I have owned an O2 XDA for a while and I currently use an XDA II (Himalaya). I have now found myself supporting 8 XDA IIs devices and 15 XDA IIi devices, in addition to 6 Blackberries.
We are currently running Blackberry Enterprise Server and although I do not like the software or the devices very much I can't deny their impressive features. For the XDA devices we have a contract with O2 and provide wireless Active Sync and OMA using MS Exchange over both WiFi and GPRS, however management for the devices is a bit lacking. I am forever setting up devices for users who have hard re-set their devices or let them go flat.
With the Blackberrys the BES software can manage the fleet of devices, push software to them, define policy etc.
My question is, has anyone else used software that can manage PDA devices in an organization. I have been reading about MS System Management Server and its Device Management Feature Pack. Has anyone used this, is it any good, reliable etc.
I have looked into Blackberry software for the PDA's and it seems possible, but I would rather integrate with active directory and group policy if I can.
Also what are the possibilities of cooking ROMs and deploying them, such as getting rid of that damn O2 software and installing the GPRS monitor? While I am at it can I automatically collect log files in any way, such as the GPRS software or Active Sync errors (coz I get that allot of them). It would beet setting up all this stuff by hand. I will go ahead and give this a try anyway I think but I would be interested in talking to any one that has done this before.
In return I have noticed that there is not much information here on these subjects, and I would be happy to share my experiences in this area if it is needed.
Thanks for the advice.
I think you scared everyone off. What a scary thought, having to support that many devices. Just one is enough of a pain for most on here!
Well I have managed to configure the ExtROM of the blueangle deviced, and i am happy to say that my users can now take there xda IIs devices on the road, if they go flat, or hard reset, all is ok. I installed the demo version of Microsoft SMS server on my test network at home and i love it. Using this I created cab files that configured activesync, GPRS, VPN and browser settings that now mean my users only need to set the time, and put in the username and password and the hole thing is up and running, GPRS sync and all (my boss is very happy). All I need to do now is convince them to buy the software.
I am looking in to useing WMI to collect device information, and perhaps a .NET app to gather loggs etc.
Thanks for all your help. I could not have done this without this forum, cooking up my ExtROM and geting rid of the O2 software and even puting on a company splash screen are all very cool. (oh and i upgraded my xda 2 to 2005 while i was at it )
Some thougts
a cab to configure WiFi ? (registery patch?)
will the XDA IIi be as easy?
could i install tom tom useing the ExtROM ? to many prompts ?
and my origanl plee for help stands,
thanks again guys
Running 40 XDA2, some on a BES server, all using a flaky bespoke software requiring a BT connection!
Need some help on the MKROM stuff as I'm fed up of activsync 10+ times a day
hi, my dear friends
I am a freshman to XDA dev, I am using ms vs2003 to develop an application on XDA II.
The application is about dispatching a job to a driver's XDA, the senario likes the following: (1) The dispatch server sends a job to driver's XDA thru GPRS. (2) The driver then view the job on the XDA application and Accept it.
The question is how to send a job from the server side to an XDA application, what need I to do with the server programs and what need I to do with the XDA applications? Do we need some develop toolkit from the SP?
Thanks in advance, your suggestion and help are very appreciated!!!
If your network gives you an ip that others can see from outside then you just need to write a small server on your xda using sockets to accept the messages over gprs. Unfortunately, most phone networks do not do this. I think the easiest thing for you would be to make it sms based.
Otherwise you could make a page on your (pc) server and have your xda check it at regular intervals to see if any new jobs are there. The down side of this is the cost of all that checking.
Thanks ORD for you help.
Re: If your network gives you an ip that others can see from outside then you just need to write a small server on your xda using sockets to accept the messages over gprs. Hi ORD, do you mean the Public IP for each XDA phone? Do you know if the SP O2 in British provides this kind of service?
Thanks again!
I don't know what you mean public address? The phone network will have a server address and your phone will get assigned a client address. I can't tell about o2 as I only have tried vodafone in Australia. I think that most IP's given are only useful from within the private network of the provider. I am no expert with the internet, but I think if the ip starts with 10.XXX.XXX.XXX its no good. Perhaps if you post the first half of your IP some of the other network wizez here can tell you if its accessible from outside.
