Develop Bugs

Software on the Wiki

Hi,
There seems to be a lot on the wiki regarding the handsets, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on software for the handsets.
There's the "Must have tools" page, but I personally would appreciate a page listing software by category.
I am therefore proposing to produce a page called "Software" with a list of categories such as
Diary/Calendar
Contacts
File Managers
Games
GUI Enhancement
Instant Messaging/Chat
System Tools
Today
etc.....
Then, each of these pages would have a list of sub categories with software titles listed underneath, so for example "Instant Messaging" would have IM+, Skype, Pocket IRC etc... under it and each of these would then have it's own page on which to include features, details of compatibility with handsets and WM versions and links with where to get them from (possibly even links to related forum topics).
Obviously I will start from my Wizard/Hemes and the software I have used, so I shall apologise for that in advance, but if I start adding this will anyone complain?
Or would it be appreciated?
Any thoughts, comments or ideas (and things I have overlooked, like this existing) are appreciated.

mikechannon said:
One question for you would be whether the software section would be a cross device section or under a specific device eg Hermes or Wizard?
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Cross device, totally.
The way I look at it is that most of the software is written to work on "Any" WM device so it should therefore be written generically. I'd then try to include a compatibility list of "This software is confirmed (not) working on..." for people to add their devices to as well as notes on how to get it working if their may be trouble.
For example, Skype works on most, but not so well on a Hermes unless you use the beta.
Just wish I knew more about the advanced features on the wiki software xda-devs uses....

Had a play the other day and at least one other person has linked something into it so far...
Games and Emulators page.
Guess we will see how it goes....

I'd love to help, but I'm mainly a MediaWiki guy, is there a list of basic editing procedures and stuff for the software xda-developer wiki uses?

Get some organisation on the Forum topics

Is it just me or does anyone else get frustrated locating which handset they wish to look at when you navigate to xda-developers forum?
What I mean is the fact that the handsets are listed in no particular order... Blackstone is way down the list and Wallaby is at the top.
Can someone shuffle the list so that it's either in alphabetical list or order of release?
the list order at present makes no sense to me.
Thanks
It would help especially when you view the site from your mobile as you have to do a lot of scrolling and zooming to get to the right part.

spvc500 said:
Is it just me or does anyone else get frustrated locating which handset they wish to look at when you navigate to xda-developers forum?
What I mean is the fact that the handsets are listed in no particular order... Blackstone is way down the list and Wallaby is at the top.
Can someone shuffle the list so that it's either in alphabetical list or order of release?
the list order at present makes no sense to me.
Thanks
It would help especially when you view the site from your mobile as you have to do a lot of scrolling and zooming to get to the right part.
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Click to collapse
Yeah
In fact it would be easier to have them organized by any criteria: Alphabetical, date of releasing, etc.
Maybe you can post this sugestion on (requests) From the Users to the Mods & Admins thread in About xda-developers.com forum

Second on the date of release or alphabetical order . It would make mobile browsing a lot easier.

Like many, I'm used to the way it is currently. alphabetical would be cool but then all of us would be lost

Actually, it's a good idea... i'll propose it to Flar.

Yeah
I suposed they were in appereance order but not sure
Well Mike has a great idea!
Hope it can be done

Was just about to start a new thread on this, but decided to just resurrect this one. It would be real nice if some other sort order for the forums was in place. At the least, group all phones by a manufacturer together. Currently, many Samsung phones are interspersed with those of other manufacturers making it a pain to find them. I think sorting them by popularity (# of posts in their respective General subforum) would be good as it would put the most used forums near the top, but alphabetical by either manufacturer name or device name would be fine, too, as it would make scrolling through them a lot easier.

Miami_Son said:
Was just about to start a new thread on this, but decided to just resurrect this one. It would be real nice if some other sort order for the forums was in place. At the least, group all phones by a manufacturer together. Currently, many Samsung phones are interspersed with those of other manufacturers making it a pain to find them. I think sorting them by popularity (# of posts in their respective General subforum) would be good as it would put the most used forums near the top, but alphabetical by either manufacturer name or device name would be fine, too, as it would make scrolling through them a lot easier.
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Enable compact view for a manufacturer grouped system

pulser_g2 said:
Enable compact view for a manufacturer grouped system
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Click to collapse
I always use "Find your device..." to jump around the forum, and I have in the Index in compact.
Dave

pulser_g2 said:
Enable compact view for a manufacturer grouped system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did I never notice this? They're still only mostly in order of release, but that makes a huge difference, thnx!

[res] A repository/guide just for you, AT&T Tilt 2 owners.

