Saturday, December 11, 2010

Notes Samsung Wave

Few tips on the Samsung Wave, especially information which are not well documented

A few "How do I do it?" answers, and technical specs
http://mobilereviews.o2.co.uk/devices/device.jsp?deviceId=661&tab=5#q5387
http://thetechjournal.com/electronics/mobile/samsung-s8500-wave-review.xhtml

Links to Samsung, Apps, etc
http://www.samsungapps.com - for Manual and Samsung Kies software
http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/mobile-phone/mobile-phone/smartphone/GT-S8500BAAXSA/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&returnurl=
http://www.samsungmobile.com
http://www.samsungwaveforum.com/samsung-wave-updates/all-firmwares-s8500xx***-download/   - list of firmwares
http://www.samsungwaveforum.com/samsung-wave-updates/flash-tutorial-samsung-s8500/msg3719/#msg3719 - how to flash / upgrade firmware on Samsung Wave
http://www.all-samsungphones.com/latest-official-firmware-update-for-samsung-wave-s8500.html/

Java Apps Repository:
These sites have Java Applications for Smart Phones. Since Samsung Wave have Java compatibility, some Java apps should be able to run, but not all of them. You should check the compatibility of each app that you want to download.
- www.getjar.com

Screen Capture the Samsung Wave
- Press the Menu and Lock Keys simultaneously
- The images will be stored in My Files -> Images

End Applications with Task Manager
- Click and hold on the physical diamond shaped middle Menu button at the bottom.
- Touch the red minus sign on-screen to close the application you choose.

Lock screen settings
- Settings -> General -> Touch - Touch Panel

Silent Mode
- Keypad -> tap and hold # key to mute/unmute

Check how much data has been used
- this refers to the packet data, which is usually the data charge by your service provider.
- go to Menu -> Settings -> Connectivity -> Packet Data Counter


Switch off data packet, data allowance


Browser Open
- Internet icon is missing from some Samsung Wave models.
- To open the browser either
i) Menu -> Vibe Home
ii) Menu -> Smart Search -> Internet

Remove Homescreen
- Touch the Widget icon on the top left.
- When in widget editing mode, rotate phone to landscape
- Then it allows you to remove screens which have no widgets

Edit or Remove Widgets
- Touch the Widget icon on the top left.
- Touch and hold on the widget to be moved or removed, until a yellow border appears
- To remove, drag the widget down.
- To move, drag the widget anywhere on the screen


Contacts Management
There are three (4) places where contacts can be stored: PHONE, SIM, SDCARD, PC
PHONE: This is the memory of the actual phone device. It can sometimes be called DEVICE
SIM: This is the SIM card used by most mobile devices, and is needed by the telephone network to enable the phone to make calls. It can typically store a limited amount of contact phone numbers and SMS / text messages.
SDCARD: This is the additional memory card that can be added to the phone. It can sometimes be called MEMORY.
PC: Store the contacts in a PC, by using the KIES software to transfer the contacts.

Both the SIM and SDCARD can be physically removed from the phone device.
On SIM, contacts can only store names and ONE phone number.
On PHONE, contacts can be stored with many attributes, eg names, multiple phone numbers, email, address, etc. This can be exported as *.vcf or Vcard.

Here are the menu items available for managing Contacts:
- Touch the Contact button at the bottom of the screen.
- When the list of contacts is displayed, touch the image with 3 dots at the bottom middle  "..." of the screen. The options presented are: i) Delete  ii) My profile iii) Copy Contacts iv) Get friends v) Settings
- Touch on "Copy Contacts".
The options presented are: i) Phone to SIM  ii) SIM to Phone
- Go back one level and touch "Settings".
The options presented are: i) Memory in use ii) Order of Display Name iii) Own Numbers iv) Service Numbers.
- Touch "Memory in use".
- Select "View Contacts on" from these options "All", "Phone", "SIM".
This determines if contacts from either phone or SIM or both are displayed.
- KIES. The Samsung Kies software installed on a PC, allows additional options in managing contacts.