Even if your ip is good, it probably would not be static so I think its not worth the effort. Still... if you go that way, the implementation of sockets on ppc works 100%. In fact I have cut and pasted code straight from ppc apps to desktop apps and had no problems!
Why not just have your phones connect as clients to a small custom coded server on your pc periodically. You could streamline the transmition to only transfer as few bytes as possible each time. The only time a large transfer would be needed is when a job is accepted and the details are needed. my network charges by the kilobyte and when i transfer in only the tens of bytes it dose not even register it on my bill (i don't know how big the handshake is).
Thanks, ORD, yes, we can check the server every XX seconds, the only thing I am worrying about is if I have more than 1 thousand XDA units to connect and check the server, if the server can afford to this load?
This sound like a real world problem you have (like taxis?). If you want the best solutuion (ie sending jobs to xda's) start checking the service providers. 1000 units is a lot. I think there must be a carrier out there willing to provide
usefull addresses. Also try connecting two devices from within the same network. If all your devices are within the same private network they may be able to communicate. You PC server could be connected to the internet via a gprs card and send out jobs to all the xda's within service provided by the same carrier. I have been wanting to try this for a while but I do not have two gprs connections with the same provider.
I have a couple of small apps that may help you test this if you have multiple gprs connections with the same provider.
The following is a ppc program to attempt to connect to another one of itself over a network using sockets:
http://odeean.veritel.com.au/serv/testSocketServer.exe
the next program is for the PC so you can show that the program at least works in the direction of ppc to pc via gprs then internet:
http://odeean.veritel.com.au/serv/ORDsocketUserPC.exe
Do the following:
-Turn on your internet connection and gprs
-On your pc run the ORDsocketUserPC.exe
-to simplify things just turn off any firewalls etc (my app dose nothing bad, but sometimes even if you open a port, firewalls cause it to fail)
-On you xda run testSocketServer.exe
-On the pc server function side enter the desired port details. Because you are first testing if it works at all change the ip to 0 as this causes it to listen for all incoming ip's in my app.
-On the pc server side press listen
-On the xda set the port on the client side to the same as on your pc. Enter the pc's ip (ie from your connection status).
-On the xda press connect
-Now the xda should attempt to connect. It says waiting to read when connected at first
-Now on the pc it should say blocking-listening with some code.
-Two way data transfer is now possible. The desktop version is self explanitory. The ppc version has a lack of screen space so to elliminate some buttons I replaced the get button with ..... make data edit box clear, press send, this generates a dialog with the read data so far.
-This is only a very raw app some things malfunction but I get reliable two way communication. If something goes wrong just close the program and start again.
If all that works you are ready to test the ppc to ppc connection. Make sure you get gprs on each from the same provider run the testSocketServer.exe on both xda's at once. One with server side only and one with client side only. In the client enter the ip of the server (my app dose not find this for you - you may need some third party program for this), make sure the server ip was set to 0 before you press listen.
Please post to tell if it works within the same network as I am very interested. If it dose your problem is solved, otherwise I see no way to help because of the volume of units to communicate to.
Thanks ORD, it is too complicated for me, frankly. Can I push an email to the XDA then let the driver knows that he has a job? He can click an button to request the job. The question is how to push an email to the XDA unit.
Sorry, I can't help with emails.
Its a pitty you could not try it. If anyone else cares to try gprs device to device communication with both ends within the same phone network I am still interested in the result. I just do not want to get yet another sim. vodafone sales people in Australia do not seem to understand their own network and I have wasted enough money buying products from them that do not do what they claim.
Sending of string message over O2
Hi ORD!
Im interested in this and I am using a VPN approach to get both of the devices talking!
I am using your programs but I also wish to view the source code on how u coded this, as when I click connect I recieve an error stating the socket is not writable??? I think it doesnt even start the 3G/GPRS service on the XDA? Could you send me the code?
If it does start GPRS in the background i do apologise!!! But Im uncertain that this is the case!
Thanks!
AJ.
possible solution
All pockets pcs are using private internet addresses, i.e. they can access other external sites, but no one can directly access them as no external connections are allowed to access them without the XDAs initiating the connection.
So all of your 1000 xdas initiate the connection and connect to a central server (on server use asyncrhonous sockets for scaleability).server should be able to handle this easily.
when a job is ready for dispatch the server simply sends it to the appropriate XDA(possible because that XDA initiated the connection, so the phone operator will allow it through their firewall).
