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Six weeks to be more exact! I really intended to write this closer to the one month mark, but I have been wide open, with several different projects, with not a lot of free time, and it's only because of inclement weather here in Northeast Tennessee that I am sitting down now to write this. Do I still like the TyTN II? Yes, I still like it! But there are things about it, that I don't like for sure! Lets start with those: - Email: Attention developers! Windows Mobile needs a reliable, easy to use, IMAP capable email client! I guess Flexmail has won awards because its better than anything else available, but it sure don't come close to Chatteremail for the Palm OS. I have found this email client awkward for multilple email accounts, and not very easy to navigate in General. IMAP works, but it could work better! For example, why can't I get different ringtones for different accounts, with different vibrations? Currently when mail comes in, I am pecking 4 diferent inboxes to see where I just got mail. I am telling you, take the Chatteremail user interface and copy it in everyway you can! I can accept the file size limits and mark for download without a problem. I just find email in general very limiting compared to what I have had. And I would love for this client to be able to "self Launch". If for any reason, I reset, then I have to manually turn it on. With Chatter, I could set it to launch when the Treo booted up! I also have a problem with the home screen. I have an email icon, but its tied to the default email app. This is now wasted space on my homescreen as it no longer works.
- Messaging: Flexmail can handle messaging! So can Palm's own mail client! These are both tied in directly to "Mail" I purchased a standalone app to allow me to better manage messaging. Its nice to look at, and "finger" friendly! But it doesn't recognize html addeys. I use Twitter and the links that people are sending are no good. I can't even copy/paste them into a browser . . . If someone can recommend a decent messaging app, I am all ears!
- Phone App: I appreciate that Microsoft's Phone interface is "finger" friendly! But what I am after is something a little more versatle. For example, favorites: I can only have nine persons in my quickdial list. If your not as popular in my book, then you have to go into my "Contacts" list so that probably means I am not going to call you often. The reason is that from my favorites, I have to go to contacts, and there are a lot of contacts here! Yea, I can use the scrolling feature, or type in part of your name, but that takes two hands, so forget it while I am driving.
- Built in weather app: There is this very cool, very attractive weather app on the today screen. But its limited in the cities that are available. The closest city to me is 90 miles away, so that makes it not very accurate for weather. I have read about hacks, but those hacks have not helped me as this data is being pulled from Accuweather's world site and my city/zip is just not available on this site. More wasted space on the today screen.
Now that I have the venting out of the way, lets talk about the pluses . . . . - GPS: To have this GPS with me everywhere I go is just handy! This is a very large plus and I know its becoming more common in phones in general! I say great! I have used this as my only GPS and on a recent trip to Nashville, compared it to my Tom Tom One 3rd edition. I believe the Tom Tom one is a little faster and overall, more friendly, but its an extra device! I hope one day soon to get them up both side by side to show you the differences.
- Sliding Keyboard/Tilting Screen: What a great design! I love typing on this phone! I can whip out a message pretty darn quick with the keyboard and the text recognition feature. This was a big concern with me, leaving the Palm Treo design with the keyboard right on the front of the device. But I have to say, when I need the keyboard, its almost effortless to access it! And when I am done, its just as effortless to close it!
- Calendar: I thought the Palm Calendar was pretty good . . . But the TyTN's is much more intuitive and syncs with no effort. For example, I am at work, with my TyTN hooked up to my computer. I accept a new meeting request and within seconds, its on my TyTN! I don't resync or push any buttons. It automatically adds the calendar to my TyTN! And it adds location, notes, etc on its own! Very nice feature that I am enjoying!
- Volume: This thing is loud! I don't care if I am listening to a podcast, or talking on it! Nice! I also like that out of the box I can add MP-3 ringtones and trim them with the included trimming app! With the Treo, this would have meant adding a 3rd party app, and then using Audacity to trim the song on my computer.
Overall, I am enjoying my new device! And if I didn't sound like it, be assured that I have no regrets of leaving the Palm OS platform! But I do miss a few of Palm's features! Email and phone features being the largest ones. But lets not forget that Palm has its own set of shortcomings that I am not covering in this article. I have used WiFi on the TyTN, but not a whole lot. Its one of those features that is not a necessary, but when you use it, you are sure glad you have it! I also like the scroll wheel on the side. Depending on the screen you are on, this goes a long way on making this device a one handed device. I also like the camera. Its a little awkward, but compared to the camera phone I used to have, its a camera that I can actually use a picture or two that I take with it! I like it that I can use a USB cable to hook it to any computer! No special cables to buy or keep up with! In fact, I probably have about 5 digital camera USB cables that I can use. This unit is a very quality unit! I have said it before, but I like the feel of it in my hands. Yea, its heavy, but the feel of the buttons and the lines makes this a very well-built device. So the bottom line: I am enjoying my new TyTN II!
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