Portrait Mode???

[JedTheHead]

I am liking this thing more and more - just have a few complaints...

- The screen bezel is a little too big - but I will really decide when I can actually play with one.

- The capture button and jog dial could be better suited for one-handed use (I realize what Sony is going for here, though.)

- I want to be able to switch to portrait mode too... has anyone seen ANY evidence of being able to do this??? All the screenshots are landscape - which is cool.. But for legacy apps and one handed "PDA mode" (closed with screen facing out) portrait mode seems like it would be nicer. This would be especially cool and usefull if a portrait mode could make the top of the screen be on the lanyard ring end and you could operate the jog with the same hand you held it with.

I wonder how legacy apps will hande the landscape mode.

My thoughts....

Jed

[n2ifp]

I guess we'll find out soon enough as to what kind of magic Sony has pulled off...

[Shrink]

Just talked to sales at Sony and "Rod" says that the display is ONLY landscape mode.
<sigh>:(
alan

[n2ifp]

Right! It's designed as a desktop tool. Great for email, web surfing, and word processing. I see it to be a big hit in the corporate world, but not for the college student on the go.

The camera and other stuff were just thrown in accessories.

[ballistic]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Right! It's designed as a desktop tool. Great for email, web surfing, and word processing. I see it to be a big hit in the corporate world, but not for the college student on the go.

The camera and other stuff were just thrown in accessories.

I agree with you n2ifp, I've been saying the same thing all day. It should appeal to enterprise/business users as a viable alternative to a laptop for PIM, WP, email, etc.

AFA the landscape mode, it will work with any 320X320 hi-res app without a problem. The VG fills in on the left or right of the main screen. No more worries about Hi-Res+ compatibility as with the NX/NZ series.

[dannyboy]

Just saw a screenshot of the leaked T3 and it can do portrait as well as landscape with a Hi-Res+ display...

suppose that'll spur sony to do something perhaps with the UX60?

[Griff]

I just can't believe they limited the UX to landscape only!

I cannot imagine walking through a store checking off items with my clie in tablet mode in a landscape orientation. Fewer items in the screen, an akward, non-secure grip on the unit.

Not to mention the variety of apps that have better function in a portrait mode.

I just don't understand...it's just a software thing, why not include both orientations in the API?

[sigelang]

the document/file you are viewing. Not the hardware.

IMHO, For the second time, I am very dissapointed with Sony.

___________________________
It is time to look for an alternative.

[n2ifp]

If you don't like it, then it wasn't intended for you. Sony says the design will be incorporated into other Clie products, whatever that means.

[Unregistered]

"I just don't understand...it's just a software thing, why not include both orientations in the API?"

It's a Sony thing. They heard n2ifp wanted one.

[sigelang]

NX80V

[PhilB]

Interesting about the lack of portrait orientation. One of Sony's big competitors in Japan is Sharp (of Zaurus fame). I have a Zaurus SL-C750 which has a better screen w/no big black border AND (ta dah!) when you flip the screen around (over the keyboard) it switches to portrait mode (great for those legacy Linux programs.:D

[Unregistered]

i think with premium price of UX, sony should have matched up with zaurus as phil precisely mentions.
i am in medical field and love to use books and references available for the palm and UX is a nice tool which allows reading and typing. However, sharp has done a better job just by looking at specs of their scl750 machines and ability to use it in portrait mode. if they incorporate wireless technology, then we will have a PERFECT PDA in history for the first time!. hope sony will do the unfinished business with UX..

by the way, are any palm emulators for Zaurus??? where is a good software library ie like palmgear.com for the zaurus?

thanks

[n2ifp]

I agree that if the Zaurus had the Palm OS, it would kick butt!

Obviously, the UX isn't intended to be used other than in landscape mode, although according to pdagal, Sony will release the API's for portrait mode also.

My laptop runs in landscape mode, not portrait, although I guess now there are tablet PC's. In any case, I have the NX80 and possibly will get the UX too.

[T1000X]

Yes, if the UX models had a portrait mode I would consider them even more.

[JedTheHead]

I wonder... do you think it will be possible / feasible for Sony to release a post-production firmware / software update that will allow portrait mode? From all the reading I am doing here and elsewhere, it certainly appears that no portrait mode is the most common complaint - surely Sony is listening!?!?!?!

I would buy one of these right now (if they were in the stores) if they supported portrait mode - and I still might buy one anyway. I would just hate to buy one and have them come out with a new one two months later with portrait and OS 6.

A little off topic - but, I started this thread :) I am a Palm user from way-back but moving to the Clies. Does Sony support / release Palm OS upgrades on their devices like Palm does? (More specifically - do you think the UX50 will be upgradeable to OS 6 when it comes out?

Thanks,
Jed

[cyclops]

i think that maybe sony will put out an update for the portrait mode and if not than maybe someone will make a hack(although palm os 5 doesnt support hacks) or some kind of software that will make the screen to be in portrait mod.

[Unregistered]

pdagal reports that the APIs will be released for landscape mode.

[n2ifp]

I am overdue for an eye exam!

[Gravity]

Sony release something extra? hehe. HAHAHAHA

okay they might, but i wouldnt count on it :rolleyes:

[Eddy]

yeah, I rememeber reading somewhere in the Japanese links about the new UX-Series, how Sony will release the APIs of their new coming unit. :eek:
Something for a change, but awkwardly as this might sound, first we have Portrait mode, then Landscape mode became the target. Now that there's landscape mode, Portrait mode comes back as another demand.
well, surely Sony can do that simply. :D

[rened]

I'm not so sure it is so straightforward. Rotating on a 160x160 or 320x360 screen can be con by exchanging pixels. But rotation of a 320x480 screen is not that simple.
The application needs to now in what state the screen is and adapt the screen contents accordingly. It's even worse: The application needs to get a message when you switch from landscape to portrait state or vice versa.
Not that it can not be done (OS6 will have this feature and maybe the TT3 also), but it is something the OS has to be capable of, which is not merely a matter of pixel swapping like old OS4 hacks used to do.