No polling needed on the XDA, just the need to monitor the connection and keep it open to the server.
XDA to XDA commmunication. Easy. The server acts as an intermediary.
Imagine XDA1 (vodaphone) wants to talk to XDA2(02) and both are on different networks. They cannot talk directly to each other.
XDA1 sends it message to the server already connected. The server (with a connection already set up) forwards it on to XDA2.
XDA2 replies back to the server, which then forwards it to XDA1.
The server acts as a gateway between the two networks and is able to do so because it is XDA1 and XDA2 initiateed the connection to the server.
For a more technical explanation of how private IP address are assigned by phone operators read up on NAT (Network Address Translation).
This solution would also work if both XDA1 and XDA2 had public IP addresses. All logic can be kept on the server and there is no need for XDA1 to find XDA2s public IP address, which with a 1000 XDAs could become messy very quickly.
cheers
Steve Jubb
I posted a response to this thread that ended up in its own thread.
Please read this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=55255
I've been using T-mobile touchscreen devices for 4 years, and I STILL have problems with basics of accessing wifi at cafes, hotspots, etc.
Connecting to these wifi networks is not a problem; there are multiple ways to do that with my T-Mobile Wing, for instance, but the problem is with accessing the wifi provider's login webpage where you are asked to agree to their terms and conditions.
OperaMini is my primary browser, but I have never been able to access a wifi "terms and conditions login page" via OperaMini, I am guessing due to it's a java app.
Yes, I can use I.E., but it is so damn slow and cumbersome, just to load and then try to hit your default homepage, then having to manually select "Homepage", then have it reload.
There must be better ways. For Starbucks usage, T-Mobile has its own "Hotspot Login Utility" which is supposed to handle all of that. I have never had it simply work... wherein i go to starbucks, launch Hotspot utility, and have it turn on wifi- then auto connect to the ATT network using my stored username & password in the HotSpot Utility.
So what are the best ways people have found to minimize this process and connect fast... I get a headache every time I want to ultilize one of my phone's best features.
For me the ideal app/utility would behave this way:
a) I am using my regular GPRS data connection, which is always on, and which I use for SMS or checking email with opera mini wherever I may be.
b) I enter a place that has free wifi, but requires you access their webpage to accept terms and conditions.
c) I want to click on one utility that loads quickly, turns on wifi, launches & opens that webpage (whether loading a fast non-java browser, or some direct internet connection), then upon logging into that establishment's wifi, I can close that util and have OperaMini launch and use wifi, not gprs data.
What is the app/apps I need? thank you.
I have no clue, but I'd love the same thing. PIE seems like it's the only browser that will re-direct to the login page automatically. Have you tried just saving the page as a favorite in opera mini? I know it's a pain in the butt, you'll have to cut-and-paste the address from PIE to mini, but that might work for a particular location.
After making a connection with PIE, I can usually switch browsers (I use mini most of the time, too), but the connection seems to drop frequently. Fortunately, my main coffee shop doesn't have one of those forced logins.
Yes, I have tried saving the "homepage" wifi login URL to OperaMini
It doesn't work. ... well at least I am glad I am not the only one with this problem.... I feel totally out of the loop on this, which seems like a Wifi-101 question ! thanks for replying. (I have also asked the great and powerful Menneisyys on this browser thread. Hopefully he will have the perfect answer!)
Farmer Ted said:
I have no clue, but I'd love the same thing. PIE seems like it's the only browser that will re-direct to the login page automatically. Have you tried just saving the page as a favorite in opera mini? I know it's a pain in the butt, you'll have to cut-and-paste the address from PIE to mini, but that might work for a particular location.
After making a connection with PIE, I can usually switch browsers (I use mini most of the time, too), but the connection seems to drop frequently. Fortunately, my main coffee shop doesn't have one of those forced logins.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quicksite, I use the Iris Browser for logging into the free Mc Donalds Free WiFi (yes, most if not all Mc Donalds has free WiFi here in Australia!).
Though, I don't actually remember being able to access the net using Opera Mini. But that may be due to the hotspot restrictions more than anything else. So YMMV there.
Also, note that Opera Mini is just a thin client. It must have internet access to be able to access anything at all. Everything gets encoded server side before it reaches your device, hence why you can't use Opera Mini to login with.
