I've been using the Desire for a while now. I've come to discover tiny flaws and annoyances with the device. The purpose of this thread is not to say it's a bad device. On the contrary, it has been a dream to use. None of the items listed here are deal-breakers, at least for me.
The purpose is to just foster discussion and perhaps find workarounds to share with the community.
Is there anything about your Desire that rubs you the wrong way? Or perhaps you have a good solution for any of the items listed?
Most recent entries are numbered highest
The items here should be things that are experienced by ALL HTC Desire users.
The reaction to each item by everybody should be either of the following:
"Yeah, that's true for my device."
"Oh? Really? My device has that problem?" (Turn on your device to test...) "Oh, damn, it's true..."
You may or may not care for the items listed here, but nonetheless, they're there and they apply to your device.
That being said, things not included here are the following:
Hardware limitations. Eg. No call start/end keys. You knew about things like this before you bought it.
Hardware defects. Eg. Dust under screen, device not going into standby properly. Most of us don't experience these. Contact your retailer to exchange the unit or HTC to claim warranty.
Problems arising because of your carrier. Eg. Some carriers limit your device's max volume. Speak with your carrier.
Problems arising because of your geographic location. Eg. The FM Radio application freezes in some European countries.
Message from me!
Thanks everyone for contributing! Just a reminder for everyone: Please try not to think of these "issues" as problems. Consider them limitations that we have to work around. There's no such thing as the perfect device and I'm not sure there ever will be. Don't let this list worry you. I don't think there's a single HTC Desire user who thinks that his/her device is absolutely un-useable because of these limitations.
That being said, thanks for those who contacted HTC about this thread. But do manage your expectations because it's unlikely anything will get done since these are such minor things.
Let me redefine the purpose of this thread:
-Identify limitations
-Foster discussion of such limitations in order to find workarounds
For those of you who don't have the HTC Desire, don't be put off by the sheer number of issues listed here. Most are minor nit-picky things. Some have workarounds. Others you might not even care about.
Please read this post before submitting an item. It's being updated for a reason. I'm going to ignore all submissions if it's already mentioned in the 1st post.
Some of you are posting tips and tricks for items that are not in the 1st post. That's fine; I'll just add them to my Tips & Tricks blog entry. Link is in my signature.
General
10. Turning the device facedown on a surface during a call does not activate speakerphone. (Minor issue, but it was something I just took for granted from my Touch Pro2)
14. Vertical slide gesture to answer/dismiss calls. Submitted by DoomFragger. Sometimes leads to accidental answering or dismissing of calls when device is taken out of pocket.
Workaround: Install alternative lock screen and/or take extra care when taking out your device.
16. Only standby button wakes the screen. Submitted by mlear.
Workaround: Install "No Lock". Thanks Karolis.
19. Can't specify duration of notification light. Submitted by Bart1981.
20. Voice-to-text feature removed from Android by HTC. Wonder why...
Workaround: Use HTC IME Mod keyboard. Thanks gogol
Update: The official Froyo update included voice search. But still no voice-to-text button for keyboard.
21. Can't disable proximity sensor. Causes phone to behave unpredictably in pocket if using bluetooth headset. Submitted by Tearlow.
23. The device sometimes thinks you're somewhere you're not. Gives you the wrong weather and/or time. Submitted by Phil750123.
Workaround: Remove your clock widget and add it back. Manually select your location.
24. Compact QWERTY keyboard does not "learn" your typing style. Submitted by Phil750123.
27. Can't just have the pattern lock screen without the default slide lock screen. Submitted by Unfriendly.
30. Alarm sometimes snoozes if the proximity or light sensor is tripped. Submitted by nicelad_uk.
31. Poor button placement for "Snooze" when the alarm activates. It's positioned near the bottom of the screen where it's easy to accidentally hit when attempting the downward slide gesture while barely awake. Submitted by streetdaddy.
Workaround: Start the downward slide gesture towards the top of the display. It's not necessary to swipe the bar on the bottom. Thanks tifosi256.
32. The order of articles in the News widget appears very random and fluctuates depending on time of update rather than time of publish. Submitted by andycted.
33. No native tasks or notes application. This means no syncing with Outlook or Exchange for these items. Submitted by david_inuk.
36. No native file explorer for Android. Can't upload files from browser, eg. can't attach files to posts here at XDA, can't upload to Dropbox. Submitted by mcgon1979.
Update: The official Froyo update didn't include a native file browser. But you are now able to upload files via browser. (Regarding Dropbox, you may use their official app to upload/download files)
45. Cannot turn off camera shutter sound for HTC's Footprint application. The shutter sound will play even if you disabled the shutter sound in the Camera application. Submitted by gogol.
48. Hyphens confuse the phone number recognition software. If you want to dial a phone number displayed in an email or the browser and it contains a hyphen, it will not dial correctly. Submitted by MissStabby.
49. Too easy to power on the device. It takes just a tap of the power button. Would have been better if it required a long press of the power button. Submitted by Cleargrey.
51. Unable to add custom locations into weather application. Submitted by Snowskip.
53. Can't select multiple or all to mark as read in News application. Submitted by benko286.
65. Screen automatically turns on unlocked after ending a call. Leads to accidental screen inputs if device is in pocket while using headset.Submitted by unrealnet.
68. If you start dialing a number, the contacts list in the dialer will not filter to all contacts containing that sequence of numbers. Rather, it will only filter to all contacts that begin with that sequence of numbers. Submitted by hubogoss62.
Browser
2. Internet bookmarks can't be organized into folders. (Sure you can put a folder on the homescreen and put quick links there, but it's not what I'm referring to.)
Workaround: Use alternative web browser. Thanks jannen. But the default browser is so capable.
47. Limit of 4 browser windows/tabs opened at any one time. Submitted by Borgini.
Synchronization
7. Can't specify sync schedule for Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar.
Workaround: Sync with Google's Exchange server instead.
17. HTC removed multiple Exchange accounts support. Submitted by nbedford.
Workaround: Download TouchDown. Thanks defectivereject.
37. When syncing with Exchange server, Exchange Managed Folders are not synced. Submitted by daesimps
Email
4. Gmail application icon does not include counter for new messages.
Workaround: "Gmail Unread Count" from Android Market
6. Can only attach photos in Gmail application
Workaround: Attach other file types via 3rd party file explorer like Astro.
8. Can't select multiple messages to mark as read or unread in Mail application.
9. Mail Widget doesn't display messages from Gmail application.
Workaround: Setup Gmail in the Mail application if you want it to be displayed in the widget.
15. Cannot zoom in/out in Gmail application. Submitted by mlear.
18. Can't hit certain hyperlinks in Gmail application. This is just silly. Eg, this link doesn't work "http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=666332&goto=newpost"
Workaround: Sync with Google's Exchange server to use Mail application.
58. For POP3 email accounts, marking emails as read on your device doesn't mark it as read on the server. This is actually an problem not specific to the Desire, but to Android OS in general. It's been reported to Google already back in Oct 2009. Submitted by well0549.
Multimedia
12. When watching video or listening to music via the default applications, it's difficult to navigate to a particular point in the middle of the clip, especially if the clip is long. You can only drag the progress bar but you can't get very precise. HTC/Android should allow the optical trackpad to be used for precise navigation here (ie, perhaps use left/right commands to move the clip by several seconds) or just copy Apple (ie. decrease horizontal sensitivity of the screen as you drag your finger vertically away from the progress bar. Those of you with iPod Touches or iPhones will know what I'm talking about here).
Workaround: Install alternative video player. Thanks defectivereject.
13. No equalizer for the music player. Submitted by admoo. Some would argue that equalizers distort and add noise. But there's enough people who want it that it should have been included by Google/HTC.
