Re: SMS is required + fix for battery drained isse (was: 2007.11 snapshot available)
On Dec 5, 2007 2:25 AM, Thomas Wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The latest snapshot includes the first alpha version of the Messages application which allows you to send and receive SMS messages. That's good news! I can confirm that GTA02 fixes this - you do not even need a battery in the device to use it if the USB cable is connected. Also good news! I've heard that the Nokia DT-14 charges the Neo battery about 75%, which should be enough to revive them. Maybe one of these would also work? http://cgi.ebay.com/BL-4C-Desktop-Battery-Charger-Nokia-6300-6101-6131-6136_W0QQitemZ320185839242QQihZ011QQcategoryZ20365QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: SMS is required + fix for battery drained isse (was: 2007.11 snapshot available)
On Wed, 2007-12-05 at 01:45 +0100, Bernhard Kaindl wrote: On Tue, 4 Dec 2007, Jon Phillips wrote: [...] So can we __please__ put the thought of text messaging (SMS) being optional for mass __usage__ (not resting, as it's now) to rest now? Of course it's not neccesary if you do not plan to ready the Neo for mass-sales in the next 5 years. By then maybe everying is done thru mails, but for now, it's all still done thru SMS in middle Europe at least. BTW, SMS works with Qtopia: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Qtopia_on_Neo1973 The latest snapshot includes the first alpha version of the Messages application which allows you to send and receive SMS messages. Unfortunately there is a bug which means it won't display messages from unknown contacts (i.e. people not in the address book), but expect that to be fixed in the updates very soon. [...] Either the 500mA charging has to be available at all times (also when the battery is is completely empty), or a charger which is able to instatanously power-on the Neo so that there is no interruption in phone use when the battery is completely drained must be provided. I can confirm that GTA02 fixes this - you do not even need a battery in the device to use it if the USB cable is connected. I've heard that the Nokia DT-14 charges the Neo battery about 75%, which should be enough to revive them. Regards, Thomas ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
SMS is required + fix for battery drained isse (was: 2007.11 snapshot available)
On Tue, 4 Dec 2007, Jon Phillips wrote: Priorities for mass usage: 1. phone working 2. acceptable battery life (1 full day without charge) Am I wrong? It depends how you define as mass and usage. Maybe it is enough for the US, but if you define the average European mobile phone user a part of mass, then you are wrong and yes, text text messaging (SMS) is an absolute requirement for European mobile phone users. While some die-hard developers (even European ones) may consider SMS an obsolete concept which was there before email over GPRS was possible, SMS is still an essential communication medium in Europe which is even an requirement for feasible mobile phone (GSM) use in middle-Europe, at least. While it could be just considered convinient to be able to exchange information with people which are in meetings, lectures or a libraries for study where they cannot talk (one friend, I __can__ only contact by SMS) and even if you would put aside that it is part of culture to exchange private SMS messages in Europe (and I assume also Asia), there is one additional reason why it's not a practical solution to live without SMS in middle-europe: There are several reasons why one is not reachable all the time even with the Neo: One might be out of network coverage, out of battery, in meetings, lectures, libraries or (e.g. movie) theater, or sleeping and for that people in Europe use a mobile phone box which every german network provider provides as part of their standard offerings. These mobile phone boxes inform the called person of received calls and voice messages over SMS. If you do not get these SMS, you'd have to constantly poll the voice mail box, you'd never get to know about people trying to call you but not leaving a message and the polling would get pretty expensive when you are abroad due to roaming costs. So can we __please__ put the thought of text messaging (SMS) being optional for mass __usage__ (not resting, as it's now) to rest now? Of course it's not neccesary if you do not plan to ready the Neo for mass-sales in the next 5 years. By then maybe everying is done thru mails, but for now, it's all still done thru SMS in middle Europe at least. BTW, SMS works with Qtopia: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Qtopia_on_Neo1973 Thanks. Besides, the SD card is not very practical to use if you do not have a way to exchange from the outide without hasse (means: whithout having to remove the back cover, battery, sim card and have both SIM and SD mounted in this fragile way). So I agree: Mass Storage mode for the SD card would be something expected by the average user here as well. Of course, standby (suspend time) of more than a day would also be required, and it's also not tolerable that the Neo sits dead on the USB cord for lots of hours when the battery is drained: Either the 500mA charging has to be available at all times (also when the battery is is completely empty), or a charger which is able to instatanously power-on the Neo so that there is no interruption in phone use when the battery is completely drained must be provided. Alternatively, an additional battery for replacing the drained battery, to power the device would be needed. Otherwise, OpenMoko == mobile Phone is a big joke for me. Bernhard - A GTA01v4 owner who will not be able to use a GTA02 as phone if the charging issue is not fixed, the suspend time issue is not fixed in the GTA02 and SMS is not provided. ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: SMS is required + fix for battery drained isse (was: 2007.11 snapshot available)
On Dec 4, 2007 5:45 PM, Bernhard Kaindl [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Maybe it is enough for the US, but if you define the average European mobile phone user a part of mass, then you are wrong and yes, text text messaging (SMS) is an absolute requirement for European mobile Plenty of people use SMS in the US too, especially teenagers. More would use it if certain GSM carriers didn't charge extra for each individual message, both sending and receiving (shame on you TMobile in this regard). Besides, the SD card is not very practical to use if you do not have a way to exchange from the outide without hasse (means: whithout having to remove the back cover, battery, sim card and have both SIM and SD mounted in this fragile way). So I agree: Mass Storage mode for the I agree wholeheartedly but if we're talking about hardware mods, I could come up with quite a laundry list: - slide-in SIM slot (like A1200) rather than any of the kind with flip-over covers; or one that's accessible from outside, like an SD card - SD slot accessible from outside is mandatory (maybe even full-size SD if there could be space - like E680i) - make it as slim as possible (half as thick? well I'm dreaming) but a little wider is OK if necessary (bigger screen is fine too) - get rid of that hanger hole - make the touchscreen flush with the front, not recessed - stylus storage - multi-touch - quad-band - two buttons on the front for call/answer (green) and hangup/back-to-main-menu (red), backlit - NFC radio (near-field communications) - wifi (but that's planned) - sane GPS chip (but that's planned) - antenna jacks for the radios (WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS) - work with existing USB charger cables (detect the resistors in them and go to 500mA) The Motorola A780 has the best slot for a MicroSD that I've ever seen on any device. It acts just like a regular full-size SD slot - push the card in to install, and push again to make it pop back out. It pops out far enough that you can easily grab it. And the slot is accessible without removing the back cover (although there is a little rubber cover over that area, to keep it clean presumably). The SIM slot could potentially be built like that too. I guess the goal hasn't been sexy hardware, just hacker-friendly, right? But before being sexy it could at least have really excellent usability. Either the 500mA charging has to be available at all times (also when the battery is is completely empty), or a charger which is able to instatanously power-on the Neo so that there is no interruption in phone use when the battery is completely drained must be provided. At least, if everyone insists that it's dangerous to draw 500mA without asking (even though so many devices do just that), we could at least have an easily accessible menu to turn on the 500mA charging (but it's a pain to do that every time you plug in to charge). Or detect the resistors embedded in USB charger cables. Or FIC could sell chargers which are smart enough to answer when the Neo tries to ask for 500mA (both AC kind and 12V kind). A desktop charger would be nice (but I assume some existing Nokia ones from ebay will work? I haven't tried yet) ___ OpenMoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
