New Tattoo user

[MaxiP]

Hi all - I am now the proud owner of a Tattoo courtesy of Vodafone. I'm looking forward to playing with the device over the coming weeks / months and have promised my wife that I won't mess about with hers, unless she wants me to !

Having been an O2 customer for several years, I was slightly disappointed that they couldn't offer me a good deal on either a shared tariff or 2 contracts. Spoke to Vodafone, and they agreed to a 2xTattoo on separate contracts (100mins, 500texts over 24months) at

 

[Carl C]

Hey Maxi!

Welcome to AF forums & The Android Community!

 

[jalipur123]

would be great when u post your experience of this phone.
Im leaning towards it aswell.
Was gonna buy the galaxy at first but the release was delayed almost a month and well, now i got my eyes on this one instead.
Its not quite as good as galaxy ofc but dont seem to be that bad.
As far as ive read the minuses are-

worse camera
no flash for the camera
less memory installed in phone (still u can use a sd card with 16Gb wich is more then enough)
no accelerometer not sure about this one, anything u can confirm? wanna be able to play games like labyrinth wich uses the accelerometer in them.

And a BIG plus for me is the built in radio. Not even the most expensive ones like magic, hero or galaxy has this wich is really really wierd in my opinion.

Anyway looking forward to see your thougts about this phone.

(im not eng so my spelling might be a little bit off)

 

[nuttyknatty]

Hi all

I also have jut got my hands on a Tattoo.

I've never had a HTC device before, nor an Android one, so I'm a noob to all of this! My last three phone have been Nokias (N73, N78 and 5800) so I'm comparing a new OS with the Symbian OS I've been used to.

From what I've gathered the Tattoo is the little brother of the HTC family and may not have all the features of its bigger (and better?) family members but so far so good.

The phone itself is nicely formed and easy on the eye, and I like the tight design. It's fuss free look, and conservative use of buttons gives it a nice clear and clean feel.

The OS works very well and I like it! It all seems very straightforward and is responsive and intuitive. I particularly like the adaptability of the OS - you can pretty much move anything anywhere you like!

The layout of all the settings and helpful stuff is all very accessible - and the touch screen is perfectly fine.

My favourite aspects are the phone's integrated facebook/twitter apps. With a few touches of the screen I get any updates that my friends have added - and I can update my own very easily.

My only gripe so far is the camera - I've been spoilt with a Carl Zeiss lense in my previous phones and the Tattoo camera just doesn't cut it. Bright colours but little fine detail give you an unsatisfying final photo. I've yet to try the camcorder but don't hold out much hope!

The music player works very well, the youtube app's nice, the browser works fine and the fm radio is perfectly adequate.

I like it!

 

[MaxiP]

Quick review after a few days usage....

The handset is a nice size although the screen isn't going to be nice for prolonged browsing as it's only 2.8". Saying that, it's crisp, clear & responsive and TBH I don't mind that it's resistive rather than capacitive. Android as an OS is just nice - easy to use, a doddle to configure and easy to install apps - only tricky bit is finding some of the apps I think I want but then again, that's what the forums are for !!

The acceleroromter is a bit slow to respond with turning to landscape but it does get there and the digital compass is OK. I'll be using this for Geocaching so only time will tell how good it actually is. Like nutty above, the camera is a real disappointment - low res, fixed focus & no flash. You can't use it to read barcodes, or at least I can't. Picture quality is decent enough in good lighting conditions but poor inside or under artificial light.

Overall, I like the handset - you can tell it's aimed at the mass market but that should be an advantage (IMHO) as developers start to make use of the platform. Compared to my BlackBerry Bold, the handset is small infinitely better looking. Android (1.6) is stable, fast & completely customisable but then again, anyone reading this will know that already. There are a few things I haven't quite figured out how to do or which is the best app to do certain things but again, time will tell.

Best app so far - Google Sky Map. Kept me amused for ages

Maxi

 

[stingyzoidberg]

Hi MaxiP, I can't find digital compass on my tattoo or sky map in market. Any pointers would be gratefully received. I know that some apps are hidden because of the screen size on the tattoo but have been surprised things like Co Pilot not being there as it says compatible on ALK Co Pilot

 

[MaxiP]

Hi

I found Google Sky from a web search - I can't attach it here as it's too big. If you can't find it, PM me an email address & I'll send it through.

