vB Easy Archive - One-hand operation with the 8125...

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One-hand operation with the 8125...
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Posted by: CrunchDude

Hi all,

I have a Treo 650 at the moment and totally love it. The 8125 does look very appealing, however. The one thing that turns me off a bit is that I really want a PDA/phone with easy one-hand operation and that the 8125 is seemingly more difficult with that. How do you guys manage with that? Am I missing something here? Any workarounds?

Thanks for any replies...

Posted by: cjmedina

Wirelessly posted (whatever the next lines says: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; PPC; 240x240) Opera 8.60 [en])

just get an hp. 6515 or wait for the new one. the 8125 seems more like a two handedevice

Posted by: mikeruoc

This was a big deal for me. I came to the 8125 from a Blackberry 8700. Everything on an 8700 can be done one handed. After a few hours of playing with the 8125 I quickly learned that if you dont like something in windows you can change it.

I have made my 8125 a one hand device. I changed a few of the buttons around so that one is close/ok and put iLauncher on it so all the apps I use and websites are right on the home screen. Just use the d pad to get down to them and click I am there. With the top right button being the ok/close button I can get back to the home screen with once click and I also made the top left button the Windows Start key. So the only time I need to use two hands is if I am typing a long email. Best site on the web for the 8125 is this one. You can learn more than you ever wanted to about it.

http://forum.xda-developers.com

Posted by: CrunchDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeruoc

This was a big deal for me. I came to the 8125 from a Blackberry 8700. Everything on an 8700 can be done one handed. After a few hours of playing with the 8125 I quickly learned that if you dont like something in windows you can change it.

I have made my 8125 a one hand device. I changed a few of the buttons around so that one is close/ok and put iLauncher on it so all the apps I use and websites are right on the home screen. Just use the d pad to get down to them and click I am there. With the top right button being the ok/close button I can get back to the home screen with once click and I also made the top left button the Windows Start key. So the only time I need to use two hands is if I am typing a long email. Best site on the web for the 8125 is this one. You can learn more than you ever wanted to about it.

http://forum.xda-developers.com

Cool...Thank you for the insight. So when you just want to make a phone call, do you just dial the # on the touchscreen as there is no keyboard unless you slide it out? Also, are recently dialed calls easily accessible? Those things are key for me.

Thanks again!

Posted by: mikeruoc

I use voice dials or there is a soft button to open contacts and you can select what letter you want and then highlight the person and hit call. I rarely dial a number that is not in my contacts. But you can hit the green phone key and it will bring up the dial pad on the screen and you can dial the number. Again all one handed.

Posted by: MarshallG

You're right, one-handed dialling is definitely a problem, but it can be solved. Once you get the hang of it, one-handed dialing is no more difficult than any other phone.

Voice dialing is the best way, but I haven't figured that out yet

Second best - what I do - is:
1) Press 'Call' button
2) Tap Speed Dial
3) Scroll or tap the number you want.

You have to add numbers to Speed Dial, but it's worth the minor effort to set up. It holds 7 numebers per "page".

You can definitely do everything one-handed with Speed Dial. I'll agree with previous poster, that it's a good idea to add a "close button" feature. The best one I found is called "Smartskey". It's free and very simple to use... just Google it.

Posted by: duman95

From the xda site above once you register with the forums there is a thread in the Wizard forum I think about remapping buttons. The app is called Smartskeys and it is at version .52 or something like that. Basically it remaps the right software button while in apps to act as the OK/Close button on a long press. Changes the Volume slider in PIE to page up and down. Also adds mapping to the D-Pad actions in the phone app. So to get to the call log I press phone then down on the DPad and up pops the call list. Pressing to the right opens contacts, pressing up shows speed dials. One of the best free apps out there for this device.

Only have troubles when dialing a new number out of the blue, not really troubles but its annoying since the keys are small. Someday I'll get around to changing the default phone to the ETEN dialer with bigger buttons....

Posted by: steadfast7

I use the 8125 with one hand almost all the time. Obviously when typing one must use two hands, but with smartskey software it is easy to use one handed. Voice command is definitely the way to go you never have to dial again it works great... well worth the money.

Posted by: tdawgmd

I went to the treo from the 8125 for this reason. Sure there are workarounds to make the 8125 better, but honestly, do you want a device that you have to use a workaround, or a device that had the forethought to be designed for onehanded use? I've used both extensively, and I just honestly feel the treo is a much more "thoughtful" (well designed)device. If onehanded use is a priority for you(as it was for me) stick with the treo.

