Confessions of a VGA Junkie (From PocketPCTools)

bkbroil · #1 03-10-2004, 04:20 AM

I have been loving my Toshiba e805 PPC and all that VGA has to offer. I've been on a frenzy lately buying software for it left and right (e.g. Netfront 3.1 for Toshiba, Resco Keyboard, TextMaker, Pocket DVD Studio..etc..etc...)
But...as the song goes "the best things in life are free"...I wouldn't be so crazy about this gadget if it wasn't for MyVGA and RegKing. I picked up MyVGA and the tip for RegKing from PocketPCTools. As I was rifling through their forums looking for more VGA apps I came upon an confession from James Kendrick (the site admin) and all I could do is shake my head up and down saying "Yes, that's it!"...along with a sigh of relief that I was not alone.

I enjoyed reading it so much I wanted to share it with all of you.

I urge you to spend a few minutes inside James' head and read his great article.
Here's a sample:
And then it happened- I heard the rumors of a WM2003 device with a VGA screen. Same form factor I had used for years but with a VGA SCREEN! For a couple of weeks I went to the local CompUSA every day for a glimpse of the screen. Finally they got them in. I had them open the first box, turned it on, and switched it to VGA resolution. And told them I would take it. On the spot. Finally, the device that could truly make me more productive.
Tell me if you're thinking of getting a Toshiba after you read the article.

ctitanic · #2 03-10-2004, 11:45 AM

Just a quick note, users of Tweaks2k2 can change the system font as well

Oh yeah, I forgot that Regking is free and Tweaks2k2 is not. Well, Tweaks2k2 has more hacks included that Regking, is more flexible and why not, it has better tech support than a freeware

bkbroil · #3 03-10-2004, 11:49 AM

Woh!

I didn't realize that...I'm going there right now to check it out.

bkbroil · #4 03-10-2004, 11:51 AM

Quick question...before I go through the software....Is there any way of changing the text size of an email in the body of the email? (In other words, the font in the message body)

bkbroil · #5 03-10-2004, 11:57 AM

Also
What is the difference between:
44-Change the identity of NetFront 3 from www.access.co.jp to MSIE 6.0 (this only works with the registered version of this software) Modified
70-Chage the identity of Netfront 3.1 to MS Pocket Internet Explorer NEW
(BTW...there's a typo on 70 ... it's missing an "n" in Change

)
I just purchased Netfront 3.1 for Toshiba e8xx and maybe this could help me.

bkbroil · #6 03-10-2004, 12:10 PM

Wow! There's a million settings in there! I'm sold....Just sent my payment through PayPal. Thanks for pointing this out to me!

Anonymous · #7 03-10-2004, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkbroil

Quick question...before I go through the software....Is there any way of changing the text size of an email in the body of the email? (In other words, the font in the message body)

Nope, there is not way to change that.

ctitanic · #8 03-10-2004, 12:55 PM

The Guest in the previous message was me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkbroil

Also
What is the difference between:
44-Change the identity of NetFront 3 from www.access.co.jp to MSIE 6.0 (this only works with the registered version of this software) Modified
70-Chage the identity of Netfront 3.1 to MS Pocket Internet Explorer NEW
(BTW...there's a typo on 70 ... it's missing an "n" in Change

)
I just purchased Netfront 3.1 for Toshiba e8xx and maybe this could help me.

Ok, the 44, makes Netfront to be identified as MSIE 6.0, that´s usefull if you are accessing a bank for example.
The 70 is needed when you are trying to access a web page that automatically give you a PPC version of that page if PIE is detected. For example: Pocketnow forum. Keep in mind that Netfront identifies itself as Netfront which means nothting to many web pages that check what kind of browser you are using.
About the error on the System Trick Screen that you are getting. It seems to me that it´s caused by something that has been changed in the registry by you or any other program. On that screen no 2, there is a trick to show the time and hour in the top bar at the same time. Many other software and some pages apply that trick creating a registry key in a different format than Tweaks2k2 and that could cause an error in Tweaks2k2. The solution if this is the case is to apply again the same trick but using Tweaks2k2 and the error message will be gone.

bkbroil · #9 03-10-2004, 01:03 PM

When I installed the eVB runtime file....It had a number of files that it asked if I wanted to replace... the files on my device were newer so I did NOT replace them with the eVB runtime files that I got from your site... Do you think this is the cause of the problem?

ctitanic · #10 03-10-2004, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkbroil

When I installed the eVB runtime file....It had a number of files that it asked if I wanted to replace... the files on my device were newer so I did NOT replace them with the eVB runtime files that I got from your site... Do you think this is the cause of the problem?

