Turning Mogul into laptop replacement - MANY questions...

[SweetBearCub]

Warning - Long post ahead!

Ok.. As I've been reading the forum (So far, in my spare time, I've read about 100 pages in the Titan forum out of about 271), I've been jotting down any feature (or proposed feature) that caught my eye. So far, I think I have a list that would make the Titan rival a laptop in functionality. The catch is, I have no idea if most of the software even exists, or if any of my proposed hardware modifications can be done yet.

If you have some knowledge in this area, please read my list and respond with any suggestions on implementing parts of it.

Some ground rules:

1) Apps must be free versions whenever possible.

2) I prefer apps that prioritize small memory footprint & performance over 'feature bloat'.

3) If you respond to part of my thread, please quote the part you are responding to in your reply, as it is a long list.

4) If you see anything that I have forgotten, please remind me of it.

5) If a hardware modification or software program is unavailable or unfeasible, please say that, instead of dismissing the whole list. What is not possible today may always turn out to be possible tomorrow, after all.

With that said, here's the list:

Hardware
--------
- Upgrade RAM from 64MB to 128MB or 256MB
- Add front-facing camera for videoconferencing & video chat in IM program
- Upgrade WiFi to to A/B/G/N support
- Upgrade BlueTooth to 2.1+EDR w/ Class 1 (Long Range) Radio
- Install 32GB microSDHC Card
- Replace Battery Cover w/ version that can store microSD Cards

Operating System
----------------
- Update to latest version of WM 6.1 for speed & memory tweaks
- Replace video drivers with good (hardware accelerated) ones
- Fix Keyboard "1 Key At A Time" Limitation
- Update "Internet Sharing" app to fully support all methods & also let user choose between NATed or public IP

Software
--------
- Install Opera Mobile or Firefox Mobile w/ Flash 7+ (v9?) & Java Support (Goal: Most 'PC Like" Web Experience)
- Install Download Manager (Resume Interrupted Downloads, Segmented D/Ls, D/L Flash Files, etc..)

- Replace Office Mobile w/ More Capable Suite (More "Desktop Like" Word/Excel, etc..)
- Replace Pre-Installed Acrobat Reader w/ Lighter Program, ala FoxIt PDF Reader

- Find (free) method to print from PocketPC (Other than emailing documents or using IR)
- Find (free) method to send & receive faxes from PocketPC

- Install GMail client that can deal properly with tagged messages and multiple accounts
- Install Today Screen Weather Plugin (w/ Radar) (WeatherPanel?)
- Install Program to Manage & Record Calls
- Install Program to Manage Voice Recordings
- Install Better Music Player, ala WinAmp 2.9x (Can store/show lyrics & liner notes, and use 'bookmarks'?)
- Replace stock CM with version that supports adding photos
- Replace Caller ID w/ version that supports showing text info of calling party and custom picture
- Install "Big Button" Dialer w/ Working 'Contacts' & 'Call History' Buttons, Functional Data Arrows, & 911
- Install Better Comm Manager (w/ Text Labels & Large Buttons)
- Remove HTC X-Button & Install QuickMenu or Similar (More features, lower memory usage)
- Fix Extreme Alarm/Notification Sluggishness w/ QM Installed
- Install functional security app (Non-SIM dependant)

- Install Better Notepad Program (Alternating Line Colors? Customizable to store docs in any subfolder?)
- Install Better Camera Program (w/ working camera flash & GPS coding)
- Install Better/Faster JVM
- Install FTP, VNC, SSH, Telnet, and RDC clients
- Install Multi-Protocol (Y!, AIM, ICQ, MSN, GTalk, Jabber(?), etc..) IM Client w/ Emoticons & Chat Logging
- Install IRC Program w/ Logging

- Install GPS Program w/ Locally Stored Maps
- Install GPS App that tracks distance & speed (For exploring city in power wheelchair)

- Install Program to Track Multiple Financial Accounts (CC, Savings, Cash, etc.. - Manually entered data is fine)
- Install TCPMP & all plugins (Can/should it fully replace WMP?)
- Install Music ID Program
- Install BitTorrent Client
- Install RSS Reader
- Install Newsgroup Reader/Binary Downloader
- Install shopping list management program (Cost per ounce tracking?)
- Install Workout Tracker
- Install Skype

Websites To Bookmark
--------------------
- "Americans With Disabilities Act" Digest (To refer to when denied services)
- Free Public Records Search resources
- PPCGeeks Forum Home Page
- XDA Developers Forums Home Page
- Misc social news & networking sites

Other
-----
- UPX all Suitable Executables in ROM & Storage Memory (Test In Emulator)
- RAR or 7zip any backup files on Storage Card
- Find way to backup all PIM data to Storage card and/or (free) website on schedule
- Re-Organize Start Menu w/ Customizable Submenus
- Update PRL to Latest Available
- Set Up SLOT CYCLE & ACCOLC Tweaks
- Remove Sprint Music & Software Stores & TeleNav
- Research "Best Sounding/Looking" & "Most Space Efficient" Codecs for Video & Music Files
- Get Sprint TV & Picture Mail Working
- Change Bootscreen & "SprintSpeed" screens to custom screens

Final
-----
- Set up each installed app, all battery life, registry, and settings tweaks, then freeze setup and roll into custom ROM

[nick81]

sounds good. that would make the best phone ever. it still can't burn a dvd for me though.