Posted by: s-one

Just like duman95 said. This "Smartkeys" application is AWESOME. I have been using it for a while and it allows me to use the 8125 with one hand. I also have the larger keypad by pauly. Here is the Smartkeys link.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duman95

From the xda site above once you register with the forums there is a thread in the Wizard forum I think about remapping buttons. The app is called Smartskeys and it is at version .52 or something like that. ....

Posted by: senofed

some people may disagree but there's ways to do it yourself to make it one handed.

i haven't changed any buttons but i can navigate through the phone pretty much one handed. phone call wise.. program wise.. ehh its a toss-up with some programs.

Posted by: CrunchDude

Umm...it sounds like a pain the a...I think I'll stick with my beloved Treo 650 and get the 700 when it comes out. Thanks to all!

Posted by: MarshallG

The little Smartskey app also changes the DPAD buttons.

With Smartskey:

1) Press the green "dial" button
2) Press Up/Down/Right to select a number, as follows:

Up: Speed Dial
Down: Call Log
Right: Contacts

3) Press OK to dial

You can configure the behavior of the Up/Down/Left/Right anyway you want.

Posted by: orbix

I have two 8125's... I just found out that the Treo 650 is the only phone/PDA that will sync with the software for my job so I'm going to have to get one and I guess I'll have to get one... I forgot what else I was going to type.

Posted by: CrunchDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by orbix

I have two 8125's... I just found out that the Treo 650 is the only phone/PDA that will sync with the software for my job so I'm going to have to get one and I guess I'll have to get one... I forgot what else I was going to type.

Do you like your 8125 better than a Treo 650? Assuming you've ever had the occasion of handling one.

Posted by: CPcrazyfly

the 8125 can be made VERY one handed friendly, by searching the 8125 threads you will find the answers.

Posted by: tdawgmd

try typing out a text on the 8125 one handed and tell me how one had friendly it is--No where near as good as the treo.

Bottom line--if one handed use is important to you, as it is for the OP, the treo is going to be the better device. If you prefer wm, or you don't mind pulling your car to the side of the road to send a text message or check email, then the 8125 is for you.

Posted by: MarshallG

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawgmd

If you prefer wm, or you don't mind pulling your car to the side of the road to send a text message or check email, then the 8125 is for you.

That is just plain WRONG. You should not type text messages and read e-mails while you're driving a car. With a habit like that, you're going to hurt yourself, or, worse yet, someone else.

Yes, I dial the phone when I'm driving, but reading and writing e-mail is a stupid thing to do while driving a car.

The Morality Police

Posted by: CPcrazyfly

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawgmd

try typing out a text on the 8125 one handed and tell me how one had friendly it is--No where near as good as the treo.

Bottom line--if one handed use is important to you, as it is for the OP, the treo is going to be the better device. If you prefer wm, or you don't mind pulling your car to the side of the road to send a text message or check email, then the 8125 is for you.

i owned Treos for a long time and loved them, but i can honestly say the following is honest opinion:

WM5 > Palm OS

and i type one handed while driving no problem( i have big hands but still ) i have no problem whatsoever.

Posted by: tdawgmd

hey marshall--grow up

cp--you must have some catchers mitts for hands--I will say that I think if you're sitting in a meeting and typing a text, it's a toss up, but if you absolutely have to use one hand, then the treo wins. Also, dialing is much much easier on the treo. I know, I know, don't forget about MS Voicecommand, but again, that's a 40 dollar addition that you don't need on the treo. Also, in my line of work, I have to page people all the time, and there's no way to dial in the pagers and call back numbers with voice command--you have to use the crummy screen numbers.

I think they're both very good, highly functional devices, but the treo is a better device for one handed users.

Posted by: MarshallG

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawgmd

hey marshall--grow up

Hey, if you wind up spilling beer all over your lap because you're busy reading your e-mail, don't cry to me.

Don't cry to me if you wind up like this lady, either...
A Letcher County woman suffered a horrible injury early Thursday when her arm was severed in a car crash on the Mountain Parkway in Clark County... Her arm was found near the accident still clutching a cell phone.

Posted by: MarshallG

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawgmd

marshall--hahahahahahahahaha--if you're too uncoordinated to dial your phone while driving your car, that's your problem, and you may handle it by not doing it. For the rest of the 99% of the population that is capable, allow us to do so in peace.

Dude, I dial one-handed... I'm ranting about people reading and writing e-mail while driving.

Then again, at least... since the lady dialed her phone one-handed, she only lost one arm.

Posted by: wierdo

Uh, if you know your phone's keypad, I don't see why it is that writing an email is any different than dialing a number?

BTW, e61 (and e62 when Cingular gets it) owns one handed use with a qwerty keyboard.

Posted by: tecboi

this thread is what I was looking for