So now that a couple of weeks have passed since I’ve started using the Samsung Q1, what have I been doing with it, and how have I tweaked it to make it even more useful?

For starters, what have I been doing with it...Most of the time I’m using it to browse the web, read/reply to email, keep up with all of the great UMPC-related sites via Live.com’s RSS reader, read/respond to the forums on Origami Project, check the traffic report, and listen to podcasts on my way to and from work. And every now and then I’ll connect to my Media Center PC via Orb and stream some TV or videos.

The most valuable part about this to me, so far, has been the fact that I can do these things easily and comfortably from just about any location. In the office, in the car, at a restaurant, in the bathroom (getting ready for work of course <g>), laying in bed, in the kitchen when making dinner, on the couch, in meetings, etc. I do have my Smartphone configured to act as a BlueTooth modem, but it’s a pretty slow GPRS connection, so I normally limit my usage to checking the traffic maps when in my car (parked of course).

In order to really make it useful for me no matter what the location, I’ve taken some time to make several tweaks and customizations. I’ll see if I can summarize most of the things I’ve done that may be helpful to others using a UMPC.

Touch Pack

By now you probably know why we created the Touch Pack, what features were included, and how they can benefit UMPC users. So one of the first things I’d recommend doing is enabling the Touch Improvements. By default, the Samsung Q1 does not have these turned on.

Enable Touch Improvements
To do this:
      1. Open Program Launcher
      2. Tap the Tools Category
      3. Tap Touch Improvements
      4. Tap Change, and Yes to log off.

Next time you logon, you’ll notice several changes to Windows XP. They include:

• Scrollbars are wider so that they are easier to target and control with your finger.
• Screen text is larger so that it is easier to read and target with your finger.
• A single tap, instead of a double tap, opens items, such as files, folders, and programs.
• Files and folders appear in thumbnail view making them easier to target.
• There are fewer programs and folders listed in the Start menu so that it easily fits on the screen.
• When you tap All Programs, its contents scroll so that you can access all the program shortcuts in the Start menu.
• Internet Explorer opens in full-screen mode and a full-screen button is added to the toolbar to maximize your ability to browse on a small screen.

Note: These settings are only applied on a per-user basis. If you have multiple users, you’ll want to run this for each. Also, if you find that you don’t like specific settings, check out the Program Launcher Help file for the steps on how to manually configure the settings.

Another thing you might want to consider doing is adding the Program Launcher and DialKeys to the Startup folder so that they’re running for you every time you log in. These are not on by default on the Q1 (TabletKiosk eo users, you can skip past this section). Adding these apps can slow down startup time a little, but if you leverage Standby, which I talk more about later, I think you'll find the intial time hit well worth it.

Start Program Launcher at Logon
To do this:
      1.  Open Program Launcher
      2.  Tap the Tools Category
      3.  Tap Customize Launcher
      4.  Tap the Appearance tab
      5.  Check the box “Open Program Launcher after logon”

Start DialKeys at Logon
To do this:
      1.  Press and hold on the Start button
      2.  Tap Open All Users
      3.  Tap the Programs folder
      4.  Tap Startup
      5.  Tap File -> New -> Shortcut
      6.  Browse to select \Program Files\Microsoft Touch Pack\DialKeys\startDialKeys.exe
      7. Tap OK, Next, then Finish (or customize the name if you like).

Next time you logon, the Program Launcher will appear and DialKeys will be running in the background waiting to be used. These settings will apply to All Users.

Customizing Program Launcher
I’d also highly recommend that once you’ve installed the applications you use on a regular basis, start customizing Program Launcher so that your most frequently used, or most likely to use applications are there at your fingertips (bad pun intended). Don’t forget to try some of the extra program launcher backgrounds available on our site too!

To do this:
      1.  Open Program Launcher
      2.  Tap the Tools Category
      3.  Tap Customize Launcher
      4.  Change Categories, Shortcuts, and the Appearance any way you desire.

For example, here’s a screenshot of my current configuration:

Since one of the main uses I have for it is listening to Podcasts on my trip to and from work, I created an “In the Car” category. In there, you can see that I have WMP, a link to my Podcasts folder, a direct link to the traffic map on WSDOT’s page (this is the link I connect to when I’m over GPRS – very small amount of data required), the WSDOT home page, Live Local for directions, script to start the BT service, and Streets and Trips for my mapping/GPS usage.