I haven't found a decent standalone compass app but I use the one in Geodroid (for Geocaching).

Maxi

 

[chippez]

Hi guys , i just received my tatto and so far its great , but i am having a little problem with some apps , because i had a Hero before and i backupped everything , but i need to install some apps and i cannot find the app installer from the market for this device, and i also need to install custom local for portuguese lang , and this is giving me a Headache , help neeeded , thanks

 

[stingyzoidberg]

Hi

I found Google Sky from a web search - I can't attach it here as it's too big. If you can't find it, PM me an email address & I'll send it through.

I haven't found a decent standalone compass app but I use the one in Geodroid (for Geocaching).

Maxi

Thanks, i have managed to find the .apk file but i get "parsing error". I get this for lot's of app, is it just me?

 

[Astrotoy7]

Hello Tattoo users Thank you for sharing your experiences. I have one question - what is texting like. I have a similarly sized touch dual and cant manage texting without the stylus - even with touch friendlu keyboards installed. How are you managing with the screen size and text input for sms etc ??

thanks in advance

A7

 

[Adw1n]

I've been using the tattoo for a few days now and if im honest texting is not at all bad. Sure its a little bit cramped but its far from hard.. the touch screen is pretty responsive imo

edit * I have until monday to decide weather to keep the Tattoo or to swap it for a Magic, the only trouble is the vodafone version of the magic is 192MB RAM rather than the 288MB version.. im really stuck on what to do :S

 

[MaxiP]

Hello Tattoo users Thank you for sharing your experiences. I have one question - what is texting like. I have a similarly sized touch dual and cant manage texting without the stylus - even with touch friendlu keyboards installed. How are you managing with the screen size and text input for sms etc ??

thanks in advance

A7

It's *OK* - the keypad isn't as accurate as you would like in portrait mode (frequent wrong letters) but is perfectly usable in landscape and it only takes a couple of seconds to switch.

I'm sure that there are better 'standard' keyboards for texting but for me, the default will do.

 

[Carl C]

Have you tried the HTC / Hero keyboard?

 

[russel]

I've got myself a HTC Tattoo few days back.

I begin to find that browsing the net with wifi on is extremely SLOW at first...
Then, I totally cannot retrieve any sites even Google.com...
And I've tried both with the android browser and Opera Mini.

I don't think its my wifi connection problem as the SpeedTest app is showing at least 400kb/s download and 120kb/s upload...

I'm suspecting that my DNS cache is corrupted/gone...all the pages just couldn't be resolve at all...

Anyone experiencing something close to this?

Apart from that, it's a pretty decent phone

 

[MaxiP]

One additional quirk I've noticed is the accelerometer only works when you tilt the handset to the left (i.e. buttons on the right when in landscape).

Can anyone confirm that their's does the same or have I got a dodgy one ?

 

[littletog]

Hi folks,

Another new Tattoo owner here.

In terms of texting, I am still getting used to the touchscreen, but I am finding it easiest to use the phone keypad. The predictive element is great for me cos I've been using an LG phone and the predictive text was pathetic.

I have a question about the size of the widget thingys on the home pages. I won't be using many shortcuts, so I would like to increase the size to something better than those tiny little icons. Anyone know whether this is possible/how to do it?

Thanks very much

littletog

 

[russel]

I've got myself a HTC Tattoo few days back.

I begin to find that browsing the net with wifi on is extremely SLOW at first...
Then, I totally cannot retrieve any sites even Google.com...
And I've tried both with the android browser and Opera Mini.

I don't think its my wifi connection problem as the SpeedTest app is showing at least 400kb/s download and 120kb/s upload...

I'm suspecting that my DNS cache is corrupted/gone...all the pages just couldn't be resolve at all...

Anyone experiencing something close to this?

Apart from that, it's a pretty decent phone

AHA I've just solved my problem.
Apparently is has to do with my wireless router.
Somehow, Tattoo's wifi doesn't like my Belkin's WPA encryption and I've changed it to WEP and it works perfectly....Browsing was fast and smoooothhh....

Now I'm happy !

By the way, are there any sites apart from SlideMe that offers all the free .apk (s) that are available in the Android Market ? I managed to download a few of them from several sites and it works ... So why there isn't somebody host / share all their .apk (s) elsewhere from the Android Market ?

