Related
I've been toying with the idea of changing to a WM6.5 based ROM, either Miri's or Davideuck's, but I'm so happy with Dutty's Xtreme ROMs that it's going to be a wrench if I do. I love the functionality of TF3D but find it annoying that you have to have a 3rd party UI running on top of Windows just to get a reasonable-looking and easy-to-navigate interface.
The thing that bugs me is the whole Titanium vs Manila thing. Personally, I can't see the point in having both TF3D and the Titanium home screen installed on the phone at the same time.
The Titanium home screen is simple and elegant but links to standard naff-looking WinMo apps (calendar, photos) whilst TF3D has eye-candy aplenty and quite usable and functional manila apps built-in like the calendar, weather and contacts browser (especially in the newest, prettier versions). I'm aware that we can run certain HTC apps within Titanium (Calculator/Album/Camera/etc), but the experience then feels disjointed and not cohesive at all.
So my question (and point for discussion) is this: Can we ever envisage a time when HTC's (or whomever's) bolt-on UIs are not required? Will MS ever produce a UI that is pretty and easy to navigate? Or will we always have to rely on 3rd party apps just to make our phones usable without the need for a stylus?
I quite like the new titanium, don't miss manila at all. Using Miri's 7.2 standard.
I think it will be WM7 that should/will get rid of the stylus once and for all.
The new start menu is more aesthetically appealing, but i find it less functional than the new start menu in manila, my issues w/ the new start menu in manila, is that noone has made a background for all cabs for this version yet, and htc should really have included this by default, seems kind of dumb to me to have only wallpaper support for the home tab.
I've found that even though its monochromatic, i prefer tf3d v2 and its new notifications, context menu's and additional tabs on tf3d more than i prefer what MS has done w/ wm 6.5.
What i like about wm 6.5 is that it gives the visual impression that you have more screen real estate due to the transparent top & bottom bars, but sadly that's only on the start bar & today screens. I also like the new lock screen, and the icons throughout the system, smoother, better antialiasing.
I also miss the ability to select multiple files in file explorer, but i find that functionality has been gone for a while, once the kinetic scrolling was introduced, the ability to block select multiple files was lost. I know that other 3rd party file managers have the functionality built in, but you lose the visual cohesivehness with the operating system.
even though they take up the whole screen and are again monochromatic, i don't know why but i prefer the htc context menus to the wm 6.5 one's, i'm not sure if its the font type or size which could be part of it, but i think the wm 6.5 context menus looks less visually cohesive, even though it shares the theme of the OS.
I honestly am glad that HTC put out the tf3d v2, i wasn't particularly impressed by v1, and took it off the device as soon as i got it, resigned to have to deal w/ wm's ugliness, and millions of menu's, but i think v2 is a noble effort, they've certainly made me enjoy my Touch HD more. a
whole lot more.
Also prefer the HTC calculator, and HTC dialer to the stock MS one's. I'm just over the moon w/ tf3d v2, and i'm also running Miri's rom.
DRTigerlilly said:
The new start menu is more aesthetically appealing, but i find it less functional than the new start menu in manila, my issues w/ the new start menu in manila, is that noone has made a background for all cabs for this version yet, and htc should really have included this by default, seems kind of dumb to me to have only wallpaper support for the home tab. ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is background for all tabs available. mun_rus works great for me and there is another cab available to have both the old start menu and programs tab.
Quite so, but the BG for all tabs doesn't extend to the new Start Menu.
Ive been using Onkolos light WM 6.5 since friday and love it. I havnt used Manila as I like the new Titanium but I have installed Yota contacts and dialer as I dont like the windows contacts and the dialer is faster.
Downside is they dont work in landscape mode but Im using changescreen at the moment to experiment getting windows to rotate but not dialer & contacts. I would prefer to use flip it but didnt know what to enter for windows rotation.
I prefer touch flo and the way htc have tried to hide the boring style of the windows interface. I love all the new htc menus, skins, finger friendly apps etc.
I tried 6.5 but after a while reverted back to manilla because in 6.5 it was still the old interface below. Only the home page and menus had changed. I also tried 6.5 with some htc updated replacement skins and apps but did not like the mix of two styles and preferred to have a consistant theme throughout.
Am using the new topaz manilla 2 - davideuck v5 and am very happy with it and sticking with it. Manilla all the way...
