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I just came to PPC from a long history of Palm devices with a Palm Treo 650 as my most recent one. I got used to a really fast and efficient although less aesthetic interface that allowed me to enter appointments and generally any data pretty fast. Applications like Agendus or Adarian Money allowed me almost zero-time operation when entering contact info, appointments or payments. I must say that I am disappointed with my Samsung i780, specifically the way it works with text fields.
On the Palm,
- starting to write in a text field or starting a sentence after a period and a pause would make the first letter capital
- on fields with numbers and time, i wouldnt have to push the FN key to enter numbers, that would be automatic depending on the field i am in
I am not sure if there is anything that can be done with the overall interface of PPC, it tends to be less clear and less straight-forward also thanks to colors and various effects compared to Palm. Any advice from those that made a similar switch? Any interface apps that could make information on PPC more clear and understandable?
Any advice appreciated.
As some of you know, I am currently working on a touch user interface (since more than 10 months), fully compatible with HTC Diamond, it even takes advantage of G-sensor and touch-sensitive control pad, and I plan to develop a 3D user interface in a future version.
I will prepare soon a private beta, and if there is no major issue I would like to release a first public version in about 2 weeks. But please don’t take too much into consideration this date, be aware that contrary to other ROM cookers who only take programs from other ROMs I have developed the whole user interface from scratch, so it’s a really huge work (more than 1000 hours at the moment) and it’s hard to fix a release date.
As for other devices, Diamond ROMs will be multilingual and available in two versions: Full (with TouchXperience User Interface) and Lite (maximal storage space).
I am looking for some motivated and experienced people to participate to this private beta. I need only about 20 people so I will choose first people who could really help me, better is if you have WM cooking or development knowledges. I don’t want to get thousands of messages asking “please please send me the ROM” like it was in the other threads, so please don’t ask me to participate if you don’t have solid arguments. If you are interested, let me a post here (explaining in what you are good, if I don’t know you) and I will contact you later by PM if you are selected.
More info about TouchXperience User Interface and video demos:
http://www.touchxperience.com/
TouchXperience is the Next Generation User Interface for Windows Mobile, finger friendly and highly customizable, it offers many interesting features: program launcher, contacts manager, home screen, appointments, messaging, task manager, profile and event manager, call log, control panel, communication manager,...
TouchMenu is probably the most powerful and customizable menu, replacing original Start Menu for an innovative touch interface. TouchMenu supports finger scrolling and gestures, for example you can switch from a menu to another by sliding your finger left/right, or display context menu by a long press on the screen. You can also scroll menus using G-sensor. Each menu has four different views (large list, small list, large grid, small grid). As the rest of the future user interface, TouchMenu has a nice Vista/WM7 look.
TouchMenu has various built-in menus :
- All Programs (Start Menu replacement)
- Active Programs (Task Manager)
- Recent programs
- Favorite programs
- Settings (Control Panel)
- Documents
- Favorite websites
- Contacts
- Messaging
- Appointments
- Tasks
- Calls (Call Log)
- Communications (Comm. Manager)
- RSS feeds
- Power Actions
- End Actions
- One Touch Settings
But you can do much more by creating your own custom menus where you can add contacts, program shortcuts, website links, system actions (for example: reset device, rotate screen, sound profile, clock, brightness backlight, WMP status,...) or links to other menus. You can also replace icon for each program/folder/contacts/menu with a custom image.
TouchHome is a fully customizable screen where you can add various widgets and graphical elements (clocks, indicators, today items, texts, images,...). By default, TouchHome displays when you turn your phone on. You can make your own graphics and layout using XML. TouchHome can be also used as screen unlocker (unlock screen by sliding finger, by double tapping, by shaking device, using navigation scroll wheel,...).
Use GPS or cell-based geo-positioning to determine current location and create profiles for each location.
Custom Events is a powerful application which execute predefined actions when custom events occur. The principle is simple, each custom event is defined by:
- A basic event (application changed, location changed, new message, new incoming call, battery charging, device cradled, headset connected, Wi-Fi network detected, internet connection detected, ,...)
