Database Users

Activesync backwards steps

Apart from all the nightmares about making AS 4.2 work with the Wizard at all and then making it RLAD when it does work, there seem to several backwards steps.
Like, the fact that there's no backup facility.
Like the fact that conflicts between PC and PDA only have an option to overwrite one or the other as a default not highlight the issue like previous versions.
:roll:
Any others people can think of ?
DBo.

Yes - assuming you are comparing it to a 3.x version running with a wm2003 pocket pc:
- you can't sync over wifi (I find this REALLY annoying)
- it doesn't sync properly with avantgo (though you can use the avantgo program to sync when the device is cradled)
Chris

it's a complete back'o'****e as far as I'm concerned.
Please email Microsoft support and tell them what you think......Surely can't hurt.
I relented and purchased Sunnysoft's backup manager to replace that bit of the functionality, just something too importantant not to have. It's only $14.95, damn good little app.

Sunnysoft
Yes, much as it offends my cheapskate nature to pay for software. Since it does it's job (unlike most Microsnot sw) and it is cheap (unlike most Microsnot sw) I may actually have to pay for it now the trial has expired.
Ho hum
:wink:

I have never used the old 3.* activesync version since I started with a WM5 phone (HTC Wizard) but in my opinion the 4.* versions have hardly ANY use at all. I had a SonyEricsson P900 before this and the software for that had nearly everything one could need. The reason to disable all the features they had in the 3.* ActiveSync versions is one I will never understand. Does anyone have the Support-Email from Microsoft? We should start a petition and send them the link
1. Wifi + Bluetooth Sync
2. Backup possibility
3. Fix the problems with activesync disconnecting
4. Fix Avantgo and Worldmate sync issues
5. ...

5. Lack of support for .mdb - .cdb conversion
AS 4.1 is, as you say, a bag of ****e.
As for the "security issues" associated with sync over wi-fi - then write some code to allow admins to bloody well disable it not just remove the facility.
Another bag of ****e - the MS BT stack, why do we pay for this junk :x

There's really no excuse for a company as big as Micro$oft churning out software as flaky as this. It's not their first attempt at this, it's not even a beta. When you consider some of the great (and stable) bits of software out there for the pocket PC that have been written by enthusiastic amatuers in their bedrooms. I never had these sort of problems 15 years ago with my Psion Organiser. So much for progress :x

darrin2101 said:
I never had these sort of problems 15 years ago with my Psion Organiser. So much for progress :x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen m8! AMEN!!

Let's not forget the broken uninstall feature...
I might be just just really unlucky, but I seem to loosing the uninstall lottery more time than I win it. As a matter of fact of the last 8 programs I have tried and decided to uninstall from my 8125, none have uninstalled properly - most not at all.
I'm sure this has been a boon for the 3rd party backup program vendors like spb (which is a great product actually) but it really limits ones ability to try before you buy on a production device. Almost makes it so you need a seperate test machine. Is this the method behind the madness?
AS 4.x is truely a step backwards. I'm AMAZED no one has come out with an alternative. But then again I'm not a programmer and so don't know the full extent of what that would involve. I put $50 down. Shall we create a kitty and see who takes the project on? Is it even possible?
Signed,
Unbelievably Frustrated with AS 4.x

Let's not forget the broken uninstall feature...
I might be just just really unlucky, but I seem to loosing the uninstall lottery more time than I win it. As a matter of fact of the last 8 programs I have tried and decided to uninstall from my 8125, none have uninstalled properly - most not at all.
I'm sure this has been a boon for the 3rd party backup program vendors like spb (which is a great product actually) but it really limits ones ability to try before you buy on a production device. Almost makes it so you need a seperate test machine. Is this the method behind the madness?
AS 4.x is truely a step backwards. I'm AMAZED no one has come out with an alternative. But then again I'm not a programmer and so don't know the full extent of what that would involve. I put $50 down. Shall we create a kitty and see who takes the project on? Is it even possible?
Signed,
Unbelievably Frustrated with AS 4.x

Thinking Ahead With Office Apps

The Office apps on PPC's have always been subpar, EPOC Word can still do more than Word Mobile. But I've just been playing with Office 12 beta & it occured to me ..
with all the new features & file formats (essentially a zip file with a lotta stuff inside, whats gonna happen to Windows Mobile compatibility? Is MS gonna release an upgrade (or let it trickle through operators) or are we gonna get stuck with second rate apps again?