Workaround: Use alternative player. Thanks quicksite.
39. Default Music application does not display lyrics even if they are properly tagged. Submitted by daesimps
50. The default music application will not use track numbers as the play order if you long-tap on an album (in album view) and select "play". They will be played alphabetically by song title. Similarly, if you long-tap on an album and select "add to playlist", the tracks will be added in alphabetical order. Submitted by Scottland.
55. Only specific events trigger the Album to update. If you added/removed items from the Album without triggering the specified events, your changes may be reflected in the Album until the next time you triggered said events. These events are the following (may not be exhaustive list)
-Camera application takes a photo/video
-Modifications made from within Album application
-Save image from default browser.
-Unmount/mount of microSD card (ie, soft reset, enter/exit disk drive mode, manually trigger SD card scan)
Submitted by Laban.
56. The default music application may not display the genre tag of MP3 files correctly. It writes "Unknown Genre" instead. With OGG vorbis files the year tag is also buggy. Submitted by arminius.locustus.
Workaround: Switch your complete music collection to mp3. Tag the files according to the last standard (id3.2v4). Only use predefined genre tags. And even then: Pray that the internal number of the genres you listen to is below 100. Thanks arminius.locustus.
60. When activating Voice-to-Text during music playback, the music pauses, but does not resume after the device accepts your voice command.
Connectivity
28. No proxy support. Can't connect to internet at many workplaces. Submitted by Jade_user.
40. SMTP Authentications not handled properly by HTC's Mail client. Submitted by lolomin.
52. VPN connection state not consistent across reboots. After reboot, device thinks it's still connected to the VPN when it's not. Submitted by Fiouz.
Contacts
3. Contact photos become blurry if synced with Google Contacts. Happens with Windows Mobile too, so Google really needs to fix this.
Workaround: After your device downloads your contacts from Google, disable contacts syncing. Any changes to your contacts will not be saved in the cloud and you have to add photos manually for each contact. Detailed instructions here.
Alternatively, create new contact in the phone memory with hi-res picture and link it with existing Google contact. Thanks spooky75.
22. Can't specify particular contact groups within Google Contacts to sync. Submitted by freddyemmer.
25. Cannot hide SIM contacts from dialer. They can be hidden from contact list but still appear in dialer. Submitted by cworrall.
29. Facebook contacts information not syncing properly. Submitted by nicelad_uk (check out items 1 and 2 at his/her post).
41. Website address is not a field you can input for a new contact. But you can input it in Google Contacts with your browser. You can however, edit that field on your device after you've set it in Google Contacts. Submitted by vlad69uk.
42. For contacts, the type for Microsoft's instant messaging users will always be "None" if you sync with Google Contacts. Google Contacts and Android use different identifiers for Microsoft's instant messaging system. Android sees labels it as "Windows Live" while Google Contacts labels it as "MSN". So, once it syncs, the IM type changes to "None" in Google Contacts and on your device.
43. If a contact card includes a website, tapping on it does not open your browser to take you there as you would expect. It doesn't do anything! That's not very well thought out.
46. Birthday information for contacts cannot be synced from your device to Google Contacts. It can only be synced from Google Contacts to your device. Submitted by yeepeekai.
Workaround: Use EboBirthday and EboBirthday Contact Sync. Submitted by tifosi256.
59. Search in the contacts list only searches the contact name. It should search other fields such as the Organization as well. Inspired by IceBone.
Workaround: Use the paid application "Contacts Search+". Thanks IceBone. See here for more info.
Calendar
34. No monthly-calendar style date picker when creating new entries in default Calendar application. Only have the rotating dials. Submitted by mrdo.
35. If more than one calendar event reminder comes up, you can only dismiss all or snooze all. Cannot action on them separately. Submitted by mrdo.
Workaround: "Calendar snooze" from Android Market. Submitted by vivus.
38. Calendar does not support setting appointments as free, busy, or out of office. Submitted by daesimps
45. Can't specify end-date for repeating calendar entry. Can only do so in Google Calendar. Submitted by joeboyc2.
Workaround: Set up the recurring event. Then delete the event that occurs after the final occurence you want. You will be given the choice to delete all future occurrences. Thanks Eggmoon.
54. Google Calendar events don't sync properly if change type to/from "Default" and "Private". Submitted by mroek.
57. Reminders for Outlook all-day events starts going off at midnight.Submitted by anthonyeeles.
61. No year-view for default calendar application. Submitted by amak_ot.
63. Can't add additional sports calendars under Google's "Other Calendars". You can only add additional Google "My Calendars". Submitted by TractorMatty.
Workaround:Use www.markthisdate.com. Submitted by TractorMatty.
Messaging (SMS)
11. Autocomplete in the "To" field of the SMS application is not very smart. It shouldn't list the Home or Work numbers as options to select when you start typing a name.
Workaround: Install alternative SMS application (eg, Handcent). Thanks Smirge
26. Bug in default Messaging (SMS) application that displays incorrect timestamp and messes up the order of the threaded conversations. Happens when receiving messages from external carrier networks and/or across time zones. Submitted by Jaa-Yoo.
44. Can't set a number as the default for messaging. Where contacts have more than one number (even if they're not 'mobile' numbers), if you select "New message" from the messages tab in the phonebook, you get a "Phone numbers" prompt like you do with standard Android asking which to use. This is fine, but it does not have a "use this as default" checkbox like it should. Submitted by Simon143.
64. Strange behavior in Messaging application when sending messages to multiple recipients. Seperate threads are created for sending to multiple numbers of a single contact. Upon replies, the initial message sent out is no longer displayed. Submitted by PseudoReal.
67. SMS Received Notification does not work. Submitted by tomvdp.
Items that were initially applicable but have since been fixed by official OTA updates.
62. Can't have the screen rotated 90 degrees clockwise. It only recognizes portrait and landscape in 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Submitted by jamfitz86.
Update: The official Froyo update fixed this.
1. Internet bookmarks always default to sort by newest. It makes more sense to be sorted alphabetically.
Workaround: Use alternative web browser. Thanks jannen. But the default browser is so capable.
Update: The official Froyo update fixed this.
66. Mobile Terminated SMS are linked to random contact. Submitted by pascanu.
Update: The official Android 2.1 update 1 fixed this.
5. Can't select text to copy to Clipboard in Gmail application.
Workaround: Use the Mail application to sync with Google's Exchange server. You can select text to copy to clipboard in the Mail application.
Update: The official Froyo update fixed this.
13. Theres no bloomin' equaliser for the music player!
For the internet browsing bookmarks - you can always use Opera. Works fine on my phone - but I still prefer the default one
I hate problem no. 3.
Can someone create an app "Replace Contact Photos" ... to replace all photo contacts programmatically using the hires one from sd-card?
That would be awesome!
Lock Screen
May I had the annoyance of the lock screen dropping calls. It's been already discussed in the forum.
When the phone is pulled out from pants, it will dismiss several calls. Why did they put a vertical slide?
DoomFragger said:
May I had the annoyance of the lock screen dropping calls. It's been already discussed in the forum.
When the phone is pulled out from pants, it will dismiss several calls. Why did they put a vertical slide?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've added it to the list. But I have to say that I don't think this is a very prevalent problem. I counted only 4 users who has this problem in that thread dedicated to this issue.
I keep my device in my front pants pocket with the screen facing me all the time and never have I had any problems with accidental receiving or dismissing of calls. Sure, I don't wear tight pants but they're certainly not baggy either!
i am a fat bastard with tight jeans, and i don't get a problem with dismissed calls.....
