Timescape was introduced by Sony Ericsson as a one-stop messaging app/widget for all your contacts.In theory this is great. You always see the latest updates in a fancy 3D gallery.
Now, in practice, it's very different. The app is quite nice, but far from 100% practical.
There aren't many settings to customize HOW your data is displayed... and it's not an all-in-one app. The 2 major features it is missing are call history (all calls should be logged by Timescape as well, not just missed calls), and of course... email! Why can't I tie it in with my email account(S) to show me any and all emails I have with any given contact?
And multiple updates from the same contact come out as separate 3D cards... there should be an option to collate by contact... like only the contact with the latest update is on top... and all their previous updates aren't displayed until you click on their card.
This is an issue because if contact A sends me an SMS... then another contact B decides to post 20 things on Facebook... the SMS gets buried under 20 cards of contact B. If it was sorted by contact. Then I would only see 2 card... the SMS of contact A, under one SINGLE card of contact B which will only expand if I click on his card.
Now, Timescape does have a practical use, as a widget, it always displays the latest update whether it be a missed call, SMS, Twitter or Facebook update... but the lack of an email tunnel limits this app to just a cute show-off app for now.
In it's infancy, Timescape is fun... it has the potential to be an incredibly great app that could be THE all-in-one news collector if it was refined further, and email was added.
hi, i'm very much interested in getting the mini pro too. reading ur blog entry.. i can't quite understand entirely the contact A and B thing (maybe u can post photos when/if u have time?) but i think i got the gist of it...contact update floods are a hassle while using timescape..??
ReplyDeletemy question is, can timescape not be used as the contact directory?
i also read in other reviews that some apps do not properly/cannot run because of the small screen. have you experienced that already? what apps are those? maybe that won't be such a bad thing for me if i won't be using/needing those non-compatible apps anyway :)
also, can the flash for the camera can be used as a flashlight without turning on the camera?
would you know where i can buy here the white mini pro? i checked amazon's prices and the prices here in the phils are much cheaper than in the US! was quite surprised by that fact.
thanks and looking forward to more mini pro ease-of-use reviews from you :)
Hi v. V. Thanks for reading my blog.
ReplyDeleteYes update flooding is an issue with Timescape specially if you're logged into Facebook or Twitter. Each update gets it's own card so if one facebook friend updates their status 30 times, your last received SMS gets buried under 30 message cards, instead of just one card for that one contact. You can filter results manually but not very convenient.
We do have one of the cheapest prices. Sony Ericsson in Glorietta should have one or you can have one reserved. Ambassador appliances also has good prices in Park Square.
There are a few apps that don't work but not really cuz of the screen. Mostly due to the fact that the Mini Pro is still running Donut 1.6 did you have a specific app that you wanted to use?
There are a few flashlight apps but I've never needed one so I'll have to try one out for you and let you know.
thanks! but the facebook and twitter updates will only really work only if you have unlimited 'net surfing on ur cellphone, right? or if you've logged on to a wifi network, right? so if you're not online on ur x10 mp, you won't have that kind of timescape flooding problem?
ReplyDeleteso timescape is really the only choice for the contact directory?
no specific app really. i'm actually just a call/text person but want to have a small smartphone for convenience when i need to check email when i'm not in front of my comp.
have you bought any apps that can EDIT .doc/.xls and view .pdf files on the MP?
i've also been wondering about the upgrade to android 2.1 or 2.2.. if i get the phone NOW, for sure i can update naman from the 1.6 right? or better to wait until sony ericsson releases the updated x10 mp's?
i use an apple mac too, would you know if there will be any compatibility issues to syncing and updating? from my research, the updating is all done from/with windows :(
sorry for all the questions hehe i'm just really anal about getting the perfect phone FOR ME ;)
oh, i just read ur apps apps apps blog entry. i understand the contacts issue now. thanks :)
ReplyDeletehi v.v. Android phones in general (not just the X10) sync with Google's online services. So if you sync your Mac with a Gmail account (if you don't have one, sign up it's free anyway) ... contacts, calendar, and email all sync with it... then sync with the phone.
ReplyDeleteTimescape is not a contact directory, it's a message aggregator... from SMS, missed calls, Facebook and Twitter. You don't need to use it unless you want to follow status updates.