would these be a benifit to my MDA??....whats the difference?......again i appreciate your time and effort....

~Chris~

Originally Posted by nyvram

LOL..that's the truth! I am sitting here typing this on a Dell 400sc (server-class) computer I bought through a deal on gotapex.com several years ago..long story short..someone figured out this computer which Dell was selling for roughly $400 had the same logic-board as the $2,500 XPS..althought the AGP slot, etc. were not "officially" supported by Dell. Long story short, I ended up with a 3.2Ghz HT computer with 160GB HD & 1GB RAM, DVD burner, CD burner & Dolby card for less than $400!

Of course I had to do EVERYTHING from digging up the drivers to support networking & AGP slot to cutting a hole in the front of my case to give me access to the 2 USB 2.0 slots there to buying a copy of XP to install (it came without an OS)...it was SOOO worth it and we had a blast setting them up.

Because there were so many people jumping on this deal, there was a forum (just like HOFO ) bursting with tips & tricks. AFter a month of tinkering, this thing has been a rock solid performer..and nearly 3 years later its still among the best PCs on the market.

Here's aaltonen's site:

http://aaltonen.us/archive/2003/07/...oweredge-400sc/

Haven't been there in awhile but seems its still going strong!

Originally Posted by Nasty111

thanx a lot madDog....i understand more about the wi-fi connection and how to use it for accesing free interent at certain places....with that wi-fi companion i downloaded the free trial version but i get an error message saying "ONe or more components of WLAN Tools were not found, or there are too few resources available to start the program. Please verify proper installation of WLAN Tools and try again."...i havn't purchased a mini sd yet, could that be the problem??.....also the reason i bought this phone was more for lyk a sidekick2 use because i didn't feel lyk waiting for the sk3....i now understand that they have much different uses and that the mda is at a much more complex level, at least for me.....i also think I'am going to go ahead and purchase that $30 data plan juss for the reason that I'd lyk to have aim and internet service where ever I go....I also have unlimited txt so I dont think the OZ Aim Program that came with the MDA will affect my bill....I really would lyk to learn more about all the features this phone has that i have no clue about....about the RUU 2.17 ROM Upgrade would these be a benifit to my MDA??....whats the difference?......again i appreciate your time and effort....

~Chris~

Originally Posted by i3onk

OK boys and girls, there is an update for SBP Pocket plus, released on 4-7-06, available at

http://spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/pocketplus/?en

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Who needs a secretary when we got, good job Bro

I discovered a couple of other nice things about Pocket Plus. I created a tab for Spb Weather, which is cool, cause it removed Spb Weather from today, and put a cute little weather icon on a tab, giving me more space. So now I have 4 tabs, home, system, games, and weather, but only use the icons to represent, since I know what's in those tabs. Also there is a feature in Spb Diary to make scrawl space a little smaller or bigger, like PB. Nice

You just got to spend sometime digging this stuff up, cause Spb is awesome!

Darn i ws going to install right away, but realized WM5 has some issue un installing, maybe it will not be able to un install the older version cleanly, that means anothe backup restore, geting complicated.

Originally Posted by henrykahn

what features in the MDA make it better than the treo?

Originally Posted by i3onk

Try this man. Make sure there are no references to SBP Pocket plus running. Turn off all of the options on it. ie....ok/close button, battery meter and remove it from your today screen. Then try uninstalling it. That seasm to be the only time i have issues uninstalling something. Then reinstall.

Originally Posted by i3onk

Actually it does, its just not an e or g. I don't have my skin installed right now, but I think it was the icon all the way to the left. I'm going to do some testing today with wisbar again, so I will verify it and let you know in just a few minutes.

Ok I checked it out, its the connection icon that replaces the E/G icon. It shows activesync activity and the gprs/edge activity with two moving arrows.

Originally Posted by whodatfever

Bought it last week and am having some issues with it. Please help if you can.

Any way to transfer my ACT! contact to my phone? Does ACT! make a compatible mobile software that works with the MDA?

How (or can I) access T-zones from this thing.

About WI-FI: I have tried some settings and I'm not getting a reliable connection. Sometimes I'll click on a website a message pops up that says "cannot connect" and then it will connect after I hit "dismiss"? What should I have in the connections settings? so it will pick up WI-Fi (Not Tmob hotspots)

What will the 2.17 ROM update do for me and where do I get it?


What softare should I absolutely put on this thing to optimize it's capabilities?

Thanks for any help

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Very Interrrrresting, but what happens to Spb Weather, and Spb Diary, after I uninstall Spb Pocket Plus... hmmm?

Originally Posted by nyvram

I see that..but in the normal view I can see an "e" with the little arrows or a "g" with the little arrows or an "antenna icon" with the little arrow so I know at a glance if i'm on G, E or WIFI. In addition, when OFF, I see a square with a big E or a big G.

It doesn't appear to me JUNI represents all those states..unless I'm missing something.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

One questions at a time bro.

1st. Yes Act can work with MDA, but you will have to buy the PPC version act which syncronizes with PPC and table top ACT. I use to use it, frankly still got older version, loved it, have not messed with it since my first PPC, don't know why. But if I wanted to I would have to upgrade the ppc act version to WM5. Google it bro, got to be there somewhere, popular contact management software.

2nd. T-zones is not my specialty, maybe I3onk can share some light on this. I think it has to be setup by TMO with passwords, email etc..

