Posts Tagged ‘tmobile’

T-Mobile HTC HD2 – A Review

July 3rd, 2010

htc2 T Mobile HTC HD2   A ReviewFirst, let me explain what I am and what I am not.  I am a dude who is proficient at software programming.  I am a “techie geek”, I guess.  But, not with cell phones so much.  My previous phone was a Blackberry 8320, which I loved.  Before that, I used the Danger Side-Kick.  So, my experience with smart phones is minimal.

So, I did upgrade to the HD2 from the Blackberry without much thought as to what a huge change it would be for me.  I just thought Windows Mobile would be like the Blackberry OS, only better.  That is as far as I considered the change.

Aside from talking and text, I use my phone to read news in an internet browser, listen to mp3 music and watch movies.  I also connect to my web servers via SSH and Remote Desktop on a regular basis. I also need to tether occasionally.  Thus, based on its specs and features, the HD2 seemed like a good choice to improve my experience over the Blackberry Curve 8320.

But alas, the first day I had my HTC, I hated it.  Seriously.  I had such trouble adjusting to the on-screen keyboard that I considered returning the phone to T-Mobile and getting another Blackberry instead.  The lack of a keyboard is a major flaw in this phone’s design as far as I was concerned.  After some time and much practice, I did get used to the onscreen keyboard, though I still make more typos than I did with my Blackberry which had a standard keyboard.

After a few days of tinkering, my tune had changed and I literally fell in love with the HD2!  The learning curve was steeper than I had imagined, but compared to my old Blackberry, the HD2 was like a fantastic new toy which could do so much more than I was used to.  One of the best things to me is the ability to download a hack to turn the phone into a wireless WIFI router which I can connect to through my laptop.  Amazing!  I love this phone.

Pros

  • Large screen with a brilliant picture and bright.  Perfect for playing movies (similar in size to a Sony PSP screen).
  • Attractively styled phone.  Pretty to look at.  An eye-catcher.
  • Fast. Applications usually load quickly unless the phone has been on for a long time (requires a reboot at least once per day).
  • Touch screen is reactive and fairly easy to use
  • Windows marketplace (somewhat organized and a decent selection of Apps)
  • Aftermarket for WinMo software is pretty good.
  • 5 MP camera works great.  Photos are crisp and clear.  Auto-focus is outstanding.
  • The Windows Mobile 6.5 OS has many after market (non-Microsoft) hacks which can be downloaded and installed to improve the function of the OS.  Most of these are free.
  • Works as a wireless WIFI router (Requires downloading and installing a hack).
  • Uploading photos to facebook is a one touch affair.  Very easy.
  • Software called “foot prints” is a nifty program that integrates with GPF and your camera to create a photo album during vacations, excursions, etc.

Cons

  • No slide out key board
  • Touch screens get messy from oily fingers and I find myself cleaning it multiple times per day.
  • I find Windows 6.5 OS is quirky just like it’s big brother, Windows XP/Vista, etc.
  • Battery life!  If you use this full featured phone as it was intended, you will be lucky to get 5 hours out of your battery.  Seriously, HTC, improve the battery life already.
  • I find answering/making phone calls is somewhat clunky.  Since this *is* a phone, I would hope that Microsoft rethink this on the next WinMo release.
  • While I am happy that WinMo has an apps marketplace, it could be better.  I have heard that Apple IPhone’s app store is legendary.  It seems the Windows Marketplace is not so legendary.
  • I wish there were more apps for this phone.
  • Onscreen keyboard pretty much sucks for me.  I have small fingers but I still have a hard time typing text messages.  I am constantly hitting the wrong keys, even after 2 weeks of practicing.  Maybe this is the same on all touch screen phones so it is not necessarily a “con”, but for me, it is.

I’ve read many reviews where the people slam the Windows Mobile 6.5 OS.  I understand where this disdain comes from as Windows 6.5 does seem to be lacking and even plain in many areas.  But, coming from the Blackberry Curve 8320, the WinMo 6.5 OS is completely awesome to me.  It allows me to do so much.  Some of my favorite uses for my HD2 aside from talking or texting are;

  1. Watching movies
  2. Listening to audio books and talk radio podcasts
  3. Using my HD2 as a WIFI router with the 3G
  4. Connecting to my Linux servers via Putty SSH for mobiles
  5. FTP’ing to my web site
  6. Browing face book
  7. Taking photos (The 5 mb autofocus camera is truly fantastic!)
  8. Taking videos

Overall, I am very happy with the HD2 by HTC. The learning curve was a bit high, even for a techie like me.  But, if you have used a touch screen smartphone before, it should be fairly easy for you.  None-the-less, I believe it is definitely worth buying, especially if you are a techie geek like me.

