My HTC TYTN II arrives tomorrow, where should I start?

[Parm]

Right then, I've ordered the HTC TYTN II with Orange in the UK. The phone is going to arrive tomorrow and I thought I'd take a moment to work out what I'll need to do when the phone arrives.

I've had a little play with the phone in an Orange shop and I've concluded that the Orange firmware isn't very good. As a result, I think the first thing I'll need to do is flash the firmware with a generic one? I've never flashed one of these phones before and if anybody could point me in the right direction it'd be great.

After that, what software should I be aware of for the device? It'll be handy if you know what I want to do with the phone and why I've chosen it.

I use my laptop a fair amount, but it's not always feasible to have it with me. As a result, I'd like the TYTN II to do stuff on the go. I'll need it for:

• Accessing work e-mail from an Outlook Exchange server and personal mail via POP3
• Some sort of calendar, preferably one that I could sync to Outlook or Remember The Milk. I don't currently have a good calendar solution and want a means to have a calendar on my desktop, laptop and mobile, all of which need to be synched! Something that'll eleviate the need for a paper diary.
• Web access, I need to access sites quite often, is the default browser any good? I don't have a mobile internet plan unfortunately (Orange don't seem to offer anything good, no mobile broadband, so I'll be using wi-fi access where I can).

Those essentially are my main requirements. If anything, I want the TYTN II to be my personal planner. Want it to have all my notes, calendar items, tasks, e-mails etc in one place and want those items to also sync to my desktop and my laptop.

Thanks in advance for any advice, I'm looking forward to getting the phone in the morning!

[MrP]

go have a look on xda dev, but be prepared to delve through a whole pile of s**te to get the the nuggets of gold.

there is a new thread which is a step by step walk through of how to flash to new firmware, and the current fav on there is duttys new year rom (i think thats what he called this version)

have a look at the other rom threads as they all have different things built into them depending on weather you want something fast, flash, or plain functional

[Funkstar]

for ROMs and such, head over to xda-developers - Xda-developers everything you need is there. The forums are really busy and there is a lot of information to digest.

Email: no problem. If you can set up an account in outlook you can set it up in WM6

Calendar: syncs without fuss or issue with outlook

Web access: Mobile IE is pants. Really pants. Not sure how good Opera 8 i, but Opera 9 is on it's way and is supposed to be to WM6 what Safari is to the iPhone (according to the rumours anyway)

There is loads of cool software out there, so much in fact it can be dificult knowing where to start.

My latest find is a finger friendly contacts manager with threaded text and call support. Like the iPhone, but without the child like graphics.

PocketCM Contacts & Keyboard

I'm hoping to put together a couple of large (ish) posts with lists of some accessories and software i've found for the Kaiser.

Oh and you *really* want to get google maps for it. It rocks so hard it almost hurts!

Google Maps

[Funkstar]

there is a new thread which is a step by step walk through of how to flash to new firmware, and the current fav on there is duttys new year rom (i think thats what he called this version)

At chuffing last.

Had a look at a couple of Duttys ROM threads, they do sounds pretty good.

I'm hesitant to blow away my text messages though. Is there a way to back up then restore them?

[MrP]

would be rather good to get.

i was very disapointed that orange dont bundle tomtom with the phone as that would be a very usefull app for me.

i see someones up the touch dual keypad up as a cad, thats going to be my next install to see if it makes sending texts any easier

[MrP]

At chuffing last.

Had a look at a couple of Duttys ROM threads, they do sounds pretty good.

I'm hesitant to blow away my text messages though. Is there a way to back up then restore them?

yeah, read here

ROM Flashing FAQ for Newbies - Please read first [Updated: 2008/01/06] - xda-developers

thats how to flash your phone with a link to a proggy that backs up your texts

[Jan 06 2k8] Dutty's 2k8 Rom [DualTouch v2 & v3 Final Rom] Updated Pls Read Posts 1-3 - xda-developers

the current dutty rom

[Funkstar]

sweet! thanks dude

I'll have a good read of this when i get home

[MrP]

let me know how you get on, i have tried installing various different instals of the touchflo and havent found on that i like yet.

as for the rest of it, i'm still trying to get it to act more like a phone that i can use with a finger, than a PDA that i can use as a phone with the stylus

[Flibb]

My current combo is

Duty touchlow rom (oldish one)
finger friendly friends
TomTom
Opera mini
Pocket music
Windows mobile live
Google maps
Picsel browser
Vigo (RSS tool)
Yahoo Go
Quick menu (very handy)



And various other stuff. You get quiet a lot of stuff in with dutys rom, including a touchflow cube. I also have a rather nice auto today screen changer. What I really like is the way it works with windows activesync, with a bit of fiddling it syncs everything, and will drop a music on to the phone for you to listen to, either random or playlists. I use my one with wireless bluetooth headphones, these also give comtrol of music and calls. Theres also some cabs doing the rounds for voice command, haven tried it on this phone, but I did have it on my universal. ANother great bit of software, very little learning and gives control of phone functions using voice recogniton, rather than you recording names etc, trully excellent software that blows every other phone I have played with away, especially the iphone. I currently have my email sent to my phone mobipush
mobiPush - Free Mobile eMail Delivery

[Flibb]

ANother nice little free today plugin
Sun'n'Moon

displays the sun/moon rise/set for you location, also phase of the moon.

[Flibb]

let me know how you get on, i have tried installing various different instals of the touchflo and havent found on that i like yet.

as for the rest of it, i'm still trying to get it to act more like a phone that i can use with a finger, than a PDA that i can use as a phone with the stylus

have you looked at
Pointui, the definitive user interface for mobile devices.

[MrP]

yeah, i saw it and thought "ohhh that nice"

i installed it and it crashed my phone within 30 seconds.

did a few soft resets, uninstalled it, reinstalled it and it still froze.

oh, they says its out of beta, as far as i'm concerned its still alpha software as you cant even uninstall it without jumping through hoops

[MrP]

ANother nice little free today plugin
Sun'n'Moon

displays the sun/moon rise/set for you location, also phase of the moon.

i like the default HTC today page, just reinstalled it on mine, but i thought it came with the plugins, but i cant find them anywhere.

i'm waiting to see if dutty can get an FM radio working, in which case i'll flash to a new rom i think as i'm fed up of trying software to find it bugged, not working, or not what i expect

[Funkstar]

i'm waiting to see if dutty can get an FM radio working, in which case i'll flash to a new rom i think as i'm fed up of trying software to find it bugged, not working, or not what i expect

TyTN II doesn't have a FM reciever though so I can't see how anyone oculd get it working.

[MrP]

thats what people are saying, he seems to have the software working, but no reception.

that maybe the end of it, or not

[Funkstar]

A lot of poeple get confused about the talk of 'Radio ROMs' etc. The radio part refers to the cellular and communications radio as opposed to an audio FM radio.