Act 1 Video Player allows optical trackball for tiny precise forward/rewind.
ohyeahar said:
11. Autocomplete in the "To" field of the SMS application is not very smart. It shouldn't list the Home or Work numbers as options to select when you start typing a name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is particularly annoying and makes this feature almost unusable. grrrr. it's now actually quite difficult to send a simple sms.
1. Internet bookmarks always default to sort by newest. It makes more sense to be sorted alphabetically.
Workaround: Use alternative web browser. Thanks jannen. But the default browser is so capable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When in bookmarks you can press menu and change the sort order.
cannot zoom in/out in gmail app
cant use bottom middle button to wake screen
mlear said:
cant use bottom middle button to wake screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what the power button in the top is for.
I know that
maybe it is just because i am coming across from iphone but i would like to be able to use this button to wake the screen
i think it is easier to do one handed than the top button
ohyeahar said:
I've added it to the list. But I have to say that I don't think this is a very prevalent problem. I counted only 4 users who has this problem in that thread dedicated to this issue.
I keep my device in my front pants pocket with the screen facing me all the time and never have I had any problems with accidental receiving or dismissing of calls. Sure, I don't wear tight pants but they're certainly not baggy either!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rhedgehog said:
i am a fat bastard with tight jeans, and i don't get a problem with dismissed calls.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another thing I've noticed is that, even if I wrap my finger with my jacket, I still can operate the device... Maybe there are same of us that have special electric powers, lol!
Even so, I wish I could get the option to have a call lock screen which works in horizontal, rather that in vertical...
No Multiple Exchange accounts, even though this was supposed to be in Android 2.1 I read it is HTC who have removed/disabled this feature
ohyeahar said:
1. Internet bookmarks always default to sort by newest. It makes more sense to be sorted alphabetically.
Workaround: Use alternative web browser. Thanks jannen. But the default browser is so capable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard to believe anyone would not be using free Dolphin Browser, with its superior multi-touch, and gestures galore -- for adding a bookmark, go back, forward, home, go to bookmarks, new page, everything imaginable, in user-defined gestures. GREAT UI ! Hideable tabs, easy switch to tabs.... I suggest you use cyan candy SKIN on dolphin browser. Both free from Market. OperaMini is, of course, great for speed, and a good idea to use as a dedicated browser just for gmail.
ohyeahar said:
13. No equalizer for the music player. Submitted by admoo. Some would argue that equalizers distort and add noise. But there's enough people who want it that it should have been included by Google/HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Astro Player (beta) has damn good equalizer.
But I would much rather the music player called "Rock on" for its unique UI, allows you to see album art, song duration status, at same time can flip other album art up/down to select other songs to play. AND its controllable from Notifications Bar... so you don't have to hunt around to access the contrls. always one click away.
MixZing is also a nice player that is growing on me.... each have 1x4 widgets.
nbedford said:
No Multiple Exchange accounts, even though this was supposed to be in Android 2.1 I read it is HTC who have removed/disabled this feature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
download touchdown. it has multiple exchange accts
ritdaw said:
When in bookmarks you can press menu and change the sort order.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, of course. But it automatically changes back to sort by newest after a soft reset.
Related
Users could use this thread to list all the bugs they noticed on Windows Phone 7.
Here are the (possible) ones that have already been identified.
This thread is not aimed at being a place for WP7haters. On the contrary, the goal is to collect the possible bugs, even minor or rare, in order to make the OS even better in the future for the people who love WP7. Thank you for your understanding
NEW MANGO BUGS
* Keyboard bug: keyboard will suddenly disappear,
* Zune bug: Mango will freeze your phone at the end of a song [Remove battery]
* FM Radio bug: FM Radio will start on 87.5 (!)
* IE bug: Internet Explorer does not manage Multitask properly: if you press the back button then you will exit IE, instead of bringing you to the previous webpage visited (not logical)
* Alarm clock bug: sometimes the sound disappears
-------
GENERAL
* Mango keyboard bug: Still no fix provided by MS. The keyboard disappears by itself and refuses to pop up.
* 16bit banding bug since NoDo [Mango shall fix it]
* TIME AND DATE CHANGE BY THEMSELVES (EVEN WHEN AUTOMATIC SETTING IS DISABLED) [if this also happens to you, please report here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...s-please/570867f7-eb86-4a70-9513-6032e69222da ]
* PHONE REBOOTS BY ITSELF (still not solved after NoDo: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15474483&postcount=542)
* Automatic reboot of the phone and loss of all datas (rare) (Still not solved since NoDo: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15708215&postcount=544)
* Pictures assigned to Live Tiles (people, pictures, etc) are very low resolution pictures http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...contacts/a0c604cc-2d53-4818-af77-17c766572b6f
* Email notifications sound laggy/distorded: http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/8cb41c0f-25ba-446a-8e50-d4f96edf42d9
* Game Hub: in the Game Hub most icons are zoomed in and pixelated (concerns mainly non-Xbox live games)
* Very low resolution picture showing on the screen when a contact calls you
* Some annoying background hiss noise (right before a sound is played, which goes away shortly after that)
* Text: sometimes WP7 will capitalize the first letter of some words without any specific reason
* Weird icon appearing in the app list. See image: http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5507/iconvbx.png
* Sound of Games will remain enabled even when phone is on Vibrate
* Volume varies: Listen to the FM radio and receive a phone call. After the call the volume of FM radio will be far lower. The workaround is weird: if you take a picture with the camera the volume of FM radio will increase again and come back to normal.
* Volume varies: If you listen to some music, take a picture and switch the camera to video mode then the volume of the music playback goes off for like less than a second and comes back a lot louder that before without changing the volume.
* Microphone may disable itself after use of bluetooth or plugging in headphones
* Alarms: Freezes when recurring alarm sounds and allowed to self quiet, when not plugged in. Does it everytime. Sometimes locks on dismiss screen, otherwise locks when dismissed
* Alarms: Phone may freeze on the passcode unlock screen when you dismiss the alarm (reboot necessary)
* Alarms: Sound issues after alarm sounding: No sound after alarms, vibration still works but no sound
* When an email contains a picture, it cannot be downloaded with Gmail on Windows Phone 7 (in HTML or RTF email format)
* The "Answer" button seems sometimes disabled when answering a call [rare]
* Charge via USB, it actually drains the battery/or does not charge it enough even though you just leave it on standby.
CONNECTIVITY
* Bug when you have exchange server with certificate from your internal CA (with imported Root CA in phone).
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...r/5857ed06-d4dd-4364-a718-f5223fb01ecf?page=1
* While playing Video, the audio form that video is not routed via Bluetooth headset. Albeit this is basic function of BT when a device supports A2DP.
* WiFi automatically going to sleep: And you cannot chose in the Settings how wi-fi operates while in sleep/standby
* 3G: WP7 using 3G data unnecessarily: http://wmpoweruser.com/possible-wp7-bug-using-3g-data-unnecessaril/
* Wifi: WP7 sometimes unable to connect to password protected WiFi (WPA/WPA2 security)
* Wifi: WP7 fails to connect to hidden WiFi networks (known issue)
* Wifi: Issue with lockscreen: Wifi refuses to re-connect after it comes back from standby
* Wifi: After switching off Wifi, the phone will not connect over 3G (reboot necessary)
* Wifi: Wifi disconnects when phone is locked: absence of option to leave Wifi on even if phone is locked
* Bluetooth: Bluetooth works on Audio but fails on video (sound reverts to the speakers): http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/789cef96-09d8-4903-b2db-72f003fdeee9
* Bluetooth: Apparently Bluetooth not connecting well with all car systems: http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/b53c64ce-30ee-4734-9dab-28ce0d561132
* Bluetooth: poor audio-quality when connecting the phone to various A2DP-capable devices
* Bluetooth: Notifications sounds disabled: when bluetooth on and connected to trying to connect to devices it disables notifications sounds.