I would hope not.
Surely the file format isn't totally new?
If this were true, I would expect the only possible way that Microsoft would do this is to make a new filter available for Activesync to enable a conversion between WM and Office 12 document versions, but this would be short-sighted, as it would cause emailed documents to be unreadable, as they do not go via Activesync.
Most likely, WM5 versions of the Mobile Office apps have the ability to read the documents already built-in. Microsoft have been working on Office 12 for quite a while now, and the document formats should have been set by the time the WM5 editions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint Mobile had been written.
Unless, of course, the hadn't, and we're in for a round of frustration...

I would have thought that they would send the updates to the various operators to customise, and then let the end users download from them.
After all, when you update the device, you are completly rewriting the data, so they could just whack in updated Pword, POutlook etc.
I doubt MS would take too long updating WM5 to be able to read any new MS formats, after all, it would be in their best interest not to delay any updates like that. However, saying that, this is MS we are talking about
As for PPC office apps being subpar.... agreed whole heartedly The Psion 5 I used to have, geez how many years ago... was better at displaying and editting office documents.

The reason why I think (nay, hope!) that they don't do it via Operator/Manufacturer update is that those updates that AGES to come out (development, integration, testing), and there is no way to force any operator to update the software for any of their existing devices, so, most devices won't even GET those updates.
No 2002, 2003, or 2003SE devices would be able to read the new file formats, ever, and some WM5 devices won't be updated either.
As an example, read many of the Wizard or Himalaya entries from user angry that their devices didn't get a WM5 update (and it's just yet another software upgrade). The Manufaturers (Dell, HP, i-mate, Qtek) and Operators (O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile) would rather you buy a new device than develop any kind of update to and old device that's not going to earn them cash. Unless the update fixes an error so major that it could LOSE them money, as result of bad word-of-mouth or lawsuits.
So I really, really hope they have something else up their sleeves.
Heh. Unless the update comes with all kinds of extra goodies to make up for the pain of waiting. 8)

Office 12 does have a whole new file format. Basically it keeps text, formatting, pics, etc separately in a glorfied zip file.
And as has been said above, it takes forever for operators to do upgrades, Orange only recently released one for the BlueAngel & it doesn't even bring it up to the latest roms.

valid point about sales.
but if MS were to release an update bypassing the various operators, I'm sure they would be slightly miffed. As each company spends a fair bit of money and time on developing those roms.
I guess what it boils down to is... if you want to open the latest MS files, and your PPC/Phone can't open them, get one that can (when available), if not, well, tough luck by the time one that can is available, you can bet your life that MS will have a new Office Suite in the pipeline, which will put you back to square one :|
I suppose this would be where 3rd party software developers could rake in the cash, I don't know if there are any available, as I rarely open desktop documents on the PPC.

Thank you mods!

Awesome! A Shift section of its own. Now if we can just get our hands on some working models.
I'm hopeful someone can crack the stupid dumbed down version of WM that HTC is installing and figure out how to get WM6 on this beauty. The two dumbest things I've read so far are that a.) the PDA side can't access the SD card slot (that's even more idiotic than not being able to access the hard drive IMO), and the SnapVue program itself. I understand their desire to save licensing costs, but the whole decision to isolate the PDA side sounds like a deal they made with the telecoms - forcing the PDA side to only interact with the laptop side only through the telecom's system (where they can charge you with a data plan) is idiotic. Personally, I expect to use this device as a stand-alone laptop and not even use the 3G/HSPDA - I've already got that on my Trinity and paying for two full data plans makes zero sense. If anything, I'd like to do a BT modem lash-up through my phone.
If anyone's looking for some ideas to hack this thing, my personal wish list is:
1.) Get WM6 installed instead of SnapVue (may be a problem given the screen resolution tho)
2.) Unlock the SD card for the PDA side
3.) Unlock the hard drive for the PDA side (this would be HUGE)
Just imagine - you're on a flight, you watch a full movie on the PDA side off an SD card, using low battery consumption, then in the airport you tap into the WiFi and log into your work network to get work done, then later at the hotel you plug in and do some real work on the laptop side. Add in checking your push email on the cab ride to your hotel (PDA side, full keyboard) if you choose the HSPDA activation. That's my dream machine! now if I only knew enough code to make it happen! <grin>
Mike

