Further musings on the WM6.5 on Samsung EPIX

I found out that, due to a slight coloring on my "liquid detector" I was not eligible for a warranty replacement of my EPIX after all. However, they did send me a replacement USB cable. And much to my surprise it worked! So I was able to install WM6.5. My initial findings are that the phone is still quite stable (as I seemed to have resolved the WM6.1 instability with the removal of Newsbreak). Instead of Newsbreak I am using the default RSS reader, but do not like it so will look for another alternative.

I am not so happy with the WM6.5 browser, even though it is more modern with a zoom capability. Of course, without multi-touch capability, the zoom has to be done with a slider. It requires a tap on the options button, a zoom button and then quickly to the displayed slider. If you are not quick enough the slider disappears, I wish that the wait time could be adjusted (registry hack anyone?). Also the slider is not so easy to use so you often spend time fiddling around to get the page at the right size to be able to both read the text, as well as view the page without constant scrolling left/right.

I have noticed that "Messaging" has changed slightly, not choice of "text" or "MMS" for a new message, it assumes text. I do like that a number of key apps and screen have finger gesture controls, e.g. flick scrolling.

Where I have noticed a huge improvement is the time to lock in the GPS satellites. Previously it took as long at 2-3 minutes, now it seems to be about 10-20 seconds! Also, the GPS battery drain is gone, so I can now use location based apps.

All in all, this update means that yes, I can use my phone for a few more months, while I wait to see what comes out of the woodwork around Christmas time. I suspect that T-Mobile's "Project Emerald" phone from HTC is going to be a strong contender; what with HSPA+ (21Mbps down/11Mbps up), UMA (hopefully) and Andriod.

Test msg from Ping.fm

0-0 at the end of regulation, hope this does not go to penalty kicks

Watching the big game. Hup Oranje!

Great night spoiled in last minutes. In shuttle to car park, teenager stood up and offered me her seat. Do I really look that old?

World of Color was typical Disney, magnificent and finished to the nth degree

Finishing my magical night at Disney with California Adventure's brans new World of Color

Managed to catch one of the last flights to the Moon of Endor. Followed it with the Indiana Jones Adventure.

Disney has not only the most beautiful fireworks, they are perfectly tme to the soundtrack

Oops, 4th July fireworks only last weekend, just their normal/special tonight

Special West Coast treat tonight, Disneyland & California Adventure. World of Color as special entertainment, then Disneyland July 4th fireworks

Just finished another evening of entertainment at Hollywood's Magic Castle

Earthquake was a 5.9, epicenter about 80 miles south of my location. Effective strength here about a 3 (USGS.GOV)

Just experienced earthquake in Orange County, severity unknown but not large

Samsung EPIX WM6.5 update

Just when I had given up hope, Samsung finally released the WM6.5 upgrade for my Samsung EPIX. My initial euphoria was dampened when I realized that I could not load the upgrade because my UB connection has stopped working. However my spirits soared again when I realized that I am just (by a few days) within the warranty period. A quick call to AT&T and a new (reconditioned?) phone will be on its way to me shortly. In an earlier post to this blog I had expressed some frustration about my phon and of my desire to start looking for a replacement. One of the issues was an almost daily freezing of the phone. Due to the USB problem I decided last weekend to carry out a hard reset, to see if this would clear the issue. It did not, but then I found that I had lost my Sprite backup files when my SDHC card had gone funny one me. No major issue as all imprtant data is on the Exchange server, and other data is on the SDHC card (except the backup files).
This did require a reinstall of all key programs, an opportunity to clean out unused programs and to update the programs that I am using. For this I go to the site where the program was purchased and check to see whether there is a newre version. For my RSS reader, Newsbreak, I was shocked to notice a comment on the site that this program was NOT compatible with my listed phone (Not the Ilium Software site but a 3rd party retail site). So I did not re-install this program and since then did not have a single freeze.

So two pieces of good news this week that will enable me to extend the life of my EPIX until I am again upgrade eligible with AT&T. At that time I can take stock again and see what phones are available. There are some personal reasons to remain with AT&T, but to date their only super smartphone was the iPhone. Now that the Captivate (Samsung Galaxy S) has been announced this gives me a better phone to which I might switch. However, I am also still tempted by T-Mobile with their UMA feature and the HSPA+ network. perhaps by the time my AT&T contract is up T-Moble will also have a true HSPA+ phone. At 21M/s this would blow the Evo out of the water for network speed.

Look for a post in about 2 weeks with my WM 6.5 reviw.

Happy and safe Independence weekend to all my friends

Phillips VOIP321 Skype phone - initial review

Due to all the changes mentioned in other blog posts, I needed an easy way to connect to family members in Europe. As a number of them already use Skype, when I saw a deal ($25 incl shipping) for this phone at ThingFling I decided to try it out. I had some initial problems with installation, as this model is a little old and the software did not agree with my newly installed Windows 7 on the desktop. Luckily, I have a second desktop with XP alongside. Once installed and set-up of Skype was completed I found that using the phone is exceedingly easy. In addition to a normal landline capability, it has a Skype button, which retrieves your Skype Friends List and allows you to connect just like with a normal phone. In fact you can also use this phone for Skype-Out calls, i.e. with a normal phone number. You just need to make sure that sufficient credit is available on the account, but at 2c/minute a few dollars goes a long way. Of course, calls to a Skype client on a computer remain free, so I expect to be calling on the regular landline and telling the other party, "please go to the computer and I will call you via Skype there."