3rd. look a few posts up from you bro, I just gave some guy complete answers to your wi-fi non hotspot questions, just today. There is no much to have in your connections. The question is, wht r u trying to connect to. Obviously not a hotspot, but wht? Your wireless router at work, home? A library with Free wireless? The MDA is basically setup so that once it sees a wifi it connects you automatically since it does not require a encryption. Again, the best software for this is Wi-Fi companion. But the one available on the net as try before u buy is a bit older for WM5. Above next to that post I gave that other guy, you will see I3onk's link to the new Wifi companion, check it out, its the best in town for connectivity with wi-fi. Mda comes with basic utility, hard to read, especially if ur new to this.

4th. The 2.17 is the newest ROM upgrade to the OEM Version currently on your MDA. But it's not from TMO. I hope ur clear on this. Cause if you need tech support and tell them that u upgraded to the 2.17, your out of luck. Also if your under warrantee and need to send back ur phone, ur out of luck. TMO has not released their official ROM UPgrade yet, and no time schedule. What will it do for you, it makes MDA run smoother, but it's a custom TMO Rom upgrade. Again, hate to send you hunting, but this topic was covered in serious detail a few weeks ago, if not longer, when I3onk, Jonazen, and myself upgraded. Serious research here for you bro, but worth the time.
To get it go to my ftp site: http://www.jcvlending.com/maddogx007/index.html. There u will also find the newest version of Wi-Fi companion. But I highly suggest your consult with myself, I3onk, or Jonazen, before you embard in the prcess, it could help you a lot.

5th. Software? Look at my ftp site, it will give u a great idea.

Good luck

Originally Posted by whodatfever

That is unbelievably helpful and I can't thank you enough. After 190 pages you get a little cross-eyed trying to find all of the answers. Thank you again.

Originally Posted by robpet2

does anyones opera browser close every now and then when you try to load a page... and then... pie PIE won't work while pocketrss is running I have to do a reset to get it working..... I think I might go back to my first backup and reinstall everything.. still waiting for my 2gig minisd card 2 business days is a long time...

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Who needs a secretary when we got, good job Bro

I discovered a couple of other nice things about Pocket Plus. I created a tab for Spb Weather, which is cool, cause it removed Spb Weather from today, and put a cute little weather icon on a tab, giving me more space. So now I have 4 tabs, home, system, games, and weather, but only use the icons to represent, since I know what's in those tabs. Also there is a feature in Spb Diary to make scrawl space a little smaller or bigger, like PB. Nice

You just got to spend sometime digging this stuff up, cause Spb is awesome!

Originally Posted by ilvla2

EXCELLENT site by the way MadDog, it's on my bookmarks now!

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Cool, jut want to help

Originally Posted by nyvram

Just caught this..wow. I completely missed that before. Now I have a tab for weather as well..although I'm not positive I like it..I liked seeing the weather on the today screen all the time...gotta think about having it hidden by a tab now..but very cool. Had no idea this was even in there.

Originally Posted by jonazen

Hey - I just saw your sites too (fun site and professional site) - very nice! Permanent addition to my "favorites".

Originally Posted by mbernstein

Hi Mad Dog,

I also bookmarked your site, seems cool. My doubt is very basic, probably answered before, but as somebody mentioned too much information here can get confusing.

I just didn't figure out which of the softs do SIM-UNLOCK on the T-Mobile MDA (the eWizard seems to do the CID unlock). SIM-UNLOCK is the most important thing to me as I don't live in the US, but go often, so I am considering buying a T-Mobile with plan, but need to use the phone back home with my country's SIM card (also go to Europe, etc.).

I appreciate your help. Sorry to bother. Thanks.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

I thought about that too, but it's not really hidden, if you keep that tab open, after using other tabs, just got to remember. Also once in weather tab, you can hold the stylus down next to Spb pocket plus setup icon to refresh weather. Also remember, if you have, like I do, and love it, Spb Diary, everyday the weather pops up on calender for today, again, as long as you leave Diary in calender mode. So lots of options to see the weather.

Originally Posted by i3onk

Thats why we are here man. To help the rookies and even the vets.

Speaking of helping a vet. I just went back to 2.17. I know I cant seam to make up my mind, LOL. You guys seam to be doing better with memory than I am. When I use WA2 I end up down to between 17 and 18M.

The question I have is, I remember seeing something, somewhere that let you remove the battery icon from the startmenu bar that 2.17 adds. I cant remember for the life of me where I found it. Anyone else remember coming across this?

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

I don't think anybody with 2.17 is doing any better with memory, just juggling things around and for me, using SKRam Up to get more, but that's about right, maybe 19.5 down to 12, big jumps or big leaks.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Appreciate it. Let me understand. Cause I only used the RUU. I simply unlocked with that and continued to upgrade to 2.17. Another guy that would be helpful, and has been extremely helpful to me is I3onk, so lets see if we can't get him to agree or offer input here.

Steps.

1 - aWizard, the older version NOT the Beta can be used to unlock the phone, and I believe bckup your old OEM. I3onk is that true? But I3onk who took the aWizard route before RUU and backed up old OEM, had an issue when reverting back to old OEM, which makes me wonder what will happen if I need to to that.


2. When u say your considering buying a TMO with Plan. I wonder wht u have know? I will assume you have the MDA, but some Europe version? Do you have a TMO Europe plan?

Here is my deal with SIMM cards. I unlocked the MDA. I tried using a SIMM card from a friend who has Sprint, same network. I got a msg on the screen. I figured I needed to call Sprint to tell them, that I am now using Sprint. I don't have a heck of a lot experience on changing SIMMS, but would assume that if you already have TMO in Europe, why could you not use a TMO account in USA.

I3onk, or Jonazen what do u thing?