- Eventually some conditions (date/time, current application, current location, specific words in message, caller identity,...)
- An action (launch application, display notification, enable flight mode, turn on Wi-Fi, change profile, send message, ,...)
There will be hundreds of events and actions, so possibilities are very large! Here are some examples:
- Enable flight mode during nights
- Connect to Wi-Fi while battery is charging
- Deactivate alarm when I turn my device face down
- Put phone in silent mode at workplace
- Remind me to buy bread when I’m near to the bakery
Supports finger gestures on touch-sensitive control pad (experimental, for HTC Touch Diamond/Touch Pro only) to execute different system actions, in this way you can have up to 8 “virtual buttons” on your device.
Supports display auto-rotation navigation using G-sensor (experimental, for HTC Touch Diamond/Touch Pro only).
TouchXperience User Interface is designed for a future usage of hardware accelerated 3D graphics for an outstanding experience!
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WOW!!
Good to see you......Let me know what I can do for you
Peace
Mike
very nice shaps! I hope this post will be more serious and wont end like ur thread in hermes forum..
Realease it when it's done! no preasure!
Schaps!!! Count me in mate... great to see you here.
WOW! i can't wait. Looking forward to your work.
Cool!!!
Looks great!!!!
Tell me if you need a beta tester for this project...
i would be glad to help
Sounds really really nice.
If I can be of any help I'll be glad to, comes from Hermes and Kaiser and now has Diamond.
Tried some of your roms before and liked some, but not all, but this seems really exciting.
Garcia
Network and database admin here (though mostly unix). Lemme know what needs to be done.
^.^
Good luck schaps.
Sounds great. I'm happy to check this for ya.
I'd like to volunteer, I have experience with graphics.
Count Me In... Deeep Within !!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS!!!!!!! (sorry 4 the caps) but this is coooollll!!!!!
Very Very Good Schap's
I can Help
Hello mate,
I have cooked (mostly my own) ROMs for Elf, Niki and Cruise so I have considerable background on the components of the WM OS and the overall structure of the devices (not so much the Diamond to be honest as I'm still trying to get to understand its internals).
If you like, I would more than willing to help out with Beta testing whether it's to focus on a specific area or just overall testing. I also have experience in QA so I can pick out little things that need ironing out
Cheers from Dubai!
WOAH! Schaps, this sounds awesome. I'd be happy to beta test your TouchXperience UI. Coming from an iPhone background, I'd love to see more thumb/finger friendliness in our Diamonds.
EDIT: Checked out the site and the screenshots and it looks fab so far !
Couple of questions, would there be a new finger/thumb friendly Calendar app? (I totally despise the stock WM one) Also, do you plan on integrating a more thumb friendly keyboard for input? The standard Diamond one is okay but I tend to be a fast typer and because the screen on the Diamond is relatively small, it is prone to keystroke errors and the Diamond keyboard does not have any type of correction method (i.e. as included with the PCM Keyboard - I use this but a lack of VGA skins is highly disappointing).
All in all I can't wait to test this - I thought the Diamond would have been more thumb/finger friendly but tend to find myself pulling out the dreaded stylus now and then.. Something I hoped I could have gotten away from. Cheers for the great effort Schaps!
WOW
Love to test the new interface.
Moral Support!!
Schap,
im not a pro in any of these programming. But at least i can sent some moral supports!!
It's a great development All the best to you
Very nice ...I will pleasure, when i test this program...
schaps said:
P.S.: I will soon work on a new Advanced Config. version fully compatible with Touch Diamond and Touch Pro. Advanced Configuration Tool V3 will come with a new finger-friendly interface.
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@ Schaps, could you look into the possibility to add "default mediaplayer chooption" in order to link Bluetooth devices to other players not forcing to use WMP linked with TF3D .
There is a cab out there from RuffRuff (still need to test it) , but including this possible solution in AdvConfig V3 would be a big added value.
