Excited about new phone!

[Wizard765]

Well I don’t know if you are suppose to get excited about these things but here goes.

 

My Cell phone died on me so I had to replace it. I looked around and decided that I could use a smartphone because it would replace my Palm Pilot that I’ve used for many years and I’d only be carrying one device instead of two.

 

This is where is gets exciting. I started looking at the iPhone but my carrier isn’t offering that one and I’m windows based. I still have a contract for another year and a bit. HTC has a new phone called the Touch Diamond. AWESOME. It has Windows Mobile 6.1 and Mobile Office. Now I can use Word, Excel and Powerpoint on my Phone.

 

It also has WiFi which means I can check in here from any hotspot without using air time. Facebook and Youtube are very easy as well as e-mail.

 

I can get a data plan so that I could use these anywhere but that gets expensive.

Another cool part is what they call an accelerometer which allows the unit to know what position it is in. It will rotate the screen from portrait mode to landscape mode in any screen that I want to do that just by turning the unit. It is so sensitive that there is a game called Teeter which is like the old Labyrinth game (wooden box with two knobs and a maze with a steel ball). Gotta try it to believe it. Man I love technology!

 

Now comes the main reason I’m excited.

 

This thing as a GPS built in. Telus sells their navigation system as so many $ a month which is pretty good and the unit comes with Google Maps which uses data. BUT I got Garmin XT Mobile software which actually turns MY PHONE into a Garmin GPS. I can use MapSource to draw out a route on my PC and then upload it to the phone. I also tried TomTom which works very well but doesn't have the ability to work on the PC and upload to the phone. I liked some the TomTom day to day features but overall the Garmin works better for what I want to do with it.

 

This gets even better.

 

I’ve been using Ms Streets & Trips for years and am very comfortable with it. I just took a route that I used this past summer and transferred it using Babble to the MapSource software (amazingly easy) and then uploaded to my phone. It worked flawlessly.

Bottom line. I now have a smartphone, contact manager (Outlook), Internet access, games, mp3 player, mini computer, AND a Garmin GPS in my pocket.

 

WOW!!!

 

Oh and I can even use it as a level.

 

Wayne

[pegscraper]

Good grief. I just can't keep up anymore.

[Aimhigh]

Yeah...but can you get calls on it. Just kidding...it's good to be excited about things that make your life better. We just had a similar situation...we ended up going with the Verizon "Dare" which also provides GPS, among other things. Hope your new "toy" continues to serve you well.

[BuddyRich]

Just got the Touch Pro, Same thing but with a slide out keyboard. You can get and install the Gramin mobile XT on it. That way your GPS will work with out a cell signal. Yours doesn't have the microsd card slot because its got 4gb internal memory but there's a way to copy it from the garmin microxd chip onto your phone.

[Wizard765]

Buddy:

 

I DID put Garmin XT Mobile on it and LOVE it .. awsome.. makes the phone into a Garmin GPS and works like a charm. Now I'm in the market for a way to mount it to the bike / car.

 

Wayne

[BoomerCPO]

Too much technology for me! I prefer hollering out the back door to get the kids and dogs inside.....and a grease pencil still works great on my windshield for laying out ride Routes to/from home.

 

Boomer....keeping it simple cuz I'd lose all them fancy gadgets if I had em.

[BuddyRich]

Buddy:

 

I DID put Garmin XT Mobile on it and LOVE it .. awsome.. makes the phone into a Garmin GPS and works like a charm. Now I'm in the market for a way to mount it to the bike / car.

 

Wayne

 

Get a Zumo 550. Then you can pair them and with one of my cables answer the phone while your riding. You can just keep the phone in your pocket...

[Guest Shep]

I am a huge HTC phone fan. Currently carrying around the Tilt. Can't get the touch Diamond here in the States from my provider.....T-Mobile.

 

I have TomTom - but I am going to check out the Garmin software. Hook it up to bluetooth and viola - instant directions....

 

Shep

 

BTW- if you like to tweak like I do - check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/

[IH Truck Guy]

Good grief. I just can't keep up anymore.

 

:goodpost::goodpost::goodpost:

[Redneck]

Good grief. I just can't keep up anymore.

My thoughts as well.

[Ivan]

Here are a couple things that might intrest you with your new HTC:

 

http://www.ppcgeeks.com/

 

http://www.xda-developers.com/

 

http://ppckitchen.org/

 

At PPC Kitchen, you can get a program called BuildOS, which lets you painlessly build new ROMs, with the latest and greatest flavors of WM. I had WM6.1 on my Apache (PPC 6700, the predecessor to the Mogul.)

 

I have had good luck with Google maps coupled with the GPS, also there is a program called Track Me that will log your GPS position and spit it out in a format the Google maps will handle. Been thinking about trying to use this as a back up when I try the Iron butt 1000 mile, some time, in the future.

 

Also, look up Skyfire browser. It is by far the best web browser I have used for WM to date. PIE is cheesy, and Opera is a resource hog. Skyfire runs well, is light and very user friendly.

 

Hopefully there is a Touch Pro (rafael, the supercessor to the Diamond) in my future. I am about $500 short on that though.

[Wizard765]

Ivan and Shep:

 

I didn't know about xda-developers. Thanks for the tip. I have been hanging around PPCGeeks and have done some hacking. Got a few things working better and the way I want plus added a few apps. Lots of fun.

 

BuddyRich:

 

I would have a Zumo550 as my first choice and go with your cables but that isn't in the cards at the moment. This is a good solution that I can justify because I needed a phone anyhow. I can have fun with this and it will do what I need.

 

Now I still need a way to mount it to the bike. I have found a few solutions for the car.

 

Wayne

[GeorgeS]

Well, I'm Retired, so I just drive, Stop where it says Food, Gas, Bed, I don't really care what road I"m on. Get there, when I get there.

[Leadwolf56]

Buddy:

 

I DID put Garmin XT Mobile on it and LOVE it .. awsome.. makes the phone into a Garmin GPS and works like a charm. Now I'm in the market for a way to mount it to the bike / car.

 

Wayne

 

 

Duct tape would work well...........

[Cougar]

I love my new HTC as well. can even watch all

the TV I want *lol* But I will NEVER give up

my Zumo!