Major_Sarcasm said:
Quite so, but the BG for all tabs doesn't extend to the new Start Menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what you do is that you set the background wallpaper for the "today" screen as the same background wallpaper for your tabs, and it will be the same. An extra step, I know, but this also extends to your WM6.5 lock screen as well.
skulk3r said:
what you do is that you set the background wallpaper for the "today" screen as the same background wallpaper for your tabs, and it will be the same. An extra step, I know, but this also extends to your WM6.5 lock screen as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Major_Sarcasm & myself are referring to the new htc start menu in wm 6.1 not wm 6.5
Having tried various flavors of it, I don't give a bean about Titanium (MS in general); I find it cumbersome. TouchFlo to me is simple and efficent enough. Now, if there is a Zune phone (with at least 120 gb), that will be the day.
aabye said:
Having tried various flavors of it, I don't give a bean about Titanium (MS in general); I find it cumbersome. TouchFlo to me is simple and efficent enough. Now, if there is a Zune phone (with at least 120 gb), that will be the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
manila unfortunately comes with a price.....major hi-jack of memory.
no a problem for me,remember we had pda's before manilla ...
Hi, I have bought pocketshield and found it doesn't work in all applications as manila is set as part of my start process. To make all apps work with pocketshield, am I safe removing manila - sorry to be dim but what is it giving me that touchflo doesn't..?
YES, PointUI
I have to say I'm in the Manila camp. Especially the latest versions of Manila from custom ROMs.
It's good looking, and functional.
And with each new version it goes deeper and deeper into hiding the ugly WinMo interface, which is a big plus for me. Also, I have to say that Manila has been surprisingly solid when it comes to speed and stability, especially for someone like me who's constantly digging around the _manila files and playing with them
The biggest minus for me personally is that HTC didn't take in account that people may want to change the colors and graphics, so visual customization is major PITA.
band27 said:
manila unfortunately comes with a price.....major hi-jack of memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no more than 20-30% free memory, and my device is very fast and stable. Memory is there to be used, why else did you pay for it?
vangrieg said:
I have no more than 20-30% free memory, and my device is very fast and stable. Memory is there to be used, why else did you pay for it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't agree more. I don't see a point in saving up free memory. As long as I can run 2-3 large applications simultaneously and still be able to answer a call or read an SMS, I'm perfectly happy with my device.
Zepiii said:
YES, PointUI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. It's amazing what it can do
I'm the biggest fan of it
HastaSSSS
im not a fan of the titanium in 6.5 , i like manila better, but i like pointUI even better as the same for ms3 wich i use the most
I rather quite like touchflow as it give you all of the main features of a phone such as the touch HD without the need to run different apps (ie can view newest text messages without running the ms messaging app).
as for if MS will ever make a really nice UI, i think by winmo 7, MS will have to hav made a new UI (because of pressure from iphone OS) and then, as a major release, all the regular apps (windows media player, album etc) will also get a facelift, with the former already having been confirmed for a new release.
thats what i think anyway...
Hi,
I have turned off touch flo (various reasons, mostly because im quicker with the default windows mobile interface for mail / sms thank with the touch flow 'pretty' one).
The one thing i LOVED about the new touch-flo though was the HTC start menu, with a grid of apps and a nice interface to add/remove them. Its much nicer than the default WM one.
My question is
1. Does anyone know how to turn on the HTC start menu without turning on the rest of touch flo3d?
2. Are there any 3rd party apps (preferably free) that have the same functionality (grid of available apps) which can replace the built in one?
ps. Loving the touch pro 2 to bits - by far the best phone ive ever had...
g
Manila
No Manila
Just out of curiosity to see what you guys are using.
I personally dont use manila, with the default home screen i see everything im interested in on the main screen.
i use it and like it
now i wait for a final version of manila 2.6
wah im surprized haha,, i actually thought everyone would be using the default home screen!
Woaaaah, why would you buy an HTC device if you shut down the main reason of it? TF3D makes WM so much easier and it's the biggest reason why I bought a HTC TD2. But to answer the poll, I sometimes turn of TF3D and use the normal home screen with some plugins like SPB News, SPB Weather and SPB Wireless Monitoring.
I started off with manila in Wm6.1
But when i went to WM6.5, Titanium looked a hell lot better than the normal today screen.. and it took up a lot less resources. (I found manila to run pretty slow.. random split second halts and judders here and there)
Manila
had a BA earlier.. had winmo 6.5 with titanium on it. Now i'v switched to Blackstone..
still have the default ROM wid winmo 6.1 n manila 1.3xx version i m liking it over titanium on BA
thinking of flashing soon so that i can compare titanium and manila on my blackstone
I think manila/htc sense is not just the best UI on wm devices, but also the best UI on all phones. I think it's far better than the s-class UI on LG devices and much, much better than the touchwiz interface on samsung devices.
i do agree that it makes everything so much easier, but what kills me is the warp, like Nickch said, the split second, while scrolling from side to side, and then without u wanting it you've stopped at the music tab, and you cant go on cause the phone takes a mini time to load ur music files,.. i hope in the HD2 is much smoother!