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Appreciate it. Let me understand. Cause I only used the RUU. I simply unlocked with that and continued to upgrade to 2.17. Another guy that would be helpful, and has been extremely helpful to me is I3onk, so lets see if we can't get him to agree or offer input here.

Steps.

1 - aWizard, the older version NOT the Beta can be used to unlock the phone, and I believe bckup your old OEM. I3onk is that true? But I3onk who took the aWizard route before RUU and backed up old OEM, had an issue when reverting back to old OEM, which makes me wonder what will happen if I need to to that.


2. When u say your considering buying a TMO with Plan. I wonder wht u have know? I will assume you have the MDA, but some Europe version? Do you have a TMO Europe plan?

Here is my deal with SIMM cards. I unlocked the MDA. I tried using a SIMM card from a friend who has Sprint, same network. I got a msg on the screen. I figured I needed to call Sprint to tell them, that I am now using Sprint. I don't have a heck of a lot experience on changing SIMMS, but would assume that if you already have TMO in Europe, why could you not use a TMO account in USA.

I3onk, or Jonazen what do u thing?

Originally Posted by jonazen

Hey - I just saw your sites too (fun site and professional site) - very nice! Permanent addition to my "favorites".

Originally Posted by changogrande

I've added it to my favorites, too (actually did it 2 or 3 weeks ago). Went back to it today because I was looking to see if you had something I was after, and saw that you've organized it differently. Great job, much easier now to find things!

One thing I was after was the Eten dialer (thanks, I got it), but noticed the file seemed strange for the additional color skins (when I downloaded it, it was an .exe, which I didn't expect). When I ran it, it turned out it was the ActiveSync install version of Macromedia Flash Player (which was fine for me--I needed it anyhow!).

Just wanted to let you know so you can fix the link. I went back and checked the MFP links to see if the color skin link was there, but they were correct as is.

Originally Posted by changogrande

MadDog, you probably caught this, but in case you didn't, this post was to you!

Originally Posted by mbernstein

MadDog,

I think I was a bit confusing. I live in Brazil. As I go often to the US and Europe, I need a SIM-Unlocked phone, so it accepts GSM SIM cards anywhere.

I did more research on forum.xda-developers.com and I think I've got the steps. There we can find a free software that does the trick. It is called "lokiwiz" and if done with care seems to be pretty good. Only restriction is to have an older ROM (not the 2.17). This soft also does the CID-Unlock so I can put the more updated/better Rom.

I only mentioned T-Mobile as I have a pre-paid phone from them, and it has a better price than buying an i-mate with no plan. But T-mobile will only sell it with one year or two year plan (not sure), which if cheap enough makes sense to me.

I hope this clarifies, and if I am saying any nonsense, please let me know.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Thanks for the advise, sometimes with all the things I do in my life, it's a wonder I can put this stuff together so quickly.

I will check it out.

Originally Posted by changogrande

Why did I know you'd jump right on it? You've already got it changed! You're a wild man!

Originally Posted by changogrande

MadDog, you probably caught this, but in case you didn't, this post was to you!

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

My worst pet peev are links that don't work. i also made some more changes, for the heck of it.

Originally Posted by i3onk

yes I used aWizard to back up all my roms before flashing to 2.17. I was able to revert back to the OEM OS and RADIO ROMS. The only problem i had was going back tot he OEM EXT ROM. I have all of the OEM EXT ROM cab files. The EXT ROM is actually those cabs that install after you hard reset and go through the paces and get past the password screen. When it says tap screen to start using, then you tap, then it starts installing things. These are the cabs in the EXT ROM. aWizard does not have an option to SIM unlock, only CID Unlock. I know there are a few of SIM unlockers out there though. I have no need to SIM unlock right now so I havent done any research on it. Check the XDA forums:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/sea...062014f9c7299fa

Thats the search page for them.

After a quick search, I found one that alot of people seamed to have used. Lokiwiz

http://forum.xda-developers.com/vie...947ac8ac674cab9

Thats the forum for it. You can get the downlaod there.

Also for those of you who want to try it out, activesync 4.2 beta. I think Ill give it a try.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/vie...p=277715#277715

Originally Posted by jonazen

i3onk posted as much as I know about SIM unlocking -- Lokiwiz seems to be the way to go. Info at xda-developers.com.

Re: T-Mobile Europe and USA -- they're run separately, and accounts don't automatically travel from one to the other as far as I know. A TMo europe account would be doing international roaming over here, and a US TMo account would be doing international roaming over there.

I'm confused about Sprint and SIMs though -- doesn't compute! Sprint doesn't have a GSM service, does it???

Originally Posted by i3onk

yes I used aWizard to back up all my roms before flashing to 2.17. I was able to revert back to the OEM OS and RADIO ROMS. The only problem i had was going back tot he OEM EXT ROM. I have all of the OEM EXT ROM cab files. The EXT ROM is actually those cabs that install after you hard reset and go through the paces and get past the password screen. When it says tap screen to start using, then you tap, then it starts installing things. These are the cabs in the EXT ROM. aWizard does not have an option to SIM unlock, only CID Unlock. I know there are a few of SIM unlockers out there though. I have no need to SIM unlock right now so I havent done any research on it. Check the XDA forums:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/sea...062014f9c7299fa

Thats the search page for them.

After a quick search, I found one that alot of people seamed to have used. Lokiwiz

http://forum.xda-developers.com/vie...947ac8ac674cab9

Thats the forum for it. You can get the downlaod there.

