Some More Tips for the HTC S620

I know I'm a little heavy on HTC S620-specific posts here on my blog, but that is simply because that is the phone that I carry. Sorry.

A few weeks ago, predictive text quit working on my S620. I was pretty sure it was a result of something I did, but I wasn't sure exactly what. I have been pretty bummed out about it too, because that was one of the reasons I liked WM 6.0 better than 5.0. Well, tonight I had a chance to research my problem, and thanks to an anonymous post on the HTC Smartphone Wiki, I now have my predictive text back. If you have encountered this problem, here is how you get it back:

• Create a text message.
• Press FN then SPACE.
• Select XT9.
• That's it.

If you don't like the predictive text, select ABC and it is turned off again until you do a hard reset of the phone.

The other crazy thing that happened to me today with my phone was that it somehow switched over to line two (I knew this because there was a "2" at the top of the screen by the EDGE "E"). Nokia phones have a keypad shortcut that allows you to switch lines quickly. I'm guessing that HTC has that too and I must have activated it by accidentally pressing the keypad. Many of you are probably surprised to learn that your phone has two lines and might be wondering why being on line two would be a bad thing. It's pretty simple, really. Line two (on i wireless anyway) does not allow outgoing calls. If you only get incoming calls on your phone, it doesn't matter, but if you want to place calls on your phone, it needs to be on line one. In the event that you ever find that your S620 has switched over to line two, here is how you get it back:

• Go to Start > Settings > Phone > Call Options
• For "Current outgoing line:" select "1."
• Press "Done."
  

Windows Mobile 6 and Yahoo! Go 2.0 Available for HTC S620 for Free

If you have an HTC S620, you can now upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 Standard with Yahoo! Go 2.0. Register for an HTC e-club account if you haven't already done so, then login and download the FREE upgrade to unleash the power of Windows Mobile 6 and Yahoo! Go on your phone.

HTC S620 Now More Affordable

i wireless has increased the rebate on the HTC S620 from $50 to $100. Get it here.

HTC S620 Alarms Multiplying Like Rabbits!

For the most part, I like my S620, but there are some things about it that make me want to throw it out the window. One is the alarm.

I made the mistake of setting different times for the alarm, as I needed them. Little did I realize how under-designed the alarm feature is with Windows Mobile and/or the HTC S620. I now have alarms going off at all different times of the day, with no apparent way to deactivate them. Thanks to the HTC Wiki and a free download from SKKV Software, I think I may start hating my S620 a little less now.

I found and followed the directions below to clean up my unwanted alarms. It appears to have worked with my multiple 5:55 AM alarms. I will know by this time tomorrow if it worked on all the other alarms.

1. Download, install and open SKToolsLite (Clean up and uninstaller utility)
2. Select View -> Maintenance -> Notifications Queue
3. Scroll to the bottom of the list and you should see multiple entries already checked for “Clock.exe” (these are the alarms in the notification queue).
4. Select Action -> Delete marked
5. Do a soft reset (turn off then back on).

BTW, this issue is apparently referred to as the "phantom alarms" issue. That's a little too benign for me. I don't consider an unwanted alarm that wakes me up every morning at 4 AM a "phantom." A "nightmare" is more like it. But misery loves company. There is a thread on Howard Forums if you'd like to read about others who feel your pain.

Lull

I have a whole list of topics I would like to blog about here, but many of them involve evaluating available Java applications and their compatibility with the i wireless network and various handsets. Unfortunately, I have lost all desire to do so. The reason? I started carrying the HTC S620 a couple of weeks ago and it really serves all of my needs. So the last thing I want to do is stick my SIM card into a lesser handset and suffer.

In all seriousness, the S620 with i wireless Mobile Web PLUS allows me to do everything I want to do on a mobile device: I can check my work or personal e-mail whenever I want, I have access to my Outlook calendar without messing around with synchronizing, and I don't have to maintain my contacts separately on both my SIM card and my Outlook -- all my Outlook contacts are accessible.

I do have a few complaints:

• I'm disappointed in the JOGGR. I really thought that I was going to like this feature, but I just haven't gotten used to it. I liken it to the iPod clickwheel which -- though neat -- just doesn't seem as easy and natural as as a directional pad that you click. My other beef with it is that I am always bumping it and inadvertently scrolling up or down or back or activating some other feature that I really didn't want. I haven't found a natural place to rest my thumb without touching the JOGGR.
• The volume control doesn't seem to work with the Bluetooth headsets I've tried. If I adjust the volume on the S620, the volume in my ear does not change at all. I am able to change the volume on the headset.
• The Gmail app. looks like crap on it. I have to use the mobile web site in order to read the type.
• The alarm does not allow you to select which days of the week you want a recurrent alarm to go off on. This feature has become pretty much standard in mid-to-high-end cell phones. I suppose I could set up an alarm through my Outlook calendar, by that's not as quick and easy as it needs to be.
  

I don't want to go on, or it will seem like I really hate the S620. That's not true at all. I'm just picky. :) The S620 is a really nice device and I hope that I won't have to part with mine for a long time.