My experience with the Intrepid (and WM6.5)

[jjfad]

I switched over from a Blackberry 8830 to the Sprint Samsung Intrepid. Honestly though, the only reason why I'm staying with Sprint is because of my ridiculously cheap ($30/mo) SERO plan. Once they discontinue SERO, I'm going to jump ship to Verizon and get the Moto Droid.

Dislikes (mostly about WM6.5):
- When I'm fiddling with settings, pressing "okay" brings me all the way back to the root start menu, and then it takes another 4 key presses to get back to where I was.
- Can't customize the start menu. Takes too long to access my programs because they just sit there, all 50+ of them, in random order. WM6.5 doesn't allow sorting, or even alphabetical sorting. Can't categorize applications into folders. Can't "hide" programs from Start Menu like you can hide them on the Blackberry.
- Can only customize 4 quick keys.
- Programs don't close when you close them. They just sit there hidden, opened and taking up memory. I have to use Task Manger to kill the programs every few days or so.
- No ring profiles.
- Can't assign letters to speed dial, only numbers.
- Too many clicks to send SMS. Sure, you can press & hold the message button, but then you still have several more key presses before you can message someone.
- Windows key and "OK" key are too flush with the keyboard. Makes one-handed use a lot harder.
- Can't synchronize all of my GMail. (Actually it can, but the device slows to a crawl. Not sure if this is a WM6.5 issue or not.)

Likes:
- Small form factor. Lighter than my Blackberry 8830.
- Has both Wi-Fi and Internet. And a camera.
- Battery life rocks.

Killer Apps:
- Pointui Home 2 Pro. Overcomes many of the weaknesses of the above. Makes fuller use of the touchscreen interface. Has "back" buttons so you can go back to the main screen after tweaking systems options. Fully customizable home screen, application shortlist, contacts shortlist, etc. Easily accessible e-mail, SMS, phone calls.
- WMWiFiRouter. Turns my WM phone into a wi-fi hotspot. Or you can tether using PDANet.

 

[jmel]

I switched over from a Blackberry 8830 to the Sprint Samsung Intrepid. Honestly though, the only reason why I'm staying with Sprint is because of my ridiculously cheap ($30/mo) SERO plan. Once they discontinue SERO, I'm going to jump ship to Verizon and get the Moto Droid.

Dislikes (mostly about WM6.5):
- When I'm fiddling with settings, pressing "okay" brings me all the way back to the root start menu, and then it takes another 4 key presses to get back to where I was.
- Can't customize the start menu. Takes too long to access my programs because they just sit there, all 50+ of them, in random order. WM6.5 doesn't allow sorting, or even alphabetical sorting. Can't categorize applications into folders. Can't "hide" programs from Start Menu like you can hide them on the Blackberry.
- Can only customize 4 quick keys.
- Programs don't close when you close them. They just sit there hidden, opened and taking up memory. I have to use Task Manger to kill the programs every few days or so.
- No ring profiles.
- Can't assign letters to speed dial, only numbers.
- Too many clicks to send SMS. Sure, you can press & hold the message button, but then you still have several more key presses before you can message someone.
- Windows key and "OK" key are too flush with the keyboard. Makes one-handed use a lot harder.
- Can't synchronize all of my GMail. (Actually it can, but the device slows to a crawl. Not sure if this is a WM6.5 issue or not.)

Likes:
- Small form factor. Lighter than my Blackberry 8830.
- Has both Wi-Fi and Internet. And a camera.
- Battery life rocks.

Killer Apps:
- Pointui Home 2 Pro. Overcomes many of the weaknesses of the above. Makes fuller use of the touchscreen interface. Has "back" buttons so you can go back to the main screen after tweaking systems options. Fully customizable home screen, application shortlist, contacts shortlist, etc. Easily accessible e-mail, SMS, phone calls.
- WMWiFiRouter. Turns my WM phone into a wi-fi hotspot. Or you can tether using PDANet.

I found some things you can do to make life a little easier...

1. Grab spb mobile shell 3.5 - asap.

2. go to start...settings.. all the way at teh bottom is "xbutton setting" click it...you'll be happily suprised that it fixes the x button to truly close apps.

not sure what to say about gmail, I use google sync (gmail via exchange) ... works okay, but they dont have support for attachments yet...dunno why.. and it still occasionally has issues syncing.

 

[jjfad]

I found some things you can do to make life a little easier...

1. Grab spb mobile shell 3.5 - asap.

2. go to start...settings.. all the way at teh bottom is "xbutton setting" click it...you'll be happily suprised that it fixes the x button to truly close apps.

not sure what to say about gmail, I use google sync (gmail via exchange) ... works okay, but they dont have support for attachments yet...dunno why.. and it still occasionally has issues syncing.

I started out with SPB, decided I didn't like it, then switched to Home 2. Then when I read your e-mail, I switched back to SPB and gave it another try, and I'm glad I did. Much more customizable. Thanks!

Thanks for the other tips, too!

JJ

 

[The Liaison]

Wow, sounds like a lot of out-of-the-box issues but at least you were able to get them sorted.

 

[raiderfanbigjun]

- Can't customize the start menu.

ya you can. Go into windows folder with total commander and you can create folders to organize... also using programs like hcomber you can actually change your icons to anything you want. you can also select "move to top" on any icon in your start menu

 

[SCFenceMan]

anyone know how to make this phone have the roam only option?

 

[intrepiduser]

Intrepid question

My biggest complaint about the Intrepid is that it has trouble with phone calls. I never had problems with phone calls with my Palm Centro. With my Intrepid, I have had 5 instances where the caller on the other end cannot here me. I have tested this--it happens (I don't know why) when the other caller is on AT+T, T-Mobile and a landline. I called Sprint and they suggested I use my phone in CDMA mode only. However, the Intrepid manual instructs to leave the phone on "global" mode when in the US. And even though I set the phone to CDMA mode, when I power on and off the phone it reverts to global mode. Any ideas?

 

[pocketvip]

Having same issue on Intrepid... Person on the other end can't hear me... I wondered if its a software conflict? Do you have SPB Shell installed?

 

[Dave Blake]

My biggest complaint about the Intrepid is that it has trouble with phone calls. I never had problems with phone calls with my Palm Centro. With my Intrepid, I have had 5 instances where the caller on the other end cannot here me. I have tested this--it happens (I don't know why) when the other caller is on AT+T, T-Mobile and a landline. I called Sprint and they suggested I use my phone in CDMA mode only. However, the Intrepid manual instructs to leave the phone on "global" mode when in the US. And even though I set the phone to CDMA mode, when I power on and off the phone it reverts to global mode. Any ideas?

Just take out the SIM card when you are in the US 2 reasons

1) Better battery life
2) Keeps the phone in CDMA mode

I have found this has improved the phones behavior in a few different ways. It connects to the internet faster, better phone connections, stops the phone from testing the GSM connection when the CDMA connection is weak

 

[Tmair]

Having same issue on Intrepid... Person on the other end can't hear me... I wondered if its a software conflict? Do you have SPB Shell installed?

If I launch Bing then the person on the other end can't hear me, the voice recorder can hear me, for what ever reason it blocks the mic I have to reset my intrepid to get the mic back, I would love to get that fixed, I like bing.
Terry.
P.S. Bing can't hear me either.
TM