Also for those of you who want to try it out, activesync 4.2 beta. I think Ill give it a try.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/vie...p=277715#277715

Originally Posted by i3onk

yes I used aWizard to back up all my roms before flashing to 2.17. I was able to revert back to the OEM OS and RADIO ROMS. The only problem i had was going back tot he OEM EXT ROM. I have all of the OEM EXT ROM cab files. The EXT ROM is actually those cabs that install after you hard reset and go through the paces and get past the password screen. When it says tap screen to start using, then you tap, then it starts installing things. These are the cabs in the EXT ROM. aWizard does not have an option to SIM unlock, only CID Unlock. I know there are a few of SIM unlockers out there though. I have no need to SIM unlock right now so I havent done any research on it. Check the XDA forums:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/sea...062014f9c7299fa

Thats the search page for them.

After a quick search, I found one that alot of people seamed to have used. Lokiwiz

http://forum.xda-developers.com/vie...947ac8ac674cab9

Thats the forum for it. You can get the downlaod there.

Also for those of you who want to try it out, activesync 4.2 beta. I think Ill give it a try.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/vie...p=277715#277715

Originally Posted by jonazen

Clarifies things for me...and it sounds like you're on the right track. Yes - newer ROMs are better protected against current SIM unlocking technology, so you'll want to use Lokiwiz with the original ROM (lower version) still installed when you SIM unlock the phone. You can also CID unlock it with the old version in place, or do this as part of the install of the 2.17 ROM if you use xelencin's custom installer (includes the CID unlocker as part of the process - just be sure to answer "yes" to the CID unlock question!).

Once your device is CID and SIM unlocked, you'll be able to load any ROM valid for the device, and also use SIM's from various carriers -- such as a US T-Mobile SIM, a pre-paid US T-Mobile SIM, etc.

Originally Posted by nyvram

CID unlock = you can change the OEM ROM to a ROM of your choosing
SIM unlock = you can use the phone on other carriers networks

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

I guess im not the brightest bulb on the tree, but when you reverted back, and got no ext roms, what were you left with? Just the OS, and Radio? No wonder you had such good memory left, not bad idea, wonder if u can just install what u want, instead of TMO stuff. But how did the MDA work after restore with no ext roms?

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Again out of curiousity, and because I got your wonderful backup OEM Roms. Since I did not backup but use the RUU to unclock and upgrade. How did you restore? Did you use aWizard to restore? Or did it create and OEM RUU, included in that zip file u sent me for the OEM and Radio. If so, why did backup not include the EXT ROM on the RUU, like RUU for 2.17? The world needs to know this procedure bro, or I do

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Actually that's quite interesting. O.K. now Im getting confused. CID Unlock was for changing GSM Networks, right? But I had an issue when I tried my son in laws cingular SIM card. I mean not issue, but it did not immediately get me on his Cingular account using his SIM Card. It prompt me for something I posted here a long time ago, if I can recall it. Now SIM unlock, is for what again??

Originally Posted by whodatfever

Question.

I installed the SPB pocket plus app which I love but now when I try to customize the screen background I can't adjust the transparency of the picture. Any idea how to do that?

Originally Posted by eep02b

I have a question. This is a little off, but i'm thinking about getting a new bluetooth dongle because the one i have does not support the right profiles i dont think. If it does, then i'm not working it right. http://cgi.ebay.com/Bluetooth-Wirel...QcmdZ ViewItem
Thats the bluetooth dongle I have. Can anybody suggest a better one?? I think some of the bluetooth problems i'm having with my MDA come from this. Or if anyone can help me figure out how to make this one work better, please let me know. Thanks.
EP

Originally Posted by shackk

Go to file explorer and find the pic you want to use, open it and then choose options and then set as today background. You will then see a window open for the transparency options.

Originally Posted by whodatfever

Many thanks!


Now for T-zones and 802.11g...

Originally Posted by robpet2

just got my 2gig mini sd from fryes outpost ( hell of a deal) and my mda is flying now, seems like it has more speed....
question does anyone in here use dvd shrink?

I'm trying to put some movies on my card now especially dave chappelles season two... what are some good programs to burn dvd's????

www.outpost.com

Originally Posted by shackk

check the mda faq thread, closer to the end i belive...i wrote an entire how to on burning dvds to your sd card, the programs that i use are also posted in there. you will have to google them to find them but they are free and easy to find.

Originally Posted by robpet2

you can't download that dvd decryptor program anymore, but I have a old copy of dvd shrink, will that still work???

Originally Posted by robpet2

just got my 2gig mini sd from fryes outpost ( hell of a deal) and my mda is flying now, seems like it has more speed....
question does anyone in here use dvd shrink?

I'm trying to put some movies on my card now especially dave chappelles season two... what are some good programs to burn dvd's????

www.outpost.com

Originally Posted by robpet2

you can't download that dvd decryptor program anymore, but I have a old copy of dvd shrink, will that still work???

Originally Posted by robpet2

you can't download that dvd decryptor program anymore, but I have a old copy of dvd shrink, will that still work???

Originally Posted by robpet2

not to go off topic but has anyone tried this program WiFiFoFum v2.1.1 on http://www.freewareppc.com/communic...wififofum.shtml

trying to find an alternative to wificompanion, downloaded it a while ago and it didn't work(tryin to use wifi in my neigborhood ...

but back to the dvd thing, I still have dvd shrink and it still works,but are ya'll saying to use the other program instead... cause I can take the files that dvd shrink makes and take them to either nero plus or even windows movie maker and copy it to my phone that way

Originally Posted by eep02b

Can anybody HELP me with this?!?!?!?!?