As for the Beta testing , it starts to look like recruting for La Legion etrangere (The Foreign Legion)
People want but how many can give ?
Anyway, success with the new UI + Rom combination. Looking forward.
I know theres other threads on best calendars for other phones, but whats the best one for touch HD?
If you've tried a few your opinion will be greater
Being a recent palm convert, I'd be interested to know what ex Palm users are using, as I find the stock outlook calendar clunky and inefficient.
ThumbCal
Try a search for ThumbCal. It's very finger friendly and has all the Outlook options plus combines your tasks into the calendar too.
It's not freeware but you do a get a trial period after which you can decide whether it's for you.
+1 forThumbCal
Nearly finished my trial period, so I would be interested to learn about the competition before I splashed my cash.
+1 ThumbCal. Its just awesome
also here thumbcal, very finger friendly
ThumbCal
ThumbCal the best one
is compatible with the "automatic" sound mode like original calendar? example: if i set a riunion for t 8:00 am...at the 8:00 am the phone go to vibrate mode automatically end turn to ring mode at the end
is compatible with the "automatic" sound mode like original calendar? example: if i set a riunion for t 8:00 am...at the 8:00 am the phone go to vibrate mode automatically end turn to ring mode at the end
did you thumbcal people try agenda one or the other one that starts with t? and why did u choose your calendar over the others.
Agenda One looks very much like Pocket Informant. PI isn't really suited to thumb use yet, if they did, I would stick with that (been using it for years).
I've added ThumbCal along side PI and it is much more touch friendly. It has flaws, like the month view doesn't really give any useful information, but hopefully this will be addressed soon.
Thumbcal is very very slow at the opening...
After that : a pleasure tu use, but don't close it
also voting for thumbcal
...0.51 is freeware !!!
not sooo many functions as actual version but fits perfectly for (my) normal needs!
in german and english, very simple to use and works great with outlook and TF3D
couldn´t find it here so uploaded it for you:
KEEP IN MIND!
this is a VERY simple version of this great calendar app... you can´t compare this version in any way to actual versions (speed, functions, etc.)
Don't use Calendar apps that much so normally live with the supplied standard. However Thumbcal is so good to use that I will be buying. The ease of "thumb" use shows what can be achieved with WinMob and what other applications should aim for.
The only thing this is missing is different colours, or maybe icons for different types of appointments.
I have used the full featured Super Calendar for a while, but I like the simplified layout and finger navigation of ThumbCal.
AndyCr15 said:
Agenda One looks very much like Pocket Informant. PI isn't really suited to thumb use yet, if they did, I would stick with that (been using it for years).
I've added ThumbCal along side PI and it is much more touch friendly. It has flaws, like the month view doesn't really give any useful information, but hopefully this will be addressed soon.
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I would disagree with AndyCr on this. I use PI without a stylus and its fine on the HD. If you use touchpal to write then you can use PI either in touch mode or in "normal mode" without a stylus.
KaidM
Anybobody doesn't have problem when starting Thumbcal ?
For me it takes more than half a minute.
Less than 10 secs for me; but probably an app that, once opened, you would keep running in the background anyway?
Timed it at 4 seconds. That is acceptable.
I've been trialing a few of the calendars here's my quick first impressions of each:
Pocket Informant 8 :
cool features: can turn on selection or flick scrolling, icons, dynamic screen position bar on day view, goto today, preview of position. week/goal planner! looks pretty
Sucky things: no year view. can't drag like in touchflo. can't flick scroll sideways to change months days etc.
Agendus 3: No flick scrolling in contacts.. ugly.
can view year quarter.
Agenda one:.. ok. day view not as good as PI
Thumbcal: flicking to change months/years. looks pretty.
month view pretty useless. no year view. Flicking doesn't use flick physics. no contacts.
Calendar touch: to many touches to goto today. no year view. no contacts. almost touch friendly.
Agenda Fusion:
cool features: year view,
Sucky things: looks kinda ugly. contacts not as good as PI
none of them really do it for me. Pocket informant has most of the features that palm has. Considering the extra power of ppc, its a dissapointing compromize.
