My name on TV

Call me vain, but I'm a sucker for things with my name. I own a Sandisk Cruzer Titanium (my last name is Cruz); I own a Braun cruZer3 electric shaver (Cruz again); my first name is in a song by Jane's Addiction titled Jane Says. The song is now being used by Jack Daniel's for a TV commercial. The last word in the commercial is my name -- Sergio.

Power in your pocket

The Xpower Pocket Powerpack reviewed at Gizmodo is an interesting gadget. Due to Hurricane Wilma, I was without power for 10 days at home. This charger/inverter would have helped a lot. With something like this in my bag, I can charge my gear on the go without having to plug it in.

Writeboard collaborative document editor and Internet-based apps

While reading Lifehacker this afternoon, I came across their post about Writeboard -- a collaborative document editor that grabbed my attention. It's a collaborative document editor that can be useful when multiple people, separated by distance, need to work on something together. I began reading about the various other web-apps that 37 Signals also produces, which in turn made me think of all the Internet-based "software" that I use.

I can check various email accounts; I can read RSS; I can gain remote access to other systems; I can create blog postings; I can play games and all without anything more than Internet Explorer -- a web browser. Is there anything that can't be done using a web-based app today?

I had a TC1000 which I loaded with free applications (i.e. Open Office, AVG Antivirus, etc.), and everything worked well. I may have to experiment with a PC with only free web-based apps. The three requirements necessary: an operating system, a web browser, and an Internet connection. How functional would that PC be? Could I do everything I need to do on a daily basis with that PC?

Tags: new, tools, commentary

i-mate K-JAM

While I like the HTC Universal, also branded by i-Mate as the Jasjar, Cingular is more likely to carry this model because it is quad-band. The i-mate K-JAM looks like a winner in Size and functionality. One thing that was done right design-wise is when the keyboard slides out, the screen rotates similar to how Tablet PCs work. With all the new models that are about to be released, I'll likely wait until Christmas to decide on a replacement for my SX66.

Tags: PocketPC, phone

Carry your PC on a U3 USB Key

The U3 USB Key becomes you personal data center over at ubergizmo talks about some neat new technology that's headed our way. U3 gives you a platform to run apps from your USB thumb drive; you can use those apps to sync data and remain in stealth mode on public machines. I've been using my Sandisk Cruzer Titanium to sync data for a while, but having the U3 platform would enhance that experience by adding a slick interface to multiple apps I can install on my Cruzer. Now, we need larger USB thumb drives (or smaller apps).

Tags: new, software, tools, security

Small tools that are Smartronix

PC Magazine is reviewing these two jack/plug adapters that are a must for any net admin's toolkit. I plan on getting a pair ASAP, which means I won't need to carry around my cable tester or crossover cable everywhere I go.

Tags: tools, gadget

How to send SMS via e-mail

Lifehacker posted the list of SMS e-mail addresses for the larger US carriers. One thing I will note is that I had to register with Cingular before I could receive emails via SMS. I don't know if that's true of the other carriers.

Tags: email

New feed reader for Outlook

Scoble posts about Attensa -- an Outlook RSS aggregator and del.icio.us tagger. You can also use it to create blog posts for several popular blog sites. I'm not sure I like the posting features or method yet, but the ability to generate tags is cool.

Tags: new, software, tags, del.icio.us

Living room remote redux or Why I still read magazines

Most of my magazine subscriptions arrive digitally via Zinio. Early this year I started receiving Sync magazine, a gadget lovers guide to cool gear. In reading the latest issue, I came across what may be my living room remote solution -- the Philips RC9800i. Not only does it control my stereo equipment (infrared), but it also has WiFi for controlling PC content. And, you can actually view content on its screen. How's that for a living room remote?

Tags: new, home, gadget

Windows Vista and audio

Because I have ripped every CD I own and plan on adding a media center PC to my living room, the Channel 9 video with Steve Ball - Learning about Audio in Windows Vista seemed like something interesting to watch. A lot of new development has gone into the audio system in Windows Vista to make performance and fidelity improvements that end-users will notice. the demos early on in the video clearly illustrate the advances that have been made.

Tags: new, software, Vista, video

New OpenOffice release

I used version 1.1.1 on my old TC1000 and it worked very well. It's nice to have a free Office alternative for a computer where you won't use Office often. Read more here: Slashdot OpenOffice 1.1.5 Released.

Tags: new, software

I feel a rant coming on...

Yesterday was a Hurricane Rita day for us here in Miami. No major storm damage and no work. So, where's the rant?

I had been unable to VPN into the office for a couple of weeks, so I thought I would experiment with the connection since no one was at the office. It's a pretty standard setup: SBS 2000 server with RRAS, 2 NICs and ISA; a Netopia 3346w from BellSouth with a DSL connection and 5 static IPs on the office end; and a D-Link DI-624 router connected to a Westell 6100 DSL router from BellSouth in bridged mode on the other.

