New Omnia

x25064 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 01:18 PM

Well I finally got my Omnia, and I have to say, theres already some things I really miss from my old media phone compared to this. Although its features are nice, I'm still riding the fence on keeping it.

My biggest gripe is the touch keyboard, but also the time it takes to do simple tasks that would have normally been one or two button pushes on my old phone. These tasks now involve many more menus and scrolls, and ugh.

That being said I've got some questions for you guys now.

1.- is there any way to customize the widget bar? 90% of the things they've preloaded in there are utterly useless.

2.- my contacts are all last name first name, and I'd prefer them first name last name. I've tried all menus and everything in activesync, but maybe I'm missing something.

3.- I downloaded skyfire and it works just fine, didn't need a fix or anything, but it runs like garbage compared to opera. Yes the loading is faster and yes it supports flash, but the scrolling is godawful, and the pages don't render as crisply as they do in opera, any way this can be tweaked or is this just the pros and cons of being able to play flash on my phone?

fastevolutionviii · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 03:36 PM

#2
In outlook go to tools-options-preferences tab-contact options and change "file as" to first last. Tada!!!

j32driver · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 04:30 PM

Welcome aboard!!!

The Omnia "out of the box" needs some help. I think you'll find that most everyone ditches the "widgets" in exchange for some other interface. Most of which have to be added or hacked in....much easier than it sounds.

Go to the "tips/tricks" thread stickied at the top and start doing your homework. Everything you need to know has been posted and discussed before.

As far as Skyfire running like crap... make sure it is installed on your "device"... and not in your "storage". That seems to make a big difference.

Again... weclome aboard and happy modding!

steve austin · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 05:39 PM

#1. If you have the non-US Omnia there have been several ROM updates. The newest one (find on this board) has new widgets that should make your experience more enjoyable. We get no love here in the US. Most people don't use the widgets from what I've read. I don't. Samsung Today 2 is my prefered home screen mixed with several plugins.

#3. Skyfire is a great preview browser. It is a beta. It is not perfected. Navigation sucks, You can't do multiple windows. Pixel rendering is spotty. HOWEVER, having flash capabilities makes up for all of it. You can not compare Opera and Skyfire at this point. Opera is my favorite over Internet Explorer and Skyfire. However don't get frustrated with Skyfire becasue it is not a finished product.

x25064 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 12:17 AM

Thank you all for the feedback. Unfortunately at this point I am thinking that I am going to swap my omnia back in, reactivate my old phone, and retain my upgrade. It does alot of things well, but there are certain setbacks I just can't get over, touchscreen typing being a major player. If this phone just had a slide qwerty like the htc touch or any similar smartphone, I could overcome the other smaller objects and she would be a surefire winner, but I feel as though this phone just isn't for me.

Also if someone could tell me how to fix the main clock on the omnia that would be great. I've run into the military time issue that seems to be prevelent on these handsets. I've tried going though my sync and my computer is set on the proper time, my phone displays the proper time in its settings, but the display clock is still reading 00:16. Rather frustrating.

x25064 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastevolutionviii

#2
In outlook go to tools-options-preferences tab-contact options and change "file as" to first last. Tada!!!

A preferences tab is not avaliable in my outlook. Perhaps you could be more specific? Sorry, but I'm a little lost.

uurrnn · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 06:03 AM

Can you not install touchPal on the omnia? I've heard it works really well, better than a hardware KB from some sources.

Edit: http://www.cootek.com/ < link to touchpal. I don't have an Omnia yet, and I am new to all this, so I'm not sure if it's installable. Someone more advanced have any input on this?

pdub73 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x25064

Thank you all for the feedback. Unfortunately at this point I am thinking that I am going to swap my omnia back in, reactivate my old phone, and retain my upgrade. It does alot of things well, but there are certain setbacks I just can't get over, touchscreen typing being a major player. If this phone just had a slide qwerty like the htc touch or any similar smartphone, I could overcome the other smaller objects and she would be a surefire winner, but I feel as though this phone just isn't for me.

Also if someone could tell me how to fix the main clock on the omnia that would be great. I've run into the military time issue that seems to be prevelent on these handsets. I've tried going though my sync and my computer is set on the proper time, my phone displays the proper time in its settings, but the display clock is still reading 00:16. Rather frustrating.

I feel ur pain when it comes to the touch keyboard, but it does take time to get used to, the Military time issue I have not run into granted I use a third party user interface so I don't even bother with the widgets, and things you mentioned, I was going to suggest that you try some of those but it seems that you may not have time to try it out... =(

x25064 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdub73

I feel ur pain when it comes to the touch keyboard, but it does take time to get used to, the Military time issue I have not run into granted I use a third party user interface so I don't even bother with the widgets, and things you mentioned, I was going to suggest that you try some of those but it seems that you may not have time to try it out... =(

well i installed the today 2 screen. much better then what was provided. Although its a damn shame the widgets are not customizable, its actually not abad idea. as far as the today 2 screen, ive seen different shots where the icons were arranged differently, almost iphone-esq, how is this done?

also did the registry edit for making the ringtone oneflat volume, worked excellent.

uurrnn · #10 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 05:27 PM

No one tried touchpal?