Hi!
You may know me as the guy who made blownfuze.org. I've done it again (I'm doing it, rather) and the address is tilt2.blownfuze.org. Basically it's a good place to unleash your phone, beginners to vets, while hiding from ad banners, thread chaos and rapidshare links.
The site, targeted specifically at the AT&T crowd but useful for all TP2 owners, is divided into a dozen chapters including how to flash a rom and my reflections on the various existing roms, the usual stuff to install (like flash, mortscript, MSCF and MSVC), a collection of Opera builds and other browsers and RSS readers, tweaking tools (advanced config, hd tweak), email guidance, GPS stuff, multimedia (players, tones), recreational stuff (dopewars, facebook), expert stuff (vpn client, packet sniffing) and perhaps most importantly what you need to get your phone back to its out-of-the-box stock condition (the software at least) for warranty compliance if you have ever flashed anything. It's the kind of site you might bookmark.
I only recently started this thing and though it is a little premature to post it publicly like this (it will get better over time..) the important sections like installing hardspl, flashing roms and warranty issues, they're good to go and I got some fresh cabs lined up for you too so c'mon down to tilt2.blownfuze.org.
In addition to plugging my site (thanks xda mods), the purpose of this thread is to invite suggestions from you (for example this part is good or that sucks or you should add this and remove that or cite this developer for that cab) so please do that, I will listen, or you can contact me in the contact form thingy at the bottom of my site.
Yours, Doug

Thanks Doug. Your sites are AWESOME and very useful! I don't have a fuze but I've found some sweet programs on your site for my tilt. I look forward to the new site.

Looking good, thank you!

great site, great infos. many thanks.

Looks very good actually, bookmarked it and having a good flick through now. Some very very usefull stuff on there!
Id be tempted to suggest trying to improve the GUI a bit though, theres an awfull lotta text sitting there.

Im Feelin it
This is perfect, Everything works and enhances the phone. Cant complain
thx for the repo guide

NB: Your ZoomAdds thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=572270 -- linked to in section 5) has been superseded by this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=578420 -- the earleir one is a version that can't be uninstalled.

[DEV] [REQ] C++, rewrite existing code

First I would like to thank the whole forum (with few exceptions that I'd like to not mention here) for the past 2,5 years, which have been very educating for me regarding Windows Mobile as a system. During that whole time I have searched for the perfect simple-to-use, lightweight app for storing and retrieving a grocery list, yet unfortunately I have had to come to the conclusion that it does not exist to this date. There are some existing apps but these are either not simple to use or do not accomplish the simple task at all, or they are too heavy (requiring additionally the .NET framework to be installed for example, etc.).
The idea for the simple software is that one has a changeable groups and items of groceries, from which they can select the already saved ones needed at that shopping day (e.g. during a discussion with girlfriend), and later when in shop they can just check the ones they have already put into basket. I would like to see the person who will argue that it does not easily beat archaic mode of storing information, a.k.a. paper and pen.
I have found an app which, with some relatively small amount of effort can be rewritten to accomplish that task, this software is iContact AE. As far as I understand, there is judicially no problem using the source code from iContact AE as long as following the license restrictions (correct me please if I am wrong). Why AE? Just a selection based on the fact that AE has the most appealing interface and most settings. Of course, this could be a point of discussion, but so far it seems like the best choice.
CAB - http://icontactae.codeplex.com/releases/view/28951
Source - http://icontactae.codeplex.com/SourceControl/list/changesets
I created a possible, chronological tasklist in order to get from iContact AE to the shopping app, whatever it will be called (name suggestions also welcome in due time). Also, I already have a pretty clear vision about
Discuss the usability and feasibility of the selected software / it's source code and it's alternatives (as far as I remember there was the original iContact and some other derivate version).
[*]Create, discuss and review static prototypes of the interface (basically screenshots of each view).
[*]List the requirements to be implemented (or removed).
[*]Code in / remove code according the list from previous task.
[*]Create skin and graphics.
[*]Clean up rest of code, remove unnecessary parts of it (to make it more light).
[*]Test and review changes.
I can either take lead, perform or participate actively in the tasks that are listed green. I only need a competent C++ coder who can help and thinks this is a great idea.
The changes needed to the existing source code do not seem to be much at first glance, but of course as I cannot code in C++, I could be wrong. I just looked at the parts of code where to change the tabs and queries to storage files.
So there, got it off my chest. Any C++ gurus missing a simple, convenient grocery app?

