[trinition]

I'm pleased overall with my Nokia 5800 (compared to my previous phone, a Nokia 6300), but I'm rather disappointed with the home screen options.  The Contacts Bar theme is a great idea, but why only FOUR contacts?  Why not let me fill up the entire screen or let it scroll side to side with a quick dwipe left or right?

Or if using the Shortcut Bar theme, why not allow a contact bar to be one item it shows among the rows of information (again, swipe left/right to scroll for more than four)?

Are there any other themes available from Nokia or third parties which provide a more powerful home screen? 

[shanrich7]

i haven't tried it yet, but have found an app called myphone that i plan to try.  it looks like iphone and has several rave reviews (on pages not affiliated with selling it)   this weekend this company also has a launch for something similar to a google phone home screen or htc -- or atleast this is what i have read

http://nokia5800.net/2009/03/10/nokia-5800-app-review-myphone/

http://www.immmooo.com/

but i am looking for a great sms threaded / conversational text if you find one that is outstanding.....

thanks in advance

[intoxicatedm]

my phone is actually does not change anything, its a flash based ware which simulates the iphone, it wont custemize the original home screen of 5800, instead it will replace your screen with iphone like unlock slide, you can try it before buy..

if you want a more home screen options as all of the 5800users in this world, make a feed back, a request to upgrade the home screen with next firmware. 

[trinition]

Shortly after I posted, I found Epoc Handy Shell (http://nokia-5800-xpress-music-software.epocware.com/Handy_Shell.html).  This app is quite nice and DOES have a 14-day trial.  I'm usually think mobile software isn't worth paying for, but this one entices me.  Best of all, on the "contacts" page, I have have 12 (not 4!) contacts!  I still have a few suggestions for them.

[shanrich7]

i also saw handy shell and it looks intriguing.  keep me posted of what you like about it.

i downloaded trial of myphone (finally got right version last night) 

not sure what other poster means about app icons  mine was doing just fine.  although it is just a trial and i don't have it set as my homescreen yet. 

it is much quicker at accessing different apps and took me right to the screens -as opposed to doing it the 5800 way (either 4 contacts or 4 apps) 

seriously nokia - if you read these discussions i do have to say how disappointing it is that we should spend the money on such a nice phone, but have to pay for such essentials as a more user friendly home screen  or threaded sms conversation (since your 2 yr old beta program is not available to the 5800)

[radical24]

it's a great app and it also comes with handy weather supbscription included for 1yr. so you get two apps in one. 

[trinition]

There's a lot more I like about it than don't like, so I'll list the shorter list:

• The text message notification shows a preview.  When its a large text message, it covers the whole screen.
• I can't figure out how ot launch the regular application list (as opposed to their 12-quick-shortcut list) from within Handy Shell
• The digital clock font is ugly and I don't know how to changethe font if at all possible
• The grid lines in the app shortcuts and contacts screens are ugly and I wish I could turn them off
• I want to be able to re-arrange contacts on the contact screen by touch-and-drag rather than having to select move mode
• Sometimes I seem to get stuck in the wrong screen (like the contacts screen when I'm on a call)

As you can see, these issues are relatively minor.  I intend to use it in spite of these shortcomings and I hope they continue to improve the customizability and usability of it.

[grayburn]

I have a file that you install after installation of Handy Shell that then makes all the icons default instead of a row of handy shell icons and a row of Nokia icons, i'll up a screen shot for you.

If anyone interested in the file let me know, be aware though that you do NEED Handy Shell first.

Screenshot attached below

[trinition]

grayburn, I'm interested.  Did you accomplish this via the plugin hooks HandyShell exposes or a custom tweakk of your own?

[grayburn]

It's not a plug in, just a modded sis file that you install after Handy Shell.

If your interested then let me know, but it does need signing before installing so if you don't have a Dev Cert you'll need to get one.

[Chuck09]

Nokia 5800 should at least have a homescreen similar to the Nokia 5530 and other touchscreen XpressMusic series. I find it very impractical, for a music phone, to not have a shortcut to change songs while on the standby screen. You still need to go to the now playing screen or require to plug in the music adapter thingy. Nokia should take this into consideration because, IMO, Nokia 5800XM doesn't look like a standard XpressMusic edition phone considering it has different homescreen as compared to other similar XpressMusic touchscreen phones.

[movilogo]

I was using 6300 prior to 5800.

You know what, I think 6300 was a better phone! It could run J2ME apps and I never had to restart it unless changing SIM. It could even play flash files and music quality was good too. It was a more "reliable" phone!

On the other hand, I need to restart my 5800 almost every alternate day as something doesn't work. Often it doesn't restart properly - then I have to take out memory card, then start, then stop, put memory card back, start again.... well, I'm quite fed up with Nokia now....

Very few companies went downhill like Nokia did.

[jjegan]

If interested the MYPhone has 30% discount at present .

   jje

[enahs]

I too am disappointed with the homescreen. The widgets option in the n97 is far nicer than the three options on the nokia 5800. Handshell looks interesting, but as someone else said the font on the clock is ugly.

[chanchan05]

The widgets is only for the n-series. Its sort of their main attraction. The 5800 and other X-phones are simply more of the basic s60v5 handsets with very little modding.