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P800 - thoughts

10 replies · 2,524 views · Started 25 July 2003

mauru 25 Jul 2003, 18:16

Hi, first I have to say this is a great forum, packed full of info.

I got the p800 about 3 weeks ago from my dad because he didn't want it (it didn't have fax). I didn't really want it then but I'm not one to complain when being given something worth 800 euros. 😃

It is an awesome phone, I can now consider myself an expert on the thing but even now I find something new every now and again that makes me love the phone even more.

It's not perfect, there are many things that could be improved and features that should be added. For example the audio player should have a way of fast forwarding. The frequent contacts should be accessible with flip closed. The vibration definitely has to be increased. By the way, has anyone tried listening to Ktechy using the earphones? It sounds like they have a subwoofer in those things when the beats start 7 seconds into the track, just awesome.

The battery lasts allright under moderate use, roughly 3 to 4 days, providing you don't use bluetooth, which makes it about a couple days worth.

The USB link speed is pretty shite, much too slow for my liking, when downloading 128mb of mp3s it usually means start the download and then go and do something for half an hour.

Hopefully in the future there will be more 3rd party software but more imporantly more free software.

I'm finding the onboard camera more useful everyday. Although it's not good for printable photos its excellent for snapping up things that you want to remember later on. For example there was an offer in a shop for a cd library jukebox (that catalogs and stores about 150 cds) with some specs and pricing, just snap it up and study it later, or if (like in my job) you need to remember where certain jumpers and wires in a computer went before you changed them, there is nothing simpler.

Here is a list of minor quibbles I have with the phone:

- Vibration sucks
- No mp3 ringtones
- Can't use Nokia ringtones
- The audio player is very very basic
- No scientific calculator
- Can't add custom fields in the contacts
- Can't delete fields from contacts (!)
- Can't search contacts real-time, for example typing 'ni' would return: Nick, Nichola, Coppernicus, Fenin etc.
- No camcorder
- No multiple delete on photos
- USB link way too slow
- No quick contact list with flip closed
- No word/spreadsheet applications (I can't seem to be able to save jotter files to the PC either)
- Screen scratches under heavy use
- Voice recognition doesn't work very well with the bluetooth headset
- Can't seem to device lock the phone without running the screensaver (but I want to see the battery level/time/reception on the screen all the time)
- When entering the pin code the DTMF tones can be heard, which to the trained ear can mean someone can learn your pin code as my friend surprised me when he told me my pin code just from the tones

Anyone got any more to add?

Despite all these it's still an A+ phone.

GhostDog 25 Jul 2003, 19:10

Why would you want Nokia ringtones,you can use wav or midi files as ringtones,it rocks!

The USB is slow because its not an USB,its serial masked as an USB.Use the Memory Stick reader or Bluetooth for data transfer.

About the rest,i'm really not sure because,i still don't own a p800 :cry:

nk8 25 Jul 2003, 19:34

why can't you just use wav tones? it's not as if someone's gonna phone you and your gonna start listening to a song from start to end before picking it up is it?

nokia ringtones? you can have ANY tone you want in the form of wav,

use unreal player if you don't like the built in player

custom fields in contacts; use the notes in the middle tab before the photo

think of the quality the p800 will churn out in a camcorder app, just like 7650 and 3650, sure it'd be nice to have, but it's like the built in camera for the p800, if you want a professional camera, get one, if you want a pro dv cam, get one

multiple deletes on photos yes, second photo view in list form, then tick the boixes as you please then go to delete selected

use a smart card reader

i don't use the flip closed so i dunno about the quick contacts list

you can send any files to the pc via a file manager like ones included in stacker or tracker, so save the jotter file to phonethen just beam or bluetooth it across

get a screen protector

i don't use voice recog so i can't help their either

i dont device lock the phone, just lock the screen so can't help their either

when i type in my pin code, i get clicks instead,

(edited due to missing word)

sidneylopsides 26 Jul 2003, 00:44

nk8 says it all really. The best feature of this phone is that just about anything it doesnt do out of the box, you can get a piece of software and it does! 😃

Guest 26 Jul 2003, 10:31

why can't you just use wav tones? it's not as if someone's gonna phone you and your gonna start listening to a song from start to end before picking it up is it?

Fair enough. But why have 2 different versions of a song - add the hassle of converting the mp3 to wav. The p800 can play mp3s so why can't it play mp3s when a call comes in.

nokia ringtones? you can have ANY tone you want in the form of wav,

I want to be sent a ringtone by sms for example, WAV is firstly big, secondly if recorded from the recorder the quality is shit, 3rd - if I do want a good quality WAV conversion of a nokia ringtone it means having to download it to PC, finding a player for it, outputting it directly to WAV and then redownloading to phone - the whole point of a mobile phone/pda imho is to make the pc less of a need.

use unreal player if you don't like the built in player

Costs money.

custom fields in contacts; use the notes in the middle tab before the photo

Sure it's a workaround, but notes aren't displayed automatically on the call screen. For example if I have a contact name called 'Bob' and I know a guy (through bob) as Joe, I used to put Mobile(Joe) as a number under Bobs contact when I had the 9210.

think of the quality the p800 will churn out in a camcorder app, just like 7650 and 3650, sure it'd be nice to have, but it's like the built in camera for the p800, if you want a professional camera, get one, if you want a pro dv cam, get one