SPB Mobile Shell 3.5 FTW
i usually install a manilla ROM but adding TFDETACHER to switch it to the classic today screen !
SPB 3 - best UI I've ever seen
Manila to me is better: I tried PointUI, SPB 3, Titanium (gastly!), standard home, widgets home and so on...
The only problem is the limited link personalization.
D'rath
I use Manilla - while it isn't as customisable as other shells, it is the most practical. You can see multiple appointments without hassle and has a favourite programs launcher =]. Another big plus is the Manilla Calendar app in v2.6 - the fact that Manilla even covers the ugly Windows Calendar app when you input a new appointment is awesome.
Tried SPB Mobile 3/3.5, but the widgets are just too ugly and i couldn't find widgets that I liked with the user-made ones
PointUI looks interesting, but i feel that it wouldn't provide /that/ much of an advantage.
Titanium is good looking and smooth, but impractical for appointments and the user-made plugins (e.g.: fav contacts, etc) are not refined enough to look that nice.
I swap quite regularly between Titanium and PointUI. I love both of them equally. I did really love TouchFLO for a long time, but found what other people have said - it's occassionaly laggy and/or slow, and sometimes doesn't even notify me of things like new texts or emails.
Looking forward to trying the latest Manila on my new HD2 next week. I reckon the 1GHz CPU should make a difference, maybe
SPB Mobile Shell 3.5
I was using Manila for couple of days and then I found SPB Mobile Shell 3.0. After this switching back to Manila (every time when I installed a new ROM), was a disappointment. Still completely faithful to SPB Mobile Shell, now in updated version 3.5
I tried them all for a while (SPB,Titanium, PointUI), forcing myself to like them, but in the end I ALWAYS go back to manila. It presents all the info nicely on the home screen, and allows a nice interface to see your sms and emails with just a tap on the slider. I love the way sms and emails appear in manila, instead of SBP using the standard windows mobile messaging thingie.
Now tf3d 2.5 or 2.6 watever it is rocks my pants off and to me is the best interface for the hd.
I love Manila 2.5, but it could be visually better with the Manila 2.1 "People" and "Email" Widgets...The cube-like slider columns and row isn't much of an eye candy! IDK..just my opinion...
I use Manila 2.5 and I have to say I'm impressed with it. I love HTC's additions to hide the base WM environment. I have tried Point UI, SPB MS 2/3/3.5 and a couple of others and the only other time I would use something that wasn't TF3D would be if I wanted simplicity and in that I would use titanium.
Manila for me wins hands down currently.
I don't like Manilla 2.5, it's just too slow. I like Manilla 2.1, which is a lot faster, but I'm sad to see that all the roms that come with manilla are full of bloatware
patcooke said:
SPB 3 - best UI I've ever seen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I am absolutely agree with you!
Yesterday I installed HTC ROM upgrade and unbeknownst to me installed WM 6.5. It does not seema s bad as some here make out but I have come across a couple of irritation stumbling blocks that I am sure someone here can resolve for me. How the hell do I get into basic wondows/phone settings such as backlight, power settings etc. Is there a way to customise what used to be called the Today screen, now the Home screen I suppose, beyond what little is available on the Home screen menu. In the old 6.1 version I had until yesterday when Touch Flo didn't have a settings option you were dropped back into windows settings, can't find a way to do this now. BTW does Manila = Touch Fl0 3D and is Sense an updated version of the same?
jbevan said:
Yesterday I installed HTC ROM upgrade and unbeknownst to me installed WM 6.5. It does not seema s bad as some here make out but I have come across a couple of irritation stumbling blocks that I am sure someone here can resolve for me. How the hell do I get into basic wondows/phone settings such as backlight, power settings etc. Is there a way to customise what used to be called the Today screen, now the Home screen I suppose, beyond what little is available on the Home screen menu. In the old 6.1 version I had until yesterday when Touch Flo didn't have a settings option you were dropped back into windows settings, can't find a way to do this now. BTW does Manila = Touch Fl0 3D and is Sense an updated version of the same?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, im figuring u have the wm 6.5 now. yes manila is touchflo, and sense is just the newest UI. touchflo3d is a UI and Sense is a UI. if u have touchflo3d and want to change today screen settings(which is limited with out modding) go to ur start menu. then settings. then go today screen. u can change your themes on appearance tabs. if u want windows default today screen, click on the items tab on the bottom of same screen. then u can uncheck touchflo and check windows default. its a more basic setup. if u really wanna modify ur today screen/tf3d, check out the Themes and apps thread here in Rhodium. theres all sorts of tweaks to make ur tf3d look nuthin like it does now. Like transparent sliders, new icons, new taskbar, new transparent clocks, and it goes on and on.
