Ten problems that no-one ever talks about...

Just out of interest, does anyone want any of these topics done in a more in-depth article?

5 and 10 contradicts. U said in 5 that u wanted smartphones to be enclosed in nice fashion cases, while in 10 u said to put bigger bulkier batteries on the OUTside, and that its worth it to sacrifice looks for function. hmmmm🙄

"5 and 10 contradicts. U said in 5 that u wanted smartphones to be enclosed in nice fashion cases, while in 10 u said to put bigger bulkier batteries on the OUTside, and that its worth it to sacrifice looks for function. hmmmm🙄"

I said SOME smartphones should be fashion phones, and SOME smartphones should have OPTIONAL bulky batteries available. I wasn't talking about one single phone.

Nokia alone release about a dozen different smartphone models a year, there's plenty of room for variety and optional extras.

I agree, and most of these have been touched on in other places, specifically #5. Darla Mack and myself have previously called out for an F-series (or other possibly more appropriately named) S60 line with a fashion sense. It's ridiculous.

However, I also want to add one to the list: menu-changeable keypad backlights. This would be so easy. Remember back to the monochrome screen days, when one could have their backlights changed to a different color? Surely by now we've got a way that we could make the keypad backlights user-changeable through a menu selection.

Imagine, you have a red theme on your phone, you could pick red keypad backlights. Blue theme, switch to blue, at the same time you change your theme. It's not that hard, folks, and would be a KILLER touch, specifically for the aforementioned "F-series"

The keypad backlights are determined by what colour LEDs are used. Impossible to change the colour with software, and equally impossible to install LEDs for all possible colours (what you want would require a completely different approach to keypad lights, and in all likelihood it'd be more expensive, too).

Nokia have cracked the replacement charger market. I'm on my third AC-4X, the small plug type, in twelve months. The fine cable breaks at the charger outlet.

"Impossible to change the colour with software, and equally impossible to install LEDs for all possible colours".

I dont think this is impossible. 5 years ago, panasonic had a model (dont remember the number) that allowed you to change the colour of the backlight in the phone screen. It had an option of 4 colours. If it can be done for the screen, why not for the keypad? And its not necessary to put in 65K/262K colours like in the screen resolutions. 6/7 basic colours should be enough to match it with the colour of the phone theme.

"Just out of interest, does anyone want any of these topics done in a more in-depth article?"

How about the one on a common SIM card? Would that also mean that one can own and carry a number across networks and not be dependant on the network operator? In my country, the number series is dictated by the network operator and the moment you switch an operator, you have to get a new number, which can be a pain.

Also interesting would be better ways to install software on the phone.

Granny phones

Keypad lights should come under granny phones 😊

Some keypad light colours really make the alphabets on the keypads quite illegible for me.

Furthermore under granny phones for anything to do with main phone functions i.e. receiving calls, missed calls, dialing and phonebook (names and telephone numbers:

• larger fonts
• more legible fonts (some fonts are just clearer than others no matter the size

Ever noticed the phone ringing and some old person (I'm not there yet) taking out the glasses to see who is ringing before answering? Both annoying and pitiful.

Regards

The larger battery option seams to be quite widely available from 3rd parties in the windows mobile world. Probably because they started out with poor battery life.

Problem is with all these exploding battery stories out there, a lot of people don't want to go 3rd party any more. I'm sure ther are plenty of reputable companies out there capable of producing "safe" large capacity batteries and a cover...

By the way, I've got a 3rd party battery that I've been using for a few months on the MDA Pro. Came with an oversize cover and took battery capacity from something like 1800 to 3500 mAh. But the phone was big even before the big batterey...

Zuber

malerocks wrote:"Impossible to change the colour with software, and equally impossible to install LEDs for all possible colours".

I dont think this is impossible. 5 years ago, panasonic had a model (dont remember the number) that allowed you to change the colour of the backlight in the phone screen. It had an option of 4 colours. If it can be done for the screen, why not for the keypad? And its not necessary to put in 65K/262K colours like in the screen resolutions. 6/7 basic colours should be enough to match it with the colour of the phone theme.

If you put in different colour LEDs in the hardware, and build in the support for using them in software, then that's entirely different (and will add to the cost of the device, of course).

Oh come on, Nokia S60 can't figure out how do get a birthday entered in contacts to show as a reminder in the calendar, its been the same since the very first Series 60 V1 devices like the 7650 and if they can't intergrate such a simple function between contacts and calendar............what hope have you got for software to control different colour LED's

"Oh come on, Nokia S60 can't figure out how do get a birthday entered in contacts to show as a reminder in the calendar, its been the same since the very first Series 60 V1 devices like the 7650"

I agree. Birthdays in contacts not appearing in calendar is one of the stupidest things I have seen.