* Bluetooth: No option to use only the headset part, or the stereo (A2DP) part, or both.
SYNC / EMAILS / PEOPLE / CALENDAR
* My Contact list reset? More info here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=961793
* Sync: Exchange ActiveSync Error Code: 85010013 Security Policies
* Sync: Error code 86000206 when synchronizing to Hotmail account
* Sync: WP7's calendar refuses to push to Google calendar
* Sync: Having a calendar entry (Google), change in reminder (add a reminder, change time etc) does not sync with the phone
* Sync: iCal calendar appointments received by email are not recognized, and cannot be added to the calendar
Only if you change something like description of that item, then everything will be sync', including reminder info.
* Sync: Issue when sync'ing all calendar items from Windows Live Custom domains account. After copying the appointements from Outlook to WL calendar using the Connector, the non-recurring appointements appear in the web calendar BUT do not show up on the phone (recurring appts show up fine).
* Sync: Some Facebook contacts are missing from People's Hub
* Facebook: bug with Facebook photos integration in the Photos hub. Suddenly the Facebook albums disappear after the user forces a manual sync to refresh the contact list
* Sync: Deleted people in Facebook still appear in the People Live Tile
* Sync: Hidden posts in Facebook still appear in the WP7 Facebook feed
* Video Sync: Error message when syncing a video from the phone to the collection "An unknown error occured. Error Code C00D11CD"
* Emails: bug in how WP7 connects with Exchange Server 2003 (which includes the service behind the Hotmail Exchange Activesync support). When email from such a server is forwarded the email is not included in an editable form, but rather as an .eml attachment
* Emails: Emails menu tends to start in 'landscape mode' by default (may be actually on purpose, many users find this annoying):
E.g. If the user takes the phone in his hand in portrait mode as the main tiled interface shows, and opens the messages or mail app, the content is in the landscape mode. User has to tilt the phone 45 degrees and wait for it to correctly switch to portrait.
* Emails: Emails fail to automatically display embedded images.
* Emails: Incorrect processing of Mailto URLs http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9284085&postcount=57
* Emails: when a picture is attached. click on "download images" will come back "download incomplete", with no way to force the email to re-download (forward the email to urself may solve the issue)
* Emails: if attachement has some nonstandard spelling, email app will not display this attachement at all
* Contacts: contacts are sometimes duplicating several times for no apparent reason
ZUNE
* NEW Since Mango: Zune freezes at the end of a song and freezes the phone.
* NEW Since Mango: FM radio starts at 87.5 intead of last FM radio station selected.
* Zune crashes, then refuses to load (reboot necessary) (apparently solved since NoDo)
* Using Zune for music and Marketplace in the same time will very often lead Marketplace to crash (apparently solved since NoDo)
* Zune remains silent, even if the general volume is turned on (reboot necessary)
* Music is not paused when headphones are plugged out, during an incoming call. On cancelling the call, music just starts playing loudly on the speaker.
* Zune keeps on working but no display: the whole screen is totally black
* Zune does not always display the artist as background (which remains black)
* Zune does not always display the artist as background (which remains black) whereas the Artist's image actually exists and will only be displayed in the songs list or albums list
(Indeed, sometimes, Zune displays the Artist background when navigating through the Artist's albums and songs, but does not display any background when listening a song of this Artist)
* Sometimes Zune's background displays the artist of the preceding song /or the next song
* Zune software on PC messes up some Artists' tags, by mistakenly replacing the Artist name by the composer name (e.g. Smog becomes Bill Callahan, Moose becomes Russel Yates, My Bloody Valentine becomes Kevins Shields, etc.)
* The volume of Zune may vary (e.g. louder or quieter after receiving a phone call, or after a game)
* Zune sound quality: strangely there is always some background hiss noise
* Audio stuttering at the end of each track
* No sound while Zune player is running, other sounds still working (reboot solves the problem)
* Turn off the sound of certain games may possibly also turn off the sound in Zune [to be confirmed. (e.g. RocketRiot, Bye Bye Brain, Bejeweled may cause this)]
* All letters are "greyed out" in the Zune alphabetic search menu [may concern mostly German devices]
* Video Sync: Zune sometimes refuses to sync videos to the computer: Error message when syncing a video from the phone to the collection "An unknown error occured. Error Code C00D11CD",
* Search function: Zune search function will only look into the Marketplace and fails to browse your local own music collection to find a track.
MARKETPLACE
* WP7 freezes during Maketplace scrolling (apparently solved since NoDo)
* Marketplace crashes, then refuses to load (reboot necessary) (apparently solved since NoDo)
* Pressing the back button sometimes only leads to a black screen (apparently solved since NoDo)
* Pressing the back button on an app’s details page takes the user back to the beginning of the list, who then have to scroll down again to where he was [BUG STILL HERE after NoDo]
* Error code c101a24b when trying to install or update applications (reboot necessary)
* App updates failing to download/install
* Upgrade process is more generally unreliable, with various error messages popping up
* Problems with updates: some apps' icon (e.g. Wikipanda) disappear (leaving just the star) after the update until you reboot or reinstall.
* Update of some specific apps failing due to "licensing problems" (IMDB, foursquare, Touchnote, Wipolo, some HTC apps)
CAMERA
* Setting are not saved.[STILL HERE after the NoDo update]
IE BROWSER
* IE will not delete URLs from history if they contain international characters
* Bug when editing a Favorite: If you edit a favorite, and the change is limited to changing the case of the favorite but not the actual words (for example, changing Engadget to engadget), then you get an error with inaccurate details that states: "Your phone doesn't have enough memory to save this favorite. Free up space by deleting some files or apps and try again." http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/13f5db04-5419-4ba9-8d66-75ab1812828b
BING / BING MAPS / GPS
* Bing Maps not working properly in several non-US contries (loading time, inacurrate position, blurry maps)
* Localization without GPS not working fine on 3G networks (apparently works better under 2G coverage)
* Current location as indicated by Bing Maps is wrong (e.g. http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/57acec04-2b14-4f78-8734-895ae297ba9d )
* un-ability of Bing Maps (unlike Google Maps) to cache the map pictures and show them when no-data connection is available
PODCASTS
* WP7 fails to play most m4a podcasts (despite m4a is in the list of Windows Phone supported media codecs) [may apparently be caused by images embedded in some m4a podcasts - same problem encountered on the Zune HD]
VOICE COMMAND
* Once the audio jack is unplugged the Voice Command may not work (reboot necessary) [mostly noticed on the Focus]
OFFICE / WORD
* Apparently, Words allows comments in new documents created with the device, but the comments are disabled in any imported docs. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11143755&postcount=352
* In Word after some time of using document selecting txt becomes impossible. You can just select one word but nothing more. Closing the doc and opening it again solves the problem.
* * *
MISSING FEATURES / DESIGN INCONSISTENCIES:
* No 'Forward' in IE
* When you write an email and want to attach a Word, Excel or powerpoint document, you cannot. Outlook only propose you to attach a picture !!!?
* IE: You cannot download anything from the IE browser
* Wifi: WiFi automatically going to sleep: And you cannot chose in the Settings how wi-fi operates while in sleep/standby
* Contact tiles which are pinned to the Start screen may randomly disappear
+ When you have the same contact in two places, like email and Facebook, WP7 may automatically link the two
* Email: no way to disable Email push notification at night !!!