Having been in the postion of carrying around (for several years)
a good data PDA (this means a Psion)
and a phone
and a Windows Mobile PDA (often an XDA so that makes for 2 devices total)
I have been waiting for Mr Shift to arrive since its first showing in early 2007.
In November the PDF manuals were available from FCC ... what a total disappointment. Did somebody from Apple join HTC? Did they close the architecure at every possible moment ... We need at least:
a) Ability to run full WM6
b) Ability to install any WM6 application
c) Ability to use it as a (very large) telephone
d) Ability to let the PDA part of the Shift be able to access the local Vista and a remote Windows machine
Many people (like me) use their Windows mobile PDA to act as a bridge from their work outlook (probably server) and their home Outlook standalone.
Currently my XDA's or equivalent forms that important link from my Work calendar, tasks and contacts, and my home calendar, tasks and contacts.
Any PDA replacement needs to be able to at least do that!
e) If using a 3G SIM and appropriate data plan then access via this to the Interweb from both PDA and PC sides.
The Shift would seem to make a pretty decent UMPC and it includes a keyboard, but as-is it seems the PDA function and the phone function are an insult to ones intelligence.
Sorry about the grumpy post!

we all
Hi,
No need to appologise.
I think we all feel the same about is.
The choises HTC made make no sence at all and make the PDA side of the shift nothing more than some kind of side-show.
Like everyone else I´d like a FULL pda side. With all normal apps (including office). Doing without phone capabilities might not keep me form buying the shift but if it has not got full pda functionality then it is totaly uninteresting. I would buy a small notebook with longer battery life. (and with XP for that matter).
So it´s time for the guys at HTC to wake up!
Maybe they could make different versions? I would be willing to pay a bit more for a version with full WM6...
Greetz,
Pfeffa-rah

Pfeffa-rah said:
Hi,
Maybe they could make different versions? I would be willing to pay a bit more for a version with full WM6...
Greetz,
Pfeffa-rah
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How I agree!
Huib

I agree with everyone that the droned down version of this device sucks, but don't blame HTC. Blame vaporware maker Dualcor for their once great idea and not can't be found Dualcor PPC. It was suppose to run windows, and windows mobile and be a phone. After some time, they realized they couldn't do the phone thing and eventually the product, to my knowledge, was never fully released. HTC can't put the full version of windows mobile to due copyright infringment. Dualcor even stated it.
http://www.dualcor.com/
The link will take you to their website and if you read through, it was innovative and great and never really came about.
Can you truly blame HTC for doing the right thing and infringing? I would love for HTC to take Dualcor to court.
In an old saying that applies to dualcor, "either sh*t or get off the pot!"
Just my two cents. Flame away!

dont worry
hey we have a forum here (the best darn forum in the world) n boy we will get this device to perform as we want to. it may take time and help from the gurus out there but it WILL be done so lets just get our wallets / purses at the ready and hope htc release the shift this decade??

landshark said:
1.) Get WM6 installed instead of SnapVue (may be a problem given the screen resolution tho)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm... SnapVue is just a name HTC came up with... what it *actually* is, is just a little DLL they wrote that overlays the WM6 taskbars so that you can't tap on them... I know because I've already gotten my hands on the relevant material and ported SnapVue to the Athena... what's more, I've also patched the DLL so that it doesn't disable the taskbars any more... assuming we can use Activesync to do our dirty business for us in terms of getting new certificates on the damn thing (failing that it'll be SPL hacking time) then it won't be a problem.
the proper Vista OS is interesting too... it's actually deployed in a bastardised sort of Symantec Ghost image type thing, but it weighs in at 8GB so there's not a bloody chance in hell you'll be seeing updates to this in their entirety.

