[horndoctor]

Wirelessly posted (htc Pocket PC: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11) Sprint MP6950SP)

Originally Posted by IT_Architect

I need your thoughts:

Situation: I have a new Sprint Touch Pro 2. Thus, it has 6.5 and sense 2.5. It looks real nice. The problem is usability. I didn't expect to find that when you have unread voice-mail, sms, mms, e-mail, etc., that there would be no functional indicators, other than the Egyptian hieroglyphics on the top, for unread voice, text, sms, and e-mail. I learned that in order to make the phone usable, one must turn off Sense, which I've done. That revealed the far better thought out standard Microsoft UI.

Current thoughts:
A. Stock ROM vs. GoodThings2Life vs. Custom ROM.
1. Do nothing. It works, and it's documented. Battery life is phenominal. I added in the task manager links, Bluetooth works great, and I made the registry edits necessary to get tethering working.
2. GoodThings2Life: Several of the settings I checked were already set that way, and it changes a some. I'm fine with tearing out the Sprint apps because they have proven to me that they are inferior and something I would never use again. With GoodThings2Life, I can put in only what I want to put in. (Actually, it removes their links)
3. Custom ROM: It appears the best is Mr. X http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/cdma-tp2-d...-5-0-92-a.html . A custom ROM would probably put in some programs that I'm likely to want, and remove the ones I don't. The way this route would make sense is if the custom ROM is actually better in a way that translates to improved usability.

B. User Interface:
It doesn't appear as though GoodThings2Life nor a custom ROM solve the Sense UI usability problem. Besides the standard MS interface, I've researched WisBar, Ultimate Launcher, and SPB Mobile Shell. It looks like the first two require a degree in computer mysteries to get where you want to go. The last one looks easier, but I don't see where any give me the functionality that I need on the Today/Home screen. I also don't find anything that fixes the Sense Today screen so I can see relevant information, rather than big icons, nor allows me to define which apps have shortcuts when I scroll down below that.

Summary:If you have some ideas of how to get where I need to go, let me know.

Thanks!

I suggest you either flash the Sprint shipped 6.1 rom or hspl unlock your device and flash a more stable custom rom with a newer build of 6.5 and Sense. In my opinion, the Sprint shipped 6.5 rom was rushed out there too quick. It is based on an early buggy build and coupled with Sense 2.5 which is very resource hungry anyway I think it is best to use something else. If you want something that just works then use the 6.1 shipped with the Rhodium Manila. If you really want Sense 2.1 or 2.5 then you are better off flashing a custom rom. Good Luck!