* Contact: WP7 does not allow to search in People for company name
* Contact: Impossible to display company name or order by it
* Contact: No vcard support. Contacts cannot be forwarded by SMS or Email
* Calendar doesn't have provisions for every other week or every 3rd week for events
* Camera settings are not saved
* WP7 media player: Media Player does not allow user to skip to the part of the video he wants to watch by sliding finger along the time bar until he reaches the target moment. User is forced to press a seek button instead,
* Camera-shutter sound will remain enabled even when phone is on vibrate
* Alarms: If the earphones are plugged then alarm will not ring (alarm not reverted to speaker)
* Alarms: Alarms will ring even during phone calls, and the other side of call can also hear the alarm tune (!)
* Even when phone's passcode lock is activated the phone can still be turned off by holding down the power button
* Bluetooth: Bluetooth headset button long press and double press not supported (should allow voice commands via headset)
* Bluetooth: Bluetooth settings do not allow connection of headset as just a phone headset or just a stereo headphone (A2DP) set.
* YouTube videos embedded in Facebook/IE cannot be played [PLEASE SEE the workaround here (thanks to theOne):
- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10112207&postcount=21
- http://www.1800pocketpc.com/2010/12/27/get-embedded-youtube-videos-to-work-on-windows-phone-7.html ]
* Emails: No way to save a picture included in an email (if the pic is included and not attached)
* Emails: Videos (even short ones) cannot be sent via Email
* Emails: WP7 refuses to let you edit the content of an Email before you forward it
* Sync: Office documents in Skydrive are not accessible from the WP7 device (absence of any integration in the WP7 Office Hub)
* Skydrive server unable to upload folders of documents
* Zune: No Flv, Avi Xvid support
* Zune: Music Search: the Zune search function will only look for music into the Marketplace and not even browse into your own music collection if you search for a specific song,
* Zune takes excessive time to convert some movie files
* Absence of scrubbing controls in the Zune player
* Zune does not allow the user to create and save playlists on the device
* Zune player does not allow downloading podcasts over the air (non sense)
* Marketplace: When you browse the application list, check one app then go back, often it will bring you back to the very top of the list
* Marketplace Search: on the Marketplace Bing cannot filter between apps and music etc. If you search for an app, Bing will display a bunch of other stuffs like album, artist, song etc. (solved since NoDo)
* IE Browser: No address bar in landscape mode
* IE favourites not syncing
* IE: When you tap and hold a link that is represented by a picture, you only get the picture menu pop up, i.e. you get the save picture to phone but no option to open the link in a new tab
* IE: End-user is unable to chose the default search engine (at the moment search engine is either set by the provider or imposed by MS, i.e. Bing)
* Bing: Vocal and local search not available in most European countries
* Bing: Absence of Bing Images, strangely left out
* Zune/podcasts: Zune does not allow to add or update podcasts directly from the phone
* Volume missing feature: no separate volume control: Turn Zune's volume up will also turn up the general volume (ringtone, messaging alerts, keyboard sound)
* No way to silence text message alerts when using headphones
* There is no batch delete option for pictures hub. Very annoying!
* Skydrive on the PC: you cannot select several pictures in the mean time. You have to delete them one by one!
* No USB mass storage
* No Bluetooth File Transfers
* No decent File Explorer
PS: Regarding design inconsistencies or WP7 missing features you can vote here:
https://windowsphone7community.user...pics/85023-a-feature-i-would-like-/filter/top
Post bugs experienced here (if you already haven't done so): http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsphone7/threads
The official microsoft feedback forums.
The typical answer of "Reboot your device" may seem like a joke to you (believe me, it is) but this is just them trying to temporarily provide an answer while they are fixing said bugs and getting ready for an update. I'd hope that it's no later than January.
microhaxo said:
Post bugs experienced here (if you already haven't done so): http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsphone7/threads
The official microsoft feedback forums.
The typical answer of "Reboot your device" may seem like a joke to you (believe me, it is) but this is just them trying to temporarily provide an answer while they are fixing said bugs and getting ready for an update. I'd hope that it's no later than January.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks microhaxo,
There is indeed a specific thread for all bugs here, but unfortunately they refuse to stick it as THE official thread for bugs reports:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/d0cba50c-25a2-43da-93f5-b96dd5b870a1
I've experienced one bug. In IE, I was attempting to delete the old, irrelevant content from a PM here in XDA and the only way to do it, since there is no copy & paste, which usually includes a highlighting function, was to put the cursor at the end of the unwanted text and press the delete key till all of the text was gone. IE funked up and froze. I could not back out of it to a previous screen. I could press the Windows button and get out of it, but going back into IE took me straight back to the problem page. IE wouldn't go anywhere else.
A system reboot was the only way to solve this.
microhaxo said:
Post bugs experienced here (if you already haven't done so): http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsphone7/threads
The official microsoft feedback forums.
The typical answer of "Reboot your device" may seem like a joke to you (believe me, it is) but this is just them trying to temporarily provide an answer while they are fixing said bugs and getting ready for an update. I'd hope that it's no later than January.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you make a new thread there. I don't see a button to make a thread about my bug. And I am signed in.
Marty,
Normally, once you logged in, there should be a button "Ask a question" on the top left.
Regarding you problem with IE, I suggest you to pin one of your favorite website on the Start screen.
So, therefore, if your IE browser is blocked for some reason, don't click on the IE logo (which will lead you to the same problematic webpage) but rather click on the logo of your favorite webpage (therefore IE will open another webpage without problem).
arturobandini said:
Marty,
Normally, once you logged in, there should be a button "Ask a question" on the top left.
Regarding you problem with IE, I suggest you to pin one of your favorite website on the Start screen.
So, therefore, if your IE browser is blocked for some reason, don't click on the IE logo (which will lead you to the same problematic webpage) but rather click on the logo of your favorite webpage (therefore IE will open another webpage without problem).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good idea. Thanks
Marketplace not working
Yeah my marketplace is no longer working. This may be a messaging problem. I had AT&T turn off my messaging since i dont use it and dont want the ads that i had to pay for coming in. Then marketplace stopped working. So I turned messaging back on, but MP still does not work. It goes in "queing", then the sign on screen comes up in the backgound..then nothing. The back key does not work either. I hate to say this but a hard reset may be the answer which I really dont want to do again. At one point an email sign in page came up after I tried to get an app....it had a captcha feature too....but that email signin has not come up again. Maybe they are working on it? When I try to get updates from the first MP window, I get error codes 80048823 or another code. AT&T support (useless) told me messaging had to be turned on in order to use marketplace. Of course they didnt tell me that before i turned it off.
panflute said:
Yeah my marketplace is no longer working. This may be a messaging problem. I had AT&T turn off my messaging since i dont use it and dont want the ads that i had to pay for coming in. Then marketplace stopped working. So I turned messaging back on, but MP still does not work. It goes in "queing", then the sign on screen comes up in the backgound..then nothing. The back key does not work either. I hate to say this but a hard reset may be the answer which I really dont want to do again. At one point an email sign in page came up after I tried to get an app....it had a captcha feature too....but that email signin has not come up again. Maybe they are working on it? When I try to get updates from the first MP window, I get error codes 80048823 or another code. AT&T support (useless) told me messaging had to be turned on in order to use marketplace. Of course they didnt tell me that before i turned it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zune was down this morning. You can go here to check the status (I think marketplace goes through it)
http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/
On the left hand side you can see status updates on the network.
Here's one: the camera app won't save its settings. That's annoying as effing hell
Add super poor cell radio reception on my T-Mobile HTC HD7. Sitting in a room trying to get a family member to call me from my old HD2, which shows 5 bars, on my HD7, which show zero bars, they get a voicemail message saying I'm not available. I hold the phone up in the air...arm reach higher...and the call goes through, but with 1 to 2 bars.
jasongw said:
Here's one: the camera app won't save its settings. That's annoying as effing hell
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's my only annoyance of the OS.