Hey guys I'm new to this forum and everything that you guys do here(so if you could use a little patients with me i would appreciate it), but this forum has helped me to do some cool things with my htc titan, and for that i thank you. Now i ask you what kind of mods do you think will come out for the shift? There are some great developers here that can do some cool things, and from reading this topic do i correctly gather that it is possible to put wm6 on the shift, and it is impossible to put xp on the shift? sorry for the long post, but one last thing. What service provider and plan would be offered for the shift or what would be best for the shift?

x1 xperia & blackberry connect - customer action?

Would a possible plan of action by end-users result in X1 Blackberry Connect compatibility?
A possible petition or mass correspondence by Xperia users is feasible.
Before proceeding the following information would be helpful. Please contribute if you have the answers.
1) What is the future of Blackberry Connect? Are companies forgoing involvement with BBC in wait for the rumored "BlackBerry Application Suite?"
(Possibly nothing more than a Storm theme for WindowsMobile?)
2) What is SonyEricsson's current relationship with Blackberry? I understand they have a number of SE Blackberry enabled devices (SE & BBC), but as a manufacturer they are no longer listed on the official BlackBerry Connect main page. Instead you have to dig deeper under the Blackberry Connect > Europe menu.
3) Does anyone know the procedure a manufacturer must go through to get their device BlackBerry Connect enabled? Is the decision taken from the manufacturer or RIM? If there is a fee, how is it calculated? Is it per company, per device platform, per device enabled, etcetera?
4) Any potential reason that SonyEricsson have not enabled BlackBerry Connect for the Xperia X1?
5) How have SonyEricsson responded to mass customer correspondence/action in the past?
If anyone is interested in taking this a few steps further, please let me know. Any support or feedback would be appreciated. I am sure both private customers and enterprises would be interested in having BlackBerry features on their SonyEricsson Xperia X1's. I have also posted this on Xperia X1 forums and possibly some others.

I'm very interested in this. mostly i want to tap into the blackberry messenger service!

I am also very interessted in BB connect on the X1!!
The Xperia X1 would be my first choise for a new phone/PDA, but I am stuck to Blackberry if I want to read my company mail.

I am alos Very Interested in this.
I have X1 sitting on my desk doing very little for me.
Have gone back to my Nokia E65 because Blackberry Connect still works on that device.
But really want to move to my X1 for good.
this will never make it as a serious Corperate phone without some sort of Blackberry support.
Thanks in advance if we get anything out of this.

have you tried asking se or blackberry?
i'd have thought that was a better course of action.
if se never said they'd support it then i cant see how a class action would help.

Thanks to everyone who have given this issue their support.
There are a few steps I would like to do by Friday the 13th of February.
1) Contact both SE and RIM on the closest I can get to an official word regarding plans for X1 and BBC connectivity.
2) Contact other Xperia blogs to see if they can link this post on their websites.
fards said:
have you tried asking se or blackberry?
i'd have thought that was a better course of action.
if se never said they'd support it then i cant see how a class action would help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned above, I'm contacting SE to get their verdict.
By customer action I mean the ability to mobilize customers to voice their opinion on an issue. Including but not limited to petitions, mass correspondence, etc..
If anyone has ideas on how to proceed please don't hesitate to post.
Answers to questions on the first post would also be of help.
Thanks again.

Would be very interested in this. Blackberry Connect would be a HUGE asset to the X1. Look forward to hearing from you after the 13th.

I'm postponing the correspondence until after the MWC which ends on the 19th of February.
Maybe some new news will be unveiled then.

connect 106 was released last week for the HD i think, have you tried that?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3321503&postcount=73

fards said:
connect 106 was released last week for the HD i think, have you tried that?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3321503&postcount=73
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried to install on my X1 and it comes to a stage on the status "Data Tunnel Available" then it becomes "Not Connected" after a while.
I don't think it work for X1.

still hungry for BB Connect to work on X1 so sad to hear that it sill not work

Emoze
I am using now Emoze Pro and I am happy. I have push email even if my company is very secure and I have access just to OWA.