The problem began about 2 weeks ago; before that, the VPN connections worked like butter. I was now getting an error 721 when attempting to establish a VPN connection. What had changed?

For starters, I had upgraded the firmware on the Netopia. No harm done there, right? Now, I wasn't so sure. I had also disabled a couple of ISA access policies that were not necessary -- nothing related to VPN. After searching the web, the problem seemed to be related to the GRE protocol 47 not being passed through the routers in one or both directions. The log files did not contain any error messages; the only solution I could find was to adjust the WAN NIC's MTU setting, which I tried, but did not work. Time to focus on the other side.

I had also upgraded the D-Link firmware. The new firmware added WPA2 and did not work any worse than the previous firmware, or so it seemed. I had not changed anything on my laptop, so my focus had to be the D-Link. Did WPA2 break VPN? Was the PPTP passthrough enabled? Did the inaccurate time on the router play a role? After checking everything I could think of, I downgraded the firmware and sure enough the VPN started working again. The time was also synchronizing again. Everything was back to square one on my end.

D-Link caused me all the headaches I encountered (or at least my trusting in their newest, non-beta firmware). Why do software vendors think they can release software that has bugs and not call it beta? Did D-Link do sufficient due diligence when testing this software? No.

Newsflash to D-Link: your 2.70 firmware for the DI-624 does not do PPTP passthrough correctly. Fix it or you will lose customers.

Tags: commentary, troubleshooting

The video iPod?

The AMEX RSS feeds I receive were updated today, and this product was on the listing: RedEnvelope - macvision multimedia player. The description does not go into much detail, and it is only available in black now, but it sure looks nice. I've never seen or heard of this model. Where has it been hiding?

Tags: iPod, video

Renewed my Norton

After reviewing the numerous reviews at PC World, PC Mag and CNET, and looking at ICSA Labs, I decided that renewing my Norton 2005 subscription on my TC4200 was my best bet. At $34.95, it was on a par with some other antivirus vendors' products.

I'm using AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition on my desktop, but I've noticed a virus or two get through on some of my clients' computers.

What else is worth my money? At least Norton is ICSA certified for removal and detecttion.

Tags: antivirus, software

I remember seeing this...

Ars technica has an article about Apple filing for patent on a notebook with digital camera integrated into the latch. They mention Asus having a similar feature, and I remember Sony having a sub-notebook with a camera where the latch would be also. Apple seems to think the innovation is in integrating the camera and the latch.

Show me a laptop with a camera integrated behind the screen -- that's innovation!

Tags: Apple, camera, new

Microsoft Office 12 is truly amazing

Check out this Channel 9 video with Julie Larson-Green - Diving into the new Office 12. I was amazed by the radical, yet intuitive, changes they made. Not only does it look like it will be easier to use, but it should increase user productivity too. Microsoft's Office UI team is truly innovating with this new product launch. This almost makes up for the last several versions of Office that were so similar (2000, XP & 2003).

Tags: software, new

Mobilize!

Pocket PC Thoughts points to an interesting service (if you can call it that) for PDAs and web sites without mobile-enhanced pages. I tested the service with my site and it produced relatively good results.

Tags: PocketPC

Living room remote (reprise) -- WebGuide 3

As you can see from my previous 2 posts on this subject, I have been giving this a lot of thought lately. James is posting about WebGuide 3- use any PC as a remote for your Media Center, which allows you to use any PC or Pocket PC or smartphone to control your media center PC. Best of all, it's free! Once I get a media center PC, I'll have to check this software out.

Tags: software

Microsoft and software security

Brent Hill and Roger Grimes - Chatting about IIS 7's security Channel 9 video taped by Robert Scoble discussing the security of Microsoft's 2003 server, IE and IIS. With all the latest software and patches, Microsoft has a secure product. However, if you don't patch, and you don't know what you're doing, you won't be secure. With the consulting work I do, I see misconfigured systems all the time. I think more critics should point out the virtues of patching and upgrading to the latest version rather than put down all the old software and vulnerabilities that still exist out there.

Tags: security, software, commentary

Touch screen tablets

One vivid memory I have of the Microsoft Tablet PC launch I attended several years ago was the (then) Compaq rep explaining that you could rest your hand on the screen and it would not interfere with data input. Coming from Pocket PC world, where that was a no-no, I was quite impressed. I'm not sure that a touchscreen is good for handwriting recognition, but I think it will boost sales. The pen takes some getting used to; poking icons with your finger is a no-brainer. I hope this is one step forward for Tablet PC and not two steps back. jkOnTheRun: Hello touchscreen.