Strategies to Backup Contacts:
1. Copy all contacts from PHONE to SIM. The sequence is:
Contacts - ... - Copy Contacts - PHONE to SIM - Select All - Copy
2. Copy all contacts from SIM to PHONE. The sequence is:
Contacts - ... - Copy Contacts -  SIM to PHONE - Select All - Copy
The following strategies involve using Samsung Kies software. Run the Kies on PC. Connect the phone via USB and press Connect within Kies.
3. Copy all contacts from PHONE only to PC in Kies' SPB / CSV / VCF formats. The sequence is:
In Kies, under Connected Device, highlight the phone model (eg GT S8500) - Import/Export tab - Export to PC - Contacts - Export - Choose file to save as Kies' contacts (*.spb), CSV or vCard (*.vcf) format.
4. Sync contacts from PHONE only with Outlook. The sequence is:
In Kies, under Connected Device, highlight the phone model (eg GT S8500) - Sync tab -  Personal Information - Sync Contacts with Outlook (or Google or Yahoo or Windows Contacts) - Apply to both device and Outlook - Outlook Data files to contact -  click Sync
5. Save Contacts from PHONE to PC. The sequence is:
In Kies, under Connected Device - Contacts - Mobile Phone tab - Select contacts to save - Save To PC - Save ALL or Selected contacts - Choose file to save as Kies' contacts (*.spb), CSV or vCard (*.vcf) format.
6. Save Contacts from SIM to PC. The sequence is:
In Kies, under Connected Device - Contacts - SIM tab - Select contacts to save - Save To PC - Save ALL or Selected contacts - Choose file to save as Kies' contacts (*.spb), CSV or vCard (*.vcf) format.


Messages / SMS Management
There is KIES functionality to transfer SMS messages out of the phone.
Here is one way to save or archive SMS/TXT messages from the phone. This method involve saving each message separately as *vmg file in a memory card.
The sequence is:
on the phone - Messages - ... - Backup Text Messages - PHONE to MEMORY.
After this process, all the messages will be saved on the top level directory of the Memory Card.


How to Use Samsung Wave S8500 as Modem for other PC or other Devices to connect to the Internet:
This require that the Samsung Wave has data access through a telecommunications carrier.
This techniques uses Packet Data.
Basically, if you can access the Internet through your Samsung Wave without wifi connection, then you are likely to be using packet data.

Here are the steps to setup the Samsung Wave to enable other devices to have internet access.
Go to Settings - Connectivity - Use Packet Data - turn this on.
Go to Settings - Connectivity - Mobile AP - turn this on.
Still on the Mobile AP screen, go to Settings:
- Name: name of wifi network
- Password: password for network
- Hide my Device: Uncheck
- Tethering:   Check
Now the Samsung Wave is acting like a wireless modem. Other PC or Devices need only to rescan for wifi networks and connect to the name of the wifi network of the Samsung Wave.





Interesting Apps
Here is a list of apps I found interesting on the Samsung Wave. The ones listed without URL links mean they can be found on the Samsung Apps website. 
   Educational
Teach Numbers - good for teaching children
Write Hangul - learn Korean writing
Let's Learn Korean
   References

Badapedia - seems like a cut down version of Wikipedia
Dictionary.com
   Utilities
EvMemo Fit - Memo that sits on top of phone as widget.
Power Calculator - has Scientific, Computer and Statistics modes
MultiNote - can make notes in text, image, audio, video formats
Scientific Calculator
ToolBox - Battery, Spirit Level, Metal Detector
Type N Walk - allow you to type SMS while using the phone camera to show what is in front of the screen.
Mirror - to look at yourself on the phone
Unit Converter
    Bibles
KJV Complete Mobile Bible by Cellbook. 
from the phone: m.getjar.com, go to Quick Download and type the code 19028.
website: http://www.getjar.com/mobile/19028/kjv-complete-mobile-bible-by-cellbook-for-samsung-gt-s8500-wave/
Go Bible - http://gobible.jolon.org/ - King James Version
Olive Tree - http://www.olivetree.com/ - in general, has very good bible reader application but its Java version DOES NOT seem to work well with the Samsung Wave.





Ebook Readers
I've tried quite a few eBook Readers and here are the ones to get and NOT to get.
    Native Wave / Bada
LacViet Reader - Do Not Get - Big app, about 14MB. Installed OK. When opening and EPUB format ebook, the program simply crashed.
    Java Apps - requires MIDP 2.0
Anyview - Do Not Get - Installed OK but cannot get it to work.
ReadManiac - Do Not Get - Cannot seem to run when opening the program.
Albite Reader - Excellent - Seems to work quite well and small size.

Folder Structure

from Kies View:
- Contacts
- Music
- Photos
- Videos
- Podcast

from Windows Explorer View:
- Graphics
- Images
- Music
- Others - your own files
- Playlists
- Sounds
    - Alert tones
    - Music
    - Ringtones
- Themes
- Videos



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