Fun with smartphone

I've been using SmartPhone 2002 software on my MPx200 for the past couple weeks, after I found a very stable version that worked well. Voice quality was better than the previous WM2003 hack I first installed, and I could even manage my SIM. Next I started playing around with customized homescreens, by downloading and manipulating the xml files. It was fun, but I definately need to read a little more about xml.

Curiosity finally got the best of me, however. I had been reading about the "Cartman" rom; a WM2003 hack that supposedly worked very well. So, last night I decided to try and install a different version of WM2003 I had previously downloaded, titled "SuperMoto." Low and behold, I after a hardreset it booted up with an image of Cartman, yay! After using this rom for a day, it appears to be good: voice quality is great and reception seem good so far. I'll know after a week whether this version is a keeper. I can always go back to 2002.

WM2003 Happiness

aximtoday
Originally uploaded by sonkun.

Saturday afternoon was spent reverting back to WM2003. However, after a little research, I found out how to install the Japanese ROM. It is a prerequisite that my electronics be able to work in Japanese (at least display text), so getting my Axim to work natively in Japanese is awesome. I was able to get a work around for the English version to work, but there was never a decent SIP. Now, being able to write kanji directly onscreen is a godsend. I can't have everything though, it appears Japanese Windows Mobile does not have Terminal Services Client. Although I only used it a little bit, it was super cool to be able to terminal service into my file server.

One funny thing on the today screen, it says 「仕事はありません」 (shigoto ha arimasen) which can mean "no tasks" I guess, but my wife looked at it and laughed, because she saw it as "No job". Hmm, I hope this thing doesn't predict the future ;-)

No Axim happiness

I thought I'd give WM 5 another chance before reverting back to WM2003SE. I hard reset the device, and reinstalled everything. For awhile things looked promising, but it did not last long. I continued to have the same problems as before: dropped CF card, refusal to turn on, spontianious battery drain when turned off, etc. I'll have to wait for a ROM update before trying again... and now back 2003SE.

Windows Mobile 2005 troubles

Earlier this week I received the new Windows Mobile 5 upgrade CD for my Axim x50v. After installing it yesterday, and using it for only a day, I must say I'm truly disappointed. At this point I wish I had not ordered the upgrade so soon, as this upgrade is something that should probably have not been shipped.

After using WM5 for a day, I have had to soft reboot the machine about 4 or 5 times. After it goes to sleep a few times, it just locks up and won't turn on. This really, really sucks, as I rarely had to soft reboot with 2003SE. The constant need to reboot is a huge issue for a pda, when you're used to turning it on and using it instantaneously.

The second issue is the battery life. At first, I thought I might be getting more battery life, but after using it for a day, playing music, surfing the net, I don't think there are any improvements here. This was surprising, because I have heard different things. One reviewer says he's getting 6 hours (on the x51v):

I'm happy to be able to report that this will take you a long time. With regular use, this handheld went for just over six hours on a single charge, which is about double the battery life of the X50v.

My x50v is not getting nearly this amount, as are people on other forums. I listed to music (screen off, fully charged) on the bus this morning and evening, about 40 minutes total, and didn't really turn my Axim on at work. When I came home my battery was at 50%, I got another 20 minutes surfing the net, before WM5 turned of my wi-fi stating there was not enough power. The Axim did not have a great battery life to begin with, but I was expecting better performance here. Maybe all the reboots today drained the power.

Finally, Activesync 4.0 pissed me off (it's the only way to upgrade). It was the first time I’ve ever rolled back my system to get rid of software. I was using 3.8 before which worked great. The thing that I hate about it is that you are forced to have MS Outlook as your default mail client. This was not the case in 3.8. I only use Outlook for work, and on my personal laptop, although I have Outlook installed for work, I like to use Thunderbird as my mail client. Error after error, when I'd plug in my Axim sucked. When I uninstalled 4.0 and reinstalled 3.8, 3.8 would not run.

I think the most disappointing aspect for me, is that I really love WM5. As far as the improvements MS has made to the applications, interface, and especially persistent storage, the OS is great! Unfortunately, as much as I would like to keep it, I'm seriously thinking of rolling back to 2003SE. Dell seriously pushed this product out way too early. If software is not functioning properly on brand new systems, it should not have been shipped.