MartyLK said:
Add super poor cell radio reception on my T-Mobile HTC HD7. Sitting in a room trying to get a family member to call me from my old HD2, which shows 5 bars, on my HD7, which show zero bars, they get a voicemail message saying I'm not available. I hold the phone up in the air...arm reach higher...and the call goes through, but with 1 to 2 bars.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and both are on T-mo?
Zedox said:
That's my only annoyance of the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is a known bug which has beed reported by ms to be corrected in next update.
arturobandini said:
Maybe users could use this thread to list all the bugs they encountered on WP7.
Here are the ones I noticed or were already identified by others:
* Marketplace crashes, then refuses to load (reboot necessary)
* Zune crashes, then refuses to load (reboot necessary)
* Zune does not always display the artist as background (which remains black)
* In the Marketplace menu, pushing the Back button only leads to a black screen
* Sometimes Zune's background displays the artist of the preceding song
* Marketplace's Live Tile indicates an update, and it's actually impossible to download this update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most of if not all of these problems all sound like things that occur when you change your microsd or in samsung case add additional sd card to the phone because there are not ms certified. not sure if you have done one of the two but things wont change unless you go back to original microsd.. I had some of these problems when i had my additional card in my phone but after removing it i have had no issues to this point.
rruffman said:
that is a known bug which has beed reported by ms to be corrected in next update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yays. Thanks for the know. Yea I said it.
rruffman said:
most of if not all of these problems all sound like things that occur when you change your microsd or in samsung case add additional sd card to the phone because there are not ms certified. not sure if you have done one of the two but things wont change unless you go back to original microsd.. I had some of these problems when i had my additional card in my phone but after removing it i have had no issues to this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the tip, but unfortunately it is not the reason. I have a LG Optimus 7 with no way to remove or replace the SD card.
I often synchronise Zune, so it can have some impact on the storage, but that's all.
rruffman said:
most of if not all of these problems all sound like things that occur when you change your microsd or in samsung case add additional sd card to the phone because there are not ms certified. not sure if you have done one of the two but things wont change unless you go back to original microsd.. I had some of these problems when i had my additional card in my phone but after removing it i have had no issues to this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not for me. I have a dell venue pro and i haven't touched the sd card.
I have the exact described issues. I'm afraid to browse through the market for fear that i'll have to reboot.
could those with those MP issues try a complete hard reset (settings > about > reset your phone)... or if there is a physical reset (i think it's both volume buttons pressed together whilst turning the phone on from cold boot).
bugz
I had several bugz on my HTC Surround. Marketplace stopped working, my email quit working, I couldn't fix or update anything. So I hard reset the phone and connected to the computer and to my surprise the Zune software reinstalled all of my apps (in the background without my knowledge) and everything now works fine. All I had to do was reset my email and other personal settings.
Well, Mango Beta is here, meaning there are lots of new cool features. Some of them are either buried or not obvious. Here are some that I've found so far:
UPDATE: Thank you for everyone's participation. I have added several tips based on comments in the discussion
Custom Ringtones
1. Copy MP3 or WMA to Zune Collection. Choose Edit, and type in manually under Genre "Ringtone". The song must be less than 40 seconds and smaller than 1MB.
2. Go to Settings -> Ringtones + Sounds, tap Ringtone. Your custom ringtone will appear under a new tree called "Custom", above "Windows Phone"
Note that it is identified by the filename, rather than the track title.
Also, you can tap and HOLD a ringtone, and Delete will be offered (but only on the Custom ones; preloaded ones grey out delete).
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is so damned easy that I didn't see it staring at me. Pick Messaging, slide right to Online. Set Chat Status (icon at bottom), hit +, and send a message to any Messenger contact. And/or if anyone sends you an MSN, you get a ding just like a SMS, and it appears under Messaging.
Mango automatically made my Windows Live account that my phone is registered under, which is also my Messenger account, work. Others have noted that it's not possible to have a second Messenger account -- only your PRIMARY Windows Live account is linked to Messenger.
Facebook chat is set up also from Messaging -> Online. Some people have had trouble with this... read down to see some possible solutions.
Dev Unlock Mango B2
You must have a dev unlocked phone to install Mango, but installing Mango relocks your phone. To unlock it again, run Windows Phone Developer Registration from the Beta 2 SDK tools.
Voice Activated SMS/Messaging
To allow Voice recognition from Messaging (like SMS, Messenger) while on Carrier Data, go to Settings -> Speech and check Enable Speech Recognition over Network.
This is REALLY cool. Put on a headset; leave your phone on the home screen. When someone sends you a Messenger, it announces that the person has sent you a message, Read It or Ignore. If you say, "Read it", the phone reads the message. You then have an opportunity to reply via speech!
Visual Voicemail
Evidently, this is in Settings -> Phone (or Phone app, slide up, call settings). But it doesn't show up for everyone -- it's carrier dependent (doesn't show up for Telus phone on Fido for me).
Exchange/Gmail Server Search
To search the server for older (for example, Exchange) go to Outlook, click the on-screen search button, make a search. At the bottom of the results, tap "search more in Outlook". When the server search is done, at the bottom of the results, you'll see "get more results" and "search all folders". Woohoo!
Bing Visual Search -- and OCR!
Tap Bing key. Click eyeball. You can snap QR codes, Microsoft codes, or TEXT. If you snap text, it will then detect it, and you can translate it (for example, from French to English). But as someone mentioned, you can translate from English to English... and the results come as text that you can then Copy and Paste! Quick and easy cloud OCR that you have to see to believe.
Skydrive, Office
Just, Wow!
Go to Office. Slide over to Locations and SkyDrive. You can see any of the documents on your SkyDrive, and edit things like Word. It's perfect.
Notes (OneNote, synchronized with SkyDrive and your Desktop OneNote as long as you're saving to Web) is really slick. Office 365 and SharePoint are under Locations.
Easy Ones
Music Controls - This one's easy. Play a song, pause it. Hit lock key. Controls are on the wallpaper. Unlock, hit volume keys -- Controls appear.
Multitasking - Hold down Back button. It's a beautiful implementation. To remove a task from the list, pick it, then hit back button once.
Outlook Threads - Just tap a conversation thread to expand it.
Outlook Account Linking - Outlook -> ... -> Link Inboxes
App Grouping - tap the letters above the groups of apps, just like the phone book (tapping "a" gets you all the letters, tapping "s" jumps to Settings)
App Find - tap magnifying glass on apps list
IE9 -- OMG. Best Mobile Browser Ever. 'nuff said. But is it possible to turn off Address Bar in Landscape? Takes up lots of space.
People/Groups - Tap People hub, tap Family or +. You can make your own Groups, and then SMS or email everyone in the group that has SMS or email. Or quickly call them, since they get big tiles.
People/History - Tap a contact in the People hub, slide to the right, and see History. It shows call/messaging history, and "search Outlook" at the bottom.
Really Nice Subtle features
- Improved buttons during a voice call (larger, blockier, and harder to mispress)
- People Tile is really pretty now
- XBox Live Hub, Avatar, Messages -- way, way nicer. Best game hub ever.
- Marketplace is much better organized; Games are split up into categories.
- Power Down (hold lock button) now "confirms" with a prompt to slide down
- Hardware Search button now always brings up Bing; on-screen search button for context-sensitive.
- Dithering on browser eliminates banding in most cases
Doesn't Work Anymore
The following appear to be broken in Mango:
- Homebrew - Chevron Ringtone Installer (but it's bult in now)
- Homebrew - Home Screen Bluetooth/Wifi/Data button (I already miss this one!)