And some hotspot providers require you to keep the browser with the login page open whilst you surf. The Iris browser allows for multitabs, so you can always just open another tab to surf.
I use this for logging in automatically on my campus network:
http://devicescape.com/
Devicescape : hey this looks pretty promising
but lots to first figure out re how everything gets routed, any hidden costs, etc. Thanks very much for posting!
tene20 said:
I use this for logging in automatically on my campus network:
http://devicescape.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't wait to explore this. I figured there had to be some completely innovative ways of handling this very basic function. But just from a cursory reading, so far, it looks like there are many parts to this enterprise... i.e., registering your device with this service, installing EasyWiFi application, there's something about FON network which I don't yet understand... like maybe your device logs onto a cafe's wifi service, supplying that service with "devicescape's" agreement to Terms of Service. Then routing from the provider's wifi network to something called the FON network... But at this point I have to do a bunch more reading.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
For everyone else: Here's what I found in their Terms of Service, which describes a bit how they handle the agreement to wifi provider Terms of Service:
Account-Free Providers
Some providers offer access to their hotspot network without requiring you to create an account. The Service has the capability to automatically connect you to these types of networks without your submission of any provider information to Devicescape. If you wish to use these account-free providers, you may be unable to view their end user license agreements and/or terms of service. You acknowledge and agree that Devicescape may automatically log you in to such providers and may accept end user license agreements and/or terms of service from such providers on your behalf.
Due to wireless device limitations, the Service may or may not allow you to select whether you wish to use these account-free providers. If you do not agree with Devicescape's process of accepting such end user license agreement and/or terms of service from such providers, then you must disable this capability, provided that the Service allows this capability to be disabled. If the Service does not allow for disabling use of these account-free networks, your sole recourse is to cease your use of the Service.
Certain account-free providers request your email address in order to provide access. The Service will allow you to opt-in to supplying your email address whenever requested by such providers, and will not submit your email address without your agreement. In the circumstance where you opt-in to this arrangement, Devicescape is not responsible in any way for the use of your email address by such providers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then there's this, re adding your provider to Devicescape's network. They say this is free.
Submit A New Wi-Fi Hotspot
Devicescape supports many hotspots and wireless networks, but if your favorites aren't yet supported, you can help us add them. Start by collecting some info and use this web form to submit it us. We will process submissions on a time-available basis.
Personal Network?
We can only list hotspots in our directory that are operated by organizations and intended for general access by the public, subscribers, students, etc. If this is a personal (e.g., individual or private) network, you can add it your own Devicescape account by using the "Add a Personal Network" button on the "My Wi-Fi" page or clicking here.
Open network?
We are currently only adding hotspots that have a welcome or login page to our directory. If this hotspot does not have a welcome or login page, you can add it your own Devicescape account by using the "Add a Personal Network" button on the "My Wi-Fi" page or clicking here.
Network requires 802.1x or WPA Enterprise?
Unfortunately we cannot support 802.1x or WPA Enterprise networks at this time. The form below can be used to submit networks that use web-based captive portal authentication only. If you have a network that only uses WEP or WPA Personal authentication, you can add it your own Devicescape account by using the "Add a Personal Network" button on the "My Wi-Fi" page or clicking here.
To submit a new hotspot, follow the basic instructions below, or view more detailed instructions.
Record the provider's Network Name or SSID.
Save all welcome and login pages.
Be sure to capture every page required to get you to online access.
Submit the info to us via the form below.
We will notify you when the new hotspot network is available. Thanks for contributing to building out the Devicescape!
Basic Information: (required) SSID: Name of the hotspot provider:
(e.g., "Wi-Fi Everywhere" or "Hotspots “R”Us") Name of the location:
(e.g., "Joe's Tea Shop") Address:
(Street, City, Region, Country, e.g., "1 Bay St, Toronto, ON, CA") Home page URL for location or provider: Does this Hotspot have a welcome page? no yes Welcome page: Does this Hotspot have a login page? no yes Login Page: Is 802.1X or WPA Enterprise required? no yes In order to add an 802.1X or WPA Enterprise network, we need to have the following information: EAP type (TTLS, PEAP), tunneled EAP type (EAP MS-CHAPv2, PAP, etc.), WPA Version, Certificate Domain, Key Mgmt (Dynamic WEP, WPA Enterprise), Cipher (TKIP, CCMP). If possible, please supply a URL for a web page that describes this information. If not, include the information below. 802.1X information URL (or details):
Additional Information: Provider support page URL: Comments:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just starting to investigate this whole offering... so I'd appreciate it if anyone sees anything just within these quoted sections that sounds ill-advisable?