Tags: TabletPC

Acronis & Tablet PCs

Tablet PC Talk has a press release from Acronis discussing Acronis joining Motion's ISV program.

I have used Acronis for hard drive imaging in the past. The fact that Acroris is taking notice of the Tablet PC market segment and sees the need that Tablet PC owners have for quick backup makes me think that Tablet PCs will occupy a larger market share some day.

Tags: TabletPC, software

Wrecked Exotics

For the masochists out there... www.UberRides.com

WARNING: Not for the faint of heart

Tags: cars

More powerful living room remote -- Motion LS800 review

Although it is probably too expensive a solution, the Motion LS800 is another unit I would consider using as a remote for a media center pc. Read more here: Great LS800 review from MikeWo - The Tablet PCs Weblog - tabletpcs.weblogsinc.com _

Tags: TabletPC

I want the top link; no, I want the top link

Scoble has a pretty funny Google search to share with us today: Are Google's algorithm's political?

Tags: jokes

Quick Online Tips: Absolutely Del.icio.us - Complete Tool Collection

An excellent site for del.icio.us tools. I'm testing out "lazy sheep" now. Quick Online Tips: Absolutely Del.icio.us - Complete Tool Collection

Tags: del.icio.us, tools

Tablet PCs and the legal profession

LAWTECH GURU BLOG by Jeff Beard: Tablet PCs: A Reality Check is an excellent post about the current standing of Tablet PCs in the legal field. Having worked with attorneys for almost 10 years, and having brought in Tablet PCs to the law firm, I can agree with Jeff's comments on the subject. However, I think he leaves a crucial factor out of the equation by focusing entirely on the technology.

Attorneys use numerous tools on a daily basis: a voice recorder (microcassette usually) pen and pad, etc. A computer is another tool -- an under-utilized tool. With a Tablet PC, tools can be combined. By using the speech recognition capability of the Tablet PC, thoughts and ideas can quickly begin to be assembled into working drafts of documents. The handwriting recognition can also be used in composing documents, as well as, for storing notes. With the vast amounts of Tablet PC resources available, I don't need to elaborate much on the benefits Tablet PCs have to offer. I will elaborate a little on the cost savings benefits of Tablet PCs.

By dictating into a Tablet PC over a microcassette, the document begins to take shape immediately before the attorney's eyes. That is an immediate time savings over having to wait for the tape to be transcribed by a secretary and cost savings of both equipment and personnel. I'm not suggesting that personnel can be eliminated, but personnel can be freed for other tasks increasing efficiency. The mentality is that training the voice recognition costs more than the savings of using the technology and increasing personnel efficiency. This is the classic short run versus long run battle. It's also an egocentric issue -- the attorney is more important than all other personnel and their efficiency.

So, before I can argue about the Tablet PC being worth the money, I have to ask, "Are attorneys worth the Tablet PC?"

Tags: TabletPC, Commentary

New headset from Jabra

For those who, like me, prefer over-the-ear headsets, Jabra is finally releasing a decent looking Bluetooth headset. Their former designs were huge an unsightly. This one looks like a winner; I hope the quality is good. Read about it at Smartphone Thoughts - Daily news, views, rants and raves: "Jabra BT350 Over-the-Ear Headset For Mobile Phones"

Tags: Bluetooth, Phone

Tablet PC Education Pack demonstration

OK, so I'm catching up on my video watching today... Emily Rimas - Tablet PC Education Pack revealed is a short video (~17 min.) showing the various components included in the Tablet PC Education Pack. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and the index cards we great for any age student; Hexic is also a great way to kill time.

Tags: software

Blogger for Microsoft Word Video

I've used the Blogger for Microsoft Word add-in a few times. It's pretty well designed and intuitive to use. Scoble was at Google recently and filmed an interesting video about Blogger for Microsoft Word.

Tags: software

The Ultimate USB Key

What a great article! I recently purchased a Sandisk Cruzer Titanium, which comes with some excellent software in it own regard. This will add some great software to what is already loaded on it. I usually carry around install programs for some of the software PC Mag suggests. Now, I can just install the programs to my Cruzer.

Thanks to Techbargains.com for pointing it out.

Tags: software

Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1

A client just got one of these and it is beautiful. He's going to play with it this weekend and I'll get a report on Monday. The smartest design feature on this camera, in my opinion, is the rear panel which covers the screen. It looks like the screen is more protected from damage that way.

Tags: camera

Good deal on an HP iPod 40GB

Considering all the 20GB iPods I've seen were $229 or more, $249 for a 40GB is a steal. Visit dealnews.com for more info.

I'm still going to hold out for a good deal on a 60GB color model.