i know it can seem confusing with all the icons trying to find ur main system settings. For the main ones, press start menu. then go settings. then go to system. u will be able to modify backlight/power settings and more. these are the main windows mobile settings. U also have a settings tab in tf3d that lets u change some things in system and tf3d but not as much or detailed like main system settings. try it out
Hi Jeremy.
In the 6.5 ROM you can find all the old regular WM settings by just sliding to the "settings" tab in Sense, and clicking the bottom-left soft key, "All Settings". Yes it's an extra click, and yes it gets annoying.
Manila is the underlying operating name for HTC's custom UI. First version was TouchFlo, then TouchFLO3/TF3D (which you just came off of), then Sense. All of those are just "generations" of Manila.
jbevan said:
Yesterday I installed HTC ROM upgrade and unbeknownst to me installed WM 6.5. It does not seema s bad as some here make out but I have come across a couple of irritation stumbling blocks that I am sure someone here can resolve for me. How the hell do I get into basic wondows/phone settings such as backlight, power settings etc. Is there a way to customise what used to be called the Today screen, now the Home screen I suppose, beyond what little is available on the Home screen menu. In the old 6.1 version I had until yesterday when Touch Flo didn't have a settings option you were dropped back into windows settings, can't find a way to do this now. BTW does Manila = Touch Fl0 3D and is Sense an updated version of the same?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fix is noted above, but I would recommend burning a custom ROM. I'm using the Energy ROM, and in that version the Settings goes to the WM settings rather than the Sense Settings tab. Plus, these ROMs can have a lot of nice customized programs already burned in.
I just downloaded and installed Easy Today Launcher on my WM Prof 6.1 and I am really happy with it. It allow you to put shortcuts on your today screen. I have TF3D turned off, so no idea how it works with that. The Easy Today Launcher is free and super easy to use.
thats right...in that tab theres the all settings to...a lil faster..lol
Sent from my AOSP on XDANDROID MSM using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
damn..i forgot to quote..lol
Sent from my AOSP on XDANDROID MSM using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
sirphunkee said:
Hi Jeremy.
In the 6.5 ROM you can find all the old regular WM settings by just sliding to the "settings" tab in Sense, and clicking the bottom-left soft key, "All Settings". Yes it's an extra click, and yes it gets annoying.
Manila is the underlying operating name for HTC's custom UI. First version was TouchFlo, then TouchFLO3/TF3D (which you just came off of), then Sense. All of those are just "generations" of Manila.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. Thanks for explaining the Manila naming thing.
Unfortunately, for some reason, I do not have the All Settings soft key, its what I was looking for - the same option as in 6.1 with TF3D. Any ideas? Maybe I shoud just flash with the Energy custom ROM and be done with it!
Hello to Austin Texas btw from sunny north london!
Jeremy
I have found the All Settings option, it was under the Menu soft key! Anyway I have taken the good advice of stevedebi and installed the Energy custom ROM, which was a cinch to install and looks fanatsts so far. A happy man here!
is it possible to change the windows back to the windows mobile 6.0/6.1 layout?
i am having difficulties with the touch flo programme and loved the older windows.
i know that the program could be switched from touch flo to 6.1 in the htc touch diamond 2.
Just go to Start>Settings>Today>Items, then uncheck TouchFLO and check Windows Default.
Windows Mobile 6 is your OS in either case, TouchFLO is just the HTC customized UI that overlays WM, as an alternative to the default Windows Today screen (AKA Titanium).
To get back to the windows mobile 6.0/6.1 layout, uncheck both Sense, and Windows Default. If you check Windws Default, you'll get the Titanium interface, which is nothing like the good ol' Windows Mobile 6.0/6.1 interface.
try spb mobile shell 3.5 it works great similar to android and very customizable very easily.
I paid for Mobile Shell and while I liked the interface and customizability, the way it displays and handles contacts made me stop using it.
I hear what your saying. what i did was put all my favorites as pictures in the contacts tab That was a nice way to scroll through my most frequently dialed contacts. There was no limit to how many you can put there. Mostly though I just started to type the name on the dial pad and the persons number just pops up and then press to dial or press open contact on the right side of the number and it opens into windows mobile contact list.