Living with Windows Mobile in a non-Windows desktop environment

A few months ago, I bought a nice phone - the Samsung Omnia Pro B7330. I really like phones having the QWERTY keypad because of its flexibility when taking notes not to mention much faster especially if you are familiar with the key layout. I also felt that the phone has the software I need - not to flashy but feature complete. It had mobile version so Microsoft Office (Office Mobile 2010!) has A-GPS, very nice TFT LCD and a decent 3.2 MP camera with AF. The form factor was very appealing so I dived in and bought it.

 

What I didn't consider much was the Operating System running on - Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard. To make it brief, this is the simplest version of the OS - no touchscreen support at all (the hardware didn't have one anyway). Being weaned from years of iPhone use, I was spoiled by Multitouch, iTunes integration, and incredibly compelling social network/media apps. The B7330 had some social network apps but not as great as those made for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android - but it worked anyway so it shouldn't be that bad. A lot of manufacturers like Samsung and HTC even put a specialized user interface on top of Windows Mobile - on HTC, its the Sense UI, now ported over to Android, and with Samsung, the TouchWiz interface (check the gallery for screenshots).

See and download the full gallery on posterous

I later realized that I had to sync all my contact info as well as set up the calendar and the only way for me to do this is using ActiveSync. It wouldn't be a problem at all if I was using Windows as my desktop OS, but its been years since I've used one and not keen on setting up a Windows machine just for sync. I've been using Mac OS X primarily for the past 3 years so I had to find a way to sync between devices.

Fortunately there are a good number of solutions to sync Windows Mobile with OS X. The first thing I tried was a software called SyncMate by Eltima. The free version allows you to sync your Windows Mobile with your Address book and iCal in OS X which should be enough for most users. This sync routine is quite similar how to you connect your Windows Mobile device via ActiveSync through a USB cable. There is also a similar offering by Mark/Space called The Missing Sync which costs $40 USD outright. I think its a good idea to use these desktop sync software if I wanted to go beyond the usual Contact/Calendar/Email sync.

But if your needs are simple and can live with some manual work, ActiveSync is all you need. Since ActiveSync has support for Exchange, you can connect the device to any Exchange server or similar service that supports the protocol.

Things get more interesting if you are using Gmail as well. 

In OS X Snow Leopard, its possible to sync your contacts and calendar to Gmail and Google Calendar. Just check the Preferences menu from the app and you'll see the sync options.

From the Windows Mobile device, Google provides this simple guide. It's actually quite useful. Just make sure to have the sync schedule adjusted in your device as it syncs and pushes email every 15 minutes by default. This should address OTA sync for your Contacts, Calendar and Email (on this case, your Gmail).

For other stuff you want to do with your Windows Mobile phone, its possible to do a lot of stuff via Bluetooth. Just pair your phone with OS X and you'll be able to browse, send and get files to and from the device. I've done this with Word, Excel and Powerpoint files and all work great. It's not automated but its possible to write an Automator script for this.

I guess for now, this works well for my needs and should for most users.

Posted via email from 365 days of Jerome Gotangco

Android newbie Day 3

I'm now in the my 3rd day of using an Android phone full time and there are still some things I don't understand in a user's point of view but made a lot of sense to a developer. A friend on Twitter said that Android is fun for the geek aspects because of the platform's openness, giving application developers a lot of room for expression and creativity when building applications.

I really like the synergy of almost all the core Google services (Mail, Calendar, Talk, Voice) and surprised on how creative some apps can be (Places Directory and Google Sky) but also a bit stumped on how bad the user interface of some (Market and YouTube). Also I have been using an older version of Android (2.1 eclair) and not yet on 2.2 (although the manufacturer said that all Galaxy S models will have 2.2, much to the disappointment of Galaxy Spica users) so I don't have enough info to make a general decision with regards to Android as a phone OS.

But I consider myself spoiled after years of using the iPhone and the simplicity of the iOS and will most likely get an iPhone 4 when it becomes available locally or an opportunity comes to get an unlocked unit. The only thing that concerns me with regards to the Android platform is imminent fragmentation of users caused by the practice of manufacturers releasing their Android sources but not the drivers, hence having a market with lots of handsets with different builds and feature sets.