- LG App Store doesn't seem to open anymore (error appears -- but this seems to work for at least some other people)
- Maps Directions gives an Error
- Maps - Some people don't get Traffic, others do. For the time being I am using gMaps. Free version works!
- Not really sure how to go back and forward on the browser, other than "recent" (which doesn't give you cached version).
UPDATE:
======
To make Traffic work, just set region/location to English (United States). I had it set to English (Canada). Directions from "My Location" then works as well! (note that I am physically in Canada).
LG App store still does not work for me. It comes up with Error code:805a0194 (Optimus 7 / Telus)
Is your Facebook chat working?
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Facebook chat isn't working for me. In the messaging option for facebook chat, I hit ON, it then says Facebook is set up on my phone, but more steps are needed for chat to work, it then going to a web page that is a dead link.
Nope
princetrey07 said:
Is your Facebook chat working?
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, I didn't try very hard, but it looks like other people on various threads can't get it working either.
Talys said:
Missing
- What happened to traffic, in Maps?
- Is it possible to search server folders in Outlook?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Traffic will be back in with the final release/build (if not sooner?)
Full exchange folder search should be possible, as full search of folders for online email. Your outlook wont be searchable unless you sync it to hotmail via connector or use exchange.
I haven't gotten my email yet for download, but this is whats supposed to be in the [final] build. Hope not too many things haven't been implemented, but looking forward to messing around with it.
dtboos said:
Traffic will be back in with the final release/build (if not sooner?)
Full exchange folder search should be possible, as full search of folders for online email. Your outlook wont be searchable unless you sync it to hotmail via connector or use exchange.
I haven't gotten my email yet for download, but this is whats supposed to be in the [final] build. Hope not too many things haven't been implemented, but looking forward to messing around with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks great to me. Most features appear fully implmented or "implemented but not quite working" (like FB chat).
I use Exchange. Can't seem to find unsynced emails using the server (eg server search for a year old email or unsync'ed folder). This is a super useful feature on the BlackBerry.
Traffic back would be nice, as I cancelled my XM Nav on my car, since Maps Traffic worked so well
I will have to see how well Network Voice Recognition works when on 3G. Previously, using the LG Voice to Text App, performance on LAN was awesome but performance on anything short of a great 3G connection was awful (the wait was so long that I could park the car and type the message 5 times over).
You guys aren't seeing traffic in maps? I see it and it works just fine.
Don't forget you can also turn on Visual Voicemail in phone settings. Then you can get to your voice through the Phone tile, and by swiping over to voicemail.
Also, Messenger only signs in using your primary live account. You cannot add a second Live ID and have it sign it to messenger.
Facebook Chat works without problems for me
And the Facebook App gets updated with live tile and push notifications, is like christmas for WP7!!!!!!
http://www.wpcentral.com/facebook-windows-phone-hits-v2-0-gets-push-notifications
i'll be the first to ask...is there now a separate ringer volume? in other words is media and ringer volume separate?
I think asking questions is a great idea, but everyone should probably keep one important thing in mind. This is not even CLOSE to the final build, so just because a feature isn't "in there" today doesn't mean it isn't already in the plan for the release version.
With that said, here's my question. Does the task switcher offer any way to close a running task? I can't believe that such an obvious, basic, and NECESSARY feature isn't in there. And only the five most recent tasks? To quote Microsoft's own ad campaign, "Really?"
weatherx said:
i'll be the first to ask...is there now a separate ringer volume? in other words is media and ringer volume separate?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I can tell, nope. Just a single volume control.
RoboDad said:
With that said, here's my question. Does the task switcher offer any way to close a running task? I can't believe that such an obvious, basic, and NECESSARY feature isn't in there. And only the five most recent tasks? To quote Microsoft's own ad campaign, "Really?"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to manage running tasks is from the background tasks option under settings. As far as I can tell, the task switcher is just a list of recent apps. They don't run in the background, they become frozen in the background (kinda like they do now in 7.0), and because they aren't actually doing anything in the background, there is no need to close anything within the task switcher. So the option doesn't make much sense to begin with since it doesn't really close anything.
prjkthack said:
The only way to manage running tasks is from the background tasks option under settings. As far as I can tell, the task switcher is just a list of recent apps. They don't run in the background, they become frozen in the background (kinda like they do now in 7.0), and because they aren't actually doing anything in the background, there is no need to close anything within the task switcher. So the option doesn't make much sense to begin with since it doesn't really close anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open the app & press back button will remove it from task switcher. The only app this doesn't work on is IE from what I've seen as the back button is the back navigator button for web pages.
Talys said:
Nope, I didn't try very hard, but it looks like other people on various threads can't get it working either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try manually syncing your facebook account under email&accounts.
Unless the back button has radically changed under Mango, pressing the back button once doesn't exit an app, unless the app is specifically written to treat a single back button press as "exit". Many apps are very poorly written WRT the back button, and some would require a dozen or more presses to "exit".
And, there are some apps where the back button is part of the necessary app navigation (not just IE, but some other apps I use). I wouldn't want the OS to interpret a single press as an exit if I switch back to the app.
drkfngthdragnlrd said:
Open the app & press back button will remove it from task switcher. The only app this doesn't work on is IE from what I've seen as the back button is the back navigator button for web pages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, well, that simply removes the "card" from the task switcher. That doesn't necessarily close the application or kill the task. All the task switcher does is step back in time. So going back to an app, and pressing back removes it because by pressing back, you are bring the phone back to a point where the task you switched to has not been started yet (time travel, such a paradox).
If you want to remove a card from the task switcher history, instead of going to the app and pressing back on it to "close" it, you could simply go to the app right before that and it effectively does the same thing. Saves you a step right there.
The problem is that multi-tasking exists for specific reasons/apps on Windows Phone 7.5 and the only way to manage that is by using the background tasks options menu.
So there are two questions and solutions here:
1) Can you terminate an app from the task switcher? No.
2) Can you remove a recent application from the task switcher list? Yes
Thanks for that clarification. I suppose I'll have to play with it once Mango "ships", but right now I'm not sure the task switcher is going to be very useful to me.
prjkthack said:
Yes, well, that simply removes the "card" from the task switcher. That doesn't necessarily close the application or kill the task. All the task switcher does is step back in time. So going back to an app, and pressing back removes it because by pressing back, you are bring the phone back to a point where the task you switched to has not been started yet (time travel, such a paradox).
If you want to remove a card from the task switcher history, instead of going to the app and pressing back on it to "close" it, you could simply go to the app right before that and it effectively does the same thing. Saves you a step right there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Part of what you said is true, but part isn't. Say I have IE, Messaging, Mail, Settings open in that order. I go back to Messaging & press "back". Now IE, Mail, Settings are in the task switcher. So, it's not "Time Travel" as you put it. You don't loose the other apps you opened after the app you went back to, just the one you pressed "back" on.
This all boils down to the dehydration hack. Apps on the switcher act as if your have the hack enable on pre-mango while those you remove from the switcher get "dehydrated". The setting you mentioned has to do with bg services that allow apps to do stuff in the background. This is similiar to those little icons on your PC's task bar next to the clock such as anti-virus, adobe updater, winamp agent, etc. Stuff running in the background that might do something for the app but isn't necessarily needed. In anti-virus apps, that'd be live protection, which is good but severely impacts performance. The adobe updater checks for updates, close it, no automatic updates.
prjkthack said:
Don't forget you can also turn on Visual Voicemail in phone settings. Then you can get to your voice through the Phone tile, and by swiping over to voicemail.
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Not seeing that option in the phone portion of settings . . .
tiny17 said:
Not seeing that option in the phone portion of settings . . .