I have used the phone to call the UK this weekend, both ways, regular Skype and Skype-Out, and both work easily and with good clarity. It is interesting to see the phone display the Skype contacts list as a phonebook, which makes dialing very, very easy.

Google Voice - First thoughts

In conjunction with installing the AT&T Microcell, I decided to try out Google Voice connected to my cellphone. I am not using the Google Voice number feature, i.e. one number that callers dial, which then tries to connect the call to different phones, e.g. cell phone, work phone, home phone, etc. Instead I am just using it for the voice mail and cheap International calls features. The special feature of the voicemail is that messages left are transcribed to text and then sent to you as email and SMS text message. This enables me to see who called and what they said, without having to listen to a voice mail. At least that is the theory. In the couple of messages to date, the transcription accuracy is not very high. I will have to wait and see how this works out. But it is still better than knowing someone left a message but not having any idea at all what the voicemail message is about, or how important it might be. This will allow me to review an incoming message in a business situation without having to step out of the room to listen to a voicemail.

The other feature I expect to use a lot is low cost international calling plan. After the installation of the AT&T Microcell and the shutdown of our VOIP service, which had free European land line calls included, I was looking for an alternative to call our European family members. To keep things simple, I have installed a Phillips VOIP321 phone at home, which used Skype to connect (see separate review). However, Skype has stopped support for Windows Mobile 6, so although I have the software I did not trust using it. I discovered that Google Voice also provides cheap international calling, actually fractionally cheaper than Skype-Out. So I am going to be using that for my cellphone. Basically, you use your browser to initiate a call, giving both your phone, as well as the number of the called party via the net. Google Voice then calls your phone and connects you to the required party. There is a way to directly connect from your phone, but as I have a smartphone, using the browser is a much easier way to go.

There is one other added benefit, Google Voice domestic calls are free. So I can use the same call and connect me to a chosen number for the rare occasion that I need to make a long distance call, not on my cellphone and from a location with restricted dialing, e.g. client site or hotel room. I have already tried this out on a one hour call, it worked great!

AT&T Microcell - initial thoughts

Last weekend I finally managed to buy an AT&T Microcell. For those who do not know, this is a gadget that puts a cell tower in your home. We needed this because the AT&T signal at our house is dismal, even outside the house, but definitely insid, i.e. 0-1 bars. After 3 to four tires to activate the device, which the manager of the AT&T store had warned me about, we finally get 4-5 bars thoughout the house and quite a large circle outside around the house. Although a very short period I am very happy with this new toy, and am making plans to shut down our VOIP service and use our cellphones as primary phones. Technically the Microcell actually uses the Internet, like a VOIP service, but for free. Not completely for free as the device costs $150 if not purchased with an unlimited Microcell plan at $20 per month. As we have quite a number of RollOver minutes available, i.e. w do not use our monthly packet fully, we are going to use the Microcell without extra unlimited minutes. In fact, if I understand correctly, because I have two seperate accounts, one for my (business phone) and a family plan for my wife and daughter, I would need to subscribe to two unlimted microcell plans. The resultant $40 would be more than our VOIP service, so we are certainly not going down that route. However, while it is perhaps not right that we should pay to bolster AT&T's poor coverage, on the other hand, the Microcell pays for itself in 6 months as we can get rid of the VOIP service.

I have discovered one small issue, namely that my Belkin router, at a random frequency, shuts off the Internet for 5 to 15 seconds. I had actually noticed this on the VOIP service, especially on conference calls, where all of a sudden the line would be silent for 5-15 seconds. Now with the Microcell, it causes the device to lose its synch and it takes a little longer to get the signal back. Probably time to look for a new wireless/wired router.

Just got my ATT microcell, and after 4 tries, activated it. Now at least 4 bars throughout house (prev 1 to 0) Bye bye landline

How to treat your customers when things go wrong

Hope to leave soon, after 8! Hours at DTW. Should be home in bed just after 3 am


Note: As we deplaned, we received a coupon for the inconvenience, valid for 10,000 SkyMiles or $100. Now that is Customer Service! All passengers received this bonus!.

Extra Note: A week later a nice letter from Delta informaing that they had also added another 15,000 miles to my account, for the inconvenience. Delta, you really know how to treat your Elite customers well when things go wrong. Big KUDOS to you!

3 hour delayed aircraft (late arrival) now has technical problem. Off to another gate and plane. Joys of travel....

Sitting in Detroit airport, flight delayed 2 1/2 hrs, earlier flight full, so long wait :-(

Not leaving super early this Monday was nice, but TSA lines are a bear at this "normal" time

Just about to board the red-eye to Memphis :-( Connect there and then home.