Posted via email from 365 days of Jerome Gotangco

Samsung N220 Netbook - Great value in a feature-packed Netbook package

I must admit that I am not a Netbook fan. I just find them underpowered for my needs. Since I lug around a high-performance laptop at work everyday, I never really had that need to get something that just won't cut for my computing needs. 

However, this does not hold true to my wife. A few months ago, she went back to school and she needed to bring a computer since school provides campus-wide internet via Wi-Fi. The first thing she asked if she could bring one of the full-sized laptops at home and if they are ready to bring anytime. I said yes, but warned her that her choices are on the bulky side  and needs to be plugged in regularly since the battery is next to dead and won't hold a charge even for half an hour.

After a few weeks at school, my wife starts complaining about the laptop she was bringing at school (it was a 2006 Centrino-equipped laptop from Toshiba). The software suite runs fine (she just needs a word processor and a spreadsheet), but the problem was the size and the power issue. So we decided to look for a new computer that would fill in to those needs, but at the same time, not to put a dent in our budget (since school season is fast approaching). Getting a MacBook was out of the question because it didn't solve the size issue and it was too much for her needs (not to mention we just bought an iMac last year).

After looking for brands and models online, we went to a store and settled on getting the Samsung N220. At the price we paid, I felt that the package was good enough to satisfy my wife's school needs and at the same time still be useful wherever we bring it.

Package underneath is standard Netbook fare with some exceptions

Running on an Intel Atom N450 (Pineview-N) clocking at 1.66GHz, the N220 does have the speed to take on everyday computing tasks without heating up. I can barely hear the fan of the unit at full speed and the Netbook does not heat up underneath. There were times that I felt some heat but I think it happens more when the power adapter is plugged in while charging up the 6-cell battery.

The basic package is equipped with 1GB of RAM (made by Samsung) which is the standard for Netbook packages, although I felt that Samsung should have provided 2GB for this package since other competitors like MSI has started to put 2GB as standard for their Netbook models.

The system comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition. At 1GB of RAM, Windows 7 works fine but you can feel the sluggishness of the operating system with very little RAM available. Plugging in a USB or SD card (there is a slot beside the power switch at the front) and configuring it with Windows ReadyBoost helps a lot in performance and is highly recommended when its not possible to upgrade the main memory to 2GB. 

An interesting feature of the N220 is the Phoenix HyperSpace Instant on Linux environment. HyperSpace provides a basic computing environment that boots up in less than 30 seconds. A Mozilla-based web browser is the centerpiece application of HyperSpace, since the purpose of the Instant on Linux environment is to provide a web client in a very short time. The web browser has the flash plugin installed so flash powered websites will run smoothly. A word processor and spreadsheet is also installed. From HyperSpace, you can boot to Windows 7 but will take a minute for the process to complete. It is also possible to switch back to HyperSpace from Windows 7. You can also set up HyperSpace to boot first before Windows 7 and vise versa.

Samsung also provides some trial software and games. I removed all of these trialware bundled with the system but left some key Samsung software like the Recovery Solution 4 which makes snapshots of your operating system and installed software for future use in case you need to reinstall everything again.

The 250GB Hard drive (again by Samsung) provides plenty of space. On first boot, Samsung provides a wizard-driven software to help you partition the drive. The suggested sizes are pretty much acceptable for users but you can set up your own partitions with the tool. But for most cases, the default setting will work.

The N220 has 3 USB slots available as well as an SD card slot at the front just beside the power switch. A VGA port as well as Ethernet is made available as well. Power is provided by a 6 cell 5600mAh battery which lasts up to 12 hours as claimed by Samsung, but actual use with Windows 7 is a reasonable 7 hours while HyperSpace clocked in to 10 hours of continuous use.

The display is a matte LED which I felt is much easier for the eyes but bright enough even when using it outdoors. The trackpad has support for multitouch, but it felt a bit sluggish, perhaps because of the size of the built-in RAM.