"If you put in different colour LEDs in the hardware, and build in the support for using them in software, then that's entirely different (and will add to the cost of the device, of course)."

Not to get into an agrument or anything, I dont think this will be that expensive either. The panasonic phone I am referring to was a very low end and price wise was pretty cheap.

"Nokia have cracked the replacement charger market. I'm on my third AC-4X, the small plug type, in twelve months. The fine cable breaks at the charger outlet."

Interesting, as I've never ever had to replace a Nokia charger (or any other charger come to think of it), and I've been using some of them for a couple of years now.

Are you pulling the charger out by pulling on its cable rather than the charger itself? If so, that will be the reason your chargers keep breaking, as you're not meant to pull anything electrical by its cable.

"The larger battery option seams to be quite widely available from 3rd parties in the windows mobile world. Probably because they started out with poor battery life."

I'm talking about physically larger batteries though. Are there replacement covers for WM devices so you can fit a physically bigger battery?

Whatever the capacity of a battery, it can be made much greater if it can take up more physical room.

"How about the one on a common SIM card? Would that also mean that one can own and carry a number across networks and not be dependant on the network operator? In my country, the number series is dictated by the network operator and the moment you switch an operator, you have to get a new number, which can be a pain."

You don't actually need a common SIM card for a common number. The number is not tied to the SIM card in any way.

Here in Finland, you just tell your old operator that you're moving to a new network and they have to transfer your old number to the new network. There's no common SIM, the number transfer is done entirely through the network.

You're right that the common SIM might mean a single number though, which would be very convenient.

"larger fonts"

I believe pretty much all phones have a larger fonts option now, don't they? S60 3rd FP1 certainly does, as does the latest version of Series 40.

"The keypad backlights are determined by what colour LEDs are used. Impossible to change the colour with software, and equally impossible to install LEDs for all possible colours"

True, but you wouldn't necessarily need all possible colours, a certain variety might be good enough for most people, and at the very least a nice change from the current one-colour situation. I love the blue keypad light on my 5300, but if someone hated blue they might like some alternatives.

The 5500 has a colour-changing direction pad which lights up white, yellow or red for example, which is a good visual cue to tell you which mode the phone is in. The BH-500 bluetooth headphone adapter has a small indicator which lights up orange, blue, green or red, so presumably this could be done for keypads too. And of course the good old 3220 has those disco lights which are green, red and orange... 😊

Krisse, on the larger batteries for WM devices yes they are physically bigger and they do come with model specific battery covers to accomodate them. I've used several. In fact, for some, the battery cover isn't required. THe XDA IIs battery formed the rear of the phone, much like the Ericsson R380 (or most of the R-series phones, as I remember) so you just bought a bigger battery.

As for "Granny" specific phones, I bought an R520 for my Grandad which has large, well-spaced keys and large, clear fonts. The device is obviously quite big (in terms of surface area, really slim and light though) and Grandad loves it. Several of his "older" friends have asked if I can get hold of one for them but, alas, I can no-longer find a supplier.

Oh, as for generic chargers, WM devices have settled on USB chargers and some of the Nokia's are going that way. I have a home charger, office charger, light-weight travel charger and in-car charger that have done me for the last three generations of phones thanks to the mini-usb connector. It also does my GPS unit.

"Krisse, on the larger batteries for WM devices yes they are physically bigger and they do come with model specific battery covers to accomodate them."

That's exactly what I'd like to see as an option on models like the N93, where the features are great but the main complaint that people have is the battery life. Some people value battery life more than slim size, and they're not currently being catered to.

"As for "Granny" specific phones, I bought an R520 for my Grandad which has large, well-spaced keys and large, clear fonts. The device is obviously quite big (in terms of surface area, really slim and light though) and Grandad loves it. Several of his "older" friends have asked if I can get hold of one for them but, alas, I can no-longer find a supplier."

There are some models that are more grannyish than others, but really there ought to be a granny mode on all current phones. The main thing that confuses older relatives of mine are all the options menus, they get lost in all those choices. If there was a mode where your only option is to select the name of the person you want to call, it would be far far easier to use. Such a mode should be easy to do through the profiles system, or even a third party application if the manufacturers don't want to play ball.

"Oh, as for generic chargers, WM devices have settled on USB chargers and some of the Nokia's are going that way."

That's a really good point, I hadn't thought of that approach, although it doesn't really help the majority of people who charge their phones by plugging them straight into the mains.

