Hi Everyone,
I'm using the xda mini s at the moment and love it. Would obviously really like to add integrated GPS though.
3G is of little interest to me, so the Orbit looks perfect.
Only problem...no keyboard. How have you guys got round that? I simply cannot be bothered to always use the stylus.....will it be pointless for me then? Or have they managed to create a good alternative.
Would appreciate anyones views and experiences.
Thanks
HPJ
well i dont have orbit however played with it for a while when my friend got one.
What can i say. Trackball and wheel solution are good, imo much better to navigate phone then normal joypad.
However. It doesnt have a keyboard
So already having external Bluetooth gps i see no reason why i would buy orbit instead of hunting for htc herald which is the same factor but with keyboard...
And that would be ( and in fact will be ) my choice. Of course question now where to get herald from as it retails for £300+... i would just wait until my upgrade time comes and buy something else and sell it in order to finance new herald.
I had a wizard before the Orbit. Have to admit that I do miss the "real" keyboard and havent really found an on screen keyboard that makes entering text as easy. I did only use it occasionally though and love the size and look of the Orbit so it seems to more than make up for it in my opinion.
Hi, I've recently upgraded from a Mini S to the Orbit.
I've not really missed the keyboard, but I guess it depends on how you use the device. I've installed the T9 phonepad .cab file that's available on here & I use that for sending text messages. Why the hell it wasn't included as standard I have no idea - seems daft cos if i remember correctly, it is included on the Mini S :s
If you use your device to enter a lot of text though, e.g. sending emails or using it to edit word documents, then you might find the on-screen keyboard very fiddly to use.
I manage to successfully type on the software keyboard with my two thumbs using the Xda Orbit in landscape mode, I make a few errors but I'm used to making and correcting those on a PC keyboard anyway so I get by. Something the same size of the Orbit with a slide out keyboard would be awesome but at the moment I can't see how it would be realistic.
The Orbit is SOOO much better. It's much slimmer so doesn't feel like such a brick (imagine the mini s minus the whole top screen section (the silver bit)
I also installed phonepad and it works well. Built in gps and slimmer phone are the key factors for me
It also has start menu and ok keys on the front, so 1 handed operation is good
If the keyboard was a real issue, I would use SPB full keyboard - check that out if you have concerns
Excellent feedback, thanks everyone.
Think it sounds worth it...think I'll make the move.
Also checked out that SPB keyboard. Looks great.
Will let you know how I get on (in case anyone else is in the same position)
Cheers
HPJ
I too am making the move from my mini s... gald to be leaving th bulk behind.
i am torn between the trinity or the artemis ... i was wondering on what you guys know about this sd card problem if you'd recommen going for the trinity instead... only thing it seems to lack is the fm radio!
any thoughts?
chickyd said:
I too am making the move from my mini s... gald to be leaving th bulk behind.
i am torn between the trinity or the artemis ... i was wondering on what you guys know about this sd card problem if you'd recommen going for the trinity instead... only thing it seems to lack is the fm radio!
any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SD card problem is affecting all the devices You may check the forums.
I have just contacted O2 to send back my mini s (wizard) and
I am getting an orbit instead. My old phone is a magician, and when I got the mini s, I was really disappointed!
Obviously it has features such as wifi etc that my magician didn't have, but it was a big clunky plasticy slow monstrosity.
I realised that I actually preferred my magician, so I got straight on the phone to O2.
Ok, rant over. The point of this is that I didn't appreciate the keyboard on the mini S at all. I have spb fullscreen keyboard and spb pocketplus on my magician, and I never ever have to use the stylus. I set the icons on the pocketplus today screen to large, and use the soft keyboard for texting etc.
The keyboard for me makes the device practical, I don't think I'd still have a pda phone if I hadn't discovered it.
I actually dropped my stylus at my friend's house and wasn't aware that it was missing until she returned it to me nearly three weeks later...
By the way, I don't work for spb or anything lol!
If you read about the apple iphone, you'll see that they have done away with the stylus by using a similar interface.
Obviously the way to go!
I've always used the letter recogniser on XDA's find the on screen keyboards clumbersome.
