Well, this weekend I discovered that my new HTC Universal (O2 XDA Exec)
has a bug that if you have it connected to your computer with
ActiveSync on and try to make a phone call, it doesn’t open the phone
tool. After that, you can even unplug the device from the computer and
will still not open the phone tool until you soft-reset it.
I have then called O2 trying to report the bug. The dialogue with the O2 support person was something like this:
Me – Hello, I have just got a new O2 XDA Exec a couple of days ago and
I think I have found a bug on it, so I would like to report that.
O2TR – What is the problem that you’re having?
I explain the ActiveSync problem in as much detail as I can.
O2 – OK, I will send you a new phone, then.
Me – Look, I really don’t think it is a device problem. I think it is a
software glitch and I was just looking to report it so you can get
fixed in the next software release.
O2 – Yeah, but out police is that if the customer has any problems with
his device on the first 28 days after the purchase, we replace it.
Me – Well, but I wasn’t really willing to replace my device, as I have
installed tons of software and configured that to my liking.
O2 – I’m sorry, Sir, but we have to replace your device. It is O2’s policy .
Me - Can I just send you the new device back when I get it?
O2 – If you do so, Sir, we can’t provide you technical support any more.
Me – Can’t you just forget that I have called you? It never happened.
O2 – Sorry, Sir, it is O2’s policy to replace devices in such cases. I’m sending you the new one.
The result is that I will be getting today a new XDA Exec and will have
to replace my perfectly functional one, reinstall all the software I’ve
got there, re-download all the settings, e-mails and stuff… And will
probably find the bug again on the new one. I can't believe that it is
cheaper to O2 to get have a perfectly functional device replaced and
sent back to factory just because they can't provide adequate technical
support.
In the other hand, I have tried Microsoft Voice Command UK 1.5 during
the weekend. The first thing that comes to mind when I think about that
software is: WOW. It is not only a very good software for general users, but it
is a very interesting achievement from a developer's point of view. The
software is just brilliant.
For starters, this is a voice recognition software that
allows you to control many Pocket PC functions. You click a button, speak to it
and it does what you want. What is different here? Well, two things:
1 – The whole time I have spent setting the application up
was the time to install it on the device and configure which button I wanted to
use to activate it. The software needs zero training whatsoever.
2 – You can actually dialogue with the software. If you are
unsure of what you can do, just ask: “What can I say?” and the software will
help you through.
Now, some of you know that I’m not British and I have quite
a heavy accent and still the software can recognize what I say like 90% of the
time. My wife and a couple of friends have tested it as well and they could
command the device straight away, with natural speaking. The software can be
used to make phone calls to contacts on your contact list or you can just ask
it to dial a phone number and it will dial the number for you. If you ask to
call a contact that has multiple phone numbers, it will tell which numbers are
available (mobile, home, office) and will ask which one you want. You can also
open programs; you can play music only by saying: “Play Nirvana” or “Play rock
music” and it will do the job.
Another interesting aspect of this software is that it is
really light in processor and memory footprint. It doesn’t remain active all
the time and when you press the button to activate it, it gets available very
quickly, unlike some other voice recognition software that would be heavy even
for a PC.
I just wonder why Microsoft doesn’t make it part of the
default Windows Mobile set of features. With that software you can really use a
Pocket PC phone comfortably with one hand. Now that I tried it I know I can’t
live without it and already purchased my copy.