Originally Posted by eep02b

Originally Posted by eep02b
I have a question. This is a little off, but i'm thinking about getting a new bluetooth dongle because the one i have does not support the right profiles i dont think. If it does, then i'm not working it right. http://cgi.ebay.com/Bluetooth-Wirel...QcmdZ ViewItem
Thats the bluetooth dongle I have. Can anybody suggest a better one?? I think some of the bluetooth problems i'm having with my MDA come from this. Or if anyone can help me figure out how to make this one work better, please let me know. Thanks.
EP

Originally Posted by i3onk

Give it time man, someone will post on this if they have the knowledge. MadDog is the only one of us that I think is using a BT dongle right now.

Originally Posted by eep02b

I have a question. This is a little off, but i'm thinking about getting a new bluetooth dongle because the one i have does not support the right profiles i dont think. If it does, then i'm not working it right. http://cgi.ebay.com/Bluetooth-Wirel...QcmdZ ViewItem
Thats the bluetooth dongle I have. Can anybody suggest a better one?? I think some of the bluetooth problems i'm having with my MDA come from this. Or if anyone can help me figure out how to make this one work better, please let me know. Thanks.
EP

Originally Posted by nyvram

CID unlock = you can change the OEM ROM to a ROM of your choosing
SIM unlock = you can use the phone on other carriers networks

Originally Posted by jonazen

Yes...what HE said.

...and just to expand for those who haven't wrestled with either of these issues yet:

When a device is CID locked by a vendor like T-Mobile (or Cingular, etc), you can only load another ROM if it is also properly tagged as having been provided by that same vendor. If you try, for example, to load a Cingular-branded ROM into your T-Mobile CID locked phone, you'll have trouble -- even though the underlying hardware may be identical.

CID unlocking removes that restriction, allowing you to install any vendor's ROM - as long as it's still designed to run on your particular hardware.

SIM locking is the way that vendors like T-Mobile, Cingular, etc restrict a phone that they provide to you so that it will only accept a SIM that is tied to their network. In short - if they sell you a subsidized phone, they want to be confident that you use their services with this phone, rather than popping in a SIM from another carrier. SIM unlocking removes this restriction, and lets you pop pretty much ANY SIM into your phone. Carriers like T-Mobile will generally send you instructions to SIM unlock your phone once you've been with them for 3 or more months, and it's also pretty common for them to help you SIM unlock the phone if you're about to travel overseas and need to be able to use local prepaid SIMS while travelling.

Originally Posted by jonazen

Sounds like the phone was still SIM locked. You were probably prompted for a "subsidy code", so that the phone could be "allowed" to use the alien SIM it found inside itself...

Originally Posted by i3onk

OK here is something you guys may want to try, or not. This is a clock app that will put the clock back into the startmeny bar and get rid of the battery icon(So I have been informed) I havent tried it yet, but it might work. I will try it in a little bit.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=45084

Update: Well it works great, kills the battery icon in the startmenu bar and puts the time there. There is one problem though. Unfortunatly it is a today plugin. It also places a bar on the today screen displaying the time.

I need to learn how to write these plugins. Then I could remove the today portion and just have it replace the battery icon.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Sounds a little messy if your using WA2

Originally Posted by i3onk

HAHA Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell Doggie. I have done it, YES!!! I knew it would just take some researching. I now know how to install the right files into my EXT ROM, using total commander. Looks like I will get the chance to try my own EXT ROM now

The only thing that sux, is I think now I will have to do another hard reset and start loading from scratch. LOL Thats OK, ill just do it to run a test on the EXT ROM and give you all my feedback, the just reflash 2.17 and then run my Final Backup I just made for 2.17 ROM. I also have a final backup for OEM ROM. So if for some reason I have to flash back, all I have to do is run that and BAM Im back up and running in NO time. WOW, wonder if I can get to the internal sounds like this, HMMMMM!!!!!!!!!

Thats what all the backup files, config and the autorunapp were for. You put them into the EXT ROM and then they run according to the config at first bootup, or when clicking on the autorun. I will have to check it after work tomorrow though. I need sleep right now. I have been deprived of it for a week now LOL. This test will probably take me just a couple hours to flash back to OEM OS, RADIO and EXT ROMS. Then the reflash back to 2.17 and my own EXT ROM should onlty take about an hour with restore. I should have a total review of this process by tomorrow night.

*Man I need to be happy with how I got this thing setup and just leave it alone.............NAAAAAAAAAAAH! What's the fun in that, LOL!

Wish me luck all and keep your fingers crossed. First thing I will get rid of is the useless midlette manager that came with 2.17.

NIghty Night!

Originally Posted by robpet2

not to go off topic but has anyone tried this program WiFiFoFum v2.1.1 on http://www.freewareppc.com/communic...wififofum.shtml

trying to find an alternative to wificompanion, downloaded it a while ago and it didn't work(tryin to use wifi in my neigborhood ...

but back to the dvd thing, I still have dvd shrink and it still works,but are ya'll saying to use the other program instead... cause I can take the files that dvd shrink makes and take them to either nero plus or even windows movie maker and copy it to my phone that way

Originally Posted by robpet2

same boat here my memmaid trial ran out a long time ago.... but I got sktools program, so far that's working okay... also downloaded the dvd decryptor but I gotta play with it to get it working good....dvd shrink is working real good for me ( had that for almost 3yrs ).... trying to learn how to use pocket divx too at the same time.....

is there a utility out there for printing document from the mda just using the cable or bluetooth for example... that would be cool......