Tags: iPod, deal

my iPod; my PDA

Brighthand's article: iPods Take Another Step Towards Becoming PDAs makes a few interesting points. I've always thought at least having contact & appointment data available on an iPod was convenient. With the iTunes phone coming this more makes even more sense. I'll have to download it and check it out.

Tags: software, iPod

Apple hoping for a golden snitch of sorts?

Dealnews has the latest on a new Hogwarts edition iPod. The audio books of all six volumes can be added for a fee about the size of Haggrid.

Tags: Harry, Potter, iPod

More hardware antivirus protection coming?

ExtremeTech has this story about Intel taking a $16 million stake in Grisoft, makers of the free AVG anti-virus software program. I use AVG and recommend it to many of my clients for home use. Thus far, it has not let me down -- it updates automatically and scans files daily.

Tags: software, antivirus

Who's the Wiz?

The HTC Wizard is another Pocket PC Phone that will be available shortly. The unit is more svelt than the HTC Universal, and seemingly as powerful -- only time will tell about the new processor it's using. With all the bells and whistles this tiny (by Universal measurements) unit purports to contain, including Bluetooth 2.0, the really good news is that Cingular may get the Wizard.

Read more about it at:

• Engagdet
• Brighthand
• msmobiles.com

Tags: PocketPC, Phone

Popular abroad, but not here

Lots of new gear is making the news this week. Looks like something new is coming from Everex. My first Pocket PC (palm-size PC) was an Everex Freestyle. It was great.

Übergizmo has the details on Everex’s new Pocket PC Phone. Nice specs, but no EDGE. (

Tags: PocketPC, Phone

The search for the golden LEGO

Since I posted about Lego's a little while ago, here's an interesting bit of info I found over at the Gadgeteer: LEGO Shop at Home - 50th Anniversary!

Tags: Lego

Eenie, meenie, miney, MIMO

Maybe I'm a little dense, but... If it's pre-standard, and to reap the full benefit, you have to use one of their pre-standard PCMCIA cards, and you won't see any major speed improvements unless you're transferring files, can someone please tell me the point of those pre-N routers? PCWorld.com's - Budget MIMO Is a Good Value article reviews a decent regular MIMO router, which sounds more reasonable.

Even so, the Internet won't be any faster....

Tags: wireless

Best in class virus detection

This is an interesting article about virus protection: Slashdot | The End of Signature-Based Antivirus Software?.

Tags: antivirus, software

How big is too big?

I'm always getting questions about how large email attachments can be. When you can't send an attachment, YouSendIt.com comes in. Read more about it at Jim Calloway's Law Practice Tips Blog: When the file is too large to e-mail.

Tags: email

Talk Digger: Check who's talking!

This is an interesting search engine: Talk Digger: Check who's talking! It shows you who's linking to any URL you put in. They should do some sort of trackback service. I read about it at the [non]billable hour.

Tags: search

Freshblog: How to use del.icio.us for blogger categories

I'm finding this difficult... Freshblog: How to use del.icio.us for blogger categories

Categories: tags, Technorati, del.icio.us

Living room remote

I originally thought about getting a Microsoft Windows Powered Smart Display for my living room to control the Media Center PC I would have in my stereo rack. Then, as I used my Tablet PCs, I thought a Smart Display might be too large and uncomfortable. Besides, Microsoft and the manufacturers killed them off.

Now, along comes the Nokia 770, which seems to be a good combination of size and functionality. I wonder if it can be used to remotely control a Media Center PC.

Home

Big Head

You could say music is another one of my “passions”. So today, when I was reading the news at Tablet PC Buzz.com, this article grabbed my attention. I listened to Big Head Todd and the Monsters when I was in college (I may have even seen then play once). “Bittersweet” is still one of my favorite songs. It’s pretty cool that he uses a TC4200, like mine, to do a lot of the same tasks I do. While the benefits of a Tablet PC are not quite by far over and above those afforded by a laptop, I agree with Todd – having the ability to write on the screen is definitely worthwhile.

Most of my posts these days are written by hand in Word, and posted using the Blogger plug-in for Word.

GPS for your Pocket PC Phone

This sounds like a cool way to get GPS on a Pocket PC Phone. Thanks to übergizmo.

A history of photography

I bought my first digital camera, an Agfa 1280, in 1999 to take on my honeymoon. It had a swivel lens (i.e. lens and viewfinder pivoted), and is probably my favorite camera for that feature alone. Many photos (and cameras) later, I am using a Nikon S1 – an excellent pocket size camera from a camera manufacturer I consider top notch.

Today, I am reading about my next camera – the Nikon S4. This camera is an amalgamation of all the features I love in my S1, with the lens swivel of my old Agfa, and one helluva optical zoom (10x!).

