Everything Else Tech

All tech not fitting into Android and Blackberry categories.

[en] A modded Sony-Ericsson P1 screenshot [UIQ/gsm/Sony-Ericsson]

1250 days

by Bograma in Everything Else Tech

I’ll come back with more details regarding the modding and what it means,what it does. Until then, the ones familiar with the model can see at least 2-3 differences from the original interface.

Later edit: 1st part is available.

[ro] Sumar informatii Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 [gsm/tehnologie/WM]

1272 days

by Bograma in Everything Else Tech

Pentru ca Octombrie se apropie cu repeziciune, m-am gandit sa sumarizez informatiile care exista referitoare la noul smartphone de la Sony Ericsson, Xperia X1 care va rula Windows Mobile. Din cate citesc in link-ul de mai sus, se vorbeste de 30 Octombrie 2008, care de fapt inseamna Noiembrie-si-au mai “tras” o luna si nu cred ca a fost indeajuns. Avand experienta celorlalte smartphones de la SE, cred cu tarie ca si acesta va fi plin de bug-uri, ca sa nu ma mai gandesc ca si acest model poate fi distrus de vreun bug fatal, asa cum a fost distrus P990i-ul acum 2 ani.

La Cebit in Martie, nu am putut testa telefonul pentru ca nu avea baterie. Motivul oficial a fost ca la momentul respectiv Microsoft nu lansase inca Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. Mi-a fost soptit insa ca motivul real era legat de instabilitatea sistemului, la acea perioada fiind inca in faza de prima dezolvare si adaptare la Xperia X1. Inainte sa trec mai departe, din variatele rapoarte de pe internet de acum 6 luni de zile, se poate vedea ca meniul si functiile sunt destul de lente, unele avand chiar 3-4 secunde de intarziere inainte de a fi accesate. Cu toate ca nu este deloc normal sa fie asa, trebuie sa sublinez faptul ca Ericsson, si mai tarziu Sony-Ericsson, n-a excelat niciodata la acest capitol. Faptul ca lucreaza cu Symbian sau WM nu schimba cu nimic situatia – telefoanele sunt inca destul de lente comparativ cu modele altor companii. Chiar si dupa multe update-uri de software si reglaje fine, P1i-ul meu inca deschide unele aplicatii in 2-3 secunde de la comanda. Sunt sigur ca este vorba de arhitectura hardware si software.

Dupa cum se poate vedea mai sus, partea de hardware (constructia, imbinarea, calitatea materialelor si a finisajelor) nu poate fi pusa la indoiala. Cu toate ca nu l-am testat, ci doar m-am jucat 2 minute cu unul la Hanovra, pot spune ca telefonul se simte solid, mecanismul de deschidere este foarte, foarte precis iar tastatura QWERTY este extrem de facila iar tastele sunt bine impartite.

Apoi mai gasim un video-review din luna Iunie 2008 si deja se observa o diferenta din punct de vedere al partii de software. Au mai lucrat la meniuri, au adaugat tot felul de optiuni si se misca foarte bine.

Ma bucur ca au incercat si cu WM pentru ca exista o gramada de binevoitori care modifica in permanenta ROM-uri. Se pare ca numai asa se poate ajunge la o functionalitate cat mai completa – mariile companii nu au interesul sa investeasca inca un an in dezvoltarea unui produs care se afla deja pe piata si se vinde foarte bine.

De asemenea, exista si concurenta iar lansarea este iminenta: Samsung Omnia I900.

gsm sony ericsson tech-head videoclip

[ro] Task – De terminat recenzia Sony-Ericsson P1i [gsm/UIQ/Sony-Ericsson]

1280 days

by Bograma in Everything Else Tech

Pentru ca primele doua parti ale recenziei mele pentru Sony-Ericsson P1i s-au bucurat de succes (cam 12% din totalitatea clickurilor saptamanale), m-am hotarat sa o si inchei (a ramas in aer din lipsa de timp). Motivul succesului se datoreaza caderii de pret inregistrate de P1i pentru ca a aparut de ceva timp (un an si jumatate) si a introducerii sale in oferta Vodafone inca de acum un an. Referitor la asta,trebuie sa spun ca pretul la care a ajuns acest model nu reflecta puterea si calitatea sa. Este pacat ca piata apreciaza cateodata marca mai mult decat modelul (vezi ex. Nokia) si ca unele produse bune nu primesc creditul meritat.