Originally Posted by i3onk

I am really starting to be impressed with WA2 now. I just decided to do a thourough look at the settings. I had no clue that you could assign the icons in it to any exe that you want. Man Theres another type of tray launch for me now LOL. Im about to add a bunch of icons to my startmenu bar now. OMG someone stop me LMAO.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

What settings are u talking about?

Originally Posted by robpet2

MADDOG :is the wificompanion on you site the one with the three day trial?

what program are ya'll talking bout for the tray launch?

Originally Posted by robpet2

I had that traylaunch bout 3weeks ago and I didn't like the fact that you have to type in the entire location for the app you want to put in the tray.....or is there another way to get them there...

Originally Posted by i3onk

Well I'll be. I just found something neat. Dont know why I didnt find it before. Its the OEM TMO ROM RUU from xelencin

http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=44541

Hope it works. I guess I will have to test it out tomorrow. My many tests with the EXT rom didnt work. I pm'd xelencin to see if he can hook me up with the files needed to make an RUU. If he can, then maybe Ill work on creating my own EXT ROM. For now though, I am content haveg the RUU to get me back to OEM if needed.

Originally Posted by i3onk

OK, this is for those of you who are using traylaunch.

Turn off your traylaunch then use total commander to go into windows\startup you will find two shortcuts.
WiFiInit.exe
Init_Tray.exe
Delete or just move both of these shortcuts and do a soft reset. When your device boots back up, you won't have a tray. (this is what to do if you don't use tray launch and don't want a tray, to get a little more today screen space.
For those of us who use tray launch, just restart your tray launch. The comms icon will be gone, giving you one more spot to put another shortcut into your tray launch.

Originally Posted by jonazen

I was a bit lazy when xelencin first published the 2.17 custom ROM...so I waited to download the OEM RUU first as backup rather than worrying about taking my own backup. Sorry - hadn't been paying attention or I would have pointed you that way sooner!

If/when you learn about making RUU's, please let me know. I'd love to try that out too, including adding CAB's that will run various specific config changes such as registry entries. Please keep me in the loop on this!

Thx...

Originally Posted by jonazen

Does WiFiInit do anything else that we might miss???

Originally Posted by i3onk

You know I will man.

From what I have seen in my tests, no! After doing this, I went wifi and connected no problems.

To be safe I just moved my shortcuts to my minisd, just in case I had to restore them. Don't think I will need to.

Originally Posted by jonazen

Thx - if I don't seem to be around pls send PM - I might be starting a new gig soon, and might be longer between visits online. Thx!

Interesting re tray and wifiinit...except that I like stashing icons on the tray with ilauncher.

Still pondering WAD, but I know I'll need to set up omapclock first to keep my device from bogging down. As an aside -- the more closely I watch my device, the more I'm convinced that bluetooth is the real culprit -- eating both battery and memory. When I avoid BT, memory holds up for a few days, and battery tends to do very well also.

Originally Posted by Nasty111

I used this registry editor (the trial version) and changed some settings....now after i did the soft reset on the top tool bar where the service bar usually would be i only see like a fraction of it...i no longer see any of my bars or my sound settings and its juss blank.....wierd....yet i can styll click them.....and all i see is the GPRS that i had changed to always connected....and the only way i can see it is if im connected to agile program...n thats not shoing on my today screen either like it use 2......if theres anyone that experienced the same problem or has any advice to give me i would appreciate it....the thing is i dont wanna fool around with tweak2k2 because its the trial version and will only allow me to open it 2 more times....so if anyone can help i would appreciate it....thnx

~Chris~

Originally Posted by Nasty111

aight thanx a lot i3onk ima get that S&B for the future....one thing though do you have the E for the edge icon on your startmenu bar?....if so howd you get it there?....what registry program did you use?...thnx again

~Chris~

Originally Posted by whodatfever

Software reccomendations for the MDA?

What about these:
Resco Explorer
SPB AirIslands
PocketPlus
SPB Backup
Tweak2k2

Originally Posted by robpet2

is anyone else having problems with myemail program ?
seems like I can't check my email with pop access

Originally Posted by robpet2

well myemail is back up it looks like it... just got my first alert in hours.....
off topic... can we get podcast on the mda / or can we download from itunes( wanna get some shows on my mda)

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Shocking my MDA went dead as a brick today. Not sure if battery is gone or what? But no activity! Oh well. I can't eve go back to OEM. I hope it's battery, although only 2 months old. I haven't even messed with it for weeks with anything new.

Weird, last night my daughter said that it sounded like someone was calling me, but late at night that's unusuall, so I paid no attention to it. Maybe MDA was giving me warning or something. Left it unplugged all night, unusuall for me. But why would that make a difference, I charge it daily all day while at desk, weird. I kept getting this morning a boot up that would stop at my custom "gremlin" screen and go nowhere, so I cold boot, came back to old Windows screen, and same sound, a different chime, just little quick beeps, or something. Weird. Dead as a door knob!

Man I hope it's a bad battery, or I have to return to TMO, and see what they say. In mean time, I have to go back to my original Pocket PC to have phone device today. Will let you know..

Originally Posted by whodatfever

How do I change my system font? When I'm browsing in resco my font when I hit the "menu" buttons are huge.

Originally Posted by i3onk

Have you tried a hard reset?

hold down the comm manager and voice record buttons at the same time and hit reset button. continue to hold the buttons until the black screen comes up asking you if you was to reformat (i think that's what it says) release the buttons and hit the green phone button. voila, hard reset in progress.

Originally Posted by i3onk

Have you tried a hard reset?

hold down the comm manager and voice record buttons at the same time and hit reset button. continue to hold the buttons until the black screen comes up asking you if you was to reformat (i think that's what it says) release the buttons and hit the green phone button. voila, hard reset in progress.