There are a couple of things that I’d like to mention about the configuration above, and how I’ve set it up. First, is the Podcast folder is actually linking directly to a folder in My Documents that is synced across my different machines via FolderShare. I’m running Juice on my home machine, which downloads the audio files, and saves them in a folder I’ve marked to synchronize across my different machines. So anytime a new file is downloaded at home, it shows up on my Q1 in the Podcasts folder. Pretty cool. And as you can see, I customized the folder with a portable player icon.

Another thing I want to call out is I’ve installed the TweakUI PowerToy, and configured the shortcuts to not show the arrow overlay (TweakUI -> Explorer -> Shortcut -> None). So even though I’m pointing to shortcut files (.lnk), you don’t get the annoying shortcut arrow. (Start Bluetooth is actually a batch file, which I created a shortcut to, and customized the icon)

Since I’m showing the “In the Car” category, I might as well toss in a picture of how I use it.

I queue up a couple of Podcasts (Roy, when’s episode 5? <g>), plug in my cassette adapter to the audio-out on the Q1 (yea, I’m old skool), tap the play button, and now I’m set for the commute.

Hardware Button Configuration

Okay, so what else have I done to configure the Q1? Well, another HUGE improvement, IMHO, is to customize the buttons on the right side (U1-U4). My personal choice is the following (actual configuration steps appear further down):

U1: Show/Hide DialKeys
Whenever I want to type something real quick, I hit U1, tap away, then U1 again to dismiss DialKeys. (Note: there is a strange problem on some of the devices where the toggle to show and hide dialkeys randomly doesn’t work as expected. Pressing the button shows the keyboard, but pressing again doesn't hide it. If you run into this problem, to workaround around it, just move the D-Pad and DialKeys will hide.)

U2: Right-click Context Menu
There are times where I need to right-click to bring up a context menu to delete a file, copy/paste, or in the Podcast scenario, Add to Now Playing List. I use this button A LOT. And in most cases, this will help compensate for the lack of a dedicated Right-Click mouse button.

U3: Open the Start Menu
This comes in really handy when browsing the web via IE in full screen mode and you want to switch to another running application. Press the button, then tap the other application you want use in the Taskbar. I experimented for a while with some of the freeware On-Screen Alt+Tab replacement applications, but found that I preferred the Start Menu option because there are instances when I really do want to access the Start Menu.

U4: Show/Hide Program Launcher
Since I use Program Launcher quite a lot now that I’ve customized it, it’s essential that I have a way to show and hide it quickly. This button gets that duty.

If you’re wondering how you can make these same changes on your Q1, you’ll need to open up the “Magic Keyboard Properties” applet. To do this:

      1.  Tap Start -> All Programs -> Samsung -> Magic Keyboard -> Magic Keyboard Properties. 
      2.  Tap Add
      3.  Type a Group Name
      4.  Select the button you want to map from the dropdown
      5.  Define each button(be sure to tap Apply after each mapping)
            a.  U1 = Run a program: \program files\microsoft touch pack\dialkeys\showhide.exe
            b.  U2 = Keyboard effect: Shift + F10
            c.  U3 = Keyboard effect: WinKey
            d.  U4 = Run a program: \program files\microsoft touch pack\program launcher.exe
      6.  When done, tap OK.
      7.  There are 2 other options on that tab, which you may or may not want to turn off. Personally, I unchecked both the Show icon and Use sound effect. 
      8.  OK to close out.

Now you’re all set!

Map the Power button to Standby and enable Hibernation support
One of the great things about the Q1 is the speed in which it goes in and out of Standby. This is an excellent way to preserve battery life without completely sacrificing quick access to information. To do this:

      1.  In Program Launcher, tap the Battery icon
      2.  Tap the Advanced tab
      3.  In the “When I press the power button on my computer”, select “Stand by”
      4.  While we’re in there, tap the Hibernate tab
      5.  Check to Enable Hibernation
      6.  Tap OK.

Give it a try. Now bring it back. Pretty fast, huh? I also enable Hibernation for when I need to keep it turned off for long periods of time. Not nearly as fast as Standby, but preserving your last user session is quite handy.

There are all kinds of tweaks you can do to power management, but I’ll save that for another day (or just wait for Frank J to write another great post on his site or in the forums <g>).

Mouse Support

A lot of you have either noticed, or it’s been written that one of the things that the Samsung Q1 could really use is a dedicated mouse stick rather than relying completely on the D-Pad and touch. I definitely agree, however, I will say that after using it for a couple of weeks now, I don’t find that I regularly need a mouse stick for how I use it. But, for those of you like me that don’t like to read through the Help manuals, Samsung did include a button combination that will move the cursor similar to a mouse. How you say? Here’s how:

      1.  Press and hold down the Menu button (it’s the button on the bottom right)
      2.  And while pressed, move the D-Pad on the left. This will start to move the cursor around the screen similar to a mouse.
      3.  While still pressing the Menu button, the Auto-Scale button (beneath the D-Pad) will issue a left mouse click.