Read about it at:

• dpreview.com


• Engadget


• übergizmo

I'm jealous...

Looks like T-Mobile Germany is getting the HTC Universal, which means T-Mobile US may get it instead of Cingular (my carrier).

Phones

WWAN to WLAN

Engadget posted about D-Link's latest wireless router with 3G capability. After a storm like Katrina, I could see a unit like this as beneficial for downed telephone lines.

Wireless

Cruzer Titanium

No, this is not a post about me in a suit of armor... It's about my latest gadget and the excellent software it includes. At the end of July, I posted about a new Microsoft Power Toy for syncing files. Then, I decided that I needed to backup files on my new tablet more frequently. I always liked the Sandisk Cruzer Titanium for its ability to hide the USB connector (and the great name), as I broke the USB connector on a thumb drive in my pocket once. I found a good price for the Cruzer Titanium 512 at newegg.com with a rebate making the price lower, so I splurged.

Little did I know, the Titanium comes with its own software applications, including a syncing software called CruzerSync, which is excellent. Now, I have all my e-mail, contacts, calendar items, Favorites, and files in My Documents synced onto my Cruzer so I can "Cruz".

Backup

Design your own LEGO kit

Engadget has a post about designing your own Lego kit. This cool Lego tool, in conjunction with the Lego Enzo Ferrari I saw at a Discovery Channel Store on Saturday night will make for some cool Christmas presents (for me).

Toys

YACFMNCP

Yet Another Contender For My Next Cell Phone -- The HTC Universal. It's quite powerful, has all the features I want, and in black, matches my TC 4200 Tablet PC. Read more at Engadget.

Media to go, please

Recently, I have been thinking about getting an iPod. They are expensive, and in my opinion, a little flawed (battery life). What to do?

I had read about Orb and their service, but I didn’t want to pay for any kind of service like that. Next thing I know, Orb is giving away their service for free. I figured I might as well try it.

My initial reaction is Wow! Orb has lessened my “need” to have an iPod in the immediate future. Now, so long as I have access to the Internet, I have not only all my music, but pictures, videos, and TiVo programs too.

Check it out.

Pucker up...

Being a trumpet player since high school, here is one of those toys that are neat to look at, but I’ll never own. My old Getzen is still great. Thanks to Engadget for finding all the cool stuff.

AARRRRRRRGGGHHH!!!!!

My total frustration with my Pocket PC Phone came to a head this morning. Maybe it was the traffic or the heat – my car has no A/C right now – but I couldn’t send e-mails out using my BellSouth.net account. I had a similar problem yesterday, but thought it was a lousy signal. Either way, I triple checked the settings on my phone to no avail.

Back at the office, I started Googling for an answer, also with no success. What gives!?!

Finally, I checked Cingular’s Customer Service site. They have device tutorials and for my Siemens SX66, I found I had an incorrect setting. All outgoing mail needs to go through cwmx.com. I had my outgoing mail server set to mail.bellsouth.net.

After two days of frustration, my SX66 is finally sending email normally.

Lookout! Here comes "The Boss."

Remember when DOS games had “Boss” keys? You pressed Esc when your boss appeared and the game screen changed to a Lotus 123 spreadsheet.

Now, it appears you can perform a job search using a spreadsheet so it looks like you’re working while you’re searching for a job.

Blogger Word Plug-in

Blogger Word Plug-in

After reading about Blogger for Word on several blogs (Life of a one-man IT department & Blogger Buzz), I had to try it. I use Word everyday; it only makes sense to use Word for offline blogging. What took so long?

Does a "soul" fit in your pocket?

Yesterday, I was playing with Knoppix, a CD-ROM bootable Linux install. While I'm not a huge Linux fan, I was impressed with how quick the OS seemed. I've been using an "Ultimate Boot CD for Windows" bootable CD to troubleshoot and repair failing XP computers, and loading XP from a CD is somewhat slow. Aside from having the ability to play with alternate operating systems, which you can do with products like Virtual Machine, or use and repair systems with malfunctioning operating systems and hard drives, I didn't see much use for these bootable CD-ROM operating systems.

Along comes IBM Research with "SoulPad" technology. They use an iPod to boot into Knoppix and store a user's computer environment. Brilliant! The OS can now be taken with you without carrying your PC.

Read more and watch a video demonstrating the technology at New Scientist Breaking News - Pocket-sized computer 'soul' developed

A contender for my next Pocket PC Phone

Although my Siemens SX66 is still not even a year old, I'm already looking for its replacement. I'm a big HP fan, so this would make an excellent choice.
New HP iPAQ hw6710 and hw6715 Mobile Messengers have WiFi and WinMo 5 - Engadget - www.engadget.com

What's on the horizon...?

