Samsung i620 Mini-Infopage

Samsung SGH-i620 Windows Mobile 6 Smartphone
Mini-Infopage

i620 Homescreen

My DIY homescreen, based on the Windows Standardhomescreen.
You'll need the free CBReminderPlugin and optionally you may use my background image: here
I am also using SmartToolkit, to show a prettier start menu and make the phone usable (at all, in my opinion).

All together:
Homescreen (XML), put in /Application Data/Home
Background image (optional)
CBReminderPlugin (in Homescreen XML adopt the path to the calendar application, or simply copy the calendar shortcut from start menu to \windows

Software I am using

SmartToolkit
Startmenu, Clipboard, Hotkeys und a Taskmanager. I put the shortcut to the clipboard on the camera button, works perfect.
Above you see it with Pure Black skin.
Total Commander (File and Registry Manager), mandatory for all file- and registry operations. Direct download for smartphones here: http://ghisler.fileburst.com/cebeta3/tcmdphone25pubbeta3.exe
TCPMP as Mediaplayer here the last free version.
NEW:RealPlayer for .ra files: Modaco Thread
But don't expect too much. As the RealPlayer is only for Pocket PCs with Touchscreen only starting a file is possible. No scrolling, not stopping, no pausing. You can only terminate RealPlayer...but at least the music plays ;-)
On the i620 you need to set the file association for .ra files manually.
the PDF-viewer that comes with the phone did not work well for me. Here a better OpenSource alternative: PocketXpdf

Tip: define shortcuts for horizontal stepwise scrolling in the settings!
The JBlend Java midlet manager that comes with the phone stops any application when in the background. Use JBlend, its the only one that does not quit when you press the "back" button...
Link
wlIRC (Java) is a good chat client. Free, and works even better than the commercial ones.
I am a little annoyed that the in other terms quite usable native Windows Mobile IRC-Client wmIRC makes an extra linebreak after the nickname in each message, and is no longer developed but still needs to be commercially registered...but in the meantime I found a way to use the PPC version: install the smartphone version, make a backup of the exe and copy the PPC exe over to the wmIRC folder. Works fine.
Office Mobile for Smartphones:
Link

See the comments at the bottom for the download.

To create new files you'll need this:
Link
SRS WOW for more bass.

Open problems

I'll start with the problems I could not yet solve, maybe someone smarter than me managed to, and is so kind as to t39m@aspekt1.net using the keyword "i620" please.

The camera stores the wrong date in the exim data of the photo jpegs: it stores the date as "2008:3:14:0:33" which is obviously wrong. It should be "2008:03:14 00:33:00". This is confusing image processing programs when using the exif date.
Ever so often it happens that an application in the background is silently terminated, because Windows Mobile needs the memory for new tasks. AFAIK this is part of the internal memory management that is supposed to keep us users from needing to terminate an application manually. But this often leads to applications being closed and data lost, e.g. when you write a forum post in your browser.
So if anyone PLEASE knows a way to start applications so that WM is not able to terminate them automatically, or if there is a way to tell WM to ask before closing them (like it was with Windows CE 2.0) then please tell me!
I know one can start apps as services on boot by integrating them in registry key HKLM\Init, but then they are open from the beginning even if I do not need them at that time.
When connecting a bluetooth handsfree the other party of a call can no longer hear me when there is a noise on the parties side. That is, when I call someone who has music running in his room, he can't hear me. Very strange. If all is silent all is fine. Tested with several BT handsfrees and confirmed by other users.
Let me get this straight: Don't buy a bluetooth handsfree for the i620, it will not work most probably!. Other opinions or experiences welcome!