OK, I will put this in another way. I will personally contribute $50 (via PayPal or if EU country, via transfer) to the coder - provided that the end result is according to the requirements, which we will agree forehand. If anyone wants to join in with contribution, You are more than welcome.

aiiro said:
OK, I will put this in another way. I will personally contribute $50 (via PayPal or if EU country, via transfer) to the coder - provided that the end result is according to the requirements, which we will agree forehand. If anyone wants to join in with contribution, You are more than welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had money I to would offer some.
It's no wunder WinMo is falling behind no one wants to create apps even when offered a straight cash deal.

Amen to that. I was actually reading this and took a good hour of researching to see just how hard it might be and how time-consuming it might be. I would have loved to take this on...but alas, It would split me way too much. I am already working on my FFP_LS Pro 2.5 Improvements (Major Major improvements...I am practically re-writing the app), I am starting work on a game I plan to release (Its a rather popular game I have yet to find for WIndows Mobile), and I already volunteered to work on the Boggle Clone for WinMo ... so I am already pretty split as it is. heh...if I find free time, and nobody has taken this on, I will probably come back and make this my next project
Sorry though...I do hope some developer comes around to assist!

Thanks for Your support. I thought that I don't need to subscribe to my own threads in order to get a notification if a new post is made, but I was wrong. I certainly didn't get one for Your post. So, sorry for the late reply. I will subscribe to my own thread now

[REQ][XDA WIKI]: Feature request thread

Request 1: Add HTML Tidy to the xda wiki stack
Template:Navbox @ Wikipedia said:
Using this template on other wikis requires HTML Tidy to be turned on. A version that does not require Tidy can be found at Wikipedia:WikiProject Transwiki/Template:Navbox. (That version generally shouldn't be used here on the English Wikipedia.) More detailed information on copying {{Navbox}} to other wikis can be found on the talk page.
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I've been doing a LOT of work adding stuff to the xda wiki, but I've hit an impasse, some of the most complex templates used on Wikipedia depend on it being 'scripted' with HTML instead of pure wikimarkup.
The main example is Template:Navbox. While this specific template does have a pupre wikimarkup equivilent (if it even is an equivilent, it's not maintained at the level of the normal one). The other templates I wish to use dont have equivilents.
Template:Navbox subgroup is the one (among others) that I wish to add in but cant because it depends on HTML Tidy. The Template itself is already on the xda wiki, but if you attempt to use it it's completely broken.
I cant say it's as simple as "install on server and turn it on" but the fact of the matter is that without it most of the fun/magic stuff on wikipedia cant be brought over to the xda wiki.
Some examples of recent stuff i've made (for reference):
Samsung Galaxy S Series Navbox
Samsung Galaxy S II Series Navbox
New Samsung Portal on Main page
Entirety of Dell devices page
If you look at the several navboxes I've made they have hacks in the code to get around the fact that I'm just a normal level editor.
Request 2: We need MOAR editors!
Also this doubles as a request for more editors on the wiki: XDA is the largest android development based site on the internet, yet here we are weeks after the release of the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Note and the pages didnt even exist until I made stubs for them.
As of this past quarter I've generated more edits then possibly nearly every other user combined, but there's only so much I can do at this point by my self. (With my primary style being to organize page layouts and tidying stuff up vs writing new content for devices)
[Edit count itself is a bad metric, but edits that arnt mine only number in the dozens a month]
Sure it's reasonable for minor devices and varients to be stubs, but the Note has sold over a million units and yet not a single person has even bothered to make as much as a scribble on the wiki about the device. That's just an example, but ultimately if this were wikipedia, the amount of pages rated 'good' or higher would only number in the dozens. (There's also the fact that my belief is that it's a bad idea to add anything intensive for a device you dont own, standard fare on one device can super-brick another due to quirks)
It's a rather sad state of affairs that for such a large web site with 22000 active users at any one time that there's not a single good consistant repeat editor besides me.
Edit: changed wording to not be inflammatory
Request 3: Turn on Subpages on the main namespace
Mediawiki:Subpages are by default enabled on the template and user namespaces, but not on the main namespace. I believe it's done this way because of editor policy and not technical reasons.
The xda wiki would HEAVILY benefit from having it enabled since it already currently manually uses them, the previous example of:
Samsung <Series>/<model number>/article has long existed this way but without the automatically generated anchors.
The majority of pages are already ready to accept it, it might simply need to be turned on.

