Mobinauts: BunGee - Viewing Profile

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Wow, I can't believe I only just discovered this under-rated software utility. HTC should seriously include this as part of their standard ROMs. I was looking for an app to toggle off data connections while overseas when I came across this little gem. Besides providing an easy way to switch bands (between GSM & UMTS/3G) and turn off connections easily, it has some other interesting features. But by far the 2 things it does really well and which have improved my phone's battery life significantly are:

1. Schedule a time when it shuts down all data connections. I set mine from mid-night to 6am daily. Any auto-dates (weather, exchange rates, e-mails... etc) will be unable to connect and get on-line during this time when I'm usually asleep.

2. Set a time to turn off idle data connections automatically. I don't know exactly how Windows Mobile 6 handles data connections auto-disconnects but I've noticed that my phone doesn't always turn off data connections when an on-line apps is done. More than once, an opened 3G data connection, even without any actual data transferred, have zapped my battery life. This is especially so when a data connection is left on overnight. This feature will shut down data connection when it detects that it's being idle after the predefined time (default 20secs). Your app would automatically re-establish a connection when it needs one again.

Check out Bandswitch at Handango or the developer's website. It's not free (14USD or 10Euro) but well worth the price. Just be aware that the first time you launch the app (or restart your Windows Mobile phone), it will run in hidden mode. You'd need click on it again to bring up the menu.

The developer, Daniel Herrero Rey, is also working on a v3.0 which includes:
- allow a scheduled switch between different bands. e.g. Auto/UMTS to GSM (during sleeping hours) and back. The idea is to extend battery life by turning off 3G/3.5G during the night but still allow the phone to receive GSM calls.
- allow the schedule to disable selective (versus all connections).
- allow 'Speaker Off' to set to Vibrant, not just Silent.
- documentation

Check Bandswitch out. It's a must-have and supports HTC phones.

I've been using the HTC TyTN II with the bundled MapKing as a GPS, but I really dislike windscreen mounts. Instead, I just place my HTC on the car's dashboard, onto a cheap $2 non-slip mat I bought from Home-Fix. Problem is, even with the HTC tilt feature enabled, I still need to prop up the device or else the screen will catch the sun's glare & reflection. Also, if it lays too flat, the viewing angle makes the screen difficult to read.
After I couldn't find a stand that will suit my purpose, I decided to hack one together using stuff lying around the house.


Corrugated cupboard, reinforced with steel paper-clips & held together with Scotch tape!


A forward groove designed to hold the HTC in place and prevent it from sliding down.


Testing the setup. Viewing angle much better (doesn't need to be exactly 90 degrees since the dashboard is below eye-level).


How it looks after the finishing touches; wrapped in black cardboard paper for esthetics, stuck a piece of non-slip mat to its bottom, and applied a couple of egrips on the top (I already have some stuck on my HTC, but kiasu a bit :grin: ).

The whole thing worked like a charm. Both the HTC and stand stays firmly in place even when I turn sharply. This is due to the non-slip surfaces and the weight of the HTC itself. Since the stand is not anchored down, I can easily remove it when I'm not using my HTC as a GPS and toss it aside.

Those of you using your Window Mobile GPS enabled phones, do post and share pictures of your car mounts here, especially if it's a homebrew!

(note to Moderator: pls move to this Chat Zone if post is off-topic here, thanks!)

Folks, this is a Public Service Annoucement. If you are in the market for the high-end Sony MDR-EX90LP earphones to compliment your PDA, Phone or MP3 player, beware of the many fake China units on sale at Auction sites.

An original MDR-EX90LP costs more than $135 but the fakes are going for 'only' $60-70... which is still a lot of money for pair of crappy earphones! I made the mistake of bidding for one at Yahoo, but fortunately realised my mistake during collection and kindly declined the sale. I only found out later that there are similar experiences by others here and here.

The obvious difference between the original MDR-EX90LP and a fake is in the sound quality. The fake ones have almost no treble. Unfortunately, if you are not familiar with how the original should sound, and it's very noisy when you are testing it outdoors, you might not notice the difference. Likewise, unless you have seen the packaging of the original, you may not spot the physical differences either.

The seller may tell you that he got a special deal from the manufacturer, or that it's normal for the MDR-EX90LP model to sound like such... don't believe the BS. Even lower-end cheap (original) earphones sound better! There is a demo unit that you can test at the Sony Square store at Sim Lim Square.

For the benefit of the members here, the following are some pictures of the original MDR-EX90LP with advice on how to spot fakes.


holographic sticker on top left of box


date of manufacture sticker on lower left, bar code sticker, Made in Thailand (not China!)


leather casing, lengthy foldout manual in plastic with yellow sticker and good quality form inserts packaging with cable management


good build quailty, evenly mounded seams, black plastic ring seal (missing on fakes)


model number printed on cable (the other side says Thailand)

It makes me mad to think of how unscrupulous some of these China manufactorers are. I'm not sure whether the local folks pushing these fakes on Yahoo know that they have been conned.

Morale of the story: if it's too good to be true, it usually is! Caveat Emptor

Here's the reason why I don't keep up as much these days with what's going on with in Pocket PC / Windows Mobile scene. :grin:



I think the OQO model e2 is truly a "Pocket PC". The model e2 is the international version of the US model O2 and doesn't have HSPDA support yet. No matter, because I pair it up and it use my mobile's GPRS/3G connection as a Bluetooth modem. I bought the 1.6GHz 32GB SSD version and fellas, it is sweet!!

Look what I came across on Yahoo Auctions SG:
http://page.auctions... uction/96070688



At 1460mAh, this appears to be rated at 220mAh more than the normal P50 battey. However, I'm quite suspicious of how trustworthy or reliable this battery is in real life.

It's obviously made to look like the original battery down to the part number and even serial# convention, but notice the 'For Ben P50' label without the Q and no branding info from the box on the other picture on the auction site.

I wonder where the guy bought it from. Anyone else seen this around in stores or know where to look for one?