No profile setting for "Reminders"

I could not believe it: when I put the phone into "silent" mode, the calendar reminders still came through full power. I tried to solve this in the profile settings, but: no setting for reminders there!
Luckily this can be solved with some hacking (but careful: you can mess up things this way easily!):

In the file system open \Application Data\Profiles and copy files *. prof.xml to the PC (best in two different places, so you have a backup if anything goes wrong). Then insert this code between the code blocks for alarm and notification:

	
		<characteristic type="Reminder">
			<parm name="Script" value="v0p"/>
			<parm name="InitVol" value="2"/>
		</characteristic>

So it looks like:

	
<characteristic type="Normal"><characteristic type="Registry">
	<characteristic type="HKCU\ControlPanel\Profiles\Normal">
		<parm name="Name" value="Normal"/>
	</characteristic>
</characteristic>
<characteristic type="Sounds">
	<parm name="RingTypeAll" value="c50apw3c150r"/>
</characteristic>
<characteristic type="Registry">
	<characteristic type="HKCU\ControlPanel\SoundCategories">
		<characteristic type="Ring">
			<parm name="InitVol" value="2"/>
		</characteristic>
		<characteristic type="Alarm">
			<parm name="Script" value="pw10pw10c110pw10c110pw30c110pw30c110pw30c110pw120c110pw300c110p"/>
			<parm name="InitVol" value="3"/>
		</characteristic>
		<characteristic type="Reminder">
			<parm name="Script" value="v0p"/>
			<parm name="InitVol" value="2"/>
		</characteristic>
		<characteristic type="Notification">
			<parm name="Script" value="p"/>
			<parm name="InitVol" value="2"/>
		</characteristic>
	</characteristic>
</characteristic>
<characteristic type="Sounds">
	<characteristic type="System">
		<parm name="InitVol" value="1"/>
	</characteristic>
</characteristic>
</characteristic>

Do this for the files "normal", "meeting" and "silent". Copy the files back to the device. Now on the phone set the attribute "system" for the changed files (e.g. with Total commander), otherwise the profile editor will not recognize the profile any more. And voila: the setting for calendar reminders is there!

More keyboard shortcuts for Opera Mobile

in file \Application Data\Opera\input.ini

look for "WinCE Application" and replace the setting with these lines (you can of course change the settings to you liking):

[WinCE Application]
1		= Open url
q                         = Zoom in, 10
w                         = Zoom out, 10
5		= Toggle images
8		= Cycle to next window
2		= Show window list
0                         = Zoom to, 100
a                         = Scroll left, 1
s                         = Scroll right, 1
4                         = Scroll up, 1
7                         = Scroll down, 1
;* is mapped as F8
F8		= Enter fullscreen | Leave fullscreen
;# is mapped as F9
F9		= Enable mediumscreen mode | Disable mediumscreen mode

More Tips and Tricks

The password to some functions in AdminSettings.exe is bjvoda. But don't do this! You might reset you device by accident and maybe even damage more things!
English Active Sync worked better for me than translated versions: (Thread)
Change the fontsize in menus:

In HKLM\System\GWE\Menu\PopFnt\Ht set the value to 4294967283 (the bigger the number the smaller the font. Original value is 4294967277. But don't change too much, otherwise you'll not be able to use your phone any more!

Possible also for system font, that some apps use:
HKLM\System\GDI\SYSFNT\Ht
Using \Windows\Testmode.exe (Menu "Debug->Basic Information") you get a more precise readout of the current signal strength. Look for values between -80 and -110 labeled "Rx" or "R:"
get a more persistent data connection: HKLM\Comm\ConnMgr\Provider\
Search for you connection there in the alphanumeric keys, and set "Always On" for this key to 1.
e.g.: HKLM\Comm\ConnMgr\Provider\[7C...](second from top)\Connections\E-Plus Internet\AlwaysOn
Answer a call without opening the slider: press the center button first, this activates the softbuttons you need to answer the call.
When the alarm goes off there is no other way to stop it from restarting after the repeat intervall than to open the slider.
Bluetooth connection lights up the display every now and then. To save this complete waste of battery switch the backlight off completely:
- Start program "\Windows\Testmode.exe" and press:
- "[7] Baseband"
- "[2] Backlight Test"
- "[3]" switches off the light, any key (e.g. enter) activates it again

Disclaimer:

I am not responsible for any damage you do to your phone by following my tips. For errors or any other problems contact: t39m@aspekt1.net

Samsung SGH-i620 Windows Mobile 6 SmartphoneMini-Infopage