Finally, for now, here's a video that describes how iphone's use their service, as indicator of how it works:
Here's something I found in Dev/Hacking forum - WiFi Monster
[Jul 23][WiFi Monster v1.0.52.149] The best WiFi software ever
Download:
http://www.wifimonster.net/downloads.php
Stuff like this that shows why iphone is winning the war. It's 2009 and still a hassle to get on to a captive portal !!!
firefly123 said:
Stuff like this that shows why iphone is winning the war. It's 2009 and still a hassle to get on to a captive portal !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion, Apple makes it easier to find apps in ONE place...but that doesn't mean there isn't a solution for WM. And definitely don't want to get into the Apple vs WM crap. Windows mobile has many versions of different apps and are scattered everywhere. Looking for them is the challenging part. So far, I have accumulated over 12gb worth of apps for windows mobile-this includes some upgrades, mods. Probably would have had more if I was into cooked Roms.
With my HTC Touch Pro, I am using Opera Mobile v9.5 v2808- a modified version with some Flash support (found it here). Before I screwed up my wifi- i was able to get online at Barnes & Nobles, McDonald's, Borders, home network and many mom and pops coffee shops with NO issues.
I used this OLD app, Hitchiker, that worked on my Touch Pro.
montecristo1 said:
With my HTC Touch Pro, I am using Opera Mobile v9.5 v2808- a modified version with some Flash support (found it here). ...i was able to get online ...with NO issues... used this OLD app, Hitchiker, that worked on my Touch Pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope this works for me, thanks for posting. (I've also been meaning to download the modified Opera Mobile browser). Let me ask you, though: It's the security settings and acceptance that make it so cumbersome.
Actually I am thankful that there ARE such security warnings when trying to log onto a non-secure public access point. But .... I should really only have to say "OKAY" once. With Internet Explorer, and with the browser I started using most, Netfront, it took at least 4 if not 6 "OKAY" responses to switching to/from secure page etc. My original post was longer. But the issue for me is: *Sometimes* when I go to a coffee house it's to grab a coffee, check email, send a movie file or picture file, and then go, sometimes to catch bus or train. So I don't have all day. And I have found over and over again that by the time it takes me to accomplish those approximately 15 clicks to activate wifi and launch a new browser and accept login agreement including all the security acceptance, I would have more quickly gotten my email and even uploaded a large set of photo files by just staying connected to Edge and forgetting the whole damn wifi attempt... I've missed trains in San Francisco many a time, seriously, just from trying to take advantage of wifi speed at a cafe and going through so many ridiculous steps. Many a time by the time I had all the clicks accepted and I was able to browse freely, my train was there and I had to run -- completely defeating the whole experience.
Two other comments:
(1) I finally found a utility that was promising: Peek .... but it would be "sabotaged" by the inconsistent behavior of AKtoggle and other wifi on/wifi off utilities avail, vs having to click Settings > Connections > Communication Manager > wifi on > then wifi settings just to select the access point. I have never ever had anyone's version of a wifi on/ wifi off toggle button work consistently and normally. Every other time you try turning wifi on, and no, it doesn;t work. I've come to find out that if your regular edge data connection is either on or off, then the toggle doesn't work, which means once again going to Communicaton Manager and tapping through to the primary command, then once your device sees wifi access points, you still then have to use the other tool (like "Peek") to select the access point... or follow the etxra 4 clicks to do it within the Communication Manager.
(2) I'm completely platform agnostic as I use macs, PCs, WM and now android devices, and if the functions work and I can get the task done, i really don't care whose name is on the object or software... But I have to agree with firefly123, it's stuff like this that Apple knows how to solve with smooth simplicity... But it goes further than that. Apple/iPhone users have a conditioning that automatically expects stuff like this to be simple, whereas I was astounded by, on the other thread I posted about this same login issue, WM users were just fine with the multiple steps, and quite surprised I was even asking/complaining...in other words, a conditioning that says "what's another 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 clicks, as long as you can get the whole process done in a reasonable amount of time?".