This comes in handy when you need to get in those hard to reach places. It’s not quite as nice as having a mouse stick, but it’s better than nothing at all. :)

Miscellaneous Tips and Tweaks

That’s a lot to digest, but wait, there’s more. Here are some other tweaks I’ve done that don’t necessarily fit into the above:

Enable ClearType
I’m a big fan of the font smoothing, so that’s something I always have to enable. If you want to try it out for yourself, do the following:

      1.  Minimize all windows and tap the desktop
      2.  Press U2 (right click)
      3.  Tap Properties, then Appearance
      4.  Tap Effects
      5.  Choose “ClearType” in the 2nd dropdown box.
      6.  OK Twice

It looks great in 800x480, but some have said they don’t like how it looks in 1024x600. Personally I spend 99% of my time in 800x480, so it doesn’t bother me.

Access clipped dialogs
Unfortunately when Windows XP was developed years and years ago, nobody had the foresight to design every piece of UI, dialogs, etc. around a touch-based 800x480 display. :) Because of that, you’ll notice some dialogs are clipped, which usually means you can’t access the OK/Cancel/Apply buttons. I hate that as much as the next person, but I have found a way to minimize the pain. DialKeys. What? Yes, DialKeys.

      1.  Open a dialog that’s clipped (e.g. Internet Explorer Options)
      2.  Press U1 to show DialKeys
      3.  Tap the IE dialog to ensure it has focus
      4.  Tap the Nudge button a couple of times
          
      5.  The window will move up, and now you should see the dialog buttons, and tap OK.

Alternatively, you can also use the Auto-scaler button to change display resolutions. I find that using the nudge button is faster, but I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Interesting Shortcuts to add in Program Launcher
There are a few shortcuts I’ve added to Program Launcher that I thought I’d share. For example:

Start a Picture Slideshow
Quick way to show off photos to friends/family.

      1.  In Customize Launcher, Shortcut tab, add a new shortcut
      2.  Choose a name (e.g. Photo Slideshow)
      3.  Browse to \windows\system32 and select ssmypics.scr
      4.  OK

Now when you tap the icon, the Photo screensaver will start. Use the D-Pad to move forward and back through your configured folder. (Note: to change the folder, open the screen saver Settings by going into the Display Properties applet, Screen Saver tab, and select My Pictures Slideshow).

Show the Desktop
Want to minimize everything quickly? Try this.

      1.  Just like above, create a new shortcut
      2.  Name it Show Desktop
      3.  Type in: %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Show Desktop.scf
      4.  OK

Other UI changes
A few more for good measure.

Hide excessive SysTray icons
One of my peeves is a lot of icons in the System Tray. So in addition to turning off and uninstalling non-essential stuff, I hide as many icons as I possibly can.

      1.  Press and hold Start, and choose Properties
      2.  Tap Taskbar
      3.  Tap the Customize button
      4.  Change the dropdown next to the icons you don’t want to appear to “Always Hide” (I leave Wireless network and DialKeys, but another personal choice thing)
      5.  OK twice

Disable Balloon pop-ups
Another peeve of mine is the excessive amount of balloon pop-ups that appear for various reasons. Those have to stop. Follow the steps in this KB article. And just like the disclaimer says, be very very careful.

Make the Explorer Toolbar even more Touch-friendly
One of the changes made by Touch Improvements is to make the icons in the Explorer toolbar easy to touch. Well, here’s another that make them even easier to touch.

      1.  Open My Computer
      2.  Tap View -> Toolbars -> Customize
      3.  In the Text options dropdown, choose Show text labels
      4.  If not already set, also choose Large Icons in the Icon options dropdown.
      5.  Tap Close

Now the buttons are several pixels larger making them easier to tap.

Final Thoughts

I know that was a whole lot to read in a single blog post, but believe it or not I didn't include everything :) (configuring IE7 Beta 2, minimal applications running at startup, running scripts, tweaking Program Launcher's settings.xml, etc.). That might be good info for another post, or perhaps a topic we can discuss further in the forums.

Anyhow, I hope some of the things I've mentioned help to improve and/or optimize your experience with your UMPC. If you have questions about what I've written, feel free to comment, or start a thread in the forums.

Thanks for reading!