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My "10 tips on fixing common AT&T Tilt problems" has been the most viewed article here at Pocketables almost every day for the past four months, so I think it's high time that I put together a follow-up piece.
This new list of 10 tips (below) includes software recommendations, free utilities, and simple tweaks that further enhance the Tilt (HTC TyTN II) and help to make the powerful Windows Mobile device even more enjoyable to use. Have a look below.
UPDATE 11.13.08: AT&T has discontinued the unlimited data plan described below.
Ever since getting my iPhone last summer, I've been popping its 3G SIM card into and out of any GSM device that would accept it. I've considered signing up for a data-only plan with AT&T to get an extra SIM in the past, but have always found the recurring costs and usage limits too prohibitive. So lately I've been swapping the card between five devices: the iPhone, AT&T Tilt, unlocked HTC Advantage X7501, unlocked HTC Shift X9500, and an old Treo. Removing and inserting the SIM isn't difficult (and it's always nice to share), but come on. A better solution was obviously needed.
And thanks to ever-resourceful and helpful Pocketables reader orbitalcomp, I found one in AT&T's newly announced unlimited MEdia Net 3G data service for the "Pay As You Go" GoPhone plan. All AT&T phones come with 3G SIMs (cards also sold separately) that can be used in other devices, and many GoPhones include airtime credits that cover the cost of the phone.
What this means is that an extra SIM with contract-free 3G data service and a new phone costs just $19.99 per month. Find out how it works (and how to get it for yourself) below.
After I reset my HTC Shift X9500 to its factory state while troubleshooting an audio issue that ended up resolving itself, I temporarily lost functionality of SnapVUE, the Windows Mobile component that provides quick access to email, contacts, and other information.
Pressing the dedicated SnapVUE button on the left of the display just brought up a blank screen. A reinstall option doesn't exist on the Vista side of things and the reset button in the Communications Manager is only useful when SnapVUE is working (and even then, I think it just performs a soft reset), so I did some googling and eventually found a solution created by xda-developers forum member cmonex.
The instructions were a bit over my head, as I'd never used a command prompt or needed access to a bootloader before, so I thought it might be useful to rewrite and "layman-ize" them for other Shift owners who find themselves looking for a hard reset button that isn't there.
Sony is in the final stages of building mylo labs, a website that will soon allow mylo 2 (COM-2) users to create and share widgets with others and that already houses a widget gallery containing five company-developed mini apps (calendar, calculator, world clock, to-do list, slider puzzle) ready for free download and installation.
Widget creation is basically the extent of how "open source" the Linux-based personal communicator will ever be, so if you're still comparing the mylo 2 with the Nokia N810, keep an eye on the Developer Connection and reference docs areas scheduled to be completed in March.
In the meantime, you'll find an overview of the way widgets work on the mylo 2 as well as installation instructions with photos below.
Update 6.5.08: Get 10 more tips for the AT&T Tilt now!
The AT&T Tilt has been heralded as "the holy grail of smartphones," crowned "the most powerful Windows Mobile device" available through a U.S. carrier, and currently graces the cover of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine (Feb/March 2008) alongside the headline "The Tilt has it all!"
While it's true that the phone is super connected and packed with features, it's certainly not without its shortcomings. Yes, Windows Mobile 6.0 is considered by many to be ill conceived and flawed, but it isn't the only thing preventing an out-of-box Tilt from living up to the hype.
Rather than line up the usual suspects and bash them with a bat, I've compiled a list of solutions to 10 of the most commonly cited problems encountered by new Tilt owners. Applying the fixes is fast, easy (no registry editor required), mostly free, and guaranteed to improve finger-friendliness and general usability of the AT&T Tilt. Read on to check them out.
Since Microsoft removed Bluetooth dial-up networking (BT DUN) in favor of Internet Sharing on Windows Mobile devices last year, several people have asked how I was able to tether my AT&T Tilt (WM6) to the Nokia N800/N810 Internet Tablets for the OS2007 vs. OS2008 browser comparisons.
Although various hacks and utilities exist to enable the functionality, I didn't have to use any of them because the Tilt actually supports BT DUN right out of the box. Or at least it does after all the AT&T nonsense is wiped off. (Given that AT&T buried Internet Sharing and put Wireless Modem in its place, I wouldn't put it past them to have somehow disabled DUN too.)
Unfortunately, just because the functionality is there doesn't mean it automatically works. The main obstacle when trying to establish a BT DUN connection between the Tilt and the N800/N810 is that Nokia's predefined operator settings aren't correct. Read on to find out which are.
Now that the latest firmware allows users to create webclips on the home screens of their iPhones and iPod touches, many are probably disappointed by the boring, mostly white screenshot icons that are automatically generated when doing so. If you're a site owner, the last thing you want is for readers to think twice about adding your blog to their home screen because its icon is indistinguishable from other bookmarked sites.
What you need is a custom icon. It's so easy to do that you'll be embarrassed you waited this long to do it. Read on for the simple three-step instructions.
Before Vista became one of Microsoft's UMPC hardware requirements, the company's operating system of choice was Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. Without it, manufacturers (and users) weren't able to preinstall the Microsoft Touch Pack, a software suite exclusive to UMPCs that includes DialKeys and a handful of other applications designed to enhance the touchscreen experience.
But did you know that you don't really need an "official" UMPC to take advantage of some of what the Touch Pack has to offer? It's true. If you have a handtop running Windows XP Home or Professional (e.g., UX280P), you can easily duplicate all of the benefits of one of the most useful apps included in the Touch Pack: Touch Improvements (TI).
Now that I finally have a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, I decided to test out the Bluetooth dial-up networking (DUN) feature of the UX180P. Assuming you know your carrier's settings, the process is really quick and easy. These settings can be obtained directly from your service provider or from excellent online resources such as HowardForums.
Although several other methods exist, what follows is a step-by-step guide of what worked for me with my UX, Treo 650, and the T-Mobile Total Internet add-on data plan.
1. Make sure the Bluetooth settings on your phone are correct. This varies by make and model, but here's what it should look like on a Treo 650. Naming your device "pocketables" is of course optional!