That's what baffled me most. I love XDA... yet I was very surprised by the huge yaaaaaaaawwwwwnnnnn I got on this issue: cumbersome and multi-stepped is just fine with hundreds of thousands of Windows Mobile users. Meanwhile I miss my bus or train from staying to finish that last step and finally access wifi to upload my pics... when using Edge would have ultimately been faster. Bizarre.
quicksite said:
I hope this works for me, thanks for posting. (I've also been meaning to download the modified Opera Mobile browser). Let me ask you, though: It's the security settings and acceptance that make it so cumbersome.
Actually I am thankful that there ARE such security warnings when trying to log onto a non-secure public access point. But .... I should really only have to say "OKAY" once. With Internet Explorer, and with the browser I started using most, Netfront, it took at least 4 if not 6 "OKAY" responses to switching to/from secure page etc. My original post was longer. But the issue for me is: *Sometimes* when I go to a coffee house it's to grab a coffee, check email, send a movie file or picture file, and then go, sometimes to catch bus or train. So I don't have all day. And I have found over and over again that by the time it takes me to accomplish those approximately 15 clicks to activate wifi and launch a new browser and accept login agreement including all the security acceptance, I would have more quickly gotten my email and even uploaded a large set of photo files by just staying connected to Edge and forgetting the whole damn wifi attempt... I've missed trains in San Francisco many a time, seriously, just from trying to take advantage of wifi speed at a cafe and going through so many ridiculous steps. Many a time by the time I had all the clicks accepted and I was able to browse freely, my train was there and I had to run -- completely defeating the whole experience.
Two other comments:
(1) I finally found a utility that was promising: Peek .... but it would be "sabotaged" by the inconsistent behavior of AKtoggle and other wifi on/wifi off utilities avail, vs having to click Settings > Connections > Communication Manager > wifi on > then wifi settings just to select the access point. I have never ever had anyone's version of a wifi on/ wifi off toggle button work consistently and normally. Every other time you try turning wifi on, and no, it doesn;t work. I've come to find out that if your regular edge data connection is either on or off, then the toggle doesn't work, which means once again going to Communicaton Manager and tapping through to the primary command, then once your device sees wifi access points, you still then have to use the other tool (like "Peek") to select the access point... or follow the etxra 4 clicks to do it within the Communication Manager.
(2) I'm completely platform agnostic as I use macs, PCs, WM and now android devices, and if the functions work and I can get the task done, i really don't care whose name is on the object or software... But I have to agree with firefly123, it's stuff like this that Apple knows how to solve with smooth simplicity... But it goes further than that. Apple/iPhone users have a conditioning that automatically expects stuff like this to be simple, whereas I was astounded by, on the other thread I posted about this same login issue, WM users were just fine with the multiple steps, and quite surprised I was even asking/complaining...in other words, a conditioning that says "what's another 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 clicks, as long as you can get the whole process done in a reasonable amount of time?".
That's what baffled me most. I love XDA... yet I was very surprised by the huge yaaaaaaaawwwwwnnnnn I got on this issue: cumbersome and multi-stepped is just fine with hundreds of thousands of Windows Mobile users. Meanwhile I miss my bus or train from staying to finish that last step and finally access wifi to upload my pics... when using Edge would have ultimately been faster. Bizarre.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So iphones NEVER take you to the WIFI providers conditions acceptance screen? can some one verify this? cause if so thats good, but truthfully I dont have as much problem as you are talking about on my WM xperia. I use wifi monster or the comm manager that comes with SPB mobile shell and then access opera mobile (9.5), the terms and conditions screen loads up I accept it and thats pretty much it. No real hastle and its easy and quick. I dont know why you are having so much problem. just for comparasin can you outline the steps it takes to connect an iphone?
But at any rate for the developers out there its somthing to consider, a browser with access to a comm manager in it.
regards
Chris
Chris, thanks... Sorry I was pontificating there. Let me clear up a few things. (1) I don't have an iphone; I've never had one in my hand for more than a half hour exploring, so have never used it in "real life" scenarios. (2) I wasn't suggesting Apple could magically make all the login and acceptance requirements go away! I just meant that they do focus on exactly these kinds of common bottlenecks, to try to reduce the clutter of steps, and get the goal accomplished. (3) #2 above is not based on my having used an iphone at a coffeehouse, nor watching someone with an iphone login at a coffee house. I was commenting because this thread had been dormant for a good while, then suddenly yesterday someone commented about frustration he was having with this very issue -- and HE concluded something like "this is why Apple is winning the war".