No at all. Those files are the same no matter when they were dated.
The error is like a said, caused by a registry key which currently in your PPC has a different format (Could be that it's DWORD in your PPC, and it is in Binary in Tweaks2k2.
Do you have the date and hour in your Top bar at the same time?

bkbroil · #11 03-10-2004, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Do you have the date and hour in your Top bar at the same time?

Yes. but that's from Wisbar advance. I've never touched a registry key for that..

ctitanic · #12 03-10-2004, 01:22 PM

Do it. Try to apply the trick using Tweaks2k2, that wont damage anything.

knelson · #13 03-10-2004, 01:29 PM

I am thinking of the VGA screen... wonder why Compaq / HP has not followed suite?

bkbroil · #14 03-10-2004, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Do it. Try to apply the trick using Tweaks2k2, that wont damage anything.

Doh!

Do what? I can't do anything with System Tricks 2. It give me the error message and nothing else shows on the screen. I don't get any options for System Tricks 2. My guess is there is something with the VB form, because it's the form that is not showing up. The error is NOT happening when I try to apply a hack it's happening when I try to access the System Tricks 2 screen.
I hope this makes it a little more clear....I know how tough it can be trying to troubleshoot through emails and forums...thanks for your patience.

bkbroil · #15 03-10-2004, 01:37 PM

Quote:

I am thinking of the VGA screen... wonder why Compaq / HP has not followed suite?

Good question....My opinion is that Toshiba is usually the first one out of the chute with newer technology and then Compaq/HP just perfect it and make it more intuitive and nicer looking...I also think that VGA is going to be in the next release of Windows Mobile and they figure they have a large following so they can afford to wait...
I think everyone will have access to VGA with the next release of WM.
IMHO

ctitanic · #16 03-10-2004, 01:41 PM

That's ok. Once you get that error, if you press ok, and then try again to access that option again, what happens? If you still getting that error we will have to go more in detail and I will need you to check some registry keys for me to find what is different in your PPC than in the rest of the other PPCs around

Usually after getting the error caused by the Time and Hour hack mismatch Tweaks2k2 allows to go back to that option again.

ctitanic · #17 03-10-2004, 01:42 PM

If you have MSM Messanger installed in your PPC and you want to continue there with this section, please send me an email with your msn messanger emails and I will add you to my list so we can chat and fix your problem.

bkbroil · #18 03-10-2004, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Once you get that error, if you press ok, and then try again to access that option again, what happens?

That was it! I never tried to go back into the screen after recieving the errors. I hit okay to the errors and then tried going back in and...Voila! it works now!
Thanks for your patience!

I am a Happy Tweaks2k2 customer.

ctitanic · #19 03-10-2004, 01:50 PM

Do you see why I said that sometime is better to pay for a program than to use a freeware? was I right?

bkbroil · #20 03-10-2004, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Well, Tweaks2k2 has more hacks included that Regking, is more flexible and why not, it has better tech support than a freeware

Well, there you go Addict Readers....the proof is in the pudding.

jkendrick · #21 03-10-2004, 01:54 PM

Toshiba was definitely an innovator by releasing the e800 when it did. I'm convinced the reason they released the device with VGA "locked" was to avoid all the support nightmares it would create with inexperienced users.
I don't believe HP would EVER release a device ahead of OS support like this. They would never release a "locked" device and would not support VGA without native OS support. A number of devices will be released when the OS is updated to support VGA. Asus has already announced their device which sounds mighty nice.
Click here for the thread on "More Asus VGA PPC details"
http://www.pocketpctools.com/modules...rder=0&thold=0

jkendrick · #22 03-10-2004, 01:56 PM

I should add my own speculation that since Asus is releasing their device around June and the Motorola MPx will have to run a version of WM200X that handles landscape orientation we can probably assume an OS update around that time frame.

bkbroil · #23 03-10-2004, 02:00 PM

Quote:

I should add my own speculation that since Asus is releasing their device around June and the Motorola MPx will have to run a version of WM200X that handles landscape orientation we can probably assume an OS update around that time frame.

Yup, I agree...in fact there's an article on Brighthand today about this same subject.

jkendrick · #24 03-10-2004, 02:08 PM

I had not seen the BH piece before posting. I can't say anything other than the update will not be a major new release- I think it will pretty much only add VGA and landscape support.
Actually, they mention switching between portrait and landscape on the fly to support the MPx but if you look at all published photos and videos of that device it only uses portrait while in the phone functions and only uses landscape while in PPC mode. I don't think you'll be able to use the PPC mode in portrait. Of course, I could be wrong.