Originally Posted by i3onk

OK, scratch my last post. Don't hard reset. After thinking about it, I figured out your problem.

If you are anything like me, and we know you are, we are all the same here lol. You used tweaks2k2 to enable the low battery alarm. that is what your daughter heard thinking someone was calling. That is also the series of beeps that you heard when booting up. So just plug it in for a couple of hours and you should be good to go.

Originally Posted by nyvram

Jonazen,

Did you get your new HS850 from Motorola yet? I just got my replacement..and the 'hiss' still seems to be there which is more noticeable as I raise the volume on the headset. Is that just a FOL with these headsets? I thought maybe the hiss was specific to the one I had before but I'm now thinking that is an issue in general.

I had the older version of this (not sure the #) but it was all gray..instead of the 'blue-tinged' area around the phone button. It had much worse sound quality...however there was no hiss in the background while the bt connection was 'open'.

Originally Posted by nyvram

ARgh and double argh! I noticed Howard Chui gave that cool looking plantronics a "thumbs up" and have been intrigued but I would have to know if works well w/ the VC hack before going down that road.

I agree, my family seems to think I sound fine on the HS850 but I'm not so thrilled w/ the sound quality I get on my end with it.

Also, VC definitely has more problems on the BT than the phone (that whole 11khz v. 22khz argument MSFT was making?) but it generally works well enough. Here are my tips in using the headset:

1. Make sure the radio is down in the car..it won't work usually if I have the radio up above a whisper.

2. "Pause" ever so slightly when talking. Once I hear the little beep of the VC, I wait a second before I start speaking.

3. When it says "Call so & so at home?" count to 1, then say "yes". If I say yes or no immediately, it almost never catches it wherease the phone generally does.

So in short, those are the tips I've found make it work with the headset in my car...I don't generally wear the headset at work, so I hvaen't tried it around the office. ;-)

To be honest, the fact that I have to have the BT 'on' (ie 'the hiss'!) for it to channel alerts & beeps into my headset make this a non-starter for me. I can't stand to have that in my ear all day..if it were completely mute, I might consider it but I can't stand the hiss.

Originally Posted by i3onk

You can use tweaks2k2 to change your fonts. you can even get your favorite font from your desktop pc and put it in windows\fonts on your device amd use them. I was using comic sans for a little while.

Originally Posted by i3onk

Have you tried a hard reset?

hold down the comm manager and voice record buttons at the same time and hit reset button. continue to hold the buttons until the black screen comes up asking you if you was to reformat (i think that's what it says) release the buttons and hit the green phone button. voila, hard reset in progress.

Originally Posted by robpet2

http://www.opera.com/download/mobil...%20Mobile%205.0.
is this the opera browser everyone is using?

Originally Posted by whodatfever

Help Please

My default font is so big when I go to my call history I can't see the whole number. Please someone help me...



And while I'm at it. In Opera, under menu, there is suppose to be an "Options" choice to go nto to enter the registration code. It's not there. How do I register this?

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Everything turned out o.k. I took MDA to TMO with receipt and ready for battle at a local shop that has techs, and the first thing they did, of course, is plug the original power to the MDA, and like magic green light came on. I never felt so happy .

It seems I am very stupid for a guy with all my experience, but human non the less . I know you may laugh but this could happen to someone else .

I got MDA less then 3 months ago, I can't remember that day how I charged it initially, but must have used original power. However, since then I have been charging MDA with my BT 500 headset charger, and in car I had bought from Radio Shack a charger that is very cool which changes heads for other devices, rather then keep buying new chargers. It seems they sold me the wrong head.

So I was chareging MDA all this time, almost 2.5 months later with .5 or less amps, rather then the manufacturer charge of 1amp. Hey I thought the darn plug looked the same , and battery always said charged 100%. So put the original MDA plug back in box.

But what I think happend is, The device was left on my desk without charging all night and for reasons not sure, but possibly related to the .5amps charging, battery got totally drained out.

When I went to charge up again, using still lower amp chargers, it was working for moment, but then went completely DEAD! That's when I went into panic, and cold boot device using that other method to Hard boot! I had the chance to test WM5, to see if all my contacts and calendars and stuff would be intact after battery was fully charged with correct charger, but since I had cold/hard booted device lost all. No matter I still had good backups, but would hve been nice to see WM5 in action after a dead, DEAD battery!

When nothing I did helped, I thought I junked my MDA, or worst had to pay TMO to fix it, and be out service for a while, using older pocket pc. But after TMO charged it for just 20 mnutes. I was able to restore my handy self extract final backups, and since MDA had done a scheduled backup last night of just databases, bingo boys, back in business in less then 20 minutes.

I then went to Radio Shack and they ordered the right end for my charger, shipping and all at no cost. Hard lesson to be learned.

Funny laugh about this, once it loaded the EXt Rom, I was at the basic screen and felt handicapped using original menus, could not find memory, or search for storage card, I felt lost without my WA2, Spb Plus, Diary, all my good stuff and hard hacking work. But for a moment it was nice to see 26MB Ram!

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Everything turned out o.k. I took MDA to TMO with receipt and ready for battle at a local shop that has techs, and the first thing they did, of course, is plug the original power to the MDA, and like magic green light came on. I never felt so happy .

Originally Posted by i3onk

Well I think I may be getting Juni's newest WA2 skin set.

http://www.kolumbus.fi/anders.ruohio/scifi.html

I have ALWAYS been a big Trekky. I used to have windows blinds with a complete Lcars theme. So this would be great for my PPC. I love the secondary skin too the SciFi one.

