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Hi everyone. Hope you are all enjoying the holiday weekend. We received a reply email from T-Mobile tech support regarding our complaint of the slow registration problem. Here it is:
"
Thank you for contacting T-Mobile Technical Support. My name is NAME WITHHELD and I will be glad to assist you with your issue. I apologize for the delay in our response time.
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OK everyone, here it is - an actual real-time (not as in RealPlayer) video of the MDA paired up with a T-Mobile Motorola V188 flip-phone.
You've already read the previous post about the comparison with the Cingular Treo 650. Well, in this side-by-side, we actually use two phones on the same network in the same test locations and guess what? The V188 has no problems getting signal in the brown spots that were mentioned in that article as well as instantaneous network registration from no signal to signal.
We are posting this video clip on Google, YouTube, and a few other video sites to ensure that we get good airplay as this issue needs resolution by T-Mobile and their "tech support" department needs to understand and see what is actually happening.
A picture is worth a thousand words? Well, we have over 5 minutes of video so you do the math!
Keep in the mind that most of the video is of the MDA searching, so from that perspective, it's not all that entertaining. But you can now see the frustrations that T-Mobile MDA users are going through.
Dear T-Mobile, Fix this problem!
(Click on the image to view the video. It's a Windows Media File .wmv)
This is an embedded version:
Here's a brief description of what you'll see in the video:
1. In the middle of the street where there's excellent coverage, the MDA is already on and searching. The V188 is off and is turned on. Immediately after startup, the V188 registers and is on the network at 4 bars.
2. After waiting a few minutes (no phone should be like this), I manually tell the MDA to find networks at which point it finds only the Cingular. (Remember that the V188 sitting next to it is already on T-Mobile)
3. We reboot the MDA. Now the phone gets on the network. Note that we were lucky in this case since this doesn't always happen either.
There were some other videos we took, but for the sanity of those around us, we limited to only this one video (for now).
We appreciate you viewing this and PLEASE tell your friends, T-Mobile, the forums you visit, etc. about this video. It is important that we are all aware of the issues affecting the MDA and that we find resolution by T-Mobile ASAP. Thanks!
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We hope that our ongoing tests and semi-ramblings of the T-Mobile MDA (this may or may not apply to the Cingular 8125) signal reception and network registration issues it continues to have hasn't turned you into an anti-fan of the MDA and HTC Wizard platform. It really is an awesome device.
We continue to test this during the 30-day return period since little has been done to isolate where the weak link is:
Network -> Phone (OS or HW) -> Sim Card
The basics would indicate that under the following test conditions a conclusion can be reached...
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You can change the time display in the taskbar to also show date. Or, remove it all and show nothing there. Here's how:
(Requires a registry edit)
To show nothing:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\TBOpt = 0 (DWORD decimal)
To show just the clock:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\TBOpt = 1 (DWORD decimal)
To show just the date:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\TBOpt = 2 (DWORD decimal)
To show both the date and the clock:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\TBOpt = 3 (DWORD decimal)
Important Notes!
1. If you switch to the view the Analog clock the date will remain visible.
2: Even if you remove the clock, the space there is still reserved and will block any icons that are shifted over to the right.
3: The date may be blocked by the space reserved for the OK/Close button in the top right hand corner of the screen. You can fix this by adding spaces at the end of your "Short Date Format".
Restart. You may have to play around with this one a bit more...
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This is just like the recent tweak we posted that'll save you a bit of time when opening and closing apps by not using animations. This method applies to the Start Menu.
By default, it's set to "animate".
Requires registry edit!
To disable menu animations (sliding in/out):
HKLM\SYSTEM\GWE\Menu\AniType = 0 (DWORD decimal)
To change it back to the default (enable it):
HKLM\SYSTEM\GWE\Menu\AniType = 6 (DWORD decimal)
Restart and feel the speed! Actually, you may notice that it appears at time to take longer than before - that's because the animation masked the fact that the processor was chugging along...
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Just like in Windows XP, where you can use non-transition and fading effects to speed up the performance of your system, you can do the same with Windows Mobile 5.0 on your "smartphone". If you have amination on, it'll create outlines of an expanding window when you open an app.
Here's how (it's a simple regedit):
To disable window animations (like in minimizing and maximizing) change the following registry values:
HKLM\SYSTEM\GWE\Animate = 0 (DWORD decimal)
And to switch them back on:
HKLM\SYSTEM\GWE\Animate = 1 (DWORD decimal)
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The default vertical and horizontal scrollbars are a bit too narrow to tap and use with your finger, so you may want to make it wider. Here's how.
This is a registry edit and fairly harmless...
For the horizontal scrollbar (the one on the bottom):
HKLM\System\GWE\cyHScr = 9 (DWORD decimal)
For the vertical scrollbar (the one on the right):
HKLM\System\GWE\cxVScr = 9 (DWORD decimal)
The default thickness is 13. I changed mine to 18 and it's now much easier to use one-handed, stylus free for scrolling and tapping about.
You'll need to reboot afterwards :) (Hold down the on/off button until it prompts you to shut down, tap yes, and turn it back on)
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If you're on-the-go alot, you may browse around and see an app you'd like to run right then and there.
Now, you can do this via ActiveSync while at your desktop, but one of the great things about the MDA Vario is that it's a lightweight PC that fits in your pocket, so why not do as much as you can on-the-go?
It would be great if the MDA had the real Windows XP under the hood with a true phone OS perhaps like one those OQO Model 01+ micro tablet PCs with nice phone that had excellent reception duct-taped to the back of it :). But that may have to wait...
In the meantime, the MDA really does make downloading apps on-the-go easy (with a few exceptions) and here's how...