 

[Mad_Sunday]

At long last an Android phone I can afford! I have been a Linux user on PC's for the last 6 years and I am now Windows free as I can sell my Windows Mobile phone. I have just tonight ordered the Tattoo from Orange,

 

[Astrotoy7]

I got mine a few days ago and am really pleased with it. I dont want to rag on WinMo because it was never designed for touch use alone. HTC and SPB etc have tweaked its interface to give it some touch functionality, but underneath its similar to winmo 2003 in some places and very much focused on stylus input. Since the iphone and android, the market has shifted towards touch functionality, so it's expected that winmo 7 should be more touch friendly. MS have already proven they can do it with the Zune HD interface, so time will tell how successful they'll be with winmo7

I'm glad I didnt fork out for the Hero/Dream/Magic as this device fits the price range and form factor(size) that I want. The sense UI is great and even with resistive touch, navigation and texting is easy. Unless you have delicate and nimble fingers, I'd suggest using keypad mode for typing in portrait mode or just switch to landscape. The phone does this automatically (with the help of the camera) but this is a bit slower than devices with an actual accelerometer. Typing in landcape is cool, and easily managed on the QWERTY via thumbs.

I have a few games on it, and have noticed that the bottom of some games cant be seen. For games that work in landscape modes >> if there is anything needs to be seen on the far right side - you wont see it ! The games I've played arent really affected, but if you really want to get stuck into games, you may be better off waiting for the Eris device or forking out for one of other devices with a larger screen.

All in all, the Tattoo/Click gives you satisfying android experience - but in a small form factor and lower price. It of course goes without saying that some of the bells and whistles present in the more fully featured devices are missing.

As I have an asian device, I also did not get access to the market by default. You can get the 1.6 (donut) market aka vending.apk from xda devs but I havent been able to access the store on it - the interface yes but not to actually download anything. I'm in Oz, so users from other territories may have more luck.

Barring that the only way to access particular apps will be to flash your device with an upgraded offical ROM, or one that includes the android market apk by default - HTCpedia contains some official roms but the versions numbers of these were less than my device so I could not update. Also, from wandering around the usual haunts, no one has figured out how to easily 'root' the Tattoo (yet).

The other source for apks you cant get to on slideme isnt really worth mentioning here

Here's some useful links for those with/considering this device:

*Comprehensive video review (eng) >> HERE

*HTC have finally launced the shell customisation store >> http://www.tattoomyhtc.com/

Astro

 

[Alan BCFC 78]

Hi guys

Another new Tattoo user here. I got the phone last Saturday 8th November and I got to say its a pretty good phone. My previous phones have been Nokia N79 and Sony Ericsoons so I am a complete virgin when it comes to Android O/S...

I love the touch screen which is very responsive and I quickly found sending texts were easy. However I was not impressed with the bluetooth. You cannot send files from another phone to yours unless you downloaded a bluetooth app( I downloaded Bluetooth File Transfer ).

Even with this when I try and pair my phone with another it wont allow me and comes up with the following message:

Can't start OBEX FTP (File Transfer Profile ) service search

Reason :
Value is "false"
This has completely stumped me, any ideas as to what it means and what I should do guys/gals.

Also I cannot set a ringtone to a contact other than the ones that are already on the phone, ie the default ones. Again suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mwchadwick]

Hello to all you Tattoo owners

I own a HTC Blackstone and am currently testing an Android port for the Blackstone - the reason I'm on here is that you guys (Tattoo owners) seem to be the only Android users that have an FM Radio app... The Blackstone also has hardware support for an FM Radio (works nicely in WinMobile 6.5) but we currently can't test it in Android as there is no default FM radio app...

Is there any chance that one of you kind souls out there could upload a copy of the HTC radio app .apk file so that we could try to install/test it on the Blackstone?

Fingers crossed that the hardware is the same HTC FM Radio hardware

 

[Huw]

I've tried searching all .apk files, as well as searching for 'radio' and 'tuner' and cannot find it.

 

[mwchadwick]

I've tried searching all .apk files, as well as searching for 'radio' and 'tuner' and cannot find it.

Thanks Huw... I had downloaded a Tattoo ROM (from htcpedia.com) and expanded the system.img file but couldn't see anything like a fmradio.apk file myself, bit of a mystery

I wonder how the radio app is running?