I just got through watching this excellent video on Windows Mobile 5.0 (Ford Davidson - The latest in cell phones), and all I can say is, "Wow!"

There are lots of advances coming down the pipe. Making the Pocket PC phones more user friendly is going to make them even more popular. Watch the video and visit http://www.windowsmobile.com for more information.

It's raining Microsoft Technology!

Look at these Download details: SyncToy v1 Beta. Syncing files between computers is supposed to be very easy now, thanks to this Power Toy.

Tags: Technology

Microsoft is giving this away?!?

Scoble has a Channel9 video titled Eric Horvitz - Managing your email better with Outlook Mobile Manager, wherein an in-house Microsoft product is released for free to users. The software looks awesome. I'm going to test it out over the next few days to see how well it works.

Tags: Technology

The Goldfish Hearing Aid : Gizmodo

This obviously comes from some sort of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fan. Now, if only it could do universal translation...
The Goldfish Hearing Aid : Gizmodo

Come to think of it, this might be useful for my parents...

Tags: Technology

A book cannot be judged...

JK offers a page of The worst prose on the planet? Some of the writing is hilarious. All the winners are available here: 2005 Results.

If you haven't visited my Writings page, have a look see. It may or may not share that dubious honor with the lousy prose above.

Tags: Writing, Funny

Technorati Tags & del.icio.us

I'm now toying with tags in my posts. Not sure if this will work as I've planned, but it seems like it should.

Categories: new

Edit: Rather than add too much to the mix for now, I'm simply tagging to Techonorati, which I have verified works.

ActiveSync 3.8 Install Hang

I searched Google and Technorati for this information, and the link below was the only information to offer an inkling of light on a dark subject: Ipaq HQ Forums - Unable to Install ActiveSync 3.8.

Look for the information from Geoff_from_Glenside. His steps are fairly simple, yet they did not work for me. Finally, I tried ending all the tasks including is_setup.exe. Then, I opened the Temp folder by clicking Start --> Run and typing %temp% and pressing enter. Finally, I double-clicked setup.exe, and VOILA! -- The installation succeded.

All that work and about 2 hours of research to install a simple program. Microsoft: 1) you need to document this problem as it seems that many people have it as per my Internet perusing, and 2) making it this difficult to install to a brand-new pc without having had any activesync software installed previously is a real problem; you won't have many adopters if it requires this much trouble to install the most basic of software.

Sync your files with ease

Microsoft is releasing a new Power Toy to help us sync files. The white paper is available here: Download details: SyncToy v1 White Paper.

It looks promising. Maybe I can use this to sync my Favorites across machines. Go Power Toys!

Configuring Remote Access Policies Using Routing and Remote Access

Just became aware of this document via Microsoft's Dowload Center RSS feed: Download details: Step-by-Step Guide for Configuring Remote Access Policies Using Routing and Remote Access. Should prove to be an excellent guide for those configuring Windows Server 2003.

Yahoo!, here we come!

I've been reading about Konfabulator for the last several weeks. At the time, I had no interest in spending any time (or money) on it. Now, Yahoo! comes along and makes the product free, so I thought, "Let's give it a whirl." I have to admit, it is pretty fantastic. Those folks with the Apple Dashboard know what I'm referring to. Try Konfabulator yourself.

RSS aggregators on Pocket PCs

Scoble has a link to the latest Motorola slim phone here: Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger. I like the phone, but about the RSS aggregators... I use Bloglines on my Pocket IE. They have a great mobile version, and it helps keep me up-to-date. I especially like the fact that I use only one service to keep all my RSS information.

Adding ink to a blog

I guess you can use Journal to write it and the Snipping tool to save the file as a .jpg. Then with the "Add image" button in Blogger, you just post the file. Works for me...

cordster - Info

I saw this over at jkOnTheRun, and it seemed like a good idea: cordster - Info.

Ink test

Update: Looks like it didn't work...

Download Movies - OneNote - Microsoft UK

I've seen references to this today on several of the blogs I read regularly. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me, and all I can say is hilarious!Download Movies - OneNote - Microsoft UK

MBNA - the "good" credit card

I remember talking to a friend a few years ago about how well MBNA had treated him when some fradulent charges had appeared on his account. I had never had a problem with them, but I always found that they were changing their terms. MBNA was the second credit card I signed up for while I was still in college (Chase was the first). I made a few late payments here and there, and it cost me.
My wife applied and received an MBNA card from her alma mater while she was still a student. We used it a little too often and I'm still paying for it. In leaner times, I skipped a few payments and I'm paying about 22.98% interest on that card, which is high, but reasonable.
Eric wrote: Beware - MBNA setting traps for you! Aside from those problems, the MBNA card is the only creidt card I have that does not have e-mail notification of statements, or e-bills. I still receive a paper bill from them every month. With the amount of junk mail I receive, sometimes I over look the bill and pay it late. MBNA needs to step into the technology age on this one - Send me an e-bill!