My other half hates the bulk of the keyboard on her Mini.
I've moved from the Mini-S to XDA orbit. Full screen keyboard is ok, but I find it a little cumbersome.
I've just discovered the International T9 Phonepad from this very forum, and it works a treat, well, once I discovered "Tab" was "space" anyway!! Great for notes and calendar entries, and makes one-handed text entry a real possibility. Definately worth a try!
Related
Hi,
could anybody help me?
I try to find a keyboard for 10 finger typing with MDA Compact. What I need is:
- full number of rows i.e. 5 rows incl. space because of local characters typing - not like e.g. Stowaway IR keyboard
- full 19 mm space between keys - not like e.g. Javoedge keyboard
- standard positioning of rows PC-like, for example space between "1" and "2" is approx in the middle of "Q" - not like e.g. HP ipaQ bluetooth keyboard
My ideal solution for TRGpro (Palm OS) was Targus Stowaway keyboard. For MDA compact I haven't found any... I even do not ask for foldable keyboard... Maybe a smaller, "notebook like" blutetooth keyboard.
Thank you for any help
Try the Apple Bluetooth Wireless Pro Keyboard.
ITs a bit big to carry, but its great as a keyboard and nice to type on.
Pyrofer said:
Try the Apple Bluetooth Wireless Pro Keyboard.
ITs a bit big to carry, but its great as a keyboard and nice to type on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for an idea, uh, really a bit big...
Have you seen this
http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/
I also saw somewhere a gizmo that allows a full size keyboard to be used with pocket pc, dont know if that would help.
cruisin-thru said:
Have you seen this
http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/
I also saw somewhere a gizmo that allows a full size keyboard to be used with pocket pc, dont know if that would help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again, but for 10 finger typing without seeing you really need to be in touch with real keys.
Maybe something interesting for now
Hi, I have found "Motion's Bluetooth Mobile keyboard", see at: http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/motion_accessories.asp
They do not want to confirm that it will work with my MDA Compact, see the communication below. Could anybore more experienced here say it SHOUD work?
Thanks
-----------------
Martin,
The keyboard should ideally work with any device using bluetooth. The reality of it however is that sometimes drivers conflict, and make it difficult to pair with certain devices. Our Bluetooth Keyboard is only tested for our tablet, but many people use it with other devices. We do not however make any guarantees that it will work with any device other than our tablets.
Thank you for contacting Motion Computing
Aaron Richard
On Sun, 4 Sep 2005 22:27:12 +0200 you wrote:
>Thanks for the instant reply, still another question:
>
>have you any experience with the keyboard connecting to Pocket PC
>(Windows 2003 SE) PDA? I'd like to use it just with PDA.
>
>Thanks
>
>Martin
I know it might sound obvious but the O2 BT foldable keyboard is truly excellent by all accounts (a colleague has one) - decent useable size but folds up reasonably small too.
Apple BT keyboard
I use a Apple pro keyboard (USB) on my thinkpad when I´m at home - and love it!
Can anybody confirm that it works with the Magician?
No phone has USB host, so no the USB keyboard will not work.
You need a Bluetooth Keyboard at least.
I was talking about the bluetooth version of that apple keyboard (which I don`t own) I know that (at least the software) of the phone doesn`t support usb host capacity. Sorry if I didn`t make myself clear...
So, anybody ever used the keyboard with the mini?
cruisin-thru said:
Have you seen this
http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/
I also saw somewhere a gizmo that allows a full size keyboard to be used with pocket pc, dont know if that would help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If god would have meant man to type on light, he would have given him fingers made of shadows :wink:
mtbsoft said:
I know it might sound obvious but the O2 BT foldable keyboard is truly excellent by all accounts (a colleague has one) - decent useable size but folds up reasonably small too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fuh, seems still no solution for me: I am not sure about O2 BT foldable keyboard branding, but I think this is the keyboard with the shifted upper row (see my first post)
- Btw no response from Motion after I had asked them about the international delivery possiblity
... and Apple bluetooth keyboard is really too big to fit to my briefcase.
m
marsal said:
I am not sure about O2 BT foldable keyboard branding, but I think this is the keyboard with the shifted upper row (see my first post)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check and try to get you a photo.