The point is not the quality (otherwise I would ditch the p800 and buy a seperate mp3 player, digital camera, dv camera, mobile phone, voice recorder and organizer), the point is that it CAN do it, so why not add the support to it.

multiple deletes on photos yes, second photo view in list form, then tick the boixes as you please then go to delete selected

No option for that there sorry, maybe firmware different?

use a smart card reader

Does backup/restore work with the card reader?

i don't use the flip closed so i dunno about the quick contacts list

Even with flip open you still need to use the stylus whereas i want to quickly phone using one hand.

you can send any files to the pc via a file manager like ones included in stacker or tracker, so save the jotter file to phonethen just beam or bluetooth it across

This makes no sense to me, but the file managers I've found are not free.

get a screen protector

Fair enough.

i don't use voice recog so i can't help their either

You don't use the headset?

i dont device lock the phone, just lock the screen so can't help their either

Just pray noone gets their hands on your phone.

when i type in my pin code, i get clicks instead,

I think if you do that you can't use the phone with automated systems (the ones that say 'press 1 to do this or press 2 to do that' etc.

nk8 26 Jul 2003, 11:02

Fair enough. But why have 2 different versions of a song - add the hassle of converting the mp3 to wav. The p800 can play mp3s so why can't it play mp3s when a call comes in.

so you have an mp3 that starts halfway through a song? coz peoples ringtones are usually at the chorus of a song

I want to be sent a ringtone by sms for example, WAV is firstly big, secondly if recorded from the recorder the quality is shit, 3rd - if I do want a good quality WAV conversion of a nokia ringtone it means having to download it to PC, finding a player for it, outputting it directly to WAV and then redownloading to phone - the whole point of a mobile phone/pda imho is to make the pc less of a need.

whole point of a mobile/pda is to be mobile, there are things you need a pc to do, backup/restore for example, is a lil' extra work gonna be painful?

Costs money.

you have a phone capable of 3rd party apps and games, you think they'll give it all away for free? some things do cost money, it's like saying why couldn't you get a 7650 with all the capabilitiers of the p800, coz it costs more money, well then why can't you get a p800 with a better mp3 player? cos it costs money

Sure it's a workaround, but notes aren't displayed automatically on the call screen. For example if I have a contact name called 'Bob' and I know a guy (through bob) as Joe, I used to put Mobile(Joe) as a number under Bobs contact when I had the 9210.

workarounds are good enough, nothings perfect

The point is not the quality (otherwise I would ditch the p800 and buy a seperate mp3 player, digital camera, dv camera, mobile phone, voice recorder and organizer), the point is that it CAN do it, so why not add the support to it.

eti cam app will release one by next month

No option for that there sorry, maybe firmware different?

really? in the images at the bottom right hand corner, i have two boxes, one for thumbnails, one for

Does backup/restore work with the card reader?

i dunno, i just have a folder with everything that's on my p800 in case of a crash

ven with flip open you still need to use the stylus whereas i want to quickly phone using one hand.

forgot what we were talking about

This makes no sense to me, but the file managers I've found are not free.

buy one then

Fair enough.

8)

You don't use the headset?

nopies

Just pray noone gets their hands on your phone.

well the batterty will cut out soon enough and then when they turn it on, it'll be locked, but then again i might aswell claim off insurance and get a brand spanking new handset isntead

I think if you do that you can't use the phone with automated systems (the ones that say 'press 1 to do this or press 2 to do that' etc

ahh, that's pin codes during a conversation or like for voicemail, me thought you were talking abouit handset boot up

NB: i'm in no way shouting or wanting to sound rude, it's just the way i'm replying, all feelings are mutual

sidneylopsides 26 Jul 2003, 11:24

With the flip on ,you just press ok or the jog dial in and you get your contacts list, like any other phone. Or use the speed dials.
You can turn off the DTMF tones in, control panel, system sounds.
What headset are you using cos its more likley to be that than the phone, there are lots of bluetooth headsets that dont fully support voice dialling. I have the Motorola and its fine.
In flip closed if you type the letters like "ni" it will go to the nearest match, who do you know called Coppernicus? in flip open just use the tabs at the bottom cos its easier. And why not just put joe under his own contact, you can always add a note to remind you how you know him.
The multiple picture delete is on version 2 of the firmware
I have had mine about 6 months and the screen is not scratched, it doesnt need much pressure. Theres no way round the screensaver bit, but if you are in powersave, just press one button once it goes back to the screen with all the info without telling you to unlock the phone. I dont know what you mean about deleting fields in contacts, if its not used it doesnt show it, so why delete it? I think you still have a lot to learn about the phone!
If you set speed dials, you can easily dial with you finger in flip open, the icons a quire large 😊

Tissue 26 Jul 2003, 11:46

I think SE should conduct a worldwide survey on how the phone should be improved (firmware wise - not hardware mods). Then release the firmware with most of the requests and charge a reasonable price. I think this is better distributing free firmware updates with useless changes.
But then again, if they made this phone really good, no one will buy the P810 or whatever comes next.

my 2 �

Guest 26 Jul 2003, 14:24

Don't worry I'm not trying to be a pendant or anything even though I do sound like one. I want to emphasize that I love this phone and it surpasses anything made before. It's just my nature to get every negative no matter how small. If I compiled a list of pros of the p800 it would almost be as long as the list of cons for the Nokia 3650 😉.