Recycle - Recycle - Recycle

I have always been a big fan of selling used computer and electronic equipment on eBay, but I never thought of it as a method of recycling. The PCWorld.com article - Easy Ways to Recycle Old PCs and Cell Phones--Really! goes into detail on what else we can to do recycle that old equipment we no longer use.

Protecting your kids online

I've been saving a Microsoft Security Newsletter for Home Users that I received from Microsoft in December 2004, because it has some excellent information about protecting children against online evils. Below is the section including pertinent links:

Protecting your kids online

10 things to teach kids about Internet safety
Just like the real world, the Internet can be dangerous for kids. Before you let your kids go online without your supervision, make you sure that you discuss how they can use the Internet safely and establish some rules. These 10 ideas will get you started.

Kids and the Internet: Your questions answered
All parents have questions about how to supervise their children's Internet use. We compiled a list of some of the most common questions and answered them here.

Online predators: Help minimize the risk
Online predators are one of many parents' worst fears. By knowing the risks of online communication and being involved, you can help prevent your child from becoming a target.

Internet safety guidelines for kids of all ages
Some Web content is clearly not appropriate for every age group. Learn how to help your kids distinguish good information from bad and avoid violent or hateful content. Plus, get tips on how to guide kids' Internet use as they grow through different ages and stages in their lives:

Ages 2-4
Ages 5-6
Ages 7-8
Ages 9-12
Ages 13-17

You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Microsoft Community Chat

I am a newbie when it comes to alot of GPO customization, but this question posted over at the Microsoft Community Chat helps out alot:

"GPO Question: How can I secure some training lab PC's to prevent the users from installing software? I'd like to be able to lock down the PC's to secure them and prevent the users from changing settings, installing software & generally poking around.

A: I think the easiest way to accomplish a loickdown like that is to start with one of the scenarios in Microsoft's 'Implementing Common Desktop Management Scenarios' (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/serverwhitepapers/0ede57ad-7796-4b47-99fe-3d38702558a9.mspx).
Pick the parts of a scenario that you like then test and modify from there."

Download details: Group Policy ADM Files

I'm attending a Top 10 GPOs for Desktop Management chat hosted by Ed Roth from Windows IT Pro Magazine, and he just pointed this page out. Important ADM files by version of OS:Download details: Group Policy ADM Files

Google Local

I've seen a dozen postings about the new Google Local services that is for mobile devices since yesterday, so today I am adding one too. I can't say enough good things about how well this works. I'm using it via the Pocket IE in my SX66, but it should work with most new phones that have web browsers built-in.

To test it, open your phone's web browser and type in www.google.com (if you get an error type http://www.google.com/xhtml). This gives you the ability to search for web sites, images, or local places. For a local search example, type in cigar 33131 in the text box and choose Local, then click the Google Search button. This will return all the cigar shops near the Downtown Miami area.

Give it a whirl!

Microsoft Partner Pack for Windows

I just found this on the Microsoft Downloads RSS feed. Looks pretty cool. I actually use the PayPal Payment Wizard, and played with Microsoft Time Zone for a while, but was unaware of much of the rest of the stuff available. Have a go at it yourself: Microsoft Partner Pack for Windows Web Site

Like Prego, "It's in there!"

Rick, I faced the same dilema for a number of years myself (see A converged device? :: www.lobrecht.com :: The Lobrecht Family Website). I had several Pocket PC devices, including an iPaq, and two Toshiba models. I was tired of still having to carry around my cell phone in addition to this stuff, or worse, faced with having left my Pocket PC behind, not having information readily available when I needed it.

Finally, Cingular (the same provider I've always used) came to my rescue. They released the Siemens SX66 Pocket PC Phone at the end of 2004, and I immediately jumped on it. Not only did it have a myriad of connectivity (Bluetooth, Wifi, and GPRS), but it also came in a form factor I was already accustomed to using. I tried an MPx220 once or twice (a friend's and at the store), but I never liked the input method.

Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC Phones, when properly executed, are an excellent choice. It's like a Swiss Army knife-like unit. Everything is available at my finger tips. I can call anyone in my contact list at the push of a button; I can take notes while I'm on a call and I know who I was speaking with at the time I was taking the notes; I have a wireless modem for my Tablet PC everywhere I go; and I can read and reply to email on the go. I can do all this with one device.

T-Mobile has the HP model, which I believe is about to get an upgrade. It is a promising phone -- I didn't want to switch to T-Mobile to get it though. Good luck with your decision.

One of these things is not like the other...