Hi fellas.
Please check out my review on this device:
http://www.absolutesurf.com/articles/dopod_p800w/
Towards the end of the review, I have listed 2 bugs found. Can you also let me know if you notice such bugs? I'm particular about the standard input bug especially. Thanks!
Secondly,
Lets say i want to use the O2's or T-mobile's ROM, is that possible? Is there a way to flush out my ROM into an installer so that I can install it back in if I were to send the device to Dopod for one reason or another?
Nice review!
I have a Greek rom so that my input panels are somewhat different than yours (Greek keyboard and I do not have the T9 phonepad input). In general I have not had this upward-shifting bug. Ocassionally it has happened when I have activated the transcriber while on the today screen...but this has been the exception rather than the rule.
A small bug that bugs me regarding the input is the long lag when shifting from one input method to the other. I have considered installing calligrapher as a solution to this problem (as it has keyboard and transcriber together)...but I do not like to crowd main memory.
Thanks
Yes, shifting between inputs does lag a little. The phonepad I'm using is taken from this forum as well. You can simply install it.
I think I gotta hard reset my device and install other stuffs one at a time to determine the root cause. Just this little problem that makes the device imperfect..
Mask, nice write up, with ref to the car holder, are you sure it can't be bent? the one supplied with my P3300 looks the same and that can be bent (it just takes a fair bit of effort) - Mike
MasK said:
Thanks
Yes, shifting between inputs does lag a little. The phonepad I'm using is taken from this forum as well. You can simply install it.
I think I gotta hard reset my device and install other stuffs one at a time to determine the root cause. Just this little problem that makes the device imperfect..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that I do not have these issues on my HTC P3300.
I have also mapped the mouse pointer to a hardware button. When I click it when TomTom is running, the button reverts to the default (internet explorer) but TomTom already has a pointer for exploring the map using the scroll ball! Also I do not need to do a reset upon exit of TomTom. The button goes back to mouse pointer.
Did not see the shifting input panel when I toggled between keyboard and phonepad (also from this forum)
It could be model related, or Mapking could be the culprit here
Victor
mikealder said:
Mask, nice write up, with ref to the car holder, are you sure it can't be bent? the one supplied with my P3300 looks the same and that can be bent (it just takes a fair bit of effort) - Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh my!
Yes.. it bends! Initially it felt pretty hard and I was afraid I will snap it. Thanks for pointing that out.
As for the other probs.. I willbe doing a hard-reset.. and slowly install apps one at a time, to see what exactly is the culprit... Hmmm
After the hard reset, I still have the problem on the extreme bare minimum device!
Someone help me answer my ROM question pls.. I think I wanna change to a P3300 ROM. How is it anyway? Thanks!!
Hello all Im back. I have been away for a a bit with my ipaq6915 but never really got on that well with it. It was not really that good at any of the things it tried to be.
Anyway. Have ordered my o2 Orbit today with the sat nav kit.
Do I need to do anything to the orbit on first boot up?
I already have tomtom 5.1 which I paid for with the Ipaq. Is copilot any better ?
Carll said:
.... Is copilot any better ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hiya,
I'm a newbie at this Nav stuff, and I've never seen either before.. but here's this for starters..
I bought the Orbit with CoPilot as an add on.
It works well apart from a few niggles (nothing in life is perfect )
I liked the screen layout and the way you access stuff. I liked the 2d display of directions and the simplicity of directions.
I didn't like it bursting into action every time the Orbit received an incoming call.
I then ordered TomTom 6. Straight away liked the way you install from DVD and accessories you could build on. Lots of them!
I Did not like the exit button on the third screen, and I'm slightly warming to the way of accessing info by clicking on the map display.
Hope that's ok for starters.
-- See Tom Tom 6 and Artemis. Initial Impressions. -- in Artemis/ Accessories section.
Ann D
I'm no pro when it comes to these things but I have read a fair amount on here when it comes to these things, but I'm confused so hopefully someone can clarify..