Can THumbcal be set as the default calender for TF3d? As in, on my calendar tab? or if I click the calendar link on the home page it will launch Thumbcal instead of stock calendar? Thanks!
Hey guys,
been looking around about customising my Touch HD but a little unsure if a different theme can help me here, I really like the current theme I have; which is just default with some extra taskbar icons; simple but effective!
Thing is I want to add notes or reminders or something to the today screen, so I can view things at a glance without having to add them to the calendar, things like a reminder to pick up some beers on the way home, or a reminder to go post some letters or even a shopping list! Though I'm pretty sure I saw an app somewhere around that was called shopping list, would ideally like to be able to dismiss reminders etc by touching them then confirming or something similar, so I can check stuff off as I've done it easily..... at the moment I only have Call history and Calendar on the today screen; anyone know of a way to edit what is displayed on the today screen?
EDIT: I just realised this makes me sound a complete moron lol, I mean being able to add things to the TF3D today screen, otherwise i'd just use the winmo version, however I really like the touchflo interface just wish there was more customisation available!
Also if I download an iphone theme (just to confuse the mac fanboys at uni...) can I easily switch between that and my current theme after a soft reset or something? Or does it involve me editing it via the activesync?
Hope someone can help!
It might be better for you to install something like second today or touchflo detacher.. that way you can switch between touchflo and your iphone theme at the touch of a button..
or you can use the second today to put all the information you want on the winmo today screen.. the screen real estate on the HD is amazing.. and then map your iphone theme to another program and have all three hotswapping on the touch of a button.
Personally I think part of the beauty of touchflo is the lack of clutter on each tab.. adding too much to the homescreen defeats the object.
Kizmet said:
It might be better for you to install something like second today or touchflo detacher.. that way you can switch between touchflo and your iphone theme at the touch of a button..
or you can use the second today to put all the information you want on the winmo today screen.. the screen real estate on the HD is amazing.. and then map your iphone theme to another program and have all three hotswapping on the touch of a button.
Personally I think part of the beauty of touchflo is the lack of clutter on each tab.. adding too much to the homescreen defeats the object.
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Agreed. I use 2ndToday & PocketBreeze, activated by the left soft key on the TF3D home page.
hmmm did want to just have it all there to be seen as soon as I turned on the phone, tho after reading more extensively around the internet I see it's just not possible at the moment. However I'll hold out hope that one day it'll be possible!
Might try that 2nd today screen thing, might be a bit of a pain to have to flip between them but hey... needs must. Might also look into properly customizing it to look snazzy as I've seen a lot of peoples today screens look rather nice!
In practice it's not a pain... it's a touch screen so it becomes habit to touch the button or slide the slider as you pick up your phone in one motion.
I did have a go with slide2unlock but it didnt seem to work properly, might have to play with it some more.
Before migrating to WinMo, back when I used a Garnet Palm, one of the things that made it tolerable while I waited for the Touch Pro2 to release was TealOS (which got shut down by palm, but I'm not looking for something that "looks" like WebOS, just a functional drag up menu), which sought to simulate the WebOS interface on garnet devices. I eventually set it up so that only the wave bar was accessible. It was extremely convenient for switching between applications.
See it in operation here (at 3:30). It works when you place your finger on the touch sensitive area below the screen (something many HTC devices have; a zoom bar) and drag it up slowly into the screen area no matter what application you're in. It presents you with 5 shortcut options, drag your finger over the one you want, release, and it opens. Very simple, very elegant, very useful.
5 or so shortcuts would be nice, but it would actually be better to make this a task manager -- you drag up the bar and choose from active programs the same way alt-tab lets you select another active program on Windows.
I've got a dollar donation in hand for a shortcut menu as described above (which doesn't need to do any fancy wave-like effects), and a $5 donation for a task manager as described above. It is, admittedly, a tiny donation, but I honestly think people would love the functionality and perhaps there would be more donations from the masses.