Asta am incercat sa schimb asta si sper ca prin partea a3a sa reusesc ce mi-am propus.

Curand.

gsm sony ericsson tech-head

[en] Speed-boost for P1i-The PIPS Libraries [gsm/UIQ/technology]

1281 days

by Bograma in Everything Else Tech

In February 2008 a mod appeared over the internet speeding up certain apps on Sony Ericsson P1i. I found out about it from Esato and UIQ Blog and decided to give it a shot. They were the PIPS Libraries, 2 little drivers.

I tested the applications before applying the mod in order to observe any real difference. And there were.

The agenda opens faster (but not fast). The messaging application also opens faster and it would open even faster if I’d not have 600 sms’ and 100 e-mails in there-so not much of a test over there. In general, the phone seems more responsive. No side-effect after 6 months.

The reason I’m writing this is the update to version 1.3 of these 2 drivers.Here.

gsm sony ericsson tech-head UIQ

[en] Handy Safe review [software/UIQ/tech/gsm]

1292 days

by Bograma in Everything Else Tech

How many times did I forget one of the many PINs I have,for one of my many cards or accounts? A lot of times. The ATM refused to give me my CC back after punching the wrong PIN for 3 times at least in two separate ocasions.What’s Handy Safe? In one (sic!) word:security, data management and simplicity.

What is does

That was one of the many reasons I started using Handy Safe. And that’s just one of the many uses I found for this little great piece of software. Launched by Epocware, a division of Paragon Software Group, one of the leading companies in producing software for smartphones (and you can see that in every aspect of their programs), Handy Safe envisioned one program for all (purposes): you can keep your PIN numbers for CCs, passwords (for your locks, bank accounts, calling cards, emails, web pages,shopping accounts) ,different combinations and number series of you driving license,ID card, insurance policies,lens prescriptions,SSN,voice mail info and as you can imagine, I was quoting the program itself!There is a security issue I have to clarify: as the producer brags, this little program uses a 448 bit strong encryption software using blowfish algorithm (considered military grade and a little bit exagerated by some) which means your data is hard to decript. Simple enough, right?

Interface

It’s really simple and old skool: you have over 35 icons and pre-defined/standard tasks to choose from. Each of those has specific fields in accordance with the task you create. In my example, I choose a really simple and useful one: car info. The spcific fields are: model, make, year, license, expires on…, VIN, insurance name, number and phone number of the insurance company. You can also add notes and an icon, if you like.

How it works

Being very simple, it works like a charm. I mean, it’s a breeze to use it, it has a built-in intuition rarely seen in other programs. It takes you around 2 minutes to get to know it thus meaning the learning curve is quite non-existent. The program renders the entries by alphabet order. Also there is a possibility to arrange it in separate folders as Personal, Business, Custom types, Samples, Unfiled and All.In “Preferences”, you can set up a period of time after which the program locks-up automatically, or you multi-tasking it can lockup when going in background. Very useful at times.

There is a desktop version one can download from Epocware to syncronize all the data I have in the program, but it wasn’t necessary for me because I don’t have so many entries and I have the data backed-up anyway already. But it’s important that the creator thought about it and make an effort in developing this kind of back-up.It’s also very simple and one can also add and edit information on every card.

All in all, a classic program ( I also had it on my SE P910i some years ago), a must have for busy people and a real life-saver sometimes. And if it served me correctly once, then is good enough for me and the money are well spent.

There is a 7 days period of demo and the program is available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Russian and also in Northern and Eastern-European languages. The program can be also found in various Handy packages (being on the market for a few years now) like this one where you can get good discounts when buying in bulk. Available for Palm, W.M, UIQ, Symbian S40 and S60.

Check my other reviews: ACM vs MCleaner and TOSC review.

gsm tech-head UIQ

[en] The never ending P1i saga [technology/SE]

1324 days

by Bograma in Everything Else Tech

I promised myself I won’t give up as long as I keep this model. This is the 4th attempt to surpass the “9 days uptime barrier” that my phone is having. It’s working like clockwork until it gets to the 9th day. Then, some of the functions like Bluetooth or WLAN stop working, it lags at times until it crashes. Today I got 9 days, 1 hour (screenshot) and another 10 hours ( I didn’t take another screenshot) and rebooted by itself, as usual. “…restarted in order to improve performance”, as usual.