I've got my new Compact 3 from T-mobile and I really can't stand the qwerty keyboard. It works fine with the stylus but it's just not any good for finger typing. I quite like the Touch version where the keys are quite a bit larger, so here's the question..
is it possible to get another input keyboard working on this device without the need for a replacement rom? I'm happy with the officla T-mobile WM6 version I upgraded to at the weekend.
http://www.cootek.com/
This one is good and free at the moment.
what will happen with the standard keyboard? will I still have choice to use the small keys one?
is there a way to add the touch keyboard but with Russian layout/letters without changing the rom?
I use resco keyboard, it's commercial but I haven't found any other keyboard for that price/features. It supports Russian and about 20 other languages. It seems to be working a little slower than other keyboards but not that much.
Try this one:
http://teksoftco.com/index.php?section=fingertouch
It's a very good keyboard, with tons of features, for me the big keys are a must-have.
macguffin said:
http://www.cootek.com/
This one is good and free at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second this one, once you practice and get used to it, works very well.
Good day, dear people!
I am very much interested in buying the HD Mini. But I still have a few residual doubts. The sturdiness of the thing is one such qualm, but the main question mark is the screen resolution.
Dabbling with freeware is one of my hobbies (and the reason for sticking to Windows Mobile for a bit longer). I have loads of apps installed on my current phone (being a humble HTC Touch of the first generation) Examples being (in no particular order):
Paint Now, VNC, Total Commander, MyNote, Nitrogen, Made, Space Time, PocketGravity, PocketSand, Swirly, Mobile Fractals, MobiPocket, GoDAft, TempoPerfect, ToneBox, BlueHoo, WiFiFofum, DeluxeMoon, PocketXPDF, MobileMonger, AdvancedConfig, BatteryStatus, and VSPainter.
All these apps run perfectly well on the Touch's 240x320 screen.
Is there anybody out there who can tell me how they fare on the HD Mini?
Much obliged!
Regards,
wim
Hi,
Nitrogen runs without problems.
Total Commander runs, but there R problems with the lower button row.
The other apps I dont know...
Thanks Peppo.
I was going to propose to make a list. But while I was doing so, I noticed something: most apps people mention in other threads seem to be working just fine.
Maybe the resolution is not such a big deal after all.
Peppo said:
Hi,
Nitrogen runs without problems.
Total Commander runs, but there R problems with the lower button row.
The other apps I dont know...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the overlapping problems of Total Commanders bottom row there is a beta available, that solves this problem - which seems to be a common problem of 6.5 devices.
so, where is this TC beta to be found?
Obviously by the designer:
http://www.ghisler.com/pocketpc.htm
That's where I looked, but the most recent version of TC pocket edititon dates back to 2008. Can't imagine this solving any problems on the HD mini.
But maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way...
Edit: Okay, forget about that. I didn't scroll all the way down. (Who expects the most recent release at the bottom of the page?!)
Thanks!
Yep. Works fine.
Okay, so I did buy the HD mini without waiting for the feedback I asked for in the first post of this thread.
Here's what I encoutered so far as far as freeware is concerned:
DeluxeMoon: when run, it appears as a small stamp in the top left corner of the screen, which makes it unusable.
Paint Now: seems to work okay.
MyNote: works fine.
PocketSand: buttons don't work, screen doesn't fit (too small).
Swirly: doesn't fit the screen.
GoDaft: works fine.
WifiFofum: works, but the screen is stretched vertically.
MobileMonger: works fine.
Haven't tried the rest yet.
Has anyone tried any of the configuration tools that are out there, such as Advanced Configuration, PocketToolman, HTC Customizer, and - especially - BatteryStatus?
Very curious whether these stil work!
i use this mini well
i don't advise anyone to buy hd mini
i have baught it and its a bad experiance , it is slim and hd screen and colors ,
but now after one month use , while i move it you thing the phone in moving in side the cover.
second it does not have double camra and you can not do a video call
useless 3G
I Think HTC is only making people fool by daily bringing new model with no change
just name and alittle bit change in shape
no new technologies