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One of the problems with how the UI works with Windows Mobile 5 is that the "x" at the upper right hand corner of each window doesn't necessarily actually close the applications. Rather it just minimizes them (to use a Windows analogy).
So when you begin to open up all of your apps and see your MDA bogging down, it's probably time stop some (or all) of those running apps.
Did you know that if your system bogs down it negatively affects your ability to place and receive phone calls?
This is how to stop them and free up some memory...
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In the past, I've written briefly about scenarios where you would want to reduce the number of clicks to open up an app or invoke some other action.
Today, we'll start with a simple method by talking about how to put an application's shortcut on your start menu.
As an exmaple, we downloaded and successfully ran PocketPutty but had the app stored somewhere obscure in the MDA.
To open it up, we'd have to dig through the File Explorer into the appropriate sub-folder within My Documents - what a mess!
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There is still no repetable "fix" to the network registration problem this MDA exhibits.
So currently the only thing that is repeatable is a simple workaround. In essense, the phone ships with it automatically detecting available networks. You will instead tell it to manually register onto the T-Mobile network. We haven't heard people with the Cingular 8125 on the Cingular network have this problem anywhere in the US.
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For a US-based T-Mobile MDA that was put into action just last week, here are the specs (this is the one pictured in all of the screenshots):
VERSION:
ROM version: 1.8.0.2 WWE
ROM date: 12/10/05
Radio version: 01.09.10
Protocol version: 4.0.13.20
ExtROM version: 1.8.10.104
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This is intended to be an in-depth review from a user's perspective. Specifications won't listed unless it's necessary. After you read this review you'll be able to understand how this device works under normal day to day operating conditions.
The model shown here is a production model, not pre-production. This phone can be purchased in a store right now.
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The default storage of the "My Documents" folder is fine, but if like storing all of your stuff there, you may want to move the default location from the phone to your miniSD card.
Requires a registry edit:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows CE Services
Mofify\Create the following:
String Bane: FileSyncPath Value: \SD Card\My Documents
Now, create a root folder on your storage card named "My Documents"
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If you use a Bluetooth headset or are transfer data via Bluetooth connections and sometimes experience time-outs or don't know for sure if that's what's going on, you can verify it by disabling the sleep mode:
The following are operator message codes. You'll need to enter these in manually into the text box
Operator Message Codes:
000 Index
010 Newsflashes
020 Hospitals
022 Doctors
024 Pharmacies
030 Road Reports - Long Distance
032 Road Reports - Local
034 Taxis
040 Weather
050 District Cell Information
052 Network Information
054 Operator Services
056 Directory Enquiries - National
057 Directory Enquiries - International
058 Customer Care - National
059 Customer Care - International
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Someone posted a nice overview of the steps involved in backing up, restoring, and upgrading your phone's ROM. Even examples of freeware apps are provided.
Please note! Performing these kinds of operations can render your phone useless (i.e. "brick") and would most definitely VOID your warranty. Proceed with caution!!!
The general overview of this overview is as follows:
SIM and CID unlock are two different things:
1. SIM unlock lets you use your phone with other carriers of the same frequency band (e.g. T-Mobile and Cingular but NOT Sprint, Nextel, Verizon)
2. CID unlock lets you upgrade your phone's ROM of three types:
a. OS (the phone's Operating System)
b. Radio (the radio antenna controlled by the OS)
c. Extended (your carrier's customization screens and UI - you know, that picture with Catherine Zeta-Jones)
Then you need the apps to help you deal with ROM transfers and they mention two:
1. lokiwiz(SIM and CID unlock)
2. aWizard ROM Utils (CID unlock only)
Don't forget to BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP! just in case you want to restore it. I'm pretty certain your carrier frowns upon this and would decline to take care of your phone should you mess it up real good.
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With my Fujitsu Lifebook 7010D with the a/b/g card, I can usually detect only a few networks. With the MDA, I get an entire running list of more than 20 in the one location where my laptop gets only a handful.
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This extends Wi-Fi capablity of your MDA to faster speeds!
Note: out-of-the-box, your MDA is 802.11b compliant (e.g. 11Mbps - still pretty fast considering that EDGE is roughly 1/10th of that!). But hey, going faster is always fun!
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Do you have a useful, awesome, or otherwise interesting hack, tweak, tip or trick?
Go ahead and post your link with details about it in the comments section. If we find it inappropriate, we'll remove it. Otherwise, we'll leave it alone for others to check out!
Microsoft Windows Mobile™ 5.0
Wireless Sync
MiniSD Card expansion slot
Connect with Bluetooth (using certain profiles)*
Side-Out QWERTY Keyboard
1.3 Megapixel Camera/Camcorder
Windows Media Player 10
Speakerphone
It's time for a decent alternative to the Sidekick and Treo!
But getting it working is an entirely different matter..
Hey! Want to help us write some how-to's? If you can't find what you're
looking for here, it's because we're busy working on it! With so many
hacks
and tips, it takes a while to post them. So, if you're up to the challenge,
just follow the format we use here with pictures at 350pixels wide and
your content, email them to us and we'll post them if
appropriate. This can be for Treos, Blackberries, Sidekicks, and of course, the HTC Wizard
(our dear MDAs and 8125s)
Our email address is: mda hacks at mad hacks dot com (combine spaces,
replace mad with mda and you're off!) Thanks!
ThaiNoodleSoup.com
Noodle soup recipes and other quick and easy-to-make cuisine from all over
Asia including Thailand, China, Japan, Vietnam, and Korea
ATTENTION! We take no responsibility for the
information contained
herein
regarding the modification of your device. This information has been
collected from various websites and/or have been performed on our own
devices for fun. Use at your own risk! Note that
performing any of these hacks may VOID the device's warranty. If you have
any questions about the hacks contained in this site, please contact the
device manufacturer or the carrier. You have been warned!!!