Are there any news on this?
Still looking for Blackberry Support in the X1!

razed said:
Would a possible plan of action by end-users result in X1 Blackberry Connect compatibility?
A possible petition or mass correspondence by Xperia users is feasible.
Before proceeding the following information would be helpful. Please contribute if you have the answers.
1) What is the future of Blackberry Connect? Are companies forgoing involvement with BBC in wait for the rumored "BlackBerry Application Suite?"
(Possibly nothing more than a Storm theme for WindowsMobile?)
2) What is SonyEricsson's current relationship with Blackberry? I understand they have a number of SE Blackberry enabled devices (SE & BBC), but as a manufacturer they are no longer listed on the official BlackBerry Connect main page. Instead you have to dig deeper under the Blackberry Connect > Europe menu.
3) Does anyone know the procedure a manufacturer must go through to get their device BlackBerry Connect enabled? Is the decision taken from the manufacturer or RIM? If there is a fee, how is it calculated? Is it per company, per device platform, per device enabled, etcetera?
4) Any potential reason that SonyEricsson have not enabled BlackBerry Connect for the Xperia X1?
5) How have SonyEricsson responded to mass customer correspondence/action in the past?
If anyone is interested in taking this a few steps further, please let me know. Any support or feedback would be appreciated. I am sure both private customers and enterprises would be interested in having BlackBerry features on their SonyEricsson Xperia X1's. I have also posted this on Xperia X1 forums and possibly some others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well about your first issue, BB Suite is not only a Storm Theme, it is lika actually emulating the whole BB os and fucntions, deved by the BB people themselves, so its legal, and has all their features, even BBPin, which is somehow obtained from the phones IMEI. Check i thread I created asking about it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=483588&highlight=Blackberry+apps.
and it is not a rumor now since it was properly showed and demoed on MWC on a TouchPro.

Has anybody tried the new BB connect 1.06 available now for Touch HD ?

I am also w8ting for BB Connect on My X1i.....
Any Update please upload in this thread....
Thanks in Advance

Windows Update function?

Hello,
i have just one simple question:is the Windows Update function integrated into the HTC HD2, too? I didn't find it yet. Maybe someone else knows more about it?
Thanks in advance.
Sincerely, nitrate

windows update
i found that auto update icon in windows folder in htc hd2.but it doesnt really update anything.

It's not likely there will ever be something similar to Windows Update for Windows Mobile.
It's largely due to the specificities of the OS and of the devices that host it. Sure, Windows Mobile is produced by MS, but you won't be able to buy it on the shelves, as you can do with XP, Vista or Seven and install it on your home made computer. Every phone maker adapts it fot its own devices, a bit like the drivers you need on top of windows for specific hardware. And don't forget that all the files that make the OS are bundled together in ROM and not just copied on a hard disk. The rom of a HD2 is not the same as that of a HD (not even talking about those of phones from other companies). And you have operators like Orange that custom make their own ROMs, so it's close to impossible for MS to provide the kind of support they do for their other OS. The closest we could have would be a HD2 Update, but run by HTC and not by MS. In a way, that's what they do when they provide a new ROM!
Another thought, you will notice that when we complain about bugs we usually blame (and very often rightly so!) HTC for the problem and not MS.
I spend a lot of times on other forums (job related !) for problems/bugs affecting worksations and servers, almost nobody says "I have so many problems with my Dell, next time I will get a HP!" , they complain (and once again, very often rightly so!) about MS!

Windows Update was included in all ROMs from WM5, but was always an optional extra offered to the operators and phone suppliers by MS. As far as I know, none ever actually purchased the option, though the shortcut remained in the start menu. This is why clicking it always returned the 'No Updates' message.
The HD2 does have the capability for hotfixes to be applied, and some have already been released by HTC. Whether they ever integrate this with the Update utility remains to be seen!

NeilM said:
This is why clicking it always returned the 'No Updates' message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my 4th WM device, and I've never found an update using this utility. Updates seem to come only from carriers, manufacturers, and cookers...
Has anyone here ever - on any device - received an update using Microsoft's utility?

As I said above, Update was an optional extra that needed to be purchased by the operator/supplier. None ever exercised that option, presumably as they'd rather encourage the user to buy a new model than update the old one