I never took that as any kind of fanboy comment, or instigating remark. I am just imagining this person had some similar problems that I have had, and searched XDA, and came upon this thread -- because there are no other threads that I know of on this site on this subject matter of wifi utility to help smooth out the coffee house login process. And he probably read thru it thinking at the end was a solution... only to find the thread dropped off because nobody presented a solution... I merely did my best to comb the web and XDA to find potential solutions, but it stopped there because most of the utilities were about turning your device's wifi on or off, then selecting an access point. But that's not the problem that needs solving.
What I was suggesting is that just like a Google mail app connects to the web within its own UI, and NOT opening up a browser, which on some older devices like mine does take a while just to get the browser open and loaded to its home page... And it queries for username and password then pulls in your mail. And just like T-mobile has a Hotspot Utility that is a very niche specialized version of such a wifi utility limited to its access point locations like starbucks and airports and fed ex kinkos offcies, it similarly establishes a web connection without opening a browser. But it's purpose is exactly what I am talking about: to make that stuff happen as much as possible in the background so that you then get confirmation of being logged in and connected,and you can then use whatever browser you like, including opera mini.
So, though I am not a programmer, it seems to me this would not be so hard to master if someone who IS a developer applied some resource time to the problem (but that's just it, it doesn't seem to be a problem that most feel warrants any resource time applied to it). To me it would be very simple.
(1) Click a button and it queries the state of all data connections on your phone noting if wifi is on or off, and makes sure to turn wifi on if needed. (2) Like most wifi utilities, it then seeks the strongest connection and tries to login to any unsecured access point, or, if it recognizes even a secured access point, follows a login proceedure. (3) I am not sure how best to explain step 3 but to me it happens in the background: A dedicated web client/ thin-browser (something to build) opens and issues the normal commands that = "open my browser and after it loads, hit the home button to then have the browser connect to the coffee house's login page. (4) My hope would be that at this point the thin browser client can present the login page, user clicks "i agree" as normal, then (5) the connection to the wifi access point in made, and (6) the utility puts itself away, opening my preferred or default browser... and (7) I just start using my browser which is now connected via wifi.
As a user experience designer I can envision this thin client speeding up this process because it doesn't have to load a full featured browser, and it includes the wifi on/off function, essentially resulting in this, as far as user is concerned:
(1) arrive at a wifi spot that requires accepting TOS, click "SuperWifiLogonUtility" and all the wifi on/wifi off stuff happens in background.
(2) I select the access point i am trying to connect to, done.
(3) Background processes occur, and the next thing I see is the wifi provider's login page and I check "yes, i agree"
(4) That goes away, my preferred browser opens and I begin using browser connected to wifi.
Of course, I could be wrong, and perhaps this is complicated. It doesn't seem so to me
hungry81 said:
So iphones NEVER take you to the WIFI providers conditions acceptance screen? can some one verify this? cause if so thats good, but truthfully I dont have as much problem as you are talking about on my WM xperia. I use wifi monster or the comm manager that comes with SPB mobile shell and then access opera mobile (9.5), the terms and conditions screen loads up I accept it and thats pretty much it. No real hastle and its easy and quick. I dont know why you are having so much problem. just for comparasin can you outline the steps it takes to connect an iphone?
But at any rate for the developers out there its somthing to consider, a browser with access to a comm manager in it.
regards
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OperaMini uses a built-in proxy server called Opera Turbo that loads the page from Opera's server, compresses it that send the page to your device in order to reduce bandwidth and increase speeds over mobile networks. My best guess is the the hotspot login page you are trying to access can only be reached locally and is therefor not accessible using Opera Turbo. If you turn off Opera Turbo from the setting page you should be able to use it as any other browser.
a lot has changed in two years!
kellywt said:
OperaMini uses a built-in proxy server called Opera Turbo that loads the page from Opera's server, compresses it that send the page to your device in order to reduce bandwidth and increase speeds over mobile networks. My best guess is the the hotspot login page you are trying to access can only be reached locally and is therefor not accessible using Opera Turbo. If you turn off Opera Turbo from the setting page you should be able to use it as any other browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a lot has changed in two years!