[kilmarac]

Wow.....

If your designing the Mogul II can I get on the beta team? LOL
--------------

- Find way to backup all PIM data to Storage card and/or (free) website on schedule << I use mail2web.com for that. You can get a free account there that backs up all your info via Activesync to Exchange server.

- Install GPS Program w/ Locally Stored Maps << Good luck finding a free app for that. Only ones that store locally are the ones you have to pay $100+ for.

[shaggylive]

I admire the thoroughness of your post, I also look to this phone to replace my laptop, and tell people it can do every thing my computer can except print and burn cd/dvd, which both could/can be solved with BT/Wifi.

I'm not posting links now, but may edit later. (searching is a skill and MUST be practiced)
since it's so long, I just went thru quick, so you would know which trees to start barking up...

my shorthand;
"WIP" = work in progress (NOT BY ME),
"DHyB" = Don't hold your breath,
"(...)" = SUGGESTIONS,
"*" = FULLY CAPABLE(if/when exists),
"NA" = NO ANSWER,
"ME2" = GOOD IDEA and/or I WANT THAT TOO.

Hardware
--------
WIP, DHyB - Upgrade RAM from 64MB to 128MB or 256MB
DHyb (watch for bt/wifi dig cam's) - Add front-facing camera for videoconferencing & video chat in IM program
DHyB, (D-LINK POCKET AP/ROUTER) - Upgrade WiFi to to A/B/G/N support
DHyB, (BT HUB??) - Upgrade BlueTooth to 2.1+EDR w/ Class 1 (Long Range) Radio
* - Install 32GB microSDHC Card
ME2 - Replace Battery Cover w/ version that can store microSD Cards

Operating System
----------------
* - Update to latest version of WM 6.1 for speed & memory tweaks
*, (DHyB???) - Replace video drivers with good (hardware accelerated) ones
(BELIEVE IT'S A H/W ISSUE, GET BT KEYBOARD IF YOU TYPE THAT FAST)- Fix Keyboard "1 Key At A Time" Limitation
NA, WIP? - Update "Internet Sharing" app to fully support all methods & also let user choose between NATed or public IP

Software
--------
*,WIP- Install Opera Mobile or Firefox Mobile w/ Flash 7+ (v9?) & Java Support (Goal: Most 'PC Like" Web Experience)
ME2 - Install Download Manager (Resume Interrupted Downloads, Segmented D/Ls, D/L Flash Files, etc..)

(OFFICE LIVE, GOOGLE APPS)- Replace Office Mobile w/ More Capable Suite (More "Desktop Like" Word/Excel, etc..)
* - Replace Pre-Installed Acrobat Reader w/ Lighter Program, ala FoxIt PDF Reader

????- Find (free) method to print from PocketPC (Other than emailing documents or using IR)
*(QIPIT.COM, RCFAX.COM)- Find (free) method to send & receive faxes from PocketPC
NA - Install GMail client that can deal properly with tagged messages and multiple accounts
(HTC HOME)- Install Today Screen Weather Plugin (w/ Radar) (WeatherPanel?)
??? ME2 - Install Program to Manage & Record Calls
NA , ME2 - Install Program to Manage Voice Recordings
*? , ME2 - Install Better Music Player, ala WinAmp 2.9x (Can store/show lyrics & liner notes, and use 'bookmarks'?)
* - Replace stock CM with version that supports adding photos
*(S2U2 W/S2A)- Replace Caller ID w/ version that supports showing text info of calling party and custom picture
*(BBDIALER WORKS FOR ME)- Install "Big Button" Dialer w/ Working 'Contacts' & 'Call History' Buttons, Functional Data Arrows, & 911
*?, ME2 - Install Better Comm Manager (w/ Text Labels & Large Buttons)
* - Remove HTC X-Button & Install QuickMenu or Similar (More features, lower memory usage)
NA - Fix Extreme Alarm/Notification Sluggishness w/ QM Installed
NA - Install functional security app (Non-SIM dependant)

