[Bitpim-devel] Proposal for some config variables

[Stephen Wood]

I would like to open for discussion the idea of disabling by default
some of BitPim's advanced features when we release 0.8.0. These
features, namely BitFling and the FileSystem view could only be used if
the user first manually edits config parameters. (Perhaps
"allowbitfling=1" and "allowfilesystemview=1"). With BitFling, users
sometimes get stuck because they click on the shiny BitFling button, not
knowing anything about it. Also I believe that FileSystem view should
not be so easy to enter. (The config flags would be documented, so
enabling BitPim or the Filesystem view would be easy for anyone who
reads the docs.)

Also I would like to add a flag (diableblacklistedphones=1) that would
disable checking for phone that we have excluded from Bitpim (Just the
Samsung A700) now .

Stephen

[Mike Schiraldi]

Also I believe that FileSystem view should not be so easy to enter.

I don't know about that .. for example, on the VX7000, the filesystem view
is necessary for getting videos off. If you really want to protect users
from themselves by forcing them to read the docs, how about making the
phone's filesystem read-only unless they explicitly edit the config file?

[Stephen Wood]

Post by Mike Schiraldi

Also I believe that FileSystem view should not be so easy to enter.

I don't know about that .. for example, on the VX7000, the filesystem view
is necessary for getting videos off. If you really want to protect users
from themselves by forcing them to read the docs, how about making the
phone's filesystem read-only unless they explicitly edit the config file?

That sounds like a good possibility.

Stephen

[Vic Heintz]

Post by Mike Schiraldi

Also I believe that FileSystem view should not be so easy to enter.

I don't know about that .. for example, on the VX7000, the filesystem
view
is necessary for getting videos off. If you really want to protect
users
from themselves by forcing them to read the docs, how about making the
phone's filesystem read-only unless they explicitly edit the config
file?

I have similar reservations. What about users of unsupported phones
whose only option is to choose "Other CDMA Phone"? Shouldn't it be
their default option to easily use filesystem view?

[Stephen Wood]

Post by Vic Heintz

Post by Mike Schiraldi

Also I believe that FileSystem view should not be so easy to enter.

I don't know about that .. for example, on the VX7000, the filesystem
view
is necessary for getting videos off. If you really want to protect
users
from themselves by forcing them to read the docs, how about making the
phone's filesystem read-only unless they explicitly edit the config
file?

I have similar reservations. What about users of unsupported phones
whose only option is to choose "Other CDMA Phone"? Shouldn't it be
their default option to easily use filesystem view?

I have mixed feelings about the filesystem view. I have seen people
mess up their phone with it. (Making writing a little harder would
alleviate that somewhat.)

On the other hand, it is the filesystem view that brought me to BitPim.
When I had discovered BitPim, I had pretty much worked out much of the
phonebook protocol for Sanyo phones. I didn't have the energy to start
my own sync program. The filesystem is essentially unused in the BitPim
Sanyo support, but the fact some kind of filesystem worked, convinced me
that my phone was in the same "class" as the phones supported by BitPim
(as opposed to GSM centric sync programs).

Of course what really matters is what Roger thinks as I am proposing to
make two significant works of his harder to use. He probably hasn't
replied yet because he seems to have a life outside of BitPim, and is
thus only doing BitPim 23/6 instead of 24/7!

Stephen

[Roger Binns]

Post by Stephen Wood

Post by Vic Heintz
I have similar reservations. What about users of unsupported phones
whose only option is to choose "Other CDMA Phone"? Shouldn't it be
their default option to easily use filesystem view?

I would like to do the following:

- For Other CDMA Phone, turn off auto for port selection

- Have a wizard for phone selection with lots of pictures etc

- For the filesystem view, have it off by default and if you try
to turn it on the have a dialog warning you about the end of
the world etc. Most people will still ignore that, but it is
then their problem. We could make it even harder to turn on,
but all that will happen is that some other people will take
BitPim and re-package it with the filesystem view turned back
on again.

Post by Stephen Wood
He probably
hasn't replied yet because he seems to have a life outside of BitPim,
and is
thus only doing BitPim 23/6 instead of 24/7!

Actually it is worse than that. I was out till 2am last night as a friend
was playing a gig. I can also no longer claim to be unemployed as I am
actually doing long term contracting. Unfortunately it is a 1 hour drive
each way so that takes 10 hours out of each working day. And then I also
managed to get the sore throat thing doing the rounds here :-)

Roger