XDA Wiki
TheManii said:
there's not a single good editor besides me.
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IMHO that is a rather sweeping statement and is likely to put off anyone from editing the Wiki. I would dispute even your claim as a good editor would not make sweeping changes to categories without discussion on the pages involved. Should I just "undo" them?
XDA has a problem with repetitive questions leading to user dissatisfaction with overlong forums and the loss of good developers such as AdamG.
One solution may be to create a FAQ Wiki for any thread over a certain size (for example 1,000 posts) and automatically link to that thread at the top of every page and above the reply box.
Cheers
Tom

It is sweeping, but the fact is there arent many repeat editors, many devices havnt not seen edits in months because a great deal of the changes dones are a one-time batch job with a single theme.
I'm not at all saying that the other editors are bad, though yes that what the impression was (and perhaps I should have worded it better). I'm saying that few wish to stay with it for the long-haul.
There's few editors that consistantly return to add/update/expand artitles for their own devices or other devices. That's my main issue. I actively want to be proven wrong in this regard, I'm inviting other to prove me wrong. I myself am somewhat guilty of this myself, I primarly concentrate on the dell devices, but I've kept them very up to date for the previous year.
One example I have issue with is: Acer A500 -xda wiki the entire page are just forum links. I have no issue at all with the contents of the posts (just as much my opinion on them is irrelevent) but the fact they are just links and not part of the article. The fact it's not on the wiki means that other editors cannot make changes themselves, which rather defeats the point of the wiki, which leads to,
The other issue is, unless the OP is excellent at keeping the thread organizied, you often have to wade though the entire thread to keep up to date. With a thread with +200 posts even if you wanted to it's a huge effort to do that. Even in the most complex of topics, they can be broken down a couple bullet points and approx a paragraph each to elaborate. There's also 'bad' advise that doesnt get edited away on topics ('bad' as in it may simply be the case that it was the right thing at the moment but there was eventually a more 'correct' method discovered later and the original 'bad' one is still reposted for whatever reason)
I could copy the posts onto the wiki verbaitm, but you really should have the poster's permission, what if the poster isnt active? It would be a bad idea to paraphrase advise/guides without context, what if you remove an important small detail. The right way to be to frequent the device and get context, but that triples the amount of work to do so properly.
It's no secret that there's always users that refuse to read topics and simply skip straight to posting repeat questions. Short pages with clear instructions are much easier to recommend then having them read though dozens and dozens of posts (which they skipped as they posted without reading in the first place)
Discussions dont really work on a wiki, esp one without consistant-repeat (or even repeat) editors. There's a fair amount of edits for various devices, but there are obviously more devices then editors. Lets walk though it: I want to make an edit, do I post it on the topic's talk page? Short of doing so on wikipiedia proper on a popular change, you wont recieve much feedback.
Do you make a post on each of their device's forums? XDA has sub-forums for each device, but not really a sub-forum for the family itself (back to the SGS/SGS2, there's the main device's subforum and each varient's subforum but none for the entire family, i think) That means making dozens of posts to talk about each major change.
What if it's an old device such as the winmo devices? The HTC HD2 is the only one left on the active part of the xda forums, because it's obviously not just a winmo device now. You're going to have to wait a very long time as they naturally only get a couple posts a month now.
Just as much, unless a mod/admin states to the contrary, you can always assume Wikipedia:Be Bold is implied to apply. I honestly have no issue if my edits are reverted if they are constructive reverts, as that's how wikis work.
If anyone has a issue with the edits I make, you're welcome to discuss it with me and hopefully we'll find a middle road.
Also I've made a reply on User_talkaveShaw#Page Name & Categories (as a fun note: & is translated to _.26_ in links while / isnt, though mediawiki has no issue with either of them, though you cannot directly use & in page names while you can use /) You should read it if the critisim is directed towards me.
tl;dr prove me wrong, Be Bold, help make the wiki better
Edit: HTC_HD2 - NexusHD2 ICS CM9 FAQ is an excellent example of why things should be on the wiki as articles instead of just merely links to a thread. It's about 3 pages of topic points and contains the majority of the topic points instead of having to read 225 (currently) pages to get the same info. (Also, just as much if I inadvertently remove valid content, revert/add it back! That was not my intention, everyone makes mistakes. The xda wiki is pretty well off in that it has little/no intentional vanadalism, you can always assume an edit is in good faith, I dont recall more then 1-2 legitamitely bad edits in nearly a year)

I've asked someone to look at Request 1.
I'm not sure what can be done about Request 2, if people don't want to maintain it, we can't make then

Thanks!
I dont really expect req 2 to be fullfilled in any real manner. Just pointing it out.

Added request 3: enable subpages on main namespace

TheManii said:
Added request 3: enable subpages on main namespace
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Our server admin has told me this has been done.
Dave

I can confirm it's on now, all the subcatagorized pages seem to be working great now

TheManii said:
I can confirm it's on now, all the subcatagorized pages seem to be working great now
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Click to collapse
Thanks
Dave