In short, I love this phone.  It gives me a great media experience and I can do much techie stuff with it too.  Get one!

How To Tether Your Blackberry Curve

February 14th, 2009

Congratulations, Blackberry owner, you’ve found a “how to” site which will teach you how to tether your Blackberry Curve or other BB phone.  I am assuming that you have not met with much success as you endeavor to tether, because many of the sites you visited were simply wrong about how to do this.  I won’t lead you astray.  Here you go.

The things you need to tether your Blackberry to your computer is;

  • Blackberry Curve (or other Blackberry with tethering capability)
  • Modem cable (The same one you use to connect to your pc can be used to tether)
  • Computer/Laptop with Desktop Manager version 4.1 or higher already installed.
  • A data plan with your carrier (if you can view web pages on your Blackberry, then you have data capability)

The following information comes directly from the Blackberry technical support web site.

Let’s get started.

Set up an Internet APN.

  1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Phone and Modem Options.
  3. In the Phone and Modem Options window, click the Modems tab.
  4. Select Standard Modem and click Properties.
  5. Click Change Settings.
  6. In the Standard Modem Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
  7. In the Extra initialization commands field, type the following:+cgdcont=1,”IP”,”<your Internet APN>”Note: The following is applicable for T-Mobile® customers only:

    The extra initialization command is: +cgdcont=1,”IP”,”wap.voicestream.com”

    Note: If you do not know your Internet APN, or if you do not have an Internet APN, contact your service provider.

  8. Click OK.
  9. In the Phone and Modem Options window, click OK.

To configure dial-up networking, complete the procedure that is appropriate to the operating system you are using:

Windows Vista

  1. Click Start.
  2. Select Connect To.
  3. Click Setup a connection or network.
  4. Click Setup a dialup connection.
  5. In the Dial-up phone number field type *99#.
  6. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider.
  7. In the Connection Name field type BlackBerry.
  8. Click Dialing Rules.
  9. Make sure the profile created in Task 2 has been selected, and then click OK.
  10. Select Connect to establish an internet.

Note: For instructions on connecting a computer to the Internet using a BlackBerry smartphone with CDMA as a tethered modem, see KB04664.

Windows XP operating system

  1. Click Start > Settings > Network Connections.
  2. Double-click New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard opens.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Select the Connect to the Internet option. Click Next.
  5. Select Set up my connection manually. Click Next.
  6. Select Connect using a dial-up modem. Click Next.
  7. If the Select a Device screen appears, select the Modem – Standard Modem check box. Click Next.
  8. In the ISP Name field, type a name for your connection. Click Next.
  9. In the Phone number field, type *99#. Click Next.
  10. Indicate which users will have access to the connection. Click Next.
  11. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider. Click Next.
  12. Click Finish.
  13. In the Connect window, click Properties.
  14. In the Properties window, verify that Modem – Standard Modem appears beneath the Connect using heading, and then click Configure.
  15. In the Modem Configuration window, clear the Enable hardware flow control check box and make sure none of the other check boxes are selected. Click OK. In the Properties window, click OK. (NOTE: Many sites tell you to leave this checked.  They are wrong!  Un-check the flow control box and leave it empty)

Windows 2000 operating system

  1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Network and Dial-up Connections.Note: The following is applicable for T-Mobile customers only:Under the networking tab in the properties window for the dial-up connection, clear the Enable LCP Extensions check box, as well as all check boxes beneath the PPP Settings window.
  3. Double-click Make New Connection. The Network Connection Wizard opens.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Choose Dial-up to private network. Click Next.
  6. In the Phone number field, type *99#. Click Next.
  7. Indicate which users will have access to the connection. Click Next.
  8. Type a name for your connection. Click Finish.
  9. In the Connect window, click Properties.
  10. In the Properties window, verify that Modem – Standard Modem is selected, then click Configure.
  11. In the Modem Configuration window, clear the Enable hardware flow control check box and make sure none of the other check boxes are selected. Click OK.
  12. In the Properties window, click OK.

Connect to the Internet using dial-up networking.

Note: During this procedure, do not operate the BlackBerry® Browser or any third-party applications on the BlackBerry smartphone. An active data session might interfere with the modem connection. Also, make sure an ethernet connection is not active at the same time.

  1. Connect the BlackBerry smartphone to the computer.
  2. Open BlackBerry Desktop Manager.
  3. Click Start > Settings > Network Connections > <name of your new connection>.
  4. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider. (T-Mobile uses blank username and password)
  5. Click Dial.

If you’ve followed the directions above, you should have access now.  REMEMBER THAT YOUR DESKTOP MANAGER MUST BE RUNNING ON YOUR PC IN ORDER FOR YOU TO CONNECT.