Rick is having trouble deciding whether to go with a Pocket PC Phone or a smartphone (Pocket Pc Phone Edition or MS Smartphone :: www.lobrecht.com :: The Lobrecht Family Website). For me the decision was easy -- I wanted a Pocket PC with a cellular phone built-in, over a phone that could do some things like my Pocket PC. My Siemens SX66 does everything I want and some more that I didn't expect. Good luck with your decision, Rick.

You have what kind of TV?

As much of an alphabet soup as all these new television technologies are creating, CNET's quick guide to TV types does an excellent job of explaining what the differences are between the technologies.

HDTV Primer from CNET.com

Wow! There really is a lot of confusion about what HDTV means and the various qualities. This page, HDTV World - CNET.com, does an excellent job of explaining the various resolutions and differences between EDTV and HDTV.

Everybody's famous for 15 minutes...

I was playing with the Google Maps -- the technology they are using is amazing! To make a long story short, after performing several generic searches like "atm miami" and "pizza miami," I tried "cuban bakery miami." The following linked page resulted: Google Maps - cuban bakery miami. The top hit, Tosca Bakery, is the bakery my grandfather started in the early 1960s, which my father and uncle run today.

HP Compaq 4200 series PCs

For those Tablet PC enthusiasts who want serious specifications on the new 4200 series laptop and tablet pc from HP, here they are: http://www.cruzical.com/blog/4200DS.doc

One way to get your Audiovox SMT5600 from Cingular

While Scoble has been raving about his phone, I have yet to see one in person. Speculation about whether Cingular will carry this phone or not is rampant among blogs. At least in the mean time, Smartphone Thoughts has a way for those who own the phone to convert the branding to Cingular, if they so desire.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog. Another new, free feature.

Where the business people roam...

I think the folks over at Wi-Fi Networking News are a wound a little too tight about EVDO, Wi-Fi and what business people need/want out of wireless connectivity. Their article, "Uh, Oh, Verizon Thinks EVDO Trumps Wi-Fi," talks about the bandwidth necessary to support various applications and still provide sufficient speed to its users. They make a few points like having video applications and large downloads over the same bandwidth will ruin it for the masses, an argument that we have seen and heard on the DSL and high speed cable fronts for some time.

While they made some good points, I think they are a little off on what a sterotypical "business user" is and what are their needs. My point of referrence is the law firm where I work as the IT Director. While attorneys (for the most part) are not the most technologically savvy people in the world, they know the value of being able to connect remotely to their office network. What do most of them want? Email access, plain and simple. Email, which is mostly text based, and requires very little bandwidth. Mind you, they would like this to be available to them everywhere, a la Blackberry.

While the attorneys travel, should the need arise to use our terminal server, they simply connect to the high speed network at their hotel, or use the Wi-Fi at the airport. Do the require the same everywhere access for that purpose. No. They are content to only use it where available.

So, while there are some excellent points in the article, I think they need to put into perspective who the average business user is (not necessarily a techno-phile, or techno-phobe), and what needs they really have for everywhere access.

New Adobe bundle

Omar Shahine shows us a new Adobe bundle of Premiere Elements and Photoshop Elements 3.0. I went to BestBuy last night and found one copy left on the shelf. I'm tempted to try it out. I used Photoshop Elements 2.0 before and I like the album, which is similar to the Picasa software I am using now. I'm currently using Roxio's Easy CD & DVD Creator 6, and I'm not satisfied with the DVD burning capabilities. Read more about Adobe Premiere Elements 1.0 at Omar's blog.

Only one speaker necessary?

I'm a big fan of Yamaha equipment. My father's home theater system is all Yamaha; I have a Yamaha stereo system and speakers; I even had a Yamaha 6-head VCR once. The implications of this speaker unit boggle the mind. One speaker for surround sound -- hell, for your whole system! Read more over at Gizmodo : Yamaha YSP1 Released in Canada.

Does the average user actually update their PC?

Mike McBride performed some Futher research on the new Microsoft anti-spyware that everyone is talking about lately. His observation was that it covered a lot of what XP Service Pack 2 did because he installed it on Windows 2000. That made me think about all the computers that I work on while I'm moonlighting. Based on the average user, meaning a person who is not very technically savvy, how many computers out there actually have XP SP2 installed? I am constantly installing it for users. I would say 90% of them have it downloaded, but none of them has actually clicked to install it.

This brings me to my point. If Microsoft is smart and they freely give this product to users, maybe, just maybe, we will see a squash put on 85% to 90% of the spyware that is out there. If you rely on the average user to install service packs to fix problems, problems will never get solved. A product like the MS anti-spyware will at least help users find and remove problems prior to installing service packs. Maybe the app should suggest that they install any missing service packs too.