USB charging is obviously very popular, but phones are often used by people who don't even own a computer. Even if you do own a PC there are times when you won't have access to it but you still need to charge your phone (for example in a hotel room or at a friend's house).

Are there any third party chargers that have a USB port? They would be able to charge any USB-charging device but would be functionally just the same as a normal charger.

Krisse,
I think that Bassey is saying that the AC wall chargers for WM devices are frequently settling on having mini USB as the shape that plugs into the device. I guess (s)he can confirm if my understanding of that is correct, but that would be my vote for the standard sync/charge shape for all gadgets (and headphone/mic sockets should be a separate jack - but I guess that's another topic).

As for your question on whether there are adaptors for PC USB chargers; yes there are. I don't know if any have the ordinary cable AND a USB port, but there are lots with the USB port only. They work quite well.
I'm addicted to those retractable sync/charge cables so I got a few adaptors as well. From ebay I got a set with a mains plug, car charger adaptor, and mini transformer (to increase the voltage to 6v for some of the older Nokias). I travel with work and I used my N95 on the plane for 6 or 7 hours. I used a mini-sync cable, with the car-charger adaptor and that went into an airline power adaptor.

Most recently I've just bought a new item from Maplin. It is perfect for roadwarriors - the unit accepts up to 4 USB charge cables in the single adaptor so no more worries about lack of sockets in the hotel room. It also has the main three socket shapes (UK, Europe, US). I really hope it is waiting for me when I get home because it looks to be out of stock at the moment. I like the idea of only having one bulky plug and taking the small cables along. (also, I can charge my camera and my MP3 player overnight and not have to choose between them!)

A bit long for my first quick reply, but is a topic close to my heart. I really am that sad....!

Are there any third party chargers that have a USB port? They would be able to charge any USB-charging device but would be functionally just the same as a normal charger.

There are now plenty of chargers that have a USB port, both for the mains and for use in cars. I for one would be very pleased to see manufacturers settle on one design of power-connector, and mini-USB would certainly get my vote...

krisse wrote:"Nokia have cracked the replacement charger market. I'm on my third AC-4X, the small plug type, in twelve months. The fine cable breaks at the charger outlet."

Interesting, as I've never ever had to replace a Nokia charger (or any other charger come to think of it), and I've been using some of them for a couple of years now.

Are you pulling the charger out by pulling on its cable rather than the charger itself? If so, that will be the reason your chargers keep breaking, as you're not meant to pull anything electrical by its cable.

Mine did the same while I had the N70, but I've opened it and solder the wires again. This happens especially when you travel alot and you need to pack/unpack the powercord. The previous chargers had a very durable cord, as the one in ACP12E for example. This issue could've been solved easily just by providing a bigger external insulation (I don't know the exact word in english).

Eleventh problem is how often the phone locks the keypad.
It should lock only when (supposedly) it is being carried. Which means - no cables connected (except for the handsfree).
My N95 locks when it has a charger cable put in, USB cable.
If it is connected, good chance it sits on my desk, not in my pocket.
Then please don't lock it. The unlocking interface is an annoyance.
I often forget (and not expect) it is locked, and I get a new SMS, I have to click 4 (!) times to see it.
When it's finally unlocked, there's a banner telling me so, and I have to put it away by clicking once more. Or wait for it to go.

Krisse/N95Mad,

Yes, I did mean that the charger is a standard mains charger but the plug on the end is a Mini USB plug, as N95MAD suggested. I also have a mains adaptor that just has a USB socket in it, so I can plug in any cable with a USB plug on one end.

As for the retractable cables, you do have to be careful with them. Because the wire is so thin, they don't let through as much current as a standard cable. They are fine for charging normally, but on two occasions when my device has completely run-down (no power left at all), the current provided by these cables is not enough to get the device back to life (a real pain when you are away on holiday for a week and the device has all your e-ticket details, your GPS navigation etc.).

Good article - I enjoy seeing other people's rants agree with mine!

Without sounding like an advert, my charging woes have been improved somewhat by buying the Proporta charging kit. The lead from the little white battery is one of those retractable cables and has charged my N80 from flat to fully charged on several occaisions, without a problem.
This charges several Sony Ericssons, both old and new Nokias, mini usb Nokias, my bluetooth headset, TomTom GPS, and anything else which will plug into a standard USB port. There's an iPod one lurking in he box too.
I've just got the standard kit and a car charger but you can buy a worldwide universal adapter to plug into the mains too.
I agree - a standard way of charging would be so much better, but this is a good make-do in the meantime..