Originally Posted by whodatfever

Help Please

My default font is so big when I go to my call history I can't see the whole number. Please someone help me...



And while I'm at it. In Opera, under menu, there is suppose to be an "Options" choice to go nto to enter the registration code. It's not there. How do I register this?

Originally Posted by robpet2

they probably didnt waste time checking the rom..being that with trouble shooting they probably plugged it in the wall before trying to investigate the system itself.....

Originally Posted by i3onk

Glad it all worked out for you man. They say anything about the ROM version you were running? Or did they not even notice?

Originally Posted by jonazen

Hey MadDog - great news! Glad to hear you got it working. Now this is the SECOND time I've read about the same problem - and same solution: using the ORIGINAL power supply to recharge, rather than an alternate (e.g., the USB to PC cable). Definitely worth making this a FAQ item - could save a lot of other people grief.

Welcome back!

Originally Posted by jonazen

Yup - got my replacement in the mail. Have to send the old one back before they charge me!

Mine both look identical. Both have a silver gray body, and a blue plastic (glass look) bezel around the phone button.

The new one works...but I have to admit that I'm really not happy with the sound quality. I still have an old Jabra BT200, but I haven't used it in a year. I loved the sound quality on that one, but it really hurt to wear for more than 15 minutes -- and the HS850 feels fine to wear for hours. Pity that sound and comfort seem to be mutually exclusive.

Don't know if it's my imagination, but Voice Command doesn't seem to do as well with this new HS850 as it did with my older one (1 year old). Far more mistakes and greater need to repeat my request. Voice Command without a headset still works beautifully...

What really showed up the sound quality was when I used the wired headset. Even though it doesn't fit my ears especially well (except it's better now with the Griffin earjams I'm trying out), callers' voices sound SO much better with a wired headset. Unfortunately, people at the other end tell me I sound great when I used the HS850, but when I use the wired headset, they say I sound muffled.

*sigh*

Originally Posted by jonazen

Yup - I've come to the same conclusions re: your tips -- I wind up closing the window, turning down the radio and shushing anyone in the car. The HS850 apparently does NOT filter out background noise well.

Also figured out the pausing tricks too via trial and error -- and learned that if I pause too long, VC simply beeps and gives up.

Re: hiss - I haven't noticed that - maybe there's a problem with yours? Anyway - in the last few days, I've taken to leaving the headset off and closed, sitting in the center console tray next to the shift lever of my car. I've been opening it and popping it on when a call comes in. Not sure if I'll keep doing this - would certainly be tough if traffic were bad at the time.

I'm glad to have a "new" hs850 "free" from Moto, but I'm really not thrilled with it. Wish I could try some of the others. Also saw the plantronics -- and even handled one in a store a couple of days ago, considering it. But I'd have to find a place where I know I can return it if I'm not happy, with no "restocking fee". I know that I can do this, for example, at a Cingular store (they carry that headset), but I'd probably have to pay list price for it there.

Originally Posted by jonazen

Yup - I've come to the same conclusions re: your tips -- I wind up closing the window, turning down the radio and shushing anyone in the car. The HS850 apparently does NOT filter out background noise well.

Also figured out the pausing tricks too via trial and error -- and learned that if I pause too long, VC simply beeps and gives up.

Re: hiss - I haven't noticed that - maybe there's a problem with yours? Anyway - in the last few days, I've taken to leaving the headset off and closed, sitting in the center console tray next to the shift lever of my car. I've been opening it and popping it on when a call comes in. Not sure if I'll keep doing this - would certainly be tough if traffic were bad at the time.

I'm glad to have a "new" hs850 "free" from Moto, but I'm really not thrilled with it. Wish I could try some of the others. Also saw the plantronics -- and even handled one in a store a couple of days ago, considering it. But I'd have to find a place where I know I can return it if I'm not happy, with no "restocking fee". I know that I can do this, for example, at a Cingular store (they carry that headset), but I'd probably have to pay list price for it there.

Originally Posted by MadDogX007

Well that's why I love Radio Shack, and Circuit City, and any store that lets me buy and try. Stores that give u no problem returning. You can pay more, and try, then if it works to your expectations, buy via eBay. Although things on eBay are not always wht they seem.

I was back and forth with a vendor about the HT820 for 58 bucks, then realized it was the pouch for them, not the headset. When I asked him if he carried the headset and for home much, it came out to around 111 bucks, this guys crazy! I just retuned a pair to Radio Shack for credtit at 131 bucks.

Oh well keep looking

Originally Posted by nyvram

Glad to hear you had a happy ending.

I know what you mean...I'm so used to WA2, SPB, etc...that I can't get along without them! THey're pretty much core functionality for me at this point. Imagine..having to install a bunch of 3rd party software so your Windows phone works like...well.."Windows".

Originally Posted by jonazen

Yeah. I LOVE the convenience of BT...but I really wish the sound quality was better. Reminds me of the first pair of wireless headphones I bought for my wife about 10 years ago to use with the TV in the bedroom (she'd often be up LATE when I was trying to sleep -- figured it would help out!). Anyway - these were early infrared headphones -- had to be line of sight, and if you tilted your head the wrong way the sound would cut out. Sound quality was mediocre anyway...they're somewhere in the basement now. Hey - I should find them and sell them on ebay!

I'm going to see if I can pick up the Cardo Scala 500 at CompUSA tomorrow for $9.99 (after their rebate). Some people seem to like them, and for $10 I can hardly turn down an extra BT headset...