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Not sure if its carrier dependant or what. I have T-Mobile, and I also have the Visual Voicemail option on my account. Under "phone" settings, right under "Voicemail number", there is an option for me to turn on/off Visual voicemail.
drkfngthdragnlrd said:
Part of what you said is true, but part isn't. Say I have IE, Messaging, Mail, Settings open in that order. I go back to Messaging & press "back". Now IE, Mail, Settings are in the task switcher. So, it's not "Time Travel" as you put it. You don't loose the other apps you opened after the app you went back to, just the one you pressed "back" on.
This all boils down to the dehydration hack. Apps on the switcher act as if your have the hack enable on pre-mango while those you remove from the switcher get "dehydrated". The setting you mentioned has to do with bg services that allow apps to do stuff in the background. This is similiar to those little icons on your PC's task bar next to the clock such as anti-virus, adobe updater, winamp agent, etc. Stuff running in the background that might do something for the app but isn't necessarily needed. In anti-virus apps, that'd be live protection, which is good but severely impacts performance. The adobe updater checks for updates, close it, no automatic updates.
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My example was a bit off, my mistake. The rest is still rather unfortunately true, as it stands now, the task switcher is just that, a task switcher. Apps do not run in the background actively, so there is no need to terminate these apps since they aren't really running to begin with, hence you can't really terminate them. The only way for apps to run in the background (or rather, for apps to do things in the background), would be to take advantage of the background tasks feature so that it can do something while not actively open. The only way to manage anything running in the background right now, is with the background tasks setting.
prjkthack said:
Not sure if its carrier dependant or what. I have T-Mobile, and I also have the Visual Voicemail option on my account. Under "phone" settings, right under "Voicemail number", there is an option for me to turn on/off Visual voicemail.
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I have it too, T-Mobile USA as well.
I use both the native gmail app and the native email app (for my exchange account), but one thing REALLY annoys me:
I can't view emails in full screen mode while in landscape position, the way most people use their tablets. In Gmail while in landscape view, it's a split screen with a list of all your emails on the left, and the message being viewed on the right. But on our A100's you can't seem to turn off the split view, or even resize the divider. And yes, I know if I turn the tablet into portrait mode, the list disappears and the email itself is full screen...it's just that I like working in landscape mode on this tablet.
I've researched this and MOST other tablets have a setting letting you turn off the left side email list, but that setting isn't present in our device for some reason.
Anyone know a solution/work around?
Secondly, in the native email application (for exchange accounts and all other non-google accounts), I can hide the list all messages view and see the email in full screen, but half the window is taken up by the huge bar indicating who the message is from, the subject/date, and being able to forward/reply/favourite the message. This area is HUGE on our small 7" screens.
On my phones running gingerbread 2.3.x, this area disappears as you scroll down. If you want it, just scroll back up to the top of the message. That's a perfect solution Google came up with...so why isn't it like that on our A100's?
Anyone know a work around or outright solution?
Thanks
I completely agree that I wish I could view emails in full screen. Maybe we will see that in ICS. In a perfect world, one tap would show it in framed mode and a second tap would open it full screen.
It's dumb because my SE Xperia Pro running Gingerbread 2.3.4 shows me emails in full screen. When I scroll down the page, everything at the top like sender, date, subject, next/previous message, etc stays at the top of the email, but not the screen. So emails are actually full screen.
I switched from a motorola milestone running gingerbread 2.3.7 via cyanogen(mod)7, and it did the same thing.
I should note this only works with the built in email app, but not the gmail app. The gmail app's not bad though. It still shows the info at the top when I scroll down, but it's in a very very condensed form. If it were like that on our A100's, it'd be livable.
This inconsistency doesn't make much sense to me. I understand google's thinking, in that since tablets have bigger screens we can afford to see that info at the same time as read the message content. But that's with bigger 10" screens. Once you go down to 7" it no longer makes sense.
Yeah, the reason from the change was due to Gingerbread being designed for phones and Honeycomb being designed for tablets. They should have done some more testing on 7" devices in terms of email formats. If it is just text, it really isn't that bad, but when you get some newsletter type emails that are HTML, it is very annoying.
because i'm not allowd to post in the developers forum aosp thread, I cannot post my suggestions for development there.
That is why i try to do it here, maybe someone can post them in de developers thread?
I installed aosp yesterday and it looks great so far. Despite some minor incidents it is working very well on my gio.
However, I experienced some difficulties which I believe they can be improved:
1. Sync Agenda:
I added mail accounts (2x gmail, 1x exchange) and for all accounts the agenda should be synchronised.
My mail accounts are working properly, but the agenda data does not get imported by my phone right now.
Also, when i Look in the agenda app, my exchange account is not mentioned. It says: no agenda available, which is not right.
2. top bar home screen
On my stock rom, the first thing I did, was removing the google search bar on the top of the screen. Once I did that, I could place the simple calender widget over there. Now in AOSP, that is not possible anymore because the top of the screen is not available to place widgets and somehow seems to be the private domain of the 'remove app/widget from homescreen' function.
For me, that is really annoying. I would prefer the 'old' remove function, which would appear on the bottom of the screen.
3. setting data limits / clock alarm
When I tried to set the data limits or the alarm for today, I had to scroll to the right time. It would be alot easier and faster to show a keyboard / keypad to enter the right numbers. When setting the data limits I have to scroll from 5 gb to 50 mb which took really a long time. It was only after I finished that I discovered I could drag te bars (which would already be an improvement).
4. sim toolkit not shown
My sim toolkit is not shown (not in the app list or in the settings menu, where it should be somehow). I need this toolkit to get 3g internet working on my phone. So far, I've created a new APN using all the right and giving settings, but it is not working so far. This makes me believe I still have to do something with the sim toolkit.
5. showing cpu usage freezes my phone
I enabled the show cpu usage setting. After this, I cannot use my phone anymore, it freezes. I do not know how I can go back now and disable the setting. I tried to call myself. My phone rings, but I do not see anything, only a black screen where the cpu usage is shown.
6. wifi switching on takes a long time
it takes quiet a time before my wifi is switched on and connected. It is (much) slower than it was on my 2.3.6 stock rom.
7. importing contacts
i noticed when importing my contacts from my .vcf file that I had to connect my contacts to either one of my mail accounts whether it was gmail of my exchange (work) account. I did not want to connect my contacts with any account (also because my contacts are both private and work), but that was impossible. It would be nice to have this fixed in a future release.
My Moto 360 has greatly reduced the number of times I need to pull my phone out of my pocket. But one feature that still keeps me reaching into my pocket is moving an email to a folder - I do this dozens of times a day. This isn't an option based on the default GMail notifications on Android Wear.
Anyone know of an app that allows for this? I haven't looked into the SDK for this kind a capability - can it be done? (adding an option to a notification from another app)
TIA!
Chris
merrill77 said:
But one feature that still keeps me reaching into my pocket is moving an email to a folder - I do this dozens of times a day. This isn't an option based on the default GMail notifications on Android Wear.
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Hi Chris,
haven't tried for myself yet but if you choose your personal gmail account from within the gmail settings (but not the general settings!) there is the (1st on top) option 'Type of Inbox' (I'm using German language so in English it may be labeled different) which is set to 'Default Inbox'. You can change that to 'Sorted entries' (or so) and maybe this is exactly what you would like to have.
In English it is "Priority Inbox". I tried that, but then I got no notifications at all I'll have to research that a bit further to see how it should work.
Cloudmagic has the option of assigning an "Archive" folder which you can access via Moto. It also has multiple account supports, including Gmail and Exchange even.
Basically, you can Archive or delete from the watch.