*?, ME2 - Install Better Notepad Program (Alternating Line Colors? Customizable to store docs in any subfolder?)
*?, ME2, (ShoZo, Socialight) - Install Better Camera Program (w/ working camera flash & GPS coding)
NA - Install Better/Faster JVM
* - Install FTP, VNC, SSH, Telnet, and RDC clients
*, WIP, ME2 - Install Multi-Protocol (Y!, AIM, ICQ, MSN, GTalk, Jabber(?), etc..) IM Client w/ Emoticons & Chat Logging
NA - Install IRC Program w/ Logging

*, ME2, (NAV4ALL) - Install GPS Program w/ Locally Stored Maps
* - Install GPS App that tracks distance & speed (For exploring city in power wheelchair)

*, ME2 - Install Program to Track Multiple Financial Accounts (CC, Savings, Cash, etc.. - Manually entered data is fine)
*(?) - Install TCPMP & all plugins (Can/should it fully replace WMP?)
NA - Install Music ID Program
NA - Install BitTorrent Client
*, (LOTS OF THEM, ShoZu) - Install RSS Reader
NA, ME2 - Install Newsgroup Reader/Binary Downloader
*, (LOTS OF THEM)- Install shopping list management program (Cost per ounce tracking?)
* - Install Workout Tracker
* - Install Skype

Other
-----
na - UPX all Suitable Executables in ROM & Storage Memory (Test In Emulator)
* - RAR or 7zip any backup files on Storage Card
*, (PIMBACKUP, DASHWIRE, OTHERS...)- Find way to backup all PIM data to Storage card and/or (free) website on schedule
*, (QUICK MENU)- Re-Organize Start Menu w/ Customizable Submenus
* - Update PRL to Latest Available
* - Set Up SLOT CYCLE & ACCOLC Tweaks
* - Remove Sprint Music & Software Stores & TeleNav
na - Research "Best Sounding/Looking" & "Most Space Efficient" Codecs for Video & Music Files
NueMMS , NO TV. PER/SPRINT - Get Sprint TV & Picture Mail Working
*- Change Bootscreen & "SprintSpeed" screens to custom screens

Final
-----
ME2, NOT SURE WHY NO KITCHEN FOR WM6, WM6.1=NO2CHEM/DCD - Set up each installed app, all battery life, registry, and settings tweaks, then freeze setup and roll into custom ROM

[shaggylive]

some of my (suggestions) I use and other's I've just read about, but haven't tried.

sending faxes - qipit.com is free to send, no software, just set up account and send via email,sms,mms or EMAIL. U can send jpg & pdf, HOWEVER, the camera on the mogul isn't the best, but like I said look for new dig cam's this year with bluetooth and/or wifi.
.
receiving faxes - you have to have a phone# for a fax to call, you can use your phone as a faxmodem for the computer, but have not seen one for ON the Phone, that would be sweet.

recording calls - everyone says it can't be done, but I disagree, I don't see why this couldn't be possible when using BT headset, just intercept with intermediate driver...

rss, ect, I think shoZu would do alot of what you (and i want), i got distracted with this post while reasearching. it seams to be a good universal gateway to all the different social networks .

[Hoof]

I can easily hook that up for 2 grand.

[SweetBearCub]

Originally Posted by Hoof

I can easily hook that up for 2 grand.

Yes, but can you hook it up in a 6 ounce package that draws no more power than 500mA @ 5VDC from my power wheelchair? Can you insure it for a $50 deductible and repair/replace it for free? Can you include the phone in it? Can you provide an easy way to backup all data on the device at will? Can you shove all of it into one device?

If yes, then count me in.. If not, well, I'll keep working on my Mogul. As I said in another post. (paraphrased) "I bought my Mogul to replace my laptop, my PMP, my GPS, my datebook, my phone, etc. It's not yet quite as capable as I want, but it is tantalizingly close."

I feel that with a lot of effort, we may be able to accomplish 90% of what I laid out in the OP, and probably more. Hardware modifications and WM limitations will likely be the biggest hurdles, but this community has some of the most intelligent and innovative people that I have seen yet.

Who knows how far we can take the Mogul?

[SweetBearCub]

Originally Posted by kilmarac

Wow.....

If your designing the Mogul II can I get on the beta team? LOL

LOL.. I wish I was helping to design the Mogul II. I'm of the opinion that the Mogul should be able to do all the things that I listed, and more. It's a $550+ PC for hecks sake!

[shaggylive]

just a thought...
HTC Shift
http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=596

HTC Advantage
http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=436

[SweetBearCub]

Originally Posted by shaggylive

just a thought...
HTC Shift
http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=596

HTC Advantage
http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=436

Thanks for the links, but I'm not looking to buy a new device. Plus, I'm a bit more than halfway through my contract with Sprint, and I'm quite happy with them, and my sub-$38/mo bill.