Design aesthetics and usability

The N220 does not look cheap with the scratch-proof (but not smudge proof) casing and the chicklet-styled keyboard similar to what is provided by Apple with the MacBook line. It is actually possible to do touch typing with the layout, but I noticed a design flaw with the PgUp and PgDn keys which are located just beside the Up direction key and below the Left and Right keys respectively.  Size constraints of the keyboard has perhaps forced the Samsung designers to cramp 4 direction keys and the 2 keys to be so near with each other. Aside from this slight flaw, the rest of the keyboard layout will work with most users. The function keys are very accessible but most of the keys only work with Windows 7.

The Netbook also has chrome bezels on the side giving the package some style. The casing comes in two colors, Green and Red, but I prefer the Red color. 

Pretty much everything we need for the price

I can say we've been very happy with this purchase. The N220 provides the basics with some nice add-ons. I especially liked the HyperSpace environment and the matte LED display. Windows 7 Starter was ok but the 1GB RAM was limiting. Make sure to upgrade to 2GB or use ReadyBoost when using Windows. I think the chicklet keyboard is becoming a design standard for Laptops and Netbooks and the N220 has a wonderful layout despite the PgUp and PgDn flaw. But at less than P23,000 this purchase was a good deal for us and its now being used by my wife at school. 

Posted via email from 365 days of Jerome Gotangco

DevCon Philippines Debuts at Cebu Business Month

DevCon comes full circle.

Sync. Support. Succeed. We started in Visayas, hopped down to Mindanao, went up to Luzon, and now, one year since its inception, DevCon Philippines is going back to its humble roots - but on a national scale. 

As one of the culminating feature activities during the Cebu Business Month in June, DevCon Philippines marks a milestone as the premier gathering of IT professionals, students and enthusiasts in Cebu City on June 25. 

DevCon, or Developers Connect empowers Filipino 'geeks' to embrace global best practices for skills improvement and professional advancement, encouraging collaboration, interaction, and mentoringg among developers and academe in an informal setting where IT spells fun.  In a word, a showcase of IT Pinoy Talent!

Join us on June 25 for the three cool events that make an original DevCon: Lightning Talks or fast-paced presentations of the newest technology by the experts themselves; Birds of a Feather for either like-minded discussions or intense debates on a mutual topic of interest; and the coding marathon that is Hackathon, where real programmers shine through hands-on demonstrations and/or joint coding onsite.  Not to miss is beer and pizza, the so-called staple food of developers. 

A pioneering project of the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), the DevCon journey began at the G2iX Tech Bar for DevCon Visayas and has since spanned a ten-city nationwide tour as part of the Next Wave Cities roadshow run by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), highlighted by two major DevCons – DevCon Mindanao, co-organized with the ICT Davao, and DevCon Luzon, co-located at the 10^th e-Services.  

On its first year anniversary, DevCon's growth also brings with it a move outward of host association PSIA and into its own non-profit entity, DevCon Foundation, to create focus and ensure sustainability. Composed of volunteer members, DevCon Foundation has elected its pioneering officers:    

1. President: Jerry Rapes, G2iX
2. Executive Vice President: Diane Suico
3. VP for Membership:  Joanne Eduardo, G2iX
4. VP for Ways and Means: Aileen Apolo-de Jesus, Google
5. VP for External Affairs: Jo-Anne Loquellano, PSIA
6. VP for Infrastructure: Jerome Gotangco, G2iX 

“We are very excited to see DevCon grow into its own foundation” say co-founder Winston Damarillo who will serve as a board member for the foundation “The Philippine IT industry is still in its early stages with lots of room to grow. We are looking forward to helping improve the quality and quantity of world class IT geeks in the Philippines”. 

DevCon Foundation will also be supported by the Ayala Foundation as part of its partner organization. 
 

Visit the DevCon website at www.devcon.ph or follow us on Twitter: @DevConPH 

Posted via web from 365 days of Jerome Gotangco

Personal COBOL

I found this at Book Sale this evening all sealed and still looking
fairly new (published 1992). I could have gotten this and re-learn
COBOL but one thing stopped me from wasting money.

The code samples are stored in 3.5" floppy disks.

Posted via email from 365 days of Jerome Gotangco